Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

My guest today is author, Jenyfer Matthews. After the recent upheaval in Egypt, she’s currently in the United States. She’s finding some subtle changes now that she’s back home. She explains below. Don’t forget to check out her newly released books as well!

I’ve lived abroad for just over a decade and in that time have traveled to more than ten different countries, yet I’ve rarely experienced any culture shock except when I come home to America to visit.

That may sound strange, but think about it: it is pretty obvious that when I travel to Asia or within the Middle East that I am not a local. No one really expects me to know how to do things or how to get around. I’m a foreigner and people are more than willing to cut me some slack as a result.

It’s a different story when I come back to America. Unless I actually go around explaining my background to everyone I run across, people just assume that I’ve been here all along, keeping up with the various technological changes that have occurred. For most of you, these changes have occurred so gradually that you didn’t notice them. For me, every year it’s like I took a time machine to the future and am utterly lost. Self check-out, digital signature pads, DVR, smart phones, GPSs – even just dialing a phone number can be a struggle! The list goes on and on – I’m sure there are many things that I don’t yet know I don’t know how to do.

I go through this every summer when I come back to visit, but I can ignore a lot of the things I don’t understand once I get to my father’s house, deep in the north woods, because aside from his Direct TV connection, life in his home and the surrounding area is pretty simple. Besides, I’m usually only in the country for a month. Circumstances are a little bit more extreme for me at the moment, having evacuated my home in Cairo, Egypt on February 1st. My husband is back at work in Egypt but my children and I will very likely stay in America for the rest of the school year and the summer at the very least.

American cities being what they are – spread out – I decided I needed a car. Renting a car is too expensive but I didn’t want to commit to a lease either. The friend that I am currently staying with offered me the use of her car, but I wanted a bit more independence in at least one area so I went shopping for an inexpensive used car. My target budget made it a discouraging process to say the least (I guess I’m out of touch with what things cost too!) but in the end I found what I consider to be a gem.

It’s a 2000 Volkswagon Golf with the original stereo: a radio and cassette player.

Ironically, I left the US for my life abroad in 1999, so buying this car is a bit like picking up where I left off, technologically speaking. While this car has plenty of bells and whistles for its vintage, there is nothing that I am unfamiliar with except a manual transmission, but I’m learning. Unless I buy an iPod and an adaptor (unlikely), I’ll be finding a few radio stations and catching up on newer music, filling another gap that has developed in the last decade. Many of the “classic / oldies” will be new to me!

Funnier still? The friend I’m staying with actually still had a couple of mixed tapes that I’d made for her 20 years ago and returned them to me to use in the car. To say I never expected to see or listen to these cassettes again is an understatement – I don’t really even remember making them! Anyone up for some Eurhythmics, B52s, or C&C Music Factory?

I have the feeling I’m going to have a lot of fun in this car. I love it for another reason as well: coincidentally, two of the three heroines of my three contemporary romances have Volkswagons. Considering I feel like a character from a story myself right now as I flounder around trying to find my footing, I find this interesting. Hmmm…maybe I can use this sometime…

All four of my books are available in multiple formats from All Romance Ebooks, on Kindle, and if you purchase your copy from Smashwords.com this week you can get an extra 25% off until March 12th. Visit my website for more information and excerpts.

I’m visiting the Romance Author Hotspot today to talk about writing, a few of my favorite things, and my new print release, The Bottom Line.

I’m also giving away a print copy of The Bottom Line to one visitor. Here’s the link to Romance Author Hotspot

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today is from One Reckless Summer: A Destiny Novel by Toni Blake.

“No question about it—she knew even before she looked up that what she’d connected with wasn’t a tree; it was far too warm, too broad and looming. Uh-oh.”

Page 15, One Reckless Summer

Here’s the blurb:

The perfect daughter. The perfect prom queen. The perfect wife. Jenny Tolliver’s been the good girl all her life, and it’s gotten her nowhere. Now that her marriage has been busted up by her cheating ex, she’s decided it’s time to regroup and rediscover herself. This summer she’s headed back to her hometown of Destiny, Ohio, to the very lakeshore cottage where she grew up, to figure out what life holds in store for her next.

She never dreamed the answer would be Mick Brody, Destiny’s #1 hellraiser. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks (or in his case, the lake), and he’s landed in hot water more times than he can count. He’s exactly the kind of guy Jenny’s always kept her distance from … but soon the good girl and the bad boy are caught in a raw heat that’s out of control. Too bad Mick’s got a secret that threatens to tear them apart and ruin Jenny’s perfectly, passionately reckless summer …

Purchase One Reckless Summer

Introducing book eleven in the Perfect Strangers series: A Fated Love by Diana DeRicci.

When you crash head-on into love, sometimes it’s hard to escape…

Shortly after Lee’s classic ‘69 Stingray becomes the victim of a hit and run, a gorgeous knight in Armani arrives with proof pointing to the identity of the guilty driver. Being new in town, the last thing Lee needs is a romantic entanglement.

Vince happened to be in the right place at the right time. He didn’t expect to be attracted to Lee. After all, he stopped looking for a lasting relationship some time ago. So what if Lee is his stepbrother’s latest hire and says he’s not interested? Vince has never been one to back down from a challenge.

Can Vince convince Lee that the risk is well worth the reward, for the both of them?

Purchase from All Romance eBooks

This is book eight in the Perfect Stranger series: Half Way to Love by Tressie Lockwood

Blurb:

Sometimes the end is really just the beginning…

Shannon didn’t want to accept the assignment. Singing telegrams delivered on Valentine’s should celebrate love, not be used to end a relationship. Unfortunately, Shannon has bills to pay. So she dons her sexy cupid outfit and sets out to do her job—breaking the heart of the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on.

But Stockbroker Alexander Stone is far from heartbroken when a mocha beauty pops into his lap and lets him know the three-year relationship with his shallow, spoiled girlfriend is over. How could he be when fate has delivered such an enticing second chance? Now, if only he can convince Shannon…

Purchase Half Way to Love from All Romance eBooks

I’ve received the first review for Stranger Things Happen and it’s a good one!

Here’s a quote from the review:

“If you’re looking for a Friday night that’s guaranteed to set your body on fire from the explosive sex that these three cowboys embrace in with Anna, warm your heart and soul from the love that two perfect strangers eventually find when they give fate a chance, and put a smile on your face right before Valentine’s Day, then Stranger Things Happen by Shelley Munro is definitely the perfect book to read.”

To read the full review go to Blackraven’s Reviews

BTW – I received 5 Ravens and a Recommended Read. Happy dancing all around.

Introducing book seven in the Perfect Strangers series: One Perfect Night by Bella Andre

Here’s the blurb:

Can he convince her they are destined to be together in one perfect night?

One touch… One kiss
The first time Noah Bryant meets Colbie Michaels they collide at the top of a snowy mountain in California and sparks fly. Swamped by sudden emotion – and a desire she can’t control – Colbie panics. Before he can get her phone number or last name, she’s gone. When they serendipitously meet again in Seattle one week later, Noah is certain Colbie is his destiny, and he can’t make the mistake of losing her again.

One night… One forever love
Colbie wants to believe in a happily-ever-after, but experience tells her falling for Noah is more likely to lead to a broken heart. But how can she resist him as he sets out to prove that they’re destined to be together? Especially when he’s intent on fulfilling every last one of her secret desires and he’s willing to keep proving it to her every day…and every sweet and sinful night.

Purchase One Perfect Night from All Romance eBooks

My book in the Perfect Stranger series, Stranger Things Happen is out today.

Here’s the blurb:

All Friday nights should be this good…

Computer programmer Anna Walton is lonely and facing a dry spell of epic proportions. Tired of the dating scene, she decides to spend her Friday night testing the Reality Suite, a program she and her friends have developed. She orders up some lighthearted flirting and energetic dancing with a fruity drink or two on the side, but what she gets are three hot cowboys with sex and mutual pleasure on their minds.

Dante Rosetti, his brother Gabriel and cousin Cayle take one look at the curvy Anna and decide exactly how their Friday night should play out. Lots of naked bodies, sensual sighs and hot, belly-clenching pleasure.

Once she’s adrift in a stormy sea of fantasy sex with three strangers, will Anna ever want it to end?

Purchase Stranger Things Happen from All Romance eBooks

Here is book five in the Perfect Stranger series. I just love the title of this one. Strangers with Candy is written by GA Hauser.

Here’s the blurb:

Some temptations are too delicious to ignore…

IRS employee Gareth Witherspoon spies a man, alone at a nearby table in a coffee shop on Valentine’s Day. Something about the foreigner calls to him and in an uncharacteristic leap of faith he impulsively slips the man a box of candy.

Urie is new to the United States, but he’s no stranger to heartache. Since arriving in Los Angeles he’s been lonely, isolated, and in desperate need of friendship. Gareth’s gesture touches his heart and Urie finds himself throwing caution to the wind.

All bets are off and anything goes when the two men spontaneously become lovers. Could it be Urie has found his soul mate in the City of Angels?

Purchase Strangers With Candy from All Romance eBooks

Here’s book three in the Perfect Stranger series.

Sometimes your heart doesn’t know what’s best for you…

Pryce has always been attracted to a certain type of man. What he’s looking for in Mr. Right is someone like him; fun, spontaneous and full of life. What he doesn’t want is a stuffy, boring man who only cares about being an activist and making the world a better place. But that doesn’t stop Pryce from falling for a dark-haired stranger when they bump into each other at the local GBLT center.

Clayton needs to stay focused on school and work. He doesn’t have room in his life for distractions. So when a cute, carefree blond makes a move on him, Clayton turns the guy down flat. But walking away turns out to be harder than he thinks. Clayton, driven to distraction, can’t get Pryce out of his mind.

Will Clayton be able to push aside his doubts long enough to give love, and Pryce, a chance?

Purchase Opposites Distract from All Romance eBooks