A NEW RELEASE FOR A NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY NEW RELEASE!

LEGACY UNDER FIRE is now available at the special price of 99 cents for the first 13 days of 2013! (Click here to take advantage of this special offer.)

NEW RELEASE JANUARY 1!

I'm celebrating a new release for the New Year a bit early...

LEGACY UNDER FIRE will be a January 1 release, but you can read sneak peak previews on the Rogue's Angels' blog today and tomorrow (and on my Genie Gabriel Web site).

QUICK QUOTES

"A rolling pin can be used for things other than flattening cookie dough." Tallie wondered how long and painful castration would be by beating an SOB's offending body parts. 

Through the haze of her anger came the sound of Patrick's laughter, then he gathered her in a bear hug and held on tight. "Ah, Tallie, that's only one of the reasons you're the best mom a kid could have. No matter how old I am, you're willing to slay dragons for me." 

--Tallie O'Shea and her son, Patrick, in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Happy endings--that's what I want when I read a book and when I write one. So on this day when many are celebrating the miracle of Christmas, I'm offering you an excerpt about a Christmas miracle from THE BODYGUARD, a prequel to my Halo Legacy Series. 

May you all find something magical during this holiday season!

* * *

The town of Halo lay in shrouded silence as the weary band of survivors trudged down the main street. Julia would have shouted for joy if she thought her bruised body wouldn’t shatter from the effort.

Her children were safe. That’s all that mattered.

Abraham slept in a sling on Cayle’s back. Angelina curled in Mitch’s arms, restless in her exhausted sleep. It had taken a dozen tumbles in the snow for Julia to relinquish her precious bundle to Mitch. She would have carried both children if she had been physically able.

Gabe barked as they neared the community center, waking the twins and stirring the rescue teams who were awaiting the first light of day to go back up the mountain.

The door of the center burst open, spilling warm light onto the sparkling snow. Soon the teams surrounded them, their shouts of joy and relief filling the predawn sky.

Within moments, they had been swept into the warmth of the community hall. As word of the rescue spread throughout town, people came from their beds to celebrate.

Mitch watched the scene with weary pleasure. Was it really over, this adventure that had turned his emotions inside out and shown him how to love again?

A hand on Mitch’s shoulder dragged his attention from his uncharacteristically mellow thoughts. Dawson Browning grinned. "So we got a miracle for Christmas after all."

* * *

LAST MONDAY FOR FREE BOOK!

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK linked to the Halo Legacy Series! 

My wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great holiday offers for readers. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! This is the last Monday THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING THROUGH DECEMBER 31! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

THE FINAL PARTY DAY!

Today is the final day of the online Christmas party at TRS. Please join me and many other authors for excerpts, holiday fun, and prizes, wrapping up December 23. 

Hope to see you there!

IT'S A PARTY!

Today is day 1 of the online Christmas party at TRS. Please join me and many other authors for excerpts, holiday fun, and prizes--today and every day, all day, through December 23. Yes, that's five days of party, twenty-four hours a day!

Hope to see you there!

QUICK QUOTES

"So good things can come from dens of inequity. Leave your halo at home, Tallie, and come with us. I'll bet you a week's worth of washing dishes I can beat you at pool."  

--Ruby Solomon in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

AND THE WINNER IS...

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Rhomy!

Who will be receiving a $10 gift card. 

Everyone who comments on this blog or on my blog tour during December will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card at the end of the month.

Thank you!

BLOG TOUR AND FREE BOOK MONDAY!

Today, I'm at My Devotional Thoughts and BK Walker Books promoting the fifth book of my Halo Legacy Series, CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

Please stop by and leave a comment to be entered in my holiday contest for a $25 gift certificate (drawing on December 31) as well as weekly prizes during the tour.

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK! 

In addition, my wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great offers for readers to get a taste of small town Halo. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! On every Monday between now and Christmas--Dec. 17, Dec. 24--THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

ABOUT ME (UPDATED)

I'm in an interesting mood this morning, perhaps brought on by the coming end of the world. :)

So I rewrote my bio in an informal way, and would like to share it with you here. I'm also including the author photo I use on my Web site. Not because it's what that lady in the mirror looks like, but because it's the way I feel on the inside. (Yes, it's me, but taken a number of years ago.)

I'm a crazy optimist whose rose-colored glasses have bent frames and cracked lenses. When life kicks me in the teeth, I find miracles and lessons I refused to learn an easier way.

In fact, I live with a small herd of miracles in the furry forms of dogs, who are constantly trying to teach me to forgive, to play more, and to love without limits. 

I write about people who find courage and integrity in the darkest times of their lives, who rescue stray dogs and kittens, who find a person they would willingly give their lives for, and who make their little corners of the world a better place. 

People have remarked my stories "aren't what they expected." With rose-colored glasses firmly in place, I take that as a compliment. 

If you want to sample these stories, you can find excerpts on my Web site <www.GenieGabriel.com>. I try not to give away the entire story line, but rest assured there will be happy endings. 

I invite you to share a piece of my world in the pages of a book, and hope our time together will feel like a hug from a cherished friend. 

FRIDAY WITH FRIENDS

Friends can provide a different perspective about people we thought we knew, as in this excerpt.

***Excerpt from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY, copyright by Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel

A short time later, they pulled up in front of a quietly elegant restaurant.

"The sign says they're closed," Tallie said. 

PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A PARTY!

Today I'm at a release party at The Romance Studio!

Please stop by for excerpts, prizes and fun!

WEDNESDAY QUICK QUOTES

Tallie's gaze caught Marly's. "I hurt you so badly you've gone social worker on me?" 

--Tallie O'Shea and her daughter, Marly, in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

AND THE WINNER IS...

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Sarah R!

Who will be receiving a $10 gift card. 

Everyone who comments on this blog or on my blog tour during December will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card at the end of the month.

Thank you!

BLOG TOUR AND FREE BOOK MONDAY!

Today, I'm at Welcome to My World of Dreams promoting the fifth book of my Halo Legacy Series, CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

Please stop by and leave a comment to be entered in my holiday contest for a $25 gift certificate (drawing on December 31) as well as weekly prizes during the tour.

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK! 

In addition, my wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great offers for readers to get a taste of small town Halo. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! On every Monday between now and Christmas--Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24--THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

SUNDAY DINNER AT TALLIE'S: REMEMBERING BERNIE

THOUGH TALLIE'S CHILDREN ARE GROWN NOW, they still come back to Tallie's house for Sunday dinner when they can. As birth relatives show up in the lives of the O'Shea siblings, this tradition extends to others, such as Marly's biological father.

Not just Marly, but all the siblings were interested in the momentos Tallie had dug out. So the next Sunday dinner

FRIDAY WITH FRIENDS

As a policeman's wife, Tallie O'Shea knew lives could depend on her keeping a secret. After her husband, Bernie, was killed, she continued the habit of keeping things to herself. Until Halo exploded and her house became a shelter for other women who had lost their homes. And Tallie began to wonder what she had missed by not having close women friends...

THURSDAY TRIVIA

Q. What did Bernie give Tallie for Mother's Day that she has worn every year since?

A. The answer is in this short excerpt from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY:

Tallie sat in front of her vanity mirror and adjusted the pearl earrings Bernie had given her on Mother's Day many years ago. 

"The symbol of feminine wisdom," he said as she opened the velvet box. 

She had worn them every Mother's Day since. 

WEDNESDAY QUICK QUOTES

As their arms connected, so did Bernie and Tallie's gazes. Bernie leaned closer and brushed a kiss across Tallie's brow. "Welcome home, my Tallahassee Lassie." 

AND THE WINNER IS...

CONGRATULATIONS TO:  Jill M!

Who will be receiving a $10 gift card. 

Everyone who comments on this blog or on my blog tour during December will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card at the end of the month.

Thank you!

BLOG TOUR AND FREE BOOK MONDAY!

Today, I'm at Bunny's Review and Bea's Book Nook  promoting the fifth book of my Halo Legacy Series, CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

Please stop by and leave a comment to be entered in my holiday contest for a $25 gift certificate (drawing on December 31) as well as weekly prizes during the tour.

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK! 

In addition, my wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great offers for readers to get a taste of small town Halo. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! On every Monday between now and Christmas--Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24--THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

SUNDAY DINNER AT TALLIE'S: ANOTHER BIRTH MOTHER ARRIVES

THOUGH TALLIE'S CHILDREN ARE GROWN NOW, they still come back to Tallie's house for Sunday dinner when they can. As birth relatives show up in the lives of the O'Shea siblings, this tradition extends to others...

After her trip to Boise with Pierce, Tallie settled back into a life centered around her family, hoping to pull her mind away from spinning fantasies about a love that couldn't be rekindled. 

However, her family's lives seemed to be changing dramatically, dragging Tallie's emotions with those changes. Having Marly's biological mother in the house had actually become pleasant. Ruby was blunt and funny. As she had done when she left the baby girl in Tallie's care so many years ago, Ruby had brought Marly home, once again giving Tallie the gift of her beloved daughter. 

She was also delighted to see her usually somber son, Collin, smiling more often now that Beth Boulanger was to become his wife. Having in-laws was going to be good for Collin also, Tallie thought as she watched Beth's gruff father make sure his little girl was being treated like the princess she deserved to be. 

Tallie had once feared having biological parents in her children's lives would mean she wouldn't be needed, but the opposite seemed to be the case. Marly was spending more time at home and Collin was asking for advice more often. 

As guests began to gather for their usual Sunday dinner for family and friends, the doorbell rang. Tallie assumed it was another guest from town. 

However, when she opened the door, a woman she had never met stood on the porch, fidgeting with the strap of her purse. 

"May I help you?" Tallie asked. 

The woman glanced around nervously, as if looking for something she was afraid to find. Her gaze bounced off Tallie and toward the windows of the house. 

"Are you looking for someone?" Tallie asked. 

"Y-yes. I am." The woman cleared her throat. "I'm Norah Eklund. I think Grady and Charles are my babies." 

COVER REVEAL FOR BOOK #7

I finally finished the cover for book #7 of the Halo Legacy Series, SHADOW OF THE LEGACY. Woo-hoo!

THURSDAY TRIVIA

Q. Where did Tallie, Ruby and Marly go to play pool?

A. The answer is in this blurb from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

**All conversation stopped when the three women walked into the dimly-lit Golddust Saloon. The few regulars stared at Marly, Tallie and Ruby as they walked to a booth near the pool table and slid into the vinyl-covered bench seats. 

**Excerpt from CHALLENGING THE LEGACY, copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.

SOMETIME HALO RESIDENT DIES

NEWSPAPER OF THE FICTIONAL TOWN OF HALO, OREGON

Ruby Solomon, sometime Halo resident, recently died quietly in her sleep. Ruby was the biological mother of Marly O'Shea, one of the locally famous adopted O'Shea siblings. Ruby's identity as Marly's mother became public several months ago, just before the town of Halo was nearly destroyed by dynamite explosions. 

The revelation could have been as emotionally devastating as was the physical devastation of Halo by dynamite. However, Ruby was determined to set things right and, in her last months in Halo, forged bonds of friendship that will be treasured for many years to come.

Ruby traveled extensively and, in her earlier years, was a promising singer.

In addition to her husband, Pierce Stratford, daughter Marly and close friend Tallie O'Shea were with Ruby when she passed over. A simple ceremony to honor Ruby was planned by her family and close friends.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Congratulations to: Shannon!

She's the winner of a $10 gift card in week #1 of my blog tour promoting CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

BLOG TOUR AND FREE BOOK MONDAY!

Today, I'm at Tamaria Soana's blog promoting the fifth book of my Halo Legacy Series, CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

Please stop by and leave a comment to be entered in my holiday contest for a $25 gift certificate (drawing on December 31) as well as weekly prizes during the tour.

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK! 

In addition, my wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great offers for readers to get a taste of small town Halo. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! On every Monday between now and Christmas--Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24--THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

GRATEFUL FOR A LESS-THAN-IDEAL THANKSGIVING

I'm blogging about a less-than-ideal Thanksgiving at the Rogue's Angels blog. Hope you can stop by!

ENJOY A CLIFFHANGER AND SPECIAL OFFERS!

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOOK! 

My wonderful publisher, Rogue Phoenix Press, has pulled together two great offers for readers to get a taste of small town Halo. Not only has THE BODYGUARD been described as "a feel good Christmas story," it introduces the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set. 

--SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICING! THE BODYGUARD and all the Rock'n'Romance trilogy--THE ROCK STAR and THE LEADER OF THE BAND are the other books--are specially priced at 99 cents through December 31.

--FREE BOOK MONDAYS! On every Monday between now and Christmas--Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24--THE BODYGUARD will be free on Amazon.com!)

A holiday gift from me and Rogue Phoenix Press!

THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL...

Please join me today at the Rogue's Angels blog for an excerpt from the book that started it all. THE BODYGUARD introduced the fictional town of Halo, Oregon--the setting for my Legacy Series books. You'll also get the scoop on two special holiday offers for THE BODYGUARD!

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate this holiday!

I posted a list of sometimes serious, sometimes silly things I'm grateful for at the Mid-Willamette Valley Writers blog <http://mwvrwa.blogspot.com/>. Stop by if you're so inclined and add your own items to the list.

COUNTY SHERIFF AWOL; CHALLENGER WINS POST

NEWSPAPER OF THE FICTIONAL TOWN OF HALO, OREGON

After attacks on two local women, county sheriff Reid Weston has disappeared. With crime exploding in the small town of Halo, in addition to normal law enforcement responsibilities in the rest of the county, the lack of leadership left deputies struggling to perform their duties. 

Voters obviously recognized the need for strong leadership, and overwhelmingly elected challenger Collin O'Shea as sheriff. O'Shea has been with the Oregon State Police for almost twenty years, his latest assignment as a senior trooper on the SWAT team.

In other news, Marly O'Shea and Deputy Dawson Browning were married in a quiet ceremony with family present. Her parents: Tallie O'Shea, Ruby Solomon, and Pierce Stratford were present, as were her seven brothers, one sister-in-law, and close friends.

TUESDAY NOT-SO-TRIVIAL...

Thanks to my wonderful publisher, all three of my Rock'n'Romance trilogy books (THE ROCK STAR, THE BODYGUARD, and THE LEADER OF THE BAND) 

are 99 cents each through December 31, 2012. 


You can find buy links and more info about these books at my Rock'n'Romance blog <http://rockandromance.blogspot.com/>.

MONDAY MYSTERY: Why is Tallie's former lover in Halo?

ON MONDAYS IN NOVEMBER, I'll be posting a Monday Mystery revealed in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY. Here's today's mystery.

Years ago, Tallie O'Shea had run away from the man she loved without even saying good-bye. She never thought she would see him again...

Puzzled, Tallie looked out the peephole. Her heart dropped to her stomach as she 

blinked and looked again. 

SUNDAY DINNER AT TALLIE'S: A SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY

THOUGH TALLIE'S CHILDREN ARE GROWN NOW, they still come back to Tallie's house for Sunday dinner when they can. As birth relatives show up in the lives of the O'Shea siblings, this tradition extends to others, though perhaps not always pleasantly..

Tallie sat in front of her vanity mirror and adjusted the pearl earrings Bernie had given her on Mother's Day many years ago. 

"The symbol of feminine wisdom," he said as she opened the velvet box. 

She had worn them every Mother's Day since.

MEET PORTIA STRATFORD

Born into a middle-class family, Portia married the Stratford money and name. While her husband flaunted his relationship with a long-term mistress who bore him a son, Portia clung to her wealthy status with a stern fist. Here are impressions of Portia from several points of view in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY.

****

"A Stratford doesn't make their own choices. Their lives are determined by what is best for the family." 

--Portia Stratford in CHALLENGING THE LEGACY

FRIDAY FRIENDSHIPS

Small towns are often known for their friendliness, and for helping out neighbors. And sometimes friendships develop between the most unlikely people. Here's an example from the fictional town of Halo, Oregon, where my Legacy Series is set.

** "Don't want to be seen in public with me?" Ruby asked. 

That comment brought Tallie's full attention. "I'm trying to be considerate of your health." 

"I'm healthy enough to be bored. And I'd like to get to know the woman who raised my daughter so well. The real woman--not just your public face."

AUTHOR UPDATE

I haven't done an author update on my blog for awhile, so thought I'd do that today. 

I finished book #7 of the Halo Legacy Series, SHADOW OF THE LEGACY, on Monday and sent it to my publisher. Hooray! 

One of the benefits of doing a series is that the characters, events, and what needs to happen next are still fresh in my mind. So I jumped right into book #8. This will be an action-packed book where many of the mysteries only partially resolved in previous books come to the fore again with more surprising twists. I'm very excited about this book!

In the meantime, I'm promoting earlier books, specifically CHALLENGING THE LEGACY, which is Tallie's story. She's pretty much a mom of the year every day, but she's forced to confront dark secrets from her past and resolve those. Tallie and the others in this book definitely had some surprises for me when I was writing this book. 

It's available at Rogue Phoenix Press and most other e-book retailers. Hope you pick it up and enjoy it!