Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus

           Today, Wild Women Authors focus is on Chance Meeting, a contemporary closed-door rom-com, written by Christine Columbus, released by the Wild Rose Press.

About the Book:

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.

To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel wonders if she can put the pieces of her life back together.

 

An Excerpt:

Paula, her administrative assistant, jogged over the pewter vinyl tiles in lime-green, high-heeled sandals. She wore a faded and frayed denim skirt under an oversized man’s white dress shirt. “You just missed him.”

“Humph,” Melody sighed, glancing past the queen of chic’s messy blonde bun and down the long, tiled hallway. “I’m not seeing anyone.” She shrugged and stepped back into her temporary office.

“Did you not hear me say the word missed?” Paula tap-danced into the office. “A tall, dark-haired, brown- eyed man, without a wedding ring, was here.”

Melody scanned the mess on the floor. “Just my luck. Mr. Right shows up, and I’m in the bathroom.”

“Memos for floor covering? I don’t think you’ll be starting any trends.” She teased. “You really should have refused the request from upper management. You already have too much on your…” Shrugging, she smiled. “I was going to say desk, but you solved that problem. But the good news is he did mention he’d be back.”

She turned toward Paula. “Did he mention who he was?”

“General Manager of Construction Dunn Wright. You know, the company Bill hired for the office remodeling.” Paula raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Good- Looking wanted to go over some changes.”

“What?” Melody tossed her hands up. “Could the day get any worse? I’m wearing unbecoming jeans and a wet, clingy coffee-stained sweater, and I might have forgotten to comb my hair.”

“You don’t look too bad.” She cocked her head to the side. “Just run your fingers through your hair and pinch your cheeks for some color. Rough morning with Kansas?”

“In two months, when her mom comes home, I will miss these hectic mornings, but living with a six-year- old is work. We were running late. When I found Kansas, she was cleaning the bathroom floor with my electric toothbrush.”

“Sorry.” Paula smirked. “I’ll make sure all of Bill’s meetings show up in your calendar.” She paused in the doorway. “Anything else?”

Melody shook her head and waited a moment before letting out a long sigh. Mr. Good-looking. Chance and romance. When will Paula learn happily ever after is only for books? In the center of the office, she stood glaring at the files overflowing from the cabinets, the blinking desk phone, and three computer monitors. “I should have said no to Leo’s request to manage Bill’s meetings and emails for two weeks.”

Another mess to clean up. Squinting, she sighed. What are my odds of encountering something sticky or creepy crawly? Swallowing her reservations and discomfort, she dropped to her hands and knees and crawled slowly under the workstation. Gathering the last document, she heard an unfamiliar voice echoing outside the door.

“Is Melody back yet?”

She gazed beneath the desk. Work boots stood on the threshold of Bill’s office. She stopped breathing as her gaze traveled higher to a pair of denim jeans. She tensed. The general manager? She inhaled through her nose. Please go away.

Tap-tap-tap.

Paula’s glow-in-the-dark, high-heeled sandals and spray-tanned legs moved next to the boots and jeans. “She was in her office a moment ago,” Paula said.

Would I rather be a frazzled woman in a coffee- stained sweater or a person who is impossible to get a hold of? Mel sucked on her bottom lip and debated the options. A sharp, hot pain shot down her left calf and seized her thoughts. “Cramp,” she mumbled with a backward, one-legged crawl. “Just so you know, you’re not meeting me at my best.”

A deep chuckle filled the room.

“What are you doing?” Paula shrieked.

Melody didn’t stop crawling until her head cleared the desk. She stood with as much grace as a toddler with an armful of toys. She met his gaze. Paula is right. He is handsome. She blew a blonde strand of hair from her eyes.

He held out a hand. “Hello, Clayton Westby. And you must be Melody Anderson.”

She dropped the mess of papers onto the desk. “Yes.” She stretched her right arm out.

His eyebrows drew together, and his gaze narrowed as his warm hand encased hers. “Have we met before?”

“No,” Melody blurted. “I am certain I would have remembered you.”

 

Chance Meeting can be purchased at:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220664230-chance-meeting

https://www.bookbub.com/books/chance-meeting-by-christine-columbus

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5RX93QD

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chance-meeting-christine-columbus/1146434329

https://books.apple.com/hn/book/chance-meeting/id6737235283

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259694

 

We had time to talk to author Christine Columbus and asked, “what makes your featured book a must-read?” If you crave a five-star adventure packed with laughter, a standout heroine over forty, and a twist you won't see coming, Chance Meeting is calling your name.

Or perhaps you want to support a spirited old lady author (me) who wants to write happily ever after. I appreciate every reader, review, and person who reads this...Thank you.

Here’s more about Christine:

Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I published children’s stories, creative non-fiction, poetry, and flash fiction, then stumbled into romance, writing several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press.

Then I took a fifteen year break and traveled the US with my husband volunteering at National Wildlife Refuges, Army Corp of Eng and Oregon State Parks. And now, I am thrilled to be back writing with Chance Meeting and I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight coming out soon. These novels culminate my passion for storytelling, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

 

Christine can be reached at:

https://www.ColumbusChristine.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinecolumbus/

https://www.instagram.com/Christine_Columbus/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinecolumbusnet?

https://bsky.app/profile/christinecolumbus.bsky.social

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-columbus

 

The Telling by Anne Wolf

              What happens when the line between myth and reality blurs?

Wild Women Authors focus is on The Telling, a YA thriller, written by Anne Wolf, and published by Rowan Prose Publishing.

About the Book: Neglected by her father after her mother’s homicide, fifteen-year-old Maeve Newell enlists the help of a light witch, a new friend, Sylvie, and her dog, Pooch, to help her unravel the mystery surrounding her mother’s brutal death and get clarity for her recent nightmares, but she’s uncovering disturbingly horrifying truths about her family in the process.

It seems death is on the menu in rural Wren Falls. She needs to confront a vicious ancient Celtic monster, but to do so, she has to understand the meaning behind her terrifying dreams. And time is running out.

What They’re Saying About The Telling:

“A thrilling, chilling read!” Bestseller Marilyn Levinson, author of Come Home to Death and, “. . . Fans of “Dream to Me” by Megan Paasch and “The Secrets We Keep” by Cassie Gustafson will enjoy “The Telling” by Anne Wolf.

The Telling can be purchased at: https://books2read.com/u/mVPJlZ

A bit About our Focus Author: Anne Wolf’s writing career began with her first scribbling “A TOE” at the age of four on her mother’s dining room wall. She was enthralled with her written work. Her mother, not so much.

It was the beginning of Anne's foray into written and spoken language, which led her to study several languages,  teaching integrated language arts and history (including ancient cultures and myths) to middle school-aged students. Throughout her career, she wrote several poems, essays, short stories, and picture books. She received a mini-grant from the New York State English Council for her multicultural teaching unit.

She still teaches creative writing classes in local communities. She resides in Long Island, NY, with her family. "The Telling" is her debut YA Thriller novel.

 

 

Return of Atlantis by Amy Cip

 

Today, Wild Women Authors focus on Return of Atlantis, a contemporary paranormal/fantasy, and a current release out of Rowan Prose Publishing, written by Amy Cip.

About the Book: Ember Weathers and her friends successfully returned the lost city of Atlantis to the ground after it was cursed to the sky – you’d think that meant their troubles were over.

While Atlantis is a city built on magic and love, not everyone was happy to see it returned. Immediately surrounded by enemies – both from this world and Atlantis -  now is their time to fight for peace. That’s not as easy as it sounds. As soon as Atlantis falls from the sky, it’s people are cursed with a sleeping sickness.

Queen Aura binds the gates closed with a magical ward, and they’re just as trapped as they were in the sky. In order to break the curse and broker peace, Ember and her boyfriend, Shepherd, will need more than the help of their friends. They must find old and trapped magical beings, and travel through time to unravel the problems from the beginning.

But will this help things, or will it trap them forever?

 What they’re saying about Return of Atlantis: “...Fans of Holly Black, Rebecca Ross, Sarah J. Maas, Lauren Roberts, Kiera Cass, Tracy Wolff, and Jennifer L. Armentrout will enjoy Amy Cip...”

 Return of Atlantis can be purchased at: https://books2read.com/u/bPpN9l

 About Our Focus Author: Amy Cip is an author, blogger, people watcher, sci-fi junkie, website novice, eternal optimist, and introvert. She is the author of seven YA science fiction/fantasy/dystopian books.

She resides in Massachusetts and can be found at: www.amycip.com

Sierra Fall by Martha O'Sullivan

                She’s healing from heartbreak, he’s hiding a secret. Is their love strong enough to survive the truth? 

Today, Wild Women Authors focus on Sierra Fall by Martha O’Sullivan.

About the Book: A second chance at forever... but at what cost? Mackenzie never planned on finding love again, but Bren makes her want to risk her heart. Can they overcome the past, or will his secret tear them apart?

Mackenzie Bishop was looking forward to spending the summer in Lake Tahoe. Recently widowed with two young kids, a change of scenery would do them all good. But she never expected Brennen Banks to be part of that scenery. Or that he would come to mean so much to her in such a short time.

Bren is just as surprised as she is; he’d long ago accepted that falling in love wasn’t in the cards for him. But keeping his promise to wait until she's ready is proving increasingly difficult. And while Mackenzie tries to find the courage to trust Bren with her broken heart, Bren has to decide if he can trust her with a secret.

One that could cost him everything, including her. 

To purchase Sierra Falls, go to:

https://books2read.com/marthaosullivansierrafall

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DJWKBKKQ?tag=books2read02-20

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sierra-fall-martha-osullivan/1146551422

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sierra-fall/id6738145266

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1648873

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sierra-fall

 About Our Focus Author: Martha O'Sullivan has loved reading romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing her own books is the realization of a lifelong dream. She is a graduate of Illinois State University where she wrote for the school newspaper and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She is also a former Acquisitions Editor at MacMillan Computer Publishing.

Martha writes contemporary romances with heterosexual couples, a central love story and happily ever after endings set in Lake Tahoe. Her books, Second Chance, Chance Encounter, Last Chance, Christmas in Tahoe and new release Sierra Fall are available in print and digital formats at online retailers everywhere.  A native Chicagoan, she lives her own happy ending in Florida with her husband and daughters.

She can be found at:

https://www.marthaosullivan.com/

https://www.amazon.com/author/marthaosullivanromances

https://www.instagram.com/authormarthaosullivan/

http://twitter.com/@m_osullivan26

https://bsky.app/profile/mosullivanauthor.bsky.social

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7254612.Martha_O_Sullivan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martha-o-sullivan-0b995459/

                                            

Ghostly Glasses by Rikki Goodwin

 "…Heartfelt, haunting, and filled with moments of gentle compassion, Ghost Glasses is the kind of book that will have you contemplating the nature of memory and the traces of love that remain once we are gone. A beautiful story about friendship, healing, and transformation..."

Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

Today, Wild Women Authors focus on: Ghost Glasses, written by Rikki Goodwin, and recently released by Rowan Prose Press

About the Book:  When a sixty-years-dead lonely ghost meets the spirit of a child, she’s forced to confront the monsters haunting her to provide the child with companionship.

Whether by finding others trapped in-between as they are, or contacting the girl’s living father using a smarmy paranormal investigator hunting for fame, she’s determined to succeed in her task.

But the ghost’s memory isn’t what it used to be, and reality fades more by the day. The monsters are growing more resolute. She’ll have to reunite the child with family before she forgets her mission…and herself.

What others are saying about Ghost Glasses:

Fans of “The Haunting of Velkwood” by Gwendolyn Kiste, “The Spite House” by Johnny Compton, and “It Rides a Pale Horse” by Andy Marino will enjoy “Ghost Glasses” by Rikki Goodwin.

Ghost Glasses is available at: https://books2read.com/u/bMqoJ5

A Bit About Our Focus Author: Rikki Goodwin is a professional body piercer by day and a horror/thriller author by night. She owns a successful piercing and tattoo studio. She resides in North Carolina.

 

A Deadly Hook by Karen A. Phillips

 What do Bigfoot and boxing have in common? Meet Raquel (AKA Rocky) Nelson, a retired single woman with a big heart and a deadly punch!

Today, Wild Women Authors focus on A Deadly Hook, written by Karen A. Phillips and published by River Rock Press.

About the Book: Rocky Nelson looks forward to a carefree camping trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her fraternal twin sister, Bridget, and their two favorite men. A recent Bigfoot sighting lures Bridget’s new boyfriend, Jeff, into a search for the elusive beast, but the weekend turns deadly. When Jeff becomes the prime suspect, Bridget pleads for Rocky’s help. Reluctantly, Rocky is pulled back into the role she thought she’d left behind, and once more heads back into the wilderness—this time hunting not a myth, but a murderer.

What They’re Saying About A Deadly Hook: “…entertaining, with plenty of action, surprises, danger, and a touch of romance…”

“Great character development, intriguing plot, and fast pacing. Highly recommended.”

A Deadly Hook can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.com/DEADLY-Rocky-Nelson-Boxing-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0GLF5LF5W/

About our Focus Author:  Karen A. Phillips lives in northern California and writes humorous, fun, action-packed mysteries. She has many short stories published in various anthologies. Her characters are engaging and fearless. The Rocky Nelson Boxing mystery series features an amateur sleuth who boxes. Karen is a past president of Capitol Crimes, the Sacramento chapter of Sisters In Crime, and is a member of many other writing organizations.

. . . and yes, Karen does take boxing lessons.

 

Find out more about Karen and sign up for her newsletter at: www.KarenAPhillips.com

Red Gate Farm by D.V. Stone

               Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature author DV Stone and Red Gate Farm, a sweet contemporary romance set in a rural lake community in New Jersey. Up first is rancher Addie Martin.

Good morning, Addie. Let’s start with where you are from. I’ve lived in a few places, but for the past 10 years, I’ve called Northern NJ home. Little Flower Ranch is on the outskirts of Lake Unami, a small rural lake community. I know what you’re thinking, rural New Jersey? Yes, about sixty miles from NYC, you can find farms, forests, mountains, and lakes.

Tell us a bit about Red Gate Farm. Just when you think you have your life together, things don’t just fall apart; sometimes they explode. Have you ever heard of eminent domain? Well, [that’s when] the government decides they want your land, and they take it. So here I am with horses, goats, dogs, and cats without a place. I don’t want to move out of New Jersey, but the land here is crazy expensive if you can even find a piece for sale.

There is a long shot, though. One of my boarders has a cousin, Henry, with a piece of property, but it could be a sticky situation.

What did you think the first time you saw him? You mean Clark Kent? You laugh? Yes, the mild-mannered alter ego of Superman. Henry Price is a former journalist who fits the mold down to the black frame glasses. I’m trying not to get attached. Business is business after all. But he is tall, dark, and handsome, which ticks all my physical boxes.

What was your second thought? That he is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I’ve ever met. He’s not a pushover. If our plan does move ahead, there will be expectations and contracts.  

Was it love at first sight? Hmm, maybe not love, but certainly a spark of attraction.

What do you like most about Henry? He loves animals, and they take to him immediately. My dog, BoBali, is probably the one who knew love at first sight.

How would you describe him? He has dark brown, slightly curly hair with a lock in the front that has its own way most of the time. His eyes caught me right away. It may sound weird, but have you ever looked into a horse’s big, old brown eyes? They are soft, yet intelligent. Sweet but have a sparkle in them. Henry is tall and lean with a farmer's tan and hands that are calloused but gentle.

How would he describe you? He likes my freckles, but let me tell you. The first day we met, my windblown hair was out of control. Only a bandana and a braid kept it out of my face. Honestly, though, he grew up on a farm, so he’s used to farm women.

What made you choose ranching for a career? Animals have always been my life. When I was a teen, I had a friend. She was older and taught me everything about horses. I scrimped and saved, then bought Little Flower and started taking in boarders. Then I added a few rescues to the place, and bam, a working ranch.

What is your biggest fear? Not being able to continue to care for my animals is what wakes me up at night. Losing everything I’ve worked for. Recently, I wonder about getting old alone.

How do you relax? Relax on a working ranch? When that occasionally happens, or I need to think, I’ll plop down in the field with my animals. Goats will climb into my lap or onto my back. Watching the horses graze is better than a spa session.

Who is your favorite fictional character? James Herriot. Well, he’s not really fictional, maybe fictionalized. He was a veterinarian from Yorkshire, England, and wrote about life on the farm in the early 1900s. All his books were funny, poignant, sad, and joyful.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “Stop staring at the problem and look past it, around it. And toughest of all, through it. See what’s on the other side.”

To purchase Red Gate Farm, go to: https://amzn.to/43kdGws

Thanks for taking time to speak with us, Addie. Now we’d like to chat with DV. What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Jan Karon. They are writers who take you to other worlds and show whether fantasy or contemporary (I write both), as Sam Gamgee said, “That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.” 

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story, and how do you feel it impacted the novel? There’s a part of the story where Addie needs to tell Henry about something in her past—a time when she was young and naïve. Much of that story is a true event in my life. Its impact on my writing is what happened, happened. You can’t change it but you live with it and hope others don’t judge you.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I’m both traditionally and independently published. Red Gate Farm is independent.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I’m reading Ether Witch, and next up is Black Autumn.

Last, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I have several series that need to be finished. I think the next to finish is Honky~Tonk House, part of my Impact series of first responders. I hope to have it done and submitted to the editor this summer.

If folks are interested in following my happenings, which range from writing to camping and cooking, they can check out my website https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/