Meet Holly - Her Journey of the BIG SWIM! You Go Girl!

Meet Holly - Her Journey of the BIG SWIM

You Go Girl! So proud of your strength and determination to take on 

 the BIG SWIM! #bigswim2015 

Holly is my niece from Nova Scotia. In 39 sleeps she will be taking on the task (along with 59 other swimmers) to cross the Strait between New Brunswick & PEI (14 km) in support of Brigadoon Village Brigadoon Children's Camp Society is a non-profit, year-round recreational camp facility dedicated to children and youth living with a chronic illness. Brigadoon’s Summer is underway with it’s fabulous line-up of summer camp programs. Be sure to share the website with any campers who can benefit from this life changing event.

So here's a little from Holly on her training for the BIG SWIM...and where you can donate...follow her on FB or check out the website

I’m neck deep into the training (literally in the water!), hanging out in lakes for the past few weeks and adjusting to life in a neoprene wetsuit. Not a sentence I ever imagined putting together. I’m into the lakes 5-6 times/week; most swims are 3-4km and we’re slowly adding a km or two. Next week we are aiming to begin ocean swims at least once a week and spend the rest of the time in the lake. These days it’s harder to fit in the training. I was used to early morning pool swims solo and now I’m having to carve out 2-3 hours to be in the lake each session (5-6 times/week) with coordinating 2-3 other schedules, family lives, work and more.  Some days it is a lot. Some days it would be easier to skip it. A little swim is better than no swim! I can’t even begin to piece together what this is going to be like. For those that are curious, I don’t have a time goal in mind. My current and only goal is to finish the event.   The longer swims in the lake are giving me time to pay attention to things differently, to learn how to slow down, pace myself and to think. There have been a lot of ah ha moments lately where so many encounters, practices, experiences from the past few years are colliding together.  Here are a few of my lessons from the past few weeks of training; I think a lot of these will be forever life lessons.

1.      There really isn’t much to see when swimming in open water and I’ve been told I will see even less crossing the strait.   I am aiming to check out the Confederation Bridge ever chance I get close enough to!

 

2.      Thankfully I’ve not seen any lake creatures other than some minnow like fish.  The most exciting animal we’ve encountered was a friendly dog who came along with us tonight at the lake.

 

3.      The mental conditioning is more then physical conditioning.

 

4.      I swim very very crooked. Very crooked. Sue (my kayaker) might need a leash to keep me from drifting to Newfoundland.  My crookedness is likely not a surprise to any of you who have watched me walk, coordination is not my forte!

 

5.       A wetsuit is a whole other adjustment. My first encounter with a borrowed suit set me off in a not so great direction.  The day my own wetsuit arrived felt magical. We’re still bonding, each day getting more used to each other.  (it’s also ok to cry when you get that first nick in the wetsuit)

 

6.      My hair hasn’t been dry since March. It seems to be in a perpetual state of dampness, especially on the days when there is 12 hours between the swims.

 

7.      It is possible to jump pretty high in a lake wearing a wetsuit when you encounter sea grass or a random tree branch.

 

8.      I don’t think I’ve done any activity actively and consecutively for 8 hours in my life. This milestone is going to be huge!

 

9.      A good km of a swim can temporarily make you think you are Wonder Woman and ready to conquer the world.

 

10.  I’ve been fortunate to work with a swim coach, to have others who have done the Big Swim train with us and offer feedback and regardless of who is offering the feedback, the messages are the same;  keep your head down, be in the moment, pay attention and slowing down get you further than fast and furious.

 

If you have not had the chance to donate yet and would like to you can click here. Every dollar raised is helping send kids to camp. Extraordinary kids being given the chance to be ordinary, thanks to your dollars! The training continues with my friends Nancy and Josette, aka Mermaid Mamas. We have some upcoming events happening over July that can be found on our FB page and our website.   We’re still collecting prizes for the online auction which will be launched in July.   Our website and FB page together have some images from our training, fundraising, tour of Brigadoon and just good ol’ fun in our wetsuits.  We’re sharing videos and images from past big swims too.
 In August we’ll be receiving our GPS locator info that will be attached to our swimcaps during the swim. If you want to , you will be able to follow our progress on the Big Swim day. We’ll share the info on our FB page and our website. I welcome any recommendations of long lakes to tackle or spots along the ocean shore.  Thank you for the ongoing support, the curious questions and the encouragement in person, via email , on Facebook and more.  It is all coming together swim by swim.  Holly

Cooking with the Crazy Lady Authors - 99 cents SALE!

Are you a flopper? July's 'Fun in the Sun' Contest with Angela Ford

Are you a flopper? - July's 'Fun in the Sun' Contest with Angela Ford -

I mean do you wear flip flops? I recently read an article about the top reasons why we should toss our flops. Of course, I had to read it. I love my flops! Anyone who knows me...knows that. I live for summer! Can't wait to toss 'on' my flops! 

 I read flip flops should be kept for the beach, the pool, the spa or public showers. But one shouldn't wear them all the time. The reasons given were--they are bad for you. Well, bad for your toes with all that extra work they do to keep them on your feet. Possible hammertoe, bunions or athletes foot and various fungus because there's only a thin layer between your foot and the ground. It also mentioned they were bad for your posture and aches and pains. Then I read that some may be toxic. What! Yep. Some may be made with chemicals that may hurt you. Wow! I thought. But then again, what in our world is harmful that we don't know about. Then there are harms that we ignore and do anyway. 

Thought I'd share my findings and discover who loves their flops. Do you wear them all the time? Sometimes? Or only at certain places? 

Love mine! I wear mine except in the long cold brutal winter lol I have them in every color and style I can find them. So I guess I'm a 'die-hard' flopper. 

I even put flip flops in one of my books. 'Surrender' - a romantic suspense about a sexy narcotics agent and a rich suburban widow on the run from the drug cartel. Nothing suspenseful about the flops - just a little humor to reflect the two different worlds of my hero and heroine. And also a little reflection on how the simple things in life make us remember those we love. 

 

Here are the two excerpts from the book about those flip flops :

*****

He motioned for her to get out of the car. Her eyes were on fire as she exhaled a quick breath. Lauren entered the second-hand store standing out like a sore thumb. Not just by the way she dressed in a Chanel pant suit, but with her snobbish attitude. She stood with her arms crossed and a pout on her face while Brett picked out a new outfit for her disguise.

 “These should fit.” He handed her a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He figured he knew her size. His hands had travelled every curve of her body the night before. Making love to her burned in his memory. He shook those thoughts and remained focused. Brett had one-night stands before. This one was different. He wondered why. He couldn’t get her out of his thoughts and it wasn’t the assignment to protect her. Lauren grabbed the clothes from his hand after he ordered her into the changing room and to bring the clothes she’d been wearing. He went to pay for the items.

 “What are those for?” Lauren tossed her clothes at him and Brett placed them in a bag. He did not want her to stand out the way she did. He knew she wasn’t happy with him but at least now she would blend in. The clothes she’d worn were fine for shopping at Saks, but not on the run.

 “They are for your feet. They’ll be more comfortable than the things you’re wearing now,” Brett smirked.

 “I don’t do flip-flops,” she informed him.

 “You do now.” 

*****

 “A peace offering, I believe I made you remove these while we were on the run.”

 She looked in the bag to find the Chanel pantsuit and her heels. She laughed and looked down at her feet. She stood in the flip-flops.

 He laughed. “I thought you didn’t do flip-flops.”

 “I do now.”

They both laughed. She knew he’d remember what he said to her at that second-hand store.

 “They are comfortable for the feet.”

Lauren smiled and then finally admitted the real reason.

 “They remind me of you.” 

You can pick up your copy of Surrender at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo or Smashwords.

 Available in eBook or Paperback. Coming soon in Audio!

Surrender can be viewed on my website 

Romantic Escapes - Escape with a book by Angela Ford. I have Suspense, Sweet or Spicy reads for you. 

Sign-up for my newsletter and never miss an event, release or sale! Follow me on social media - I love to hear from my readers! 

WIN! An autographed copy of Surrender!

Simply post your comment on my website http://www.angelafordauthor.com/blog : Are you a flopper? And how often do you wear them?

If you've read any of my books or plan to - I'd love to hear that too :) 

One lucky winner will be drawn on July 25th!

Sunset Kisses - Angela Ford - RELEASED June 30th

Hot Stuff for the Beach!

Hot Stuff for the Beach!

As the temperature warms and we shed those layers from that brutal long cold winter—toss on those flops and head to the beach. What’s in your beach bag? A great read for the beach?

Escape into a great book that is engaging and a quick enough read that you can finish before your sunscreen wears off. Whether you enjoy a mystery/suspense, romance or even a sweet holiday story, I have a few beach reads to entertain you on the beach. All you have to remember is your sunscreen.

Releasing June 30^th – Sunset Kisses (Book #1 of the Sunset Beach Romance Series). A sweet summer romance: one sunset, one kiss and one crazy idea between friends. Follow the series as books 2, 3 & 4 releases this summer.

If you enjoy serial mysteries, check out the gripping romantic suspense Closure – a fast-paced action and adventure with a strong lead female FBI agent that will stop at nothing to capture a serial killer and learns to open her heart to the possibility of love along the way. This is a quick read but one with a sequel, Forbidden; and the final soon to release.

 

  

If you yearn for a hot romance with a dash of suspense, try UNFORGETTABLE KISS One kiss leaves Meghan questioning her decision to never love again. The passion and desire craved after one unforgettable kiss could be stopped when her ex is released on early parole.

Or a hot romance with more than a dash of suspense—Surrender to a sexy undercover narcotics agent and a rich suburban widow on the run from the drug cartel.

For modern day romance lovers there’s Spellbound Cinderella 

A modern twist to the old tale of Cinderella—four friends wish on a magical pendant to wake in their ‘Cinderella’ bodies. What would you do with your perfect body and only twenty-four hours? Tess Andrews finds her prince and the perfect dress but will he like the ‘real’ her when the clock strikes twelve? A quick read on the beach but there are three more books in this series each told by a different author. Four friends and four bestselling authors bring you the Cinderella Body Club Series

Jennifer Conner, Angela Ford, Sharon Kleve & Amber Daulton 

And if you are craving something sweet—Blind Tasting   

offers a sweet romance that can be read alone or along with three others in the series. Four friends decide to spice up their book club and create The Love List in a small town in wine country.

Jennifer Conner, Sharon Kleve, Angela Ford & Joanne Jaytanie

Even though its summer and you are on the beach—a sweet holiday romance Christmas Wreath may cool you off faster than the ocean breeze! Follow along the journey of friends who pull their resources together to keep the local tree farm in their small town from being sold to outsiders.

Follow the series—Forever Christmas Each book can be read alone but it is such a great series of sweet holiday stories that you will want to read all of them!

Joanne Jaytanie, Sharon Kleve, Angela Ford, Elle Rush

 One reviewer remarked they’d make a great Hallmark movie series. Stay tuned to Books to Go Now – Forever Christmas – Season 2 will be out this Christmas! 

Enjoy the summer and a few great books on the beach!

Angela Ford

angelafordauthor.com

Happy 1st Anniversary Forbidden!

Forbidden 

Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario thought she found Closure. She did not expect a Déjà vu.

In this sequel to Closure, Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario continues to deliver spine-chilling seminars to educate parents of lurking internet predators. A seminar one night introduces her to Mr. & Mrs. Bennett who are deeply concerned of their daughter Tiffany’s safety. Jess did not expect to feel Déjà vu when she unraveled the forbidding prospect that she has another Trevor Marshall on her hands.

Kyle Davidson’s personality fits a stalker through obsessive and addictive traits. A close call one night makes Tiffany realize he is a threat. Jess takes the law into her own hands to protect Tiffany and enters Kyle’s house illegally. He can’t be held with Jess’s illegal entry and without Tiffany pressing charges. Tiffany decides to accept her father’s offer to a private school in England. But the news of her parents’ murders brings her back. Jess races to save her, only to put her own life into the hands of a killer. Kyle now has both Jess and Tiffany. As the team searches for them, they find the past begins to creep up on them.  

Amazon – Forbidden

Best Selling Author Angela Ford continues her story with Forbidden...the next in her FBI Series. Supervisory Special Agent Jessica Resario thought she found Closure...she didn't expect a Deja vu. 

Forbidden on YouTube  

The Year In Reviews

 "Forbidden" picks up where "Closure" left off. It was an action packed sequel, just as the first.

 FBI drama/suspense and if you enjoy a good short story with believable romance and an adrenalin rush give this series a try.

As always this author packs her stories full of suspense, mystery, and drama. Hang on for a thrill ride with this page turner!

I recommend this book to everyone who likes mystery/suspense, or even better than that…. To all parents of teenagers, because it will make them aware of the dangers of their children while online. Great read!!

In this sequel to Angela Ford's Closure, where we were taken on a wild ride of action packed suspense, the ride begins again. Just when you think it's over, look out, because you're in for another dose! 

This is a quick, exciting, sit on the edge of your seat read with a surprising twist! If you read Closure you will certainly want to pick this up. In fact, this story should be read by all parents who have teenage daughters...it is definitely an eye opener! Loved, loved, loved it!

Seriously I am beginning to think this author needs to have warning labels on her novels that dare to begin this without being prepared will result in anguish if you try to leave the novel before finished. 

I do wish this one did not have quite as abrupt of an ending. It left me saying, "THAT'S IT!" I just wanted more.

Reviewer asked for more...

Coming in 2015...

A look back at the teasers...

Forbidden - Excerpt #1

“We have an urgent case and forty-eight hours to save a girl,” Jess announced as she entered the situation room at the FBI Headquarters in San Francisco. She tossed the case folders for the team on the table. Nobody said a word. Even the newest member of the team Special Agent Dave Malcolm remained quiet.

 Jess briefed them as they flipped through their folders. Mike finished reading the file before the others as usual. He read something crazy like five hundred words a minute. He interrupted Jess mid-sentence.

“Jess, sorry to interrupt, can I talk to you for a minute in the hallway?” He didn’t wait for her reply and walked out the door. She excused herself from the team meeting and followed Mike.

 “Mike, is there a problem?” Jess felt irritated he interrupted the meeting and spoke in a rather stern tone to him.

 “Sorry Jess, I don’t mean to disrespect you and interrupt the meeting.” He paced the hallway then stopped and faced her. “I know damn well why you’re taking this case.” Jess knew Mike saw the similarities to the Marshall case, but she ignored that.

“Because it’s our job Mike to protect these kids”.

Mike laughed sarcastically. “He reminds you of Marshall. Don’t lie to me Jess.” 

Forbidden - Excerpt #2

Jess felt utterly exhausted by the time she made her way through the front door of their home and knew she wouldn’t get much sleep until she’d seen this case through.

“I know that look.” Tom stood inside the door with a glass of wine in hand. She also saw dinner on the table. Jess smiled as she looked into the eyes of the one and only man she’d ever love.

“I am the luckiest woman in the world, Mr. Erickson.” He took her in his arms and his lips met hers. Her body trembled every time he touched her. The soft loving touch from his lips took away every stress. He took their wine glasses and set them on the foyer table. The day disappeared when he took her hand and began to lead her upstairs. “What about dinner?”

“It can wait. I can’t.” A seductive smile crossed his face and the only hunger she felt was for Tom. He paused at the top of the stairs and feathered his fingers along the side of her face, never taking his eyes away from hers. His hand reached around to release her hair from its hold. A sudden grasp of her hair between his fingers ignited her need for him. She opened her mouth with a pleading expression to be kissed. He ignored her wish and teased her with the tip of his tongue barely touching her neck. She groaned softly as his tongue met a tender spot. His touch was all she needed to make the horror in her thoughts disappear. Tom had a way of clearing her mind to the point of total relaxation. But the reality of her cell phone vibrating between them disturbed the moment.

 Forbidden Excerpt #3

The hot water streamed over her tired body while she worried about Tiffany. Jess always worried about her cases as though they were her own children. She reached for the shampoo and began to lather up. Jess rehearsed the conversation she planned to have with the girl. She thought a shower would relax her. Then she heard the shower door open, and felt Tom’s presence. She’d been rinsing the shampoo from her hair and couldn’t open her eyes to confirm it, but she knew his scent.

“Thought I’d join you,” Tom spoke softly as he placed his hands at her waist. He slowly began to move his hands in the direction of her breasts. She moaned slightly at his touch and opened her eyes.

“Keep your eyes closed and let my hands take away the day,” he whispered against her cheek. He began a trail of kisses from her cheek down along her neck. He nibbled slightly on her shoulder while his hands stroked her arms. Gentle squeezes and his trail of kisses began to excite her. The day disappeared. She felt the heat from his touch. His hands left her arms and moved around to the arch of her back. They moved down over her ass and he began to massage her. The ache inside her grew. She was ready for him. The only thing on Jess’s mind at the moment was her husband and his amazing touch on her skin. The water began to cool and Tom turned off the shower. Jess opened her eyes and he whispered for her to keep them closed. He kissed her eyelids as they closed. His lips slowly kissed the tip of her nose and then met her lips. The passion in his kiss excited her. He backed her up against the wall. She gripped her hands on the wall for support. His kiss had deepened. His tongue reached the depths of her mouth. His fingers had found her warmest spot.

Jess cried out, “You’re driving me crazy!”

Tom chuckled through his kiss.

Thank you readers for making it an amazing year! 

Forbidden (sequel to Closure) can be read alone or after Closure...like watching a Criminal Minds episode out of order.

One Click at Amazon

Closure http://www.amazon.com/Closure-Angela-Ford-ebook/dp/B00E905NLS/

Forbidden  http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Angela-Ford-ebook/dp/B00L8BMKP8

Available in eBook - Paperback - Audio

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