Monday, February 10, 2014

[Blog Tour] Guest Blog + Giveaway: Know When to Run by Connie Flynn

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Know When to Run
Connie Flynn     

Genre: Romantic Suspense      

Publisher: CKF Enterprises

ASIN: B00H0R8AFS
Number of pages: 280
Word Count:  61,000

Cover Artist: Carol Webb        


Book Description:

She woke up one morning on a Mississippi riverboat casino with a huge headache and no clue to who she was.

With the help of new friends she rebuilt her life. Now, nearly two years later, a tall dark man with killer good looks comes after her. A bounty hunter, who claims she killed her father then ran out on her bail. She says he's got the wrong woman. He says she's guilty as sin. One of them is right . . .

Suddenly so many people are after her, she can't tell the good guys from the bad guys. But one thing she can do is KNOW WHEN TO RUN.

3 FUN FACTS ABOUT VALENTINE'S DAY

1.    WHO WAS ST. VALENTINE?
At least two men named Valentinus were named St. Valentine but only one of them was ever given full sainthood in any venue. Both were supposedly imprisoned and later executed for marrying soldiers, who were forbidden to wed (go figure) and ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.

Although both men were at one time designated saints, the Valentinus  who died on the 14th of February on the Via Flaminia close to the Milvian bridge in Rome still remains on am officially recognized list. Saint Valentine's Church in Rome, built in 1960 for the needs of the Olympic Village, continues as a modern, well-visited parish church.

What makes this St. Valentine rise above the other is that in addition to his ministry to soldiers and Christians, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius, from blindness. Sadly, he was stoned and beheaded anyway.  As legend has it, before his execution he wrote a letter to Asterius and signed it, 'Your Valentine.' (What? Is there more to this legend than just healing?)

2.    WHAT'S SO ROMANTIC ABOUT THAT?
We have to go back to the "Canterbury Tales for that answer." In the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages the tradition of romantic, courtly love flourished. By the seventeen hundreds it evolved into a major holiday. Lovers gave each other flowers and sweets and sent cards that soon became known as valentines. Remember grade school when we all brought cards to class and handed them out?  How we didn't want to give them to the 'icky' kids but our parents and teachers made us. The holiday was a big deal then and it seemed to me that the whole world exchanged cards and gifts. By then, other symbols had entered the game – the heart outline, doves, Cupid. Sweethearts, particularly those living in America, spend generously on this day.

3.    HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND?
In the battle for who spends the most, Valentine's Day overcomes Halloween. Americans are expected to spend $17.6 billion on candy, balloons, paper cards and other tokens of love. At Halloween, Americans spent $6.86 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. But those who celebrate Valentine's Day shell out over a hundred dollars per person. Halloween, by comparison, earns less than $75 per person. Money aside, Halloween remains the more popular holiday. Seventy percent of adults surveyed celebrate Halloween, compared to only sixty percent Valentine's Day.

What about you? Is Valentine's Day a big deal between you and your honey? Us it worth more than a hundred dollars? Or is Halloween more your style? Let me hear your thoughts. Leave a comment and you'll be entered in the raffle.  



About the Author:

Award-winning, bestselling author Connie Flynn writes both long and short fiction and is published in multiple genres, including paranormal romance, romantic comedy, mystery and suspense and contemporary fantasy/sci-fi. She lives in Arizona on a lush green park where she walks her dog and escapes from the hot desert sun. Her latest release is the twists-and-turns romantic suspense, KNOW WHEN TO RUN.









 

7 comments:

  1. Hey!!! Sounds like a winner. bluepooh1 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Thank you, Heather. It's so nice of you to stop by. I've been told KNOW WHEN TO RUN is filled with twists and turns and I hope it keeps you guessing.

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  2. Another book to my list.... never ending story

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    1. I know Sarit. It's kind of "So many books, so little time." these days. I hope KNOW WHEN TO RUN will make it to the top because I've been told it's a good read.

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  3. Sounds really good, Tbr lists getiing bigger.

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    1. Laurie, I know what you mean about the list. My TBR pile is nearly as high as my bed. Hope you find time for KNOW WHEN TO RUN. I've been told it's more than worth the time. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Thank you Musings in Fictions for hosting me yesterday and to all of you who stopped in to comment.

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