Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday Blog Hop

Are You A Black Friday Person Or Not?

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The air crackles with excitement and anticipation as we count down the minutes until the doors open this morning. You either love this day, or avoid the crowds like a lobster avoids a pot of boiling water. It’s one of Anne’s favorite days. She’s one of the sisters in my upcoming baby-boomer contemporary, Blame It On The Brontes. She has a debilitating designer shoe fetish. Think Carrie Bradshaw with red curls. Her work as the buyer for her family’s fledgling  jewelry and gift shop ease some of the pangs of not having a designer shoe store at the nearest corner. It’s like Black Friday every day in the store, since she only pays wholesale prices for the merchandise.

Here’s a sampling of Anne’s story, as she puts her acting career on hold to move back to her hometown for a year. That’s the only way to get her claws into her mother’s considerable estate. And designer stilettos cost a fortune.

Anne Bronson pressed her foot to the gas pedal, trying to ignore the little red light on the dashboard—the one highlighting the E on her gas gauge. She willed the rental moving truck to make it up the next hill, hunching over the steering wheel to help with the climb. The truck leaned into the steepest part of the incline, its headlights illuminating the crest just as the engine began coughing and sputtering in earnest. No good gas-guzzling piece of crap. Anne pulled the truck to the side of the road and set the brake so it wouldn’t drift down the incline. There should have been plenty of fuel to get to the house.
If she hadn’t already maxxed out her credit card, she would have gladly paid a professional moving company to get her from New York to Maine. But here she was, driving her own belongings north, and out of gas. Her stomach became even tighter. Is this the way a NASCAR driver feels when he runs out of gas on the final lap? Anne’s race was even bigger. She had an inheritance at stake. Eighteen minutes till midnight. Damn.
Hauling out her purse and overnight bag, she climbed down from the truck. She kicked a tire and let out a small scream at the damage her instinctive motion caused her black leather Manolo Blahniks. Tapping her fingernails against her teeth, she peered up and down the dark road. No headlights. No life. No sound. She fished into her purse for her cell phone and stared at it. No signal either here in Backwater Maine, of course. With a deep sigh, she wrestled her old suitcase with its wonky wheel and strapped her oversized purse across her body as she began to climb the rest of the way up the incline. Two miles to the house. She had eighteen minutes to get there. In six-inch heels. Looking skyward, she muttered, “Hey, Mom, you up there? If you are, I need a little help right about now.”
Headlights crested over a hill in front of her. Anne blew a kiss skyward. “Thanks, Mom. Always could count on you.”
She put down her purse and bag at the side of the road and moved to the middle, waving her hands, hoping the driver spotted her before the car either mowed her down or went whizzing on by. This was a million dollar hitchhike.
The white car slowed, and then came to a stop about fifty feet away from her. Anne blew out the breath she was holding and moved forward, out of the harsh glare of the headlights. As she stepped closer, she noticed for the first time the light bar mounted on top of the car. Relief flooded her as she realized she had flagged down a police cruiser. A glimpse of the dark-haired officer sitting behind the wheel made her lips turn up into what she knew was her flirtiest smile. She couldn’t see him well in the dark with just the glow from the dashboard lights across his face, but it didn’t matter. She knew how to work any man.
"Hello, handsome," she purred as she rested her hands on the car door’s windowsill and leaned down to see him better. "You've saved my life." She tapped his nametag. "Officer Willoughby. Can I hitch a ride into town?" Not bad looking. She waited for his reply. Wavy, dark hair cut a bit long, a fit body, at least what she could see.
"Are you Anne Bronson?"
Anne put her hand to her chest. "You recognize me? Well, how special is that?"
"Get in the car," the dark-haired man growled.
Anne straightened up a bit and backed away a step. She threw a saucy look his way, to show him she wasn’t intimidated by his gruff manner. "I usually wait for the gentleman to open the door, but I am in a bit of a hurry tonight." She grabbed her bags from the side of the road and then scurried around to the passenger side, throwing her suitcase into the back seat and then hopping in before grumpy Officer Willoughby changed his mind and drove off without her.
As she settled her purse on the seat between them, Anne said, "I live up the road here, only a couple miles away..."
Officer Willoughby spoke into his police radio. "I found her, and I’m bringing her in now."
Anne swiveled her head toward him. "Hey, are you talking about me on your radio? You're bringing me in? For what?”
“For being late.”
“That’s now a crime?” Anne squirmed in her seat. ‘Listen Officer, I’m enjoying our time together, but I really, really need to get home before midnight."
"Yeah, Cinderella, relax. I'm taking you to your sisters."

So it's your turn. Leave a comment here, telling me what kind of Black Friday person you are, and you'll be eligible to win a prize. We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

And don't forget to enter here to win an autographed copy of my historical novel, The Reluctant Debutante.
 

48 comments:

  1. We don`t have Black Friday deals here (in northern Europe), so I`m just attending giveaways like this, lol.
    Thanks for the chance to win your novel! :)

    dita(dot)skarste(at)gmail(dot)com


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  2. I avoid Black Friday shopping.
    bituin76 at hotmail dot com

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  3. We don`t have Black Friday deals here (I`m an international reader), so I`m just attending giveaways like these, lol.

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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  4. I'm an avoider, Becky. If (and it's a big 'if') we hit the stores it will be late in the afternoon or early evening. When the craziness has died down. This year, though, we're not going. Staying home, playing games and reading...perfect day for us!

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  5. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here I live, so no Black Friday for me either. But it must be fun to go shopping :)

    verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

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  6. I don't go shopping on Black Friday - way too many crazy people out there! Thanks for participating in the blog hop!

    Julie K
    kornhsl@yahoo.com

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  7. I'm not a black Friday shopper. lisarayns at gmail dot com

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  8. I no longer shop on Black Friday. It makes more sense to do all my shopping online.
    planterofhope(at)aol(dot)com

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  9. Yes, I love Black Friday. Unfortunately, this year I'll be staying home. angelacisco79(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. I sleep in this special Friday instead of getting up early for the sales!
    Linda@LindaHubalek.com

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  11. No Black Friday for me too many people. christiethemom@hotmail.com

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  12. I love BF shopping! I've already been out and back this morning~ and did a bit last night, too! Thank you for the lovely giveaway~<3

    MostlyMisha [at] gmail [dot] com

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  13. I skipped Black Friday shopping this year.
    Jennifer Rote
    wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

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  14. No Black Friday for me either. I shop on-line! Thanks for the giveaway.

    kareninnc at gmail dot com

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  15. Hate crowds, no mass-shopping for me :)
    swordlily_girl[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  16. I have friends who go Black Friday shopping but it's not for me. Thanks for the chance to win!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

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  17. I sent the hubby shopping today.I am glad to have found you on this blog hop and look forward to reading your works. Kim86004(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I do not like crowds so BF shopping is not for me! I will be spending my day hopping and then snuggled up reading! Well that is after I decide on what new book I have just added to my to be read list! It gets longer every hop! Thanks!

    I am thankful for all the wonderful books I am finding on the hop!

    grapeapril75(at)gmail.com

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  19. Man This is only stop 50! I don't see how I am going to make it through over a 150 more stops! LOL! I am home today. No BF for me. Thanks for doing the hop!

    gatormaryd(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  20. I don't go Black Friday shopping. The crowds are too big and the shoppers too crazed :)
    farrahsayyedATgmailDOTcom

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  21. I do all of my black friday shopping online! You can get the same deals and free shipping! Thanks for participating in the hop!

    xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. not a Black Friday shopper

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. Haven't done any black friday shopping yet, maybe next year I will participate in the online sales, but never at the malls...too many people for my liking! Thanks for your giveaway!
    oddball2003 at hotmail dot com

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  24. Hi! Happy Holidays to you! Im spending the day with my family, eating leftovers from turkey day and blog hopping. lol Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway! Best wishes and many blessings to you!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. Wow! Great Shoes. LOL I just went black Friday shopping this morning for the first time in three years. I was a little scared, but it really wasn't that bad. Happy Holidays.

    sandywolters(dot)author(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. You new novel sounds great but really, who can't love a girl who loves shoes? :)

    Thanks so much for being a part of the hop and for the giveaway.

    Happy Holidays,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  27. I no longer go Black Friday shopping. Too many crazy people out there. I don't have the patience I had when I was younger, LOL. So today I am staying in and blog hopping, instead of shopping! angadair@nwcable.net Thanks for the hop!

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  28. nope not a bfriday person hate the crowds - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

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  29. I am definitely not a Black Friday shopper and never will be lol
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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  30. Thanks for the giveaway!!
    I like to shop but on black Friday?? I mostly would just go to the craft stores and fabric stores to see for any good deals. Or just go to buy more books even though they don't have any deals on them.

    kp_kazamei(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Your book sounds amazing and my kind of read!!

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  31. I stay home for Black Friday, the crowds scare me.

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  32. I'm a shop online black Friday kind of girl. :) Thanks for participating.

    katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  33. I'm a stay at home and sleep off the food from the day before kinda person! thanks for visiting my blog katiejteller at hotmail dot com

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  34. Thanks for the hop stop! I hate BF!

    melhalp at msn.com

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  35. I am not shopping. Not for me. Instead of shopping, I'm hopping! I prefer to do my shopping online.
    Happy Black Friday.
    mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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  36. No shopping today XD
    Thanks for the great giveaway!
    red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  37. No, I don't shop on black friday.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

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  38. No shopping today but enjoying my hopping!
    0713iv@gmail.com

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  39. I usually just stay home on black Friday and do my shopping online!
    Thanks :)
    ~Lynne
    tworeads.blogspot.com
    tworeads (at) gmail (dot) com

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  40. I shop online to avoid the crowds.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    nerdswillruleoneday@yahoo.com

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  41. Thanks for the chance!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  42. There is no deal good enough to drag me out of my comfy and warm bed on black friday.

    krankimom[at]comcast[dot]net

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  43. Thanks for the blog giveaway :)

    eliseandtegan@gmail.com

    Love shopping BF with friends.

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  44. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jesse
    jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com

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  45. I prefer online shopping and avoid crowds. Thank you for the giveaway and being part of the blog hop. :)

    yazmin593 AT msn DOT com

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  46. I'm a black friday shopper. I go to the stores when they open (no I don't stand in line outside of them for hours) where I go after stuff on my list. I try my best to just go to Walmart and price match but it doesn't always turn out that way. Thanks for being a part of the hop!
    jessangil at gmail dot com

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  47. Great and nice article. I think it’s an very informative blog. Thanks for sharing.

    Please visit our website: http://bfreedom.com/

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