Category: SourceBooks

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Interview with Heather Hiestand

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Heather Hiestand to the blog for the first time to talk about her newest release The Marquess of Cake.  

HeatherHiestandinahatcroppedHeather, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m 43 and live in south Washington State with my husband and four-year-old son. Both of them keep me on my toes. Technically I’m a full-time writer, which means I mostly get to work when my son is at preschool. I first sold in 2004, a mystery short story, then sold my first novel in 2006. Marquess of Cake is my 9th novel (I think). I’ve written many novellas and shorts too, under two names, Heather Hiestand and Anh Leod.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

It started early for me. I wrote my first story at the age of seven. I never stopped dreaming about being a writer, though I was in my mid-twenties before I buckled down and took my dream seriously. I took classes, researched by reading, and put in the hours to do the actual writing.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

If I can get organized before my son wakes up, I can carve out a couple of pages in the morning. He’s unpredictable, though. Then I have a couple precious hours to work in peace while he is at school. I read while he’s entertained at home, especially while he’s in the bathtub. He loves to splash around so I get some solid time then with my Kindle or a paper book for fun or research.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most challenging part for me these days is the distraction I feel while waiting to hear if contracts are going to be offered. I’ve had a lot of that lately. I also have trouble powering through scenes if I don’t have enough handle on my setting. Otherwise, I’m not much of a procrastinator and I write fast, when I know what I’m doing. I love when my plot spreadsheet comes together and I know the basic shape of my story, subplots and all.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?The Marquess of Cake eBook300200

The Marquess of Cake is the first in the Redcakes series from Kensington. It is a “Victorian” historical romance, set in 1886 London.

Here’s the blurb:

Coffee. . .tea. . .or a pastry chef sweeter than any confection. . .

Scotch trifle fit for Queen Victoria, scones with clotted cream. . .Alys Redcake knows the way to a man’s heart. Yet she is unaware that with each morsel–and flash of ankle–she is seducing the handsome marquess frequenting her father’s tea shop. Unmarried at twenty-six, Alys’s first love is the family business. But thoughts of the gentleman’s touch are driving her to distraction. . .

With his weakness for sugar, the Marquess of Hatbrook can imagine no more desirable woman than one scented with cake and spice. Mistaking Alys for a mere waitress, he has no doubt she would make a most delicious mistress. And when he finds himself in need of an heir, he plans to make her his convenient bride. Yet as they satisfy their craving for one another, business and pleasure suddenly collide. Will Hatbrook’s passion for sweets–and for Alys–be his heart’s undoing?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

My son had lots of health issues as a baby, and we spent too much time in front of the TV. I became hooked on cooking shows, like the cake decorating ones on The Food Network. The 1880s time period I was working in for steampunk stories and the cake decorating bubbled together in my brain until The Marquess of Cake mixed into a novel, thanks to my idea about the people surrounding a tea shop in Victorian London.bigstock-Wedding-Cake-5989041-1

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I’m busy working on my Redcakes Victorian romance series for Kensington. Book 2, One Taste of Scandal, Judah’s story, is at the copyedit stage, and Book 2, His Wicked Smile, Gawain’s story, is with beta readers. I’m writing a novella, Redcakes 3.5, right now.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I’ve been reading romance since the mid 1990s, so I’ve read a lot of stories. Some of my favorite historical authors, regardless of genre, are Delle Jacobs, Sherry Thomas, Connie Willis, Elizabeth Peters, Rhys Bowen, Karen Ranney, Carla Kelly, Sabrina Jeffries, Mary Jo Putney and Courtney Milan, to name just a few of my current auto-buys.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

I can think of a few. Connie Willis for her questing characters, always trying to figure out where they are and how they are going to fit in. Nora Roberts. Her love of detail about careers and businesses has made me less worried about reader acceptance on these topics. Recently, I have to thank Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan and Julie Ann Long for expanding the nineteenth century-set historical romance novel due to fresh ideas about plots and characters.

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.

Michael leapt up, his thigh slamming the edge of his table as he caught her by the apron, then found purchase for his hands around her hips. The tin tray clattered to the floor as he pulled her curvy hips flush against his legs. Her body pressed against him. He scented that delectable perfume of hers. Eau de Redcake’s.

The ladies at the table shrieked and another employee ran toward them, a cloth in her hand. Michael glanced down and saw the cakie’s large brown eyes staring into his, confusion evident.

He blinked at the girl. “How beautiful you look today.” He peered at the black embroidery on her apron. “Alys.”

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m a sucker for Anne Boleyn books, and I just bought The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen. That’s one I can’t wait to read though I don’t know much about it. I’m writing this on May 14th, the day it was released. Also released today was His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal. I preordered that one months ago!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’ve had so much fun creating my Redcakes world. I love how strong my female characters are, and how unconventional my male characters are, within the framework of the historical romances I love so dearly.

To read about Marquess of Cake go to http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/22722 You can purchase there or find all the links to your favorite etailer.

To learn more about Heather Hiestand and the stories she creates go to: http://www.heatherhiestand.com or http://blog.heatherhiestand.com or http://www.twitter.com/hahiestand

Heather is on a blog tour during the month of July. Check her blog to find out where she is. Many of the blog spots have prizes!

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Guest blog & giveaway with Shona Husk

The Truth About Fairies

Fairies are real, but because they don’t live in our world, they live in Annwyn, we don’t see them very often. And when we do see them we can convince ourselves that it was just a person and the magic was track of the light. However, since they are real and can be dangerous here are a few essential things to keep in mind should you find yourself face to face with most beautiful person you’ve ever met.

  1. Check their eyes. Fairies have pale eyes, ice pale and they come in all different colors including odd ones like orange and pink, as well as the greens and blues. Even changelings have pale eyes.
  2. Changelings are mortal, but they are fairy. They have a tendency to love deals and gambling and they always have some psychic ability like psychometry or seeing the future.
  3. Never make a deal with a fairy. It might seem like a really good idea at the time, but it will unravel and you will be left worse off.
  4. Never accept a gift from a fairy. First, that gift will not remain shiny and beautiful. Things made in Annwyn change in our world. Gems will become coal, fine clothes will become course. Second, accepting a gift puts you in their debt. It’s never a good thing to owe a fairy.
  5. Not all fairies live in Annwyn. Plenty live among us. Some by choice, some are exiled and some are banished.
  6. Exiled fairies are the least dangerous. Exile is a social death. They are not allowed to return to Annwyn and lose all social standing but they are still connected to the power, however they don’t want to occur an extra penalty so they are on their best behavior. They often work as Brownies or other roles helping mortals.
  7. Banished fairies are the most dangerous. Banishment is a slow wasting death cut off from the magic that once sustained them. They will do anything to get home, lying, cheating, stealing and generally making trouble. Sometimes they’ll make trouble for fun, after all if they are suffering so should everyone. They are the imps, boggarts and monsters in the closet. Children can often see them (and all fairies), so next time your child says there’s something under the bed they may not be lying.
  8. Fairies need humans. Without a human partner they can’t have children. A child born in Annwyn is fairy, but a child born in our world is changeling.
  9. Fairies are not immortal. But compared to our lifespan they may as well be. Can you imagine what it would be like to live for centuries? To live so long you lost track of time? To have so much time you can literally waste a year playing dice or creating elaborate schemes to bring down your enemy?
  10. Because of their long lives and the way the Court of Annwyn works, they have different morals than us. They aren’t beautiful humans, or harmless beings. They are dangerous and deserve to be treated with caution and respect. That said they are capable of caring and falling in love—which they happen to consider very foolish and one of the most dangerous things a fairy can do.

 

 

THE OUTCAST PRINCE

by SHONA HUSK

The Outcast Prince Cover

JULY 2013

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 Just One Taste Is All It Takes…

This is no ordinary mirror. Caspian caught a hint of color, a whirl of a waltz just past his reflection—a glimpse into the decadent Fairy Court of Annwyn. The home he could never have. It called to him, whispering temptation after temptation…if he could only reclaim his rightful heritage.

To Be Forever Lost…

Caspian has an even stronger reason to stay in the world of humans. He’s just met a woman who captivates him like no other. But loving him has proven to be dangerous. And he will do whatever it takes to protect Lydia from the vicious, seductive world of Court—even if doing so requires the ultimate sacrifice: his soul.

 

Praise for The Outcast Prince:

“Brilliantly unique, beautifully sensual, The Outcast Prince had me spellbound from the first page! Shona Husk’s engaging voice and vivid, creative world-building make every one of her books a must-read!” — Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author

“Innovative fantasy… An emotional and engaging tale.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

Shona Husk Author Photo 2ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally. Look for the next book in the Annwyn Series, Lord of the Hunt in January 2014. You can find out more information about Shona and her edgy romances at http://www.shonahusk.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @ShonaHusk.

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!

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Interview & Giveaway with Jayne Fresina

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jayne Fresina to the blog.

Jayne Fresina PhotoJayne, can you please share with us a little about yourself

JF: I’ve lived half my life in England and half in America. It’s great to have that experience, but I often feel as if I don’t really belong in either place anymore! I work for a large, international company and divide my day between them and my writing. I write every day – yes, as my sister recently said to me in a shocked voice “even weekends and holidays???”! I’m the mother of three Sussex spaniels and usually one of them is always sitting on the chair behind me, battling for space when I write. I’m shorter than I wish I was and I have no willpower when it comes to cake. Sewing machines scare me and I don’t like seafood.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

JF: Yes, but I’ve also wanted to be a lot of things over the years (including Prima Ballerina) and so far author is the only one that’s come to fruition! I think it is what I was meant to do.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

JF: I’m not sure I have any that are original to me. I hold conversations in the shower with my characters, but I have  feeling other writers do that too. I can’t sit at my computer every morning until I’ve brushed my teeth. I might not have a spotless house, but I have clean teeth!

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal Cover

JF: Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal is book three in the series about the fictional village of Sydney Dovedale. It’s not necessary to have read the first two books, but Lady Mercy does make an appearance in book two as a very naughty ten year-old. People who have read that book will doubtless remember her! Book three takes place twelve years later and she’s trying to keep her life as structured and on schedule as she thinks it should be. She’s also busy managing the lives of other people – whether they want her to or not. When she arrives in Sydney Dovedale for the wedding of her best friend Molly Robbins, she discovers that Molly has got cold feet. Mercy tries to help bring about a resolution to the problem, but she already has some history with the groom, Rafe Hartley. A history that she’s kept secret for years. And he’s just waiting for the chance to accuse “Lady Bossy Drawers Danforthe” of ruining his life a second time. While Molly runs off to London to follow her dreams, Lady Mercy remains in Sydney Dovedale to repair the situation as best she can and put Mr. Rafe Hartley firmly in his place once and for all.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

JF: Well, the principal characters all met in book two when they were children. Rafe and Mercy instantly annoyed one another, as did Molly and Mercy’s brother, Carver. It seemed to me as if I  had to write their stories next. I have actually had readers email me about Molly and Carver, asking when they get their story. That’s coming in book four, folks!

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

JF: I just started working on my second series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, which is set earlier in the Regency period and follows the romantic misadventures of five young ladies from the village book society.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

JF: I would love to have met Jane Austen, of course! Too late. I’m sure Anne Rice would be a fascinating person to meet. I do love to meet authors so we can chat about the things other people – like family members – don’t really “get”.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

JF: Write as much as you can, every day, and learn to self-edit. The first manuscript I wrote and started querying was over 500,000 words! I had no idea there was such a thing as a word count restriction. I really had to learn to say more with fewer words. And I had to be ruthless and stop my characters nattering away too much, even if they thought they were tremendously witty, smart and indispensible to the plot.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

JF: I’d love to take a trip on the Orient Express!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

JF: I don’t have a lot of time to read these days, but I’m looking forward to Grace Burrows’ next book, Ethan. I believe it’s out around the same time as mine, so I can take a little break to read! Also Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe’s One Night with a Rake.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

JF: I hope readers enjoy my characters and watching them fall in love. It took me a long time to get up the courage to share my work with strangers, so now that it’s happened I love to hear from people who’ve read something I wrote. It still amazes me to think that someone I’ve never met, in a faraway country, can pluck my book off a shelf, or a website, and read about characters from my tiny mind.

Please feel free to contact me through my website www.jaynefresina.com

I also have a blog http://jaynefresinaromanceauthor.blogspot.com

And I tweet occasionally. @jaynefresina.

 

LADY MERCY DANFORTHE FLIRTS WITH SCANDAL 

Lady Mercy Danforthe Flirts with Scandal Cover

by JAYNE FRESINA

IN STORES JUNE 2013

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When a Perfectly Proper Lady…

Lady Mercy Danforthe always has a plan. It’s what makes her such a successful matchmaker, and why she’s obligated to spend a great deal of time generously organizing the lives of her friends and family. But there’s one man beyond her help. One man whose recklessness she can’t rein in; whose chaos she can’t contain. Her ex-husband, Rafe Hartley. Her one—and only!—mistake.

Flirts with a Reckless Rogue…

Rafe has never forgiven Mercy for running out on him. Their hastily annulled marriage may have one lasted three hours, but that doesn’t mean he needs her help finding a proper wife. Someone needs to teach little Miss Know-It-All a lesson about keeping her adorably freckled nose out of other people’s business. And it just so happens that Mercy “Silky Drawers” Danforthe still owes him a wedding night…

A Scandal’s Never Far Behind!

 

 

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Interview & giveaway with Tammy Falkner

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Tammy Falkner to the blog today to chat about her newest release “THE MAGIC OF ‘I DO” 

Tammy, can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I am a mom of two boys – 18 and 9. And yes, they still fight even though there’s such a large spread between them.  I have been married for more than twenty years (and I just turned 39)

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I have always written, but didn’t know I truly wanted to be an author until someone at work looked at a short story I wrote and told me I was in the wrong profession.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

Both!  I have a general idea of where my story is going when I start it, but I don’t know the particulars.  I know the major events that will happen, but not how they will tie into every scene.

 What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I procrastinate.  A lot.  To the point where I end up writing a book in a month, rather than the six that I planned to spend on it.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

My new series revolves around a family of faeries – Sophia, Claire and Marcus.  Their mother fell in love with a human, and her wings were clipped, so when she delivered three fae children, they were stolen from her, along with the memories of them, and taken back to the fae world.  My faeries are mission faeries, and they’re taxed with helping humans where problems arise.  So, they must live and interact with humans but never fall in love with them.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I had already written vampyres and Lycans in Regency England, and I wanted to expand and see what else might live and interact with the ton.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

I just finished the third book in the series, THE MAGIC BETWEEN US.  THE MAGIC OF ‘I DO’ launches June 4th, and I have a new adult book coming out at the end of June called TALL, TATTED AND TEMPTING.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Join RWA or your local chapter of RWA.  The resources they offer are invaluable, and I wouldn’t be published today if not for them.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to learn to water ski.  I used to do it when I was REALLY young, and I tried it last year and just wasn’t able to pull it off!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

Colleen Hoover’s SLAMMED series is one of my new favorites

What is your favorite time of year & why?

Definitely the fall.   It’s cooler, and there’s no pollen like in the spring.

Who is your Celebrity crush?  And what would you do if you ever meet them?

I just asked my husband this, and he got this little gleam in his eyes and said, “Ellen Degeneris.”  He’s right. I would have to go all fan girl if I ever got to meet her.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me today. I hope everyone loves THE MAGIC OF ‘I DO’!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tammy-Falkner/134765283285270

Twitter: @tfalkner

Website:  www.tammyfalkner.com

THE MAGIC OF “I DO”  

by TAMMY FALKNER

IN STORES JUNE 2013

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

Desperately Seeking Excitement…

With the temporary prohibition on magic on the land of the Fae, Claire Thorne might as well go back to the Regency world. The haut ton has just as many annoying rules as her world, but at least they have parties and dances. Plus, the roguish Lord Phineas “Finn” Trimble is there…

When the feisty faerie tumbles into his room through a magical portal, Finn can’t believe how completely unpredictable she is. Even before the two stumble into a dangerous intrigue that threatens both their worlds, Finn discovers that his hitherto carefree life is about to go up in smoke…

 

Praise for A Lady and Her Magic:

“A dash of Jane Austen and a sprinkle of faery dust make this book a treasure.” —Kathryne Kennedy, author of The Elven Lord series

“Charming and filled with the magic of love and faith…Falkner’s tale whisks readers into a realm of enchantment.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Marvelous magical mayhem.” —Midwest Book Review

“Absolutely enchanting…a delicious Regency fairy tale beautifully written.” —Romance Junkies

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As half of the Lydia Dare writing team, Tammy Falkner has co-written ten books, including A Certain Wolfish Charm and In the Heat of the Bite. A huge fan of Regency England, her regency paranormal series combines the magical elements of both mystical faeries and the glittering regency ton. Tammy lives on a farm in rural North Carolina with her husband and a house full of boys, a few dogs, and a cat or two. Visit her website, www.tammyfalkner.com, for more information.

 

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Interview & giveaway with Carolyn Brown

Note from Carolyn to the BNK Readers: Thank you all so much for inviting me to stop by your site today and visit about Billion Dollar Cowboy, the debut book in my brand new cowboy romance series, Cowboys & Brides. It’s a delight to be interviewed here. A word of warning—I’m a writer and I love words so sometimes I do get a little carried away with answers!

Can you please share with us a little about yourself? 

CB: I’m a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Yes, I was a very young bride (17 years old) and I’ve been married 46 years. My first two books sold the same day in 1997 and Billion Dollar Cowboy is my 63rd book to be published. My goal is to see 100 books on the shelf with my name on them. I have other more immediate goals like finishing the rough draft of the work in progress but that’s one of my big goals.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

CB: Oh, yes, ma’am. Ever since I picked up one of those little fat pencils and a Big Chief tablet (that was in the days when a tablet was not a technical device) I wanted to write stories.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

CB: My typical writing day starts when I wake up. My characters and I plod across the hallway to my office and we get busy. I like to have a thousand words done before breakfast. Husband brings a cup of coffee, sits it on my desk, eases the door shut and leaves me alone for an hour. After that I don’t bite or cuss and we have a wonderful breakfast together (he is a retired English teacher so he’s home all day). Then I finish the chapter I’m working on, have lunch and write one more chapter before bedtime. My goal is 5000 words each day but sometimes the grandchildren or the birds singing in the back yard gets in the way of the goal

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

CB: The most challenging part has to be letting go of my natural controlling nature and letting my characters out of the box. I tend to want to tell them how the story goes but they were there and if I listen to them, my editor is far happier with my work.

(Shhh…don’t tell anyone that I have voices in my head!) The most rewarding part is when the book is finished and on the shelf and I get a note like this: I have always hated reading. But about one year ago I was walking through a book store and “Red’s hot cowboy” grabbed my arm. I fell in LOVE with the book and author. I’m buying your books like crazy and I’m loving reading. Keep writing Mrs. Carolyn Brown, you are one awesome lady!!!! Thank you for changing my life!!!…Carla Jones-Sawyer. To know that one of my cowboys turned a non-reader into a reader just puts a smile on my face for days and days.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

CB: Billion Dollar Cowboy is the story of Colton Nelson, a ranch hand who won the lottery and boom, he was a millionaire. His best friend, Andy, who was a financial genius invested well for him and turned him into a billionaire. But down deep in his heart, Colton just wanted to be a rancher. The women in the area were like the little kids in the Christmas story…only visions of dollars danced in their heads, not visions of sugar plums. Andy’s distant cousin, Laura Baker, has been getting her older sister out of gambling debt for years so it’s nothing new. But this time her sister has borrowed a lot of money and Laura has just lost her job. Andy offers her work on the ranch as his assistant until she can earn enough to get the sister out of debt. She’s there. Colton needs a fake girlfriend to keep the gold diggers at bay…and so the story begins.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

CB: Go back to #4 about those voices in my head. I had just finished the last book in the Spikes & Spurs series and these four cowboys popped up behind me. Colton said that he wanted his story told first and he introduced me to Laura and then to the secondary characters: his grandmother, Maudie, her foster child, Roxie, a sixteen year old girl that reminds Laura of herself at that age, and Rusty, the ranch foreman. I had no choice but to tell the story or else I was going to spend lots of sleepless nights fretting about just how things were going in Ambrose, Texas.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

CB: I’m writing the last chapters of the fourth book in this series this week. How to Marry a Cowboy. So how does one marry a cowboy? Rachel Green says that the first thing you do is put on a wedding dress and then fall asleep in the swing on his front porch. I’m very excited about this book because it has a set of twin girls that are so ornery that folks in the first three books of the series have declared that they could scale a glass wall on a rainy day.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

CB: LaVryle Spencer has always been a favorite but I’m a very eclectic reader. I also like Leon Uris, Carl Hiaason, Randy Wayne White, Sue Grafton, Joanne Kennedy, J. A. Jance and…how much room do we have for this interview. I can just get plumb carried away when I talk about my favorite authors. Oh, did I mention Mary Kay Andrews, Jill Mansill and Grace Burrowes?

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

CB: Every author I’ve ever read has inspired me in one way or the other. Maybe it was the way they wrote a tender love scene or a hot sex scene. Or maybe it was their way of presenting the story, or the way they made their characters come alive, or the way that their writing touched my emotions. I really believe that if a writer can touch their readers’ emotions then that reader will come back for the next book. We like to feel what we read; not just look at words.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
CB: Page 81: Laura needs a dress to go to a fancy party with Colton and Maudie has taken her to an exclusive little shop in Sherman. Laura’s having no part of it, not with price tags with that many zeros. Excerpt:

“What if you had as much money as Colton? Would you spend that much on a one-of-a-kind dress,” Roxie asked.

(Laura’s answer) “I would not. But I’m not rich. And I won’t ever be rich. And I’m not impressed by rich people or money. There’s the Ross store, Maudie. That’s where I want to go.”

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

CB: Joanne Kennedy’s Cowboy Tough is on the top of the pile right along with Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews and Husband bought me a signed copy of one of Nora’s older books, High Noon.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

CB: I’d like to thank you again for letting me speechify about my books and I’d like to tell my readers to keep their boots on and their cowboy hats close by. There are three more books in the Cowboys & Brides series: The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby (Oct. 2013), The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride (Feb. 2014) and How to Marry a Cowboy (May, 2014) AND the final book in the Spikes & Spurs series, Cowboy Seeks Bride (Aug. 2013).


BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY

by CAROLYN BROWN

IN STORES JUNE 2013

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Discover a New Love | Sourcebooks

 Colton Nelson was 28 when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. When people started lining up wanting some of his millions, he hired a friend, Andy Joe, to handle his affairs and find him a bride and buy her, no matter what the cost.

Laura Baker and her sister, Emily, had been raised in foster homes. Though she was the younger of the two, Laura was always bailing Emily out of trouble. So when Andy Joe slid into her booth at a diner one night and made a proposition to Laura, it seemed the perfect solution…until Laura met Colton and realized she didn’t give a damn about his money and that her love was not for sale.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than 60 books published. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. Carolyn’s first women’s fiction novel, The Blue Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee is now available, and you can look for her next cowboy romance, Cowboy Seeks Bride in August 2013! For more information, please visit: www.carolynlbrown.com.

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Interview & giveaway with Mia Marlowe

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Mia Marlowe to the blog today.  We are chatting about her newest book One Night with a Rake.

Mia, for those who missed you the first time can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Mia: I’m a totally curious person, always been addicted to learning new things. My kids say I’m a fount of useless information (yet they both read every tag in museums now just as I used to do for them when they were little). Guess I’ve passed on my obsessive need to be a factoid magpie. On a personal note, I’m still married to my college sweetheart and, in addition to the aforementioned kids, am the proud pet parent of two puppy mill reject dogs.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Mia: Heavens, no! I’ve had a pretty checkered career path. I’ve been—hold on!—a professional opera singer, a teacher, a choir director, a home schooling mom, a realtor, a banker and finally, a writer. I decided to try my hand at writing after meeting an author and deciding if she can do it, I can do it. The Greeks have a word for that. It’s called “hubris.” Once I dove into it, I discovered writing involved an ocean of skills to master.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Mia: I really enjoy Deanna Raybourn, Sherry Thomas, and Diana Gabaldon to name a few. I grew up reading MM Kaye, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

Mia: Because I love the “take me away” qualities of historical romance, I never considered writing any other subgenre. However, I do enjoy cross-overs and like a little paranormal magic in my historicals from time to time. No weres or vampires, just a little psychic fun.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Mia: I’m a stickler for meeting deadlines so once I have the characters and basic story shape in my head, I map out my word count so I know how much I need to advance daily in order to reach my goal. I write until I hit the count each day—five days a week.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Mia: One Night with a Rake is the story of Lord Nathaniel, an incorrigible rake who’s been blackmailed into seducing Lady Georgette. However, the beautiful reformist is no easy conquest. Nate has to convince her that he cares about someone other than himself. No one is more surprised than Nate when he actually does!

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Mia: In 1817, Princess Charlotte died along with her stillborn son. She was the only legitimate grandchild of King George III. Suddenly, the succession was in question and the unmarried sons of the king realized if they could present their royal father with a legitimate heir, that child might one day wear the crown. So the Dukes of Sussex, Cambridge and Kent went a-courting. That’s the actual history behind the Royal Rakes series and One Night with a Rake. In my fictional world, a member of Parliament doesn’t want to see the House of Hanover continue on the throne, so he coerces Lord Nathaniel into making sure Lady Georgette is no longer eligible for a royal duke’s attention. The result is a Regency romp with plenty of sizzle.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Mia: For Sourcebooks, I’m working on a new series called Somerfield Park—a Downton Abbey-esque world set in the Regency era. And I’m also writing a Scottish Christmas novel for Kensington complete with crumbling castles, a hunky, kilted hero and a mysterious jeweled scepter that is the envy of every clan. Check my Coming Next page for the latest!

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Mia: I opened One Night with a Rake to page 241. Georgette’s maid Mercy has been leading Reuben the footman a merry chase.  She’s a reformed whore who doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved and is irritated when Reuben tries to convince her otherwise. She’d rather welcome him to her bed with no strings attached. Now he’s taken a solid clout to the head that’s rendered him insensible and the doctor recommends Mercy talk to him in the hopes that he’ll waken when he hears her voice. Tough-minded Mercy doesn’t share what’s in her heart very often, but a man who can’t talk back is the perfect sounding board.  

What would you be if you were not an author?

Mia: A travel & food journalist. I love to visit new places and try new things. The DH and I just returned from a cruise around the UK and I’d be happy to write about the dubious joys of haggis, neeps & tatties!

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Mia: Next up on my Kindle is Four Sisters, All Queens by Sherry Jones. Sherry and I are going to be rooming together at RWA Nationals in Atlanta in July, so I want to be able to talk with her intelligently about her work.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mia: Here’s what Publishers Weekly has to say about One Night with a Rake:

“Marlowe’s fast-paced second Royal Rakes romance (after Waking Up with a Rake) features a progressive heiress and a jaded nobleman. In Regency England, the Duke of Cambridge want to marry quickly, hoping to father the next heir to the throne. His enemies blackmail Lord Nathaniel Colton into agreeing to deflower Cambridge’s potential bride, Lady Georgette—the daughter of the Marquis of Yorkingham and sister of Nate’s deceased fiancée. Georgette often travels to the seediest parts of London to help prostitutes leave their sordid lifestyles, so Nate offers to be her protector; proximity results in romantic trysts that lead her down the path of ruin and him closer to realizing that he has true feelings for her. Mystery simmers alongside the romance as Nate and Georgette seek a killer while contemplating a future together. Passionate interludes and scintillating twists and turns will entice historical fans.”

 

 

ONE NIGHT WITH A RAKE

by CONNIE MASON AND MIA MARLOWE 

IN STORES JUNE 2013

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For King and Country, Three Notorious Rakes Will Put All Their Seductive Skills to Work.

 After All, The Fate of England’s Monarchy is in Their Hands.

 Since the death of his fiancée, Nathaniel Colton’s polished boots have rested beneath the beds of countless wayward wives and widows of the ton. He’s careful to leave each lady smiling, and equally careful to guard his heart. So seducing Lady Georgette should pose no problem. But the beautiful reformist is no easy conquest, and Nate’s considerable charm fails to entice Georgette to his bed. To woo her, Nate will have to make her believe he cares about someone besides himself–and no one is more surprised than Nate when he realizes he actually does.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston. Together, they are working on the next book in the Royal Rakes series, Between a Rake and a Hard Place, which will be in stores in January 2014. For more information, please visit http://www.miamarlowe.com .

Mia loves to connect with readers. Find her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Mia_Marlowe  & Facebook: http://facebook.com/MiaMarloweFanPage .

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Interview & Giveaway with Grace Burrowes

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Grace Burrowes to that blog today to chat about her newest release DARIUS.

Grace, can you please share with us a little about yourself

GB: In addition to writing romance novels, I’m also an attorney for foster children. My clients are the best part about what I do at the day job, but I think in any job where conflict resolution is a big part of what you do, you need mental recreation if you’re not to become emotionally exhausted. Reading and writing romance serves that function for me.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

GB: Before I could write cursive, I was keeping a journal in print. My first non-musician job was working on the campus newspaper at college, and after college, I wrote music reviews for The Washington Post. When I look back, I can see the dots that connected to form a lifelong love of writing, which I think is the same thing as wanting to be an author.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

GB: Twenty-five-years ago… I was in bed, on my left side, waiting out the back end of a high risk pregnancy. In the hour a day I was permitted out of bed, I stole off to the bookstore. I found a copy of Judith Ivory’s Angel in a Red Dress, (Starlit Surrender, back then), and read it start to finish, three times in a row. The writing is superb, the characters daring and deft, the settings meticulously researched. I gobbled up everything I could get my hands on by her. I recall thinking, “If I ever write romance, I want it to be this good, this special.” Not sure I’ve hit that high water mark, but I’m having plenty of fun trying.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

GB: Sitting outside the lunch room in seventh grade, a friend offered to lend me a book, The Wolf and the Dove. I was gone and haven’t come back. A well-written romance will have the character arc of a tragedy, the happy ending of a comedy, the beautiful writing of literary fiction, the pacing of an excellent thriller, and will do it all times two. Maybe if I ever felt I’d mastered those challenges, I might take on another genre, but for now, romance is what I have inside me to write.

What are some of your writing rituals?

GB: I don’t know if this qualifies as a ritual, but I try to be reading a keeper (or potential keeper), a craft book, and a historical reference at all times. The craft book often inhabits the smallest room of the house, because some wisdom is best consumed in small portions. The historical reference goes in my shoulder bag, because again, I can pick it up and put down, regardless of where I am or when the phone rings. The keeper is on my nightstand, so I can always end my day in a good place.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

GB:  Darius is a bit of a departure for me, in that my hero, Darius Lindsey, starts out all but trading his intimate favors for coin. That’s not your typical Regency hero, says I to myself, but Darius has good reason for the compromises he’s made, and as I wrote his story, I found that his redemption was all the more moving for being so badly needed. His sense of honor was never lacking, but his self-respect was much in need of repair, and by the end of the book, he’s reclaimed it. Still, the premise—of gigolo with a heart of gold?—was a reach for me.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

GB: We’re told in writing workshops to torture our protagonists. When I met Darius in earlier books, (The Virtuoso, and later while I was writing Nicholas) I wondered what he was doing, looking so peaked and wan, out till all hours, and clearly not having much fun. So I asked myself, “What is the worst, most painful wound I can afflict him with, the hardest to recover from?” Any wound to a man’s honor is brutal. I tormented Darius further by making it an intimate wound.

And then—with Lady Vivian’s help—made it all better.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

GB: I’ve just completed a book about an English baron, trapped as a youth in France during the Peace of Amiens. As he comes of age, his only means of avoiding interment is to join the French Army, where he ends up—authors do these things to their characters—responsible for interrogating English officers captured out of uniform. We meet him when he’s back in England after the war, pardoned by the Regent, but now sporting the moniker, the “Traitor Baron.” Our hero is trying to rebuild his life when clearly, somebody would much rather he wouldn’t draw breath at all. Enter, his aunt’s pretty, practical companion….

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

GB: Lady Vivien has contrived to meet Darius at a ball, because she feels he’s entitled to know he’s going to be a father, and because she’s worried about him. The women threatening to reveal to polite society some of Darius’ more shameful exploits are circling in the garden, though Darius doesn’t yet know they’re lurking nearby….

What would you be if you were not an author?

GB: In addition to writing and representing children in foster care court, I’m also a mediator. It’s amazing—and very rewarding—to see how much benefit you can be to people just by paying attention to them, and letting them know you’re there to help them develop solutions to their problems.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

GB: Meredith Duran’s That Scandalous Summer, is on my nightstand. Carolyn Jewel just posted that she’s started the sequel to Lord Ruin, and I’m dying to read that.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

GB: Thanks so much for having me here!

 

*****

DARIUS

by GRACE BURROWES 

IN STORES APRIL 2013

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A story that breaks all the rules…

Darius is a remarkable tale of desperation, devotion, and redemption from award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes. Her gorgeous writing and lush Regency world will stay with you long after you turn the final page…

With his beloved sister tainted by scandal, his widowed brother shattered by grief, and his funds cut off, Darius Lindsey sees no option but to sell himself—body and soul. Until the day he encounters lovely, beguiling Lady Vivian Longstreet, whose tenderness and understanding wrap his soul in a grace he knows he’ll never deserve…

 

Praise for Darius:

“Burrowes brings to life a deeply moving romance that’s sure to be remembered and treasured.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick

“This rising author handles powerful romance and complicated family life with skill in romances with great appeal.” —Booklist

“Burrowes creates her usual intelligent characters, exciting chemistry, and flowing dialogue…” —Publishers Weekly

“Very compelling… Likable characters with enough angst to keep the story moving along.” —Night Owl Reviews, 4.5 stars, Reviewer Top Pick

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was a PW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into novellas and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland. For more information, please visit www.graceburrowes.com.

 

 

 

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Guest Blogger+ a giveaway with Shana Galen

Writing Historicals that Appeal to the Modern Reader

By Shana Galen

For the past decade, I have heard the same refrain: the historical romance is dead. The assumption is that the modern reader doesn’t want to read about a world where there was no internet or cell service and where indoor plumbing was still a relatively new concept.

But I’m still writing historical romances, and readers are still reading them. In fact, I’ve been surprised at my last few signings to see so many young, meaning early twenties, readers. The genre is gaining new readers!

What is it about books like my Jewels of the Ton series that appeal to modern readers? I think it’s a combination of three factors—the hero, the heroine, and the plot.

The Hero

Although it seems counter-intuitive, modern readers like traditional heroes. Take the hero from If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Warrick is an alpha male. He’s the son of an earl, so he’s also wealthy and powerful. Oh, and he’s also an elite spy for the Crown. Cliché? Sure. But clichés are cliché because readers love them. What woman fantasizes about meeting a nice middle class shop owner? Not me! It’s fun to dream about a strong, powerful hero who thinks he knows everything, only to realize that the woman he falls in love with knows a few things too. Modern readers want an alpha traditional male who also comes to respect and admire the woman he loves. Male chauvinism is fine when a hero is introduced, but he should have evolved by the end of the book.

The Heroine

In contrast to the hero, heroines really should be modern women in historical clothing. Make that gorgeous historical clothing. My readers like a heroine who can stand on her own. Fallon from If You Give a Rake a Ruby is such a woman. She’s strong and independent. She’s had a tough life, but she’s a survivor. She doesn’t need to be saved, but she does need to be loved. We all need to be loved and cherished and valued, and those needs cross all genres and time periods.

Modern readers certainly appreciate a kick-ass heroine (and Fallon kicks more than a few in this book), but readers like their glamour too. I loved dressing Fallon in silks and rubies, having her attend all the most fashionable events, and giving her servants and other luxuries. But I’m well aware there was a darker side, a seedier side of London, and my characters step foot in that world as well.

The Plot

I can’t speak for all readers, but modern readers are used to fast-paced lives and fast-paced media. I think we often enjoy fast-paced reads as well. I love drawing room historicals, but there’s nothing like a good adventure story with spies or pirates or highway men. If You Give a Rake a Ruby is full of intrigue—spies, secret identities, valuable diamonds, priceless rubies, carriage chases, fist fights, and a love story right in the middle. That’s the kind of historical a modern reader likes. I hope.

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy historicals? Why or why not?

 

IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY

BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES MARCH 2013

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Her Mysterious Past is the Best Revenge…

Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

Only He Can Offer Her a Dazzling Future…

Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line…

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what makes her his heart’s desire…

 

Praise for If You Give a Rake  a Ruby

“Galen is at the top of her game… Galen is a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick of the Month

“The writing is excellent and the characters are captivating. Ms. Galen delivers a steamy romance between a determined hero and a reluctant heroine.” — Night Owl Reviews, 5/5 Stars, Reviewer Top Pick

 

A little about Shana: 

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice Winner The Making of a Gentleman and the RT-nominated When You Give a Duke a Diamond. Her books are published all over the world and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

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Interview & Giveaway with Catherine Mann

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Catherine Mann on the blog today.  We are chatting about life, hot military men and her newest release Free Fall 

Catherine, can you please share with us a little about yourself

CM: I’m a military wife, mom of four stellar young adults, grandmother of one PERFECT grandchild, pet mom to four rascally critters, foster mom to Humane Society puppies … and I write.  A lot.  I’m lucky to have a very full life I enjoy!

Have you always wanted to be an author?
CM: I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember.  The dream to be a writer has always lurked in my mind.  It just took the supportive encouragement of my husband for me to make the leap and try my hand at penning my own novels.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

CM: I set weekly work goals for myself keeping in mind the target date needed to finish my next book.  If I complete all my work by Friday, I get to take the weekend off.  If I don’t accomplish my goal, then I work weekends to catch up and stay on track.  It’s a hefty motivator for me to stay on pace during the week – and a motivator for my family to honor my work hours.  As for something I need while writing – I always have a Diet Coke within reach!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
CM: Working at home presents a challenge in that folks tend to think I’m always available to chat or play, yet working from home also means I can stay in my PJs all day long if I choose – with a Diet Coke nearby, of course!

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
CM:  FREE FALL is book 4 in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen.  If you haven’t read the other three books, don’t worry.  FREE FALL can be read as a standalone.  However, if you would like to catch up with the other three, they are still available.  Book 1: COVER ME.  Book 2: HOT ZONE (a RITA Award finalist!)  Book 3: UNDER FIRE.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
CM: I’ve always been fascinated by the different job tasks of our military service members.  And the pararescumen are truly the elite of the elite –  with less than 400 of them in the world.  I had woven a pararescueman into an earlier book of mine – FULLY ENGAGED.  So when the opportunity came to write a series featuring the profession, I couldn’t resist!  It’s an honor to get to showcase their heroics.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?
CM: I’m currently working on book 5 in my “Alpha Brotherhood” series for Harlequin Desire – featuring a Formula 1 race car driver who also happens to do some freelance work for Interpol.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
CM: FREE FALL, page 122.  Jose is explaining to Stella about how he become an alcoholic, how he sobered up, and yet how he still fears what he future hold for him. (Yes, you read that right.  The hero in this book is a recovering alcoholic.  I am curious about what reader feedback on Jose will be.)

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

CM:  Lisa Gardner’s TOUCH AND GO is on my Kindle now – I just have to find an evening I can stay up late, though, because I can never put her books down once I start reading.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
CM: I adore visiting with folks online.  I can be found almost daily at one of the following sites:

 

 

 

FREE FALL

BY CATHERINE MANN 

IN STORES MARCH 2013

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On This Mission, There Are No Accidents…

Pararescueman Jose “Cuervo” James is the guy they call for the most dangerous assignments. He lives for his job.

On a high-risk rescue deep in the African jungle, Jose encounters sexy, smart Interpol agent Stella Carson. They’d once had an affair that burned hot and fast, but family is everything to Stella, and Jose just can’t go there.

Fate has thrown them into the deadly hot zone together, and sparks will fly…but only if they can live to tell about it.

 *****

Praise for Free Fall:

“Catherine Mann writes an amazing combination of keen suspense, unique characters, and heart-stopping romance. I’m a fan!” —Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author of Savor the Danger

“Tense and dramatic… the chemistry is strong, the prose is tight, and the story never stops moving.” —Publishers Weekly

“Mann sweeps readers along with pulse-pounding suspense, passion and a full-out frontal assault of the senses that will keep readers gripping their seats…” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars

A little bit more about Catherine: 

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann pens steamy military romances, with over two million books in print. She has won the prestigious RWA RITA Award and a Bookseller’s Best Award, and has finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Maggie awards. Catherine resides with her husband, a retired Air Force colonel, in Florida. For more information for her entire series, please visit www.catherinemann.com.

Catherine and Sourcebooks are giving away a great prize for readers: a prize pack of the first three books in the Elite Force: That Others May Live Series (Cover Me, Hot Zone and Under Fire). Good luck!


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Interview & Giveaway with Macy Beckett

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have a new favorite on our blog today.  Please welcome Macy Beckett to the blog.  We are chatting life, new author crushes and Sultry Springs Texas

BnK:  Hi Macy, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.  We are very excited to have you on the blog today.

Macy:  Thanks for having me. I’m thrilled to be here.

BnK: I have to tell you I am totally in love with you and your Sultry Springs Series.  You are officially one of my favorite new authors for 2013.

Macy: Aw, shucks. I love you, too. J

BnK: Can you tell us a little about your Sultry Spring Series?

Macy: My tagline for this series is “Welcome to Sultry Springs, where first loves find second chances.” The fictional town is quirky and composed of uber-religious Southern Baptists, but they’re a fun-lovin’ bunch. Maybe it’s not the kind of place I’d want to live, but it’s a great town to visit.

BnK: The Sultry Springs Series is kinda your debut series into the world of romance right?  Do you have any other book published?

Macy: Book one, SULTRY WITH A TWIST, was my romance debut. It wasn’t the first book I wrote—that was ALIENATED, coming Feb. ’14 from Disney Hyperion—but it was the first to sell. Now that A SHOT OF SULTRY is available, I have two books out in the world. By the end of 2014, I’ll have seven!

BnK:  How did you come up with the idea for Sultry Springs?

Macy: It came to me in the shower, where I get most of my ideas. There’s just something about that warm water…

BnK: I have had the honor to read the first 2 books (Sultry with a Twist and A Shot of Sultry) which I totally loved!!  I also know that book 3, Surrender to Sultry, is coming in August 2013.  Do you have more books planned after Book 3? If not, what is next for you?

Macy: As of now, I’ve decided to conclude the Sultry Springs series with book 3. That may change, depending on the popularity of the series. I have a new set of romances coming in 2014 from Penguin, beginning with PREMARITAL HEX, and my ALIENATED series will also launch in 2014.

BnK: What would you do if you didn’t write?

Macy: Oh, Lordy. I’d probably be teaching junior high again. Don’t make me go back! 😉

BnK: Let’s open A Shot of Sultry to a random page and tell us what is happening.

Macy: Fun! Okay, I’m opening to page 194, where Trey is chatting with his best friend, Luke. (The hero from book 1). Luke confides that his wife has baby fever, and here’s Trey’s reaction: “Oh, snap.” Well, hell. That’d take the jingle out of any man’s junk. “Too bad there’s no Tylenol for that.”

BnK: What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone who is trying to get published?

Macy: Don’t rush it—publishing is an exercise in patience. Take your time and learn the craft.

BnK: Please tell us something you have on your bucket list?

Macy: I’d love to return to Europe. I graduated from high school in Munich, and I haven’t been back since. I miss it!

BnK:  Again, Macy it was a true pleasure to have you on the blog.  I hope that everyone loves you as much as I do.  I am super excited for book 3!  We do hope you will come back for Surrender to Sultry release.

Macy: Thanks again for having me, and I hope you enjoy book 3 as much as I loved writing it.

 

A SHOT OF SULTRY

BY MACY BECKETT

IN STORES MARCH 2013

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Welcome to Sultry Springs, Texas: where home can be the perfect place for a fresh start.

For West Coast filmmaker Bobbi Gallagher, going back to Sultry Springs is a last resort. But with her career in tatters, a quick trip to her hometown might get her the footage she needs to salvage her reputation. She just can’t let anything distract her again. Not even the gorgeous contractor her brother asked to watch over her. As if she can’t handle filming a few rowdy Texans.

Golden boy Trey Lewis, with his blond hair and Technicolor-blue eyes, is a leading man if Bobbi ever saw one. He’s strong and confident and–much to her delight–usually shirtless. He thinks keeping his best friend’s baby sister out of trouble will be easy. But he has no idea of the trouble in store for him…

Praise for A Shot of Sultry:

[A] heartwarming, humorous story of second chances… sweet at its core. A strong continuation of this promising series. —Publishers Weekly

Beckett’s foray into love in a small town bounces from funny to endearing to poignant… —Booklist

A sweet yet steamy read… Readers will be left with smiles on their faces and more than ready for more of this quirky little town. —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

Brimming with rapier wit and heartwarming moments… Packed with humor and heart. —Fresh Fiction

 

A little more about Macy: 

Macy Beckett left teaching to write hot and humorous romances. (No offense to her former students, but her new career is way more fun!) She lives just outside Cincinnati with her husband and three children, and is an active member of two Romance Writers of America chapters. Look for Sultry with a Twist, book one in the Sultry Springs series in stores now, and the third delightful book, Surrender to Sultry, in August 2013. For more information, please visit www.macybeckett.com, Like her on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMacyBeckett, and follow her on Twitter, @MacyBeckett.

 

Macy and Sourcebooks are giving away a copy of Sultry with a Twist, book 1 in the Sultry Springs Series!

Please leave a comment or questions for Macy below, and a random winner will be chosen. US and Canada only, Good Luck!

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Interview & giveaway with ML Buchman

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

MB: Like a lot of writers, I’m a fairly quiet person who is never happier than when I’m out walking with my wife. I’ve spent 25 years as a project manager. I’ve built million-dollar computer systems, and designed and built houses. I’ve developed corporate training and bicycled around the world. I’ve written a dozen novels under three different names and I feel that I’m barely starting to hit my stride, yet I’m deeply humbled (and more than a little bit shocked) by the success of my writing.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
MB: Airline pilot. Dreamed about it. Planned on it. Earned my private pilot’s ticket right after college. When I finally discovered that I was just a bit to colorblind to ever make a career of it was one of the hardest days of my young life. I came to writing in my mid-thirties. I was on a plane from Korea to ride my bicycle across the Australian Outback during my mid-life crisis on wheels. I began writing a little vignette about a freshman roommate who killed alarm clocks (he really did). Though the character didn’t survive, that turned into my first novel and my first sale. I haven’t looked back since.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
MB: My writing office is just a little rolling desk with a laptop and an IKEA chair? I listen to loud rock and roll when I write to shut down my editor brain (except Sundays are usually loud opera)?  Perhaps it’s as my wife says, apparently I chortle at my own writing when I feel I’ve been particularly clever. If I do, I’m too busy being totally absorbed by the world I’m creating to notice. Though more than once I’ve found my cheeks wet after a particularly harrowing scene.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
MB: Wait Until Dark is a stand-alone book that falls third in my “Night Stalkers” series. The real-life Night Stalkers are the Army’s 160th SOAR are the helicopter regiment of U.S. Special Forces. They fly primarily at night to place, if they do their job right, that we mostly will never hear of. The take down of bin Laden being an exception, though very few articles noted that SOAR did the flying.

Connie and John are both crew chiefs on one of SOAR’s most lethal helicopters. They work as mechanics and fly as gunners. They are responsible for the safety and well-being of one of the nastiest attack helicopters ever designed. And on the occasion of this book, their mission is uniquely fitted to their skills. But what I enjoy the most about this series, or any novel I write, is the complexities they must resolve in themselves so that their hearts have a chance of finding what they need most, each other.

Book #4 Take Over at Midnight will be out this fall. In between will see the launch of book #2 Where Dreams Reside in my contemporary romance series “Angelo’s Hearth,” a foodie romance about an Italian chef in Seattle and the best female lawyer in the city.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
MB: Wait Until Dark was actually born during book #2 in the series, I Own the Dawn. Connie showed up about two-thirds through the book. I didn’t ask for her. My hero and heroine went on leave and when they were called back, there she was. And no one knew what to do with her, least of all the #2 hero’s best friend and fellow crew chief, Big John Wallace. I always start from character, so that’s where I began. The discovery of their love story left the plot of the book almost a complete mystery for the longest time, it was definitely their book and I simply kept nudging the story along.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
MB: Book #4 of the SOAR series Take Over at Midnight (coming this fall) is just going through final edits. I’m polishing the first draft of a new series presently called “Firehawk” about aerial forest firefighters who fly a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter rigged with firefighting tanks. It will include several crossover characters from “The Night Stalkers” as their mission isn’t just about the fires. I’ll be adding Where Dreams Reside to my “Angelo’s Hearth” series, a contemporary romance series set in Seattle. Then Matthew Lieber Buchman has a fantasy he’d been dying to write…

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
MB: I want to have dinner with Eloisa James, Carl Haissan, and Lee Child. I think the humor and banter would be outrageous and wonderful. I like to think we’d all be sick from laughing so hard. I’d need someone else there to talk for me though as I’d be too busy being gobsmacked to actually speak.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
MB: I’ve heard it from dozens of professionals. BIC, Butt In Chair. Nothing makes up for writing. Not rewriting, but new writing. The second thing? My mentor told me repeatedly before I could begin to understand it, “It’s not about this one book, it’s about a body of work.” You very, very rarely get better by writing one book over and over. Write more, write new, better will come with the practice. Better writing is what consistently sells books.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
MB: I miss my sailboat (I rebuilt a fifty-foot ketch in my misbegotten youth) and I miss flying (my childhood dream that I couldn’t quite turn into a career). I want to own a small plane and I want to take my wife sailing somewhere warm like the Mediterranean and take a few months teaching her the joys of being in a craft powered by the world’s winds.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
MB: Oh my gosh. I only recently discovered Eloisa James and I’m trying to read through everything she’s written, but she has a major head start on me. I’m also hooked on thrillers and have a stack of those. I have a pile of Kristine Kathryn Rusch science fiction stacked on my shelf that I’m barely half way through. And I spend about half of my reading time on non-fiction for next works, so I’m reading about aerial fire-fighting, unmanned aircraft, the tenets of a couple of now defunct religions, the inner workings of fashion design, and, uh, a bunch of other stuff.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
MB: Just my thanks for having me aboard and asking such great questions. And if anyone wants to charm me as a reader, make me laugh and make my heart sigh at the same time.

*****

WAIT UNTIL DARK

BY M.L. BUCHMAN 

IN STORES FEBRUARY 2013

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Chapters/Indigo | Sourcebooks | Discover a New Love

Name: Big John Wallace

Rank: Staff Sergeant, Chief Mechanic and Gunner

Mission: To serve and protect his crew and country.

 Name: Connie Davis

Rank: Sergeant, Flight Engineer, Mechanical Wizard

Mission: To be the best…and survive.

Two Crack Mechanics, One Impossible Mission…

Being in The Night Stalkers is Connie Davis’s way of facing her demons head-on, but mountain-strong John Wallace is a threat on all fronts. Their passion is explosive, but their conflicts are insurmountable. When duty calls them to a mission no one else could survive, they’ll fly into the night together—ready or not.

Praise for I Own the Dawn:

“A rousing mix of romance and military action thrills…Buchman blends tender feelings with military politics to keep readers riveted.”—Publishers Weekly

 “I can’t wait for the next book.”—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

 “Filled with action, adventure, and danger.”—Booklist Starred Review

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. L. Buchman has worked in fast food, theater, computers, publishing, and light manufacturing. It’s amazing what you can do with a degree in geophysics. At one point he sold everything and spent 18-months riding a bicycle around the world. In 11,000 miles, he touched 15 countries and hundreds of amazing people. Since then, he has acquired a loving lady, the coolest kid on the planet, and lives in Portland, OR. For more information, please visit http://www.mlbuchman.com/.

 

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Interview with Jessica Subject

Hi Jessica.   Welcome back to Books-n-Kisses.  

Can you please share with us a little about yourself.

Thank you so much for having me on Books-n-Kisses again! Not only am I an author, but I am also a wife and mother of two energetic children. I write contemporary and science fiction romance ranging from sweet to erotica. My stories may include clones, or a sexy alien or two. They are set on Earth, in space, and on faraway planets. I passed on my love of reading to my children, and enjoy stories from a multitude of genres and heat levels. When I get the chance, I like to go for long and fast walks.

Author Links:   Website/Blog | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and thought of it as a hobby. I wrote my first romance story in grade seven, called It Starts With A Kiss. But, it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my second child that I considered submitting a story to have it published on something other than my computer.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have a bad habit of grinding my teeth while I’m writing, so I’m usually chewing gum while I’m penning my stories.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Alien Lover released in December, and although classed as erotica, it is “a story of love so deep that it cannot be defined by time or galaxies.” Here’s the blurb:

Unconvinced of her fiancé’s demise, Molly combs the galaxy to search for him. As her supplies run low, she is forced to turn around and set a course for Earth, alone. But, a Moloxian Starcruiser halts her retreat, and the single passenger transports onto her ship without permission. Taser in hand to defend herself, she is startled as the form remolds into her fiancé. Has Diego found her or is her tired mind playing tricks?

I also had two stories release in January, Made For Her and Accidental Romance.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m not sure. I guess it just popped into my mind. It was the first erotica story that I started for The Edge line, but the last one I finished. It took a while for Molly to tell me her story.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Sure! I’m working on two stories right now. The first is Never Gonna Desert You, which is the sequel to my sci-fi/dystopian story, Never Gonna Let You Go. And the second is His Alien Virgin, another 1Night Stand story, where the heroine is the step-sister to the two heroes in Satin Sheets in Space. I also have the first book in my new Alien Next Door series with my editor.

I have many more sequels I plan to write this year as well as some stand-alones.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I’ve met a lot of wonderful authors who live close to me already, but I’d absolutely love to meet my critique partners, DL Jackson, Layna Pimentel, Rebecca Royce, and Zee Monodee. Not only are they all fabulous authors, but they are great people. I’d love to meet them in person.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Many authors say to keep writing. I agree with that somewhat, but if you don’t know the mistakes you are making, it is much more difficult to improve your craft. Therefore, I suggest taking courses in the genre you want to write, plus, have your work critiqued by others who write in the genre.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d love to visit Alaska and Hawaii.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Um, there are SO many book on my bookshelves, and even more on my Kindle and Kobo that I’m anxious to read. I, honestly, can’t choose just one. As for a book I can’t wait for that isn’t released yet, that would be the next book in The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Opal ended on such a cliffhanger that I NEED to know what happens next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you again for having me on your blog, Kelly! I’m hosting a giveaway during the Alien Lover tour. Any comments left during the tour will count as an entry toward the prize, an eBook copy of Crash Landing or The Power of Three, plus book swag. Contest is international. Winner will be announced February 28, 2013.

 

Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | more

Book Video Trailer:

http://youtu.be/p1Wr59y9F5I