Love is a rose... thorns included.

Saddle Up & St Jude's PROMO

2008-06-02T21:17:00.003-04:00

I'm back! (wow, three posts in 2 days...)

I was halfway through this post yesterday when life interrupted, so here's the second try!

When you purchase Saddle Up, Sweetheart OR its prequel, The Noel Bandit, all author's proceeds will go to St Jude's Children's Hospital. SO, let's join together for a wonderful cause! The more sales, the larger the check to the Hospital!

Don't forget to mark June 11th ~ when Saddle Up, Sweetheart becomes a Wild Rose Press's New Release!

~love n hugs~
Sydney

The new book, the sequel!

2008-06-01T19:13:00.002-04:00

My December 2007 release, "The Noel Bandit" has a sequel! "Saddle Up, Sweetheart" is scheduled for release on June 11, 2008.

A snippet, for your enjoyment:

“Russ, we need to talk about Natalie.” Tucker Kent, boss and patriarch at the Lucky Lake Ranch started the conversation. His voice carried through the open door and down the hall.

Natalie Coombs unfortunately arrived just in time. She had been searching the house for Russ and didn’t intend to snoop on a meeting between him and his father. It was wrong to spy, but hearing her name was a beacon. Life at Lucky Lake had been good to her, and falling in love with Russ Kent was an unexpected bonus.

Her mind said walk away, but her lungs withheld breath, her footsteps softened, and her tense muscles encouraged her to continue. Majority ruled. She stopped outside the office, out of sight.

“She’s done amazing work, Dad. The customers love her, she gets along with the staff…”

Russ’s enthusiastic voice caused her toes to curl in her tennis shoes. She pictured him, just taller than his father, with an intense smile. He was probably rolling up his sleeves preparing to sit down and—

The sound of knuckles cracking pierced her thoughts.

-and crack his knuckles as he stretched his arms over his head.

Natalie covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. Her boyfriend was predictable, but she wanted him anyhow. She loved how he dipped his chin—teased with thin stubble on the occasional day he didn’t shave—and said she was his only girl, with his thick Texas drawl. Everything he said seemed genuine though they spent all their alone time hiding along the riding trail and in dark hallways.

“Russ, I’m going to let her go. We don’t need her anymore.”

Silence.

“You mean fire her?” The springs in the leather chair squeaked, boots hit the hardwood floor as Russ stood and stormed towards Tucker…and the door. “Of course we need her, Dad!”

Natalie’s stomach lurched. She pressed her back against the wall to keep still. Her feet wanted to run; her brain said stay and listen. Russ would fight for her.

For them.

June... a WONDERFUL month!

2008-06-01T19:10:00.002-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted and I apologize profusely! SO much has happened in the last few months! Here's an overview:

1) New job!

2) New book!

And coming in the next two weeks:

1) Birthday! (ugh)

2) New book release!

I'll post pics soon, but I can't WAIT to tell you about the promo for my new book!

~love n hugs~
Sydney

The Noel Bandit's FIRST Review!

2007-11-30T11:09:00.001-05:00

Four out of Five Champage Glasses from Cocktail Reviews!

Thanks so much, Sangria! (the reviewer)

(and silly me, a friend had to send it to me since I missed it!)

I'm SO excited! Sorry, no champagne for the readers, but I'll have a sparkling apple cider in your honor :)

And... Noel has a SEQUEL!

2007-11-30T11:04:00.000-05:00

Noel had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving week (the author on the other hand wanted to hide from cooking, traveling, and very loud relatives).

Jill Williamson, the newest editor in the growing Climbing Roses line at The Wild Rose Press, contracted the SEQUEL to The Noel Bandit titled "Saddle Up, Sweetheart". I know, you haven't read Noel yet so I can't give away any details on the next book BUT when you read the last few pages, I'm sure you'll know what's coming in the future.

I CAN say that Lucky Lake will never be the same! I remember my first love (believe me, I'm only in my 20s so it wasn't so long ago) and all the magical memories. The first kiss was questionable on a scale of one to ten *L* but I'll never forget those little details - where, when, and I hate to say, it was HOT for a Florida afternoon. I'm sure it was the sun and not the guy ;)

More details available soon...

Noel has a RELEASE DATE!

2007-11-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

Okay, where to begin... oh yeah, the most important post to date:

The Noel Bandit will be released on December 5th! Less than a week away, on Wednesday! So if you're looking for a young holiday romance, I'm certain you will love reading about Melinda as much as I did!

Sneak preview for The Noel Bandit

2007-10-08T11:54:00.000-04:00

Well, it's time to give the first preview of The Noel Bandit, now officially on The Wild Rose Press "Coming Soon" page under "Young Adult" as the only holiday rosette!

By the way, I love to listen to music while I read and write. I plan to have a "suggested song" for each book and the chosen title for The Noel Bandit is "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight" with Peter Cetera and Crystal Bernard. I must have played this song over a hundred times while writing this story and it fits Melinda and Kyle's love perfectly. And it's a duet!

And now... the excerpt!

Melinda was alone, except for the characters in her book. Not for long. An occasional knock against the window caught her attention. Melinda watched as small bits of hail hit glass. Or is it? She wrapped herself tightly into her quilt cocoon and hurried across the room, a skip every few seconds in tune with her expecting heart.

There he was. Seventeen year-old Kyle Audin looked painfully cold hiding behind an oak tree in jeans, leather jacket, boots, and work gloves. He gave a trite wave and motioned from his chest towards the house.

Melinda nodded, a smile cracking her terse mouth. He was the reason she woke before dawn, eager to catch a glimpse of him preparing the horses. The taut muscles in his legs when leaned forward and dug into the hay. The firmness in his grip as he hauled saddles and then adjusted them to the horses. The devotion to his job, the same he’d given to her for the past three months.

She unlocked the back door seconds before he hurried in, then she immediately cupped a hand over his mouth. “Shh,” praying the sudden flurry in the house wouldn’t bring anyone running.

“Mmm…” he kissed the tips of her fingers. Kyle unbuttoned his jacket, tossed it aside and pulled her to him. He kissed her forehead, her left cheek, and her nose before finding the perfect fit with her lips.

Melinda knew it was wrong to welcome an employee into her home at night, clandestine from her family. She let the quilt fall loose and broke free of him. “Here, you need this…“

“I need you.” His words spoke to her heart, his eyes to her soul.

“I’ve never heard that before.” The emotion welled in her throat and finally released in the form of tears. “Kyle, I’m supposed to be keeping watch.”

“Y’ should be sleeping.” He looked over her shoulder and around the house. “What’re we watching for?”

“We?” She arched a brow and poked him in the shoulder. “No, this is my job. I promised I would keep surveillance in case the Noel Bandit returns.”

“The what?” Kyle laughed, the rumbling in his chest radiated through his body. “Is that what you’re calling the person?”

She was compelled to join in his amusement. “Better than ‘thief’. It’s hard to believe someone could do this to us.” In his arms, an idea crossed her mind; if she captured the Bandit, just maybe she’d have enough of her father’s grace that he would accept Kyle. If Tucker wanted a reason for her to stay on the ranch, her love for Kyle would do it.

“They’re letters, easily replaced.” He shrugged. “I’m already working on them, your father’s orders. Besides, who would go out in this snow?” The crackle of the fire stressed his point.

Melinda grinned and looked him square in the eye.

“Unless for an extremely important reason.”

“Me?”

“Yes, my love. You.” Kyle paused

It's Here! It's Here!

2007-09-25T20:17:00.000-04:00

I just got the email from Nicola at TWRP and the cover to "The Noel Bandit" is here! I admit, I'm a bit biased, but I can't wait to get the hard copy in my hands! The artist did a fantastic job ~ I'm sure you'll love the story as much as the cover! As soon as I get the release date, I'll post it here

I guess now I have a reason to blog...

2007-09-09T20:17:00.001-04:00

Well, it's official (I really hope!). While other manuscripts are pending with publishers, my first rosette is under contract with The Wild Rose Press! As a part of this year's holiday rosettes, The Noel Bandit, will join the newly created Climbing Rose Young Adult line.

I'd love to divulge the story... but I can't! Soon, I promise. I can promise a dancing scene in the snow, a poignant kiss, and a quiet setting on a ranch. This story will fulfill any young woman's dreams of a Christmas romance.

I hope you will enjoy this story as much as I did writing it!

~Sydney

Hooray! The first post!

2007-08-31T23:32:00.000-04:00

Needless to say, this page is still under construction.

I still have two dogs to groom for this weekend, but I'm determined to start a blog! My friends at Romance Writers Unlimited keep reminding me that blogging is a necessity.

I'm sure my editor begs to differ.

Still, you're here for a reason and I'll try to keep you coming back to this page to check for updates on new Sydney Shay romances.

The first romance to be released will be The Noel Bandit, a YA romance published by The Wild Rose Press. Details to follow soon, so check back!

Did I forget to mention it's a FOUR DAY WEEKEND? WAHOO!!

Enjoy your vacations, everyone :)