Cover Reveal!
Just wanted to give you the first peek at Olivia and Brad, the couple on the cover for my May 1st release from Montlake. My editor said the idea was to convey a sense of lightheartedness and joy.
Well, I do believe they did it! I love it! The art department at Montlake rocks! This cover really warms me right down to my Ohio-frozen toes. And that’s Mirror Lake in the background…can’t wait to share the details with you soon!
Archie the Snowman, An Extraordinary Story
Once upon a time there was a beloved 24-foot snowman named Archie who greeted children at a local mall from the late 1960’s until 2003. They would walk up to the snowman, speak into a microphone, and he would talk to them about Christmas. His eyes would light up and his voice would project from a secret booth with a one-way mirror.
But alas, as in any great story, tragedy struck. The mall got sold to different owner and the snowman deteriorated and someone threw him away. Ouch.
But in 2011, two wonderful men began a Facebook page to Save Archie. They got thousands of hits on Facebook, people with fond memories remembering the impact that Archie had on them when they were kids.
The community rallied, and Archie was resurrected with lots of love. He was rebuilt, better and stronger than before, but a little less taller (he stands at 15 feet now, and his girth is a bit wider, for true snowman appeal–and middle age, maybe?)
I visited Archie with my 20 year old daughter the other day. We made a special trip, in fact. We listened to him talk to a 4 year old about the truck he wanted and heard Archie tell him to be good. Then my beautiful daughter walks up with her Starbucks in hand and Archie says, “Well, hellloooo there! And what do you want for Christmas?” (It was a different tone than what he used for the 4 year old, that’s for sure 🙂 He had us both laughing. We took pictures and relived fond memories. It was joyous!
It was so great to see Archie back in his rightful place. Of the two men who began the campaign for Archie, one has since died. He was a younger man, in his mid-thirties. I can’t tell from Google what he died from. This saddens me greatly. But it also makes me awestruck. Imagine the change that came from their effort that started so simply and grew into something extraordinary. The impact from what those men started was profound. By spearheading the effort to bring this community institution back, they spread love and joy.
I wish you all a joyous holiday with your families. Reliving fond memories and creating new ones. Getting over the stress and seeing the holiday for what it really is–an opportunity to spend time with those we love.
Sheridan Jeane’s New Historical Romance
My friend Sheridan Jeane has a new historical romance release out today! Check out the lovely Lady Catherine on that cover…she looks like she’s hiding something…
Synopsis: London, 1853. Despite Lady Catherine’s love of fencing, she needs to stop pretending to be a boy and fraternizing with men…but not until after the fencing tournament! Her mother plans to marry her off by the end of the season, so this will be her last chance to enjoy her freedom. When she impulsively puts her reputation at risk to save the life of a dashing competitor, all seems lost when he sees through her disguise, but he vows never to reveal her secret. Thank goodness for gentlemanly honor!
Daniel, Marquess of Huntley, wants to overcome the rumors of his father’s madness so that he can be embraced by London society. His plan is to marry the most proper woman who will have him, and then raise stable, respectable children. He certainly isn’t interested in some hoyden with a penchant for masquerading as a boy and flaunting society’s rules. In fact, he’d prefer to keep his distance.
When an obsessed suitor discovers Catherine’s secret and threatens blackmail, the only path out of social ruin is marriage. But what kind of protection does matrimony provide when a vengeful suitor is plotting the ultimate revenge?
Order Lady Catherine’s Secret from Amazon here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheridan Jeane writes exciting and emotion-packed historical romances set in the Victorian Era that confront issues of trust and conformity.
With the advent of the industrial age, life was changing. Many people tried to hold on to the old ways of life while others embraced the new opportunities open to them.
Join Sheridan as she explores the clash between the old and the new.
Sheridan has always loved books, history, and stories about amazing people who blaze new trails.
Despite naming their daughter Sheridan because they thought it might someday look great on the cover of a book, Sheridan’s parents urged her in a more practical direction for college. Sheridan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in English.
Follow Sheridan Jeane.
Website: http://sheridan-jeane.strikingly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheridanJeane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheridanJeane
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/8120594.Sheridan_Jeane
My May, 2015, Small Town Romance from Montlake Has a Title!
My lighthearted contemporary small town romance has a title–THIS THING CALLED LOVE. Coming in May, 2015, from Montlake Romance. Yay!
Sheridan Jeane’s Historical Romance It Takes a Spy Out Today! Giveaway!
Historical author and my friend Sheridan Jeane is releasing her second book today! Take a look at the gorgeous cover, read an excerpt, and follow the link to enter a giveaway!
Congratulations, Sheridan, and happy release day!
About the Book!
In 1851, Cecilia Paring has serious reservations about marrying her fiancé, Devin Montlake. Gone is the boy who could capture her heart with a word or a glance and in his place is a man who has made it clear that to be a proper barrister’s wife, the exciting and impulsive Cecilia must change as well.
Although Devin Montlake loves his orderly life as a barrister, he’s determined to follow his roadmap to achieve his goal of becoming a judge. His biggest obstacle seems to be convincing his headstrong fiancée to fulfill her social obligations with a modicum of propriety.
But when the jewelry collection belonging to Cecilia’s family is stolen the night before it is to be auctioned off and Devin is framed for the crime, he discovers that following his much-loved rules won’t solve this particular problem. He’ll need the inventiveness of his irrepressible fiancée to catch the thief.
Excerpt
“Trust you?” She narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion. “I don’t trust anyone who says ‘trust me.’ Aren’t you the boy who put frogs in my teapot when Evangeline and I were having a tea party at Sir Timton’s lawn party?”
The knot in Devin’s stomach eased at her bantering words. “Your memory is faulty,” he said, using a teasing tone that mimicked hers. “It was his daughter’s birthday party. And if you’ll put your mind to it, you’ll recall that you said you planned to kiss one hundred frogs in order to find your prince. I was simply trying to help you on your quest.”
The childhood fantasy had suited her. She’d always looked like a princess to him, with her pale hair framing her face like a shimmering crown of gold. Even though her hair was darker now, when he looked at her, he could still catch a glimpse of that child.
His princess burst out laughing. “I’d forgotten about that plan. How did you even know about it?”
“It was common knowledge.” He recalled his half-thought-out plan to appear when she’d kissed her one hundredth frog. Well, perhaps it had been more of a daydream. She’d kiss her last frog and then look up to find Devin waiting for her. The daydream ended there. After all, he’d been five years her senior.
Of course, he’d been more whimsical back then. At least, he’d tried to be. Being around Cecilia seemed to have that effect on him. She leached the rigidity from him, making him feel unconstrained and free to be himself.
Even now he was amazed at the way fate had thrown them together. Would he have even met her if she hadn’t lived so close to him? Would he have fallen in love so irrevocably? He knew Miss Cecilia Paring. He knew her deep down to the tips of her toes and the corners of her soul. He’d seen her splashing in the rain puddles after a storm until her dress was soaked all the way through. He’d seen her caring for an abandoned baby bird, allowing it to perch on her shoulder all day, leaving white droppings on her dress. He’d even seen her slamming her hand against the piano keyboard with frustration when she couldn’t move her fingers fast enough to master a new piece.
“Did you ever make it all the way to one hundred frogs?” he asked. He would have missed it, since he’d left not long after that party to attend Oxford.
She didn’t respond for a moment, and he began to think she wouldn’t, until she finally said, “Of course I did. I found my prince, didn’t I?”
Giveaways and Buy Links
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway of It Takes a Spy here 
And find Sheridan’s first book, Gambling on a Scoundrel, on sale here
For the Amazon page of It Takes a Spy, click here.
About the Author
Sheridan Jeane writes exciting and emotion-packed historical romances set in the Victorian Era that confront issues of trust and conformity.
With the advent of the industrial age, life was changing. Many people tried to hold on to the old ways of life while others embraced the new opportunities open to them.
Join Sheridan as she explores the clash between the old and the new.
Sheridan has always loved books, history, and stories about amazing people who blaze new trails.
Despite naming their daughter Sheridan because they thought it might someday look great on the cover of a book, Sheridan’s parents urged her in a more practical direction for college. Sheridan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a minor in English.