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Karen wrote: "Hi Sophie,Can't wait for this book to drop into my hands and it will soon. BTW, who is doing your tour? I'd like to follow it but don't know the stops. Where can I get that information?
Thanks b..."
Hi Karen, tasty book tours is the company in charge of her tour.
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/10...
Born in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She's lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor's degree from Parsons. But, most impressive of all, she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.
While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion: writing. When she's not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.
Website: http://www.sophiebarnes.com/
The Earl's Complete Surrender
Secrets at Thorncliff Manor #2
An unexpected passion ignites as secrets are exposed in Sophie Barnes's captivating Regency-set romance
Despite the diversions offered at Thorncliff Manor, former spy James, the Earl of Woodford, has one purpose in staying there. He must find an encoded book that exposes a conspiracy within the British aristocracy. And he must do so without revealing his purpose to the clever, tempting Chloe Heartly. The lady has a knack for appearing wherever it is least convenient. In the library. In the salon. And, especially, in his arms . . .
Somewhere within Thorncliff's labyrinth of rooms lies the journal Chloe desperately seeks. When she realizes the brooding, handsome earl is hunting the same quarry, Chloe enters into an uneasy partnership. But in the face of public danger and enemies hiding in plain sight, both must decide how much they're willing to risk to solve the mysteries of the heart.
Buy it on Amazon.
The Earl's Complete Surrender is a sweet story with a big mystery!
Sophie takes her time to unravel this plot and create an atmosphere of adventure , as both are searching for the same book, for different reasons. I missed seeing more romance and for that I had trouble to feel invested in the story. I wanted more stolen moments, more kisses! Supporting characters are her strongest feature, I loved them! Lady Sarah has a little cameo and you'll enjoy that if you've read the previous book, Lady Sarah's Sinful Desires. I have read most of Sophie's books and you can read this one as a stand alone.
Sophie is giving away a $25.00 eGift Card to your book seller of choice! Good Luck!
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Follow her tour!
Marlow Kelly After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories and her curiosity regarding the lives and loves of historical figures are the inspiration for her characters. You can visit Marlow at www.marlowkelly.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlowkelly?...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/want2write
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Marlowkelly14/
A Woman of Courage
When an injured Fianna Byrne turns up at Connell O’Neill’s gate twelve years after their separation he knows this could be his last chance to find happiness with the woman he loves.
False accusations against Fianna had strained relations between their clans and forced Connell, under Irish law, to divorce her. Their disastrous three-month relationship left Fianna pregnant and heartbroken. She has avoided Duncarraig and her ex-husband ever since.
But with her home obliterated by the Vikings, Fianna must face her past in order to save her son, and prove once and for all she is a woman of courage.
A Woman of Courage is only $1.99 on Amazon.
Spoilers ahead
"She wanted to shut out the world. She turned her head, burying her nose against the cord of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. A tingle of need started low in her belly. She wanted him to make love to her, so she could forget everything for a few short hours. She wanted to use his body as an escape, but she couldn’t. This was Connell, the man who had divorced her because of her shortcomings."
This is the third book part of the "Honour, Love, and Courage" series and it can be read as a stand alone.
I had a great time reading "A Woman of courage" mainly because of the events and setting. I wanted more depth when it comes to the characters. I know this story is short, but I could see space for it be developed.
I thought the author was going to bring their son back to make a little reunion and make his parents see how they love each other - turns out I was wrong! Marlow has a little surprise by the end. The novel has a good pacing and a nice, kind of sweet, ending.
Marlow Kelly will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Read the author's favorite passage:
He nuzzled her neck again, and shivers of delight scampered up and down her spine, landing with a resounding thud right in the middle of her belly.
“When a starving man is set before a fine feast such as you, princess, he does not simply gobble his meal down and walk away. Oh, no, he savors every morsel of it, dines to near bursting, and thoroughly licks his plate clean afterward in appreciation.”
***
Tested by the Night
Mia Hammerstrike was always the meek, mild mannered, spare to the heir. But when her brother abdicates his position as heir to the throne of Alaria, she is faced with a decision—marry a man to rule her people or take on Queen Adrina’s Challenge so that she can someday rule the country herself. After all, why should gender decide her future? Granted, the broad shouldered, dreamy eyed barbarian sent to look after her during her quest makes her VoT glad she's of the female persuasion.Barbarian Talon Starkweather made a promise a long time ago, and now he must make good on it. He must play bodyguard to his best friend's sister, a little princess on a big mission. There are those who want her to fail, but he vows to help the barbarian princess earn the right to rule. There's only one problem—while he's protecting the stubborn and insatiably lusty female, who is going to protect Talon from the one woman trying not only his patience but also his willpower?
Their journey leads to danger, passion, and a battle of wills, and both will find themselves Tested by the Night.
Amazon
Hi, my name is Maxine Mansfield and I write fantasy, erotic romances. I live in the far northern state of Alaska where the summer days are long and the winter nights even longer. I have one very special man, his three equally special children, and our six delightful grandchildren in my life. Not to mention a very bossy African Grey parrot named Gabriel. Oh, and gnomes! Many, many gnomes! Visit Maxine at www.maxinemansfield.http://www.maxinemansfield.com/blog.html
http://www.maxinemansfield.com/defaul...
https://twitter.com/LeekyShortz
https://www.facebook.com/authorMaxine...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/dash...
https://www.pinterest.com/snowangel4u...
Maxine Mansfield will be awarding $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour!
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Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, romance, history, and travel. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
Eclipsing Apollo
Apollo is fond of many things. Music, poetry, physical prowess, truth, and love. The Pythian Games are in his honor and he attends, as a mere mortal, to enjoy the competition… and the women. Meeting the fair Coronis offers him his greatest delight. Her strength, her fearlessness, and her beauty clasp his heart with an irrevocable hold. But she wants none of him.
Coronis’ duty is to marry, but she yearns for so much more. She is a fierce competitor, a hunter, skilled in strategy and reason. Those that would court her lack both the mind and the body to rival hers - she will settle for no less. As a mortal, Apollo was both infuriating and tempting. But Apollo the Olympian is terrifying. She fears giving him her heart might destroy her soul.
Demeter’s need for revenge pits Olympian against Olympian, forcing Apollo into a darkness the God of Light must fight if he ever hopes to see his Coronis again.
It's currently only .99c on Amazon.
The first book in the series, Medusa, is currently FREE.
Spoilers ahead
“You’ve come to compete in the games?” she asked as they cleared the tree line.
Apollo looked at her. “To win.”
She arched a brow at him. “To win what?”
“All, lady.” Apollo winked at her, his smile strong and sure.”
This is the first time I have read Sasha Summer's work. "Eclipsing Apollo" the third book in the 'Loves of Olympus' series but it can be read as a stand alone. I chose to review this book because I'm fascinated with mythology. Since this is a retelling of a Greek myth you can google a little and know what to expect. You know I'm a big romance fan so I always hope for a HEA, but in this case we don't get one.
It's Ancient Greece and the Olympian gods Apollo and Hermes decide to compete in the Pythian Games. I enjoyed that we get to see other gods and get a taste of some of their tales. The heroine, Coronis, is pretty, clever and very independent for the time. And the hero...Well, he's a god! As handsome as one can be. They have nice chemistry together.
You can picture this book as a sexy historical fiction with paranormal elements! I had some trouble with pacing at the beginning, but other than that I had a great time reading Eclipsing Apollo. And of course I would have loved a HEA too.
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Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. Her debut novel, Hidden is the first in the Five Fates Series.
Connect with Amy
www.amymckinley.com
Twitter: Amy McKinley@amymckinley7
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymckinleyauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/amymckinley7
Wordpress https://amymckinleyauthor.wordpress.com
Hidden
Cursed since birth, hunted by gods, and desperate for love—Jade never stood a chance.
Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.
Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?
The author created this erotic romance with some very welcomed surprises and twists. The heroine, Jade, in the beginning of the story starts struggling with her inner beast, plus, someone's out to kill her. She has an interesting connection to painting, which I particularly adored! The connection between the main characters is very sexy.
I really enjoyed to see the use of greek mythology as part of this series. Some might feel lost with all the characters but since it's a topic that I LOVE, I didn't have any difficulties.
It sets a strong series that will continue to develop in other books. I'm eager to read them.
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Here's my quick interview with author Alissa Johnson!Alissa Johnson is a RITA-nominated author of historical romance. She grew up on Air Force bases and attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She currently resides in the Arkansan Ozarks where she spends her free time keeping her Aussie dog busy, visiting with family, and dabbling in archery.
Welcome to Reading Romances, Alissa! Let's begin getting to know your references a bit, when did you first start reading romance? Who are your favorite romance writers and their book that stands out the most for you?
I first started reading romance a few years after college, which is longer ago than I care to admit. One of the first books I tried was Julie Garwood’s Ransom. Then, naturally, I went on a Garwood bender. The great thing about coming to a genre late is that all your new favorite authors already have a backlist. Another favorites of mine is Lisa Kleypas’s, Dreaming of You.
What's unique about historical romance and why did you decide to write under this sub-genre?
There are too many advantages to writing historical romance to name them all. The ambience. Candlelight. Gaslight. Steam engines. Really awesome clothing.
I think what drew me, and continues to draw me, to the romance genre as a whole is the Happily Ever After. I love knowing that, no matter what, things will work out in the end. Until then, anything and everything is possible.
How to you like your heroes and heroines to be?
As a reader, the only traits I demand from my hero and heroines is that they be believable, relatable, and fun. I really want them to make me laugh. At least once.
Please tell us five fun facts about the The Thief-takers Series that readers would love to know!
1. I originally thought to set this series in the Regency era before bumping it up to the early 1870s.
2. When A Talent to Trickery starts, Lottie hasn’t spoken to Owen in eight years. If you asked both characters why Lottie is so angry, however, you’d get two different answers.
3. Lottie has a lot of useful skills, but riding a horse isn’t one of them.
4. Owen carries a double-barreled pistol.
5. The next book in the series, A Gift for Guile, comes out in June and features Sir Samuel Brass and Miss Esther Walker-Bales.
Which character is your favorite?
I don’t think I could choose between the heroine and hero. But of all the rest, I’d say Lottie’s younger sister, Esther, is my favorite. She’s a bit of a rogue.
If you could only describe a single scene to encourage someone to read your novel, which scene would you describe?
About quarter way into the book, Owen handcuffs Lottie to the bed.
Okay, it’s not for sex.
But there is intrigue, danger, and quite a lot of humor involved. It’s a fun scene.
What makes a romance novel a great love story?
The characters. It’s all about the people in romance.
What are you currently working on?
The third book in my Victorian-set Thief-takers series, currently titled A Dangerous Deceit. It’s Sir Gabriel Arkwright’s story.
This or That:
1. Alpha or Beta? Alpha
2. Wallflower or Belle of the Ball? Wallflower
3. Debutante or Spinster? Spinster
4. Virgin widow or Secret baby? Virgin widow
5. Titled peer or Working man? Oh, this one’s hard. Coin toss. Working Man.
6. Love at first sight or Second chances? Another coin toss. Love at first sight.
7. City or country? Country
8. Writing or Reading? Reading
9. Plotter or Pantser? Pantser
More about the book...
The Lady is a Thief
Years ago, Owen Renderwell earned acclaim-and a title-for the dashing rescue of a kidnapped duchess. But only a select few knew that Scotland Yard's most famous detective was working alongside London's most infamous thief...and his criminally brilliant daughter, Charlotte Walker.
Lottie was like no other woman in Victorian England. She challenged him. She dazzled him. She questioned everything he believed and everything he was, and he has never wanted anyone more. And then he lost her.
Now a private detective on the trail of a murderer, Owen has stormed back into Lottie's life. She knows that no matter what they may pretend, he will always be a man of the law and she a criminal. Yet whenever he's near, Owen has a way of making things complicated...and long for a future that can never be theirs.
Amazon
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Growing up restless and bored in Terre Haute, Indiana, Kelee Morris first discovered romance when she was swept away by Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd. After earning degrees in Comparative Literature and Film, Morris pursued screenwriter, winning numerous awards and coming tantalizingly close to catching Hollywood’s brass ring.Tired of high concept plots and rigid, three-act structure, Morris awoke one morning with Julia Nelson’s duel life of suburban mother and illicit lover fully formed in her mind. Her first novel Goddess is the result.
Morris now lives in Chicago, where she is rarely bored thanks to her family and too many pets to count.
How I Fell in Love With Romance
Writing a romance novel was never on my radar. I read the occasional genre novel, but mostly I stuck with serious literary fiction, the kind that gets reviewed in the New York Times.
For many years I wrote screenplays. I was most often drawn to stories about relationships. It didn't have to be a love story between a man and woman. Many times I wrote about teenage girls, their friendships, and their relationships with their mothers. What most important to me was the intensity of their bonds and how it changed the characters. I loved the journey two characters took when they were in a relationship. I loved how it changed them, usually for the better. But a romance novel? It sounded too constricting and formulaic, full of hunky guys and happily ever afters.
Then one morning in the midst of a difficult period trying to sell a screenplay to an uninterested Hollywood, I woke up with two characters in my head. One was a frustrated, middle aged wife and mother. The other was an archeologist (admittedly hunky) who avoided serious relationships because of the scars he carried. They were inexplicably drawn together by a passion they couldn't fully explain. I couldn't get them out of my head. Finally, I succumbed to my demanding muse and started to write a story down. I knew little of the conventions of the romance novel, but I knew this was a love story, and an erotic one at that. A year later, Goddess, Book 1 was finished.
Because most of my romance education came from books like Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina, I didn't follow all the rules of the genre. For instance, I didn't know that some romance readers frowned upon infidelity. But I knew it made for great drama, and it was the story I wanted to tell.
Now I no longer consider myself a screenwriter. I'm a romance writer, albeit an unconventional one. I like charting my own path. I like bringing my literary background to my stories. Hopefully, it will make my books and my life more surprising.
Goddess is the first book in Kelee Morris’s erotic romance trilogy, now available on Amazon
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes' bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish and Lady Eve's Indiscretion. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.“You Might Be A True Gentleman or Gentlewoman If…” by Grace Burrowes
How do you know if your Sig-O is a true gentleman/lady? Ask yourself a few questions…
First, do his or her best moves, smoothest lines, and cleverest flirtations only come out in public, or are the housework sessions equally likely to produce the verbal roses and melting glances from across the laundry pile?
The hallmark of a player is that their repertoire is best displayed when there’s an audience to play to. The true gentleman or lady isn’t playing, so the good stuff can come your way any old day or night of the week.
Second, does he or she deliver the fun and flirtation in you statements (“You look good in anything… and in nothing at all.”) Do they keep to the I-statements when the topic is difficult? (“I can come off irritated any time we talk about money because I’m afraid I’m not pulling my share of the load. I don’t mean to sound that way, and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”)
The guy or gal who lapses into the you-always, and you-never accusations in the middle of a difficult conversation hasn’t learned to fight fair. Time to whip out a few remedial lessons from the relationship Code Duello, or find another waltzing partner.
Third, does he or she have the touch? Always respectful in public—even when respectfully affectionate—always cool with your respectful affections too?
The ladies and gents who treasure us the most know better than to cross that line, and we treasure them right back for their gallant attentions.
Fourth, do they listen to us? We’ve all had the experience of being on a date or in a discussion, and the person we’re with has checked out. They’re eying the door, the clock, their cool new app, or if there’s a mirror on hand (store window, shiny plate, mirror app), themselves. Um… that would be a no.
Fifth, are they honorable? Do they give you the sense that at all times, the person you’re with will be guided by kindness and honesty, even when neither is convenient for them? If that’s the consistent vibe—truth and compassion as their defining values—you are in the company of a true lady or a true gentleman.
Here’s the best part: True ladies and true gentlemen tend to be discerning people, for all they are also gracious, kind, honest, and excellent company. If you’ve found a true lady or gentleman for your very own, and they reciprocate your regard, chances are they have found a true lady or gentleman in you too!
Read more about this book on Amazon!
Sourcebooks is having a HUGE sale and you can see lots of books by Grace Burrowes priced as $1.99!
The publisher is hosting a tour wide giveaway: one lucky winner will get the entire True Gentlemen series (including an early ARC for February’s Will’s True Wish)!
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Check out my interview with Bonnie Edwards!Multi-published author Bonnie Edwards lives with her husband and pets on the rainy coast of British Columbia. She believes life should be lived with joy. That joy shows up in her earthy, irreverent love stories. Bonnie uses long hikes to bounce ideas off her husband and her standard poodle, who almost always agrees with her.
She has written novels, novellas and short stories for Carina Press, Harlequin, Kensington Books and Robinson (UK) although now she publishes her work herself.
Sometimes her stories have a paranormal twist, likes curses and ghosts, other times not. But they’re always entertaining and guarantee a happy ending.
Welcome to Reading Romances, Bonnie! Let's begin getting to know your references a bit, when did you first start reading romance? Who are your favorite romance writers and their book that stands out the most for you?
Thanks so much for having me! It’s always a pleasure to talk romance!
Reading romances began for me with gothics and classics: Jane Eyre, those old Mary Stewart books. I was about 13. Then when I decided to write romances, I devoured everything that came out of Harlequin and Silhouette. I particularly enjoyed Silhouette Desires because they were hotter than some and were North American and more relatable. I read Midnight Rainbow from Linda Howard and nearly swooned with excitement. That book opened my eyes to all the range to be found in romance and I was set free.
How to you like your heroes and heroines to be?
Strong. I tend to write heroines who are making their own way in the world on their own. I’ve written used car saleswomen, women who drive towtrucks and repossess cars, women who run pawn shops and in Thigh High, a woman providing for herself by selling sex toys. My heroines don’t need the men who fall in crazy love with them…but they WANT them. Heh heh.
What's your "aha" moment when writing a sex scene in a book - the point at which you realize you've captured the essence of a hot scene?
LOL! When I feel like shutting down the computer and saying, “Hey, Honey, whatcha doing?” But there’s that moment afterward, when things have cooled down for my characters when they come back to earth and their relationship has changed. That’s when I know it’s right and true, when they acknowledge that it’s more complicated than they thought.
Can you tell us a little about your newest release, Thigh High, that isn’t in the blurb? Which character is your favorite?
I think in Thigh High, it’s my hero, Taye Connors, because he’s so real and regular and honest. He’s a decent man and that makes him very likable. I know heroes are supposed to be larger than life, but he’s got a little something that appeals to me. Maybe because he’s smart and thinks things through…and he gets tongue-tied when he see the heroine. Shyness coupled with bold desire makes him hot.
I also really like Celia. She’s so honest and straightforward with everyone but herself. She wants more than what she says, but can’t seem to believe she deserves better. She’s interesting and may get a happy ending of her own someday.
And then there’s Kat, a woman who’s risen from the ashes of a too-young first marriage. She’s cautious and sweet and wants a little adventure and figures out she wants it with Taye. Who doesn’t want a little adventure?
If you could only describe a single scene to encourage someone to read your novel, which scene would you describe?
Oh, boy…that’s tough. But I always, always love the scenes where we see the heroine through the hero’s eyes for the first time. Women want to feel wanted…and I think when we read about a man wanting a woman, we respond. Don’t we all want to be wanted in that way? The way that says we’re attractive, desired, admired and respected?
What's the craziest writing idea you've ever had and what makes you toss a book aside in frustration?
The craziest idea I’ve had, came to me all at once…almost fully formed and the idea so intrigued my editor at the time that she made a two book contract offer 4 minutes after my idea hit her email inbox. That idea was: What would happen if a woman inherited a family mansion, only to learn that it was built as a brothel and the spirits of the girls who worked there haunted the place? That crazy idea turned into a series called Tales of Perdition and begins with Perdition House Part 1…An Erotic Saga. And it is a saga…it’s long, rambling and totally fun and hot. There’s history, contemporary, a romance triangle, ghosts and secrets. I love that house!
Things that make me toss aside a book in frustration?
I’ll let you know when I do. I tend to finish most of my ideas…or change them to short stories if there isn’t enough meat to create a whole book. I have not yet abandoned a character though…just re-homed them, like lost puppies. What makes a romance novel a great love story? Deep meaning that surrounds the romance. I think great romances must have sacrifice of some kind. People should close a book and think, yes, that was right and true to the characters. And they should feel good…remember what I said earlier about the six o’clock news? I’m not alone in wanting to hide away from that for a couple of hours. That kind of distraction and hopefulness is what I strive so hard to provide my readers.
These were great questions, thanks for asking me!
Thigh High is only 99cents on Amazon!
I had such a fun time reading this novella! It'd highly erotic but it's also funny and genuine to the character's personality. The heroine decides to take the next step, thanks to her friend, and finally go for her nerdy neighbor. I have a thing for nerds, but either way, he's HOT. There's a lot of delicious and daring sex scenes. This is the first time I read anything by Bonnie Edwards and it won't be the last.
The author is kindly giving 5 eCopies of Thigh High!
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Read my interview with author Nancy Gideon, where she talks about her latest book, Unleashed by Shadows!Welcome to Reading Romances, Nancy! Let's begin getting to know your references a bit:
When did you first start reading romance?
Sneaking peeks at THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER with co-workers on my lunch hour during my first part time job. It was SO scandalous! Considering before that it was Georgette Heyer regencies and Frank Yerby historicals, her love scenes were eye openers. I was hooked.
Who are your favorite romance writers and their book that stands out the most for you?
Kresley Cole for her Immortals After Dark series (especially Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night. LOVE that Bowen!), J.D. Robb (everything Eve and Roarke!), Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series and everything else I can fit onto my Kindle!
What was the most challenging thing you’ve done in the name of research that might have been out of our comfort zone?
I was riding in an elevator during a conference with one of the hotel staff who turned out to be the head of public relations for the chain and asked if I could interview her for the next book in a series I was writing. It was an unexpected opportunity and I had to get all my questions together in the time it took to ride up four floors. It was a great peek behind the scenes and she was very gracious.
And I went on every tour and to every restaurant in New Orleans I could fit into a week’s research trip – like that was a dirty job!
What's the craziest writing idea you've ever had?
That I could retire off my writing income. I’m still holding onto that one!
Please tell us five fun facts about Unleashed by Shadows that readers would love to know!
1. I have a serious author crush on my dark, tortured, rowdy, tattooed, rock-n-roll, cage-fighting, Shifter prince-turned-king hero Cale Terriot! Sigh . . .
2. Discovering New Orleans’ The Saint Hotel’s Archangel Lucifer Suite as a place for my naughty Shifter princes to entertain themselves led to some very . . . fun scenes.
3. Though it’s Book 10 in my “By Moonlight” series, readers will have no trouble jumping in as a stand-alone–though I’ll warn that they’ll want to go back and read them all once they meet the cast of characters.
4. UNLEASHED started out as a scene I couldn’t get out of my head while writing REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT. I never start in the middle of a project with isolated bits and pieces but thought once I wrote it down, it would leave me alone. That scene turned out to be the three chapters that anchor the middle of the book.
5. Cale first appeared as hero of PRINCE OF SHADOWS. When he roared in on his motorcycle for a secondary role in REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT threatening to take over that book, I had to appease him by promising to bring him back in another book of his own.
If you could only describe a single scene to encourage someone to read your novel, which scene would you describe?
Here’s a peek . . .
He feared no man, no foe, no obstacle or challenge.
He’d learned to stand his ground and take it without a wince while growing up with the most to prove in the House of Terriot. He’d been schooled beneath the heavy heel and meaty fists of Bram Terriot, bearing the marks of those lessons scored into his skin and once tender psyche. He understood intimidation better than he did compassion. He’d once indulged in every savagery expected from him now, and would have become a brutal, heartless monster walking the same path his father followed had it not been for the two things that called to his latent decency: The brothers who’d fearlessly stood beside him and the female brave enough to believe his claims.
He owed them. He owed his family prosperous lives without fear and subjugation, where pride wasn’t measured in cruelties. He owed the woman he loved the fulfillment of promises made by a starry-eyed boy. He owed them a future in which they bowed to no one and had no reason to expect the worse from one another. And to achieve those things, all he had to do was right the wrongs of the man who’d desecrated the crown he now represented.
All . . .
What are you currently working on?
I’m doing a group of novellas around Cale’s hot and hunky princely brothers called “House of Terriot Foursome.” The only problem is which to start with!
What makes a romance novel a great love story and how would you define "romance"?
Struggle and sacrifice for the sake of one another. I’m all about passionate angst as the fuel for a relationship. Love Conquers All would be my mantra, with that happily-ever-after as the reward.
This or That:
1. Alpha or Beta? Alpha! Grrrrrowl!
2. Wallflower or Belle of the Ball? Wallflower (or Belle who is a secret Wallflower!)
3. Debutante or Spinster? Spinster, more complex and independent!
4. Virgin widow or Secret baby? Virgin widow
5. Titled peer or Working man? Titled peer-yummy!
6. Love at first sight or Second chances? I’m all about second chances.
7. City or country? City (or country in the city)
8. Writing or Reading? Writing. Reading. Writing. Writing. Reading.
9. Plotter or Pantser? Plotter with Pants on Fire
10. Your turn to ask a question:
Do you dare pick up the 10th book in a series and read it first? I hope so. I promise you won’t regret it!
Thanks for inviting me to share UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS with you and fellow readers!!
Unleashed by Shadows in currently $3.99 on Amazon!
A dissolute rake, a virtuous lady, a ruthless society beauty, and a missing plantation owner with secrets – just another day in Georgian England…
1780
Wealthy Jamaican plantation owner, Harry Carstairs has disappeared – and everyone wants to know where he is…
Celeste Rosington knows her place in society, and while she may not be overjoyed at her upcoming wedding to her detached cousin, Raphael, she nonetheless hopes the marriage will be successful. When Raphael asks her for her help to save Harry, she agrees. But her decision costs her more than she knows…
Celeste’s clandestine visit to Harry’s home is witnessed, and her connection to Harry misconstrued. Harry’s secrets put Celeste into more danger than even Raphael understands, and throws her into the path of the ruthless, cunning, beautiful Lady Busselton and the dissolute, dangerous Lord Peregrine.
Raphael is invested in keeping Harry alive. Lady Busselton is invested in keeping him quiet. Lord Peregrine is invested in anything that staves off boredom. And Celeste is becoming increasingly invested in Lord Peregrine.
After all, what resistance does an innocent young woman have against something so deliciously wicked?
Amazon
Beverley Eikli wrote her first romance when she was seventeen but discovered that killing her heroine on the last page was death to her burgeoning romance writing career.
She became a journalist, occupied for many years with life’s newsworthy - but often, unhappy - events until romance finally trumped after she met a handsome Norwegian bush pilot around a camp fire in Botswana’s beautiful Okavango Delta where she was running a safari lodge for a couple of months.
Unhappily, Beverley was due to return home the following day to marry her Australian boyfriend.
Happily, though, that fell through and after a whirlwind eight-month courtship based on regular 18-page letters between Botswana and South Australia, Beverley returned to live with her handsome Norwegian bush pilot in a thatched cottage in the middle of a mopane forest beside a flood plain of lurking wild animals, marrying her handsome bush pilot in Norway shortly afterwards.
Twenty happy years—and 12 countries later—Beverley is now back in Australia living a more conventional life with her husband, two daughters and a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy the size of a pony in a pretty country town an hour north of Melbourne.
She writes traditional Regency romance as Beverley Eikli and sensual historical romance as Beverley Oakley.
LINKS:
Website: http://www.beverleyeikli.com/
Blog: http://beverleyeikli.blogspot.com.au/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeverleyOakley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beverley.eikli
Read now an exclusive excerpt!
Setting the scene: Lord Peregrine discovers that women are more complicated – and more cunning – than he’d been brought up to believe…
Half an hour later, strolling the length of the family portraits lining the walls of Lord Cowdril’s Long Gallery, Peregrine halted when he spied Xenia’s elegant coiffure above the gold and cream striped sofa.
‘Lady Busselton, why am I not surprised to find you here?’
‘Indeed, why should you be surprised over anything after my cleverness in setting up yesterday’s little Vauxhall tryst?’ Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she twisted her head. ‘But, Perry, there are a few matters you’d do well to bear in mind if we’re to ensure the outcome is as satisfactory as required.’
‘As satisfactory as required …’ He repeated her words in a thoughtful tone as he took a seat beside her after a perfunctory bow. ‘What exactly do you consider satisfactory, Xenia? I’m curious, for reflection has me wondering if there might be greater depths to your interest in all this.’
She looked indignant. ‘I am a dear friend of Charlotte’s. Indeed, your sister is like the sister I never had, so of course I want to see her avenged.”
Peregrine nodded slowly. ‘A thousand pardons if I have insulted you, but Xenia, there is usually some ulterior motive—deeper than would appear—behind everything you do.’
Xenia fluttered her fan with even greater enthusiasm. ‘Have I not been transparent, Perry? I want Miss Rosington exposed … I want to see her reputation in tatters as part payment of the terrible cruelty she’s imposed on your good sister. And then I want you.’ Her smile was more a simper, and for the first time Peregrine wasn’t felled by a spear of lust at the mere thought of Xenia’s naked body writhing beneath his own. Rather, his mind was occupied by the conundrum occasioned by the mixed responses he had to Miss Rosington and the consequences of … exposing her.
Harlot and husband-stealer? She’d certainly been responsive to Peregrine’s overtures, but not in the way that suggested either epithet applied. And Peregrine was certainly speared by lust at the very thought of having her naked body writhing beneath his. Yet ruining her publicly was another matter.
He took up the dish of tea Xenia offered him and smiled at her pique over the rim. Yes, it was true that the last time anyone had seen his sister’s betrothed was in a tumble of Miss Rosington’s petticoats. It was also true that the last four letters of Miss Rosington’s name were written on a note found concealed in the locket Charlotte had ripped from Harry Carstairs’ neck that fateful night.
Certainly, if Miss Rosington needed to be called to account, Peregrine was very happy to be just the man to do that. But he would not do so without conclusive evidence.
Xenia raised one finely arched and darkened eyebrow as she patted the seat beside her. ‘I have it all planned. Won’t Miss Rosington’s heart be aflutter when she’s introduced to the handsome stranger who whisked her into his arms at Vauxhall the other night? What a surprise that you both find yourselves house guests of Lord and Lady Cowdril?’ She gave a little laugh. ‘Well, I will confess to a little meddling, but you will be the one to discover everything you need to know about the circumstances surrounding Harry Carstairs’ flight into the night.’ She held out a languid hand in invitation for Perry to come closer.
In other circumstances Peregrine would have caged the dainty little ring-encrusted hand she placed upon his thigh as he obeyed her summons, but today he felt a very real disinclination for contact.
Xenia raised an eyebrow, as if she sensed his reserve. ‘Just remember, my dear Perry,’ she said softly, ‘that it’s not worth falling in love with the little baggage.’
One glance at her hard, beautiful face reminded Peregrine that Xenia was not one to cross.
This is the first book by Beverley Eikli that I have read. The author knows how to weave a web full of mystery and suspense, and I had a great time relating to the heroine. Wicked Wager isn't the typical historical romance, it's very complex and intense.
However, I tend to prefer my books with more romance than any other element. In the end I had a good time reading Wicked Wager, it isn't too long that leaves you tired nor too short to see the story ending suddenly. Just the right thing for your weekend afternoon.
Beverley will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway.
It was only supposed be a little harmless fun, a road trip to Las Vegas to prove to everyone that she’s not boring. Instead, Marcy wakes up in a hotel room with her best friend’s brother. Worse, they’re wearing nothing but matching rings! Now, Marcy has to decide if she’s going to take a gamble on Nick or walk away from the best thing she never saw coming.
Currently 99c
Trish Edmisten is the author of several novels, including Extraordinary Will, a Reader Views Literary Award Winner. Her work has appeared in Writer’s Journal, Creative With Words and A Long Story Short. Besides being an author, she holds a degree in criminology. Trish lives in Fresno, California with her husband and their two daughters.
To learn more about Trish, visit her website www.trishedmisten.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, @trishthewriter and be sure you follow her blog trishthewriter@blogspot.com.
“It’s no joke. Marcy and I got married.”
“So, um, how did you end up doing something like that?”
Nick smiled at Tom’s bumbling attempt at discretion. “That is a long story.”
What drove me to Taking a Gamble was the blurb. When I started reading I wasn't sure if this story would be my cup of tea, but it ended up being a great surprise. This novel is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. No cliffhangers.
The hero and heroine have an amazing chemistry together and it was refreshing to see them lay it all out there right at first.Since they have known each other for a long time it wasn't weird at all. They shared their issues, insecurities, talked about their families..I enjoyed reading that before the sex scenes.
This book is fluid with plenty dialogue, pacing was ok. I really enjoyed the author's voice.It left me wanting more so I will start by reading the series before this spin off was published. Overall, a rich and scorching hot contemporary romance. I took a gamble and won.
Trish Edmisten will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway
Stefanie wrote: "Reading Romances wrote: "Stefanie wrote: "When I tried out Julia Quinn for the first time, I totally loved her book, Just Like Heaven. The banter of the Smythe-Smith cousins had me c..."You should! It's a must read for historical romance fans! ;)
Start with The Duke and I!
Mid-Event Survey:1. What are you reading right now?
The Art of Sinning
2. How many books have you read so far?
1
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
Finishing this book already!! FOCUS!
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
Yes, had to take the dog to the vet, eat out and then took a nap!
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
The people are just so NICE!
Kim wrote: "Reading Lori Foster for the Readathon. I love her writing style and her characters are always strong and willing to reach out to love, even if they are scared. I love that!"Great pick!
Abigail wrote: "Love Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books!I'm rereading Pride and Prejudice for the umpteenth time."
You're just like me ;)
JennRenee wrote: "Okay So I love to fall in love with new series. I mean crazed in love like I first did with the Twilight series. My latest is the Elemental Series by Brigid KremmererI waited a very long time to ..."
I need to check it out!!!
