Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Today we are welcoming author Bev Irwin to the blog. Bev also writes as Kendra James and she’s here to talk to us about her books! Sit back and enjoy learning about this Canadian author!
Barb – Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing.
Bev – Hello and happy Easter Monday. This is Bev Irwin (aka Kendra James) waving from London, Ontario. Thank you Barb for inviting me to Sugarbeats Books.
A bit about me? Well, I’ve had one wonderful career as a registered nurse working in many areas of nursing, another career as a mother of three wonderful, now adult children. Thank God we all made it through alive and relatively unscathed. Another career was as a sales representative. Now I am hoping to succeed at the career that has taken a backseat. That is my writing career. How long has that been on the back-burner? Forever.
The writing bug bit me early in life. A poem I wrote in grade three was published. After that, I wrote poetry for years that I kept hidden away. In my late twenties I finally shared some and even found the courage to enter some contests and had several published in anthologies. Can you make a career of writing poetry? Only in your dreams.
When I broke my hand getting a horse on a trailer, I think God said. “Here, I’m giving you some time to develop that writing talent I gave you.”
So I a started a real novel. It was a romance I named CITY SLICKER. It wrote about 20,000 words and sent it off for a critique. Not a good idea. I should have finished the whole thing and then sent it off. I should have joined a writing group. I should have taken lots of writing courses. I should have entered writing contests. I have taken care of the should’s and now it is paying off. CITY SLICKER remains a WIP. I will publish it one day.
So that’s my life now, writing, rewriting, editing. But I still find time to spend with my three cats, my three children, and my wonderful granddaughter, Jasmine, and work part-time with my nursing.
Barb - What is your favorite part of writing?
Bev – Starting a new project. It is always so exciting to play with a new idea or meet new friends that audition for a part in the book.
Barb – What part of writing do you find the most challenging?
Bev – Keeping at it and finishing. There is always a new idea that wants to draw me away.
Barb – Tell us a bit about your soon to be released – Ghostly Justice.
Bev – Fifteen-year-old Daria Brennan doesn’t want to hear people’s thoughts. She doesn’t want to see ghosts—or talk to dead people. And she definitely doesn’t want to help solve a forty-year old murder.
But Amanda wants revenge, and Daria is the first human contact she’s had since the day she died. Now the killer is after Daria and her friends. Can they solve Amanda’s murder before becoming his next victims?
Barb – What challenges did you face bringing this book to market, if any.
Bev – Well, as a new author starting out, it is always hard to get any one to look at your work. So many rejections. But now it has found a great home. A major challenge with any youth or children’s novel is getting the ‘voice’ right. It’s been a long time since I was a teenager. So after I had written the book, I had a couple of teens read it an ‘teen’ down the voice.
Barb – Do you have a favorite character in Ghostly Justice?
Bev – I love my ghost, Amanda. Despite being a tragic figure, I mean who isn’t tragic when they’re dead, she’s stubborn, spunky, and has a sense of humor. She wants revenge but being dead has its drawbacks. No one has been able to see or hear her since the day she died. That is until Daria walks by the house. She suddenly feels a jolt of electricity and it is like ‘her heart almost starts to beat again.”
Barb – When you write, do you start with an outline, or do you let the characters take the story away?!
Bev – Oh, I wish I could outline. I am trying to, really I am. It would be so much easier, like a map that helps you know where you are going. Mostly, I think of a scene and start writing something. I use Scrivener for Mac and it is great as I can give a scene a heading, write a few words or a whole scene.
I do a lot of scribbling on pieces of papers, or small notebooks so I won’t forget any great ideas for a scene, or something about the characters, or ‘what if’s’ for plots.
Usually a idea of plot comes and as it festers in the back of my brain, characters come and audition for their parts.
Barb – What is your favorite all time book – or is there more than one?
Bev – I’ve been an avid reader since I was a young child and it is so hard to pick out one. Anything by Taylor Caldwell, like WICKED ANGEL, or BRIGHT FLOWS THE RIVER. Also MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Piccoult. Did anybody see that ending coming?
Barb – Where can your fans keep in touch with you?
Bev – Fans can leave me a comment at www.bevirwin.com
Barb – What do you have in the works, and when can your fans expect your next book?
Bev – MISSING CLAYTON, a woman’s suspense, is coming out in June with Black Opal 
Books. One of my own favorites of my books, LOL.
I have also been offered another contract with Black Opal for WITHOUT CONSENT, a medical/police thriller. Much more graphic than my other books, reader be ware. As a registered nurse I like to add a medical touch when I can.
Barb – Do you have anything else you’d like to add?
Bev – To all aspiring authors, keep writing, keep churning out those pages, smother your inner critic, let the words loose. Reading something by Natalie Goldberg, or Annie Dillard.
One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time.
Annie Dillard – in her book The Writing Life
~~
Let the words flow and let the inner gold come out.
Buy writing books (my shelves are full of them), take writing courses, join critique groups. My warning on critique groups is to start off with gentle ones, where everyone is supportive. As you advance with your writing and your writing improves, you will need to move to a harsher critiquing group. This is necessary if you want your writing to improve but hopefully by that time your writing will be a higher quality and you will have developed the broader shoulders it takes to: listen without justifying, accepting that maybe they have a point, and then taking their advice, sitting on it, letting it simmer, and then going back and seeing your piece with new eyes and deciding what advice is really important to make your piece the best it can be.
Then when you have it the ‘best it can be,’ take a big breath and send it out there and start working on something else. But keep your shoulders broad, as there will still be rejections.
For myself, I have been writing for several years and now that I finally have an editor, two in fact, that believe in my work, I have novels to send them and several more ‘WIP’s’ (works in progress) that are ready to be finished off and find a home.
I kept writing, learning, revising, submitting. One book that Mills and Boon almost accepted is now out there with another publisher. It is an ebook but will be out in print later this year with a much more gorgeous cover than I ever would have gotten from the medical line at Mills and Boon, and now, the shelf life is unlimited.
This is GHOSTLY JUSTICE COMING April 14TH!!!!
Here is an excerpt
PROLOGUE
AMANDA
After all these years, I could finally feel something. It was as if a jolt of electricity surged through me, and my heart almost began to beat again.
At first, I didn’t know what caused it. I only knew an undeniable force drew me to my bedroom window. With each step, the tingle of fingernails tracking down my spine increased. The thought passed through me, maybe I should be afraid. But really, what was there to be afraid of? It couldn’t get worse. What’s worse than being dead?
I floated toward the window. Two girls were walking in front of the house. They looked about my age, maybe younger – fifteen, sixteen. I was drawn to the one with the dark curly hair. Her friend called her Daria. I reached out my hand, called her name. She looked up at the window. She sensed me. I knew it. I saw her shudder, but she kept walking.
I watched until they turned the corner at Colburn Street. Then the energy vanished and a profound sadness filled me. Even playing the piano held no joy that day.
I have to talk to her. But how?
I gave up trying to contact the living years ago. It became so tiresome—appearing in front of them, touching them, talking to them, yet never being noticed.
Until now.
Every day, I watch for her. Every day, I try to make contact. Every day I plead for her to look up at my window again. Two weeks have passed now. And every day, she hurries past; her gaze focused on the street ahead.
I must talk to her.
Daria is the first person I’ve been able to communicate with since the day I was murdered.
And here are pre pub blurbs
KUDOS for Ghostly Justice
Ghostly Justice by Bev Irwin is one of those books that can easily span the bridge between YA and adult fiction. Though the characters are teenagers and still in high school, like Harry Potter and Twilight, the story is fascinating enough to appeal to much broader audiences. Our heroine, Daria, is young, but she’s also spunky, creative, clever, and reluctantly courageous—my favorite kind of gal. And she is most definitely not pleased when she discovers that she is psychic and can talk to ghosts. Well, one ghost, at least…Irwin has added a well-rounded cast of secondary characters to help Daria in her quest, and together with a strong plot, excellent dialogue and a few surprises along the way, they all combine to make this book a very enjoyable read. – Taylor, Reviewer
Ghostly Justice was not quite what I expected when I learned it was YA. Even though the characters are teens, the subject matter—some of it anyway—was very adult. However, Bev Irwin seems to be a talented author and handled the sensitive issues with the same aplomb with which she did the scenes where her teenage characters break into an abandoned house. Daria, our very reluctant heroine, doesn’t want to be special. She especially doesn’t want to talk to dead people or to hear her best friend’s thoughts. She wants to keep clear of her mom’s creepy boyfriend, snag a hot, sexy boyfriend of her own—who doesn’t—and to be left in peace…The other characters in the book are equally well-developed and three-dimensional, the plot has some very nice twists and turns, and Irwin’s writing is superb. – Regan, Reviewer
GHOSTLY JUSTICE will be available on April 14th!!!!
www.blackopalbooks.com
www.soulmatepublishing.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.bevirwin.com
Also coming from Black Opal Books in June.
Blurb: MISSING CLAYTON
Where is Clayton? There is no answer when Jenny calls. The sandbox is empty, the backyard is empty, the gate is open, where is her six-year old son. Will she be able to find him in time?
MISSING CLAYTON came third in the Gateway to the Best in the Suspense category, and second in the TARA for Women’s Fiction.
Other books by Bev Irwin writing as Kendra James?
Available from
www.kendrajames.net
www.soulmatepublishing.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
Thank you everyone for coming to see me today. Happy Easter Monday!
I’d like to thank Bev for dropping by and sharing! It’s always nice to have a fellow Canadian visit the blog!
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming Nana Malone to the blog. She is the author of several books, but the one we will be talking about today is Reluctant Protector. She’s answered some questions for me and we will be learning more about her and her writing. I’ve included a blurb at the end so you can see if this book is for you. Enjoy!
Barb – Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing.
Nana – My writing career started with Bridget…Jones that is. I was in New York hating pretty much every aspect of my PR job but the writing when I picked up Bridget Jones’s Diary from the library. After I stayed up all night to finish it, I wished I could do that, put words to paper and make people laugh or cry or cringe. Then I thought, why not. It took me a little while but I published my first novel in 2010 with The Wild Rose Press. I just published my latest novel, Reluctant Protector in December.
When I’m not writing, I’m a hyper-organized project manger who drives my husband, daughter and Scottish Terrier crazy with my lists and plans.
Barb – What is your favorite part of writing?
Nana – The story. Before I ever write a word, the characters become part of me. They feel like friends. It’s the real thrill of writing for me.
Barb – What part of writing do you find the most challenging?
Nana – Oh God. The edits by far. By the time I write the story, I’m so connected to the characters, I’m loathe to change a word. But at the end of the day I want a great product so I throw myself into them.
Barb – Tell us a bit about your new release – Reluctant Protector.
Nana - Reluctant Protector is the first in a series of Superhero Romances.
For five years, Cassie Reeser has been her brother’s personal lab rat. Peter’s experiments have made her a stronger, faster, better human. And she’s not the only one. For five years, escape has eluded her. Until now.
Seth Adams is used to sifting through lies to find the truth. As a former war correspondent he knows what evils lurk in the world. When he finds Cassie hiding out in his car trunk, her story sounds like a fantastical dream. But, before long, he witnesses firsthand the evil she’s running from.
Barb – This book is listed as a “superhero romance”. Can you please explain what you mean by that label?
Nana – Well, I love the idea of love, so romance is where it’s at for me. I love nothing more than a happy ending. And god, I’ve dreamt of having super powers. The ability to fly or move things by mere thought. Imagine that. Now imagine you have the responsibility to do good, or evil…or at least not do things for personal gain. Lol.
For a superhero romance I wanted to explore a different way of getting superpowers. I wanted to look at the emotional changes normal human beings would have to go through to accept such a drastic change. It’s not all fun and willing money out of a bank vault. Add to that a relationship development and I think it’s a compelling story.
Barb – What challenges did you face bringing this book to market, if any.
Nana – Well for starters, this isn’t really a genre, so trying to figure out how to categorize is a challenge within itself. Then add that it’s something unexpected, and sometimes it’s a hard sell.
Barb – Do you have a favorite character in Reluctant Protector?
Nana – God, I love Seth. He’s sexy and fun, and sarcastic, but charming. He was fun to write.
Barb – When you write, do you start with an outline, or do you let the characters take the story away?!
Nana – Well, the very first novel I ever wrote took me eight years to complete. I had no idea where I was going and wrote, then rewrote to fix things. It was a mess. And given my hyper organized nature, I thought a hyper organized outline was the answer. My first published novel took a year. I’ve since learned that I really prefer a blend. A very skeletal outline, then I just go. It works for me.
Barb – What is your favorite all time book – or is there more than one?
Nana – OMG, you can’t ask a writer that question! Okay, if I must then it’s a toss up between Pride and Prejudice and To Kill a Mockingbird. I read each of those at least once a year.
Barb – Where can your fans keep in touch with you?
Nana – All kinds of places 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nanamalone
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nanamalone
My website: www.nanamalone.com
And I love to get fan mail: nana@nanamaloneromance.com
Barb – What do you have in the works, and when can your fans expect your next book?
Nana – Funny you should ask that J My next novel, titled Sexy in Stilettos is a fun, flirty contemporary and will be available this April. The sequel to Reluctant Protector, Forsaken Protector, will be available in the early part of summer.
Barb – Do you have anything else you’d like to add?
Nana – Besides, thank you for having me? I’m really excited about my writing journey this year and I hope some of your blog followers join me on the journey.
I’d like to thank Nana for dropping by and sharing about this interesting book! Keep reading and see if this is something that might appeal to you. Drop by Nana’s site and say hi or follower her on Twitter!
Bio: My love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense I borrowed from my cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. I’ve been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With my overactive imagination, and channeling my inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before I started creating my own characters.
Waiting for my chance at a job as a ninja assassin, I, meantime work out my drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as I thinks I am. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find me acting out scenes for hubby and puppy while catching up on my favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.
Title: Reluctant Protector
Genre: Superhero Romance (So Paranormal elements and erotica)
Author Name: Nana Malone
Book Blurb:
For five years, Cassie Reeser has been her brother’s personal lab rat. Peter’s experiments have made her a stronger, faster, better human. And she’s not the only one – he’s been experimenting on others as well. For five years, escape has eluded her. Until now. When she finds out he plans to sell her as a human weapon she knows it’s now or never. To make her escape she’ll sacrifice family bonds and leave behind the one person who’s ever helped her. Cassie’s learned to shrink from kindness and to never trust anyone. She knows the day Peter finally captures her will be the day she dies. To elude her brother and save the others, she’ll have to risk her body and her heart. What she doesn’t expect is a chance at a normal life.
Seth Adams is used to sifting through lies to find the truth. As a former war correspondent he knows what evils lurk in the world. When he finds Cassie hiding out in his car trunk, her story sounds like a fantastical dream. But, before long, he witnesses firsthand what she’s talking about when they’re attacked by a group of Peter’s soldiers. As a result, he goes through his own transformation into a super human and realizes the extent of what Cassie is running from. Cassie might not think she needs his protection, but he’ll die before he lets her brother have her back.
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming author Gail DeYoung to the blog. She is a multipublished author of some nice steamy stories! Today she is going to entertain us with her thoughts on her two favorite things!
Guest Post and Giveaway with Gail DeYoung,
Author of “Decadent Delights”
Chocolate and Sex – My Two Favorite Things
Writers are often told, “Write what you know.” That advice makes a lot of sense. When you write about a topic you know, you draw upon your own experience and knowledge of that topic to make the story believable and interesting. However, that doesn’t rule out the requirement to do research. There’s always more information that can be discovered about most any topic, as long as one is willing to go that extra mile.
As a “romantica” author, I get offers from my boyfriend to “act out” sex scenes — all in the name of research, of course — to make sure things work the way I wrote them. During the first draft of “Decadent Delights”, I accepted his offer. I actually thought it might be interesting to have the heroine blindfold the hero and drizzle chocolate on his chest so she could lick it off. I went a little further with my boyfriend and tied his hands behind his back as well as his ankles. Unfortunately, he lost his balance while I licked the chocolate off of him, and he fell and hit his head. Afterward, we had a good laugh about it, but at the time, it ruined the mood. It made me rethink that scene, which I eventually deleted from the book.
Readers like their fantasy based on reality. That is why it helps to have a victim — I mean partner — who is willing to put up with acting out scenes in order to ensure one hasn’t strayed too far in the “suspension of disbelief”. Most important is that the person helping with the research should have a good sense of humor. Thanks to my boyfriend’s help with research, I have revised several stories.
I imagine others have had similar experiences. I’d love to hear what they did to test the validity of actions scenes in their stories.
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DECADENT DELIGHTS
ISBN 9781419962899
PUBLISHER: Ellora’s Cave
Released: September 14, 2011
Chocolate and sex—two of life’s most decadent pleasures—are the marketing tools Dana Evans uses to lure customers to her erotic candy store. Her sexy dancing gets her customers hot and bothered for her confections and Trevor Stanton, owner of Trevor’s Treasures, realizes he’d rather be on her side than competing against her. He pursues her with wit, charm and an offer to model nude for one of her statues.
Dana can’t believe her luck when she discovers the hunky ex-model has an identical twin brother. Little does she know that her strong attraction to Trevor will cause conflict between the two brothers, especially because she wants both of them to model nude for her.
When the competition gets hot, Dana is caught in the middle. What’s a girl to do?
Snippet from “Decadent Delights”
The sign on the door to Decadent Delights read, “Mature audiences only. Anyone under eighteen not allowed.”
“What the…” Trevor Stanford shook his head. A candy shop with a disclaimer—well, that was a first!
The crowd of customers surrounding him pressed close together as the store owner unlocked the latch on the front door. Like a herd of wild animals, they burst into the interior of the shop, propelling him along with them. He’d never seen such a frenzy at a candy store’s Grand Opening. But the moment he entered the interior, he understood their craze. It smelled like chocolate heaven and was decorated like a sex addict’s dream. As if that wasn’t enough to set their mood, Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love played in the background.
Every aisle had a unique array of candies crafted into sexy shapes or what could only be described as toys for the uninhibited. He stopped by one display of red licorice straws fashioned into whips of varying shapes and sizes. Looming above the display was a chocolate sculpture of a perfectly round behind. His eyebrows rose appreciatively.
“Welcome y’all! I’m Dana, owner of Decadent Delights. Thank you for coming to the store’s Grand Opening.” The petite blonde stood upon a raised platform next to a cellophane-covered chocolate statue of a well-endowed male figure.
“I’d like to introduce you to David.” She walked slowly around the life-size confection, her painted fingernails scraping along the sculpted muscles of his chest and over his biceps. “Isn’t he yummy?”
In sync with the music, the store owner sensuously moved her lower body against the chocolate statue with a slow, deliberate rotation of her hips, a look of pure ecstasy on her face. Her white short-shorts barely covered her bottom when she bent forward to rub against him and the buttons holding her blouse together strained across her generous bosom.
“Did I mention he’s good enough to eat? He’s made of hollow milk chocolate. Mmm.” She wrapped her full lips around her pointer finger and sucked it all the way into her mouth with agonizing slowness, then dragged it back out, not once, but twice. Her eyelids drifted closed and a smile of deep satisfaction crossed her lips.
Trevor couldn’t stop watching. He was hooked, just like the rest of the crowd. This was better than a scene out of a strip club show. The woman made all the rest look like a bunch of amateurs.
She walked behind the statue and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her hands moved steadily down his abdomen and circled the cock. Once she had him in her grip, she peeked around him, a sinful smile lifting the corner of her mouth.
“If he’s too big for you to handle,” she winked at her audience, “you can also just buy your favorite parts, like this one.”
The audience clapped and whistled.
Trevor swallowed hard. With her every stroke of her fingertips over the statue’s cock and balls, the tension in his body wound a little tighter. Perspiration dotted his upper lip.
God, she’s good. So very good.
His cock twitched and swelled. Damn! It was difficult enough to concentrate on his reason for visiting Decadent Delights without the added distraction of its owner putting on an outrageously erotic show. Her mischievous behavior, the sparkle in her blue eyes and her sexy little smirk gave him the impression that doing it in front of an audience was an everyday occurrence for her.
She stepped down from the stage and smiled at her customers while tying an apron around her waist.
“Join me for a tour of the store and I’ll introduce you to my collection of naughty confections.”
The perky blonde tossed a smile over her shoulder as she led the way. Damn if she wasn’t dancing down the aisles and the women, caught up in her enthusiasm, were joining her! The way she mesmerized the crowd reminded him of the Pied Piper with women parading behind her. Trevor wanted to get closer, but his every move was blocked.
“Samples anyone?” He heard her lilting voice above the music. Once again, the crush of bodies overwhelmed him. This time, instead of participating in the rush, he stepped back to lean against a wall so he could observe the action.
The women bit into the candy and moaned. Trevor’s brow furled. Could the chocolate really be that good? After all, it was just candy, wasn’t it? Perhaps he needed a closer inspection of the merchandise.
Trevor had come to the Grand Opening because the owner’s flyer had piqued his interest. Now he understood why she was the talk of the town.
The audience’s reaction made him want to know a lot more about his newest competitor. Was the novelty of this store something that would wear off? Or did she truly have the “it” factor that could claim his customers forever?
Bio: Gail DeYoung works as an Administrative Assistant during the day and a romance author at night. Needless to say, her night job is much more exciting. She resides in Florida, which has inspired many of her books. You can find her on Twitter as AuthorGail, visit her website, www.gaildeyoung.com, or check out her blog at www.authorgaildeyoung.blogspot.com
Her books are available from Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble as well as many other fine e-tailers.
I’d like to thank Gail for dropping by and sharing! Be sure to check out her books and pick up a copy of one that interests you!
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Welcome also to Series Sunday!
Series Sundays is the day when I celebrate books written in series. For the past few weeks I have been posting reviews for Sabrina Jeffries‘ latest series – The Hellions of Halstead Hall. This series started quite some time ago – don’t we always wish that our favorite authors could write faster – and publishers publish books faster – anyways, it is nearing an end. Today I’m posting my thoughts on the 4th book in this 5 book series. I have to admit, I’ve finished the 5 th book – I had to haunt the bookstore on release day – but that’s another story The 5th book, as you’ll find out next week is a wonderful conclusion to this latest series.
Today’s topic is Gabe – the youngest male in this interesting group of siblings – and the woman who can challenge him! Enjoy!
To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries
ISBN: 978-1-4516-4240-7
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
Release: 2011
Source: I purchased a copy of this book to read and review
To Fulfill his grandmother’s ultimatum, Lord Gabriel Sharpe pursues a spitfire he believes desperately need him. Then the tables are turned….
Like everything daredevil Gabe Sharpe does, wooing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother, Roger died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia had yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion called the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal! Gabe knows Virginia is in dire financial straits – so why not marry her and solve both of their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. And when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger’s death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.
To Wed a Wild Lord is the fourth book in Sabrina Jeffries’s The Hellions of Halstead Hall series. This series is about a group of siblings who lost both of their parents in what was assumed to be a murder/suicide many years ago. These siblings – the Sharpe siblings were brought up by their maternal grandmother – a brewer and a commoner. Hetty Plumtree, the grandmother is getting on in years and none of her grandchildren show any signs of settling down and providing her with grandchildren. She decides to take matters into her own hands and announces that none of her grandchildren will get a penny of her considerable estate if they don’t ALL marry within the year.
To not giveaway any of the details of this delightful series, we have had the pleasure of reading the stories of 3 of the siblings, and there are two more to go. To Wed a Wild Lord is the story of Gabe, the youngest of the boys. He is a hellion in his own right, gambling and horse-racing to keep him in pocket cash. One unfortunate accident several years ago saw the death of his friend, Roger Waverly during one of these races. Since then, Gabe doesn’t seen to care if he lives or dies and races one risky race after another to the extent that he is referred to as the “Angel of Death”. When he is challenged to a race by Virginia Waverly, Roger’s sister, he sees a solution to the ultimatum from his grandmother. He figures if he courts and marries Virginia, he provides for her financially because her brother can no longer, and he makes his grandmother happy. Convincing Virginia to marry the man she holds responsible for her brother’s death is a stretch, but Gabe is up to the task.
I found this book to be another delightful installment in the story of the Sharpe siblings. Starting with the first book, the story of the parent’s supposed murder/suicide starts to be investigated and the information that is uncovered in this book takes us one step closer to finding out the truth. There are alot of the aspects of the story that weave themselves through each part of this series. I’m not certain each book could be read as a stand-alone. Read in order, the books form a cohesive group. I like the different view of the siblings in this book. I found this book somewhat darker than the rest, I think because of Gabe’s fatalistic attitude. Sabrina Jeffries does such a wonderful job of creating characters. Each book of her’s allows us insight into a new set of main characters as well as a continuing look at the characters that have already been talked about. What was particularly interesting is that Hetty gets a potential love interest in this book. I’m looking forward to reading more about that hopefully in Celia’s story which is due in the spring.
Sabrina Jeffries has the ability to create a world in which the reader immerses themselves and just experiences that story as it is unfolded before them. Time passes without notice, and the story is weaved like a tapestry with all the connecting threads.
Although I am a long time lover of Ms. Jeffries work and quite biased, I am really enjoying this latest series, and recommend it highly! I’m looking forward to Celia’s story!
Related articles
- Series Sunday – How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
- Series Sunday – Review of The Truth of Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
- Series Sunday – Review – A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries (sugarbeatsbooks.com)
- TO WED A WILD LORD by Sabrina Jeffries…review…. (mybookaddictionreviews.wordpress.com)
- Sabrina Jeffries: The French Maid (anneglover.wordpress.com)
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Today we are celebrating the success of Mancode: Exposed by my friend Rachel Thompson. At the bottom of this post, please find my thoughts on this great book!
Why is today different than any other day? 
It’s not, really. After all, it is only Tuesday (hey, at least it’s not Monday so there’s that).
However, today is a big deal for this chick, self-published author and social media consultant you may or may not have heard of, Rachel Thompson. People like to give her lots of nicknames, but mostly she goes by RachelintheOC, aka the Queen of Snark and oh, don’t forget BadRedhead. #asif
Here are a few facts about this fiery spitfire (and we’ll get to the BIG deal in a minute):
- Her first book, A Walk In The Snark, an essay collection based on her popular blog RachelintheOC.com, hit #1 on the Kindle Motherhood list last fall and has become a mainstay, beating out the likes of (ahem, celebrity blondies) Tori Spelling and Jenny McCarthy. This book covers men, women, and relationships, but also more poignant topics like loss and grief.
- Her second book, The Mancode: Exposed, released in December, hit #1 on multiple lists (Motherhood, Parenting and Family, Parenting and Relationships) as well as placing in the overall Amazon Top 100 in January – within its first month of release! This book is all-out humor: men (Mancode), women (Chickspeak), love, relationships, sex, and of course, chocolate.
- Rachel is a cofounder of the popular group, the Indie Book Collective. While no longer an active member, she volunteered her time helping hundreds of writers learn the ins and outs of book promotion and social media for over a year and cowrote Dollars and Sense: The Definitive Guide To Self-Publishing Success. Check it out.
- Her social media consulting group, BadRedhead Media, specializes in social media, particularly Twitter, helping authors learn how to brand themselves, and figure out the world of Amazon. Her clients are varied and cover all genres. Follow @BadRedheadMedia on Twitter for free tips or visit her site for fees and info.
So…what’s the BIG deal?
Today, for ONE DAY ONLY, The Mancode: Exposed is FREE! (Reg. price $2.99.) Yep, you read that right. That’s why today, Tuesday, is special. No free Mancode on Wednesday so don’t wait!
No strings, no hoops. Simple click here (Amazon exclusive, no Kindle required) and download your free copy of this popular #1 bestselling humorous collection of essays on men, women, relationships, chocolate, and sex. (Adult content warning.)
Remember, no Kindle is required to download an Amazon eBook. But you already knew that, yes? Simply download their free Kindle apps for computer, tablet, or smartphone. Even cloud. It’s very easy.
Do you have questions for Rachel? Visit her site, Twitter, Facebook, or email her at RachelintheOC@gmail.com. She’s very friendly….after coffee. Especially if you send Nutella (we hear she’s a fan).
Finally, Rachel is happy (well, as happy as she gets) to eSign her eBooks for you (go to Kindlegraph.com) to request her signature. Again, no Kindle required. It kinda rocks.
Thanks for hanging and enjoy the free read!
Mancode: Exposed by Rachel Thompson
Release: November 2011
Source: I received a copy of this book to read and review by the author
Previously posted on Amazon
Welcome to another episode of Rachel’s snarky humor and enlightening look on the world around us – specifically the men in our life. Just a quick warning, do not attempt to drink liquids while reading this book! Think little brothers, glasses of milk and the family dinner table…
I had the opportunity to read Rachel’s A Walk in the Snark when it was released. This book, like the previous book is partially based on her ever entertaining blog. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read her blog, you are missing out!! Mancode is a series of essays on a variety of topics from Dirty Laundry to Cabana Boy (one of my personal favorites) to Mancode DNA. Mancode talks about the differences between men and women, specifically the meaning behind the language and action of men and their inability to understand women.
This book is absolutely the funniest I’ve read since Rachel’s last release, but maybe more important, it cuts close to the bone! Although I laughed alot reading this, I found myself smiling and nodding to a lot of the comments that Rachel makes. The book brings up topics to talk about with your spouse. She suggests topics and then deconstructs them, looking at the topic from the man’s point of view and the woman’s point of view.
Pick up a copy of this book for the male/female in your life and read it together. Maybe then the man in your life will understand that he needs to keep a constant supply of chocolate on hand and not object to your shoe collection, or the female in your life will understand your need to speak in points, and leave your garage alone.
A must read! Looking forward to the next book that Rachel writes!!
Related articles
- Life in Quotations; Featuring Rachel in the OC (magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com)
- VBT tour for The Mancode: Exposed by Rachel Thompson (alchemyofscrawl.wordpress.com)
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Welcome also to Series Sunday!
For the past few weeks we have been looking at Sabrina Jeffries latest series – The Hellions of Halstead Hall. The first book was the Truth of Lord Stoneville, the second book was A Hellion in Her Bed, and that brings us to the third book in the series, How to Woo a Reluctant Lady. I’ve included a short excerpt from this book to give you a feel for the story.
How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries
ISBN: 1439167559
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release: Jan 18, 2011
Source: I received a copy of this book from the author to read and review
When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother’s ultimatum, the Sharpe clan’s strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination.
Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother’s demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva’s would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva’s imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him. Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents’ deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles’s secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.
What happens when you take a strong-willed, on the shelf, gothic romance writer and a barrister that is actually a spy for the goverment? You get the latest hair-raising ride in the “Hellions of Halstead Hall” series! Get set for fast action, incredibly sensuality, and a clash of strong-willed characters destined to be together.
Welcome to the world of Sabrina Jeffries’ latest series about the Hellions of Halstead Hall! These “Hellions” are the strong willed Sharpe children. There are 5 of them, Oliver, Jarret, Minerva, Gabe and Celia. They were orphaned many years ago when both of their parents died. Some say it was a murder-suicide, but Hetty Plumtree, their maternal grandmother did whatever she could to quiet the scandal hide the true details, and took the 5 children away to live with her. She was a working class woman who’s family owns and runs a brewery. She had arranged for her only daughter to marry a title, a decision that, in hindsight, she heartily regrets! She is now getting older and having some health problems and is determined to hold some great-grandchildren before she dies. Since none of her grandchildren seem to be willing to settle down and marry, she makes an ultimatum. If they don’t all marry within the year, none of them will inherit her money.
Here we are at book three already! These Sharpe “children” are a strong willed lot! We have had a chance to look at Oliver and Jarrett’s attempts to foil their grandmother, now it is Minerva’s turn. Minerva has had a lifelong attraction to Giles Masters, one of her brothers’ friends. After one unfortunate encounter several years ago, she has decided that he can go to the devil. When she starts writing torrid gothic romances, she models her villian after Giles!
When Giles finds out that Minerva has published an advertisement for a husband in a popular lady’s magazine, he decides that enough is enough. No other man is going to have Minerva and he heads over to to Halstead Hall to interview for the position of “husband”. Minerva has decided that if she creates enough of a scandal around her Grandmother forcing her to marry, the old woman will back off. What better way to get a rise out of her grandmother than advertising for a husband and have crowds of men appear wanting to interview for the position. She doesn’t count on Giles appearing, but after some thought decides that a pretend engagement is just the thing to piss of her grandmother and both her brothers!
“Over my dead body!”
Hetty heard Oliver’s roar from two halls over and hurried toward it as fast as her cane could take her. He must have found Minerva. Damned girl. Why couldn’t she just marry some decent fellow and be done with it? Why did she have to drum up this nonsense about interviewing fools she solicited in the papers like a common whore?
Well, Oliver would put an end to that-he wouldn’t want Minerva marrying some stranger either, thank God.
She followed the sound of heated voices into the Chinese drawing room, then stopped short. Oliver was squared off against that rogue Giles Masters-God only knew when he had snuck in. And Minerva stood with her hand tucked in the crook of Giles’s elbow.
“What has happened?” Hetty demanded.
Oliver shot her an angry glance. “Masters has some idiotic idea that he’s going to marry Minerva.”
Hetty dragged in a breath. Masters? With her granddaughter? Never. ……
Minerva shot Hetty a sly glance. “You gave no rules for whom we could marry, Gram, just when we had to marry”
Sabrina Jeffries has the ability to create characters so real that they leap off the pages of her books! You cheer for them, boo at them, and encourage them along. Time passes, and you are oblivious, because you are wound up in the story. The historical details that she throws in adds depth to the story that is being woven around these characters. She provides just enough history of what has gone on in previous stories to keep the thread of the characters going, yet each book could easily be read as a stand-alone. In this particular series, I just love the character of Hetty. She’s had a hard life. She’s made bad decisions. But she lives life to it’s fullest, trying not to dwell on her mistakes. She’s determined to be the strong woman that she is and not show weakness in front of her grandchildren.
We are given more details of the Sharpe parents’ deaths – some questions are answered, but we still don’t know what happened yet. I think that we meet Gabe’s “nemesis” and are given a glimpse into a possible attraction for Celia. According to Ms. Jeffries’ website, the next book is called To Wed A Wild Lord
For those of you uninitiated into the world of the Hellions of Halstead Hall, you need to pick up the previous two books and find a comfy chair and hang on for the ride!
Related articles
- Sabrina Jeffries: The French Maid (anneglover.wordpress.com)
- Waiting on Wednesday: A Lady Never Surrenders (crazybookslut.com)
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
I’m trying something new today! While my blog was down in late December and early January, I had a chance to think about what I wanted for the direction for my blog when I got everything back up and running again. The thing that I missed was the social aspect of having a blog. When my blog first stared, I spent every Friday wandering from book blogger to book blogger saying hi to old friends and meeting new ones. I’ve gotten a bit too busy with work to be able to devote a whole Friday to being social. I thought I’d try something along the same lines. I’d introduce all of you to some of the interesting people I’ve met over my time being a book blogger!
Today we are going to start with my friend Theresa from Fade into Fantasy.
This is what you see when you bring up Theresa’s blog! She is the designer of this blog and as you can see – she’s way more creative than I am I gave Theresa a set of questions a couple of weeks ago to answer, so let’s learn more about her and then I’ll send you all over to visit her blog and say hi
Barb -Tell us a bit about yourself.
Theresa – Just for the record, I hate these questions. LOL I see myself as a boring, part-time bookstore employee who is addicted to words and books, but from what I’m told, I’m more complex than that. Basically, I’m just a creative soul with a passion for all things paranormal who didn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life until discovering book blogging at the age of 34.
Barb – How long have you been blogging?
Theresa – My first blog post was probably a couple of years ago, but I didn’t really start blogging until my first book blog post on October 13, 2010 (yes, I remember the date LOL).
Barb – What made you decide to start book blogging?
Theresa – Living with hubby and 5 boys who don’t like to read makes it very hard to talk about books. I really just wanted to be able to document my thoughts on what I was reading and what I was excited about, while throwing out the occasional “me” post. I had no clue what book blogging really was and I’m so thankful that the community was (is) so fabulous and helpful!
Barb – How did you come up with your blog name?
Theresa – My blog started out as The Creative Well, where I posted about all of the creative endeavors I was trying. When I decided to start book blogging and committed myself to blogging regularly, I realized that I needed a name that was more relevant to my preferred genres. To me, fantasy = everything other than reality, so when you Fade Into Fantasy, you’re escaping reality. Makes sense in my head, anyway. lol
Barb – Describe your blog.
Theresa – The tagline for my blog is: Book Blogger, Copyeditor, and all around creative soul addicted to all things paranormal. Over the last 6-8 years, I’ve taught myself how to create hemp jewelry, crochet, sew, paint, art journal, and dabbled with photography. Now that I’ve narrowed my focus to everything book related, I’ve learned copyediting, blog design, and have started to play with cover designs. My blog is a book blog that focuses on all paranormal genres, but I wanted people to know that creativity is a big part of my life and there may be posts about my latest experiments. Hopefully, the tagline portrays that.
Barb – What is your favorite genre to read and why?
Theresa – Paranormal romance always has been and always will be my favorite genre. I’m drawn to bad boys and if they’re sexy and dangerous, then even better!
Barb – What is your most favorite book(s) and author(s)?
Theresa – Really? This must be payback for all of the times that I’ve asked other people this question. LOL I absolutely love the Black Daggar Brotherhood series by JR Ward, the Changeling series by Dani Harper, Danann Frost Falls From Grace by Joann Valiukas, but those are just the tip of the iceberg. I also read Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane this fall and I still catch myself thinking about that one. I wasn’t my normal genre, but has stuck with me.
Barb – What entices you to read a book – the cover or the blurb?
Theresa – Honestly, I’m a cover whore. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but we all know how important a good cover is, right? Of course, I still won’t read the book if the blurb doesn’t sound interesting enough.
Barb – Have you written a book yourself or are you planning to in the future?
Theresa – I’ve started a couple of books, but never tend to make it past a few thousand words. Organization and outlining have never been my forte, but I’m convinced that if I ever want to finish something, I’m going to have to outline first.
Barb – Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?
Theresa – Many! Lauren Oliver — because she took the time out of her day (even when sick with a cold) to write a post for my little blog, Tina Folsom — because her writing is beautiful and sexy at the same time and I would love to get some pointers from her, and if I’m allowed to meet someone who is dead, it would be Edgar Allen Poe — because I would love to be able to look into the eyes of that man and see what he was really like.
Barb – Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover? Why?
Theresa – There is something special about hardcovers, but since I do most of my reading in bed, I prefer paperbacks. I own a nook, but nothing compares to holding a good book and turning pages.
Barb – What book are you currently reading?
Theresa – Right now, I’m actually reading two books. Green by Jay Lake, and The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin. I’m enjoying the both, but Green is one of those books that a person needs a break from.
Barb – What genre of book do you know that you will never read?
Theresa – I will never read a western, do not like sci-fi, and can’t bring myself to read a zombie book. I tend to stick pretty close to my preferred genres, but am not opposed to trying something new IF it peaks my interest.
Barb – Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why?
Theresa – I am really liking Andy Gavin’s book, The Darkening Dream. It’s a paranormal/historical/YA that takes place in 1913 Salem, Massachusetts. There are ugly vampires, religious relics, warlocks, demons, and young adults who not only have to deal with the creeps, but also have to deal with arranged marriages, and teen pressure. All while the world is just discovering the first Ford Model T. Mr. Gavin has done a remarkable job writing an original story!
Barb – Roughly how many review requests do you get each month?
Theresa – Since I’ve been a bit slack with my blogging schedule lately, they have cut down. When I was posting every day, I would get at least one request per day. Lately, it’s about three per week.
Barb – How often do you blog?
Theresa – At this time, only a couple of days per week. I’ll be back to 4-5 days per week by the beginning of February, though.
Barb – How many books do you read in a month – roughly?
Theresa – That’s a tricky question since I’m also a copyeditor. LOL I read at least 2 per month for editing, and try to read 2 for pleasure.
Barb – How many of these books do you buy?
Theresa – Well, working at a bookstore has it’s advantages, you know. lol I admit that I don’t buy a ton of books because I can’t afford to, but I do buy the books that I am anxious to read (and didn’t get an ARC of), and I also buy a copy of a book that I love after reading the ARC. Of course, I buy books from series that have been raved about by other bloggers, too. Right now, I have the entire Mortal Instruments series, the Mercy Falls series, (and a few others) waiting patiently on my bookshelf for me to start reading them.
Barb – Where can we STALK you?
My blog: http://fadeintofantasy.com
My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/FadeIntoFantasy
My Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4109659-theresa
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FadeIntoFantasy
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/112340074281620397087/112340074281620397087/posts
I’d like to thank Theresa for being such a good sport and humoring me in my quest to introduce you all to my favorite bloggers!
Now, let’s go over to Theresa’s blog and say hi
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming Donna Cummings to the blog! She and I were talking about luscious highwaymen in romance novels and how there doesn’t seem to be enough of them. All a Highwayman needs to bring him around is a good woman – we all know this from the stories that we have read. Really, a man dressed all in black robbing a damsel at gunpoint but is so gallant that he leaves her with a kiss on the hand – swoon worthy, isn’t it.
Donna has a great book out, Lord Midnight. You can tell the book is good from the cover (at least in my opinion!) She is offering a copy to one lucky reader. Just fill out the form at the bottom of this post to be entered! This giveaway is international as it is an e-book being given away!
Let’s find out what she has to say about our subject today!
The Hero-Villain Spectrum by Dona Cummings
Every story needs at least one hero and a villain. They are opposing forces, trying to move toward a goal while keeping the other from reaching his or her objective. It’s the push-pull of their efforts that keeps us turning pages when we should have turned out the light hours ago.
However, the hero isn’t 100% pure goodness, nor is the villain 100% nasty evilness. That would be 100% predictable, and probably 200% boring. It’s a lot more interesting when there is a 51%-49% split, with that 2% determining who is praised as a hero and who is booed as the villain.
In my Regency historical, Lord Midnight, Gabriel is a highwayman, living on the wrong side of the law. He does so because he has been robbed of his birthright and nearly killed by his uncle Edmund. Since Gabriel can’t get justice, he seeks revenge, plotting to seduce his uncle’s bride-to-be, in the home that once was his own.
Edmund has his own goals, ones which he considers worthy, even laudable. He wants a son to inherit his estate, the very one he stole by trying to kill the rightful heir. However, the world believes him to be a highly respected peer of the realm, a trusted adviser to the Prince Regent.
On the surface, Gabriel would seem to be more villain than hero, since he robs coaches for a living. He’s also plotting revenge, and while it is based on righteous reasons, it would completely ruin an innocent’s life. Gabriel has to decide if he is willing to let an act of vengeance transform him into the sort of person he has despised for years.
A villain, on the other hand, is not likely to struggle with the moral rightness of his motives. Edmund is convinced he’s on the correct path, and when he thinks someone is trying to thwart him, he’s genuinely hurt and puzzled. He’s capable of tender emotions, just not for the same things that touch a hero’s heart.
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.
So tell me, who are your favorite heroes? What type of villains do you like best? One lucky commenter will receive an e-copy of Lord Midnight.
Donna Cummings: I have worked as an attorney, winery tasting room manager, and retail business owner, but nothing beats the thrill of writing humorous contemporary and historical romances.
Currently I reside in Massachusetts, although I fantasize about spending the rest of my days in a tropical locale, consuming mojitos for breakfast and wearing flip flops year-round.
I can be found on Twitter (@BookEmDonna), talking about writing and coffee, or on my blog at www.AllAboutTheWriting.com.
My books are available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
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.
I’d like to thank Donna for dropping by and sharing! If you are interested in winning an e-copy of Lord Midnight, please fill out the form. You’ll notice that I’m adding extra points for anyone who follows Donna on Twitter
Good luck!
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
Today we are welcoming E. M. Tippetts to the blog! She is the author of several books, including her latest, Someone Else’s Fairytale. I must admit, I asked for a copy of this book and I’m about half way through. I’m really enjoying it!! Stay tuned for a review in the future! I hope you enjoy her post and I hope that you give some thought to picking up a copy of her book!
Grab a coffee and sit back and enjoy E.M.’s post!
Crafting a Fairytale
by E.M. Tippetts
I had spent weeks wracking my brain for a novel concept I could get excited about. It seemed like every sweet story with a happy ending had been told already, and I reminded myself that I didn’t have to let that stop me. New writers have breathed life into old tropes before, but I just wasn’t feeling it. It was in a moment of exasperation that I hit upon my idea. I was skimming entertainment headlines and thinking about how so many women seemed to think that meeting and dating a famous guy would be a modern fairytale come true. Ridiculous! I thought. If I got hit on my an actor, I’d be annoyed, and not just because I’m already married. Who wants to deal with all the insanity that a famous person deals with? And there it was. My new novel idea. What if, I thought, I had a modern woman who isn’t looking for a fairytale, and then I bring in a Hollywood actor who worships the ground she walks on.
Soon all sorts of funny situations and scenes popped into my head. He’d have hordes of adoring fans, but she wouldn’t care. Millions of women would die to be in her shoes, but that also doesn’t affect her. In fact, she find the actor more than a little annoying, so when he tries to do things that would make any other woman swoon, my main character would just roll her eyes and walk away.
But this is, obviously, still a very one dimensional idea. Since I wasn’t interested in writing a farce, I had to dig a little deeper. I thought about fairytales, how much I loved them as a child and how they seem out of place in modern times. While most women wouldn’t turn down a handsome prince, we don’t tend to do the damsel in distress thing anymore. A modern woman is capable of slaying her own dragons and would most likely get around to it before any anonymous hero came calling. So did this mean fairytales are no longer relevant?
That made no sense to me. Fairytales still speak to us, or else we wouldn’t know what they were these days. They’d have gone the way of Odes and Greek epics. Sure, we still know what those are, but they aren’t as much a part of our modern literature and entertainment as our classic fairytales. So why do we still love the fairytale ending? What is it about the way it plays out that makes us yearn to read or watch it again and again?
That is the question I tacked in this novel. If my heroine doesn’t dream of being rescued, is there anything any man can do to turn her head? Is it possible for him to find a way to carry her off in the sunset without diminishing her as a mere prop in his heroic feats? I think there is. I think my main character does find her Prince Charming, and I think you’ll enjoy the journey she takes in the process.
Someone Else’s Fairytale is about Chloe Winters, a senior in college and her own woman, and Jason Vanderholt, who is so famous that women flock to him whenever he sets foot in public. When these two meet, it isn’t exactly a match made in heaven, but it is the beginning of a good story about life, love, and having the courage to hold out for our dreams.
Blurb:
Jason Vanderholt is the hottest actor in Hollywood with legions of screaming fans.
Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn’t gotten around to seeing most if his movies.
When they meet by chance, he is smitten and she becomes the woman every other woman in America is dying to be, but it just isn’t her fairytale.
Excerpt:
Jason looked up at me again, as if unsure what to say next. “Look, can I get your phone number?”
“Not to be rude, but why?”
“You seem really cool. Real down to earth. Talking like this? It’s been nice.”
“And you seem very nice.” I looked past him at his security guys– that’s what I assumed they were –all trying to look like they weren’t with us. A group of girls headed in our direction and one of the men got up to block them. “You also have one of the weirdest jobs on the planet. Sorry, that’s-”
He laughed. “The truth? Like I said, you seem really cool. I’m in town sometimes to see my family. We should hang out.” He pulled out his phone.
It seemed rude to say no, so I gave him my number, and keyed his into my beat up little flip phone. More women and girls were streaming into the restaurant.
Jason turned and surveyed the scene. “Maybe this’ll be good for business for you?”
“I can disarm the alarm so you can go out the back door?”
“That’d be great, but in a few. I can sign some autographs and stuff. Get them to buy food, I hope.” He got to his feet.
“You don’t have to-”
“It’s cool.” He and his guys all rallied together and turned to face the growing crowd.
I stole away. It was cowardly, but I had the feeling that if these women noticed me sitting at his table, they might lynch me. Besides, it was past time for me to get back to work. I ducked behind the counter and tied my apron on. Abby was wrestling with the Red Stuff machine, which dispensed a mix of cranberry juice and red tea that was very popular in the summer.
“Here,” I said. I grasped the handle and twisted it back so that the machine would work again.
“Okay, so spill. How do you know him?”
Everyone behind the counter looked at me. “Shh,” I said. “I don’t want to get beaten up by a bunch of fans.”
“Are you involved with him?” Abby asked.
“Um. No. He’s dating Corey Cassidy, right? I barely know him. Like I said, he kind of knows my family and recognized me when I was an extra in his movie. He grew up in town.”
“Yeah, I know,” said Abby. “I have a friend of a friend who had a locker next to him at La Cueva. Junior year.”
“Oh,” I said. “Cool.” He’d just told me that he hadn’t been there for his junior year, but whatever. I felt a little sorry for anyone who felt the need to make up a claim like that. Surely they’d done something more interesting in their life than have a locker next to a guy who now pretended to be other people for a living?
The crowd surged as people mobbed Jason for autographs, and we sold four hundred to-go orders for coffee in an hour. It was insane. What was also insane was the number of girls who were crying and shaking as they paid, as if they were in the presence of divinity. Jason was “sooo sexy” and “sooo nice”. I let him and his crew out the back door when he texted me to explain he needed to catch his plane to LA.
“I’ll see you, Chloe,” he said as he put his sunglasses on and stepped out into the brightness.
*
Usually I walked to and from work, but that day I’d driven. Big mistake. I walked around to the parking lot at the end of my shift and found the tires on one side of my car had been slashed. It listed to one side, like a sinking ship. I called my insurance company, then the police – their non-emergency number. “I need to file a report,” I told the woman who picked up. “Someone vandalized my car.”
“Do you know whom?”
“No.”
“Have you got any enemies or-”
“You know, this is really stupid, but I vaguely know Jason Vanderholt. We had coffee this morning and, maybe I’m paranoid but-”
“One of his fans vandalized your car?”
“Dumb theory?”
“No. There’s a cruiser that should be there any minute.”
“Thanks.”
“You really know Jason Vanderholt?”
“Not well.”
“What’s he like?”
I shut my eyes and turned my face skyward. The sun still shone down, scorching hot. I got a detailed view of the blood vessels in my eyelids. “He’s nice. When did you say the cruiser would get here?”
“Should be there any second.”
Much to my relief, a shiny silver police car rounded the corner right then. “Okay, here it is. Thanks!” I hung up.
“So you’ve got celebrity connections?” the cop said as he stepped out.
I just pointed at my car. “Need to file a report. I didn’t see it happen. Don’t know about any witnesses.”
“Name?”
“Chloe Winters.”
“Chloe Winters?”
“Yeah.”
He took off his sunglasses and looked at me. He was middle aged, graying black hair, wrinkled skin. Kind, brown eyes. “I’m Officer Baca. You probably don’t remember me.”
I shook my head.
“I was a rookie way back when. Helped them airlift you.”
“Oh. Hi.”
“How are you?”
“I’m good.”
He looked down at my leg. I was wearing a skirt, so he could clearly see the little silver scar on my calf. “I’m glad to hear it. Have a daughter your age.”
“Oh, uh-huh.”
“How long did he get put away? The guy who did that to you?”
“Twenty five years maximum or something? It was a few consecutive sentences, but I don’t know how all that works with parole or whatever.”
“Not long enough.” He started scribbling away on his notepad. “Okay, this is your car?”
I nodded.
“You got insurance?”
“Yeah. Tow truck is coming.”
“Just gimme a sec to write this up.” He looked up at me again. “It really is good to see you. Had nightmares about that incident for years, but you look great.”
About the Author:
Emily Mah Tippetts writes chick lit as E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy as Emily Mah. Originally from New Mexico, she now lives in London with her family, where she also works as a jewelry designer. She is a former attorney who specialized in real estate, contracts, and estate planning. To find out more about her, visit her website at www.emtippetts.com.
I’d like to thank E.M. for dropping by and sharing about her latest book. Stay tuned for my review of this cute book!
Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel
I’d like to welcome Dianne Venetta to the blog today! She is the author of Lust on the Rocks and she is touring with Goddessfish Promotions to spread the word about this latest book! Dianne is giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Make sure that you leave a comment with your email address so that you can be contacted if you win. Also if you want to increase your chances of winning, click HERE and find the list of stops for this tour so that you can leave a comment at all the stops!
Dianne was tasked with answering the question: Do you model characters after real people or are they creations of your mind? Let’s see what she has to say!
My characters are a mix of real, imaginary and fantasy wanna be! Now mind you the “real” portion does not necessarily mean someone I know. It may be a conglomeration of people I know or my character may share attributes with people I know, but in a more general fashion.
Take for instance the heroine in my current release, Samantha Rawlings. I don’t know any woman like her, that’s for sure. She’s definitely one-of-a-kind. But she’s drawn from three individuals I know—three very different individuals I know—which is one reason she’s so much fun to write. She’s crazy! (In a good way.) On the other hand, heroine Dr. Jennifer Hamilton from my first novel, Jennifer’s Garden, represents more generally today’s career professional and the challenges she faces as such when it comes to choosing a partner for marriage.
It’s also true that in every character there is a piece of the author. As a professional woman, I can identify with the themes in each novel, to be sure. They are the issues of my generation, like how does a career woman meet and choose a husband? Over stocks and bonds, or chips and dips? Do money and social status matter or should the compatibility of friendship take center stage?
In Sam’s case, the issue is sexual freedom and society’s viewpoint thereof, as well as the consequences. Today’s independent career woman has more choice when it comes to conducting her sex life, yet she still faces negative labels where a man does not. How come? Is it impossible to believe a woman enjoys sex just for the pleasure of it? Is it impossible to believe that a woman would NOT want a husband and children? Interesting how things change… (Or don’t!)
My third book in this character series deals with a woman’s appearance—both physical and emotional—and her feelings in regard to the same. A tough exterior may prove useful in business, but will it sustain the woman inside? Can she be both tough and confident on the outside, yet soft and insecure on the inside? Men can bluster and power their way through doubt. Can women?
So yes, my characters are modeled after real people and then embellished by my imagination. I write what I call romantic women’s fiction which means we’ll immerse ourselves in the issues, but we’ll also enjoy some romance—and always a HEA. Otherwise, I won’t sleep at night! And a tired author makes for a cranky writer—no fun.
Thanks for allowing me to share today and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Author bio:
Dianne lives in Central Florida with her husband, two children and part-time Yellow Lab–Cody-body! When not whacking away at her keyboard crafting her next novel you’ll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men. Definitely men.
A girl’s gotta have fun, right?
When she’s not knee-deep in dirt or romance, Dianne contributes garden advice for various websites and volunteers in her kids’ school garden (a crazy existence to be sure). But at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses–or rosemary!—kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she’s done all right.
http://www.twitter.com/
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http://www.BloominThyme.com – this being my garden blog
She has what he needs, and he won’t stop until he gets it. Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.
# # #
One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize. In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy. Turns out, a little too far…
Victor Marin has ulterior motives. The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge, and his last chance for justice. But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself. But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.Until Vic walks away.
Excerpt:
“You did well today, Vic. You didn’t win your argument, your performance was a little overpowering, but you did well.” She slid a hand across the table. He would have sworn she was about to touch his, but instead, her fingers curled around the stem of her water glass. “Chavez was out of line. It’s his MO. Whenever there’s a new attorney in his courtroom, he parades power like a peacock. Don’t take it personal.”
No longer sparring, Vic noted her removal of armor.
“You’re good. Really good. You have phenomenal energy in the courtroom—I mean you had the jury.” A smile crept onto her lips, a gesture which reached deep inside him. “I was watching. Each and every one of them followed you around that courtroom, your every move, your every word, they were right there with you. They didn’t believe her either.”
“Then why won’t you include me on Perry?”
Sam’s breath caught in her throat. Trapped beneath his gaze, the question echoed Raul’s. Around her, the noise level rose as lunch hour officially reached full sprint. People shouted orders, metal cash registers clanged in action, but she focused solely on Vic.
Her suspicion returned. Because I don’t need any help. Because I don’t want the distraction. Because I’ll be damned if some unknown hotshot comes in and tries to strip the prize from my hands regardless of how good, or how good-looking he is.
Sam’s spine locked straight. All her life she had to work twice as hard, run twice as fast—because she was a woman. As an adolescent, her parents forced her to share an overload of responsibility for the care of five younger siblings, despite the fact her brother was scarcely a year behind her. In college she was offered more dates than internships with law school providing more of the same.
Sam sighed. Baker, Schofield, Martinez and Brown had been the one interview where she felt wholly respected—wholly appreciated for her talent and not her looks. Because of Raul. He focused on her abilities and she responded. From there, the man taught her everything she knew, from the law to the lowdown, and groomed her into the legal shark she was proud to be.
Her thoughts chilled. Yet now, he was encouraging interference on her caseload from the new guy. It didn’t make sense.
Sam honed in on Vic. “Give me one good reason I should include you on Perry.”
“You said it yourself, I’m good.”
“So am I.”
“It’s a big case. More than one attorney can handle.”
“I have Diego.”
“I have experience.”
“So I hear.” Sam lifted her glass from the table, but never took her eyes off him.
“It could work to your benefit.”
“I work to my benefit.”
Vic eased his neck from his collar and reached for his glass. “I’m offering to help, Sam. Most attorneys would jump at the opportunity.”
“If you hadn’t gathered by now, I’m not most attorneys.”
I’d like to thank Dianne for dropping by today and sharing about her book! Please be certain to leave a comment with your email address if you want to be entered into the giveaway!
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