Monday, June 3, 2013

It's a Party for Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson...and a Giveaway!



 Today we’re partying like it’s 1861!

To celebrate the release of our own Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Richardson’s novel Diamond in the Rough: Book 1 of the Charm & Deceit Series, we’re having a picnic near the book's setting of Eureka, California—such a beautiful spot.
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What a nice ocean view! (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=417)
It’s the perfect place for Grant Diamond and Lily Rose (the hero and heroine of Jen and Lisa's fantastic novel) to fall in love, so gather your hoop skirt and delicately drop to the picnic blanket so we can unpack our basket and nibble our celebratory feast.

Oh, my! There’s no need to serve ourselves! Look who’s here to lay out the feast! It's amazing how much our waiter Mr. Jackman resembles the hero, Grant Diamond. Is it any wonder an honorable gal like Lily fell for him, despite his being a professional gambler? (Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, since he was impersonating a missionary.)
"May I offer you a cheddar-dill biscuit, ma'am?"
Our substantial picnic fare of fried chicken, biscuits, pickled veggies, and strawberries has left me parched. Is there any of Jen's favorite iced tea? Why, of course! Served by Mr. Law, who just happens to look a bit like Pinkerton agent, Carter.
"I'll be right there with your iced tea, Jen. Lisa, would you care for any?"
To continue the celebration, our wait staff has invited us to join in some good old fashioned fun. No gambling, now, Mr. Diamond. This is a family site. What’s that? You propose a three-legged race? Sure--

Oh my, one of the Inkies has almost tackled Mr. Jackman to the ground in her haste to claim him as her partner. Can you guess which one?

Meanwhile, I’ll be curling up on the blanket with Diamond in the Rough. You’ll want to, too:

Grant Diamond is a professional gambler on the run from his past. When he comes across a wagon wreck, the chance to escape his pursuers is too good a gamble to pass up, and he assumes the identity of the dead wagon driver. His plan takes an unexpected turn when local heiress Lily Rose mistakes him for the missionary she had asked to come work with the Wiyot Indians. Seeing Eureka as a promising place to lay low, Grant plays along. Before he knows it, he's bluffing his way through sermons and building an Indian school. But with a Pinkerton on his trail and a rancher rousing fresh hatred against the Indians, Grant fears the new life he's built may soon crumple like a house of cards.
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Ooh! Love this book!
Trust me, this book is as fun as it sounds.  The characters are likable and intriguing, the story is action-packed and fast-paced, and mixed with humor are some very pointed comments about hate, redemption, and forgiveness.

Congratulations, Jen and Lisa! We are thrilled to celebrate with you!

The picnic buffet lasts all day. Help yourself to a cookie, or join in on the games.Croquet comes after charades of all of Mr. Jackman and Mr. Law's movies. (My turn. I drew a slip of paper. Ready? It's a movie. One word. I'm extending three fingers on each hand, like W's, and I'm slashing at an invisible opponent. No, Mr. Law, I'm not swatting flies. Goodness! This is taking longer than I thought!)

Please enter a drawing for a giveaway of Diamond in the Rough! Be sure to leave your email addy. The drawing will be held Friday, June 7, at 11:59 pm.

Can't wait that long? Click here to see the book on the Whitaker site.

42 comments:

  1. I try to never have fried chicken before six a.m. but our servers are so cute with their freshly showered hair.

    Somehow I scraped my knee this morning. hmmmmm.

    but some cowboy coffee and some biscuits will go a long way to easing my pain.

    This is going to be a super week. How many times do we get to celebrate a co-authored book like this?

    Even though I never saw the movie, you'd have to be living in the 1860s not to guess that movie title, Susie!

    A picnic is just perfect for today and an excellent chance to wear that hoop and Scarlett O'Hara dress I've desired since I was 12 years old. Um yes, before that waiter was even born...

    So, when do our honored guests make their appearance?

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  2. Congratulations, ladies. Sounds like a great read.

    But do answer this question: How do you sit on a blanket in a hoopskirt? I've worn one. I don't think it's possible.

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  3. Sounds like a fun book! Hugh Jackman... *drool* Especially in that photo!

    Congratulations on the book! Would love to read it. Of course. ;-)

    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Melanie
    mpike@rochester.rr.com

    PS: Laurie Alice, what CAN you do in a hoopskirt, other than stand?

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  4. Susie!! What a fun party. The tea is sweet, right? Lily's mama is from the South. All their tea is sweet!

    I want to play charades! My guess is Les Mis. What? That's not right? Hmmm...

    Laurie Alice, the answer to your question, is "very carefully!" You have to sit straight down and it sort of folds up like an accordion around you rather than under you.

    Melanie thanks for stopping in! Poor Lily definitely has lots of challenges with her skirts. They can be quite embarrassing if not handled with the utmost delicacy, which unfortunately, Lily doesn't have much of.

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  5. Deb, I sure hope your knee is okay. All in a good cause, right?!

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  6. Good morning! Deb, however did you scrape your knee? tee hee.

    It is a great week! I am so happy for Jen and Lisa, and let me just say I am loving their book. I'll announce it in all caps: IT'S FABULOUS!!!

    Deb, one thing about Wolverine...he was born a loooong time ago and doesn't age. He even fought in the Civil War, so he'd be available for croquet or a 3-legged race.

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  7. Laurie, I'm so happy you could come to the picnic!

    I wore a hoop skirt once and was taught to lift the hoop & skirt and sort of drop into the space within the hoop with the skirt poofing around you. That sounds obvious, but it was tricky to execute. The hoop sort of surrounds you more like a hula hoop at this point.

    I didn't sit well in the hoop, either!

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  8. Melanie, I'm so glad you could come by this morning! You're entered into the drawing. This book is so much fun.

    Please feel free to stick around for the picnic! :)

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  9. Waving to my neighbor Melanie. Thanks for visiting! And I'd love to try to picnic in a hoop skirt. I think it would be easier than sitting on a bench seat of a wagon... I picture those beach tents that are like half domes...

    Hoops never looked so fun as when Scarlett runs down her long drive at Tara.

    As for our heroine... there is much discussion among the Inkies that the cover looks like Lisa with dark hair though she claims not. We all see something familiar there though I know she didn't submit her photo!

    I am so enjoying the picnic ladies and gentlemen. California is quite lovely and sharing this moment with two such amazing authors makes it even more so.

    YAY!!!!!!!! for Jen and Lisa!

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  10. Oh, fried chicken. Maybe I could make a plate and sneak it back to my writing cave. Congratulations Jen and Lisa!!!!! Sounds like a fun read!

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  11. Deb-I still don't see it. But who knows, maybe they accidentally used my bio picture instead of the head shots of Emily Blunt that we sent in for the cover design team...?

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  12. Lisa, Mr. Law is serving both sweet and unsweetened tea (for the life of me, I can't remember whether or not Jen uses sweetener.) But since calories are null and void at this picnic, we can have tea as sweet as we wish.

    Eureka, California is gorgeous. What a nice setting for our picnic--and the book. Glad we can hang out here all day.

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  13. Deb, you are so right about Scarlett running in her hoop skirt. Best. Hoop Scene. Ever.

    Barb, take the chicken with you!

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  14. My phone ate my earlier comment, darn it. CONGRATULATIONS, Jen and Lisa! I love our parties.

    All you historical fashion research buffs? Were they still wearing the, er, "open access" drawers with the hoop skirts? If so, that gives a whole 'nother consideration to plopping down on the ground somewhere. I think I'll stay on my feet, or go sit in the buggy.

    Off to wrangle another piece of chicken from one of our waiters. Deb, get out of the way...




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  15. Niki, no worries. There is still at least a chemise and petticoat under the hoop, your tushy won't be against the cold ground. Now get back over here! You can't mince around the buggies all day!

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  16. open access. I almost choked on my sweet tea. And I'm not hanging around just for the chicken if you get my drift...

    I 'think' fashion has moved on to real 'drawers' by this time. But I've been hopping more decades lately than is wise, so I'll leave it up to the fashionistas.

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  17. Ha--Now I have no clue about the open access drawers.

    But one of my books on Jane Austen uses the phrase, "she went commando."

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  18. First off, sweet tea is PLEH. Don't let anyone convince you that "everybody" in the South drinks it.

    Pleh. Pleh. Set-your-teeth-on-edge pleh! Unsweet tea, however, is essential. :D

    Now, for the party. Congrats to you both! Yes, the cover girl looks like Lisa. Very nice. Eager to read this on, and now I can! Woot! :D

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  19. Sweet tea and fried chicken?!

    Umm, I ... uhh, well, can the servers just walk buy carrying empty serving dishes?

    Congrats, ladies! The book is literally sitting atop the books on my nightstand, with my phone covering the title. I have three more books to read for a contest, then I'm reading Diamond. Can't wait!!!!

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  20. Oh, no, Gina. Does that mean you'll still be in judge mode when you read it? Should we send a scoresheet?!

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  21. Lisa, Jen, I'm late to the party. Sorry! I'm at work and had to pop in on my lunch break.

    I'm so happy for you both. I can't wait to hear more about the collaborative process.

    The beach is lovely and the chicken divine, but I'm just hurry back to work.

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  22. Awesome party! Can't wait to read the book! Definitely helping myself to some fried chicken while enjoying...the view.

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  23. What a fabulous spread! This party is amazing. I'll take the unsweetened tea and dump in two packets of Sweet 'n' Low... yep, I'm one of those people.

    The idea of Lily sitting on a picnic blanket while in her hoop skirt is hilarious! It's an accident waiting to happen.

    As for our cover model, Lisa may not see the resemblance, but I sure do. I think it makes the cover just a little more special :)

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  24. Isn't Chicken Divine a dish?

    Well, i'm very glad this is not a work day for me. Tomorrow when I post about history, please note I'll be popping in at lunch and dinner time and for the record. I'm just craving fried chicken but I think we need some chocolate chip cookies as well. Did I miss the dessert offerings somewhere?

    oh waiter!

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  25. Absolutely we need dessert. Oh, Jude would you be a dear? That hamper over there. No, dear, the big one. There's chocolate cake, cookies, strawberries, and mounds of fluffy whipped cream.

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  26. Oh, good, Lisa! I feel much better now. The thought reminded me too much of a terrible camping experience...

    Yay! Dessert! I wondered where the sweet stuff ... ahem... besides our waiters, had gone. I need chocolate.

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  27. I'm having a craving for those strawberries and whipped cream. Oh Hugh... be a lamb and bring me some, dear. (Bats eyelashes furiously)

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  28. I need to add this book to my wish list! Thanks for the info and giveaway! :)

    Karen
    klange61AThotmailDOTcom

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  29. Gina, how could you not enjoy the fried chicken? I spent hours on it, seasoning it with my family recipe of ten herbs and spices. Oh, well, fine. There's chocolate too.

    And Niki, the party may be 1861, but we have lovely, modern spa bathrooms just behind that ridge.

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  30. Karen, it's so nice to see you! Thanks so much for coming by our party. You're entered into the drawing. I'm sure you'd enjoy this novel!

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  31. looking forward to reading this fabulous novel...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  32. What a wonderful concept! I have enjoyed books by both authors and can't wait to read their collaborative efforts. Especially with such delicious visual aids in today's teasing description of the characters!

    Oh, yes, Mr. Jackman. I would love a biscuit.

    Incidentally, I have successfully sat on the ground in a hoop skirt. I consider it one of my lifetime's greatest achievements. I resembled a giant inverted royal blue mushroom.

    Congratulations to Lisa and Jennifer!

    Suzanne Wagner
    SuzWagnerJratymaildotcom

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  33. Eureka! What a party!

    Congratulations Jen and Lisa. So excited about your series. I'm having a hard time waiting for the mailman. :)

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  34. Clapping my hands for Suzanne's spectacular accomplishment of sitting on the ground in a hoop skirt! Way to go! You're a braver woman than I am :)

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  35. Hi KarenK! I'm so glad you could make it to the party. You're entered into the drawing!

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  36. Suzanne! So glad you could attend the party. I know you'd love this book. You're entered into the drawing!

    Giant inverted royal blue mushroom. Love it.

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  37. i could NEVER be socially correct in a hoopskirt. i'd always have the dad-gum thing going the wrong way, exposing my unmentionables.

    swooning over the wait staff today.

    hooray and congrats to Lisa and Jennifer!!! the book sounds awesome!!!!!!!!!!
    (adding exclamation points as textual applause...)

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  38. How nice to see Karen K and Karen L here! and Deb and Suzanne. We do like to share the fun with you all!

    I happen to be reading Jocelyn Green's Civil War story so I feel like hooped skirts are to be expected everywhere I go. getting up and down off of a wagon bench in one is quite a consideration so I'm looking forward to see how the Jen/Lisa team handles some specifics during Lily's gadding about town.

    Hey, I think we need to make up a team name. Jisa? Len Jensa?

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  39. Fun idea, Deb. Hmm... Lisafer? Maybe not. Sounds too much like Lucifer. LOL

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  40. Congratulations to Karen Lange who won the giveaway! We'll be in touch, Karen. Hope you enjoy the book!

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  41. Can't wait to read it, thanks so much! :D

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We, the ladies of Inkwell Inspirations, would love to give free stuff to everybody. Since we can't, we will often have a giveaway in conjunction with a specific post. Unless otherwise stated, one winner will be drawn from comments left on that post between the date it was published and the end of the giveaway as determined in the post. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address. This address is used only to contact the commenter in the event that he/she is the winner, and will not be sold, distributed, or used in any other fashion. The odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. NO PURCHASE, PLEDGE, OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

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