'Tis the Season...for Cocoa and Reading!

’Tis the Season for Cocoa and Reading: Holiday Stories and More is a collection of short stories by Vanilla Heart Publishing Authors Tamara Philip, Chelle Cordero, Malcolm R. Campbell, Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard, Neva Squires-Rodriguez, Charmaine Gordon, and Lauren Shiro.

That Christmas Feeling - Tamara Philip

A Date With Mistletoe - Chelle Cordero

Jock Stewart’s Holiday Hilarity - Malcolm R. Campbell

Dead for a Night - Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard

Esperanza-The Holiday that Wasn’t - Neva Squires-Rodriguez

Surprise in August - Charmaine Gordon

The Gift - Lauren Shiro

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY FOR FREE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://books.noisetrade.com/vhpmain/tis-the-season-for-cocoa-and

The Holiday Season is here!!!

The holiday season is here. And I have the perfect follow up to Pianissimo! It's called First Christmas.

Check this out:

https://vhpbooktours.com/2016/10/30/first-christmas-a-holiday-short-story-by-lauren-shiro-now-available-in-all-ebook-editions/

Last WeWriWa of 2015!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight to ten sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt: We are reading Agnes' diary as she sums up Christmas, and the meaning of the holiday. Snippet in 10:

So many people struggle and try to find joy in their material possessions. For them, this purpose of this day is for them to acquire more things, and yet still feel empty inside. I am so fortunate to know better than that. It is wonderful to not be wrapped up in the intangible concepts of money and belongings. I should rather live in a full dairy barn with Margaret than to not have her but have an exorbitant amount of money and things. Holidays aren’t about things. They’re about people. The people we all know and love. The people in our lives whom we should celebrate. And I shall celebrate Margaret every day that I am alive.

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading, happy holidays, and have a happy and blessed new year!

Unbreakable Hostage for the Holidays

I cannot believe it's December 24th already! Where has the time gone?

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at my suspense novel, Unbreakable Hostage.

Unbreakable Hostage isn't a "who dunnit" type of suspense novel. Instead, it puts you right in the middle of the action. You wonder what is going to happen next, and if any of us are going to make it out alive.

Lareina Oliveira is a small, gorgeous, tenacious Hispanic woman. She is as smart as she is beautiful. She's an educator, but she finds her students' apathy depressing. So she decides to pursue her doctorate in math so that she can teach at the university level. In her class, she meets Tony Covelli, a rather awkward and somewhat creepy man. He clearly has an interest in her. Though she gently rejects him time and again, he clearly doesn't get the hint. In an act of desperation, he kidnaps her.

In Unbreakable Hostage, we are able to experience this story from Lareina's perspective, Tony's perspective, Lareina's roommate's and family's perspective, and Marc's, the missing persons detective assigned to her case.

This story will certainly keep you guessing as to what is going to happen next. Unbreakable Hostage is a dark and intense story sure to sweep up anyone who dares to open it and turn the page.

    Get your copy here

5 Stars

"I read this awhile ago and it sit fondly in my kindle awaiting my turn to read it one more time. It is a suspense story about a heroine who stays alive through wit, math and out smarting her kidnapper...as she sends clues and ends up saving herself and taking the books to a happy ending. I have read nearly all of Lauren's books and I always look forward to more books in the future. I highly recommend Lauren's book...it is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout your read." - L. Boritz

Lareina Oliveira; she wants to share her passion for math. So it is back to school for Lareina… a tough Ph.D. program. A classmate is captivated by Lareina’s beauty and intelligence, and despite her repeated refusals to his attentions, he kidnaps her! Only her determination and wits can save her…

More Holiday WeWriWas!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
We are now watching Margaret and Agnes celebrate Christmas. They have just celebrated the holiday with Margaret's family. The two are having this discussion while heading off to bed.
Snippet in 9:

Margaret swished in place; her dress spun and twirled around her. “I love Christmas. I love our Christmases together."
     “As do I,” Agnes quietly replied. “You know, the holiday is so much more than gifts. It reminds us to love, appreciate and care for those we hold dear. It reminds us to not think of self, but rather to focus on those around us. Every day, I thank God for you. Every Christmas, I am reminded of how wonderful you really are.”


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Imperfect and Impeccable for the holidays

I cannot believe it's December 17th!

It's crazy to think we're at the end of 2015 already, isn't it?! Time goes by WAY too quickly!

Since the holidays are officially upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to look at my books as gifts for the readers on your list...or even yourself! ;)

This week, we'll look at my powerhouse duo: Imperfect and Impeccable.

These two books tell the life story of a woman named Carol Mathers. We meet Carol on her twenty first birthday, when she's in college. We watch her grow, and blossom. We learn about her past, and walk with her through the present and future.

These books tell not only her story, but the story of her relationships. The severed relationship she has with her mother. The close relationship she shared with her father before he died suddenly and tragically. The relationship she forges with her partner, Alex. Her relationships with all of Alex's family members. We see everyone's humanness, and how that affects their relationships with each other.

Imperfect is Carol's perception of herself. Impeccable is her as her own final masterpiece.

Through ups and downs, thick and thin, we are with Carol every step of the way. It's like being with your best friend on a daily basis.

Imperfect and Impeccable are a set of powerful, life-changing books for readers looking for a story to touch their heart and change their mind.

Get your copies here

5 Stars

"I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting. It the sequel to 'Imperfect.' This book had many turns and surprises. I watched the characters grown and lived each page. I kept hoping for a positive ending for Carol in the book. I received a surprise ending that gave the book an added sense that life was moving on. I highly recommend the first book 'Imperfect,' and the book 'Impeccable,' by L E. Harvey. All books are autobiographical because you are present in your the words you write. Thank you Lauren for a very compelling and sad story that showed that life can go on in other ways and down new roads. I recommend both 'Imperfect and Impeccable.'" 

- L. Boritz

Still lots of holiday WeWriWa fun!

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
It's still early in the day, Corinne and Darryl just sat down for breakfast. The reality of his presence, but the absence of the rest of their families is hitting Corinne.
Snippet in 9:

Darryl sat across from Corinne. It was strange celebrating the holiday without their families. She felt a pang of sadness and solitude, but she loved the fact that Darryl was home, and he always would be.

“You alright, babe?” He interrupted her thoughts.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “Happy that you’re home.”

He reached across the table and gently caressed her hand. “Me too.”

Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!

WeWriWa: First Christmas

It's Saturday night, which can mean only one thing: WeWriWa! This month, to celebrate the holidays, we will be reading excerpts from my short story, First Christmas. First Christmas is a follow up to Pianissimo. Darryl has finally returned home, and he and Corinne are celebrating their first Christmas as a civilian couple. Unbeknownst to Darryl, Corinne is still very fixated on the story of Agnes and Margaret, so we get to see how they celebrate Christmas as well. So, without further ado, let's WeWriWa!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.

This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

Background on the excerpt:
This is the opening of the story. It is early Christmas morning. Corinne is awake, enjoying the start of the day in solitude. Snippet in 8:

Corinne tightly held her coffee mug. It was forty two degrees out. Not cold enough for her. She pulled back the curtain and looked out the window. No white Christmas here. Not today, anyway. Corinne couldn’t help but to feel bummed by seeing green grass. It wasn’t anything like her childhood Christmases in Indiana. 


Hope you liked it!

Happy reading and happy holidays!