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 Winner of 2006 PEARL ParaNormal Excellence Award in Romantic Literature BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT
BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT As far back as Nadine Stone could remember she'd accompany her parents to Lake Flint for the summer. At night she and her father would make wishes on the brightest star, but during a Blue Moon, those wishes would come true. One such night Nadine wishes for a handsome prince to come sweep her off her feet. However, it wasn't until she's nineteen that she meets her prince. While her parents are busy writing a novel they're co-authoring, Nadine stretches out on a blanket on the beach to sunbathe. Right in the middle of chapter two, a volleyball lands inches from her face covering it in sand. A moment later a male voice tells her not to move and comes back with a wet towel. When she is able to see once more, Nadine finds herself peering into a pair of beautiful eyes. From that day on until she has to leave with her parents when her grandfather has a heart attack, she spends most of her waking hours with Michael. They make wishes under a Blue Moon and vow to meet the following year. Nadine keys his number into her cell phone only to lose it. To make matters worse, her home telephone number is unlisted. She fears she won't be able to contact Michael until the following summer. When her parents are killed in a fatal auto accident, even that avenue is closed to her. Feeling the loss of practically everyone she loved, Nadine falls into a funk feeling sorry for herself despite her grandparents' efforts to get her beyond her grief. When she meets a woman who's had it worse, she begins to realize life is really worth living. She goes back to school and lands a job as a paralegal. At the law firm she meets Josh. They start out as friends, but soon their friendship develops into something more. However, Nadine can't commit. Josh senses this and gives her time to sort things out. She goes back to Lake Flint to confront her ghosts. Will she be able to let Michael go, finally and marry Josh or will her heart always belong to Michael? BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT Genre: Romance Anthology Beneath the Velvet Blue Moon By Candace Gold Reviewed by Kenda Montgomery Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle Some things are just meant to be, while others rush through our lives with the bittersweet longing of youth. At age nineteen, Nadine Stone thought her summer fling with Michael Greene was meant to last a lifetime, the kind of instant love that is sure and solid. When family tragedy strikes, she is torn from the world she so dearly loved and loses contact with the boy that she lost her heart to. She wanders through life for many years, wondering if the only choice she has left is to settle for the next best thing. Though she's come to love her life, there's something missing and it takes her coming full circle under a blue moon to find what her heart has been crying out for. This was a riveting story from start to finish-then I went back and read it again! Author Gold deftly uses first point of view to delve deep into our heroine, connecting the reader in way that nb other point of view allows. We are literally walking every step ofNadine'_ emotions and inner turmoil, a very interesting way to connect and look at the story. Gold's subtle wit and poignant writing is not to be missed. Look for her story in the anthology "Blue Moon Enchantment': and be sure to pick up the first in the series, "Blue Moon Mag:ic" as well. Bravo. Ms. Gold. for a touching and entertaining read! TITLE: Blue Moon Enchantment AUTHOR: Various ISBN: 0974624977 4.5 STARS! ***** This is the second book in the Blue Moon anthology series. The first, titled "Blue Moon Magic", was released only a few months ago and is still selling wildly. I predict that this companion book will do as well. Short stories are even harder to write than full length novels and this anthology has FIFTEEN magical tales by various authors. If you want some sweet dreams, read one of two of these stories just before bed. Terrific! ***** HUNTRESS REVIEWS (Reviewed by Detra Fitch) BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT Rating: Four Shamrocks Legend has it that a blue moon is enchanted. What happens when fifteen talented authors utilize this theme to create enthralling stories of love? Candace Gold's bittersweet tale demonstrates how enduring love really is. Nadine's continued memory of the bliss she once shared with Michael is simply beautiful. The emotional impact of Beneath the Velvet Moon will leave nary a reader with a dry eye! BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT is a wonderful, themed anthology filled with phenomenal stories by fifteen extraordinarily talented authors. Readers will find a wide variety of time periods and styles showcased in this superb anthology. BLUE MOON ENCHANTMENT is sure to offer a little bit of something for everyone! Reviewed by Debbie Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved Buy This Book: Available at Highland Press 
Now available from Highland Press, another anthology of stories to warm your heart during the holidays, HOLIDAY IN THE HEART,with my THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL included.
While still nursing her wounds from being left at the altar a month before her wedding, Claudia Sykes is talked into attending a Valentine's Day dance. There she meets Adam Devine and soon forgets her ex and the pain he caused her. They fall in love, but Adam is a reservist in the National Guard and is deployed to Iraq. Claudia fears he won't return and she'll lose him as she lost her ex. When Adam's letter stop abruptly, she fears the worst. Will her worst fears come true or does Adam return to her?
A HEATED ROMANCE Marcie O'Dwyer always wanted to be a firefighter, like her father, but being a female firefighter in a small town proves to be a constant challenge. When a handsome, male chauvinist joins the squad, sparks fly and ignite between them, until a real arsonist begins starting fires throughout the town. And nobody has a clue to where he'll strike next.
She battles blazing fires and battles for respect... As a woman firefighter, Marcie O'Dwyer can never let down her guard. She knows it might cost her life. However, Ray Smith just might slip past her defenses. He poses the greatest threat...to her heart. There is no room for her in his life... Hard-hearted Ray Smith has vowed never to fall in love again. Only Marcie is working her way under his skin. This woman has no place on the Squad. No place in his heart. Passions burn as bright as the fires they fight... But can their attraction survive constant doubts, a misunderstanding and the threat of a maniac arsonist bent on murdering them both?
NOW FOR SALE AT BARNES&NOBLE AND AMAZON! Barnes&Noble link: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=A+Heated+Romance&z=y and Amazon link:
Monday morning after breakfast, Marcie O'Dwyer busily swept the kitchen floor. She looked up to see a dark-haired, handsome, incredibly built guy with broad shoulders walking toward her. His well-muscled body moved with easy grace. Before she could say a thing, he said, "Hot damn! This is some sweet deal I got myself into." "Can I help you?" she asked. "We'll discuss that later. I can't believe they've hired a woman to clean for the house." She looked at him as if he were crazy. "Who did you say you are?" "I didn't. You're pretty damn nosy for a cleaning woman." "I'm not the cleaning woman! I'm a firefighter, bud." "You?" He chuckled. "You're putting me on, right?" She shook her head, blood pounding in her ears. Leaning on the broom handle, she glared directly into his green eyes. "Damn serious!" she squeezed out between clenched teeth. "A female doesn't belong in a firehouse. She belongs in a house surrounded by a white picket fence with a bunch of kids to take care of." His reply knocked the heated banter squarely back into her court. Marcie gripped the broom handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. She had a mind to whack the guy right over his thick skull with it. "O'Dwyer, I see you and Smith have met." Assistant Chief Lenny Wiebolt walked into the kitchen. "He's the new transfer from downtown, replacing Logan." Wiebolt was tall, with thinning sandy-blond hair. He was a fair guy who treated everyone equally no matter their gender. This fact alone endeared him to Marcie. "He's a real charmer," she spat through clenched teeth, glowering at Smith before putting the broom away. "If you'll both excuse me, I have things to do." She suddenly felt the need for fresh air and walked outside. A small, innocuous pebble lay on the concrete apron in front of the firehouse, and she gave it a swift kick. Mentally, she replayed the scene with Smith and fumed all over again. This guy was something else. To look at him, she saw every woman's hottest fantasy-a near perfect male specimen. However, all that was just icing. Too bad the cake beneath was rotten. She'd had her fill of male chauvinists. In her opinion, macho firemen were the worst. Even her dad had been one. Marcie hated having to prove herself every time a new fireman joined the squad. Needless to say, as the only female firefighter in town-and a damn good firefighter at that-the onus fell on her. But she was fed up with being forced to go through the drill. If some ego-inflated Neanderthal couldn't deal with it, well that was his problem, not hers. This time she swore would be the last. She was damn tired of having to justify her worthiness.
REVIEWS FOR A HEATED ROMANCE A Heated Romance and Much More!, March 25, 2008
Candace Gold spins an exciting tale of one woman's struggle for equality in what has traditionally been a man's world--firefighting. Is there romance? Oh yeah! Marcie O'Dwyer, though more concerned with career than passion, finds herself embroiled in a big time romance with the hunky, but mysterious, Ray Smith--who may or may not be a chauvinist.
NOW AVAILABLE! A Highland Press Anthology FEATURING: ICECAPADE When MaryAnn Hedges falls in love with Sam Bronson, a butcher who can really cook, she never imagined they would end up on the wrong side of the law.
Category: Romance Anthology Format: Trade Paperback Publish Date: 07/2008 Price: $8.99 US ISBN 13: 978-0981855004 Buy it at: Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble Or order it at your local bookstore
ON SALE APRIL 15th at Whiskey Creek Press While on a job interview in Arizona, Peter Saunders is car-jacked and left for dead. However, his assailant himself, is killed in a fiery accident with an oil truck. Authorities notify Kate Douglas, Peter's fiance in New York, of his death. She is devastated. And, as if that pain and heartache isn't enough, Kate, a six-grade teacher, discovers she's pregnant and must fight to keep her job. Though she never truly let's Peter's ghost go, she eventually finds happiness with fellow teacher, Mark Winters...until fate intervenes once more. ON SALE NOW! Reviews for AUTUMN LEAVES by Candace Gold "Autumn Leaves is a beautiful love story. The plot is interesting and well-developed. The characters are strong, and each has his own voice. Autumn Leaves did not end the way I expected. This is an entertaining read." 4 Stars!
Kate Doughas has two men in her life, one a friend and one a lover. Tragedy strikes and she loses one. But, as she learns, life will go on. The mood of this tale by talented author Candace Gold is fitted to the title, a tale that shows how we can go through our own autumn. Realistic characters share their very real emotions and experiences with the reader -- this could be the story of someone you know. There is more involved in this story than just Kate, Peter and Mark. The story pushes into the next generation and we see how the past affects the present as well as the future. If you're looking for a story with a nasty villain, this isn't it, but if you are looking for a story with warmth by an author who knows the human heart, this is it. I'm pleased to recommend Autumn Leaves as a tale that will touch the heart of any romantic. I'm certain you'll enjoy reading it. Sample Chapter For AUTUMN LEAVES by Candace Gold Peewee Boyd had gotten up twenty-five hundred miles away in Phoenix with a throbbing headache. He had endured his last embarrassment and cringed under the weight of the last insult hurled at him the evening before. Today he'd show them all. They'd have to find someone else to pick on because he had had enough. He was leaving and doubted he'd ever be back. Peewee didn't get the nickname because of his size. He was average height for a man at five feet ten inches. In fact, everything about him was average, except his mental capacities. He was a pint low as most would put it. Some said it was because he was the runt of the litter, being the last of nine kids and got the least of everything. Whatever the case, Peewee was the one everyone had teased and made fun of for thirty-one of his thirty-two years. The first year he had been given the benefit of doubt. Well, he had just about had it. He was tired of being the butt of every damn joke and would show them all real good. * * * * Kate got stuck in traffic and feared she'd miss Peter's call. Luckily the phone was still ringing as she opened the door to the apartment. "Hello," she breathlessly said, after having clumsily dropped the receiver. "Hello, babe, it's me. What did you do, jog home?" "Oh, darling, it's so good to hear your voice. I got stuck in traffic and almost missed your call." "I'm glad you didn't. It's good to hear your voice, too. I just wanted to let you know that I arrived safely. I'm going to pick up my car rental and head out for the hotel. I'll call you tomorrow at six your time to let you know how the interview went." "Good luck, Peter, though I know they'll want you the minute they see you." "Not too biased, are we?" "Not when it comes to you." Peter laughed and said, "Love you." "Love you, more. Drive safely." "Bye." "Bye, Peter." * * * * Peewee decided to head for Texas. He was sure he'd make it big there. He'd find himself a woman and a job, the order of which mattered little. The only thing that kept him from following his dream was a set of wheels. Peewee didn't own a car. Since he couldn't afford one, he'd have to steal it. His friends did it all the time when they needed fresh wheels. He couldn't figure out how to hotwire one, so he'd have to car jack one. How hard could it be? He had a gun and he knew how to use it. Besides, how many people would argue with a man pointing a gun at them? Now that Peewee had decided how to get his wheels, he had to figure out the best place to get them. While sitting in his tin-can of a trailer, slaking his thirst with a beer, a car rental commercial came on the TV. It took a few moments, but eventually his mind made the connection. A crooked grin spread across Peewee's freckled face as he got up and shut off the TV. He grabbed his gun and slammed the trailer door behind him. * * * * That night lying in bed, Kate missed the closeness of Peter who liked to cuddle. When they had first started sleeping together, she would joke that he was like a security blanket because he liked to cuddle so much. Thinking about Peter, she eventually dozed off into a restless sleep. She began to dream. She was standing on the sidewalk of a busy city street when she witnessed a car accident. She could see the flames shooting into the air, but she couldn't see who was driving. The nightmare was so vivid, so real, that she woke up drenched in her own sweat, gasping for breath. Fearing that it was some kind of a premonition, she began to tremble. She only prayed it was somehow connected to her irrational anxieties that often plagued her and nothing more. Despite her attempts to reassure herself of this, Kate couldn't sleep a wink after the nightmare, and she tossed and turned until it was time to get out of bed. * * * * Peewee hitched a ride to the strip near the Sky-Harbor Airport where most of the car rental companies were located. Remembering the Dollar Rental commercial, he hung out there and waited for an easy mark. He watched as a tan car pulled away from the parking lot and head toward the exit to be checked out by a guard. The car then went about three hundred yards or so and pulled over to the side. It looked like the man had pulled out a map and was studying it. Peewee smiled and headed over to the car. He knocked on the driver's side window. The man rolled the window down to ask what Peewee wanted. Still smiling, Peewee said he needed a ride. Before Peter could react, the stranger had pointed a gun in his face and was in his car. "If you want to see the sunrise tomorrow, you'll just drive," the stranger said in a menacing voice. "Where do you want to go?" "Just drive. Are you deaf, man?" Even though Peter was being cooperative, Peewee had taken an instant dislike to the handsome man sitting next to him. He'd wager that he never was made fun of. Peewee decided to show him who was the better man. He would kill him. Peter was afraid. He had no idea what the guy with the crooked smile was capable of doing. He certainly didn't want to upset him, so he did his best to cooperate. And yet, he wondered what the man was after. If the man had meant him no harm, he could have just taken his money and the car in the beginning. Instead, the man was making him drive to a desolate area. Peter felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He realized that he was going to have to do something soon, before he was told to stop the car. "Stop the car." Too late, Peter thought, though he knew he had to do something. He stopped the car. There was no room to maneuver in the car. He got out. The stranger slid out after him, the gun still aimed at Peter's head. Suddenly Peter pivoted and turned into the other man, knocking the gun from his hand. The element of surprise was still on Peter's side and he slugged the guy in his gut. The man doubled over and Peter hit him again, knocking him to the ground. On instinct, Peter charged for the car. He opened the car door and was about to jump inside when he heard a noise. Almost simultaneously he felt a jolting pain on the side of his head which knocked him to his knees. The second shot hit him in his back. Then the world around him suddenly went dark. "Thought you'd outsmart ole Peewee, did you? Well, I certainly showed you," Peewee said, dragging Peter's body to the side of a ravine and letting it drop. No-one would find the man for days or even weeks. By then, Peewee would be long-gone in Texas. He felt great. The last time he felt this way was when he did Mabel in her beat-up Chevy. Getting back into the car, Peewee sped back to Mesa to collect the stuff he was taking to Texas. Only Peewee never made it to Texas. He was going at an excessive speed when a motor cyclist cut him off. He had to swerve sharply to avoid hitting him, but ended up directly in the path of an oil tanker. The brakes on the truck locked and it slammed into the car Peewee was driving, creating an inferno. whiskeycreekpress.com
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Copyright 2006 © Candace Gold
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NO LAW AGAINST LOVE 2 
