Melissa Maygrove Has A New Release!!

Hi Everybody! Did you know that Melissa Maygrove has a new book? Her second novel, Precious Atonement, is now available! Check it out!!

Precious Atonement is a companion novel to her highly-rated debut titled Come Back.

(You can read her Tongue In Cheek Sea Monkey interview for her first book HERE.)

Ruined women don’t hope, 

killers don’t dream, 

and the dead don’t feel pain.

 

Cover image designed by Carrie Butler

Forward Authority Design Services

Rachel Emerson is resigned to live as a spinster. Her parents keep her shameful secret, and her only brother, Seth, vanished mere days after witnessing her rape, taking her dishonor with him and giving them all an alibi for their grief. But none of that matters. Appearances are useless if she can’t bear the touch of a man.

Jacob Evans welcomes pain as much as he seeks to escape it. The graves of his wife and child remind him of his sins every day. When Lawrence Emerson offers him a job and a chance to move west, Jacob permits himself a fresh start. But letting go of his past is only an illusion. Lawrence’s sweet, shy daughter captures Jacob’s heart and provides him a perfect tool for self-torment.

Despite painful lessons of the past, history soon threatens to repeat itself, and as Jacob’s love for Rachel grows, so does his agony. Giving his precious new wife the life she deserves might cost him the very thing he values most—her.

 ~~~

Precious Atonement 

by Melissa Maygrove

Genre: Western Historical Romance

Category: Adult

Heat level: Hot in places

Released by Truelove Press July 22, 2015

Content warning: Although the moral context of the story is old fashioned, 

Precious Atonement contains descriptions of physical intimacy, adult themes including rape, 

and violence including sexual violence. It is intended for mature readers.

You can find the book here:
Kindle ~ Paperback ~ Nook

And you can find Melissa here:
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook 
Twitter @MelissaMaygrove

Don't forget to add Precious Atonement to your Goodreads.

To be notified of news and future new releases, sign up for Melissa's newsletter.

Thanks for stopping by the blog, Melissa! Do you know Melissa? Have you participated in her awesome Follow Fest in the past?

Until next time, Citizens!

I'm Impatient

Impatience, thy name is Ava.

This is me right now.
About everything.




With sporadic upgrades to this:



I occasionally want to say things like this to my email inbox:


And this is a new thing for me. I'm usually very patient, but my well has run dry. For the past year I've been doing too much volunteering and not taking any time for myself. I also seem to be surrounded by people (in the real world, not on the internets, and not The Man or Urchins) that only want to be bothered with me if I'm doing something for them.

So, I'm reacting poorly. If anyone asks something from me, I want to do this:



Of course I reign it in. A bit. But I'm not biting when people hint around that they want me to do something. Which is completely out of character for me. So, I'm coming to grips with this whole new feeling.

How are you guys doing? Any tips on how to elegantly or effectively say no?
 

Happy Independence Day!!

Enjoy a childhood favorite--Schoolhouse Rock!



Do you remember watching Schoolhouse Rock? Which were your favorites?

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Psst..Secret Confession Number Four

Just in case you're keeping track:
Secret Confession I
Secret Confession II
Secret Confession III

Now onto Secret Confession IV

I still use hair scrunchies. And I even, on occasion, wear them in public*.

Any shocking revelations you'd like to share? The comments are all yours.



*Please don't judge me.

What Songs Do You Turn Up?

There are certain songs you just have to play loud. Ones you wish you could turn all the way up to eleven. Here are a few of my favorite songs to jam - in no particular order.

Who Are You - The Who
Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Thunderstruck - AC/DC
Love Struck Baby - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Master of Puppets - Metallica
Nessa Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti
Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies
Been Caught Stealing - Jane's Addiction (Though, this is tied with Coming Down The Mountain)
When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
Shadow of the Season - Screaming Trees
Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
Higher Ground - RHCP cover


Honorable Mention
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
A Little Less Conversation - Elvis
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Even Flow - Pearl Jam
Bitch Better Have My Money - Amg (I hang my head in shame, but I can't deny enjoying this song.)

There are a lot more on my list, but I figured I wouldn't share them all. Leave an air of mystery surrounding me. So, give. What songs make your arm have that involuntary reaction to turn up the volume as soon as you hear them? I promise not to tease you, even if it's Tunes by Englebert Humperdink to Hum in the Shower.

Is That A Train?

I'm coming to the light at the end of the tunnel, or the end of my rope. Whichever comes first.

Got back yesterday afternoon from chaperoning 30 Girl Scouts through tours of Corning, NY's glass museum and Niagara Falls. It was awesome, yet exhausting.

Now I'm back on the horse getting all the last minute prep stuff done for the final science day. 200 third through fifth graders this time. Possibilities of thundershowers every day, including the day we're scheduled to go. And this morning one of the park naturalists asked if it was possible to change her station so that the kids--all 200 of them--could go into the water and look for macro-invertebrates. Which I would love for them to do. But not with TWO DAYS NOTICE!!!!

So I'm emailing people, including the principal--who has not yet mastered the mystery that is the reply button on said emails--and trying not to lose my ever loving mind.

Writing, you say? What writing? Is there such a thing? Why yes, yes there is. Just not a lot of it going on at Chez Quinn at the moment.*

But there will be.

Soon.

I'm determined.

Book revisions. Blog posts that are funny and not complaints. IT WILL HAPPEN. Very. Soon.

You've been warned, Citizens.

For now, I have to get back to drowning in crazy. Thanks for stopping by! Come again!



*Two weeks ago I was in writing paradise-aka writing retreat. MUCH revising got done then, just not this week. Next week? Look out!

Good-Bye B.B. King

As I sit in paradise, also know as writers' retreat, some sadness filtered in. I heard that B.B. King, the original Beale Street Blues Boy, has passed away at the age of 89. He was one of the last original blues men of the era. And a serious class act. He was a gentleman, a generous artist and an amazing musician.

I've seen him perform four times and each show was outstanding. He was polite, funny, generous and so, so talented. He will be missed by many. Back in 2011 I wrote a post about him, and I'd like to share it here. 

B.B King Is A National Treasure

Chez Quinn started the year off right. Not only did The Man and I get to go on a date, but he took me to see B. B. King. It was an outstanding show.

We've seen B. B. King on two other occasions. The first time was a few days before 9/11 in Hershey, PA where he performed with Buddy Guy (who is AWESOME too) and John Hiatt. The second time was three and a half years ago when I was eight months pregnant. So technically, the youngest urchin has been to a B. B. King concert too. The sound table was obstructing our view of that one. But things turned out fantastic because we were moved to the third row where I could see every fret on Lucille.

The Man and I really wanted to see him again, since we knew he's getting up there in age. He announced at the concert that he is now 85 years old. And let me tell you, the man can still rock. The singing and guitar playing were brilliant. Plus he talks to the crowd quite a bit and is funny as hell.

His band has been with him for years. The "new guy" has only been with him for twenty years, so you know these are top notch musicians. They put on a great show too.

After his performance, Mr. King threw guitar picks to the crowd, posed for pictures from the stage and signed anything handed to him. For thirty minutes. The man is a class act. He's been an ambassador for the United states and has toured over ninety countries.

On the way home, talking about the show, I informed The Man that B. B. King was a national treasure. In Japan, people can become living national treasures when they are "keepers of intangible cultural properties." And I believe with all my heart that B. B. King is one of The United States' living national treasures.

So The Man and I started playing one of our favorite games. "Who/What Would Be On Your List?" And I figured I'd play this game with you. Who would be on your list of Living National Treasures of the United States of America?

I'd truly love to know!

Send The Mojo

So things have been rough around Chez Quinn recently. The Man spent seven hours in the E.R. yesterday, but we confirmed that the pain in his left arm is not heart related. It's muscle related. Which is a big relief. But I really could use some better Juju around this place. I'm feeling a little like this Muddy Waters song.



Until next time, Citizens. Gotta say though, that my super villainy plans are sounding more and more reasonable.

Surviving The Strain On The Crazy Train

So, I'm drowning in my annual kid science days. I only got eight parent volunteers this year as opposed to 21 and 25 the two previous years. I have a new principal who doesn't know what he's doing and apparently lacks the ability to answer emails.

The first of the two days is this Friday, and I've done virtually everything myself. It's been a nightmare of epic proportions. So directly after I take 140 first and second graders tromping through the woods from science station to science station with seven teachers and eight parent volunteers, I'll be retreating to the hermetically sealed environs of My Happy Place.

Until it's time to do it again with 200 third, fourth and fifth graders next month.

Speaking of elementary schoolers. Why in the world didn't they offer a program like this when I was a kid? This ROCKS!!



They also perform Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. Among others.

If I survive, I will see you all next time, Citizens. Though I may be forced back into super villainy. Only time will tell.

Happy Easter, Peep Style!

I hope all who celebrate have a peaceful and happy Easter.



Enjoy some Peep fun!