New Contest from Kathryne Kennedy!

I would like to mention that I have a new contest running on my website. You can get the link to subscribe here: http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/contest.html But I’m pasting some of the details below for you as well:

Enter to win one of your choice of Kathryne Kennedy's books! Three
winners will be chosen.

This contest is all about rewarding my loyal readers, and finding new ones.
To enter, just sign up for the author's newsletter at:
groups.yahoo.com/group/kathrynekennedy/
or use the NEWSLETTER link below. (If you are currently a subscriber,
skip this step.) Then send an email to kathryne@kathrynekennedy.com,
with CONTEST in the subject line, and let me know which book you would
like to win and why, in the body of your email. Two winners will be chosen
exclusively from my newsletter subscribers, and one from other email
entries. PLEASE indicate in the SUBJECT LINE on your email entry that
you are a newsletter subscriber. You may send more than one email entry.

Yes, it's that easy! Good luck!

My Magical Best,

Kathryne

 

Judi Thoman

Last night, I spent the evening with my writing friends sharing memories of Judi Thoman. Judi was a long-time member of The Valley of the Sun Romance Writers, a chapter of Romance Writers of America. She recently lost her battle with breast cancer and will be greatly missed.

Many of the writers who spoke last night were members of her critique group. They all said she had taken them under her wing when they first joined the chapter and helped them learn the craft of writing. They are all now published authors.

There were three thoughts I left with last night. One, I believe sharing memories and saying good-byes in small, intimate groups is beneficial. It brought a sense of piece. Second, hearing how Judi helped all of these women made me reflect on my own life. There are times in a person's life when we decide if we want to continue on the path we are on or choose a new path. Three, it is important for woman to get yearly breast exams.

Introducing Brenda Whiteside

Writing murder mysteries is all in a day's work until an obsessed fan brings Phoebe's stories to life.

Mystery writer, Phoebe Anderson, owes her success to killing her first husband on paper seventeen years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. When she decides to take a few days away on the ranch of her best friend’s brother-in-law, she doesn’t expect romance to find her...or murder to follow her.

Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage twenty years ago. When Phoebe shows up, he fights to control his emotions, but soon wonders if she just might be worth the risk of opening his heart again.

With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on his list is Mason.

You can find this cowboy romance at

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Love-Murder-Book-ebook/dp/B00QQPMIMQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1419945652

TWRP:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=726

What Are You Reading Now?

I am reading What Janie Saw by Pamela Tracy. Harlequin's Heartwarming line publishes clean, well-written books that can be shared by mothers and daughters. This particular one is a romantic suspense.

Harlequin Heartwarming May 2014

The last person she wanted... was the only one who could keep her safe...

Janie Vincent had no use for cops.  They'd never done her any favors, but when she uncovers a lead into the disappearance of a girl at the college where she's a teaching assistant, suddenly Janie's life depends on the officers of Scorpion Ridge.  And one in particular: Sheriff Rafael Salazar.  

Rafe knows how much destruction a missing-persons case can cause a family, and so to solve this case, he's determined to stick to Janie like glue.  She's clearly not a fan of the 24/7 surveillance, but he intends to break down her distrust.  And maybe they'll discover what Janie saw can be the key to healing them both.

RT reviewer says:  Tracy’s story is a suspenseful and entertaining one readers will enjoy as they follow the twists and turns.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Janie-Scorpion-Ridge-Arizona-ebook/dp/B00GPDURSG/ref=sr_1_12?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1419612357&sr=1-12

Do We Need A Hero?

I finished watching my recording of the season finale of How to Get Away with Murder and I felt conflicted. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I have since the beginning, but I have been losing interest in the series. After the finale, I was leaning towards not watching it again. On the other hand, I do enjoy those twists and turns. I thought about the shows I usually record. They are crime dramas with a hero or heroine. The good guys go after the bad guys and win. I was left wondering whether or not a show needs a hero?

Romance writers and readers are used to having a hero and a happy ending. We leave our books or television with a sense that good overcame evil and all is right with the world.

Then I remembered Breaking Bad. I believe the character development was superb. We watched the nice guy, a teacher, turn bad for good reasons. Eventually, he had to admit he reached a point where he enjoyed being bad because he was good at it. But even when he was bad, he still protected Jesse and his family, including his brother-in-law, who worked for the DEA.

I get the impression that Annalise on How to Get Away with Murder would throw anyone under the bus if it fit into her scheme to win. I feel sorry for the character she had affair with. He seems to be a nice guy who has suffered the most from knowing her. The students who work for her have been dragged to the dark side as well. I feel sorry for them, but that isn't enough to keep me watching. I need a hero on this show. It is a popular series, so I am sure many people do not agree with me. We are all entitled to our own opinion.