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Saying goodbye to the Romance Lives Forever blog #RLFblog
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Have you read A Swan’s Sweet Song by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance
Instant attraction and crossed wires. After too many years onstage as a glittering country music star, Sherry Valentine dreams of an acting career, but publicity-shy reclusive playwright, Carston Hewlett, hates being used for his contacts. And despite the deep attraction between the two, Sherry’s agent, first-class manipulator Charlie Bacon, is capable of ruining any romance.
J Arlene, I’m happy to host you on Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Tell us about A Swan’s Sweet Song.
A Swan’s Sweet Song by J Arlene Culiner
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book heat level: SensualSmart-talking Sherry Valentine has fought her way up from poverty to stardom as a country music singer. Ever surrounded by clamoring fans and paparazzi, her spangled cowboy boots carry her from one brightly lit stage to the next. But Sherry’s been on the star circuit for too long, and she wants a change: is it too late for an acting career?
A renowned but reclusive playwright, Carston Hewlett cherishes his freedom, the silence of the deep woods surrounding his home, and his solitary country walks. So why is he fascinated by a flashy country music singer? Perhaps a short passionate, fling will resolve the problem.
When their names are linked in the scandal press, and Sherry’s plans to become an actress are revealed, Carston feels betrayed. Is their budding relationship doomed?
Where to buy A Swan’s Sweet Song
Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/ASwansSweetSong
J Arlene Culiner Social Media
Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.
Website https://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/blakesfolly/
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner -
Fiction Furbaby: Meet Killer from All About Charming Alice by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner @RobsRescues #RLFblog #Pets
Writer Jace Constant hates snakes, dogs, and desert dust. Alice Treemont protects and studies all reptiles, rescues stray dogs and loves the Nevada desert. How can they fall in love?
Arlene Culiner, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We support all furbabies, real life or fictional. We want to know all about your Fiction Furbaby, but first, please tell us about your book.
All About Charming Alice by J Arlene Culiner
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): SensualAlice Treemont has no intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town, she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the most unloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests?
Jace Constant is in Nevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him.
So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too many compromises.
Meet Killer from All About Charming Alice
Full name: Unknown (he’s an abandoned stray)
Nickname: Killer
Gender: male
Species: Dog
Physical description: According to Jace Constant: “The dog was large—very large. Its bulbous head seemed to sway on a sagging neck. Its legs were long, knotted, and spindly, and its ribs wanted to punch through a dull, ratty-looking coat. Yet, ugly though it was, the damn thing had a strange appeal.”
Relationship to main character: Killer is a stray. Jace Constant finds him wandering along the road in Nevada and he brings him to Alice Tremont’s animal shelter.
Relationship to the villain/antagonist: What sort of person would abandon a stray dog? Only a villain!
Where this furbaby came from: Who knows?Do you have any working or service animals in your stories? Tell us about them.
My heroine Alice Treemont studies and protects snakes. She knows how essential they are to our environment, and she is violently opposed to such horrendous sports such as snake bating and snake shows where the creatures are tortured to death.
What inspired you to create this character?
One afternoon, I discovered a fairly large snake—possibly 4 or 5 feet long—snoozing in my courtyard. I was surprised and wary, at first. Then I started to appreciate how wonderfully beautiful it was. In the sun, its scales were a phosphorescent green-gold, and it was also remarkably elegant.
I didn’t want to ruin the its obviously pleasurable sunbath, so I sat down and let myself bask in this rare moment with an unknown creature. So there we were for the longest while, both of us perfectly at peace, doing nothing, and enjoying the calm.
The snake eventually left, but the moment had been so enlightening, I wanted to pass on my appreciation of reptiles to others. Thus I created Alice Treemont, my heroine.
What does the main character think about this furbaby?
The first fur baby in the story is Killer, the stray Jace Constant finds on the highway. Jace doesn’t like dogs, he hates the dog hairs piling up on the back seat of his car, he hates dog hair on his cashmere sweaters, and as soon as he can, he drops Killer off at Alice Tremont’s shelter.
What does this furbaby add to the story?
Killer brings Alice and Jace together. He is also responsible for Jace’s change of heart.
What about this furbaby will readers like, and why? Like many scruffy, loving wonderful dogs…well, everyone eventually falls in love with them. And Jace’s instant attraction to Alice certainly helps things along!
About Virgule
Which, if any of the pets in your writing are modeled after your own pets? In what way?
I suppose that, in many ways, Killer is very much like Virgule, my big black dog. Killer comes from a shelter. He was an abandoned stray. He is very sociable, very loving, and he wins many people’s hearts. Eventually people who are afraid of dogs warm to him. he has great charm.
What do your pets do when you are writing?
I also have two rescue cats. Because my garden is a bird and butterfly shelter, the cats are indoor animals. What do they do when I’m working? They snooze or demand attention and some love… which I’m quite happy to give.
What’s the most unusual pet you ever had?
How about a pet snail? Not very affectionate.
Where did you find your pet?
I found Virgule at the local SPA. He had been there for almost two years, and loved the place. When I took him back for a visit, he wagged his tail happily, then went to his former cage and waited to be let in and fed.
Where to buy All About Charming Alice
Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2VyHtsY7A
Publisher Buy Link https://tinyurl.com/3wkcnunm
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTCD6RBD/thewildrosepr-20
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-about-charming-alice-3J Arlene Culiner Social Media
Writer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, in a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and weeds. Observing people in cafes, in their homes, on trains, and in the streets, she eavesdrops on all private conversations, and delights in hearing any nasty, funny, ridiculous, sad, romantic, or boastful story. And when she can’t uncover really salacious gossip, she makes it up.
Website www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog www.j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Storytelling Podcast https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner
Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culinerShout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist
Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column. Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting. Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible. Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescuesShout out to SPA and Orangutan Project
From J Arlene Culiner: I have a monthly donation to the SPA here in the Mayenne region of France. This is where I adopt my animals (this is a no kill center). The SPA also runs inexpensive clinics for animals belonging to people with low incomes: La Société Protectrice des Animaux : donateurs@la-spa.fr
I contribute each month to The Orangutan Project. They rescue orangutans that are homeless or dying because of forest destruction: help@orangutan.org.au
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Read Desert Rose the new #SmallTownRomance by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner #RLFblog #Contemporary
Two secretive people: it’s hard to know what they’re thinking or feeling, and that makes falling in love a definite challenge!
J Arlene welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Desert Rose.
Desert Rose by J Arlene Culiner
Genre Contemporary Small Town Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): SensualSecrets are the best protection against love.
Rose Badger is the local flirt, and if the other inhabitants of backwoods Blake’s Folly, Nevada, don’t approve, she couldn’t care less. With a disastrous marriage and a dead-end career far behind her, settling down is the last thing she intends to do. Newcomer Jonah Livingstone is intriguing, but with his complicated life, he’s off limits for anything other than friendship. Besides, Rose has a secret world of her own—one she won’t give up for any man.
The last person geologist Jonah Livingstone expected to meet in a semi-ghost town is the sparkling and lovely Rose Badger. But Rose, always surrounded by many admirers, doesn’t seem inclined to choose a favorite. So why fret? Jonah keeps his personal life well hidden…and that’s the best way to avoid disappointment.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/tHPrIciT0XU
Why did you write this book?
Once upon a time, I found myself in a clapboard, rusty trailer, semi-ghost town in Nevada, where an ever-buffeting wind dragged dust across the frozen ground, rattled grasses, and set the doors of abandoned shacks tapping. The hotel I stayed in was a rundown has-been: ceilings soared high, and the lumpy, almost colorless wallpaper was surely a century old. In the hotel’s bar, a talentless band whined out bad country music, and eccentric locals dished up tall tales, wry humor, and suspicion.
It was a singular community, quite magical, and I’ve recreated it as Blake’s Folly, the setting for three romances: A Room in Blake’s Folly, All About Charming Alice, and Desert Rose.
What is your favorite genre to read?
I love reading history. A book that combines literary travel and history gets my undivided attention.
Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?
Flora Post in Stella Gibbon’s Cold Comfort Farm is a favorite. She is brisk, efficient, intelligent, but also has a wonderful sense of humor (so did Stella Gibbons, obviously).
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m finishing up Words for Patty Jo. It’s a romance, it’s women’s literature, and it is rather more literary than my other romances. I’m also working on a book of satirical cartoons.
What books will we see from you in coming months?
Hopefully, a book of my own cartoons.
Where to buy Desert Rose
Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/RosesDesert
J Arlene Culiner Social Media
Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.
Website https://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/blakesfolly/
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner -
Discover the tale of A Swan’s Sweet Song by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance
Instant attraction and crossed wires. After too many years onstage as a glittering country music star, Sherry Valentine dreams of an acting career, but publicity-shy reclusive playwright, Carston Hewlett, hates being used for his contacts. And despite the deep attraction between the two, Sherry’s agent, first-class manipulator Charlie Bacon, is capable of ruining any romance.
J Arlene, I’m happy to host you on Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Tell us about A Swan’s Sweet Song.
A Swan’s Sweet Song by J Arlene Culiner
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book heat level: SensualSmart-talking Sherry Valentine has fought her way up from poverty to stardom as a country music singer. Ever surrounded by clamoring fans and paparazzi, her spangled cowboy boots carry her from one brightly lit stage to the next. But Sherry’s been on the star circuit for too long, and she wants a change: is it too late for an acting career?
A renowned but reclusive playwright, Carston Hewlett cherishes his freedom, the silence of the deep woods surrounding his home, and his solitary country walks. So why is he fascinated by a flashy country music singer? Perhaps a short passionate, fling will resolve the problem.
When their names are linked in the scandal press, and Sherry’s plans to become an actress are revealed, Carston feels betrayed. Is their budding relationship doomed?
Where to buy A Swan’s Sweet Song
Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/ASwansSweetSong
J Arlene Culiner Social Media
Writer, photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress, J Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.
Website https://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/blakesfolly/
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner -
What Alice Treemont gives Jace Constant for dinner, in All About Charming Alice by J Arlene Culiner @JArleneCuliner#RLFblog #Contemporary Romance
In J Arlene Culiner’s recent contemporary romance release, All About Charming Alice, the heroine, Alice Treemont, is a herpetologist who protects snakes and rescues dogs. She lives in a rattling old house in the Nevada desert and cooks vegetarian meals.
Jace Constant, a well-known writer, is renting a room in Alice’s house, and he’s an out-and-out carnivore… or at least that’s what Alice thinks: “You look like a carnivore to me, not a vegetarian.” A cannibal, a woman-eater.
True, Jace doesn’t like the desert, dust, dogs, dog hair, and snakes terrify him, but vegetarian fare? Well… he’s willing to try anything!
J Arlene, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.
All About Charming Alice by J Arlene Culiner
Genre Contemporary Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Alice Treemont has no intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town, she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the most unloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests?
Jace Constant is in Nevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him.
So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too many compromises.
Let’s chat about what to eat
Alice Treemont is in her forties. In 2022, she lives in the semi-ghost town of Blake’s Folly, Nevada. She is a vegetarian because she wants to harm no creature. What sort of food does she prepare? How about zucchini fritters made by mixing together whole-wheat flour, eggs, salt, cumin, coriander, and black pepper? They taste wonderful with fresh yogurt and mint.
And why not try squares of buttery oven baked polenta (coarsely ground cornmeal) topped with vegetables that have been roasted with fresh garlic, rosemary, and a few drops of olive oil?
What is the worst meal Alice has ever eaten? Like her author, J. Arlene Culiner, being served a plateful of meatloaf is a nightmare come true.
As for breakfast, Alice loves a big cup of milky coffee, homemade blueberry muffins, coddled eggs (you have to try those), homemade crusty bread and fresh butter. Yummy!
Drinks? Jace Constant loves fine wines, and Alice certainly shares his taste.
As for her animals, Alice feeds the dogs good kibble. The author also feeds kibble to her big beastie, Virgule, and that certainly seems to work perfectly. He’s fourteen years old, but he’s still good at helping me solve grammar problems.
Where to buy All About Charming Alice (The Wild Rose Press)
Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/Charming-Alice
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l2VyHtsY7A
J Arlene Culiner Social Media
Writer, photographer, social critical artist, and impenitent teller of tall tales, J Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a mud house on the Great Hungarian Plain, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, a haunted house on the English moors, and on a Dutch canal. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest where, much to local dismay, she protects spiders, snakes, and all weeds. She particularly enjoys incorporating into mysteries, non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with very odd characters.
Linktree https://linktr.ee/j.arleneculiner
Website https://www.j-arleneculiner.com
Blog https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner
Twitter https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/blakesfolly/
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jarleneculiner/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culinerShout out to Rob’s Rescues – founded by a 9-year-old animal activist
Rob’s Rescues is a non-profit organization in Georgia helping people in need care for and feed their pets. It was founded in 2014 by a then nine-year-old boy. Rob’s Rescues is dedicated to collecting pet food for people in need to reduce shelter surrenders, and to advocating for the adoption of shelter pets. Rob writes monthly articles advocating for shelter animals in the Around About Local Media magazine publications. His column was first published in 2014. He also has pet food collection sites for people in need in the community and interviews amazing people. His interviews appear online once they are published in his column.
Rob volunteers for Pet Buddies Food Pantry, the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and Cobb County Animal Control and collects pet food for these organizations and the communities they serve. He also wants to bring attention to smaller, rural shelters. Mostly he wants to get kids to be Rob’s Rangers to teach kids that they can help shelter animals. Rob has also talked to kids in a classroom setting.
Rob’s Rescues is a Non-Profit Corporation and all donations are tax deductible.
Website http://www.robsrescues.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/robsrescues/
Twitter https://twitter.com/RobsRescues