Raine Balkera - Romance Author

So, today is #WIPWednesday, and even though I've not been all that attentive to my writing of late, I still thought it would be a nice idea to update here with my turtle-paced progress. Where Things Stand Inigo and Linley have met, clashed a few times, and then separated on a bad note. She flees her up-north retreat and returns to her downtown apartment in Detroit a twice-bitten woman, again reminding herself about men in general and that it is best to stick with what she knows -- what she's best at -- and not to tempt fate anymore. Upon her return, she learns via a phone message that her stepsister has been arrested on drug trafficking charges and is currently in the Wayne County Jail with bond set high enough that only someone of Linley's means would be capable of handling -- which is what the phone call is about -- her estranged stepmother asking for that cash. Issues In the rough draft, I didn't go into any flash-back details about her awful childho...

Pages: 166 Device Usage: Unlimited Publisher: Ocean View Books (April 15, 2015) Published: April 15, 2015 Goodreads Link: Author Series: The Ludzecky Sisters, Book 1 Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Second Chance Sexual Content: 3-5 Synopsis BEGIN AGAIN tells the story of Paulina Ludzecky who, since her husband died three years ago, runs a contracting business with her twin, Antonia. She’s ready to dip her toes in romance when she meets Adam Armstrong, the architect on the new music hall her company is building.  For Adam, opposites attract and he’s drawn to this no-nonsense, down-to-earth girl next door. She’s equally interested in him though he’s too different from her to settle down with. But alpha male Adam has other plans for Paulina and isn’t about to let her go, even when Paulina has trouble with committing to him. Sex, yes! Love, no! This second chance at love story will tug at your heartstrings.  Review This was a free (...

Pages: 311 Publisher: Christi Caldwell Pub. Date: December 29, 2013 Series:  Scandalous Seasons Book 1 Genre: Historical Romance Sold by: Amazon Digital Services , Inc. Sexual Content: 4 - 5 Blurb Hopeless romantic, Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh, is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands. War-torn veteran, Lord Drake, devotes himself to forgetting his days on the Peninsula through an endless round of meaningless associations. He no longer wants to feel anything, but Lady Emmaline is making it hard to maintain a state of numbness. With her zest for life, she awakens his passion and desire for love. The one woman Drake has spent the better part of his life avoiding is now the only woman he needs, but he is no longer a man worthy of his Emmaline. It is up to her to show him the he...

It's been awhile since I last posted anything, and I feel bad about that (even if no one reads my posts), but I also feel sad, and for other reasons besides not blogging much of late. I've never been one to self-diagnose an illness, but there were plenty of times when I'd suggested to others that they maybe look into a reason why they either behaved or felt the way they did. As for myself, I take it all as it comes and most-often hope or will away whatever it is that ails me. I've also known for a few decades now that it is entirely likely that I am a depressed person, or that I suffer from some form/type of depression. Back in the 00's, and for a very brief time, I started taking Cortaslim tablets thinking that I might lose some weight that way, and while it did help me to shed a few pounds, what it actually did was enhance my mood. In fact, it worked so well that I can remember telling myself that I had probably never, ever felt so good in...

It's Friday. TGIF. It is my day of rest writing-wise yet has since become the best day to blog. Still reading, of course. Another free download (via BookBub) in the Contemporary Romance genre of the Western variety. Directly after viewing the cover of said freebie, I swiped my Paperwhite and read the author's little note: "If you find any errors, please e-mail me . . ." And, I got scared. I began to read her story, and I am finding errors, but I doubt they are of the variety for which she wishes an e-mail notification. However! This has nothing to do with today's blog post. What I'd like to touch on today are a few more of the creative words being tossed about in a storm-churned sea of the writing I've encountered for awhile now. Or, should I type a while now since it is preceded by a preposition? Only “a while” (two separate words) can follow a prepositional phrase.  For as long as I can remember, awhile was and always would b...

Pages: 304 Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 16, 2008) Language: English Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Bon-Appetit-French-Twist-Book/dp/1400073286 Series: French Twist Book 2 Genre: Christian Fiction/Food Sexual Content: -5/5 Blurb Lexi Stuart is risking it all. Saying au revoir to the security of home, her job, and could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi embarks on a culinary adventure in France to fulfill her life dream of becoming a pastry chef.  As she settles into her new home in the village of Presque le Chateau to study and work in a local bakery, her twenty-something optimism meets resistance in the seemingly crusty nature of the people and culture around her. Determined to gain her footing, she finds a church, meets a new friend, and makes the acquaintance of a child named Celine–as well as Celine’s attractive, widowed father, Philippe. Even Patricia, the gruff pastry cook, shows a softer side as she mentors Lexi in the art of baking. As Lexi...