Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming Melissa Groeling to the blog. She’s here to share a guest post and also share about her latest book Traffic Jam, from Black Opal Publishing.
Hi Barb!
Thanks for having me! This is the last stop for me on my blog tour and what better way to go out with a bang than with Sugarbeats?
Sugarbeats, as you know, dear readers, is a romance-related blog so I will try my best to be romantic. Well, not me, per say…but…okay, I’m going to stop now while I’m ahead. But the whole idea of romance is that I think, personally, that we all need more of it in our lives. The world is full of dark ideas, dark thoughts, dark everything and romance is a light that’s getting harder and harder to find, especially when the divorce rate in this country is at fifty percent.
Now, I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d write anything that was even remotely romantic. Anyone who knows me is like,
“Melissa? Really? She doesn’t have a romantic bone in her body.”
Well, turns out that I do! I have several romantic bones in fact! With my first young adult novel, Traffic Jam, on the verge of completion—its release date is May 26th—I found that it was rather impossible not to have some kind of romance or crush in the story. I mean, when you’re a teenager, that’s all there is. The drama that surrounds every young girl or boy is rooted in some way, shape or form, to that one beautiful person who seems to be the only reason to get out of bed in the morning.
And that beautiful person is always so unattainable.
My main character, Val, is well aware of this. Her crush, John, is one of her older sister’s best friends. That’s a huge strike against her right there. If Traffic Jam were a regular young adult story, I’m sure I would’ve found some obscure way to throw John and Val together; like with a school project or something. But this story is no regular young adult story. It touches upon a topic that I think a lot of people don’t want to talk about: human trafficking.
Like most of the romance in people’s lives, it’s kept on the back burner.
Burning but there.
About the Author
Melissa Groeling graduated from Bloomsburg University with a degree in English. She lives, reads and writes in the Philadelphia region and wherever else life happens to send her. She is a hardcore New York Giants fan and loves chocolate. Traffic Jam is her first young adult novel.
Blog: http://melissagroeling.
Twitter: @stringbean10
Come find me on Facebook!!!
Val’s chest gave a hard lurch and she glanced away, leafing through the book in her hands. “Look, John, I honestly don’t know. I don’t know why you would think I have the answers. You might be better off just—”
“You know something.”
The words were whispered directly into her ear, hot and knowing. She jerked around. John stood inches away, staring down at her. She licked her lips, squeezing the books in her hands. “What?”
“You know something. I know you do.”
The bluntness and certainty of those words hit her like a well-aimed punch. Shaking her head, she moved back when he moved forward. “I don’t know anything.”
“Yes, you do. I saw you with Brandon.”
“So? So what?”
He took another step towards her. “What’s going on, Val?”
“Nothing! God, nothing is going on. What’s your problem?”
Her voice had risen and it wouldn’t be long before a salesclerk interrupted them. She tried to rein her emotions in but she could feel her control flagging under the steadily increasing pressure of his gaze, of his sheer force of will as he kept coming towards her.
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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are going to learn about a romance that is newly released – Clear As Day by Babette James. This book is being toured by Bewitching Book Tours. I hope you enjoy learning about this book as much as I did, and add it to your wish list at Amazon! Babette is giving away a set of Romance Trading Cards to a lucky winner. To be entered, leave your name and email address and we will contact you if you win.
Clear As Day
By Babette James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Thanks so much for letting me visit here today and share a little about my debut novel, Clear As Day, a sweetly scorching contemporary romance about two friends with benefits facing the fears and uncertainties of their changing relationship.
Clear As Day began as a short story years back when I was in college, an exercise featuring the desert setting of Lake Mohave, a reservoir downstream from the Hoover Dam formed out of stretch of the Colorado River by the Davis Dam. I grew up in Southern California and I’ve always had a love of the deserts of the Southwest, particularly the areas of Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave, and even took a college class on desert biology. I loved the juxtaposition of the stark, hot landscape with the cool waters and wanted to play with that particular setting. I’m delighted with my cover and how it shares some of the area’s unique beauty.
But a story needs more than a setting, and my artist character Kay appeared in her lakeside campsite as the sole first person point of view, already independent, reserved, and commitment-shy. Then the man who would become easy-going, globetrotting photographer Nate showed up to disrupt her careful, comfortable rut in life. I never quite found a place for Clear As Day in its short story form, but never gave up on it, and two years ago took on the experiment of expanding the little original story first into a novella. I had fun with the story, adding in bits of my family’s trips to the river, other camping and fishing experiences, and my own enjoyment of watercolors, music, photography, and the desert.
The expansion was an interesting experience. Kay’s viewpoint changed from first person to third. The biggest change and challenge was adding in Nate’s viewpoint, and once I did that, the story just bloomed into the full novel length it is now. The simple friends-with-benefits relationship proved not so simple and from there exploded the beginnings of their conflict, love story, and their tight-knit group of friends. I had to explore the whys of all the characters and asking one question led to another and more.
I learned despite his happy-go-lucky ways and years of traveling, Nate longed for commitment and settling down. Coming from a close, loving family, Nate believes love is forever and Kay is his forever. I discovered that Kay hid the pain of her childhood and dysfunctional family from everyone and she believes love is only true in fairytales. Friendship is all she will allow. Kay and Nate painfully discovered, despite years of close friendship, just how much they didn’t know about each other and had assumed. Nate’s faced with just how hard loving can be and Kay finds denying love doesn’t keep it from happening to her.
Clear As Day was no longer a just scenic location and simple moment in time between two occasional lovers, but a full story world with a crowd of interesting secondary characters, and all the characters’ lives intersecting and affecting one another. Not only did I have to ask what has happened in just Kay’s and Nate’s backstories to bring them to the story’s point in time, I needed to explore their friends’ lives, and additionally, ask what happened next to all of them, after Kay and Nate reached their point of happily ever after. I found that the story of Kay and Nate and their friends had not ended, but had more still to tell. I’m currently hard at work on the sequel and other friends will be joining Kay and Nate in falling in love at the river.
I loved writing Clear As Day, it’s been a story of my heart in many ways, so seeing this story published is a dream come true. Receiving the 4 1/2 star scorcher review from Romantic Times and being able to hold my book in my hands have been truly thrilling moments. I hope you enjoy Nate and Kay’s journey to love as much as I have.
What do you enjoy most about reading romances?
Babette will be giving away set of Romance Trading Cards to one lucky person. Please fill out the form at the bottom of this post to be entered.
Blurb:
What’s a girl to do when her summer lover wants forever?
Haunted by dark memories of her parents’ volatile marriage, artist Kay Browning keeps her heart locked behind a free-spirit facade and contents herself with the comfortable affair she has every summer with easygoing photographer Nate Quinn.
The only trouble with her plan? This summer Nate’s come to Lake Mohave to claim the lover he can’t let go. He’s done with the endless traveling and settling for temporary homes and temporary loves. Kay’s always been more than just a vacation fling, and now he must convince this woman, who sees love as a course to certain heartbreak, to take that leap of faith and learn how safe love with the right man can be.
The Wild Rose Press– Paperback & eBook
Amazon.com – Paperback & Kindle
Excerpt:
“Kay!” That male voice was not her imagination.
“Oh, shit!” She twisted and dropped into the water, sinking neck-deep.
Mother always said, among other things, that a lady never goes skinny-dipping and must always wear a proper hat. Kay was only half skinny-dipping, but she fervently wished she’d worn something a bit more substantial than a baseball cap and the bottom half of the quintessential teeny-weenie yellow polka-dot bikini.
Shit, oh, shit, oh, shit. She so hated when Mother was right.
Okay, time to find out who’d just gotten an eyeful. The guy had called her name, so she should know him. Oh boy, if she’d flashed old George…
She wiped water from her face, sucked in a breath against her pounding heart, and peeked around.
Nate.
She must be sun-dazed. Nate? With a beard? Hair curling over his ears? No way.
Just because a familiar slouchy fishing hat topped those unruly, sun-bleached blond curls and just because this guy possessed the same deep-water tan and footloose taste in clothes as Nate with his electric blue Hawaiian shirt, bright orange swim trunks, and beat-up deck shoes didn’t mean—
“Hey, babe. Now that I’ve finally caught your attention, how about a hug from my girl?” He opened his arms. “Am I coming in after you or are you coming out?” Only Nate’s voice held that mellow timbre like chocolate for her ears.
“Nate! What…” Giddy delight flushed over Kay, clearing her shock. She dashed from the water and into strong arms, a wonderful hug, and a better kiss that launched her mind into a blissed-out whirl of oh, yes and why?
The oh, yes won out until the need to breathe forced them apart.
Nate gave her a long look, his usually easy gray eyes holding a new, simmering heat.
Wow. Whoa.
About the Author:
Babette James writes contemporary and fantasy romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. Babette is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers, where she has served on the Board. She is also a Pro member of Romance Writers of America, and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and ESPAN Chapters of RWA, Liberty States Fiction Writers, and Romance Divas. As a teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! Born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California, she’s had a life-long love of the desert and going down the shore. Babette now lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and three extremely spoiled cats.
Web and social media links:
Website: http://babettejames.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.
Youtube Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/E1ur-
Goodreads: http://www.
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.
Google+: https://plus.google.
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We are welcoming author Jami Gray to the blog today. She’s here to share a guest post and to talk about several of her books. Enjoy!
Who’s Wearing the Armor?
I love Urban Fantasy, all the dark edges and fantastic magic lurking in the shadows of the real world, and let’s not forget about the kick butt heroines that populate the genre. Yet no matter how wild the adventure or exciting the danger, I still need that touch of romance to help me connect with the characters.
Let’s make sure we’re on the same page before I continue. Romance doesn’t mean my leather wearing, weapons mistress of the dark is going to jump into bed with the first alpha male that knocks her on her butt. That’s sex…sometimes great sex…but still sex. For me, romance is the roller coaster ride my heroine takes as she realizes how much the disturbing male who is turning her life upside down, will come to mean to her. It’s all the steps, the arguments, the partnering up against the big bads, the quiet moments, the sparks of shared humor, all those little things that suddenly change the relationship into a partnership.
When I was initially submitting my first book, Shadow’s Edge, to agents and editors, you would be amazed at how many times my very nice rejection letters included the following “…great story, but there’s just not enough sex.” Ummm…okay?
I could have buckled down and let Raine and Gavin get down and dirty, but the problem was, it wasn’t the right time in their relationship. They were so busy tracking down tantalizing clues, dead bodies, mad scientists, and power hungry military peeps, that trying to find that right spot for some quality time in the bedroom, just wasn’t happening. As a writer, I feel it’s my job to stay true to my characters, so I held strong and was thrilled when Shadow’s Edge got picked up and my fabulous editor didn’t say a word about the lack of a hot and heavy scene.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of sexual tension in Shadow’s Edge, but I felt it was important to lay a solid base for the evolving relationship between my heroine and hero, Raine and Gavin. Considering how much is thrown their way, I didn’t need them falling apart before they even got started. So I let their partnership run its course naturally. Which meant the bedrock of their relationship helps save them both in the second book, Shadow’s Soul.
Don’t get me wrong, I love books, and I’ve read everything from erotica to suspense to fantasy to historical. I’ve found some of the best books I’ve read are the ones where the romance grows with the characters. It resonates with me when the self-sufficient, independent, can handle anything thrown her way heroine has that aha moment when she discovers how much more rich and rewarding her life becomes because she’s found a balance in her hero. Even her flaws (because no heroine should be perfect, that would be boring!) are altered—they become strengths instead of weaknesses, because instead of doing it on her own, there’s someone to share the burden with.
What’s even better is when the heroine turns into the knight in shining armor for her hero. I mean, how awesome is that? Considering how many times a story’s hero stands in front of the rampaging dragon, shielding his love from shredding claws, isn’t it nice when a heroine can step in and with a quick flick of her wrist, take down the snarling demon determined to drag him into hell?
The true power of a couple lies in the strength between the hero and the heroine, because if they were facing the world on their own, it wouldn’t be much of a story. Even if it takes a book or two to get to the deliciously steamy scenes, it’s well worth the wait. For me, it feels more real and has me believing that they’ll make it through anything—dirty socks on the floor, leaving the toilet seat up, and slathering werewolves prowling outside their door.
Bio:
Growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border, Jami Gray was adopted at the age of 14 and suddenly became the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon.
Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Writing is what saves her sanity.
Shadow’s Edge: Book 1 of the Kyn Kronicles is out now and Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of the Kyn Kronicles hits shelves Summer 2012.
You can find me at:
Buy Link: www.BlackOpalBooks.com
Website: www.JamiGray.com
Blogs: www.7EvilDwarves.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/
Blurb for Shadow’s Edge:
Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…
It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.
When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.
Blurb for Shadow’s Soul:
Some nightmares are born of love…
Raine McCord has no problem taking down the monsters of the world, it’s one of the reasons she’s so good at her job. So playing bodyguard to Cheveyo, head Magi of the Northwest, as he consults with the Southwest Kyn should be an easy assignment. Unfortunately, simple task turns into a nightmare when Cheveyo is kidnapped and Raine is left for dead by one of the Kyn’s most feared beings, a Soul Stealer.
The Stealer’s attack leaves lasting wounds, undermining Raine’s confidence as a warrior and damaging her unruly magic. Her ability to heal her mind and spirit hinges on the one man who can touch her soul, Gavin Durand. Compelled to face the emotions raging between them, they must embrace not only their stormy relationship but their evolving magic to escape the twisted threads of murder and betrayal to find Cheveyo.
As Raine and Gavin come together and begin to unravel the complex web of secrets and hidden vendettas haunting the Southwest Kyn, they discover unsettling new truths that threaten their very existence.
Sugarbeat
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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Today is Series Sunday where we talk about books written in series.
Most of you know that my favourite thing is to read a book that is part of a series. Lately, we’ve been reviewing the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn in honor of her new book coming out at the end of the month!! I’m trying not to think about how many days…
Today we are going to talk about It’s In His Kiss, which involves Hyacinth Bridgerton. Many have said that this is their favorite Bridgerton book. I like it, but it might be number 2 or 3 on my list. It is good, none-the-less, so I hope you enjoy my thoughts….
It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
ISBN: 0-06-053124X
Publisher: Avon Books
Source: I purchased this book to read
Meet Our Hero…
Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth’s sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past… and the key to his future. The problem is–it’s written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.
Meet Our Heroine…
All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She’s fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there’s something about her–something charming and vexing–that grabs him and won’t quite let go…
Meet Poor Mr. Mozart…
Or don’t. But rest assured, he’s spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual–an annually discordant–Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth’s every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other… and that there is nothing as simple–or as complicated–as a single, perfect kiss.
Book 7 of the Bridgerton series brings back Lady Danbury, an older matriarch of society that appears in many of the former books as a crusty old curmudgeon who enjoys speaking her mind and is feared by many members of the ton. In this book Lady Danbury serves as a matchmaker to Hyacinth Bridgerton and her grandson, Gareth St. Clair. Hyacinth and Lady Danbury make an interesting pair. Hyacinth has been spending every Tuesday afternoon reading to Lady Danbury for some time but they continue to have a rather acerbic relationship. Hyacinth seems to feel duty-bound to read to Lady Danbury, but is happy when she often falls asleep and therefore ends the reading sessions. Hyacinth has not had much contact with Gareth until one day when he appears during reading time and asks Hyacinth to translate his paternal grandmother’s diary which is written in Italian (a language Hyacinth has some knowledge of). As Hyacinth and Gareth start uncovering startling facts from this diary they find themselves drawn together romantically. Gareth has never been in love before and yet finds himself falling in love with the willful and stubborn Hyacinth. Hyacinth on the other hand is shocked to find herself developing feelings for such a notorious rake.
Gareth’s unpleasant father starts to interfere with the budding relationship; threatening to tell Hyacinth Gareth’s paternity secret. Only when faced with losing Hyacinth does Gareth realize that he truly loves her and fights to keep her.
Again, a winner from Julia Quinn. She shows that she is capable of exploring many delicate subjects in the unforgiving time of Regency England. Gareth has had such a hard life with his nasty father, but Julia Quinn presents him in a redeemable light. Hyacinth has the potential of being one of those bluestockings that are left on the proverbial shelf.
RT Book Reviews has nominated It’s In His Kiss to be one of it’s Top Picks and gives it 4 and 1/2 stars saying: “Here’s another utterly delightful Bridgerton tale featuring a highly “modern” woman, whose warmth, vivacity and intelligence shine through on every page. Quinn pairs Hyacinth with an ideal hero and then places them in the center of a passion-filled, intriguing mystery that’s sure to shoot to the top of the bestseller charts.”
Drop back by next week for the last book in the Bridgerton series….how many more days do I have to wait for the new release???
Sugarbeat
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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Welcome also to Steamy Saturday!
This is the day of the week where I post a review of a book that is on the steamier side of romance. Today is a book that I read and reviewed for The Romance Reviews.
All’s Fair in Love and Lust by Alexandra O’Hurley
ASIN: B005ZJ8BRU
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Release: Oct 25, 2011
Source: I received a copy of this book from TRR to read and review
Eros’s magic seems to be fading. Love and lust are failing on Earth—which could mean the end of the world. Finding love for four very different independent women might be the key. Kami has fallen for her boss, J.C., who can’t bring himself to cross the employer-employee line. Until someone pushes him. When Kendall’s house nearly goes up in flames, Wynne saves the day. She soon learns she needs to do some saving herself to awaken his heart. Kacey finds success in business and pays the price by losing her husband Daniel to another woman. She needs to be reawakened and reminded why she married him in the first place. Jaded Kat has been hurt too many times to let love in. It takes a double dose of love from Kaden and Rock to help her see there is hope
Welcome to Olympus, where Eros, the god of love seems to be losing his touch. Eros joins forces with Apollo to spread love and lust all over the earth joining couples everywhere!
All’s Fair in Love and Lust is a steamy little story that starts with an interesting problem. Love and lust seem to be disappearing on earth. Something or someone seems to be interfering with the path of true love. Eros, the God of love is determined to get to the bottom of this problem because without love and lust there will be no more earth! So, Eros kisses his wife Psyche goodbye and heads to earth to solve the mystery. The clue in the mystery seems to be Eris, the Goddess of Discord. She interferes with the first couple that Eros shoots with his arrows. To overcome the effects of the Goddess of Discord, Eros has to shoot this couple with several arrows and even brings in Apollo as reinforcements. It seems that the problem is much larger than it first appears. Eris isn’t the only god messing with love and lust on Earth. Eros finds and gets rid of several messengers from Hades before righting things on earth.
This short little story rocks along! Eros is determined to solve his mystery and we follow him through his work on several couples. The sex is hot, scorching the pages as Eros goes from couple to couple shooting them with with arrows. He even mistakenly shoots Apollo in one scene resulting in a steamy hot menage. This book also serves as a little refresher on the Greek gods as quite a few of them are featured in this story.
This book is well written, fast moving, and gripping. At under 200 pages it is possible to read it in one sitting, so pull up a comfy chair and settle in for a good read!
Sugarbeat
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Event & Giveaway Line-Up
On May 10th at 6pm EST, a virtual kick-off party is scheduled to take place where readers will have an opportunity to interact and ask questions of the anthology authors: Lori Foster, Brenda Jackson, Virna DePaul, Catherine Mann, and Jules Bennett.
RSVP for the event at http://www.eventbrite.com/
During the live event, each of the anthology authors will be giving away one autographed book to a guest from the pre-registration sign-up. You must attend the event and be present to win a prize. One of the books being given away is a Limited Edition Print Copy of “Love Bites” signed by all five authors!!
Other ways to win more books:
- Exclusively for my newsletter friends: Those that pre-register by clicking on this link: http://www.eventbrite.com/
event/3434726359/ and providing your information will be entered to win an autographed copy of Tawny Weber’s upcoming Blaze “Blazing Bedtimes Vol. VII” (with Rhonda Nelson).
- Follow along on the anthology website, http://www.lovebitesantho.com, to see author and blogger pet pictures. Each week we’ll be giving away more books to commenters!
- Coming on May 10th, the same day as the live kick-off event, the “Love Bites” Facebook page will launch. This page will allow readers to stay connected with the anthology authors during the pre-release. Additionally, US residents will be able to share their own “love bites” pet story in order to be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win more autographed books donated by each of the anthology authors! The sweepstakes will run from May 10th – June 1st.
Stay up to date on the latest “Love Bites” event news by visiting
http://www.lovebitesantho.com
Sugarbeat
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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming Mona Karel to the blog! She is here to promote her soon to be released book, Teach Me To Forget, and she’s here to share her thoughts on Romance.
Thoughts on Romance
Mona Karel
My husband died in January. I’ve said this often enough, it’s not so difficult any more. I think. At 3:30 in the morning on January 27, his breathing stopped, though he’d stopped fighting the end a week before. We had the great good fortune for him to leave the hospital and come home for what the doctors thought would be a couple weeks and ended up to be three mostly good sometimes awful months.
What in the world does this have to do with romance, and with writing Romance? For those who think love can only be understood by the younger generation, or who believe only raging passions and throbbing body parts can illustrate romance, the idea that less than ideal conditions can still illustrate love might come as a surprise. But romance exists on many levels. The commercials showing older people holding hands and staring lovingly into each others eyes resonate with many of us, perhaps because they trigger our imaginations to see them as a younger couple, and bring us hope for our own futures.
Romance, and life long love, isn’t always being carried up the stairs by the dashing hero, nor is it endless nights of squeaking bed springs. Too often, romance is a combination of small acts of caring and sharing. It’s remembering how much your partner loves sea otters, and picking up that tiny sea otter bronze you see at a craft fair. It’s using ginger and not cinnamon in the spice cake, or where to find that very special type of pasta sauce. For some couples it’s stopping for a grocery store chicken when you know your partner is too tired to fix dinner, or to even think about what to fix.
Some authors can write grand drama romance, with dashing heroes and fainting maidens, and their stories enthrall readers. For some authors the romance is more subtle, and the story is more about discovering each other than playing tunes with the bed springs. We all know from personal experience, or the experiences of acquaintances, that love can creep up on you over a period of time, or it can blast you off your feet in a single meeting. Love can be an all consuming fire or a gentle ongoing warmth. Neither one is better than or more real than the other.
Love is the one of the strongest forces in our world, and Romance can be the public expression of that force. But Romance can also be the glue holding together a relationship, in the ongoing daily recognition of the importance of that other person in our lives.
The timing of this blog is propitious, since my next romance, Teach Me To Forget, releases in two days from Black Opal Books. Jonathan romances Bethany by taking care of her in subtle ways. This throws Bethany, a self sufficient fiercely independent woman who has learned she can’t depend on anyone else, off stride and lets him into her lonely heart.
Her past was behind her…or so she’d thought.
Bethany Acton has come a long way from the day she was an abused child-bride of a dissolute jet setter. Now divorced and single, she writes for a lifestyles magazine, lives out of her motor home, and answers only to her boss—when he can find her. She has overcome her horrendous past and taken control of her own life. But when Jonathan Merritt, a rising star in wildlife photography, enters her world, she learns that control is a tenuous thing.
His past was despicable, but it hasn’t affected his future…until now.
Jonathan knows he has met the woman with whom he wants to spend his future, but first he must admit his role in her past. Afraid the truth will turn her against him, he tries to gain her trust and affection before confessing. But the longer he hesitates, the harder it becomes to tell her. Can Jonathan gain her love soon enough to forgive what he did, or will his past indiscretions destroy his only chance at happiness?
Mona can be found here:
http://mona-karel.com/
http://www.blackopalbooks.com/
I’d like to thank Mona for dropping by and sharing. Drop by Black Opal and pick up a copy of her book.
Sugarbeat
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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today is a review and giveaway of the Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina.
Ms Fresina is a new author to me. I received a copy of this book to read and review from Sourcebooks Casablanca and I found it a delight to read. If you are interested in winning a copy of this book, please fill out the form at the bottom of this post! I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this story!
The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina
ISBN: 978-1-40226597-6
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release: June 2012
Source: I received a copy of this book to read and review from the publisher
Scandalous Lady
Sophia Valentine knew placing an ad for a husband in the Farmer’s Gazette would bring her trouble – and she was right. When the darkly handsome, arrogantly charming Lazarus Kane shows up on her doorstep, the nosy residents of Sydney Dovetale are thrown into a gossiping tizzy. After all, it’s common knowledge that Sophie is a young lady In Need of Firmer Direction. But even Sophie isn’t so scandalous as to marry a complete stranger…is she?Seeks Handsome Stranger
Lazarus Kane has been searching for Sophie half of his life. She may not remember him, but he could never forget her. The night he first laid eyes on his wayward angle is burned into his memory, but the past is a dangerous thing. And it’s best if his remains secret if he wants to tempt Sophie with…
The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine is the first book that I’ve read by Jayne Fresina. I found this book to be delightful, both in it’s premise and it’s storytelling.
Miss Sophie Valentine is a woman who chose to jump off a wall into the gardens to escape rather than accept a marriage proposal from a man who wanted to pay more attention to the maids than her. This has led her to the live she currently lives, living with her family and her aunt as an on the shelf spinster. She is constantly at odds with her nasty pig of a sister-in-law and is prone to outbursts of behaviour that get her in trouble. Her latest spontaneous action is to place a want ad for a husband in the Farmer’s Gazette which brings a stranger, and potential husband to the door. What she doesn’t know is that Lazarus, the stranger, actually knows her from her jump off the wall.
This book has a whole host of delightful characters. The pompous brother who thinks he knows it all, and is entitled to it all, even though he can’t afford it all. The corpulent sister-in-law, Lavinia, is determined to see herself as hard-done-by and deprived all necessities. The aunt, who has a scandalous past, and is determined that Sophie not have a boring life of duty is full os surprises. Sophie, although she is overly spontaneous, is determined to have a husband, even if she needs to advertise for one. Her almost first fiance, James, feels that he is entitled to have his cake and eat it too. Finally Lazarus, who through a stroke of luck, finds himself in a position to woo the woman he has always dreamed of wedding.
This book is a sweet love story. It is the story of two people who figure out how they fit together, how they will fit their loves together, and most importantly, what is the most important thing in life. Love.
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Today we are going to talk about one book in a 3 book series that have been written by Diane Griffin. Diane has a security company http://securityfirstassociates.com and she has put together three books in her Protecting Your Teen Series. I’ve had the opportunity to read the one about Facebook and I’m going to share my thoughts. First, read through the collection of blurbs to see if one of these books applies to you. Interesting stuff!
Safe Text: Protecting Your Teen from the Dangers of Texting by Diane Griffin
This is the first book in a series to help parents protect their teens from the dangers of technology and the Internet. Not only does the book describe the dangers and legal implications of texting, but also gives tools and information how to dialog with teens about the dangers of texting. This is a very practical book. Also by May, there will be a project to go with the book on Diane’s website that is based on best practices in education to help teens understand the dangers and how to deal with them. This project will include lesson plans for teachers and parents who home school their teens based on national educational standards and learning targets.
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Social Media Secrets Every Parent of College Bound Teens Must Know by Diane Griffin
Have a teen planning to go to college? This is the book for you. It is a book to help parents and teens use Social Media to help the student get into college and describes the traps that might have an adverse effect on admittance into a college of choice. The most popular social media sites are described as well as some newer sites that a becoming more popular. This is a must have book if you want to help your teen capture an advantage in being accepted to the college of their choice.
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Protecting Your Teens on Facebook by Diane Griffin
This is the second book in a series of books to help parents protect their teens from the dangers of the Internet, texting, and social media sites. This book is about Facebook. Not only does it spell out the dangers of Facebook for teens but also the positives. It describes the problems and actually tells parents what to do about them. The book gives links to a good amount of useful resources.
Today we are going to talk about the book Protecting Your Teens on Facebook. As you can see from the blurb above, this book is meant to be a short introduction to Facebook, for the non-user, or a refresher for those casual users. The author points out that since the vast majority of teens are on Facebook, refusing access to your teen would be a socially isolating action. It is better to understand Facebook, and approach your teen’s access with an educated point of view. An interesting quote that I found illustrates an key point:
” While Facebook implements several safeguards on an ongoing basis to protect its members…especially teen members…it isin’t practical to think that they are going to be able to elimiated any possiblity of harmful actions by others. There are certain responsibilities that you and your teens have to ensure they have a safe, positive experience.”
Although most readers of this blog will likely be familiar with Facebook, I think that it is important to look at it from a security expert’s point of view. This book provides a calm view of the potential dangers as well as the positive aspects of this world changing social media! At 40 pages, this book is a quick read, but a valuable resources for parents of teens or any child looking to have more access on Facebook!
Bio: Diane Griffin is the founder and President of Security First & Associates. Ms. Griffin works with a variety of clients throughout the Security industry. Ms. Griffin has also worked in a wide array of fields to include training, facilitation, communications, human resources and industrial security management. Diane’s expertise in the security field and her experience as an author of books on Security Clearances helped her make a natural transition to security issues for teens and their parents.
According to Ms. Griffin, Social Media is the way to communicate with teenagers today. Parents have a lot to learn when it comes to the behaviors of their children online. To help parents and teachers understand today’s teenager, Diane Griffin has written several books on the topic of Social Media and your teens. She also has a helpful blog that gives good advice about the subject and valuable resources for parents and teens on the subject of internet and phone safety on her site http://www.protectyourteens.com. Take advantage of a security expert to help you manage this important process in your child’s life.
Related articles
- Social Media Secrets by Diane Griffin (getreadingnow.org)
- Protecting Your Teen from the Dangers of Texting by Diane Griffin (getreadingnow.org)
- Teen girl sues over Facebook bullying – Cyber bullying cases up to the next level (4b2012.wordpress.com)
- Watching What You Say Online: Teaching Social Media Circumspection (blogher.com)
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Today is a review for a book that I really, really liked! Lord Midnight is written by Donna Cummings. She visited the blog to talk about highwaymen in Historical Romance. For a link to this post, see the bottom of this post. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this great story!
Lord Midnight by Donna Cummings
ASIN: B006PG53U0
Published: Dec 22, 2011
Source: I received a copy of this book from the author to read and review
GABRIEL DeVAULT, a dashing highwayman, lives to avenge himself against the uncle who stole his title and tried to kill him as a child. One night’s robbery yields unexpected riches when his uncle’s spirited bride-to-be falls into Gabriel’s arms. Now his plans for vengeance include seduction of the innocent miss, in the home that once was his own.
MARISA DUNSMORE is blackmailed into wedding the cold and calculating Edmund DeVault, Lord Westbrook, to protect her beloved aunt. When her attempts to escape the upcoming marriage fail, she turns to the man she knows as Lord Midnight, entrusting him with her love, and her future.
Soon Gabriel must choose: saving the woman who stole his heart, or destroying the man who stole his life.
So….Where to start with this book??? Some time ago I received an email from Donna asking me if she could do a guest post. I said sure and when she suggested writing on sexy highwaymen, I thought – sure thing, we don’t have enough sexy highwaymen in regency novels! I was so intrigued by her guest post that I had to move up Lord Midnight to the top of my TBR pile so that I could get to it faster. Just look at that cover! Isn’t it just stunning? This book just had to be read!!
Lord Midnight is Gabriel DeVault, the proper Lord Westbrook – the only problem is that he’s supposed to be dead because Edmund, the current Lord Westbrook strangled him so that he could steal the title. Guess he should have done a better job at the strangling part…..Gabriel was saved by a family retainer and has been living a life in the shadows ever since as part of a band of highwaymen. Now that he is older, Gabriel is the leader and is well known for his gallantry to those that he robs. He’s just bidding his time, waiting for the perfect time to reclaim his title from his nasty uncle. This timetable is stepped up when one of the coaches that he robs contains the soon-to-be bride of his uncle’s. He can’t let his uncle marry her! And the story continues from there.
Gabriel or Lord Midnight, as Marisa calls him, is a dashing fellow! He slips in and out of his former house to visit Marisa during the night. Marisa is being coerced to marry Edmund and looks at every opportunity to escape not only the house, but her marriage.
I loved this book – it has a dashing highwayman, an evil uncle with a nefarious plot, a beautiful damsel that needs rescuing….sort of, and a whole host of colorful characters. This book is written in such a fashion as to keep the reader turning the pages – long into the wee hours to finish! Just a great, great story. “Grab Lord Midnight and be prepared for a fun historical romp. It has all the ingredients needed: a damsel in distress, a hero disguised as a villain, and a villain disguised as an honorable man; love, passion and misunderstandings to overcome.” – Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
I wanted to include an excerpt from this book to give you an idea of what it is like! I’ve included the follow, which is actually an excerpt from Ms Cummings’ guest post! Enjoy!
Here’s a scene where the heroine, Marisa, has had to decide quickly who is villainous, and which man she can actually trust. She’s just gotten Edmund to leave her bedchamber before he could discover Gabriel was hidden in her bed:
She whirled around at the sound of the laughter emanating from her bedcovers. The interloper lounged on her bed, his head resting on one upraised hand. Her knees nearly buckled from his heart-melting smile; the devilish blue eyes peering at her left her unaccountably breathless.
She could only assume her reaction was the aftermath of her experiences, first at seeing the highwayman in her bedchamber, followed by Edmund’s unwelcome visit. Yet she had never responded to fear in this fashion, and it made her waspish.
“What do you think you were doing?”
“Hmm.” He tossed the entangling bedcovers aside. “I think—no, I’m fairly certain on this point—I was nibbling on your delectable skin.”
Her stomach plummeted, causing a tingling in regions of her body that seemed only remotely connected. How did he manage to cause such a wealth of unfamiliar sensations? Edmund had never incited such responses.
“You might have given yourself away,” she chided.
“No, my sweet, you would have given me away.”
“And well I should have,” she retorted, knowing she was unable to do so. “It took all I possessed to retain my composure.”
“A most admirable feat,” he said as he approached her. “I must offer my abiding gratitude for your brave deed.”
Marisa’s gaze roamed the wickedly handsome man. He towered over her, yet not in the menacing fashion Edmund did. His smile was not a dastardly one, not with that dimple. And Marisa was certain real villains did not possess such startling white teeth.
Would a genuine scoundrel be the cause for the fluttering in her stomach, that unsettling feeling that something momentous was about to occur?
“Have you a weapon?”
His lips twitched as he reached into his boot. “I have this wee pistol, but in my profession, it is more for show than to do real harm.”
Marisa watched as he replaced the gun.
“I do not possess the nerve to place the loaded thing into my boot, for I am dashed fond of my toes.” His theatrical grimace made Marisa laugh. “And you could be safe in the next shire in the time it would take for me to ready the shot.”
Marisa sighed.
“Are you frightened of me, angel?” He lifted one of her curls with his index finger.
“Not of you, no. Had I known of the pistol’s proximity earlier, however, I might have prevailed on you to dispatch my betrothed.”
He raised his eyebrows in an exaggerated fashion. “A bloodthirsty lass. Perhaps it is I who should be frightened of you.”
Marisa laughed aloud. “I am the spawn of the devil. Or so Father has told me time and again. Unfortunately I cannot convince my father that the commotion attributed to me is not my fault, at least not due to genuine sinfulness.”
“Indeed.” He twisted her blonde curl about his finger, as spellbound as he had been during the robbery. “Perhaps it is because you are afflicted with other character defects as well.”
“I will admit that my quest for knowledge has often led me down paths avoided by the fainthearted.” Her curiosity could not be contained a moment longer. “Why are you here? Should you not be on the roadways?”
“I am a different sort of highwayman,” he answered.
“Then you could take me with you! I could ride with you, just until I am so far away from here that Lord Westbrook is unable to find me. You would not need to concern yourself with me any further.”
“It grieves me to refuse such a delightful invitation, but I fear I must.”
“Why? I shall be no trouble. And I shall not sound the alarm against you. I have proven myself in that regard already. Twice in fact.”
He studied her for several long moments. Hope and fear mingled together in those long moments of indecision.
He did not frighten her. Perhaps it was because her instincts assured her she would come to no harm with this man. He had had numerous opportunities, when he had stopped her carriage, and again when he had entered her bedchamber. Yet he had not availed himself of any, even when she was at the most vulnerable.
In truth she viewed him as an ally, unlike her traitorous brother. She could not pass up this chance to flee, to rescue Aunt Althea from the dire fate that awaited her if Marisa were to fail. It was not likely the highwayman would continue to appear each time she sent a prayer heavenward, asking for deliverance, so she had to avail herself of this opportunity.
At last he shook his head. “I cannot bring you with me. It is much too dangerous.”
“It will not be dangerous, I assure you. I am an excellent horsewoman.”
“It is dangerous for me as well,” he said. “I have already tempted Fate more than is wise this evening. I must leave, and I must leave you behind.”
“Of course,” Marisa said, ducking her head, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
What had she been thinking? It had been a reckless notion, one she would have left unexpressed were it not for the need to take quick action. She was grateful he was a highwayman, and thus possessed of the chivalry to deny such a wild request.
Doesn’t this sound great? Go get a copy and take home a dashing highwayman for yourself!
Related articles
- Celebration of Highwaymen! Guest Post & Giveaway by Donna Cummings (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
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