X-Men meets Captain Tightpants meets Young Guns. Heather Long's Fevered Hearts series is all that an more. Today she's stopped by to share her latest book in that series and one(1) lucky reader will win a copy. Heather's known for writing different genres but she keeps it hot and sexy.
Meet Heather:
Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.
Thanks to Kati and Jamie for having me as a guest today. I’m thrilled to talk about one of my favorite series. The Fevered Hearts books are very close to my heart (pardon the pun!). What I originally conceived as a series of novellas turned into an epic landscape, roaming the old west, where the water may be scarce, the ride is long and the men are as tough as the land they live upon. I remember being stunned that it last 80,000 words that first time around.
In the first novel, I introduced readers to Sam Kane, the honorable upstanding Marshal of Dorado and to Scarlett Morning Star, the Fevered girl raised in seclusion and sheltered by her adopted father and seven older brothers. One of those older brothers is Cody. Cody had a bumpy go of it in Marshal, choosing at the end of the book to leave Dorado and the Flying K behind when Sam and Scarlett married.
Brave are the Lonely is his story. It’s also another leg in Kid Kane’s journey. Kid is the youngest Kane sibling, he’s always felt a bit on the outside and he struggles with his own secrets. When Cody saw Kid leaving at the end of Marshal, he followed him. Brave is every bit the story of brotherhood, loyalty and friendship as it is about passion, love, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Cody can be ruthless, but his fierce protectiveness cannot be matched.
Here is an excerpt from Brave Are the Lonely:
Cody followed the curve of the wash trail Kid rode. The faint scent of water, rabbit, scrub brush and mice tickled his nose. The smaller animals went quiet in his passage and he left them be. He wasn’t hungry. Kid’s words echoed in his ears.
His turn to hunt.
The wolf’s mouth fell open, tongue lolling in the wind, sampling the air. He was ever watchful for the dangerous scent of man. Luckily, they were traveling upwind, which brought the scents to him. He would know they were there long before they appeared. Kid was safe for the time being, which meant Cody could roam.
The young man’s frequent visits to every hovel they came across left the wolf bewildered. He refused to follow him to closely, the smell of unwashed bodies, cooking food and strangeness overwhelming. But he never strayed far.
He’d ambushed one angry husband who came after Kid at their first town and frightened off another at the third town. Kid’s insatiable appetites for female companionship didn’t make him discriminating. They’d even spent one rainy night at a remote farmhouse. Cody in the barn with the horses while Kid seduced the absent farmer’s daughter. At least she didn’t have a husband.
The wolf understood the husband’s anger, the rage at Kid’s philandering. But Kid was pack. That meant Cody would protect him.
A long escarpment of rocky outcroppings beckoned. The sun-drenched stone would be warm in the air that turned progressively chilly the further west and higher up they went. Kid said they’d be in the mountains soon, but the distant peaks were closer than Kid believed. Cody grew up on a mountain, one didn’t have to go higher to find the colder air.
Home flashed through his mind. The scents of the lake, the rich pines, firs and cedars were fresh to his tongue. A familiar flame haired female splashing in the icy cold lake, heating the water at the edges until the boys could frolic there as well.
The howl tore out of his throat before he could stop it, hard, long and keening. Scarlett chose another. Cody understood that. She was happy. The man was happy for her.
The wolf missed her.
The land went silent around him, what few critters that hadn’t scrambled out of his way huddled quietly, sure that the end was near. Cody ignored them all. He’d caught the scent of deer the night before. He wanted venison, sick of rabbit, squirrel, grouse and fish. The wolf wouldn’t bother with it all, but Kid said it was his turn.
Now that you’ve had a glimpse at the book, all you have to do is leave a comment with your email address to be entered to win a free eCopy of Brave are the Lonely.
BRAVE ARE THE LONELY:
click for an excerpt
When the spirit fever struck a town, a village or an outpost, it left few if any survivors. The white man blamed the Indian saying they used their mojo on them. The Indians blamed the white man for angering the spirits. The survivors knew it didn’t matter. The Fevered were forever changed.
When death seemed preferable… Mourning his mate drove fevered wolf shifter Cody out of Texas, but a brother’s need drags him back from the brink.
…and good deeds never go unpunished… Gypsy princess Mariska only wants to protect her people and her freedom, but a dangerous choice puts her on a collision course with an angry wolf.
…the best thing that could happen to him… When Cody touches Mariska, his wolf cannot escape the hunger that fills him. For Mariska, Cody’s touch brings her a pleasure she never imagined, but is it enough to heal his fractured soul?
…was the last thing he expected. As danger stalks all three of them, they must confront who they are or risk losing Cody forever.
Okay peeps, Heather is graciously offering a copy of BRAVE ARE THE LONELY to one(1) lucky reader and it's open internationally. Yay!! Here's how to enter:
Leave a meaningful comment for Heather about historical paranormals. Do you read them? If so, do you have a favorite?
Fill out the rafflecopter form. You must leave a comment for Heather. All other entries are optional.
A huge thank you to Brandy for forwarding correspondence between Heather and us. Another huge thank you to Heather for hanging out on the blog and for providing the giveaway copy.
Bella Riley has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career.
Since selling her first book in 2003 (under the name Bella Andre), she's written more than twenty "empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publisher's Weekly). Her bestselling books have been Cosmopolitan Red Hot Reads twice and have been translated into German, Thai, Japanese and Ukrainian.
If not behind her computer, you can find her reading, hiking, knitting, or lunching with her favorite romance writing friends. Bella lives with her fabulous husband and children in both Northern California and a ninety-year-old lakefront log cabin in New York's Adirondacks.
Hope Ramsay was born in New York and grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you’ll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. Hope earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Buffalo, and has had various jobs working as a Congressional aide, a lobbyist, a public relations consultant, and a meeting planner. She’s a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart, and is married to a good ol’ Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She has two grown children and a couple of demanding lap cats. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.
Jamie & Kati: Who is Bella Riley? (author, mother, knitter, international woman of mystery) Bella Riley: I'm a mother of two, wife of one, a hiker and swimmer, an avid reader and I love to laugh.
J&K: Tell us what WITH THIS KISS is about [no copying blurb :)] BR: In WITH THIS KISS deeply hidden secrets threaten to keep Rebecca and Sean apart despite the fireworks that neither of them can deny. This book is the story of not only their journey to love – but Sean's parents, his brother and his grandmother all finally dealing with the secrets that they've been carrying in their hearts for far too long.
Q&A w/Hope Ramsay:
Jamie&Kati: Who is Hope Ramsay? (author, mother, guitar picker, international woman of mystery) Hope Ramsay:Well I'm so many people. First I'm a wife, mother, and grandmother. I'm also a small business owner -- my company provides management services to small non-profits. I'm definitely a public affairs junkie. I watch way too much MSNBC, but do I try to keep my political views out of my fiction. I knit. I garden. I play guitar and I'm a huge fan of James Taylor and David Wilcox. And, perhaps most of all, I love, love, love to read fiction.
J&K: Tell us a little bit about LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN [no copying blurb :)] HR: A long time ago -- well before I sold any of the Last Chance books -- I got the notion in my head that it would be fun to send an Englishman to the swamps of South Carolina. I guess I was influenced by stories of Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, who ran the British ragged during the Revolution. Or maybe I just loved the idea of a genre smashup that could be described as Oscar Wilde meats Dukes of Hazard.
This idea eventually became Last Chance Beauty Queen, which is the story of Hugh deBracy the twenty-third Baron Woolham and his quest to build a textile factory in Last Chance, South Carolina. Of course Hugh wants to build the factory on land that belongs to the heroine's family. But the twist in this melodrama is that the heroine, Rocky "Caroline" Rhodes, works for a senator who wants her to make certain His Lordship gets the land. Her job depends on making the senator happy. So Caroline finds herself in morally ambiguous territory between her family, her career, and the man who reminds her of all those sexy Regency-period dukes in the romances she's addicted to. The rest of the story is just fun -- taking Hugh to the Watermelon festival where he experiences a demolition derby, a pie judging contest, and the matchmaking schemes of the Last Chance church ladies.
J&K: What can readers expect from you next? HR: My readers have told me they are anxiously awaiting the fourth book in the series, which is Stone Rhodes's love story. Last Chance Christmas will be available in October 2012 and in this story we also meet a very interesting heroine, named Lark Chaikin. Lark comes to Last Chance to fulfill her father's last request to have his ashes scattered on the 18th hole of the local putt-putt place known as Golfing for God. But getting permission to lay her father to rest proves difficult, and Lark soon discovers a part of her father's past that she didn't know anything about. While she's unraveling the mystery, she falls for the slow talking and manly Chief of Police. And, to everyone's surprise, the chief falls too.
WITH THIS KISS:
Love can find you when you least expect it . . . Fireworks. That's what innkeeper Rebecca Campbell wants. And no matter how close their friendship, she and her former fianc never shared that. Now, with a broken engagement behind her and a promise she's vowed to keep, Rebecca is determined to make a new life for herself in Emerald Lake. She just never expected sparks to fly this quickly . . . Coming home and falling for his little brother's girl wasn't Sean Murphy's plan. Rebecca's sweet smile and kind heart make Sean feel at home-something he's never felt before. But a secret lingers between them, and no matter how powerful their attraction, Sean can't give his heart to a woman he can't trust. Or can he? As the days pass, Rebecca and Sean find it harder and harder to deny their desire. And they are in beautiful Emerald Lake, the perfect place for falling in love . . .
Dear Reader, Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn't much interested in the local boys - but who'd have thought she'd come home with English royalty? Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks' land. We don't want to sell, but Rocky's job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh's obviously smitten, I'm not sure he's right for my Rocky. Oh, he's classy and handsome - and you should've seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! - but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen, but after forty happy years with my Elbert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same. Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray's wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut 'n Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town. See you real soon, Ruby Rhodes
Forever Romance wants to share both WITH THIS KISS and LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN with three(3) lucky US readers. That's right, both books will find homes with three(3) readers. Isn't that fantastic? Here's how:
Leave a meaningful comment about contemporary romances, stories set in small towns or family relationships.
Fill out the rafflecopter form. You must leave a comment. All other entries are optional.
A huge thank you to J.Sanders for forwarding correspondence between Hope, Bella and us. Also, thank you to the publisher for providing the giveaway and review copies.
We're major fans of the paranormal, right after historicals of course. There's something dangerously sexy about things that go bump in the night or straight out of tales meant to scare you into staying inside at night. Stella Cameron and Cynthia Garner are here to share their latest releases with us.
WELCOME TO THE BLOG STELLA AND CYNTHIA!!!
Meet Stella:
Stella Cameron is the New York Times best selling author of the acclaimed Court of Angels Series, the Bayou Books and many others. There are fourteen million copies of her books in circulation worldwide. She is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington State.
My interest in writing got an early start when my sixth grade teacher told us to complete the following sentence: “It was a dark and stormy night…” With that my love of all things paranormal was born.
By day I’m a mostly mild-mannered Human Resources Manager for a local non-profit organization. I’m originally from northeast Ohio and fled the snow over ten years ago to live in the heat of southeastern Arizona.
Jamie & Kati: Who is Cynthia Garner? Cynthia Garner: By day I’m a mostly mild-mannered Human Resources Manager for a non-profit company that works with children in the care of Child Protective Services. It’s a lovely place to work with lovely people, and when it’s quitting time I can usually leave without carrying anything home with me, either physically, mentally or emotionally. That’s so important because once I do get home, I get started on my other full-time job, which is writing. If I’m all wired up because of something that happened at work (or something that’s in the process of happening that I know still needs attention), it’s not very conducive to the creativity process.
I grew up in Northeast Ohio in a middle class family with roots in West Virginia. I currently live in Southern Arizona, and absolutely love it! I moved here in 2000, and after five years of having a job that consumed me (60-70 hours/week workload in addition to lots and lots and LOTS of stress), I resigned and took a year to work on my writing career. I published several novellas under the pen name Sherrill Quinn with digital first publishers including Ellora’s Cave and Amber Heat. (My books are still available there.) In 2009 the first of three Kensington Brava books came out, and with KISS OF THE VAMPIRE that just came out February 1st of this year, I have moved to my new home (with my new name) at Grand Central.
J&K: Tell us a little bit about KISS OF THE VAMPIRE and your hero and heroine. CG: KISS OF THE VAMPIRE is the first book in my Warriors of the Rift series, which is set predominantly in an alternate reality Scottsdale, Arizona where all the creatures of our myths and legends are living next door. They are in actuality human beings who have been taken over by alien entities from another dimension. Tobias Caine is a vampire who was in essence Secret Service in his other life and voluntary came to this dimension in pursuit of an assassin. Nix de la Fuente was born here on Earth of a demon mother and a human father.
J&K: What do you have next in store for readers? CG: I just turned in a novella that is a prequel to the novels in the series, and it should be released in digital format in May or June. The second novel, SECRET OF THE WOLF, comes out in July, and the third novel, HEART OF THE DEMON, will come out early next year.
Q&A w/Stella Cameron:
Jamie & Kati: Who is Stella Cameron? Author, mother, international woman of mystery. Stella Cameron: You describe me so well :) How about adding, reclusive, shy but with good coping skills, addicted to my family and crazy about animals. Like to clean, hate to cook. Love to garden and occasionally to draw. Fiction has saved me from sadness all my life. There is nothing I wouldn't at least start reading. I find gems of stories in unlikely places—or perhaps I should write, unexpected.
Above all, I'm a survivor who doesn't believe in blaming the past for present problems. My motto now is, "Get over it."
J&K: Tell us a bit about DARKNESS BOUND and your hero and heroine. SC: I had written the Court of Angels series set in New Orleans and was amazed by the freedom I felt writing paranormal stories. I was hooked. Drama, love, hate, fear, sympathy, courage, selflessness and the opposite…I was swamped by every emotion. With DARKNESS BOUND I delved into a different area and lived a story with werehounds, werewolves, vampires and my Deseran people who are the abandoned offspring of paranormal parents who decided, wrongly, that these children had no special skills.
My hero is werehound, Niles Latimer, alpha of the Team that lives on Whidbey Island in Washington. The werehounds have gradually diminished in number and there are no females left. Mating between a werehound and any other species presents potentially deadly danger since there is no guarantee that the werehound's mate might not survive being with him. Niles has been assured he could mate with a Deseran and is trying to convince himself he can take the risk for another creature.
Leigh Kelly returns to Whidbey and the cottage her now dead husband left her to start over. Her "chance" meeting with Niles is the beginning of a deeply dangerous and passionate relationship. But both Niles and Leigh have enemies and just being together is a threat to each of them. Werewolves want to wipe out the hounds and the possibility that they may start breeding again is a threat to the wolves who are having their own problems and need to eliminate all opposition.
Niles's dilemma is only more difficult because he comes to love Leigh more than his desire to have children.
J&K: What do you have in store for readers next? SC: I'm revising DARKNESS BRED, the next of the Chimney Rock Series.
DARKNESS BOUND:
WHEN NIGHT FALLS After her husband’s tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched . . . especially at night. Soon, she’s experiencing visions she can’t explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.
PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man’s heart beats beneath his predator’s body. And Leigh—the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn’t yet understand—may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn’t the only one who recognizes Leigh’s true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods—and the hunt has begun . . .
Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she’s more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world’s mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .
Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn’t interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.
Both books were fantastic reads and Forever has been generous enough to giveaway three(3) copies of DARKNESS BOUND and KISS OF THE VAMPIRE to three(3) lucky U.S readers. Here's how to get both books added to your shelf:
Leave a comment about paranormal books. What's your favorite element? Got a favorite series? ('thanks for the giveaway' doesn't add much to the discussion)
Fill out the rafflecopter form. You must leave a meaningful comment to be entered. All other entries are optional.
A huge thank you to J.Sanders and A.Levinson for forwarding correspondence between Stella, Cynthia and us. Another big thank you to Forever for providing the giveaway and review copies.
We Hottie Scotties and we sure as heck love secret agents. We're not sure what it is about them that gets our hearts beating triple time. Maybe it's the danger that surrounds them. The lovely Miz Katharine Ashe is here to share her latest release, WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY, as well as sneak peeks into the next two books of the new Falcon Club series.
WELCOME BACK TO THE BLOG KATHARINE!!!
Meet Katharine:
The American Library Association’s Booklist named Katharine Ashe among its “New Stars of Historical Romance.” She is a two-time nominee in the Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Awards, and her novella, A Lady’s Wish, launched Harper Collins Publishers’ e-book imprint, Avon Impulse, to rave reviews.
Katharine lives in the wonderfully warm Southeast with her husband, son, two dogs, and a garden she likes to call romantic rather than unkempt. A professor of European history, she has made her home in California, Italy, France, and the northern US. She loves hearing from readers!
Kati: Hi Katharine! Congrats on your latest release. It’s a pleasure to have you at the blog again. :) Katharine: Thanks, Kati. It’s lovely to be here. And congratulations to you on your new partnership with Jamie. (thanks!)
Kati & Jamie: Who is Katharine Ashe? (author, mother, runner, European history professor, international woman of mystery...) Katharine Ashe: Oh, I like that “international woman of mystery.” Yes, indeed.
K&J: How did you pick the title for WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY? KA: As I was planning the book, one day I was listening to an oldies radio station and I heard “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge. It was so right for the hero, Leam, the Earl of Blackwood, I knew in an instant this must be the title.
K&J: Tell us a little bit about Leam and Kitty. KA: Leam is a lady’s most delectably sinful dream. He is tall and gorgeous in a rawboned Scottish borderlands fashion, with dark eyes that promise seriously scorching passion. As a secret agent of the Falcon Club, in high society he dresses casually, flirts incorrigibly, and is known to still mourn the tragic death of his young wife years ago. In private he is a man of eight languages, four unquestionably trusting friends, two devoted Irish Wolfhounds, but no heart to speak of any longer. He is a poet and a lord and everything he shows of himself to the world is a lie.
Lady Kitty Savege wears a disguise of sorts too. Pretending cool hauteur in society, she has lived her life seeking vengeance on the man who ruined her, but now her heart aches for something more -- for joy and adventure and, most of all, love. She thinks Lord Blackwood is a barbarian, from his loose neckcloth to his roguish brogue. Nevertheless, she can’t manage to stop throwing herself at him every time they have a moment alone together! He’s far too handsome, she’s far too wanton, and when they come together it’s far, far too hot to resist.
K&J: Do you have any writing rituals? (baking Toll House cookies, listening to music, drinking wine...) KA: I write everywhere and any time I can! So, no, I don’t have particular rituals. When I write I like my desk to be clear of everything but my laptop and perhaps a cup of coffee. But if a scene is pressing desperately at me to be written, those things don’t matter either.
K&J: Plotter or pantser? KA: I plot every book, with the most intensely emotional scenes central to that plotting. But I’ll change the plan if that’s where the characters take me. They’re in control!
K&J: If Hollywood came knocking and wanted to make WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles? KA: Oh, this is a tough one. I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I don’t know all the stars out there now, and I’d be sure to pass up folks that are perfect for the roles. Can I leave this one to my readers and let you know?
K&J: Can you give us a sneak peek or tell us something about the next two books in The Falcon Club series? KA: In book #2, How To Be a Proper Lady, Captain Jin Seton is a former pirate with a very dark past and a lost lady in his sights, and he’ll stop at nothing to find her. The moment I wrote the first lines about Jin in Captured by a Rogue Lord, I knew I had to tell his story, and I knew precisely whom his heroine would be -- Viola Carlyle, kidnapped by smugglers as a girl but fighting mad to be dragged back to England now. Jin is sublimely confident and totally caught off guard by his quarry. Their romance is a seductively fiery battle of wills.
In book #3, How a Lady Weds a Rogue, a hardened spy meets his match in a country miss who demands that he play the role of hero in her quest. But the road may prove more dangerous than she imagined when her un-damsel-like desire for her knight in shining armor and his intoxicating embrace turn out to be the real adventure…
How To Be a Proper Lady is coming Jun 26, and How a Lady Weds a Rogue follows on September 25!
K&J: If you could write an anthology with any 2 authors (dead or alive) who would they be and what would it be about? KA: A wedding anthology with Liz Carlyle and Lisa Kleypas.
K&J: What are you currently reading? KA:Maya Rodale’s THE TATTOOED DUKE, released yesterday from Avon alongside WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY. It’s soo good!!
K&J: What do your family and friends think about you writing romance books? KA: I am truly blessed in this. My family and friends are enormously supportive and enthusiastic. They’re always there as sounding boards for plot or character ideas, to brainstorm titles, to “ooh!” and “ahh!” over my covers, to check historical details (many of my friends are professors of history too), to comfort and encourage me when things get challenging, and to pop the bubbly when it’s time to celebrate. They also buy my books, give them as gifts to friends, and recommend them to strangers in bookstore aisles. I thank the Lord every day for their love and support.
K&J: Authors choice. KA: If a hero from a romance novel came to life and stood right in front of you, what’s the one thing you would ask him?
Kati: Thank you so much Katharine! Katharine: Thank you, Kati. This has been such fun!
WHEN A SCOT LOVES A LADY:
London gossips are asking: What use has society of an exclusive gentleman’s club if no gentlemen are ever seen to pass through its door?
After years as an agent of the secret Falcon Club, Lord Leam Blackwood knows it’s time to return home to Scotland. One temptation threatens his plans—Kitty Savege. The scandal-plagued lady warms his blood like a dram of fine whiskey. But a dangerous enemy stands in the way of desire, and to beat this foe Leam needs Kitty’s help…
Kitty never wanted to spend her holidays in a wretched country village! With snow up to the windows, escape is nowhere in sight. A roguish Scottish lord, however, is. His rough brogue sends tingles of heat from Kitty’s frigid toes to her chilled nose, but she’s confident she can withstand that. What she cannot control is the reaction of her carefully guarded heart when she discovers this beast is, in fact, no beast at all…
Katharine is giving away a copy of CAPTURED BY A ROGUE LORD to one(1) lucky reader and it's open internationally. Yay! Here's how to get your hands on it:
Leave a comment answering Katharine's question: If a hero from a romance novel came to life and stood right in front of you, what’s the one thing you would ask him? (just saying 'thanks for the giveaway' isn't going to cut it)
Fill out the rafflecopter form. You must comment but all other entries are optional. We recommend following Katharine on Twitter for sneak peeks and giveaways. Seriously.
A huge thank you to Katharine for stopping by the blog today and for offering a copy of CAPTURED BY A ROGUE LORD.
So our journey with Jenn and her remastered illustrated romance ends today. We may or may not break out the black bombazine to go in mourning for our beloved Roxleigh and Perry. But we know Jenn has great things ahead of her not only in writing and illustrating another book or two or more. She also is first and foremost a fantastic photographer and if you ever need a cover for your book, you should look at her romance stock photos. We do. Sometimes just to ogle.
Meet Jenn:
I have several constants in life that define me: Colorado, Canon, CJ, kids and curls.
Born and raised in a household of other people’s children in this beautiful state —very nearly with a camera in hand— I never left. I started my own family, got used to the curls, went to college, built a CJ, and started a business, all with a camera in hand.
I always had another passion; storytelling born from daydreams and nightmares. My fingers were never as quick as my mind, and no amount of practice got them there, so it was difficult and frustrating to have this inside me. When my second daughter was born her inherent traits kept me pinned— my only escape the keyboard. Spending my days in parenting chat rooms I got highly adept with one-handed typing and I can still type just about as fast with one hand as I can with two. It’s a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. I recently finished my first novel but I quickly realized: I was born a photographer.
From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of MY book my control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.
I live and thrive off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. I wear shorts and flip-flops year-round —much to the chagrin of my friends and family— and I am currently working on the illustrations for my second novel.
Find Jenn:Twitter | Facebook | Author Site | Blog | Tumblr (NSFW) Ah yes, the woman that we have all been waiting for. The one that would reform that scandalous rake. She’s such a surprise and such a lovely, lovely girl. At first we wondered whether or not she would be able to hold her own with our dear Perry considering what happened to her at the hands of another man. Something as traumatic as that would take a while to get over. Perry has been kind enough to accompany the lovely Lilly Steele to talk with us today.
Kati: Hello Lilly and thanks for coming back Per-- my lord. *whispers to Jamie* Do we have to be all formal since we’re in the company of others?
Jamie: Umm, yes. Best behavior Kati. Sit up straight and no slouching.
Perry: *glares*
Lilly: Hello Kati, Jamie, thank you for having me today.
*Perry takes her hand and kisses it*
Kati: We've been waiting FOREVER to finally meet you and Jenn didn't disappoint. It was a pleasant surprise as to who Perry gave his heart to. What was your first impression of Perry the very first time you met/caught a glimpse of him?
Lilly: Well I first met him a long time ago, when I was young, as was he. He was remarkable, even then. But when he returned to Eildon with His Grace, he took my breath away. Still I didn’t even consider...well I didn’t even give a second thought to him. I mean as a man, beyond the title and the rest. He was unapproachable then.
Kati: Has he always been this charming? What does your family think about him?
Lilly: *blushes* I think, yes. Even when I was young he was a charmer. It did not matter who you were, he could charm anyone. Except, perhaps, His Grace. *Perry clears his throat* I mean, his brother. I mean, he is a duke Kati, it is overwhelming. I still just, well. Yes. As for my family? Well. I should let my father’s actions speak to that. They’ve become closer though. It wasn’t easy, that is for certain. As for when he met Daniel—
Perry: *shakes head*
Lilly: Oh...well, I guess I can’t speak on that. *smiles up at Perry*
Kati: Ah yes. I've heard the name Daniel a time or two but Perry is giving me The Gideon so I'll just--- Do you feel you had a better advantage at having a close-knit family because of your station than Perry? Did you like how I changed the subject? Seriously Perry, stop glaring or I'll have to call you Viscount Sourpuss.
Lilly: I— uh...sorry I was a bit distracted. I— well, I do not know. I believe it possible. We have to work very closely together, and of course we live very close in our small house. I imagine Perry and His Gra— eh-hem...his brother, Gideon, could spend weeks in Eildon and never see each other. There were other factors to their distance though. So I’m not sure. But they have managed to make up for that a bit. They are nearly inseparable. Well, no, they are. But when they are together...to see them together is to know how close brothers can be.
Perry: *clears throat*
Lilly: Oh stop My Lord. You are.
Perry: *eyes widen*
Lilly: *giggles* As for family, I should tell you that once I saw Perry with mine, my fate was rather sealed. It was the first time I truly realized that we could suit, regardless station.
Perry: *raises brows* not before then?
Lilly: Oh well, my father, you know. And then when you spoke with him that first night, well I was rather worried.
Perry: Your fate was sealed...when you climbed into my carriage.
Lilly: *fans self* *looks to Kati*
Jamie: What was it about Perry that made you let your guard down?
Lilly: I am not entirely sure. I think I trusted him because beneath it all I believed him to be honorable, even though he was a rake. The fact that he was a rake helped because I thought the idea wouldn’t be so terribly outlandish to him. It was happenstance really, being who he was is what allowed for me to put my guard down.
Kati: *narrows eyes at Perry* You randy rake. I'm going to have to call an inappropriate on that. So Lilly, I know this is a VERY touchy subject but Hepplewhatsit... It must have been very scary. Did you carry a knife after that or keep your back to the wall so you knew who was approaching you?
Lilly: No I didn’t. I’m not much for weapons, and I felt as safe as I could in the Duke’s—Sorry— Gideon’s household. I was terribly jumpy though, there wasnt much to be done about that. Well, I mean, there was but... oh my. *blushes*
Perry: *the biggest grin in the world*
Kati: Oh yes, here was much, much, much done about but I won't be as inappropriate with you as I was with Perry 2 weeks ago. Tell me about that train ride, minus the you-know-what. I've only been on a train going from Durango to Silverton. What are the trains like? Are they any different from modern trains?
Lilly: Modern trains? *looks to Perry* I don’t know, are they different? Will we have a chance to ride one? Stop grinning like a Cheshire Cat and answer a question, please. *Looks to Kati, whispers* We’ve been reading Alice In Wonderland. Jenn recommended it as one of her favorites. I can quite see why.
Perry: Yes, my sweet, we will have a chance for a train ride, the TGV actually, in France. It is one of the fastest trains in the world, and should prove interesting.
Lilly: Well, there you have it. We’ll be riding a fast train. I’m fairly fond of travel by rails. I don’t understand the flight thing, I mean beyond the whole falling from the sky thing, there isn’t much to see. I like to see the country. I know that your generation is fond of speed. I think trains are magical. The sound of the wheels on the track, the screech of the brakes at the station. Then there’s the way they move, and the way they make you feel, you can feel the vibrations throughout, OH! And that great crash when they couple. It’s wonderful. *looks to Perry* Milord, why are you grinning again?
Perry: *shakes head* next question please Kati.
Kati: Oy! Stop that communicating with your eyes thing or I'll have to ask you to kindly step out. Lilly, why did you decide to stow away? What was in London? And why Perry. I know that's quite a bit to answer and I'm a bit of a spaz. :)
Lilly: I suppose it was simple opportunity. I saw my chance to get away and I took it. I had been very overwhelmed in the Duk—Gideon’s household. Everyone was so thoughtful and kind. I know that sounds odd, but it’s actually quite difficult when you are trying your best to move on from something so horrific. I just wanted to get away from everything I knew. He was headed for London. I suppose it wouldn’t have made a difference even had he been headed for Glasgow or France, or anywhere else really. Anywhere.
Perry: As I said, you’re fate was sealed that night. *examines fingernails*
Lilly: I, well. *looks to Kati* are we nearly done? It seems to be getting a bit hot in here.
Perry: *staring at Lilly* Yes, Kati, are we nearly done? I wish to put my mouth...on my wife. *grabs Lilly and kisses her senseless.* Sorry, I simply could not wait. Ladies?
Kati: INAPPROPRIATE!!! *sigh* I just can’t seem to let you both go. It’s time to break out the black bombazine until Jenn decides to share Warrick or Calder with us. Yes, you may go and put your mouth where ever it takes you *waggles eyebrows*. Don’t be shy. You certainly weren’t on the train, on the chaise, on the bed... *looks innocently at Perry* Whaaaat? We’re all about the inappropriate and sexy here at Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance. *Looks towards Jamie* Um, I can’t seem to bring myself to ask any more questions about Hepplewhatsit cause he makes my screen crawl. Thank you so much for stopping by Lilly and *swats Perry’s behind as he stands up* and you can go misbehave now.
Jamie: There is no need to talk about that man, if one can call him that. Frankly, he got what he deserved. *clears throat* Anyway... Thank you so much for coming by Lilly. It was truly a pleasure to meet you and we are very happy for the both of you. And Perry, always a pleasure as well. Do say hi to your cousins for us, especially Warrick and Calder.
Lilly: Bye ladies! It was OH! *Perry sweeps her off her feet and stomps out*
Perry: *leans back through the doorway* This isn’t the last of me yet. *winks*
Jamie & Kati: *sigh*
RETRIBUTION: THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE
A woman out of time. A man stifled by propriety. A nemesis determined to take her away. A brother to the rescue.
How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn't know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?
THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE Part Six. Perry must find the woman who has managed to capture his heart, then he must find a way to keep her. Someone else is on the hunt, someone from her past who doesn’t appreciate that she still lives and breaths.
Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way. How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.
Okay all you wonderful people, Jenn is giving away the FULL SERIAL NOVEL to one(1) lucky reader. As each installment releases, the lucky winner will get a copy for their e-reader. Here's how to get you hands on this one of a kind illustrated novel:
Leave a comment for Jenn about illustrated novels, places to do The Sexy at, or any question you would like for her to answer.
Fill out the rafflecopter form below.
If you follow Jenn's tour here, you'll get a chance at the GRAND PRIZE: a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (in the form of a giftcard so you can get your own). You can find the giveaway rules here.
Men in kilts. We're big fans of 'em. Nothing is sexier than a man who can show his legs off wearing basically a skirt. Call it what you want boys but it's a plaid skirt no matter how you cut it: long or short. Tamara Morgan is sharing her recent release, LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD, with us today.
WELCOME TO THE BLOG TAMARA!!!
Meet Tamara:
Tamara Morgan is a romance writer and unabashed lover of historical reenactments—the more elaborate and geeky the costume requirements, the better. In her quest for modern-day history and intrigue, she has taken fencing classes, forced her child into Highland dancing, and, of course, journeyed annually to the local Renaissance Fair. These feats are matched by a universal love of men in tights, of both the superhero and codpiece variety.
There are few women alive who aren’t moved by the image of a strapping, robust man draped in a kilt. It doesn’t matter if he’s a popular actor (I’m looking at you, Gerard Butler) or just some random guy who likes to let it all hang out—if he’s got a kilt on, chances are pretty high I’m going to turn around for a second look. (And possibly a third. Or, if I can manage it, a secret snapshot with my phone.)
On a cognitive level, it doesn’t make much sense. Say your best friend calls you on the phone and tells you about this incredible new guy she’s met.
“He’s so hot,” she might gush, excitement making her breathy and high-pitched. “He wears this miniskirt, you know? And his legs are really pasty white and hairy, but he’s got them covered up to the knees with tube socks so you can’t see most of them. His knees are a little gnarled, too, and he likes to go around without underwear and sometimes wears a leather fanny pack that sits on top of his man bits. I can’t wait for you to meet him!”
I might question this woman’s taste in men…until she mentions that the miniskirt in question is crafted of plaid, and the fanny pack is the traditional sporran. Because now he’s not just some dude in a skirt.
He’s in a kilt. And he’s mine.
I have an explanation for why a man in a kilt is so appealing, and it can be summed up in one word: SWAGGER.
A man in a kilt has swagger, period. It takes quite a bit of confidence for a guy to walk around in a skirt, but it’s not the same kind of confidence that tells him to pop his collar or speak to women in a demeaning fashion. That kind of confidence is vanity—it’s cockiness, the belief that he is somehow above the rest of the world.
Swagger, on the other hand, has less to do with what a man wants you to think and more about his value as a human being. A man with swagger knows he’s in a skirt, knows he’s adhering to an outdated tradition valued by his father and grandfather, knows he’s one strong wind away from flashing the whole world. And you know what? He doesn’t give a damn.
That’s what makes him so delicious. He’s man. He’s in a skirt. And he’s not apologizing for any of it.
***
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD:
It takes a real man to wear a kilt. And a real woman to charm him out of it.
It might be modern times, but Kate Simmons isn’t willing to live a life without at least the
illusion of the perfect English romance. A proud member of the Jane Austen Regency Re- Enactment Society, Kate fulfills her passion for courtliness and high-waisted gowns in the company of a few women who share her love of all things heaving.
Then she encounters Julian Wallace, a professional Highland Games athlete who could have stepped right off the covers of her favorite novels. He’s everything brooding, masculine, and, well, heaving. The perfect example of a man who knows just how to wear his high sense of honor—and his kilt.
Confronted with a beautiful woman with a tongue as sharp as his sgian dubh, Julian and his band of merry men aren’t about to simply step aside and let Kate and her gaggle of tea-sippers use his land for their annual convention. Never mind that “his land” is a state park—Julian was here first, and he never backs down from a challenge.
Unless that challenge is a woman unafraid to fight for what she wants...and whose wants are suddenly the only thing he can think about.
Warning: The historical re-enactments in this story contain very little actual history. Battle chess and ninja stars may apply.
Tamara is giving one(1) lucky reader an ecopy of LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD. Here's how to get in the battle chess and ninja stars action:
Leave a meaningful comment for Tamara ('thanks for the giveaway' or any variations thereof does not qualify) about re-enactments, men in kilts or whatever tickles your fancy.
Fill out the rafflecopter form below with the name you commented under and your email address.
A huge thank you to Tamara for sharing some men in kilts action and for providing an ecopy of LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD.
Ever wander into the dark corner of the library and think that The Sexy could happen there with a very good looking man? Preferably a hot Brit. Or perhaps you've ogled that good looking librarian perched at the circulation desk just waiting to check you out. Er, check out your books for you. Amelia Fayer's LUST IN THE LIBRARY will show you that libraries are sexy.
WELCOME TO THE BLOG AMELIA!!!
Meet Amelia:
Amelia Fayer lives in New England with her husband within close range of an inspirational library. When she is not writing, she likes to read, hike, garden and knit (not necessarily in that order).
Thank you to the ladies at Romancing Rakes For the Love of Romance for having me here today.
Usually when people think of the library, they only think of a bunch of shelves with books on them all lined up. A lot of libraries, though, have all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies in which to indulge in a little ‘extracurricular reading.’
Amelia Fayer’s Top Five Places for “Lust in the Library”
5) The Copy Room – Plenty of stuff to lean against or prop yourself up on and you can take home a souvenir.
“I think we’d look better from this angle.”
4) The Reading Room – Usually this room is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. Perhaps it needs a little excitement.
“Shh, this is a library.”
3) Special Collections – All those old fusty folios need to be shaken up every now and then. The only reason this isn’t ranked higher is because all the double entendres might get tedious.
“I’d like to see your ‘Special Collection.’”
2) Circulation Desk – If he’s going to check you out, might as well follow the rules.
“I’m due back on the 17th.”
1) Up against a bookshelf, preferably one of love poetry – Having two of my most favorite things within reaching distance? Perfect. And after, you can make him read to you.
“Here, read some Barrett Browning please.”
Did I forget any place? Screw up the order? Let me know in the comments!
LUST IN THE LIBRARY:
Some like it hot, and some like it in the reference section.
Sara is having a love affair with books. But, since books can't make love to you, it means she's in the middle of a very long dry spell. Until a sexy Brit shows up. Suddenly she's learning just how stimulating a library can be up against a bookcase, behind the card catalog, on the circulation desk…
Meanwhile: Veronica is incredibly frustrated. While Sara and her new man are using the library as their personal adult playground, she's stuck with only her thesis and her sexual fantasies. But Andrew, her crush, isn't above using his assets to get Veronica right where he wants her: alone, in a darkened corner of the stacks. Who knew reading could be this pleasurable?
Remember, the more stops you comment at, the better chance you have at winning that giftcard.
A huge thanks to Amelia for stopping by the blog and providing the fun giveaway. Also, thanks to the ladies at Goddess Fish Promotions for forwarding correspondence between Amelia and us.
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