A favorite book returns: Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz

There are so many moth-eaten books I loved and wished I had ebook copies of, that whenever I see mention of one coming out in ebook format, I literally cheer. Honest. I pumped my fist in the air and yipped when I saw that Shield's Lady by Jayne Ann Krentz was now available in ebook! Woot! Thank you so much Jayne for making this happen. I had two copies of Shield's Lady by Amanda Glass in paperback. Two because the first one fell in the bathtub the night after I bought it, and then had to get a second copy to replace the first. That second copy has been read and reread about a hundred times over the years. I love the story premise, the plot is incredible and the characters reach out and grab you and once you start, you can't stop reading until the end. The story is fast-paced, oozing with sensuality, a full on paranormal/SFR which was hot (back before we had erotic romance), and still holds up well, imo.My Nook is soo happy to add this ebook to it's library! :-)

A Jayne Ann Krentz Classic. Now available in ebook.
 
Legends can be dangerous, just ask Sariana Dayne. She sets out to hire one and wakes up married to him. It’s a marriage of infuriating inconvenience as far as Sariana is concerned.
Gryph Chassyn stirs all her senses but he’s one of the mysterious mercenaries known as Shields. Sensible women do not marry such men. But for Gryph, marrying Sariana is a matter of honor, passion and survival. He needs her in ways she cannot even imagine.
Before Sariana can find a way to escape the bond that has been forged between them, she and Gryph are caught up in a desperate quest to save their world. The future looks a little different but some things, like love and passion, and murder never change.
Originally published June 1989 by Popular Library w/a Amanda Glass and reissued January 1996 by Warner Books w/a Jayne Ann Krentz.

Reissue from 06/89 & 01/96 print editions
e-Book
On Sale June 21, 2012
Purple Papaya LLC; eBook | ASIN: ASIN: B008DWFW00
BN ID: 294-0014784108

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sad Farewell To Nora Ephron

I always loved the screwball romantic comedies of the black and white film era and when I first saw When Harry Met Sally, I remember thinking that the writer had captured an element of magic from those wonderful bygone movies.  Nora Ephron's brilliance was in her wickedly funny and sharp wit, her ability to make us see the sometimes crazy machinations we put ourselves through, to reflect on our subtle power as women, and shine a light on our relational foibles so we can laugh at ourselves.

Nora Ephron May 19, 1941 - June 26, 2012

Thank you for sharing your gifts with us. Rest In Peace.

http://www.tributes.com/show/Nora-Ephron-94035725

Happy Litha!

The summer solstice is finally here! I plan to use every hour to celebrate this wonderful day. If you aren't familiar with the word Litha, here's a good article to get you started: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/lithathesummersolstice/a/AllAboutLitha.htm

From what I personally understand, the word/term Litha didn't come into existence until sometime in the late 1950's - 1960's in either Wales or England, but has grown in popularity and acceptance within the pagan community.

I remember as a child visiting my aunties in England and they never used the word Litha, instead calling the summer solstice, The Sun's Day. This was a bit of a misnomer since it usually was a bit overcast, but that's London for ya. I remember going to Avesbury one time on The Sun's Day, and it being packed with quite a few hippies, or as my one aunt said, The Bloody Clueless. lol.

Of course, seeing how she had been a nurse in WW2, she'd seen more in one lifetime than most of the privileged 19 and 20 somethings wearing their love beads had perceived in their short existence. lol.

Still though, I did think the garlands in some of the girls hair was pretty cool. :) ::nostalgic moment::
Hmm, I think I'll make solstice cakes. :)

If you'd like to make summer solstice cake, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
    •    1 cup of real butter
    •    1/2 cup white sugar
    •    1/3 cup Lyle's Golden Syrup (can substitute light brown sugar)
    •    3/4 cup Honey
    •    4 eggs
    •    2 cups flour (can substitute with gluten-free flour)
    •    1 tablespoon grated orange zest
    •    1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
    •    1/4 cup baking raisins
    •    2 1/2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice
    •    1 teaspoon Rosewater for blessings of Love.
    •    3 Pinches of Basil for the blessings of Health, Protection, and Prosperity.
    •    3 fresh lemon or rose scented Geranium flowers for blessings of Happiness.

Preparation:
    1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2.    Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.  Add honey and syrup, blending well.
    3.    Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
    4.    Add flour in thirds, mixing well after each addition.  Then add remaining ingredients   (EXCEPT flower petals), and mix well.
    5.    Pour HALF the batter into a 9-11 inch round spring form pan.  Add a layer of petals, and cover with the remaining batter.
    6.    Bake about an hour.  Let cool and remove outer ring of spring form pan.  Turn out onto a serving platter.

Dust lightly with a powdered sugar if you wish, you can also garnish with a few fresh strawberries, raspberries, lemon/orange zest curls.

Strange Seas

Every so often, I catch news of some rather odd happenings in the sea. The news article below could have come right out of my Shifting Tides trilogy! Imagine a Boto Dolphine shape shifter and a young Octomorph battling it out in open water. To protect itself, the Octomorph latches onto the Dolphine. Sort of like a tiring boxer does to his opponent in the ring, hanging on to catch a breather in the fight. 

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/33893/bottlenose+dolphin+falls+under+attack+by+naughty+octopus/

The Joyful June Contest Winner is...

The winner of my Joyful June contest is...

*drumroll please*

Regina Ross

Congratulations, Regina!

Please watch your inbox for my email notification!

Regina won a beach tote bag filled with goodies, including her paperback of choice, His Dark Embrace by Amanda Ashley!

Thank you to everyone who entered. I've got some more fun and cool contests in the works for later this summer when my ebook Sparkle comes out, so drop by anytime and say hi.

Secrets of The Sapphires Contest Winners are:

Thank you to all my readers for stopping by and learning more about this awesome new book by author T. Sue VerSteeg. And now to announce the winners of her contest.

*drumroll please*

The winner of the Barnes & Noble $10 gift card is...

Linda Adams!  Congratulations, Linda! ::pom pom swish::

The winner of the ebook Secrets of The Sapphires is...

Wanda Kay! Congratulations, Wanda! ::double pom pom swish::


If you like books and contests, don't forget to enter my Joyful June contest! Simply leave a comment on my Joyful June post here on my blog to enter.

Wishing everyone who reads this a wonderful week!
Cass

Welcome Guest Blogger Author T. Sue VerSteeg

I want to personally welcome good friend and author T. Sue VerSteeg to When Midnight Comes and to The Midnight Moon Cafe! I love time travel romance and am thrilled to feature her book, Secrets of The Sapphires! The book will be in worldwide, multi-format release tomorrow! Woohoo!

Secrets of The Sapphires
by T. Sue VerSteeg


I’m back, baby!

It’s been a while since I’ve had a new book released. *cough*three-years*cough* I’d like to say I was busy visiting exotic lands and learning about new cultures. Not so much. I did get to spend my fifteenth wedding anniversary in Cancun, if that counts. Everyone at the resort spoke English, but I did learn how to order another shot of tequila in Spanish. My life is complete. (Insert sarcasm. Heck, just pepper it randomly through most of what I write and you should be good.)

So, what makes this book so special? Why are you being bothered with this blog post? The book has a lot of creatures that go bump in the night. Some good, some bad, but enough of them to keep you entertained. If that isn’t enough, never fear, I’m giving away some good stuff, too. I’ve got a $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card (No, not Amazon. I want to help keep those brick and mortar buildings open for business!) and an e-book version of my new book up for grabs.

Here’s the official blurb:

Nia Brooks entered the CIA to get to the bottom of her parents’ deaths. Joining the Paranormal Division, she learns to fend for herself after dealing with prejudice, not to mention the vampires and shifters. Paired with an egotistical agent, the bloodsuckers and hairy boys don’t seem so bad.

Garrett Van Deren has his own agenda behind joining the CIA. When his dead partner’s body disappears without a trace, Garrett knows the vampire underground is responsible and the Paranormal Division offers him answers. He slams head first into a roadblock when he meets his new partner. A hundred pounds soaking wet, he’ll be babysitting instead of tracking down the killer.

Tossed back in time by a mysterious white sapphire, two headstrong agents must learn to trust one another while they search for a way back to the Twenty-First Century and the people responsible for the rift in time.

So, what’s your favorite creature of the night? Do you like them to be bad to the bone or redeemable? Dish with me!

Secrets of the Sapphires [d6664] - $5.25 : The Wild Rose Press, Where romance blooms.

www.thewildrosepress.com

CONTEST

Two prizes are up for grabs!

Leave a comment here and respond to T. Sue's question to win a $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card.

Leave a comment at the Midnight Moon Cafe to win an ebook copy of T. Sue's new book!
Contest ends Monday, June 11, 2012 at noon!

Two ways to win! Good luck to all!*  

*Odds are dependent on number of entries. Must be 18+ to enter. Void where prohibited by law. B&N gift card contest applies to U.S. residents only. Ebook contest open worldwide except where prohibited by law.

About the author
T. Sue VerSteeg was born and raised in the southeast central region of Iowa in the small town of Grinnell. At the age of 21, she moved her parents and family to the beautiful Ozarks of Missouri where they have since made their homes. She has been blessed with the love of an adoring husband (who is also her soul mate), two wonderful children, the best sister in the world and truly amazing parents. Writing has always been a passion in her life as most family members and friends can attest. Long letters, journals and short stories can be found in nearly every drawer and filing cabinet in her home, along with manuscripts and research documents. Her most sincere wish is that you can find as much enjoyment in reading her stories as she did in the creation of them.

Hot New Cover Alert! Sparkle: A Tale of The Shimryn

Ya'll may want to step back from your computer screens, 'cause I'm so excited I just may pop! LOL

Received the cover art this morning for Sparkle, the sequel to my short story Shimmer. Created by the amazing talent of author/artist Delle Jacobs, notice who's on the cover...yep, romance cover hero Jimmy Thomas. I tells ya'll true, I think I'm gonna have me an old-fashioned swoon! :D

Sparkle is slated for release later this summer.

Joyful June!

I do believe June is my favorite summer month. Kids are out of school, so I get to spend more time with my great nieces. The weather is usually so beautiful, I love to putter as much as I can outdoors, and I love the fresh batch of ebooks and paperbacks that come out every summer. You know, the ones we call trashy beach reads, the books that are nothing but fun escapism.

Personally, I have a mile long wish list for June. How about you?

Any books coming out in June that you're looking forward to? Leave a comment here on the blog and tell me what paperback you're anxious to read with a June release date, and you just may win it!

Joyful June Contest: Included with winner's choice of paperback is a goodie bag including bookmarks, summer fun Mountain Dew lip gloss, a kewl book bag tote, SPF 30 Coppertone Sport Stick, and summer fun beach towel.

Contest starts June 1, 2012 and ends midnight, June 15, 2012. Good Luck!*

* winner's name will be posted Saturday, June 16th and contacted via email for notification. Odds of winning determined by number of entries. Must be 18 yrs. of age or over to enter.