Lindsay's Romantics

Linda Banche nominated the Lindsay's Romantics blog for an award

2012-01-30T08:00:00.002Z

Historical romance author Linda Banche kindly nominated the Lindsay's Romantics blog for an award - the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award. I'm delighted to receive this nomination, especially from Linda, who is a talented romance writer and a two-time EPICON finalist.

I love Linda's writing for its wit, pathos, humour, and gallantry. I love her dashing yet kindly heroes and her spirited and sympathetic heroines. I also really like the way her characters are not dukes and lords but more 'real' Regency figures, struggling with real issues of poverty, inheritance, obligation and sometimes deliberate malice. There is a great deal to enjoy in her novellas and I am really looking forward to her forthcoming 'An Inheritance for the Birds,' which appears on Feb 1st.

Anyway, to 'earn' my award - those strawberries do look good! - I need to tell readers seven things about myself and nominate ten other fellow writers.

Here are my fellow authors and my noninations:

Jane Richardson http://janerichardsonhome.blogspot.com/

Alan Calder http://alancalderwriting.blogspot.com/

Linda Acaster http://lindaacaster.blogspot.com/

Jen Black http://jenblackauthor.blogspot.com/

Cathie Dunn http://cathiedunn.blogspot.com/

Lisa Yarde http://thebrooklynscribbler.blogspot.com/

Nicole Zoltack http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/

Jenny Twist https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/

Rose Anderson http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

Savanna Kougar http://kougarkisses.blogspot.com/

I hope you check out their websites - they are all really talented writers, like Linda B!

And finally here are seven things people may not know about me.

1. I once worked as a cleaner in a psychiatric hospital.

2. At 16 I took part in an archaeological 'rescue' dig - mainly shifting barrows of dirt but it was still interesting.

3. I love wild flowers, especially bluebells and harebells.

4. I've developed a late passion for pink!

5. Reading is a passion and a pleasure, as is listening to music.

6. It's my aim to see the Staffordshire Hoard.

7. I have a Viking! (He's only plastic, sadly, and sits in my study window.)

Thanks again to Linda and happy sharing with my nominees.

Lindsay

Guest Blog: Rosemary Morris - 'Tangled Love'

2012-01-27T08:00:00.003Z

Prologue
1693

Nine year-old Richelda Shaw sat on the floor in her nursery. She pulled a quilt pulled over her head to block out the thunder pealing outside the ancient manor house while an even fiercer storm raged deep within. Eyes closed, remained as motionless as a marble statue.

Elsie, her mother’s personal maid, removed the quilt from her head. ‘Stand up child, there’s nothing to be frightened of. Come, your father’s waiting for you.’

Richelda trembled. Until now Father’s short visits from France meant gifts and laughter. This one made Mother cry while servants spoke in hushed tones.

Followed by Elsie, Richelda hurried down broad oak stairs. For a moment, she paused to admire lilies of the valley in a Delft bowl. Only yesterday, she picked the flowers to welcome Father home then arranged them with tender care. Now, the bowl stood on a chest, which stood beneath a pair of crossed broadswords hanging on the wall.

Elsie opened the great massive door of the great hall where Father stood to one side of an enormous hearth. Richelda hesitated. Her eyes searched for her mother before she walked across the floor, spread her skirts wide and knelt before him.

Father placed his right hand on her bent head. ‘Bless you, daughter, may God keep you safe.’ He smiled. ‘Stand up, child. Upon my word, sweetheart, your hair reminds me of a golden rose. How glad I am to see roses bloom in these troubled times.’

Richelda stood but dared not speak for she did not know him well.

Putting an arm round her waist, he drew her to him. ‘Come, do not be nervous of your father, child. Tell me if you know King James II holds court in France while his daughter, Mary, and William, his son-in-law, rule after seizing his throne?’

‘Yes, Mother told me we are well rid of King James and his Papist wife,’ she piped up, proud of her knowledge.

With a sigh, Father lifted her onto his knee. ‘Richelda, I must follow His Majesty for I swore an oath of allegiance to him. Tell me, child, while King James lives how can I with honour swear allegiance to his disloyal daughter and her husband?’

Unable to think of a reply, she lowered her head breathing in his spicy perfume.

Father held her closer. ‘Your mother pleads with me to declare myself for William and Mary. She begs me not to return to France, but I am obliged to serve King James. Do you understand?’

As she nodded her cheek brushed against his velvet coat. ‘Yes, I understand, my tutor told me why many gentlemen will not serve the new king and queen.’

‘If you remain in England, you will be safe. Bellemont is part of your mother’s dowry so I doubt it will be confiscated.’

If she remained in England! Startled, she stared at him.

Smiling, he popped her onto her feet. ‘We shall ride. I have something to show you.’

*****

Before long, they drew rein on the brow of a hill. Father pointed at a manor house in the valley. ‘Look at our ancestral home, Field House. The Roundheads confiscated it soon after the first King Charles’ execution. Richelda, I promised my father to do all in my power to regain the property.’ Grey-faced, he pressed his hand to his chest. ‘Alas, I have failed to keep my oath,’ he wheezed.

Richelda not only yearned to help him keep his promise to her grandfather, she also yearned to find the gold and jewels legend said her buccaneer ancestor, Sir Nicholas, hid.

She waited for her father to breathe easy before she spoke. ‘If we found the treasure trove you could buy Field House.’

‘Ah, you believe Sir Nicholas did not give all his plunder to Good Queen Bess,’ he teased.

‘Elsie told me legend says he hid some of his booty in Field House.’ The thought of it excited her. In his old age, when Sir Nicholas retired from seafaring, is it true that he put his ship’s figurehead, Lady Luck, in the great hall?’

‘Yes, for all I know she is still above a mighty fireplace carved with pomegranates, our family’s device.’

‘I would like to see it.’

‘One day, perhaps you will. Now, tell me if you know our family motto.’

‘Fortune favours the brave.’

‘Are you brave, my little lady? Will you swear on the Bible to do all in your power to regain Field House?’

To please him and excited by the possibility of discovering treasure she nodded.

About Rosemary Morris
Historical Novelist

From an early age Rosemary Morris wove stories. At school her favourite subjects were History and English Literature. Since leaving school and college she has immersed herself in reading historical novels and researching history.
She has now reached the point at which she has so many novels and reference books crowding her house that if she wants to buy a new one she is forced to consider getting rid of one. However, her birthday present – a kindle – will help to solve the problem.

In between writing, Rosemary spends time with her family, who live nearby. She enjoys visiting places of historical interest such as St Albans Cathedral and Hatfield House. She also enjoys needlework and knitting as well as her organic garden, in which she grows fruit, herbs and vegetables that she puts to good use in her vegetarian cuisine. Time spent gardening and cooking provides time to plan her novels.

Rosemary's books are available from MuseItUp Bookstore, Amazon US (Kindle, Print) Kindle Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand - Mainstream, Sony e-reader, Kobo and Smashwords.

Please visit Rosemary's website at http://www.rosemarymorris.co.uk/ and her blog at http://rosemarymorris.blogspot.com/.

A little romance, anyone?

2012-01-25T10:28:00.002Z

In lots of romance stories, two charactersmeet – no, sorry, more often they collide – and claim they dislike each other, whilereaders are expected to understand that love is simmering just below thesurface. Is this premise truly believable or should we dismiss it as absolutetosh?

The main strand of the romance genre is theproblem of why the two people think they couldn’t possibly be lovers. We know some of them very well. He’s tooproud, she’s too prejudiced. Rhett Butler is no certainly gentleman, whileScarlett enters the story as a true ladylike southern belle. (Put in your ownnames and see if they match what I’m about to say.) What happens as the storyprogresses? We find that Scarlett has it in her to cheat, lie and steal in away that makes Rhett look positively gentlemanly. Darcy proves he has the gutsto see his faults and change his ways, while Lizzie recognizes with dismay howhasty and ill-judged her speedy character assessments were - not only of him,but also of Whickham.

Are they really the disparate charactersfirst presented, or are they much closer to each other in tastes, habits andthought than we first realize? I think Darcy and Lizzie are alike in many ways.In fact, Darcy and Elizabeth admit as much, and the film Gone with the winddemonstrates how similar Rhett and Scarlett are in their courage and desperatewill to survive and keep their dependents alive. Perhaps this is the truesecret of the romance genre - that couples should share values and traits,however deeply they are hidden or obscured by initial impressions.
They’d have to have something to share, ortheir lives would be hell, wouldn’t they? But giving them a taste in the samesort of music isn’t exactly going to do it if one rides roughshod over hisfamily’s feelings and the other can’t help her family enough. They’re alwaysgoing to be disagreeing over something. We hear of couples in real life who divorce becauseone of them squeezed the toothpaste tube the wrong way. We laugh on hearingthat, but we’re only hearing about the tip of the iceberg. What really drovethe couple apart was that one of them couldn’t stand living in the constantchaos created by the other. The toothpaste tube was one fact among many.

I think what I’m saying is that howeverdissimilar the characters seem when the inciting incident brings them together,they have to have matching core values in order to have the happy ever afterthat is so necessary for the romance genre. Somewhere in the story we have toshow them discovering these core values and coming together. Falling into bedand having wonderful sex doesn’t always do it. But it’s nice if it comes in thesame package as the matching core values.

Crystal Lake Reunion-A Texas Contemporary

2012-01-23T13:25:00.000Z

The beautiful cover for Crystal Lake Reunion is one of five finalists for EPIC's ARIANA awards coming up. The story has also received wonderful reviews! I invite you to visit the small Texas town of Crystal Lake: Premise:
Twenty-five-year-old Houston realtor, Dana Dawson, has no reason to believe her life is not as it seems. When Ruth Dawson, her mother, travels thirty miles to Crystal Lake for her twenty-fifth high school reunion, she becomes ill. Dr. Grant Adams summons Dana to the small town she has never seen. There Dana begins to unravel a secret about her past she did not know existed.

Dana keeps her suspicions to herself and remains in Crystal Lake when her mother goes home. During the next week, she becomes acquainted with the charming young doctor and elicits his help to discover her true birthplace. There she finds a shocking truth that not only changes her life, but also almost destroys her mother and another entire family. ******
***************
Excerpt:
A knock on her door awakened her, but Brian slept on. From the love seat where she had spent the remainder of the night, she looked at the clock. “Good grief, an all-nighter.”

The knock became more insistent, and she was glad the door was in a tiny recessed foyer. Someone there could only see the foot of the bed around the corner. Without turning on a light, she peeked through the security hole, and what she saw confirmed her suspicions. Grant. He, too, probably tried to call on the mute cell phone in her bag. Here he was, about to step into a volatile situation. She would need to somehow send him away—and fast.

Finally, she opened the door a crack and talked to him through the small opening. “Grant. Hi. What’re you doing here so early?”

“Early?” He chuckled low in his throat. “I just woke up, too. I worked until four; then slept six hours. I wanted to see you, but your cell must be on mute.”

“It is? Well, gosh, I didn’t know. Uh, can you come back another time, Grant?”

He paused and stared at her in silence.

Never had she acted this way toward Grant, no matter how she looked or felt. She saw suspicion written all over his face as he studied her. She could only wait until he said something.

“Am I interrupting something, Dana?” he asked softly.

Nervously, she looked over her shoulder toward the foot of the bed he could barely see. That’s when his eyes locked on the beat-up, leather duffel bag on the floor. Dana swallowed hard as she slowly looked back at Grant.

“Is someone in your bed, Dana?” he asked calmly.

“Grant,” she whispered. “Could we talk later? I’ll explain everything.”

“Is Brian in your bed, Dana?” he asked again, this time coldly.

His laughing eyes had dimmed, and the deep dimple in one cheek did not appear, and his smiling mouth turned grim. She had never seen him this way, and the bottom seemed to drop from her stomach. Disaster loomed, a heart-breaking scenario that scared her to death. “Please let me explain later, please,” she heard herself plead.

“Dana, I think we can clear this up right now. Seems to me you’ve made your choice. Well, this is the way it is. I love you, Dana,” he said softly. “I fell in love with you early on, and I fell hard. I was giving you time to sort out your life, but now…this. You’ve dropped a bombshell on my head.” His voice dropped to a whisper, but the sound was like a drum banging in her head. “I will not take second place, I will not take leftovers, and I will not stand in line.”

Tears burned her eyes, and she blinked hard, hoping they would not fall. There it was—love. She loved Grant with all her heart. She felt frantic to make this right again. “No, no, please don’t do this, Grant.”

“Dana?” Brian called in a scratchy voice, roughened from sleep. “Who’s there? Hurry up, will you?”

Grant and Dana stood still as statues and gazed at each other through the crack in the door. Gently he said to her, “Well, I’ll see you around, Dana. You take care, now.”

He turned and walked away.
~*~*~From Geri R. for Reader's Favorite:
Ms. Yeary has created a vivid masterpiece that leaves you breathless and wondering what will happen at every twist and turn. The characters are carefully crafted and believable, the setting is fantastic and the flow was remarkable. I felt myself secretly rooting for certain characters, like Dana, Grant and Ruth, while secretly despising other characters like Valerie. This book reads as though you are watching everything unfold before you. I enjoyed being able to see everything from different points of view and not just through one narrator; it adds depth to the story. This is a beautifully written story that does not leave the reader hanging, a wonderful story of deception, hope and love. I enjoyed every moment of this book and would highly recommend it to all!

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Lake-Reunion-ebook/dp/B0056BC41G/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308922072&sr=1-13 WHISKEY CREEK PRESS:

http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=883&zenid=b510de951c68d62fb3a3bfbe779acd47

Thank you!
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com
http://www.celiayeary.com
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com

Review: Theodora Goss, 'The Thorn and the Blossom'

2012-01-17T08:00:00.007Z

Theodora Goss
The Thorn and the Blossom: a Two-Sided Love Story
Quirk Books, 2012
ISBN: 978-1594745515

Reading The Thorn and the Blossom is an intriguingly different experience from the usual. The reader chooses whether to begin with Brendan's story, or to turn the book and begin with Evelyn.

I began with Brendan's story. My first delighted surprise was how the book itself behaved - it opened like an accordion. On one side you can read from one character's viewpoint, then you can turn the book over and read from the other protagonist's point of view. The whole book is beautifully produced, with heavy paper and lush illustrations, making reading it a very satisfying and tactile experience.

Each summer, Brendan works in his father's bookshop in the Cornish town of Clewes , a place he has lived all his life but one which no longer feels like home to him now that he is studying literature at Oxford . One day he encounters a striking, auburn-haired young woman in the shop and they introduce themselves - Brendan and Evelyn.

Brendan asks Evelyn to walk with him to a local circle of ancient standing stones called Gawan's Court - a place where, according to legend, the Arthurian knight Gawan and Cornish Queen Elowen had fought giants and fallen in love before being parted by a giantess's curse. While at the circle. Brendan sees Evelyn briefly as the tragic Queen Elowen. He dismisses the brief vision as unimportant, but is attracted to Evelyn and arranges to meet her again. This time they spend the week together and Brendan becomes convinced he is falling in love with the young American.

But there are obstacles. Evelyn will be leaving soon, returning to Boston , and there is a strange mystery about her. When Brendan kisses her, she reacts as if in horror and flees. She gives no explanation and Brendan is desolate.

Brendan puts his life back together. He completes his degree in medieval literature, finishes a translation of a long Cornish poem of 'The Tale of a Green Knight' - a Cornish version of Gawan and Elowen - and meets and marries another woman, Isabel.

Tragedy strikes again. Isabel is terribly injured in a riding accident and left in a deep coma. While she is still in this state in hospital, Evelyn reappears in Brendan's life when she applies for a college post where he also teaches.

They meet and resume a relationship, and this time it is consummated. Brendan makes a mistake, however, in not telling Evelyn about Isabel or her tragic condition. When Evelyn learns about Isabel and sees her in a coma, she flees again.

Will he win her back?

To learn if he does, I turned to the other half of the story, Evelyn's version.

Evelyn is fey. She sees the spirit world, including green men and fairies, and is deeply affected by it. Knowing this makes her behaviour more sympathetic and understandable, as it is suggested that she and Brendan are 'playing out' the love of Gawan and Elowen, only in a modern setting.

Both sides of the story end optimistically, with the hope that Brendan and Evelyn will defeat the curse that blighted Gawan and Elowen.

'The Thorn and the Blossom' is written in the style of a fable, with a lot of telling rather than showing. Despite this and despite feeling that the relationship between Brendan and his wife Isabel was rather under-developed, I found the story to be involving and rewarding - at times I almost felt to be inside the pages of a beautiful medieval manuscript.

It is a haunting, original read, if rather short, and I can certainly recommend it.

Lindsay Townsend

(Review of a copy sent unsolicited from the publisher.)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:43:00.000Z

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, peaceful and magnificent 2012!

If you have any New Year's Resolutions, please feel free to share them in the comments section.

If you have news of any new releases, please feel free to share those, too.

Happy 2012! May all your wishes come true!

Aydon exists!

2011-12-21T16:22:00.000Z

Aydon Hall, sometimes called Aydon Castle, is only six miles away from my home, and I often walk there, through the woods from Corbridge and up the steep path to emerge panting and rather warm at the postern gate.

the main hall at Aydon

Late spring is particularly nice as everything is green and the bluebells and white garlic flowers abound. It was originally built as a farmhouse, but Scots raiders created so much havoc in the thirteenth century that the owner applied for permission to crenellate. He needed something to hide behind while he shot arrows from the battlements at the men stealing his cattle and trying to burn him out of house and home!

The Carnaby family lived there in the sixteenth century and though I've invented a character or two, that's the only liberty I've taken with the history of the place. There were sons and daughters of the family called Lance and Alina, but they were not exactly as I've portrayed them in my story. Matho Spirston, for example, is mentioned in the rolls and deeds of the time, though all that exists is his name. I've given him a character and a life within the story as the man who saves Harry's life and then goes on to have adventures of his own.

If you want to know more about the Carnaby family and Aydon Hall, then cick on the link and enjoy the reviews you'll find there. http://tiny.cc/g7ddy

A MEDIEVAL YULE

2011-12-20T18:27:00.003Z

I have a new medieval holiday short story out. A Medieval Yule was actually written for my sister as a present for Christmas. But now it is available from Red Rose Publishing as a Twelve days of Christmas release for all to enjoy! Here is the book cover and following is an excerpt.

A Twelfth Night Tale

Excerpt

As he warmed himself by the central fire, Marcus remembered Christmastides past. Castle Windom fairly bustled with kindled fires and crowded activity. The merriment echoed inside the walls and hid in dark rafters along side the pained memories of his Liana.

Marcus downed a tankard of ale and held back the sentiment threatening to pour forth from him. A lonely Twelfth Night neared. Unbidden thoughts of Liana nudged him. Haunted as he was by the sensuous way her lithe body pressed into his naked skin, the touch of her hand slipping down to caress him, her eyes as they darkened when she opened and took him inside her.

But no more…

~~~~~

I'm doing medieval themed posts on my blog from now through December 23. I'll be giving away a PDF download of A Medieval Yule Stop by and leave a comment during that time to be in the running, and to enjoy a medieval holiday atmosphere!

My blog link: Kaye's Blog

Kaye's Website: www.kayemanro.com

Here's to everyone having a wonderful and joyous Yuletide Season!

Kaye Manro

White Christmas

2011-12-18T14:05:00.004Z

Christmas Snow
I looked out the window when I woke up this morning to find the first beautiful dusting of snow over everything. Not even a footstep marred the tranquil beauty. Living in Canada, a white Christmas is something we all hope for. The winters are definitely not the winters of my childhood. In some ways I feel sorry for the kids, not experiencing the fun of tobogganing every day, all winter long—ice skating was the thing to do, and hot chocolate was a must to take the shivers away.
We didn’t have the computer games and movies. We had board games and books. Sitting indoors on a snowy winters’ day wasn’t an option. Once we were bundled up, we were sent outside to ‘play’. Shovelling a neighbour’s driveway wasn’t a ‘job’; it was just something we did. Why? Well, because we were neighbours.

As a writer, I love to have a Christmas story to share with my readers. In my new release, Snow Angel, Jack lives in the middle of a winter wonderland, not another living soul for miles. He breeds and trains Siberian Huskies as rescue dogs. Jenna is the polar opposite, living a charmed life, daughter of a multi-millionaire. Her favourite pastime is shopping and spending countless hours being pampered at Spas.
A terrible car accident throws this mismatched couple together for a heartwarming Christmas story, I hope you enjoy.

Jack lives in the middle of a winter wonderland between a popular Ski Resort and the Canadian border. Jenna is running from an overbearing father trying to dictate a husband for her. When Jack sees a car crash through the guardrail on a mountain road, he holds little hope of finding anyone alive. With the help of Sasha and Tito, Jack’s trained Siberian Huskies, they find a survivor buried in the snow. A new woman in his life is the last thing Jack wants, but there’s something about this feisty red head he finds very hard to ignore.
Read an excerpt and Buy Here at Passion In Print.

I will choose one person from all who comment to win an ecopy of Snow Angel. Good Luck!
I leave you with my favourite scene and song from all of the Christmas shows I’ve seen in my lifetime. This was also my mothers’ favourite. She passed away two years ago, the day after Christmas.

May your homes be filled with love and laughter this Holiday Season. Remembering all those who have gone before us with a happy heart, and creating precious memories with all those we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Adelle ‘Legs’ Laudan & Family.

Warm up your winter: 'The Snow Bride'

2011-12-17T13:28:00.000Z

She is Beauty, but is he the Beast?

Elfrida, spirited, caring and beautiful, is also alone. She is the witch of the woods and no man dares to ask for her hand in marriage until a beast comes stalking brides and steals away her sister. Desperate, the lovely Elfrida offers herself as a sacrifice, as bridal bait, and she is seized by a man with fearful scars. Is he the beast?

In the depths of a frozen midwinter, in the heart of the woodland, Sir Magnus, battle-hardened knight of the Crusades, searches ceaselessly for three missing brides, pitting his wits and weapons against a nameless stalker of the snowy forest. Disfigured and hideously scarred, Magnus has finished with love, he thinks, until he rescues a fourth 'bride', the beautiful, red-haired Elfrida, whose innocent touch ignites in him a fierce passion that satisfies his deepest yearnings and darkest desires.

Coming Dec 27th from Bookstrand Publishing 2011
15% discount until January 3! Pre-order here.

Read Chapter One

Here is another excerpt to tempt you:

Magnus was worried. The fire he had made should have brought his people. It was an old signal, well-known between them. His men should have reached the village by now—that had been the arrangement. They were bringing traps and provisions in covered wagons, and hunting dogs and horses. He had been impatient to start his pursuit of the Forest Grendel and so rode ahead, returning with the messenger until that final stretch when the man turned off to his home. He had ridden on alone, finding the wayside shrine.

But from then, all had gone awry. Instead of the monster, he had found an ailing witch, and the snowstorm had lost him more tracks and time.

Magnus shook his head, turning indulgent eyes to the small, still figure on the rough pallet. At least the little witch had slept through the night and day, snug and safe, and he had been able to make her a litter from woven branches. He would give his fire signal a little longer and then return Elfrida to her village. There he might find someone who could translate between them.

Perhaps she did have power, for even as he looked at her, she sat up, the hood of her cloak falling away, and stared at him in return. She said something, then repeated it, and he drew in a great gulp of cold air in sheer astonishment, then laughed.

“I know what you said!” He wanted to kiss her, spots and all.

He burst into a clumsy canter, dragging his peg leg a little and almost tumbling onto her bed. She caught him by the shoulders and tried to steady him but collapsed under his weight.

They finished in an untidy heap on the pallet, with Elfrida hissing by his ear, “Why have you done such a foolish thing as to burn all our fuel?”

He rolled off her, knocked snow off his front and beard, and said in return, “How did you know I would know the old speech, the old English?”

“I dream true, and I dreamed this.” She was blushing, though not, he realized quickly, from shyness.

“Why burn so wildly?” she burst out, clearly furious. “You have wasted it! All that good wood gone to ash!”

“My men know my sign and will come now the storm has gone.” He had not expected thanks or soft words, but he was not about to be scolded by this red-haired nag.

“That is your plan, Sir Magnus? To burn half the forest to alert your troops?”

“A wiser plan than yours, madam, setting yourself as bait. Or had your village left you hanging there, perhaps to nag the beast to death?”

Her face turned as scarlet as the fire. “So says any witless fool! ’Tis too easy a charge men make against women, any woman who thinks and acts for herself. And no man orders me!”

Magnus swallowed the snort of laughter filling up his throat. He doubted she saw any amusement in their finally being able to speak to each other only to quarrel. Had she been a man or a lad, he would have knocked her into the snow, then offered a drink of mead, but such rough fellowship was beyond him here.

“And how would you have fought off any knave, or worse, that found you?” he asked patiently. “You did not succeed with me.”

“There are better ways to vanquish a male than brute force. I knew what I was about!”

“Truly? You were biding your time? And the pox makes you alluring?”

“Says master gargoyle! My spots will pass!”

“Or did you plan to scatter a few herbs, perhaps?”

He thought he heard her clash her teeth together. “I did not plan my sickness, and I do not share my secrets! Had you not snatched me away, had you not interfered, I would know where the monster lives. I would have found my sister! I would be with her!” Her voice hitched, and a look of pain and dread crossed her face. “We would be together. Whatever happens, I would be with her.”

“This was Christina?”

“Is Christina, not was, never was! I know she lives!”

Magnus merely nodded, his temper cooling rapidly as he marked how her color had changed and her body shook. A desperate trap to recover a much-loved sister excused everything, to his way of thinking.

She called you a gargoyle! This piqued his vanity and pride.

But she does not think you the monster, Magnus reminded himself in a dazzled, shocked wonder, embracing that knowledge like a lover.

Lindsay Townsend
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net

Now Available ~ Santa Baby, Several Stars Away

2011-12-10T20:46:00.005Z

Consumed by curiosity, Kaily gives herself to a mystery man for Christmas.

Will Dylan be able to resist her waiting naked, but gift-wrapped beneath his tree?

~ A Short Shapeshifter Erotic Romance ~

Santa Baby, Several Stars Away

by Savanna Kougar

Excerpt ~

Chapter One:

Santa Baby, Waitin' Just for You

Rarely reckless, Kaily flung off the negligee she'd first thought to wear. It landed in a red ephemeral heap beside the tastefully trimmed Christmas tree.

So what if she'd just broken into his house...well, she hadn't exactly broken in...more like she spied on him until she found out where he hid the extra key...lodged in a crack of the frame above the door of the Victorian mansion he'd resurrected from certain crumbling death, and now obviously treasured.

There was only one thing Kaily could see amiss in the traditional holiday atmosphere he'd created with the help of the town's local historical club -- a garish red ribbon. The long sash had a simple bow attached to one end, and practically shone despite the low lighting.

Kaily stared at the unexpected invitation.

Certainly, the river of red ribbon didn't belong on the floor as a decoration, and she couldn't see anywhere else it belonged...except wrapped around her.

Since she was giving herself to him as a gift for Christmas...well, why not?

~~~~~~

Blurb:

Kaily has been consumed by curiosity ever since Dylan suddenly appears in her small town. Surreptitiously, she watches the mystery man restore a rundown Victorian mansion, all while his charm and sincerity gain him the good will of most everyone. This is especially true when he volunteers to become the annual Santa Claus for the children at the town's park.

The problem for Kaily: No one really knows anything about Dylan's past or where he came from. With her attraction to him growing day by day, she becomes a driven woman. On a desperate whim, she gives herself to him as a Christmas present. Will Dylan be able to resist her waiting naked, but gift-wrapped beneath his tree?

~~~~~~

Now Available ~ SMASHWORDS & AMAZON

Coming Soon to other ebook vendors.

~~~~~~

Have the merriest of holidays!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Guest Blog: Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz

2011-12-05T08:00:00.018Z

Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz has published more than 100 articles, 75 stories, two e books, a chapbook, and her stories have been included in two anthologies. She writes for both adults and children. Her fiction has appeared in numerous genre and children’s publications and non fiction work has appeared in a variety of writing, parenting, and young adult print magazines and on line publications. She edits for three small independent publishers.

Her anthology A Past and A Future, and her YA chapbook, Dragon Sight are available at Sam’s Dot Publishing and Smashwords. Love Delivery, Lady-in-Waiting and Mirror Mirror are available from MuseItUp Publishing. Her MG novel, Ghost for Rent and Ghost for Lunch, the sequel, and Boo’s Bad Day, and Many Colored Coats, picture books, are schedule for publication with 4RV.

Visit her web site at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/. Her writing blog is at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

LADY-IN-WAITING

Through a series of misunderstandings, Mabriona is forced to live a lie, but when the man she loves awakes from his coma, will she confess her deceit?

Blurb: Mabriona is cousin to the beautiful and spoiled Princess Alana. When Alana is forced to marry a man she despises, Mabriona is torn between her loyalty to her cousin and her attraction to the handsome Prince Blayne.

Tragedy befalls the cousins on the way to Prince Blayne’s castle. Servants, believing Mabriona to be Alana, refuse to listen when she tries to explain.

While she waits for Blayne to recover, Mabriona meets his equally handsome younger brother, Madoc, a bard.

When Blayne awakes, will Mabriona choose life with a future king, will she be sent home in disgrace because of her inadvertent lies, or will Madoc win her love with his poetry?

Excerpt:

Mabriona assisted Alana down to the common dining hall as was her duty. The big room was warmed at both ends by huge hearths. In honor of Prince Blayne’s arrival, the boards had been scrubbed until they gleamed. Warm, fresh-baked loaves of bread graced each table, and the delicious aroma made Mabriona’s mouth water as they entered the room. Jars of honey mead sat within easy reach of all. Pewter bowls piled high with fresh picked apples and pears were artfully placed. Serving wenches waited, poised, with huge pots of steaming porridge.

King Cedric already sat at the upper table with Prince Blayne at his right hand. His face lit up with a smile when Alana and Mabriona approached. His voice boomed as he greeted his daughter, “Here she is, the flower of my life.”

Mabriona’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes met Blayne’s. As Alana had feared, the young prince was dark-haired with eyes the color of jet, his stature kingly. Broad shoulders and well-muscled arms nicely filled out his deep purple brocaded doublet. A full beard of coarse black hair covered his cheeks and chin, but what stopped Mabriona was his smile. Never before had she seen someone’s face light up like the sun rising on a summer’s morn. Yet, this was what came to her mind. Clearly, Blayne’s smile was meant for her, but why?

He stood and walked toward the women. “Princess Alana,” he said, bowing before Mabriona, his glance speaking words of heat and passion.

“Oh no, Your Highness,” Mabriona said, blushing. “I am Princess Alana’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Mabriona.” She felt Alana glaring daggers at her and quickly curtseyed to hide her embarrassment. Alana made it clear earlier she wasn’t attracted to dark-haired men, why is she so angry? It isn’t my fault the prince was confused. Alana looked down at the floor before glancing up at the handsome prince.

“Forgive me, Lady Mabriona. I’ve made an unthinkable error.” Prince Blayne bowed again and then turned to Alana. “Your Highness, your beauty should have made it clear to me you are my intended.”

Mabriona’s heart sunk. She saw Alana’s cold look as Blayne bowed and took her hand to kiss. She knew then that Alana hated him, yet Alana would marry him as her father decreed. It was unfair, but Mabriona was already wise enough to know she couldn’t change her lot in life. Alana would marry the handsome prince and live happily ever after, and she would remain the ever-faithful servant catering to Princess Alana’s every wish.

Blayne grasped Alana’s elbow and led her to the table to sit beside him. Yet as Mabriona watched them, Blayne’s gaze slid back to her, lingering as if he could imprint her image upon his soul. Her knees felt weak, and Mabriona quickly took a seat at the far end of the board. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. What was happening to her? Prince Blayne was not the first man to have caught her eye, yet he was certainly the first to have affected her so she could barely breathe. Unobserved and temporarily forgotten, she watched the couple. Just as she suspected, Alana kept her nose in the air and cringed each time Blayne looked at or touched her. King Cedric would get an earful as soon as Alana got him alone, of that Mabriona was certain. Her heart bled for the handsome prince.

She looked up to see Alana motioning furiously at her. She went to the princess and bent near her. “Yes, Princess?”

“Get me out of here, now,” Alana whispered harshly.

Mabriona offered her hand, and Alana rose from her place. Blayne looked up, catching Mabriona’s gaze. His eyes sparkled, and a smile spread across his face. He bowed his head slightly. He openly flirted with her. This could not be happening. If King Cedric saw the interplay, what would he think? Blayne was the intended of Alana. Things could not get any worse. Her thoughts tumbled like the bones the guards threw when they played at betting games.

MIRROR, MIRROR

Lindsey Baker’s purchase of an antique mirror sends her back in time to salvage a love torn apart by class restrictions.

Blurb: Lindsey Baker is intrigued by everything about the middle ages, but when she purchases an antique mirror and a costume to attend a Renaissance Faire, she suddenly finds herself transported back in time. There she finds she’s been called by a witch to right a terrible wrong.

Graham loves Prudence, but he can’t marry her because he’s landed gentry, and she is only the baker’s daughter. Before Lindsey can return to her own time, she must convince Graham to marry against his father’s wishes. Unfortunately, she also finds herself falling for the handsome gentleman.

Excerpt:

“Fool-born child! Watch where you are walking. The master will have your hide for getting mud all over his clean shirts.”

Someone pulled her ear—hard—and Lindsey yelped with pain. She was tugged up into a kneeling, then standing position, before she opened her eyes. She realized in the first moment she was no longer in Oregon.

“Where is your cap? If the master sees you with your hair hanging down all over your face, he will switch us both.”

She stared wide-eyed as a large, buxom woman bent down, picked up dirty white shirts from the ground, and thrust them into Lindsey’s arms.

“‘Tis not here. Take my extra one.” The woman grabbed Lindsey’s hair, balled it, and shoved it into a long, sleeve-like cap, which came to Lindsey’s forehead and fell down around her shoulders. Balancing the load of shirts with one hand, she felt the cap. Not a shred of her hair was showing.

“Um, thanks,” she said.

“Well, donna be thanking me now. You just watch what you be doing next time, clumsy girl. Now march back into the washhouse and get the mud off those shirts. When you have finished, hang them out to dry. Then get you into the kitchen and help cook with dinner.” The woman brushed her hands off; then she smoothed her apron and marched through a courtyard toward a large stone house.

Dumbfounded, Lindsey stood where the woman left her. She looked down at herself and saw she still wore her second-hand clothes from St. Vincent de Paul’s. Her feet were bare. Then she noticed the woman walking away from her was also barefooted. Despite the muddy courtyard, the air was warm and so was the soil. But where am I? As she looked around, the structure of the buildings reminded her of pictures from her British History course in college.

In the opposite direction from which the woman took, Lindsey noticed a path leading to a small outbuilding. Smoke rose from a chimney. She trudged back to the washhouse, opened the door but stepped back outside when her eyes began to tear, and the heat blasted her face. Do people actually work under these conditions? With the door opened, some of the smoke and steam cleared, and she was able to see a large wooden tub sitting on metal legs straddling hot coals. Lindsey dumped the load of shirts into the tub, picked up a stick and stirred the load in the water. Before long, her muscles ached, and she had blisters on her hands. Once the tears began, there was no stopping them. Until this point, she hadn’t thought much beyond putting one foot in front of the other. She collapsed on a small overturned crate and with head in hands, had a good cry.

With red, puffy eyes, and stuffed nose, Lindsey looked up when the door opened. A wizened old woman leaning on a cane shuffled in. She looked at Lindsey with questioning eyes. “Is it really you, Mistress?” she asked.

“What do you mean? Who am I supposed to be?” Lindsey responded between sobs.

The old woman began to dance. “It worked! It worked!”

Lindsey wiped the tears from her eyes with the bottom of her skirt. “What worked?” she asked, realizing this woman might know what happened.

“Why the summoning I did for Mistress Prudence. So you’re the one, eh?” The old woman pinched Lindsey’s cheek and turned Lindsey’s face from side to side to get a good look. “Well you do look like the young Mistress.

When are you from, then?”

“You did say when, not where?”

“Of course. I know you’re not from now, foolish simpkin. I brung you here.”

“This morning it was 2011. I’m not sure what year it is now.”

“‘Tis the year 1421, and you need to get busy, little missy. You need to get the Master to accept Prudence as his bride. Soon as you do, we can send you back from whence you came.”

Lindsey stood and looked down at the little woman. “Just how do you propose I do that? Who is this master, anyway?”

“Why, he be the master of the house. He loves our Prudence, he does, but his father wants him to marry for money. He’s just distraught our Master is. I wager you be a smart woman. You can get our Master to marry you. I canna help you anymore, but I’ll be watching you.” The crone turned and shuffled toward the door.

Buy Penny's Books:

Love Delivery
http://tinyurl.com/4ajo9wz
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GPRQEC

Lady in Waiting
http://tinyurl.com/6u4keh5

Mirror, Mirror
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2

A Past and A Future
http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#pastfuture
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62608

Dragon Sight
http://www.genremall.com/fictionr.htm#dragonsight

Ghost for Rent, coming 2012

Ghost for Lunch, coming September, 2013

Many Colored Coats, coming October, 2014

Boo's Bad Day, coming June, 2015
http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html

Find out about Penny:

Website: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com/
Blog: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/penny.ehrenkranz
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pennyehrenkranz
Author page at MuseItUp Publishing:
https://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=82

Christmas in Spain

2011-12-03T10:13:00.001Z

I moved to Spain ten years ago. I don't know quite what I expected. Sunshine, of course, mountains, sea, beautiful views and wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables. I had learnt Spanish in England before I came out here and thought I was pretty fluent until I realised I couldn't understand a word any of my new neighbours said. This was because they speak with a regional accent which is impenetrable to most other Spanish speakers, never mind poor foreigners like me. And then there is the culture...

Here in the mountain villages little has changed since medieval times. Oh yes, we have televisions and cars and mobile phones, but they have been sort of added on to the existing way of life, a thin veneer over the old ways. It is not unusual to see a young peasant farmer talking into his phone as he rides his donkey, laden with vine cuttings, along the winding tracks.

Spain is a Catholic country. We are not talking about modern, erudite Catholicism here. This is the Catholicism of the Middle Ages, closely linked to the agricultural cycle. Colourful, exuberant, full of life.

Christmas here, until very recently, had nothing to do with Santa Claus. Here it is the three kings who bring the presents, and they don't bring them on Christmas Eve, they bring them on 5^th January, the eve of epiphany, traditionally the day when the three kings brought the gifts to the baby Jesus.

Our Christmas season begins with a wonderful nativity play in the village of Almayate.

Every year the entire village takes part in this event which is held in the school sports field. An entire scene of ancient Israel is re-created, with live cattle, sheep, goats, hens, etc.

The evening performance is particularly spectacular as the scene is lit with bonfires and one by one little cameo scenes are lit up with spotlights to reveal the angel announcing the coming birth to Mary, or Herod interviewing the three kings.

The story goes that there is tremendous competition in the village to produce a baby at the right time to play the infant Jesus.

Christmas day itself is not particularly exciting. There are, of course, no presents yet. Generally, the family goes out for lunch in one of the numerous county inns which seem to exist solely for the purpose of providing enormous Sunday and holiday meals. We are talking about the whole family here, mother, father, children, grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins. Traditionally, there is a lot of fish in the Christmas lunch menu. Not a turkey, Christmas pudding or mince pie in sight.

New Year is far more important. The whole village gathers in the village square in front of the church and everyone is given a glass of sparkling wine and a party bag with a hat, streamers, squeakers, sweets (candy) and, most importantly, twelve grapes. As the church bells chime midnight, you have to eat a grape for each chime. It is surprisingly difficult to manage this. You end up with a mouthful of unchewed grapes and often still a couple left in the bag. It's supposed to be lucky for the year ahead if you can eat them all in time. Last year was the first time I managed it and in March my first book was accepted for publication. So there you are. I'm getting into practice right now to get it right again this year. It would be really nice to sell some books. Sorry, I digress.

The climax for the children is Los Reyes – The Kings. In the early evening of 5^th January, the three kings come riding into the village on their donkeys, each accompanied by a servant. Sometimes Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and an assortment of angels come too. It rather depends how many people are available. The procession winds its way up and down all the village streets and as it goes the kings throw sweets into the crowd. Eventually it arrives at the village square and the kings dismount and sit on the steps ready to give out presents to the waiting children. Every child has a present with his or her name written on it and the kings' servants read out the names one by one.

Later in the night when everybody is in bed, the kings visit every house and leave even more presents. In the olden days each child would leave a shoe outside the bedroom door and the kings would put the present in the shoe. Now, I suspect nobody would have shoes large enough to contain the dozens of gifts each child receives.

The children don't have much time to play with their presents before they have to go back to school, but at least they don't have long to wait for the next holiday – San Anton and the blessing of the animals. But that is a story for another day.

Bio

Jenny Twist was born in York and brought up in the West Yorkshire mill town of Heckmondwike, the eldest grandchild of a huge extended family.

She left school at fifteen and went to work in an asbestos factory. After working in various jobs, including bacon-packer and escapologist’s assistant, she returned to full-time education and did a BA in history at Manchester and post-graduate studies at Oxford.

She stayed in Oxford working as a recruitment consultant for many years and it was there that she met and married her husband, Vic.

In 2001 they retired and moved to Southern Spain where they live with their rather eccentric dog and cat

Her first book, Take One At Bedtime, was published in April 2011 and the second, Domingo’s Angel, was published in July 2011. Her novella, Doppelganger, was published in the anthology Curious Hearts in July 2011, Uncle Vernon, was published in Spellbound, in September 2011, Jamey and the Alien and Uncle Albert's Christmas will be published in Warm Christmas Wishes in November 2011 and Mantequero will be published in December 2011 in the anthology Winter Wonders.

Excerpt from Jamey and the Alien

A Story in the Anthology Warm Christmas Wishes

That night Jamey dreamt he was talking to Santa Claus. Santa Claus didn't look like he did in all the pictures of him. He was wearing a cloak, but it was a sort of brownie-green, not red, and he wasn't wearing a red hat with a white bobble at the end. He was wearing a hat made of twigs and leaves, and there were leaves in his beard as well.

Jamey told him all about the alien in Daddy's head and Santa Claus listened and nodded wisely. However, when Jamey told him about Daddy being in the hospital, Santa Claus looked confused and Jamey had to explain what a hospital was. Surely, he ought to know about hospitals. Didn't he bring presents to the children in the hospital? But Santa Claus shook his head. “I can only go where I am invited,” he said.

Jamey didn't properly understand this, but he explained as best he could what a hospital was, where it was, and what it looked like. Santa Claus took hold of both Jamey's hands and he said, “I'll do my best, Jamey.”

For more about my stories, go to: https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/

A sweet Christmas fantasy - with hot chocolate

2011-12-02T10:36:00.004Z

I wrote 'A Christmas Sleeping Beauty' as my take on a fairy story and as a piece of historical fantasy - which is where the hot chocolate comes in. (Hot chocolate, or rather cocoa, is my favourite Christmas drink.)

Today 'A Christmas Sleeping Beauty' is published by MuseItUp.

Handsome, confident, a touch arrogant, Prince Orlando thinks that now he has found Sleeping Beauty, his kiss will wake her at once. When it does not, he realizes he has much to learn about life, and love.

Princess Rosie, trapped in her enchanted sleep, dreams of a mysterious man. Is he a rescuer, or a nightmare? She must fight to recover herself, and all before Christmas, for time is running out.

Buy the ebook at $2.50

MuseItUp Publishing
Bookstrand

To read an excerpt, please go here.

Guest Blog: Lysandra Press, a new romance and women’s fiction ebook publisher

2011-11-30T16:34:00.000Z

I’m excited but nervous about the launch of our new website http://www.lysandrapress.com/ today but after a year in development working closely with our authors, I am feeling pretty confident that we have a smashing website and some excellent titles – hopefully something for everyone. - Ruth Little

Here is a taste of what’s on offer:

Fiona Dalrymple is shocked to learn on the death of her grandmother that Doreen Dalrymple was not her grandmother at all. Her real grandmother, her grandfather's first wife, Ellie Marsden is still alive and when Fiona meets up with her, Ellie has a further shock for Fiona. She also has a brother. What is more Tim has disappeared and Fiona is charged with the task of finding him.

Pippa Cavendish is blonde and beautiful and no one's idea of a conventional nanny, but Lilly Fontaine loves her. Marc Fontaine her father suspects Pippa is not all she appears to be and he is right. Pippa is harbouring a secret, one she is determined to keep hidden at all costs.

Behind manicured lawns and bourgeoning gardens, the apartment building is much like any other in the community. The contrast of its aging structure and decorative foyer reflect the charm of Springfield Place – its elegant lobby prominent; its deteriorating corners hidden from view. Home to an intriguing array of characters who pass in elevators and along pathways, its residents – secrets intact – exchange vague greetings, then continue on their journeys. Some find the casual acknowledgement enough. For others, chance encounters and their pleasantries offer salvation.

Stop for a moment at Springfield Place. Share a glimpse within its walls.

Widow of a professional yachtsman, Cassie Lewis is busy running the family boatyard in Devon. When catastrophe strikes, Cassie has to accept she can’t change the inevitable.

‘If you refuse and leave, you will have thrown away your son’s inheritance.’ With those words Nicola is blackmailed by Henri her ex-father-in-law, into moving to France with Oliver her young son.

Wildlife expert Susannah Stevens has landed the perfect job at a hotel on the coast of Kenya. But the last person she expects to be working for is Greg Fairchild, the man who deceived her years ago and who believes she’s just a gold-digger. With the future of the hotel at stake, they agree to work together. But can they put past feelings behind them?

Young widow Val Baker restores musical instruments, but fears her relationship with her Greek-Italian family on Corfu is broken beyond repair. Returning to the island to work on a rare piano belonging to her Greek friend Alexia, she finds her dreams haunted by memories of Hilary; a young English girl raped and murdered ten years before. Val determines to uncover the truth about the case, and set to rest her own doubts about the involvement of her father, Yiannis, and half-brother, Markos, both policemen who were involved in the original investigation. Joined by her friend Harry, Val begins to unravel the threads. When two strange tokens arrive, one for Alexia's daughter Chloe and one for Val, it becomes clear that Hilary's unknown killer is on Val's trail. Her search for the truth becomes a race for life.

I hope to keep you posted on twitter of our progress. In the meantime, if you are a new author, or an established writer who would like any of your printed books to reach a wider audience through epublishing, we would love to hear from you - submissions@lysandrapress.com .

Guest Blog: Margay Leigh Justice - 'Sloane Wolf'

2011-11-28T08:00:00.007Z

For more than a hundred and fifty years, the gray wolf has failed to roam the hills of Massachusetts, leading to the belief that they are extinct. But with a spattering of sightings across the Berkshires, the legend of the gray wolf comes to fruition. The product of that legend, Micah Sloane will go to great lengths to protect his kind from the threat of outsiders, who seek to exploit the legend for their own interests. One thing he didn’t count on, however, was finding his soul mate in the company of such men.

From the first time she predicted a stranger’s imminent death when she was little more than a child, Shiloh Beck knew she was different. Wishing to cultivate her gift, her parents made the fateful decision to enroll her in a private school for paranormally gifted children. Unbeknownst to them, the school was just a front for a research facility simply called the Institute, whose secret board members weaned gifted children from their families to exploit their gifts. Shiloh has spent the better part of her life trying to escape the Institute and reunite with the family she was told had abandoned her.

From their first meeting, Micah and Shiloh share a connection that goes beyond the normal to bond them in a way that love alone cannot. But before they can build a life together, they must deal with the fall-out when the legend of the wolves collides with the men behind the Institute.

EXCERPT:

"No hiking trails where you live?"

Another odd expression crossed her face then, and once again, quickly masked. She favored him with an ironic little smile that zinged straight to his heart like Cupid's proverbial arrow. Damn, he was treading on dangerous ground here. If he were smart, he'd put an end to this nonsense and some distance between them. If he were smart.

"No," she murmured, looking ahead once more, "no trails where I live."

"City?"

"Not exactly."

Not exactly? How could you "not exactly" live in the city? Micah shook the question away as he directed his attention, and the conversation, toward her friend, several feet in front of them now. "You know, I've got to wonder why you needed us," he said. "Your friend seems to know where he's going."

"I don't see how," she disagreed, her breath coming in little pants as she negotiated the rugged terrain that steadily rose into the azure sky. "I've never known him to go for the hiking thing, either. This is a first for us both."

"And how long have you known him?"

A telling pause, then, "Most of my life."

"Family friend?"

The question brought her up short. Literally. Stopping in the middle of their makeshift path, she turned to face him, a defiant expression on her face. Fascinating, he thought as he mimicked her actions. His brothers, he absently noted, didn't miss a beat as they strode along in a semi-circle behind Jon, their attention focused upon him and nothing else. And then it was just him—and her, standing beneath the hickories and oaks.

* * * *

Shiloh waited for the others to put some distance between them, watching as they did so, before she turned her attention back to Micah. She was nearly undone by the headiness of standing so close to him. Did the man have any idea of his potency or was she the only one he affected this way?

"Okay, you want to tell me what this is all about?" she demanded, wrapping her arms about her waist in a defensive gesture and to control her wayward longings, a vain attempt.

"What?"

"This." She waved a hand between them in indication of the topic. "The interrogation."

"It wasn't exactly an interrogation," he tried to deny.

The nerve of him!

"Oh?" she challenged.

Love Reading? Looking for some Thanksgiving and Black Friday Offers?

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000Z

The covers featured here are from some of the authors on the Lindsay's Romantics Blog.

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Reading!

From the authors of the Lindsay's Romantics Blog

If you enjoy reading romantic fiction and you are looking for some Thanksgiving and Black Friday reading, take a look in the comments section of this blog post.

Romance authors - please feel free to post in the comments section of this blog post and share your own romantic reads and offers. Please add the following - title, author and brief blurb of any historical fiction, plus a single buy link, such as your web page. If any of your titles are under offers, please say so.

Bekki Lynn - Some wonderful offers for Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T08:00:00.001Z

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Bekki Lynn has put together some great stories and offers for you. Please see below for the blurbs, covers and links.

Absentee Love Returns - contemporary, non-erotic - only 99c!

Gail Green's world is turned upside down when an alleged mobster gives her an ultimatum; lose her newborn son or follow orders. The choice she chooses puts both of them in danger she had never believed possible. When they are kidnapped, she has no idea which of the Galletti’s enemies is behind it, if any. That is until Rico Galletti turns up with a wild story of working with a covert organization that works in conjunction with military field operations. Before she can comprehend the whole sordid story, he's shot. [mainstream/contemporary, non-erotic]

ISBN - 978-1-4580-4338-2 -

Purchase Bekki's books at:
Smashwords, Kobo, Amazon, Lulu, Diesel, Sony, Barnes and Noble.

Annie and the Young Master - an erotic historical fairy tale - only 99c!

Banished from her home, Lillian Basford picked herself up and set out to start a new life. When Samuel Wadkins came along and gave her a real-life taste of what her dreams with him had teased her with, she became torn between her life as it was and what it’d now become. [erotic historical]

ISBN: 978-1-4524-3636-4 Purchase at: Smashwords, Kobo, Amazon, Lulu, Diesel, Sony, and Barnes & Noble.

Purchase Bekki's books at:
Smashwords, Kobo, Amazon, Lulu, Diesel, Sony, Barnes and Noble.

Cornflower - BDSM - only 99c!

Max and Erin escape to their cabin for a weekend of fun and games. While in the midst of heated passion, a rope slips and she's injured. Max insists they take a break, but when games resume, the out of control fire within her disallows her to use the safe word. When he sees the pain etched in her face, off comes mask, the restraints and slave jewelry. Will they be able to get past the betrayal of trust? [BDSM]

Purchase Bekki's books at:
Smashwords, Kobo, Amazon, Lulu, Diesel, Sony, Barnes and Noble.

Jackie's Boys - menage trios - only 99c!

Jackie's used to the antics of her husband, Lenny, and his twin brother, Randy, but this time they decided to include her in their latest bet. She had forty-eight hours to figure out which one of them she was married to. However, she decides to turn the game around on them by following through on a long-time fantasy to have both brothers at the same time.

ISBN: 978-1-4524-7898-2

Purchase Bekki's books at:
Smashwords, Kobo, Amazon, Lulu, Diesel, Sony, Barnes and Noble.

On the Road and You're Invited to Tour the Virtual World with UsCelebrate the release of Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts

2011-11-07T14:48:00.004Z

A New Release and Back to the Drawing Board—Where to Begin

A woman’s life is hectic. Between family and career, it’s often difficult to juggle day-to-day activities much less squeeze in something extra. As a writer, I often find myself in a crunch for time. The muse pulls one way and readers guide in another direction altogether. Lately, I’ve discovered my muse shouldn’t have a dog in the race. When readers ask for a certain book, the excitement and energy they have for a particular series is a great source of inspiration when I finally sit down to write a new book.

Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts is a prime example. Readers supported this series from the very beginning and because of their requests for more from the Underground Unit, I couldn’t wait to deliver another Cowboy Boots novel.

The series began with Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts which kicked off the Cowboy Boots saga in April of 2009. The book captured the #1 spot at Siren-Bookstrand and went on to become the #1 bestselling erotica and western title at Amazon. A bestselling title at All Romance Ebooks and Mobipocket, Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts was soon followed by Cowboy Boots and Unfinished Business which was also received well by readers who supported the series.

I’m thrilled and excited about the new Cowboy Boots release, but must admit Cowboy Boots and Unfinished Business remains my favorite due to the unusual bond formed between sisters as one woman courageously faces her death while asking another woman to take care of the men she’ll soon leave behind.

Readers write to ask questions about continuing the series and I can promise there’s more in store. While writing Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, book three, the idea for the fourth installment materialized as well. Cowboy Boots and Undesirable Characters will soon be submitted for consideration.

In the meantime, more books are in the pipeline for the Cowboy Sex series as well. Sex Party was my first western ménage romance. If you enjoy family sagas, come on over to the ranch and meet the Cartwell family. While you’re there, stop by and say hello to the McKay brothers, too. You might want to call ahead. It’s hard to say where you’ll find these fellows if you stop by unannounced! One thing is certain— you’ll spot a strong-willed, feisty woman keeping an eye on her men.

As we take a tour around the internet, I’d like to invite you to check out the entire collection of Natalie Acres books, but particularly Cowboy Sex and Cowboy Boots. The Cowboy Sex novels tend to write themselves. The stories unfold quicker than they can be put down on paper. The Cowboy Boots novels were a little more difficult to write. Driven by the hot romance and fast action, the characters found in Cowboy Boots tend to ‘get carried away’ with their toys and props. These heroines understand their men are hardcore males with certain expectations in the bedroom.

Speaking of expectations, I hope the week ahead produces some emails because I’m at a crossroads again. With several series to complete and numerous manuscripts stored on my desktop, there’s the ever-present daily question—Where to begin? In fact, if you’re stopping by to follow the tour today, please leave a comment and your advice! You could win a free download of a backlist title!

You know as readers we ask the “Where to start” question a lot, too. It’s not always simple to find the order in which series books were written. Today, as we celebrate the release day of Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, I invite you to check out the entire series.

Start with Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts and meet the Donovan brothers from Southwest Virginia. Then, say hello to the Remington men and the women they love in Cowboy Boots and Unfinished Business. As they cope with tremendous loss, they find strength and hope in the arms of a woman they never expected to love. Finally, I invite you to pick up your copy of Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, on sale today at Siren-Bookstrand.

Below, you’ll find an excerpt and blurb from Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts followed by the blog tour information. Please visit the blogs listed and leave a comment. At the end of the tour, we’ll have prizes to distribute so the more you comment, the more chances you have to win some nifty prizes!

Natalie Acres

natalieacres@yahoo.com

Book Blurb:

Seduction turns deadly when Abby Rose, an agent with the Underground Unit, decides to put a provocative spin on revenge. Her plan to sleep with a cartel leader backfires when fellow operatives refuse Abby the opportunity to face her enemy alone.

Abby’s fellow agents begin the fight of their lives. After discovering Abby will use her body to lure the man who killed her father and their command leader, seven highly trained operatives cope with high tensions.

This team isn’t fighting for another cause or plotting the best way to take out their mark. The stakes are much higher. These men will take up arms and meet their greatest challenge as they work together to protect the woman they admire and love.

"This series moves faster than the hit TV Show 24"
Don't miss a moment of the excitement!

Tour Stops for NOVEMBER 7th

Author Keta Diablo at Keta's Keep

Author Paige Tyler and the Nice N' Naughty Authors

Author Melissa Bradley's Imaginarium

Author Sofia Hunt

Author Katie Alexander

Author Tammy Maggy

Author Tammy Maggy and Behind Closed Doors Blog

Author Karenna Colcroft

Author Lindsay Townsend's Lindsay's Romantics

Affaire de Coeur Magazine Blog

Author Raine Delight Blog

Author Tabitha Shay Romance Blog

Black Raven's Erotic Café

Dark Divas Reviews

Author Shannon Leigh

Author Hanna Rhys Barnes

Author Francesca Hawley

Naughty Edition Book Reviews

Author Ashlynn Monroe

Blog Tour Hosts Sunday, November 6th

Author Lia Slater

Author Jami Davenport

Honey Bunny Promos/Judie

The Romance Studio Blue Blog

Author Kayelle Allen

Author Amber Skyze

Author Cindy Spencer Pape

Author Melissa Schroeder

The Reader's Roundtable After Dark

Romance is Forever with Rachel Cron

*Authors and Blog Owners—if you wanted to be included in this tour and do not see your name and link listed above, please send an email to natalieacres@yahoo.com right away. Thank you! *

WARNING!!

This tour is in progress to celebrate the release of Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, book three in the COWBOY BOOTS series. Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts kicked off the series and was one of the first ménage books to include more than three heroes. This series is labeled SCORCHING HOT and for adults only. If you are easily offended, I highly recommend the Country Roads series for the more sensitive reader. Thank you for reading my books!

Natalie Acres

Fireworks - a poem by Margaret Maguire

2011-11-06T08:00:00.003Z

Flares and silver fountains
Illuminating exotic palms
Rockets and flaming stars
Exploding Chrysanthemums' tips
White crackling Crossetts
Orange glowing sky lanterns
Red Poinsettias and Diadems
Kaleidoscopic rain storms
Shimmering Catherine Wheels

Written by Margaret Maguire

One or two firework facts:

First documentation of fireworks was in China in the 7th century and were used in spring and mid autumn festivals.

The word for firework in Japanese is hanabi which means 'fireflower'.

The largest firework display was in Madera, Portugal, and consisted of 66,326 fireworks.

Bonfire Week - A Hungarian Bonfire

2011-11-05T06:00:00.000Z

I thought I'd share this excerpt from "The Hungarian" - it's perfect for Bonfire Week. The Set Up: Matthias is hosting a bonfire at his estate with Katherine in attendance.

******

Resa's voice cut through the air. "I light this match and honor the sacrificial pyre. I call on Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water elements all -- watch over the gathering here -- inspire us tonight." With a flick of her wrist, Resa struck a match against the matchbox, throwing it into the pit. There were a couple of crackles and a few pops before the flames roared to life.

Bright blue and white colors danced on top of the fire before the more dominant orange, red, and yellow flames took over. Mrs. Heatherton flinched as the fire came to life.

"Brilliant..." said Paul, mesmerized by the colors. Liz squeezed his hand.

Matthias rubbed his hands against Katherine's shoulders. "This is perfect."

"Perfect? How so?" she asked.

"You're here."

"Martin! Music!" commanded Resa.

Resa's brother sat down on a chair and picked up a guitar that was next to János. János joined in with a flute. Resa danced around the fire. Before long, Emily joined Matthias on the blanket and yawned.

"Well, I suppose it's Emily's bedtime," said Mrs. Heatherton, as she stood up. She looked downright spooked, standing next to the blanket. He could only imagine what she would tell Lady Ashton, but he shrugged it off. Nothing would bother him tonight. Nothing.

He glanced at Emily. "Go with Mrs. Heatherton, little rose."

Emily nodded her head and hugged him as well as Katherine. "Good night, Papa. Good night, Miss Archiebald."

Katherine hugged his daughter back. "Good night, Emily."

Mrs. Heatherton frowned. "God won't like this, he won't, Count Duma. Moral people don't do things like this."

Matthias kept his expression even. "This is not about God, Mrs. Heatherton. If I'm correct, this is an old English custom to celebrate summer."

"Humpf." She grabbed Emily's hand and led her away.

Paul sipped his ale. "I, for one, am glad the old frump is gone."

"Paul," said Liz, smiling. "How many have you had?"

"Not enough."

"Lazlo, pour some wine for the ladies and I'll have an ale," said Matthias.

"Katherine Archibald"

Lazlo nodded his head. The music stopped. János served everyone the food he had prepared. The rich, sweet spices left an exotic taste in Matthias's mouth. Martin picked up his guitar again. Resa grabbed a tambourine and danced a square type dance with János who had put his flute down. The pit tamed the fire. Matthias felt happy, content even, as Katherine sat close to him. He looked up at the stars. A first quarter moon. The fire made the moon appear almost red, as if it were burning as well.

"I see we have a visitor," Katherine said.

"Who?" asked Matthias.

She pointed to the celestial orb high in the sky.

"It's growing," he said, quietly.

She looked at him, concerned, cupping his cheek. "I know you don't like it, but I've never seen it look so... alive."

"With you here, I'll be fine."

She cocked her head. "Fine?"

Lazlo handed Matthias and Katherine their drinks. Matthias took a long, satisfying sip of his ale. "The moon has more influence over men than you think. Just as it plays with the tides, it can toy with a man's emotions."

Katherine raised an eyebrow.

Resa approached and clapped her hands. "Count Duma! The Verbunkos!"

He finished his food, chuckled, and stood up. "I haven't danced that in several years."

János handed Resa a tambourine and grabbed his flute.

"What's the Verbunkos?" Katherine asked.

"A Hungarian folk dance that only men dance," said Matthias, grinning.

Resa looked pleased that he was willing to take on her challenge. "Martin!"

"Matthias Duma"

Martin struck up the guitar and she kept the beat with her tambourine. Matthias hardly felt rusty even though it had been two years since he had danced the Verbunkos. He easily kept time with the music. The dance involved a lot of jumping as well as clapping. He centered the dance around Resa spinning and twirling around her. It allowed him to keep his concentration on the dance. The music built to a fast pace and then stopped suddenly. Matthias ended the dance with a quick jump and fell to Resa's feet.

"Bravo, Count Duma!" Resa exclaimed.

Matthias got to his feet and smiled. Paul, Liz, and Katherine all clapped.

"Well done, Matthias!" cried Paul. "I've never seen a dance like that."

"Now it's time for you and Miss Archibald to dance," said Resa.

Katherine waved her hands. "I couldn't dance that."

"You don't have to. We can dance the Csándás," said Matthias.

Resa clapped her hands again. "Yes, it's perfect."

"I don't know how."

"I'll show you," said Resa.

"Go on, Kate," said Liz, smiling. "Give it a try."

Katherine took Matthias's hand, and he helped her to her feet. Martin and János played their music at a slow tempo. Resa showed her a couple of steps at a time. It took about ten minutes, but Katherine seemed to pick it up. Matthias danced it slow for her the first time. There wasn't much jumping, but it was a rather square-type dance, and there was clapping involved. When the song ended, Resa approached.

"Let me dance with Count Duma at the normal pace. Watch me. Try to twirl the skirt when I do."

Katherine nodded her head. Again, the music started, and Matthias danced with Resa. From time to time Resa would look at Katherine to make sure she was watching. Matthias was pleased at how Resa was trying to help Katherine learn the dance.
The dance finished in a flurry of moves, with Matthias wrapping his hands around Resa's waist and Resa resting her head against his shoulder. She quickly parted from him and looked at Katherine. "Remember, it starts off slow but builds up to a quick ending."

"All right," Katherine said.

Matthias took Katherine's hand again. The music began. They danced in front of the fire. Liz and Paul clapped to the beat. They danced around the pit, laughing and clapping. The guitar played faster, the flute hit higher notes. Resa sang in Hungarian. They danced quicker, and when the Csándás ended, Resa threw powder into the fire. The fire crackled. It hissed loudly and then the flames turned colors -- purple, blue, green, and white before slowly returning to yellow. Matthias held Katherine tight against his muscular body. He felt her heart pulsing with energy just like his was.

"How did you do that?" asked Paul.

"Magic," replied Resa.

"Well done, Resa," said Matthias. Then he looked down into Katherine's eyes. "I've enjoyed myself tonight."

"So have I."

******

REVIEWS:
Happily Ever After Reviews, 5 Cups
"This is an excellent book and I think fans of both the paranormal and historical romances will really, really enjoy it."

Reader's Favorites, 5 Stars
"This book is extremely entertaining. The plot is sensual and romantic."

Coffee Time Romance, 3 Cups
"Ms. Burkhart tells this tale in such a voice that we can practically feel the waves of emotions both characters are feeling coming off the pages."

BOOK TRAILER ON YOU TUBE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwaF8hAdow

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON KINDLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Moon-Book-One-ebook/dp/B003K15NG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317406212&sr=1-1

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/budapest-moon-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1029789952?ean=9781936000654&itm=4&usri=stephanie%2bburkhart

SONY EBOOKS
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/stephanie-burkhart/the-hungarian/_/R-400000000000000233152

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS:
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PUBLISHER'S BUY LINK:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-87/%3Ci%3EBudapest-Moon-Book-One%3C-fdsh-i%3E-cln-/Detail.bok

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:
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FACEBOOK:
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GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

Mischief Making... and Battle of the Sexes Fireworks

2011-11-04T04:30:00.007Z

Merry Mischief Making, everyone. Those of you across the pond, please forgive my lack of cultural understanding about Mischief Night on November 4, and then Bonfire Night on November 5. That stated, I find it intriguing this was the night in 1605 when Guy Fawkes attempted to explosively put an end to the House of Lords.

What if Guy Fawkes had succeeded? Certainly, from my viewpoint, it would be a more-than-fascinating story -- a rearranging of events as translated into current times. After all, what would our world look like, be like now?

Ah, the stuff of parallel dimensions explored, perhaps entwining, then influencing our times as some mystics and far-edge, quantum physicists believe. Likely this alternative strand of history has already been written by many authors, and I’m simply not aware of it.

To my chagrin, I wasn’t much of a mischief maker growing up, even though I ran wild every chance I got as a child. No, I never really understood the fun, the irresistible lure of pulling pranks... except! And there’s always the exception. Every now and then, I would get a wild hair and do something really outrageous.

Then, during the nineties when I was living elsewhere, a groups of us, who became good friends would have treasure hunt Halloween parties where we would have a list of items to find like hedge apples, a castoff tire, political yard signs, bricks, a lighter from a person who smokes, or pool stick chalk from a bar. I can tell you it was full-out craziness because we were divided into competing teams and were all costumed to the hilt.

Omygosh, did I discover a daring, mischievous shadow side of myself that only seemed to emerge in the dark of night near All Hallow’s Eve. I certainly gained a new understanding of what the witching hour could mean... has meant to humanity as a whole.

Because of the current times, I have become more complex. While both the light and dark facets of my nature show up in my writing, I would never have guessed at how much the dark side has surfaced... yeah, at times, I even rival Stephen King with some of my Flash Fiction. So, a friend tells me who considers Mr. King her favorite author.

However, I digress into the darkness...

For the fireworks, here’s my first attempt at a bullet point blurb, then an excerpt between my heroine, Kalypso, and the hero, Zryphus, in MURDER BY HAIR SPRAY IN GARDENIA, NEW ATLANTIS.
~~~~~~

It’s 2051.

The antediluvian land of Atlantis has risen.

Colonized by freedom fighters after the Conflicts, a new culture has risen, and must be protected at all costs.

Kalypso, Sheriff of New Atlantis, confronts a high stakes murder, then a shapeshifting serial killer used as a pawn by the dark-side elite.

Worst of all, to save all those she loves, Kalypso must accept the help of Fed Agent, Zryphus Vasquoz.

Let the battle of the sexes begin.
~~~

EXCERPT ~

"Sheriff." The man's voice commanded first, and announced his presence second. "Sheriff Kalypso Sun Wing."

"Yeah, that's me." Turning, Kalypso's gaze gave no quarter, hard as diamonds on the outsider. "Agent...?" Dang it to hang, he was a tall and broad drink of water. She'd expected the usual tight-ass wimp, with grim lips and eyes that were mirrors, reflecting nothing but the orders he’d been given. No, this man burned with sheer vitality. His gaze assessed, a damn force of nature. She'd bet if she struck a match and tossed it toward his eyes, they would sizzle like her birthday candles, then explode at his will. Yep, he was definitely a whole load of nano dynamite, unlit.

"Agent Zryphus Dolen Vasquoz," he answered. "Give me your evidence retrieval. I'll take over from here."

Audible gasps burst from Anna and Dr. Victoria at the man's patriarchal and patronizing tone.

"No, you won't, Agent Vasquoz. You're here at my invitation. Only. You follow my rules or you don't get to play 'Find the Hair Spray Killer'. Do you understand?"

"Wowzi Powzie," Deputy Anna whispered, watching her vid screen light up with the sparks flying between the Sheriff and the outsider Agent.

"It's a Federal Union case, Sheriff. I have priority investigation." The Agent's gravelly deep voice filled the entire room.

"You have nothing, Agent. Unless I say so. You can turn around, hit the portal. Or you can cooperate. You'll have full access. Anna will give you all she's retrieved so far. If you want, I'll even act friendly, let you 'analyze' this bag more closely." Sheriff Kalypso approached, a lioness with no fear. "I'll even sweeten the pot, Agent Vasquoz—let you do a quick exam of the body before we save the fetus. As they used to say, deal or no deal?"

"Whirlwind in the room," Deputy Anna whispered to Victoria, who still watched her vid screen.

"Deal. For now, Sheriff." Focusing his gaze like a cannon laser, the Agent straightened his over-large shoulders, his latent power obvious.

"Pull anything against my authority, Agent Vasquoz, and I guarantee you won't like the results. Deputy, feed your vid evidence to the Agent's data base, will you, please?"

Once Anna stood, he handed his data vid to her without looking. His gaze relentless, Agent Vasquez followed the Sheriff's arm wave to the corpse. Moving easily in the small confines of the room, despite his size, he knelt with deliberate care, scrutinizing every detail of the body.

Sheriff Kalypso couldn't deny his concentration was impressive. She watched him turn the victim over with gentle precision.

Awed, her heart tripping rapidly, Sheriff Kalypso moved closer. "Even her face resembles Jackie O."

"How do you know?" Agent Vasquoz demanded, not looking up.

"I was born in 1951. Check out your history data base, Agent."

"Call me Zryphus."

He stood, gradually moving around the corpse. His gaze never deviated until he halted, and faced Sheriff Kalypso. Immediately, she nodded toward Anna and Dr. Victoria. Kneeling, they worked as a team, rescuing the fetus.

"Got an ID on her, Zryphus?" Kalypso ignored his intense study of her.

"I know who she is. Vrilesa Corzinski. We've been looking for her ever since she disappeared. She fits the Hair Spray Killer's profile. Before she discovered her ability to bear children easily, she was an elite prostitute. Baby-making is a premium moneymaker in some circles."

"Who reported her 'disappearance'?"

"Her brother. He became suspicious of an ongoing vid relationship she had. He was worried when she just packed, and went on vacation, and wouldn't confide where. He claimed it was unusual behavior for her, even when she was pregnant."

"Then there would be parents for the fetus."

"No one on official record. She may have just conceived, and decided to keep the pregnancy."

"Twelve days ago. A Venutian hybrid is the father. That doesn't add up to a 'let's have sex fun' conceived child. Unless you know something I don't."

"Point accepted, Sheriff. May I call you Kalypso?"

With the fetus safe, Anna grinned and checked her vid. Sure as the sky, the Agent's voice suddenly registered as masculine velvet.

Kalypso hesitated. Dang and wolf's fang, was he putting the moves on her? "Why not? We try to stay friendly around here."

"Fake charm or real charm?" Dr. Victoria whispered.

"He's for real," Anna spoke near her ear.

"Now that I have new leads, Kalypso, I'll research later, discover if there are waiting parents. Where's the victim's handbag?"

"Down in that drawer. I used gloves, and had a look inside. Found this folded piece of paper at the bottom." Sheriff Kalypso handed over the evidence. "If the handwriting doesn't belong to our victim, your resource base is larger than ours. I expect full knowledge of whatever you find out."

"Mutual giving. It's a deal," the Agent purred, his meaning obviously beyond investigative cooperation. He gazed down at the unfolded paper, as if it could be the key to solving his case.

"Mean anything to you?" Sheriff Kalypso finally prompted.

"No. Not any connection to a 'Beatrice' that I've come across."

"We have a volunteer surrogate for the fetus." She arched a brow. "Do you object?"

"I can't offer a surrogate soon enough. No, Kalypso, I don't object. What autopsy methods do you have here?"

"Dr. Victoria, let me know how insertion goes, will you?"

"Sure, Sheriff. On my way."

"We have machine autopsy. Holo program or real cutting. Our town butcher knows her way around the human body. She worked forensics in Chicago before the permanent break up of the United States. You got a preference?"

"Start with Holo. From my examination it looks like 'the Hair Spray Killer'. Not a copycat."

"Anna, give a holler to Deputy Lucy. You two take the victim to autopsy after you've scanned her clothing, and all her personal items. Once the Agent and I have satisfied each other on the collection of evidence, I'll check in."

"Sure as fire, Sheriff. Sorry, bad joke. No sparks allowed in here with all these fumes. Heck, the corpse could still explode from all that hair spray covering her. We'll keep the ride real cool."

"Lost several of our victims that way, Kalypso. One static spark before we arrived, the body burned," Zryphus seriously stated. "Leave the hair spray can here. I need to do an analysis."

"How many victims so far?"

"Twelve. If this proves out, it will be unlucky thirteen. Or lucky thirteen. I have a feeling you're a very persistent woman."

"Truth, justice. That's our way here, Zryphus. Play it that way, we'll get along. Once Deputy Anna finishes scanning, you can take her data, or follow in her footsteps, and get your own." She eyed him, wondering if he was a wolf dressed in wolf's clothing, as he appeared. There was no pretense of wearing sheep's clothing that she observed. "Do you usually work alone?"

"Back up team for forensics, investigation. Yes, I work alone. No partner. You're the exception, Kalypso. Let's investigate the contents of her handbag together."

"From what I can tell. the makeup and lipstick cases look like replicas of the early sixties era. We have lab verification and analysis, if you want use of it."

"Let's see what we've got first." Agent Zryphus carefully dumped out the handbag's contents. After scanning each item, he professionally murmured, "Just her prints and bio cells. Take a look at the lipstick. Is it the color she's wearing?"

"Wouldn't your scan data verify that?"

"Wrongly phrased. You're the period expert. I wanted your impression of how real the lipstick and the makeup itself are to your recollection."

Sheriff Kalypso uncapped the lipstick. "It's been ages, but it looks real. Smells real. Not the same color she's wearing."

"The color of lipstick has been the same on each victim. Never found a container."

"How could you tell on the burned victims?"

"Enough residue remained for holo reconstruction. Take a look inside the other cases," he suggested.

"Why the nice treatment, Zryphus? I was dirt under your shoes when you first arrived." Sheriff Kalypso did some burning of her own while she picked up the mascara wand. "Black, black. Just like I remember."

"Sheriff," Deputy Anna called out, "finished the personal item scan. Got the body ready for transport. We're on our way. I'll leave the door open. Keep airing the room out."

"Thanks, Anna. You know where I am." Kalypso picked up a compact case, solid rich elegance in design. Opening it, she studied the pasty heavy covering. "Looks real. But I never used this stuff. Couldn't stand it. I used the sheer version they came out with, when I used makeup. Except when I acted in college theater. We used the heavy stuff because of the lighting. You haven't answered my question, Zryphus."

"Bluntly, Kalypso...I want you in my bed."

Placing the compact case down delicately, Kalypso absorbed the shock. "No, I don't think so," she slowly enunciated each word.

"Do you have a lover?" Zryphus handed her the powder case.

"None of your business, as they used to say. Looks real. Mind if I test it with my finger?"

"Please. You don't have a lover. Neither do I."

"Probably because you're married or in a committed partnership. Or you just ended an affair. Something like that. No!" Kalypso shifted gears. "Feels real, smells real. Are you aware of a company, or maybe a small business, that creates these replica products?"

"Three, to be exact. I can't tell where these originated. I'm a one woman man, Kalypso. You'd have all my attention."

"No thanks. I politely decline. Eyelash curler. Never used one. They always looked so barbaric. Hmmm, brow tweezers. Unfortunately, I tried this a few times. Way too painful."

"I'll convince you. What's this?"

"Eyebrow darkening powder. No, you won't. I don't like men when it comes to relationship crap. Perhaps you don't know much about our social structure here. Women rule."

"I dominate in bed. In our passionate relationship."

"No. Make me say 'no' again and something ugly will occur to you. Eye shadows. Definitely not the colors she had on. Let me see the blush."

"Ever been married, Kalypso? ...
~~~~~~

Available at Siren Publishing ~ bookstrand.com/murder-by-hair-spray-in-gardenia-new-atlantis ~ Ebook and Print.
~~~~~~

Happy Bonfire Night!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~~~~

Savanna Kougar is the best-selling author of twelve ebooks, with five books in print – soon to be six. She pens love stories because that’s her deepest heart. She writes in the futuristic/fantasy/paranormal subgenres because that’s her fiercest passion. And, she writes erotic romance because she ferociously enjoys ripping the damn doors off.
~~~~~~

Nights of mischief

2011-11-03T08:00:00.011Z

In Yorkshire, where I live, Nov 4th has always been known as Mischief Night, when local youngsters traditionally attempt all kinds of mayhem. Favourites are knocking on doors and running away, lifting garden gates off their hinges and hiding them and tapping on windows with a twig while hiding in the bushes. Unlit bonfires may be set deliberately alight, or 'raided' for their workwood.

Reading this list through I'm horrified, but I do remember taking part in bonfire 'raids' and really enjoying it.

Now I write romance I prefer more elegant mischief - that of a man and woman testing and teasing each other. Below is a teasing, mischievous excerpt from my medieval historical romance, To Touch The Knight. In it the hero and heroine are sparring, 'making mischief' for each other:

Excerpt.

Ranulf recognized the jutting gray beard. "Well met, Sir Tancred."

"Sir Dew of the Moon, if you please." The older man turned on the spot, showing off a costume of loose white and silver robes smothered in pearls and silver coins. He had a cap on, too, that looked very much like a nightcap, but one that trailed more ropes of coins.

"Have you a troop of seamstresses with you?" Ranulf asked, grinning to show he meant no ill-will.

"Nay, but my lady guessed it would be unknown knights. It is a popular theme."

"Indeed." A dormant streak of mischief, long banished since he had been a squire, stirred in Ranulf. He knew very well who Sir Tancred's lady was. "Would you swap masks and costumes with me?"

There was a rustle of cloth and coins as the older knight shook his head. "I have promised to escort my lady."

"May I escort her also? We could stroll on either side: Sir Dew and Sir Jade."

"I do not think my lady would like this..."

"If you allow it, I will joust in your amour and you keep the prizes."

"Agreed!"

As they shook hands, a rattle of drums sounded and a woman robed in yellow, scarlet and blue came down the castle steps, arm in arm with a short, burly man, wearing a mask of tall, sweeping peacock feathers and a feather cloak.

"Lady Rainbow and Lord Phoenix!" roared an iron-throated herald, to a pattering of applause.

Behind these came the other ladies, gaudy in tight, long sleeved gowns of blue and scarlet, purple and gold. Ranulf saw Giles, whom he recognized by his cocksure air and costume of long blue robe and black mask - the role of sea knight, which Giles had played at other jousts - rush to escort a lady who seemed to be a sparkle of gold.

"Beauty needs no foil," he murmured. He wagered that once the ladies unmasked, Giles would be disappointed.

"And are you beautiful, sir knight?" asked a new voice behind him.

"My lady!" Sir Tancred bowed so low that a rope of coins and the tip of his headdress touched the dirt. "We looked for you, Sir Jade and myself. We did not see you come with the other damsels. Where, too, are your attendants?"

"I chose another way, my lord, a way less crowded," came the calm response. "Sir Jade?"

His heart hammering as it never did when he was about to tilt, Ranulf determined to be equally reserved. "You will know jade, my lady, being as you are from far away." He patted his moss-strewn chest. "I am the English kind. But I see you disapprove of me."

He looked down, straight into a veiled face dominated by a pair of brilliant eyes, as large as a falcon's, and as piercing.

"Sir Jade, you are mistaken." Turning away from him without more ado, the lady threaded a narrow hand deftly through Sir Tancred's waiting arm. "I congratulate you on the elegance and wit of your mask and costume, Sir Dew. This fore-noon you will dazzle us all."

She had not answered his question on her lack of servants, but the older man straightened and stroked his white robes as if they were the finest ermine. “It is because of you, my lady. You were my inspiration.”

"What do you think of mine?" Ranulf interrupted. Usually he had no time for such folly; play like this reminded him of Olwen, of what he had lost. Yet this cool veiled green damsel piqued him: perversely he wanted her to think well of him.

The cool bright eyes studied him. "I find you apt, sir. Today I am the lady of jade." She offered him her free hand. "What do you think of me?"

She stepped closer as if daring him to touch. A sweet, rich perfume rose from her as she moved.

"You are as green as Roman glass, my lady," he remarked.

"And as slippery?" she countered.

"As green as jade," Sir Dew/Tancred put in, keen not to be left out of this encounter.

"I did not say that," Ranulf answered, disliking to have thoughts assumed of him, even if they were right. "Are you always veiled?"

"It is the custom of my people. Women go veiled. Some men, too."

"The old and ugly," said Tancred, but Ranulf ignored him.

"Are such loose clothes also the custom?" he asked. She was a pale green shimmer, clad head to toe in a filmy, billowing sheet of something - whether robe, tunic or gown, he could not say.

"These are the clothes I wear and how I wear them when I am walking," she said. "When I am watching the joust, I will be so," and she twisted her arms.

At once the sheet about her settled snugly over her hips and became a single slender rope across her left shoulder, running cross-wise over her narrow waist and surprisingly full breasts. Beside him and around him Ranulf heard the gasps and sensed the stares - he would be gawping, too, he wagered. Beneath the green shimmer, which he could not honestly call a cloak, but then he had no other words to describe it, the lady was all but naked.

She hides her face but still wears less than a tavern wench, was his astonished thought.

Truly, she wore a tiny golden bodice or jerkin over her bosom, cut to show the tops of her arms and breasts, and stopping before the last of her ribs, so that her upper arms and her middle were bare, naked and bare. Ranulf found himself leaning in to her, almost reaching for her slender waist and copper-colored, smooth-as-silk skin. He was reminded now, crudely and starkly, that he had not lain with any woman for months. The blood thumping in his ears and more painfully elsewhere, his mind flashed to the little modest maid of the morning, who had darted off. Two different kinds of challenges.

"You are the very season for lilies, princess, "he said, making a play of breathing in slowly and commenting on her perfume because she expected him to scold or praise her costume.

"Today I am the Lady Jade," she reminded him anew, nodding to a belt of green beads wound about her hips and several bracelets of green bangles. One of the nearby knights started to say something in French, but Ranulf stared at him and the man instantly went quiet. He clasped the hand she offered, amazed that she should be wearing gloves up to her elbows.

"Have you a favor in that costume for me?" he asked, while the knights about hitched their eyebrows at her strange attire and the ladies in masks made a point of not glancing her way.

"Alas, Sir Jade! My favors are all given out."

“Your face-veil is green and we shall soon be unmasking. ‘Tis considered unmannerly to remain masked when the lord and lady are not.”

"Thank you for pointing out that custom, Sir Jade. To be sure, I did not know it."

"To be sure you did, princess." Ranulf squeezed her fingers, tempted to shake her until her bracelets and beads rattled.

"I will remove that veil when we reach the place of tourney," she replied, not in the least discomforted by his outright denial.

They were moving by this time, strolling to the jousting ground, the princess in her fantastic costume floating like a low green cloud between him and Sir Tancred.

"May I claim it?" he asked. "I am jade, as you."

"Huurph!" grunted Sir Tancred.

"Forgive me, sir, but I cannot grant your request. To do so would be to break faith with others."

"I understand completely," Ranulf replied, looking over the princess's veiled head at Sir Tancred. "We must honor our agreements."

To see the cover, blurb and buy links, please visit my blog:
http://www.lindsaytownsend.net/2008/04/to-touch-knight.html

Best wishes, Lindsay.

[Pieter Breughel's 'Children's Games (1560) sourced from Wikimedia Commons.]

Bonfire Night - Whizz, Bang, Light My Fire!

2011-11-02T00:56:00.000Z

When I was a little girl, Bonfire Night was a really big deal! It'd be unthinkable to let the night pass without a bonfire and fireworks, and preparations for it began early. The house I lived in faced onto a huge are of open land, and this was where our bonfire would be built.

Weeks before the event, the local kids would begin gathering up materials for the bonfire, and being autumn-time, there were always plenty of sticks, pruned branches and good garden waste around to start the build. What's more, people used to save up anything that they were throwing away that would be good on the bonfire - maybe someone was having a new fence built and they'd donate the old wood, or on one glorious occasions, several old wooden doors were gifted to us. The word would go around that Mr. So-and So from around the corner had stuff to give, and a bunch of us would rock up and help him shift it - to the bonfire! Yes, it probably saved Mr. So-and-So a trip to the local tip, but we all benefited.

We'd haul everything we could find over to the waste ground, where some of the local fathers would be supervising the building. It was a great community event, one of those magical things that seemed to happen every year without the sort of committees or meetings you'd probably need to have these days. I remember it wasn't a case of everything just being chucked in a big pile and set light to, not at all. The bonfire was built carefully and methodically, with safety always the first priority. Us kids weren't interested in that, though. All we were interested in was that glorious moment when the bonfire would be lit...

On 5th of November, the anticipation would be building all day long till you were almost sick with excitement waiting for it to get dark. Then the signal would go out, we'd all make our way across, and yes! The bonfire would be lit, and after some moments, the fire would really take hold, blazing away and showering sparks into the air. I remember the crackling of the fire and that wonderful wood-smoke smell so well, and even now, the smell of wood-smoke takes me back to those magical nights. Later there would be a firework display, again arranged by the local fathers, I suppose. Nothing compared to the massive public displays you see now, of course, but it was still amazing to us...the wheee-POP of the rockets, the whoosh of a Roman Candle, and the whizz of the Catherine Wheel. Amazing.

Food, of course, featured highly. It must have been organised somehow, how and by whom I've no idea, but plates of this and bowls of that would appear and be passed around everyone. I remember toffee apples one year, donated by someone's Mum, with the sweet, hard toffee like shards of glass that would scratch the inside of your mouth if you weren't careful, and the apples inside hard and sour - delicious. Someone would produce a bag of potatoes, and they'd be laid in among the ashes at the edge of the fire to bake. When they were done, you had to roll them out of the hot embers with a stick and then crack open the layer of carbon to get to the fluffy spud inside, all the while tossing the hot potato from one gloved hand to the other until it was cool enough to eat. That was it; no salt, no butter, but just plain potato made extra delicious with wood-smoke and burnt skin. Nothing tasted as good as those spuds!

Nowadays we're a lot more 'sophisticated,' and in the run-up to Bonfire Night, magazines and TV chefs give us complicated recipes for amazing party dishes to be served up to our guests. I wonder what they'd think of our basic Bonfire party with our cobbled-together bonfire, razor-sharp candy apples and carbonized spuds?? It's not the same, I know. Nothing is, in retrospect. But I do know we were blessed to have that great community spirit around us, a real sense of 'making our own fun' and enjoying every minute of it.

If you're having people over for a Bonfire party, don't go to town on the food. Easy grub is the order of the night, just enough to keep everyone warm and happy - and remember, love, friendship, and good neighbours goes a long way towards that.

Here's a recipe for Sticky Honey Sausages from food writer Nigel Slater. It's as easy as can be and is just right for Bonfire Night. This is for four people, but you can increase the quantities as you like.

8 plump pork sausages

2 tbsp grain mustard

a tbsp smooth Dijon mustard

3 heaped tbsp runny honey

2 tbsp lemon juice

Set the oven at 200C/400F/Gas 6. Put the sausages in a roasting tin large enough to take them in a single layer. If they overlap, they won’t cook properly.

In a bowl mix the mustards, honey and lemon juice. Stir well, and about halfway through the cooking time - about 15 to 20 mins - pour the mixture over all the sausages. Cook the sausages for approximately another 15 minutes or until they're done, and they've taken on a sticky, glossy coat.

Visit Jane at Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Romy Gemmell - 'Dangerous Deceit'

2011-11-01T08:00:00.015Z

Although traditionally regarded as All Saints’ Day, November 1st was also sometimes known as a day for pranks and mischief. In this excerpt from my Regency intrigue novel, Dangerous Deceit, several of the characters are visiting exciting Vauxhall Gardens for the evening.

These were the pleasure gardens of the Regency era (and before) where all levels of society rubbed shoulders together. And what a place for intrigue and mischief! The many secluded paths, groves, and arbours allowed men and women an ideal opportunity to arrange clandestine meetings. With supper boxes, orchestras and fireworks, it was a lively venue. As well as the rogues and courtesans, the more ‘well-to-do’ took pleasure in all it had to offer.

Unknown to my heroine, Lydia, someone is determined to cause mischief for her, contriving to separate her from Lord Sheldon and the rest of their party. And Lydia is now lost in the slightly dangerous pathways.

EXCERPT

She had to choose one of the paths in the hope it would take her towards the orchestra and supper boxes. But which one? She had no idea which way they’d walked as she had been too busy talking and exclaiming over the sights.

Deciding to keep going as straight as possible, she took one of the paths just off center. Several couples were coming towards her from that direction which meant they had to be coming from somewhere. Gripping her shawl as much for comfort as for cover, Lydia walked as quickly as her slippers would allow over the gravel path, looking neither to left nor right and avoiding all eye contact from curious stares.

She started as one young dandy came so near that Lydia could smell the ale on his breath.
“Well, well, a fairy princess has crossed before me. Grant me a wish then, princess!”

“No, you don’t. You have yer own fairy queen beside you, jackass, who’ll grant you anything you like!” The colorful woman beside the young man yanked him back to her and laughed at Lydia’s shocked expression.

“Pretty young gal like you don’t want to be on yer own down here.”

And they both walked on holding each other, their laughter echoing back as Lydia walked more hurriedly. She didn’t know whether she was more shocked by the woman’s clothes, her preposterous feathered hat, or her coarse language but she was certainly grateful for her presence and kind warning.

She often longed for some adventure and now Lydia regretted the form the adventure had taken. She was a young female on her own and would seem easy prey to some enthusiastic young buck, or some reprehensible rogue. Not for the first time, she wished she could enjoy a similar type of freedom as that enjoyed by young men like James.

Well, such musings did nothing to protect her at this present moment, she decided. She resolved that she would not let herself be easily intimidated should she be accosted again.

Quickening her walk, Lydia wondered at the length of time it was taking to reach the end of the path. She had no recollection of such a long walk on the way down. Although there were lamps lighting the way enough to see by, it was still darker than she liked and she was disconcerted to hear whispers and subdued laughter at regular intervals along the path. She noticed the slight gaps in the hedge now and then, which presumably led to other paths and arbors, but she kept walking straight ahead. She wasn’t quite sure whether she was grateful she was alone, or more apprehensive at the eerie stillness.
Suddenly, an arm shot out from one such gap that Lydia had failed to see. She barely had time to realize what was happening before she was being half dragged towards a secluded arbor. Gathering her wits about her, Lydia dug her heels in as far as she could and began to resist.

Rosemary Gemmell Bio

Based in the west coast of Scotland, Rosemary Gemmell’s first novel (as Romy), Dangerous Deceit, historical romance and intrigue set in Regency England, was published by Champagne Books in Canada in May 2011. Her first Tween novel, Summer of the Eagles, which is set in Scotland, is being published by MuseItUp Publishing in Canada in March 2012 (as Ros).

Her short stories and articles are published in UK magazines, in the US, and Online, and her children’s stories are in three different anthologies. One of her short stories was included in the fundraising book, ‘100 Stories for Haiti’ in 2010. A historical short story was published in ‘The Waterloo Collection’, launched by the late professor Richard Holmes in April 2011. She has won a few competitions and will be a short story adjudicator at the annual Scottish Association of Writers’ Conference in March 2012.

Dangerous Deceit is available in kindle version from www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com and all other e-book versions from http://www.smashwords.com/

The print version (and e-book) is available from http://champagnebooks.com/

You can find Rosemary at:

Website: http://www.rosemarygemmell.com/
Reading and Writing Blog: http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com/
Romancing History Blog: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1050960198
Flights of Imagination Blog: http://rosgemmell.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @rosemarygemmell

Happy Halloween! Share your spooky reads here...

2011-10-29T13:27:00.000+01:00

Happy Halloween! Over this Halloween weekend please share your ghostly/paranormal/spooky reads here at Lindsay's Romantics.

Writers - just leave details of your paranormal and ghostly reads in the comments section (and don't forget to add a buy link).

Readers - please come and see. You may discover some wonderful new authors.

Hope everyone has a super shivery time!

Best wishes, Lindsay

'Voices in the Dark' now re-issued

2011-10-29T13:24:00.002+01:00

My romantic suspense novel 'Voices in the Dark,' first published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1995, is now re-issued as an ebook and is available for all the usual formats (including Kindle) on Smashwords.

UPDATE: Both Voices in the Dark and Night of the Storm are now available from Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Here are the details:

Julia Rochfort, a young opera singer, visits Italy to take part in a competition judged by Roberto Padovano, a world-famous bass. When he and Julia meet and fall in love, the consequences will be devastating. Julia and Roberto are already connected by terrifying events that took place before they were born: the atrocities inflicted on a Tuscan village in 1944 by a torturer known only as 'Scarpia' after the villain in Puccini's opera Tosca. As they uncover the intricate web of betrayal, deception and guilt, the danger grows. For Scarpia and some who share his guilt are still alive - and desperate to keep their past secret for ever.

Smashwords 2011
$3.99

Buy the ebook: Smashwords
Amazon Kindle (US)
Amazon Kindle (UK)

Reviews from the original UK print edition:Birmingham Sunday Mercury:Lindsay Townsend's mixture of arias and skullduggery turns into a highly readable thriller.

Yorkshire Post:Confident debut.

Grimsby Evening Telegraph:She obviously has a passion for writing. This is a book you will not be able to put down.

'Palace of the Fountains' now in print

2011-10-25T11:17:00.001+01:00

My romantic suspense novel, 'Palace of the Fountains,' is now in print and appearing at Barnes and Noble, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

To read the blurb, excerpt and reviews, please go here.

Lindsay

What's in a Name?

2011-10-10T07:01:00.002+01:00

What's in a name?

Plenty, if it's mine.

A simple-looking name isn't always easy to pronounce.

"Banche" looks easy to pronounce, but it's not.

I get "banche" (1 syllable), "blanche" (1 syllable, added "l"), "blan che" (2 syllables, added "l"), "bianci" (trying to make my name more Italian than it is), and "ban shee" (2 syllables, soft s--no, I am not an Irish ghost).

I even get flak from machines. If you search for me on amazon, amazon asks "Are you sure you don't want blanche?"

A very nice gentleman from the UK with the same last name as mine asked if my family came from Mauritius. I had to look up Mauritius. Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean. No, we don't hail from so far afield. My family came from Italy.

So how do *I* (and I'm the only person who counts since it's my name *g*) pronounce my last name?

Correct pronunciation is ban-che --two syllables, accent on the first, short a, long e, "ch" as in "church".

How's that for complex? I figure if I ever make it to the bookstores, they'll shelve me next to the queen of regency romance, Mary Balogh (whose name rhymes with "kellogg"), and there isn't any better company.

What simple-looking names have you found that are difficult to pronounce? Is yours hard to pronounce?

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

Jenny Twist: 'Domingo's Angel'

2011-10-06T08:00:00.007+01:00

When Angela turns up in a remote Spanish mountain village, she is so tall and so thin and so pale that everyone thinks she is a ghost or a fairy or the dreadful mantequero that comes in the night and sucks the fat from your bones.

But Domingo knows better. “Soy Angela,” she said to him when they met – “I am an angel.” Only later did he realise that she was telling him her name and by then it was too late and everyone knew her as Domingo’s Angel.

This is the story of their love affair. But it is also the story of the people of the tiny mountain village – the indomitable Rosalba - shopkeeper, doctor, midwife and wise woman, who makes it her business to know everything that goes on in the village; Guillermo, the mayor, whose delusions of grandeur are rooted in his impoverished childhood; and Salva the Baker, who risked his life and liberty to give bread to the starving children.

The events in this story are based on the real experiences of the people of the White Villages in Southern Spain and their struggle to keep their communities alive through the years of war and the oppression of Franco’s rule.

EXCERPT:

The next day he took his goats to the top of the ridge near the pass and looked down on the smallest casita of Guillermo the mayor. There was a mule tethered outside and a string of washing had been hung between two almond trees. Otherwise there was no sign of life. Halfway down the slope was a large algarrobo tree. He decided it would be an ideal place for lunch.

But although he sat and watched the little house all the time as he ate his bread and cheese and olives and drank his wine, nobody came out and nothing happened. Only the mule moved along the side of the house to keep in the shade as the sun moved round. So he went to sleep.

When he woke up, someone was calling him. “Hola, goatherd!”

He squinted up into the sun and there, standing before him was an angel. It was very tall and thin and there was a fiery halo round its head. “Hello,” it said, "Soy Ángela - I am angel. I am delighted to meet you! Who are you?”

In absolute panic, Domingo shot up into a sitting position and shuffled backwards into the algarrobo tree. His head hit the hard trunk with a resounding crack and he subsided and slumped back down, feeling a little stunned.

The angel came forward into the shadow of the algarrobo tree and he realised that the halo was, in fact, hair - very long hair - falling in waves down beyond her shoulders and almost to her waist. It was exactly the colour of oranges that have dried on the tree. Her skin was so white it was almost blue and her eyes were so pale they had no colour at all. “How could they think she was a dead person?” he thought in a confused fashion. “She is obviously an angel.”

Happy reading

Jenny Twist
https://sites.google.com/site/jennytwistauthor/

Published by Melange Books 10th July 2011
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/jennytwist/twistdomingosangel.html

Available on Amazon and Kindle:

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-61235-202-2

Now in Print

2011-09-28T09:24:00.002+01:00

Because He Needs Me/ Lynn Granville/ Leap of Faith publishing

This book is in ebook at kindle, Barnes and Noble in Nook and Are as well as Leap of Faith's own website and various other outlets. It will show up in print at amazon and other outlets soon.

www.leapoffaithpublishing.com
This is a new publishing house and its books are bright and vibrant.

Suzannah Safi: 'Purity Dwells Within'... and a new fiction magazine, too

2011-09-26T08:00:00.001+01:00

Purity Dwells Within is a story about friendship that became life threatening and frightening. About a husband bound to a wife that used black magic to keep him silent, to use and abuse him emotionally. The story is filled with twists that delve into black magic, devil worship, white magic, and murder. Is about, unholy forces threatens two that fell in love, and a jealous wife wanted to control not only their lives, but also gain evil powers of the beyond and send the two innocent souls to the devil himself.

My husband told me an incident that happened to him when he was young walking through mountains with his cousin years and years ago. The incident with its paranormal activity thrilled me, and I just could not but implement his experience, with some changes, into my story and impose the experience on my character, Hannah.

I used the scene in chapter two, and it fit where I was going with the events perfectly. The scene until today sends chills to my skin, even when I wrote it at night I couldn’t but feel that I want Hannah to get out of the mansion and the forest alive.

As I was writing Purity Dwells Within, I researched if black mirrors exist in black magic. Guess what, I was shocked to find about them and what they are used for! and the way I explained the usage of them suited my story and the events amazingly.

The twists I used throughout my story are a mix of suspense, paranormal, hot romance, and few scary scenes with thriller events.

Purity Dwells Within

Paranormal/thriller/Romance novel

in e-book available now from

eXtasybooks.com

This is the trailer instead of a blurb. Hope you will enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgKBjwU1RCQ

Below is the scene I talked about above, hope you enjoy reading it. If you are in a dark room open the lights, or not ;)

Outside, the chill of the night hit her heated cheeks with the impact of a thousand tiny needles. Shivers raced along her flesh, whether from the cold or not, she didn’t know, or care. Her open sweater flapped in the breeze as she topped the knoll. Her breath coming in harsh, grating pants she turned one last time and stared at the dark mansion. “Jenny!” she whispered. Tears formed, blurring her vision and stinging her eyes, and the hot scald of tears streaked down the contours of her ice-cold cheeks.

"I’ll come back, I promise.” Hannah turned, her shoulders hunched against the cold. Her mind was a tangled web of thoughts, with only one solidifying as she trudged toward the path that lead back to the car. She had to call someone, the police, or Jenny’s husband – someone. But who would believe her?

Dazed, her breathing ragged, the crunching of dried leaves under her feet the only sound that broke the silence, Hannah trudged forward holding her bag tight against her chest. Leaving Jenny in that awful mansion unsettled her further. Guilt reared its head to go with the terror that still shook her frame.

The silver moon cast mysterious shadows through the woods around her. Watching the shadows dance, her mind replayed every scary movie she used to watch. Hannah paused, studying the now-deserted cafeteria. All the lights were out, the windows reflecting the moonlight. Darkness wrapped around the looming shadow of the building itself. Hannah shivered; the sense of loneliness reached through her and squeezed her heart.

She walked past the cafeteria to turn down a rutted dirt road. At the time, Jenny had said it was a good idea since they would come back in the daylight with other visitors roaming around. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she would head to the car, alone, terrified, and in the dark. I hate the dark, and this situation, and Jenny for dragging me into it. Hannah sniffled. Happy thoughts. Yes, Hannah nodded, her hands pressed to her mouth to keep the hysterical laughter from spewing forth. She needed happy thoughts to calm her. Snuggled beneath a warm blanket, her two cats in her lap, she’d watched reruns of Lassie on television. Their warm bodies curled up by her knees in bed, the sounds of their purrs loud in the silence, a comforting sound as she fell asleep.

She hurried down the narrow dirt trail. Head bent, arms wrapped tightly around what remained of the tattered bag she’d grabbed and tucked under her arm, she trotted forward.

The soft breeze picked up, moaning and twisting the branches that rasped together. Eerie and uncomfortable, the sound induced a wave of chills that coursed down her spine.

Shaking, her fingers tightened around her sweater, clinging to the weak, invisible shield it offered. Guilt, remorse, and pain tangled within her as she sniffled again. She’d left Jenny back there, alone, terrified, and with that--that monster.

But what could she have done? Hannah couldn’t comprehend what had happened. No one would take her words as truth. The low throb behind her temple sent waves of agony radiating outward. The chirping of crickets, the croak of frogs filled the deserted woods. Slithering creatures glided over the dried leaves that littered the ground. The sound of footsteps grew in volume, hiding the natural rhythm of the woods. Hannah stumbled, her eyes sweeping the trail.

A young boy stepped out of the shelter of the woods, dressed in worn shorts and a dark T-shirt. Silver dapples of light danced off his short black hair, dark obsidian eyes stood out in his pale face. He stood, silent, imposing, in the middle of the dirt road. His clothes aren’t proper for the weather, she thought. There isn’t a house within miles of the mansion. Besides, they don’t allow children on the tours because of the nature of the haunting. Her mind tripped over her thoughts.

“Have you seen my father?” Steady, strong, and clear, there wasn’t a hint of the fear she’d expected a lost child to have.

She stepped toward him until a half smile crept over his face. Instinct, fear, she wasn’t certain, held her in place several paces from the boy.

“No, are you lost?”

“Have you seen my father,” he repeated. Dark, cold, and vicious his eyes narrowed, tracing over her to rest at the throbbing pulse point beneath her chin. His strong, sure voice and smile were as out of place as he was.

Passing him, Hannah hurried toward the car. “No!” she snapped. A small voice whispered discontent. Something in the way he looked at her raised warning flags. The situation didn’t feel right. A gut feeling told her to just keep on moving. Her heart lurched, suspicion clawing its way to the front of her mind. The flesh on her arms crawled at his penetrating stare. Hannah backed away from the boy before she turned and fled. Her feet pounded along the roadway, pausing only once to look over her shoulder.

She couldn’t see him behind her and shuddered at the worry that slammed into her. There had been nothing normal about that boy, she thought. What had he wanted? He wanted something, whatever he was.

“Have you seen my son?” An old man’s monotone from the corner of the dirt road startled her. Peppered hair, deep wrinkled flesh gleamed under the moonlight. Hawk-like, his stare went straight through her. Dressed in a long black cloak, his pale skin stretched over pronounced features. He stood on the edge of the road, staring at her with the same bottomless, ice-filled eyes as the boy. Stagnant, vacant, the look in his eyes left her with an aching sensation, much like a hole within her. With the empty sensation came the growing fear that she’d been trapped in a nightmare with no way to wake up.

She turned slowly and pointed to where she saw the kid behind along the road. “He’s back there,” she said. Just stay away from me.

He tilted his head to one side and a half smile crept on his chapped lips. Or maybe she imagined it? With a final glance at the old man Hannah darted away. Biting her lips, a quick prayer crossing them, Hannah concentrated on the dirt road. Every sense on full alert to the sound of footsteps behind her, she gulped in air. “Just a few more minutes to the car.” The mantra was carried away on the evening breeze. Almost there, just keep on walking.

Cocktails Fiction and Gossip Magazine.

I would like as well to introduce to readers and authors my magazine, Cocktails Fiction and Gossip Magazine.

I have changed the content of the magazine with a new way to give my readers an enjoyable read, and at the same time introduce new authors to them by reading short stories and articles that are not published anywhere other than my magazine.

I’m looking for authors to give the best short stories and article and get paid for it. The magazine is free to my readers, but with a high quality, short stories and articles that will give you the joy you are seeking and provide with new authors you will love reading their stories. The new issue is coming out, January 2012, submission is now open.

For authors interested, please read about it here http://www.wix.com/cocktailsmagazine/fictionandgossip#!about-cm .

Contact me at admin(at)suzannahsafi(dot)com.

Thank you, Lindsay for giving me the opportunity to be here, and I thank you all for reading about ‘Purity Dwells Within’ and my magazine ‘Cocktails Fiction and Gossip Magazine’.

Suzannah Safi
http://www.suzannahsafi.com/

The Love Of Your Life...Edinburgh Fog

2011-09-21T16:40:00.008+01:00

One of the things I suppose writers get asked more than anything else is ‘where do you get your ideas?’ Well, we all get them from different places, but one place I know I get mine from is real life. That’s especially the case with Edinburgh Fog, which is based on something that really happened to a friend of mine.

They say you never forget the love of your life. How true. It’s also the case you may not realise they truly were the real love of your life until it’s too late. Other things get in the way; time, distance, career, family, all kinds of things. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…

Many years ago, a friend of mine had a wonderful, whirlwind summer romance. Imagine it…long sunshiny days, balmy evenings, the feeling that time is standing still just for the two of you. Then reality kicks in. Summer comes to an end; the gentles breezes turn a little chilly. In my friend’s case, both she and the man in the picture were both about to start new jobs, hundreds of miles apart. They made the decision to break off the relationship rather than conduct something long-distance and run the risk of it all fizzling out, being hurt at a later date. Keep the memories precious, shake hands and say goodbye. How very grown-up and mature of them!
Only it didn’t quite work out like that.

My friend soon regretted leaving this wonderful man. When I asked her what had stopped her getting back in touch with him, she didn’t really know. ‘All kinds of things, I suppose. Fear. Pride. Thinking maybe it wouldn’t be as wonderful as it had been that summer. I’d have hated it to all go wrong. I told myself it was best to let things be.’ Many months later, she heard on the grapevine that ‘he’ was very happy in a new relationship with a new woman, and that sealed it for my friend. Decision made. No looking back. Move on, and forget.

Fast forward five or six years. My friend’s in a city-centre restaurant with some work colleagues. She’s changed jobs a couple of times since ‘that summer,’ and she’s moved from city to city over the years. All of a sudden, she gets that unmistakable tingling feeling on the back of her neck that tells her someone’s looking at her. Bear in mind she’s never been to this city before she took this job, and has only lived there a matter of weeks. At the same moment, her colleague leans over and says, ‘there’s a guy right across the restaurant who keeps turning around and staring at you….’

Guess who?

The rest is history – that’s a ‘long, happy marriage and three kids’ kind of history. I thought it was an amazing story, one that’s stayed with me for a long time, and now, if anyone asks me that question ‘where do you get your ideas from,’ I can say, ‘well, once upon a time, I had this friend…’

You never forget the love of your life....

I do hope you enjoy Edinburgh Fog.

Blurb:
When Greg Morton returned to Edinburgh, it was to follow his dream of opening the smartest bar-bistro in town. Now Tellers’ is a huge success—but the truth is, deep inside, it means little without the love of his life.
Four years ago, he left Julia Brady behind in London to realize his business ambitions in his Scottish home town. By the time he’d recognized his mistake and admitted to himself he wanted her back, the grapevine told him Julia had moved on—and Greg had to face the fact that he’d been a fool.
When Julia appears out of the blue in Tellers’, he knows the only thing he should do is walk right up to her and say hello. But it looks like someone else has their sights set on her, and he’s a quick worker.
Is Julia about to disappear from Greg's life a second time - this time, for good?

Excerpt:
'The staff heaved a collective sigh and set to preparing the place for the Friday evening crowd. Nothing eventful happened except Chrissie tripping over Ben as he knelt behind the bar to re-stack the mixers shelf and tipping half a bottle of vermouth and a bowl of stuffed olives down the back of his neck. Ben took it in good part, commenting that while he smelled like a martini, he was only stirred and not at all shaken. Leaving them to clean up as he sliced lemons and limes for the bar, Greg mused on whether the olive-incident counted as Thing Number Three, and was on the point of convincing himself that definitely, absolutely nothing else could possibly go wrong for the rest of the day, when she walked in.

Julia.

Greg froze, hypnotized by the reflection shimmering in the long mirror behind the bar. It disappeared briefly, moving out of his line of vision and he stepped sideways, following the mirror along the wall, seeking her out if only to convince himself that it couldn’t possibly be her—that Julia hadn’t just walked back into his life four years after he’d walked out of hers.'

Thanks for reading! Edinburgh Fog is available from the UK Kindle Store, The US Kindle Store, and in all other formats through Muse It Up Publishing.

Read more about Jane at Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Review Fest with Mona Risk

2011-09-20T12:29:00.000+01:00

Thank you Lindsay for the fantastic opportunity offered by the Review Fest Week.

I would like to present some of my books to our readers.

OSIRIS' MISSING PART ~ $5.20 at amazon.com

A paranormal fantasy, sensual romance but not erotic.

According to the legend, the evil god, Seth, killed his brother Osiris, chopped him into fourteen pieces and flung them all over Egypt. Isis, goddess of family, reassembled thirteen of his body parts. Isis has always loved Osiris and helps him fight Seth. Together they search for the missing part so he can recover his godly attributes, but can Isis forgive the sins of his past and their unexpected consequences?

Siren's Song Reviews: Mona Risk does a wonderful job of balancing the god powers in these characters and the real human heart. There are some twists and turns that I just was not expecting to happen and this kept me engaged and wanting more.
Night Owl Reviews : Mona Risk draws upon Egypt and the mythology of the Egyptian gods. Join her for the adventure as she takes you on a trip into the past and into an enjoyable realm. I enjoyed this tale and look forward to more Mona Risk titles.

Helen Scott-Taylor, authot of the Magic Knot: If you are looking for something a little different you have found it! Full of adventure, romance and humor ...

Steph Burkhart on Amazon.com: A wonderful escape to another time and place that proves love does conquer all. Risk's imagination shines against the lush backdrop of ancient Egypt.

TO LOVE A HERO: $1.24

A international contemporary romance set in Russia.

Admired by men and adored by women, Major General Sergei is a true hero in his country. When a lovely American chemist stumbles straight into his arms, Sergei has more on his mind than patriotic duty. On her first international business trip to Belarus, a Russian country dominated by male chauvinism and intrigues, Cecile finds more chemistry than she bargains. Caught in a clash of cultures, can she betray his trust to save his career? Will her love cost him everything he values?

SIMPLY ROMANCE REVIEW: Outstanding Read. ~ A wonderful love story complete with deception, conceit, stubbornness and the love of a lifetime for two people who couldn't be more different. Ms. Risk hits a homerun with this story and her characters are strong.
The Romance Studio: Sweetheart of the Week. ~Ms. Risk is one of those authors who puts together a tale that’s captivates from first page to last. She has built an exceptional fast moving story, full of colorful characters who enhance our enjoyment of the country and its people.

Two Lips Review: ~ Mona Risk tells a poignant yet beautiful and sweet story of two people falling love, who must fight their attraction... this is a story readers will enjoy.
Night Owl Romance Review: To Love a Hero by Mona Risk is a wonderful & adventurous story of love overseas.
Review Your Book Review: Suspense and romance combine to form a great read…Mona Risk is a talented author. She knows how to weave intrigue and romance into her story.
Saturday Blurb Special Barbara Vey's Beyond her Book Blog on Publishers Weekly ~ I have no doubt that Mona Risk was there, for the descriptions of the people and places in Belarus are clear and convincing. I enjoyed the story a lot.

FRENCH PERIL: $1.24

A romantic suspense novel.

than to live in a French chateau owned by a young count and to work on the restoration of a chapel in the Loire Valley? But when her professor is poisoned, Cheryl's summer job changes into a dangerous treasure hunt for a missing statue, while Count François tries to protect the young woman who's turned his life upside down.

Night Owl Romance: Recommended Rea ~ Mona Risk will pull you in with her amazing characters and in-depth twisting suspense...
Review Your Book: In French Peril, Mona Risk creates a swirling air of mystery around the excavation of a chapel ruin. Murder, mystery, and intrigue…. Risk has a talent for character development.
The Romance Studio: This is a wonderfully exciting romantic suspense novel. The characters are appealing and the setting is very romantic, a chateau in the Loire Valley. The plot is full of action and the love story between Francois the Comte and Cheryl is very engrossing all on its own.
Two Lips Review: Mona Risk brings old-fashioned romance back into style. French Peril is full of mystery and intrigue. The ending was every romance readers dream! Pick up French Peril, a sweet mystery romance you’re guaranteed to enjoy.
Coffee Time Romance: French Peril is a great romance with an excellent mystery. Saturday Blurb Special Barbara Vey's Beyond her Book Blog on Publishers Weekly ~ Who wouldn't want to lose themselves in Mona Risk's French Peril? Traveling to the beautiful French countryside, staying in a marvelous, ornate chateau, eating fine food and drinking the chateau's wine, and let's not forget the charming and handsome host. Sign me up, Ms Risk, I'll be looking for your next foreign escape.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN: $4.99

A poignant and sweet love story.

The lovely resident vowed to ignore the playboy doctor who trampled her heart years ago. But when a tragic accident transforms him into a dedicated but novice father to his nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and helps. Can she learn to trust in Marc again and believe in true love?

The Long And The Short Reviews. Best Book of The Week. Ms. Risk has done an outstanding job with Babies in the Bargain ... I highly recommend this book. This one will keep you on your toes and make you beg for more.

Romance Junkies. A novel that pulls you into the story and holds you captive to the last page.
Night Owl Romance. A sweet and sexy medical romance that will have you cooing and awing while also shedding a few tears.
WRDF Review~ This was a great read, romantic and at times bittersweet. Enjoyable from beginning to end, Babies in the Bargain sports believable characters, an ultra romantic story line, and a thoroughly satisfying ending.
Got Romance! This story is both heart warming and heart wrenching. Ms Risk has created beautifully written, well rounded, realistic characters.
Readers Favorite. This is Mona Risk at her best. The story will bring tears both sadness and joy. The characters are easy to relate to. The plot is excellent. Fans of romance will love this story.

Rx FOR TRUST: $4.80

A story of past mistakes and second chances.

Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane believes youthful mistakes should be kept secret and skeletons are better left in the closet. The French psychiatrist she loved ten years ago detests secrets. Can he help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past too?

Night Owl Romance. Top Pick. A fantastic read. The plot was very well thought out and the pacing on target.
Got Romance! Mona Risk writes a charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot and with great characters...
The Long And The Short Reviews. Full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination. Mona Risk’s writing sweeps you into the story from the first page, and keeps you turning the pages.

Readers Favorite. This is the first book of the Doctors Orders Series by Mona Risk. If the rest of the books in this string is of this caliber, Ms. Risk will find herself with a very successful series on her hands.
Happy Ever After. Mona Risk writes a beautiful love story about second chances and being afraid to take a leap of faith. Prescription of Trust is a fast paced book that you just can’t put down until the end.

Rx IN RUSSIAN: $6
A love story and clash of cultaures in Belarus.
He’s a Russian widower with adorable children who need a caring mother, but his heart had sealed when his wife died. She’s an American doctor, who feels has lost her illusions about men, marriage and family and won’t risk being hurt again. Their cultures clash but their attraction defies all odds.
The Long and the Short. A good romance novel: a believable plot, a likeable hero and heroine, and is long enough to flesh out the story, and enjoy the characters A nice book for a long weekend! Be sure to pick it up!
A NIGHT OWL REVIEW. Mona Risk is one of my favorite authors. She knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters. Her work takes me on a journey be it local or overseas.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion. Meet the spirited heroines and the alpha heroes who share irresistible chemistry.

http://www.monarisk.com/
http://www.monarisk.blogspot.com/

Review Fest with Author Stephanie Burkhart

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000+01:00

I just want to thank Lindsay for suggesting Review Fest week. I've got a couple of books & reviews I'd like to share with you.

Victorian Scoundrel
This is my latest release, out 1 JUL 2011. It's something a little different for me - it's steampunk romance. BLURB: When Alice, Princess of York, travels back in time to keep her cousin, Edmund, out of mischief, she's in for a pound of trouble! Why, steampunk? Gail Delaney, EIC at Desert Breeze put out a call for steampunk so I thought I'd try. I didn't necessarily want the obvious paranormal elements such as vampires & werewolves, so I stuck to a more "traditional" vision, using time travel as my paranormal element. I also used some staple steampunk gadgets such as "datamancers" and "transmogifiers," but I added whuzzies and couple of more surprises. Here a couple of reviews for Victorian Scoundrel:

"She grips the reader instantly, and keeps them hooked until the last page... I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!" - Molly, E., Reader's Favorites

"A wonderful historical, paranormal steampunk read this was. The author really had me hooked from the first chapter... I loved the humor in this read along with the historical facts. You can tell the author did a wonderful job in her research. This new series is going to be a big hit. She has me hooked. This is a must read." - Pen & The Muse Book Reviews

"Her characters are enigmatic, eclectic and all worth their weight in gold especially the Royals, Alice and Edmund, whose personalities constantly kept me turning pages. They didn’t lessen my admiration for the other characters in the book, from the ordinary to the sublime. The romance in the first episode in this series is sweet and naughty at the same time." - Larkspur, Long & Short Reviews

Publisher's buy link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-183/Stephanie-Burkhart-Victorian-Scoundrel/Detail.bok

The Wolf's Torment

Released 1 MAY 2011, this one is probably my darkest and most challenging book I've written. It's a paranormal romance set in Romania, 1865. BLURB: Prince Mihai Sigmaringen returns to Moldavia where he meets the beautiful Theresa von Kracken. When a werewolf threatens his family, including Theresa, his determination and courage will be tested like never before. I orginally wrote the story in 2006/2007 and it's gone through many, many drafts. Here are a couple of reviews:

"A complete werewolf story through and through, Burkhart does it again with an amazing cast of characters, entertaining dialogue and plot." - Pen & The Muse Book Reviews

"The Wolf’s Torment has it all, witches, werewolves, a vampire, princess and prince. This is paranormal romance at its finest... I found The Wolf’s Torment to be an entertaining read. I truly cared about the characters. I look forward to reading the next book in this series." - Reader's Favorites

"For readers who relish character driven stories steeped in historical detail and dabbled throughout with touches of magic, I would highly recommend THE WOLF'S TORMENT. You will find it satisfying, even as it leaves you hungering for more." - Kathyrn, The Romance Reviews

Publisher's Buy Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-163/Stephanie-Burkhart-Moldavian-Moon/Detail.bok

The Count's Lair

Released 1 FEB 2011, I absolutely loved writing Anton and Amelia's story. It's another paranromal romance set in Budapest, 1901. BLURB: Count Anton Varga dares Lady Amelia Andrássy to discover the dark secret he hides from the rest of the world.

This novel was my 2009 NaNoWriMo project and my first for NaNoWriMo. In 1997, I went to Budapest on an USO while I was deployed to Hungary and fell in love with the city. I was delighted to make it the setting of my Budapest Moon series. Just recently the book was recognized by Reader's Favorites as their Silver Winner in the Romance: Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. Here a couple of reviews:

"Want a recipe for a great story? Take an awesome writer like Ms. Burkhart, stir in her intimate knowledge of Hungary, her innate ability to create wonderful characters, a book-full of suspense, mystery and passion and you get a book you can’t put down." - Fennel, Long & Short Reviews

"The Count’s Lair is filled with suspense, mystery, passion, and the paranormal. This story is set in the beautiful city of Budapest; the author brings her knowledge of the area to her plot. She describes the history and culture of Budapest... I was cheering for Anton. However, for me the best scene was the last one when Anton gives Amelia her choice. He held her with an open hand." - Reader's Favorite Reviews

"Burkhart does it again with book two in the Budapest Moon book series, The Count’s Lair. The second book is filled with passion, chock full of paranormal goodness, romance, suspense and mystery... Those who love paranormal romance with a dash of suspense and mystery will fall in love with The Count’s Lair and do not forget to read the first book in the series!" - Pen & Muse Reviews

Publisher's Buy Link:http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-142/Stephanie-Burkhart-Budapest-Moon/Detail.bok

You can find me on the web at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

BLOG:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Burkhart-Author/149938795021166

GOODREADS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

ReviewFest ~ Kandy Apple and Her Hellhounds

2011-09-18T05:05:00.003+01:00

Reviewfest ~ this is a wonderful idea brought to life by my author friend, Lindsay Townsend. She’s been raking in the good reviews, and I couldn’t be happier for her, and her books. She so deserves it, as do all the previous and upcoming authors.

However... here’s where I let you in on a little secret. I’m not a review-liking kind of gal, overall. This was true way before I ever became an author. I’ve always appreciated the blurb-synopsis given by a reviewer about a book. The review... well, too often, I didn’t feel the same way as the reviewer.

Of course, when a reviewer does gets my book -- oh happy days are here! Since my erotic romances are out-of-the-box and out of ‘that’ box, I don’t get that many reviews from reviewers, and at this point in my career that’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned.

For me, it’s other authors and readers who say those things that bring the good tears to my eyes -- that swell my heart with an indescribable joy. What I truly care about are the readers who buy my book and rate it high because they’ve enjoyed it.

Anyhoo, with that in mind, here’s my ‘unimpressive in number’, but ‘dear to my heart’ reviews for my latest release, KANDY APPLE AND HER HELLHOUNDS.
~~~

Two sexy, gentlemen hellhounds and a sassy red-headed witch wing their way through time and dimensions living, loving and kicking bad guy butt. Zin, Zol and their Kandy Apple are sure to put a smile on your face and an itch in your shoe to dance the night away!

~Serena Shay~ Author of The Challenge and A Magical Return

~~~

From My Earnest Reviews at BookStrand for Kandy Apple and Her Hellhounds ~

This reviewer's rating: 5 - Outstanding

This was a good book.

Reviewed by: Barefoot Okie (Date: 08/14/2011)

~~~

Blurb ~

Kandace doesn’t know why she’s a real witch. Despite her powers, she can’t find her biological parents. When the Tuxedo Twins tempt her with knowledge about her heritage at a charity event, Kandace agrees to dance with the mysterious Supernaturals. Unexpectedly, they are threatened by the omnipresent evil she’s been warned about in her dreams. To keep from being enslaved, Kandace brings forth her greater magick. But, to save her homeworld, she needs her Hellhounds.

Zolivar and Zindale, two of Hades’s most mission-accomplished Hellhounds, see a witch sliding down the bannister after her heist of a painting. Spellbound, they know they’ve found just the right Kandy Apple to lick for Halloween. With every passion, Zin and Zol woo their chosen witch. Will their Triad mate stay once she learns they can’t fall in love like humans? Or will she return to her homeworld?
~~~~~~

Available at Siren Publishing ~ bookstrand.com/kandy-apple-and-her-hellhounds ~ and the usual ebook vendors. The print edition is due out in December 2011.
~~~~~~

Have a Most Magickal Day!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
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Savanna Kougar is the best-selling author of twelve ebooks, with five books in print – soon to be six. She pens love stories because that’s her deepest heart. She writes in the futuristic/fantasy/paranormal subgenres because that’s her fiercest passion. And, she writes erotic romance because she ferociously enjoys ripping the damn doors off.
~~~~~~

Reviewfest: Irresistible Reviews for Irresistible Romances

2011-09-16T08:00:00.002+01:00

Reviews, what are they and what do they mean? For me as the author, they are a readers perspective of what I write, a mini critique, whether they come from an official review site or a random reader who chose my book from thousands of others to purchase. They're all entitled to their opinion and if they choose to let me know their thoughts, then I take them seriously. If I don't, then I'm failing as a writer. There is always something to learn from them.

For the most part, I've received rave reviews rated 5's, 4.5's, 4's and yes, even some 3.5's which were glowing, and some lower ratings which an author must take in stride. Not all readers will get what you write, but that's the great thing you realize when the sting eases. After all writers have egos, too. We would like everyone who reads our work to love it. However, like us, readers come from all walks of life and your world might not be their cup of tea.

Following is a smidgen of reviews I've received since my first book came out in 2008.

Jewel of the Sun's Blood Destiny - erotic paranormal

If reading were a physical thing then I ran through this book. I was entranced from the very beginning with both of the main characters. Bekki Lynn has an amazing talent for weaving the spell around the reader and preventing from leaving story until it was done. It was almost like the spell on the main characters included me the reader. The erotic love in this book is off the charts hot. Coffee Time Romance

Sizzling yet thoroughly enticing, Jewel of the Sun's Blood Destiny by Bekki Lynn left this reader wanting for more. I loved this book and all of its' characters from the first page and as I traveled more into it I fell in love with this mystical yet sensually tantalizing story. Envisioning your dream lover is an ability any woman would love to experience and for Cassandra she not only dreamt it but also experienced it first hand. This book is a happily-ever-after that conquers uncertainty and heartache to discover the strength it takes to hold on to your wildest dreams and Ms Lynn has been able to do just that. Kudos Ms Lynn on your fantastic tale. Sensual Reads

The plot is entertaining and gripping as well as the cast of supporting characters. They are soul mates, two-halves of one and can only be fully complete when they are together. Connected by the spirits and a power beyond their control. Cassandra's ex-fiancee plays an important that I will hold back from any details as I don't want to give away any spoilers! But I wish I could have kicked him in the skins. He was a bully and a cheater to boot! There are some really sad events that happen in the story that bummed me out, but I feel their story wouldn't have been complete without them as well. And the connection between Elan and Cassandra and those beautiful jewels from Elan's grandfather hold the secrets to their future that will bond their souls together an an eternity. If only they would believe and not fight destiny. Bekki Lynn will leave you leaving them breathless and longing for more. It will seriously steam up your windows, so turn on the AC for this hot, sexy and sweet story of love and destiny. Book Junkie

Great spicy quick read. I liked the idea behind the story and the involvement of the grandparents. The chemistry between Elan and Cassandra is hot and be felt blazing off the pages. If your looking for a quick read to get lost in for a while, than this is something I would recommend. Nightowl Romance

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Sony, Diesel, and Barnes & Noble

Annie and the Young Master - erotic historical

This is sweet and erotic tale of love and hope. If you believe in fairy tales and happily ever after, this story is for you. It takes a well known, puts a new spin on it, and gives it enough steamy romance to make it an adult love story. Bekki Lynn knows how to write erotic fairy tales that will have you wishing your very own prince. Coffee Time Romance

Lynn intrigues the reader right from the start with Lillian's plight. Lillian is full of resolve, determined to find her way despite the challenges she faces. Samuel knows his heart and won't give up until he gets what he wants. The love scenes paint a highly charged erotic connection between Lillian and Samuel that will leave the reader wanting more. Annie and the Young Master is a sinfully delicious Cinderella story. Stephanie Burkhart via Smashwords

Samuel is an appealing, charismatic hero and Lillian (Annie) an enterprising and sympathetic heroine. The story is based on an old fairy story, Cap O' Rushes, and also has elements of Cinderella, too. A lovely tale that I really enjoyed and recommend. Lindsay Townsend via Smashwords

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Sony, Diesel, and Barnes & Noble

Jackie's Boys - menage a trios

Jackie's boys is a very sexy, but sweet menage a trios love story. It is very erotic, and I liked how Ms. Lynn set up the encounter between Jackie and Randy. Ms. Lynn also did a great job of showing while the two brothers may look alike, they each have their own different personalities. This is a very hot and enjoyable read that is worth adding to anyone's book collection. Coffee Time Romance

Available at Smashwords, Amazon, Sony, Diesel, and Barnes & Noble

Last Glass of Wine - erotic contemporary

I enjoyed Last Glass of Wine and think that anyone who likes to read about strong characters who will sacrifice their happiness for loved ones will enjoy the twists and turns throughout the story. Joyfully Reviewed

I love it when a book makes me cry! Last Glass of Wine by Bekki Lynn had me up, down and twisted into emotional pretzel knots by the time I finished reading. The characters were refreshingly natural and heart wrenchingly vulnerable in a way that made the story sweet. I particularly enjoyed the party scene where they played horseshoes. Wondering about it? Read the book, it's worth it. Manic Readers

The thing I really liked about Last Glass of Wine was this feature where it read like a real life story. I felt, at times, like I was hearing the tale first hand from a girlfriend. The way Bekki Lynn combined the budding relationship between Lana and Cole with their work atmosphere was amazing. I think I actually learned a thing or two about the restaurant business. It made the story more interesting for me. As you read you cannot escape the feeling that you are right there in the restaurant, observing all the players (the only thing missing was the food). There are two kinds of erotica--or it might be more accurate to say there are two parts of erotica. One is the build up and the other is the actual intimacy that occurs. Everyone has their favorite part, but in Last Glass of Wine there is plenty of both and when these two characters finally got together, WOW! I don't want to spoil it for anyone who is about to read the book but that first scene was quite exciting for me, and unique too, which I particularly like. From there, the story continued and came to a close with a nice feel good dose of romance that was almost, but not quite, too sweet swallow. I recommend the Last Glass of Wine to readers who like a heaping dose of drama in their erotic romance. Dark Angel Reviews

The thing that is quite unique about Last Glass of Wine is its realism. During the evolving love story of the two main characters the reader also gets an in-depth look into the restaurant business. And this realism draws the reader right into the story, right into Rogan's Steakhouse to witness the emotions and the intimacy between Lana and Cole taking place while taking orders and getting out the food. Library Things

What an amazing story. I felt like I was on a roller coaster with my emotions. First I hated Cole, then I loved Cole, then I could feel the steam coming off Cole. This is a story that takes you to the highs and some very low points. I had tears in my eyes during some scenes in this story. The descriptions that Ms. Lynn provides makes me feel as if I am experiencing the episodes. When Cole drinks from the same spot on the glass that Lana did and than licks the rim, I could feel it on my lips. When we get into the scene in the bar after hours, Oh My. Ms Lynn knows not only restaurants, as proven by her slang, descriptions of openings and closings, and serving but I really enjoyed how she threw in the Chicago Cubs. Being from the Windy City, I loved how she referred to the team and the players. Last Glass Of Wine is a rich story, full of robust scenes and good to the last glass. Whipped Cream

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Diesel, All Romance Ebooks, and Bookstrand

A Psychic Hitch - erotic contemporary

I've read several books by Bekki Lynn now and I can say that the hallmark of her style is the sensitivity of her characters. If Allen were real I'd marry him!!! Oh wait, I'm already married, darn. I actually cried for Cheri when she revealed why she is shy of relationships and the end, well it was a twist worthy of a pretzel maker. I loved A Psychic Hitch and I dearly hope you will too, go read it today and see if I'm right. Manic Readers

This may have been a short read but it packed quite a punch. Cheri wants to be a mother so badly and is willing to do almost anything to get her wish. She had her blinders on so when Allen came into the picture he just blindsided her. The sex scenes were hot but worked so well with the story. I love these types of books where the man just sweeps them off their feet. Every woman should be so lucky. The Romance Erotica Connection

I really enjoyed Bekki Lynn's writing style, which is unique and captivating. She has penned a cute, tongue-in-cheek story what will keep tickling your funny bone and keep you reading until the last page. It's a read to not be missed. Euro Reviews

A Psychic Hitch is Passionate and heartwarming. The connection between Cheri and Allen is something special. It shows us that the best laid plans are not always what we need when looking for that special someone. Bekki Lynn has a unique writing style that is both smoldering hot and compassionate. I am finding I enjoy her books. She is one author I will read more of. Moondance Reviews

THE PSYCHIC HITCH was a wonderful story about how two people meet in a unique way and find true happiness. I enjoyed reading THE PSYCHIC HITCH because of the characters and the twists in the book. I love to be surprised and that's what I was in this story. I never knew what was going to happen. Romance Junkies

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Diesel, All Romance Ebooks, and Bookstrand

Thanks, Lindsay, for the opportunity to share our reviews. It was actually fun to go back and read them. Very uplifting.

Bekki
http://bekkilynn.net/

ReviewFest and Maggie Toussaint

2011-09-14T01:00:00.010+01:00

Thanks, Lindsay, for creatingReviewFest to share our reviews. Oftentimes on chats, forums, blogs, and loops, our reviews get mentioned once and then we file them away. I'm delighted when I get good reviews because it's such a pleasure to connect with a reader/reviewer who really gets what you are all about.

About me: I write romance and romantic mystery. My writing journey started in the romance world, but I kept adding more and more suspense elements. I transitioned to writing mysteries, but romance is ingrained in my muse, so all of my books are blends of romance and mystery.

Since this is Lindsay's "pink" romance blog, I'll sharea few of my fab romance reviews.

House of Lies launched me into the world of published authors. Hannah visits the house her estranged father bequeathed to her, and finds his business partner, ex-CIA agent Jake. Layer by layer, Hannah uncovers the secrets of her father's covert life and activates a deadly killer.

"House of Lies has it all! Great job!" - Fallen Angels Review

"I recommend this book to readers who love a novel that pulls at the heartstrings with a side order of suspenseful action." - The Romance Studio

House of Lies, Best Romantic Suspense, National Readers' Choice Awards

ISBN 9781601540317 buy it: www.amazon.com www.thewildrosepress.com Kindle

No Second Chance is my horse rescue romance. I donate the profits to a horse rescue charity in Maryland, Days End Farm Horse Rescue. In the book, Hope and Devlin battle their attraction as they dodge a killer's bullets and try to save the horse farm.

"A fabulous contemporary romance with an intriguing social issue involving the rescue of horses" - Harriet Klausner

"A tale that will please most contemporary romance readers" Romance Reviews Today

"If you have a quiet evening to curl up with a good book and you enjoy suspense, horses, Cinderella stories or all three — this book will satisfy" - Long and Short Reviews

"A must Read" - CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

buy it: Amazon The Wild Rose Press Kindle (all romances also available for Nook)

Seeing Red was originally released through an ebook publisher, Freya's Bower, who did a great job of editing this story. When the rights reverted to me earlier this year, I added a bit here and there and then brought it back out in digital and trade paperback format. Emma and Quentin work to make her crumbling homestead into a Bed & Breakfast, but someone doesn't want them to succeed. Is the threat from her sisters, his family, or her work colleagues?

"An excellent read" - Night Owl Romance

"Witty, fun, and fast-paced. One of the better romances I’ve read in months" Cocktail Reviews

"A great story that you won't want to put down and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a sweet, non-graphic romance"- Long and Short Reviews

Buy it at www.smashwords.com and Kindle also at B&N and Amazon and Sony

Muddy Waters is the first book I set on the Georgia coast. It's full of two-hundred year old live oaks and Spanish moss and secluded kayaking canals. So many readers fell in love with the town of Mossy Bog that they've been clamoring for a sequel. God willing and the creek don't rise, I'll get that into the rotation! In Muddy Waters, Roxie and Sloan battle their attraction as they search for his lost inheritance. Will they find it before a deadly fortune hunter puts them out of commission?

"Great book, wonderful mystery and a red hot love story underlying it." - The Reading Reviewer

“A pleasant read for a nice fall afternoon. With its home realty and repair subplot, the author obviously knows her stuff” – Romantic Times

"Toussaint wrote the characters with a believability that captures the hearts of readers” – SingleTitles.com

Buy Muddy Waters: Kindle Wild Rose Press and Amazon and many other online venues

My Cleopatra Jones mystery series has two published books which have had great reviews by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and more. I hope you'll visit my website http://www.maggietoussaint.com/ to read more about those mystery titles, to read free excerpts from all my work. I have a free read up at my blog, http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com/ in which Cleo and her boyfriend vacation at the beach.

Thanks again, Lindsay for REVIEWFEST which gave me a chance to dust off these reviews and tell about the books I've written. You want mystery and romance? I'm your gal!

Maggie Toussaint

Reviewfest: Linda Banche and Her Historical Hilarity

2011-09-13T07:01:00.003+01:00

Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!

I'm Linda Banche, and I write witty, sweet/sensual Regency romances with nary a rake or royal in sight. Most contain humor, some fantasy, and occasionally a little paranormal. But comedy is my love, and I've created my own wacky blend of humor and Regency with stories that can elicit reactions from a gentle smile to a belly laugh.

Like many other romance authors, I read romances for years before I wrote my own. Once I tried, I quickly discovered how difficult writing is. Did I stop? No, I'm persistent--that's French for "too stupid to quit".

I live in New England and like aerobics and ducks.

So, laugh along with me on a voyage back to the Regency era. Me and my ducks. Quack.

I have four Regency novellas, all from The Wild Rose Press.

Lady of the Stars, my time travel, was a finalist in Science Fiction Romance in the 2010 EPIC eBook Contest.

My 4 star review from Romantic Times Book Reviews: "This is a quick read and a delightful short romance. The time-travel aspect is well done, and the characters are nicely fleshed out. The ending brings everything to a comfortable and relatively believable conclusion." Read the full review here. (contains spoilers)

http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/lady-stars

All Lady of the Stars reviews are here.

Lady of the Stars buy Link here.

Pumpkinnapper was a finalist in the 2011 EPIC Contest in the Historical Romance category. I'm two for two now. I've entered the EPIC contest twice, and I've finaled twice.

Long And Short Romance (LASR) Reviews: 4 1/2 books
"It's a Regency era All Hallows Eve tale full of hilarity, a dashing hero and a darling heroine, a nuisance of a goose and possibly a spirit or two. What's not to like?"
http://longa ndshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.htm

All Pumpkinnapper reviews are here.

Pumpkinnapper Buy link here.

Mistletoe Everywhere is my Christmas story.

From Marissa D at Sizzling Hot Books - 5 hearts out of 5
"Mistletoe Everywhere is fast paced and keeps us involved with the characters. I was happy to see these happy-for-everyone endings and the warm fuzzy I was left with."
http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/2010/12/mistletoe-everywhere-by-linda-banche.html

All Mistletoe Everywhere reviews are here.

Mistletoe Everywhere Buy Link here.

And my latest, Gifts Gone Astray, is a summer comedy of errors.

5 Hearts out of 5 from TJ at The Romance Studio
"A truly wondrous tale of gift-giving, misunderstandings, and unexpected love. There were blushing beauties, scholarly studs, nefarious schemers, mischievous children, and kindly uncles all wrapped in Ms. Banche's prim and proper Regency prose, that once opened revealed a sweetly racy story that was perfect. The writing was vivid and captured the time exactly."
http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/goneastraybanche.htm

And since Lindsay Townsend was so nice as to quote my review for one of her books, here's hers for mine. Nice to know your friends like your books. *g*

5 stars from Lindsay Townsend (To Touch the Knight)
"Gifts Gone Astray by Linda Banche is a delightful romantic comedy of misunderstandings, ghastly relations (old and young) a sinister suitor and two very different books sent as gifts to the 'wrong' people." Full review here.

All Gifts Gone Astray reviews are here.

Gifts Gone Astray Buy Link here.

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

Welcome to our Reviewfest!

2011-09-12T08:00:00.005+01:00

Welcome! Starting this week, the members of the Lindsay's Romantics blog are sharing and celebrating the reviews they have received for their work. Reviews from review sites, reviews by fellow authors and most, important, reviews from you, our readers.

To begin I'm sharing a brief round-up of my recent reviews:

To Touch the Knight has been given a detailed and positive review by AAR (to read the whole thing, please go to their review page), and Joyfully Reviewed have made it a recommended read:

To Touch The Knight is a finely woven tale that has more than one intrigue you don’t expect in a historical. Ms. Townsend is able to bring forth a happy ending to a group of people who were horrifically affected by the plague. I was so intrigued by the plot in To Touch The Knight I was unable to put it down until I finished the last page. If you want a little different historical romance then I Joyfully Recommend To Touch The Knight.

This book has also been given 4.5 ribbons from Lydia at Romance Junkies, who says: 'You will fall in love with the sensuous, but sweet interactions between Sir Ranulf and the mysterious princess as their story takes us on a journey through one of the most horrific times in history. A definite must read...'

Reviews from readers are the most precious of all. Recently I was delighted with this review of my Flavia's Secret at Dr. J.'s Book Place. The rating was 4 - Good:

A very complicated story that is set in the times of the Roman Empire with all its political ins and outs that are not often easy to understand. Lots of characters, a lot of tension between the slave population and those who own them, religious difficulties and persecution of Christians, and at the core, a very intense love story that is set in what appears to be an impossible situation. A good read and one that historical romance fans will find satisfying and entertaining.

I was also pleased and delighted by this reader's review of my A Knight's Enchantment on amazon. This is our own Linda Banche giving me a super 5 Stars:

Alchemist Joanna must do the impossible--create an elixir for eternal life in order to free her father from the clutches of the evil bishop. The noble knight, Hugh seeks to free his brother, also a captive of the malicious clergyman. Together they join forces to defeat the evildoer and in the process, fall in love.

A KNIGHT'S ENCHANTMENT has everything I like in a romance--an unconventional heroine, a decent hero, a truly villainous villain and a story brimming with accurate history, tons of excitement and romance.
I love strong, capable heroines, and Joanna is one of the best. An alchemist, she is a predecessor of today's modern-day chemist.

I especially like the hero. Hugh is gorgeous (he's a romance hero, so it comes with the territory), but he's also a decent man who can be ruthless when needed, but also kind and gentle, especially with Joanna. Of course, she falls in love with him. Who wouldn't?

A KNIGHT'S ENCHANTMENT is another winner for Ms. Townsend. I can't wait for her next Knight book.

Of course I've got my share of one star reviews, including one that just says 'Huh?' They do hurt and I and I feel prickly for a time, but reviews are very subjective and a one star is also a reader's privilege.

I hope everyone enjoys reading and sharing reviews in the next few days - and perhaps as readers, creating more.

Lindsay

GIFTS GONE ASTRAY 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio, and Please Vote for Me!

2011-08-29T07:01:00.002+01:00

The Romance Studio has given my Regency comedy, Gifts Gone Astray, 5 Hearts out of 5! Here's a snippet from the review:

"A truly wondrous tale of gift-giving, misunderstandings, and unexpected love. There were blushing beauties, scholarly studs, nefarious schemers, mischievous children, and kindly uncles all wrapped in Ms. Banche's prim and proper Regency prose, that once opened revealed a sweetly racy story that was perfect. The writing was vivid and captured the time exactly."

Thank you, TJ at The Romance Studio.

The full review is here: http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/goneastraybanche.htm

Blurb and excerpt here.

Gifts Gone Astray is up for TRS's 5 Heart Sweetheart Vote from August 29 through September 4, 2011.

Please vote for me. The voting link is: http://www.theromancestudio.com/5heart_form.php

Thank you all,
Linda
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

Guest Blog: Alan Calder - 'The Stuart Agenda'

2011-08-14T08:00:00.037+01:00

Today we have novelist and poet Alan Calder at Lindsay's Romantics, chatting about his debut title, 'The Stuart Agenda'. Welcome, Alan!

Your novel is based on a very original and also topical idea. Would you like to tell us more about the inspiration of that idea and how you developed it?

As my thoughts were turning to novel writing, I was reading the seminal 'Holy Blood and the Holy Grail', which had been in print for some time and was clearly also being read by Dan Brown, since the 'Da Vinci Code' appeared a few years later. A sceptical mind is attracted to conspiracy theories, particularly on the epic scale laid out in 'The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail'. I found it deliciously blasphemous that the blood lines of some of our most famous families might be descended from Christ.

In particular, the Catholic Royal House of Stuart seemed doubly blessed in being connected through both Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea. This might explain the Stuart’s insistence on divine right to absolute rule under God, without the intervention of Parliament. This stance, along with their inconvenient Catholicism, cost some of them their heads and eventually, after the protestant daughters of James II failed to produce living heirs, extinguished the Stuart flame. This made way for the protestant Hanoverians, who could claim distant Stuart ancestry through a daughter of Charles I, over the heads of a long list of Catholics at the head of which was Bonnie Prince Charlie’s father.

The failure of the subsequent Jacobite rebellions, ending in the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie, grandson of James II, at Culloden in 1746, finally consigned the dynasty to a footnote in history. It was a great comfort to the Hanoverians that neither Bonnie Prince Charlie, nor his brother, an eminent Catholic Cardinal, had any legitimate heirs. The lack of a future generation of Stuart champions and the brutal suppression and ethnic cleansing of Jacobites, especially in the Highlands of Scotland, led the Stuart cause to fizzle out.

The final trigger for The Stuart Agenda was a book written by the self-styled ‘Prince Michael of Albany’. In The Forgotten Monarchy of Scotland, he tried to turn history on its head by claiming that Bonnie Prince Charlie married again late in his life and had a legitimate son, from whom he is directly descended. ‘Prince Michael’ claims, not surprisingly, that the Hanoverian spin doctors airbrushed this inconvenient and threatening marriage and birth, out of the history books.

It’s a good conspiracy story and it did make me wonder. Could a new legitimate but hitherto hidden Stuart scion be implanted into the developing Scottish political and constitutional scene? At this moment the Nationalists are forming their first majority government, although the vote looks more like a personal mandate for the brilliant and charismatic Alex Salmond, than an expression of thirst for independence, but you have to start somewhere.

The current Nationalist constitutional holding position is that Scotland would retain the Hanoverian monarchy. This is surely a disingenuous platform that has more to do with the softly softly, step by step approach to independence, than red blooded royalism. At independence, the Scots would want to vote directly on their preferred constitutional model and that would probably be a republic. But what if a charismatic young Stuart appeared to reclaim his inheritance?

The Stuart Agenda is set well into the future in the 2030’s and assumes that the path to Scottish independence will be long and tortuous and that the current euphoric position is merely a false dawn. It is also now clear that the royal couple on the British throne in the timeframe of the novel will probably be the recently married William and Kate, now styled the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

What draws you to writing about Scotland?

Scotland and its history has certainly been the stimulus for both The Stuart Agenda and my second book, The Glorious Twelfth which is in final manuscript form. Both are contemporary thrillers in which the characters are handed their roles from history. The draw for me has been the direct interest in Scottish history, which has thrown up intriguing ‘what ifs’ and conspiracy theories. At the same time my characters do travel, especially to France where I lived for a few years in the 1980’s.

In fact my third book is based there, with no connection to Scotland, although it is based on an interpretation of a period of French history this time, plus a juicy conspiracy theory.

Do you plot your stories in detail or do you launch yourself straight in? Or is it a mixture?

This sounds like the ‘How do you write question.’ I start with an idea eg in the case of The Stuart Agenda, the key idea is that Bonnie Prince Charlie did indeed have legitimate descendents. That reality gave a basic cast of characters headed by the Stuart scion and his key supporters. A particular difficulty with The Stuart Agenda was knowing where to start in the lifecycle of the hero. In the earliest version of the story I began before he was born. Several versions later the published story begins with the Stuart scion as a teenager at Gordonstoun. I also had to create a motivation for the Stuart family to take on such a seemingly impossible task, recovering the throne of Scotland, nearly three hundred years after Culloden. On that base I plotted several chapters ahead and enjoyed the experience of being led by the characters themselves and creating the elaborate loops that bind them all together.

Do you write every day?

I am not a disciplined every day writer. I tend to write in manic bursts for up to two weeks at a time. Then I take a break and begin to mull the next steps before building up to write again. I’m also finding that being published means you have to spend a lot of time promoting the book. I don’t find that as satisfying as writing.

Are you excited about being part of the ebook revolution? What advantages do you think there are to being e-published?

e-Publishing is exciting and for many new writers, weary of the traditional publisher’s slush piles, it is the art of the possible. It represents a practical route to getting published either by the new breed of smaller mainly US publishers who are innovating or by many of the self-publishing independent routes being established. The current growth rate of e-published books is spectacular. They are here to stay and over time will become the dominant access vehicle for the general reader.

When you're not writing, how do you relax?

I do read a lot on current affairs, business, politics and science, particularly genetics, a habit from my senior executive days. For fiction, I enjoy history and the novels of writers like Sebastian Faulks, although I found ‘Human Traces’ rather hard going. At this moment I’m reading ‘On thin Ice’ by Richard Ellis. He charts the changing world and fortunes of the polar bear. I’m also reading ‘The Scots, A Genetic Journey’ by Alistair Moffat and Jim Wilson. The latter prompted me to have my Y-Chromosome status checked. I’m Celtic in origin, not a Viking like many of my Caithness compatriots.

I’ve also recently read ‘One day’ by David Nicholls. I liked the idea of the book, the structure that led us through the frustrated lives of the characters. I didn’t like the end; I thought that the heroine’s demise lacked imagination, as though the author was completely exhausted by the time he got to that bit. Nevertheless I’m looking forward to the weepy film.

In the lulls between bursts of novel writing I increasingly enjoy writing poetry. There is certainly more instant gratification in crafting a few pleasing verses about the human condition or a rant about wind farms or even a piece to explain and explore what some aspect of science means. I certainly see all that as legitimate territory for poets.

Lest I give an impression of being study bound, I should also say that I like cooking, eating well and drinking wine. Salmon fishing is one of my little luxuries; I’ll spend the first week of October on the Thurso River in Caithness, with old friends from America. We’ve already started the countdown prayers for the right amount of water, wind, cloud cover etc without which we shall have perfect excuses for catching very little.

Please share a blurb and excerpt with us.

Blurb

In 2035, young Robert Stuart sets out on a journey to recapture the Scottish throne in an independent Scotland. A cast of conspirators led by his great uncle Leo prepare the political and constitutional ground for him. Robert meets and falls in love with the beautiful Hanoverian Princess Victoria, providing a basis for a dynastic compromise. Robert has to overcome strong resistance from the Hanoverian establishment and from within his own family if he is to succeed in his ambition.

Excerpt

Robert’s declaration on the Culloden Battlefield.

The Prince’s troops, exhausted after the long retreat from Derby, faced a disciplined professional force, superior in numbers and weaponry. The unsuccessful Highland charges were cut down by grapeshot. It was all over in less than an hour before the Prince escaped and the Highlands were put to the sword by the butcher Cumberland. Robert was transfixed by the monumental injustice of what had happened beneath his feet all those years ago. A righteous anger welled up within him and erupted in tears running down his cheeks from his overflowing heart, his head demanding vengeance and accepting the challenge. ‘Don’t torture yourself,’ said Leo. ‘As you are my witness and before God, I pledge myself to recover the throne of Scotland for the Stuarts,’ said Robert, in a strong, emotion charged voice. The two of them stood silently, frozen by Robert’s historic declaration, a team now committed to reverse the history that confronted them on Culloden Moor.

Robert’s Speech at the Glenfinnan Highland Games

‘Chieftain, brother Scots and friends; I’ve come here today to tap the spirit of the Prince himself and replant the Stuart roots that have succoured me in my long personal journey to stand before you here today in the bright sunshine. I’ve come from France just like the Prince, without an army. My sword is my Stuart blood and my shield the strong desire of the Scottish people to manage their own affairs in the constitutional manner of their choice. If the people of Scotland ordain it, I will with great humility accept the call to become Sovereign, in their name. Scotland is a great country, we are a great people, and let’s seize the future together to make it even better.’

The Queen and Robert’s Great Aunt Francoise at Buckingham Palace

‘They’re so much in love, Victoria and Robert; they would make a wonderful royal couple as Queen and King of Scotland, don’t you think?’ asked the Queen, ignoring Françoise’s reply. ‘So, you want an arranged marriage?’ Françoise, felt faint as the implications sunk in. She was torn between branding Robert a traitor to the cause and screaming for joy at such a romantic outcome.

Leo recoils at the thought of Robert marrying a Hanoverian

‘Calculated pragmatism and love; strange bedfellows, aren’t they?’ he began, with his arms splayed out on the table and his head low, looking down. ‘You all know where I stand. I’m not going to trade it for a mess of potage called a Hanoverian marriage, even if it did improve our chances. Were we not confident that Robert could succeed anyway on his own merits?’ asked Leo, sitting up straight and looking round them, daring anyone to challenge his entrenched position. ‘This is all very difficult for Leo,’ said Françoise, putting her hand on his arm. ‘Well, can we all at least agree to let the PR people have a go at the issue? I know that you disapprove of our calculation Leo, but we have to operate in the real world,’ said Sir Duncan, playing for time. ‘Who’s real world? I’ve had enough of this, I’m going back to Paris,’ he announced, standing up and storming out of the room.

Alan Calder – Biographical

Alan was born in Wick in the far North of Scotland and gained a chemistry PhD at Aberdeen University before a career in Research and Development with ICI and Zeneca. He took up the pen in early retirement and enjoys writing contemporary thrillers with their roots in history, as well as poetry. He lives with his wife in Yorkshire, England near his grown up family. Summers are spent in Scotland, writing, fishing and doing heritage projects.

You can read excerpts from The Stuart Agenda and download from Willow Moon Publishing as a PDF to computer, i-Pad, Nook etc. You can also free read the first few chapters on amazon.com or amazon.co.uk and download to a Kindle.

No publisher, no agent, but brimming with romance?

2011-08-09T14:37:00.006+01:00

Don't despair. Here are some publishers who will look at unagented work, plus some other writing links which I hope may be useful.

Avalon Books
USA library publishers. Very sweet and traditional.

Avon Impulse
Digital line from USA publisher Avon.

Siren-Bookstrand
Publisher of many kinds of romance. Bookstrand publishers mainstream romance, Siren publisher erotic romance. Siren-Bookstrand also publish menage romance.

Captiva Press
USA ebook publisher of romance.

Carina Press
Ebook press of Harlequin.

Champagne Books
Ebook publisher of highly sensual romance.

Choc Lit
A British publisher who will consider unagented work. Contemp and historical romance.

Desert Breeze
USA ebook publisher of romance.

Ellora's Cave
Publisher of romance, erotic romance and romantica.

Entangled Publishing
Publisher of romance - say they bridge the gap between trad publishing and indie publishing.

Freya's Bower.
Ebook publisher of romance and erotic romance - closed for subs now until Sept 15th 2011.

Karen Fox
News of markets, publishers and agents.

Kensington Books
5th largest publisher in the USA. Will look at unagented work. Be ready for a long wait.

Leap of Faith Publishing
Leap of Faith Publishing are very new. They are looking mainly for romance but some mainstream, too, including thrillers and suspense, mainstream and self-help. They take short stories as well - 1000 to 2000 words.

Loose Id
Publisher of erotic romance.

Macmillan new writing
Macmillan new writing will take unagented work. tends to be mainstream or thrillers/crime. Closed for submissions at present, hope to re-open late in 2011 - keep checking the link.

Mills and Boon
The UK category and more romance publisher. Will consider unagented work. Be prepared for a 24 week wait.

Muse It Up Publishing
Canadian ebook and POD publisher.

My Weekly Pocket Novel Guidelines
My Weekly Pocket Novel. UK publisher of romance seeking novels of 50,000 words.

Publishing Trove
This is a useful yahoo group where you can promote your work on Sundays and also pitch your work to publishers on other days. The files section here is full of info about different publishers and what they are looking for.

Robert Hale Publishers
A British publisher who will consider unagented work. Likes crime, thrillers, sagas, romantic suspense, westerns.

Secret Cravings
Ebook publisher.

Samhain Publishing
USA ebook publisher. Romance and erotic romance of many genres, also horror.

Sapphire Blue Publishing
Ebook publisher of many genres.

Smashwords
Place where writers can self-publish their fiction and non fiction work. They will publish it for free in the main formats and take a modest cut of the sale price. Smashwords will also supply you with a free ISBN, if you name Smashwords as the publisher. They also distribute to Kobo, Mobi, B&N Nook, Apple and other places. Not yet distributing to Amazon, though that may be forthcoming.

Snowbooks
UK publisher. Mainstream. Will consider unagented work.

Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks will consider romance submissions without an agent.

The Wild Rose Press
USA ebook publisher of many kinds of romance.

Tor Publications
Fantasy and science fiction publishers who will take unagented submissions.

Total-E-Bound
UK publisher of erotic romance.

Uncial Press
Ebook publisher taking a wide range of genres.

Whiskey Creek Press
Established ebook publisher in a number of genres.

http://womagwriter.blogspot.com/
Women's Fiction Magazine Guidelines. Very useful blog giving guidelines for various women's fiction magazines. The guidelines are available in the links down the right hand side of the blog.

Harlequin Historicals Undone
Highly sensual historical romance novellas, 10-15000 words in length. Will look at unagented work

Lindsay

'Palace of the Fountains' available for pre-order

2011-07-31T14:07:00.000+01:00

My new romantic suspense title, Palace of the Fountains, is now ready to pre-order from Bookstrand at a discount until mid-August.

Here's the link.

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

2011-07-24T08:20:00.006+01:00

Ever wish you were a real live witch?

I did. How I longed to twitch my nose like Samantha Stephens in the TV show, Bewitched, 1964–1972, and create real magic. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, the series was a breakout view of witches, at the time.

No longer a hag, all in black, with a huge wart on her nose... no longer a bad witch with an eerie cackling laugh, who wanted to snatch children for her boiling cauldron... Samantha was beautiful and compassionate. She didn’t require complicated spells, either, to accomplish much of her magic. It was natural, a way of life she’d been born into.

Yet, Samantha was always struggling to fit in as a mere mortal. In the back of my mind I always wondered why. Why bother?

Sure, she loved her husband, Darrin, and was devoted to making him happy. And, back then, women were supposed to please their husbands in order to keep them. Much of the show revolved around that premise.

At the time, I wondered what was so special about Darrin? I still do. To the truth of the matter, I don’t believe he deserved Samantha. I don’t believe he cherished who she was, as her own person, and as a woman.

Darrin loved Samantha, but wanted her to fit inside some prescribed wifely mold. He wanted what was considered to be ‘normal’ and mortal. He didn’t want the true and messy adventure of living life to its fullest with a real live witch.

As his wife, Samantha could have given him the ride of his life, sans the broomstick or with the broomstick, if Darren hadn’t been such a wussy boy.

And, that’s one reason I gave my heroine, Kandace, in KANDY APPLE AND HER HELLHOUNDS, mates who are worthy of her. Yes, sometimes Zin and Zol are bewitched, bothered and bewildered by the effervescent-sparkly yet powerful witch they claim as their own. And, they always come through for HER.

They rescue her emotionally when she needs it. They rescue her when she is saving her sister from thirteen sorceresses, who are the sworn enemies of her homeworld.

Of course, Kandace returns the favor. After all, they are her devoted hellhounds. Their gentlemanly, Cary Grant ways, their kindness and consideration, are something she’s never known from any man before.

Yes, this is an erotic romance novel. Zol and Zin are not shy about releasing their alpha natures, and proving their carnal passions to their one witch.
~~~~~~

Blurb ~

Kandace doesn’t know why she’s a real witch. Despite her powers, she can’t find her bio parents. When the Tuxedo Twins tempt her with knowledge about her heritage at a charity event, Kandace agrees to dance with the mysterious Supernaturals. Unexpectedly, they are threatened by the omnipresent evil she’s been warned about in her dreams. To keep from being enslaved, Kandace brings forth her greater magick. But, to save her homeworld, she needs her hellhounds.

Zolivar and Zindale, two of Hades’ most mission-accomplished Hellhounds, see a witch sliding down the bannister after her heist of a painting. Spellbound, they know they’ve found just the right Kandy Apple to lick for Halloween. With every passion, Zin and Zol woo their chosen witch. Yet, will their Triad mate stay once she learns they can’t fall in love like humans? Or, will she return to her homeworld? Their very lives are at stake.
~~~

Available at Siren Publishing ~ bookstrand.com/kandy-apple-and-her-hellhounds ~
~~~~~~

Have a Magickal Day!

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~~~~

Just Released! Victorian Scoundrel, steampunk romance

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000+01:00

Just wanted to share - my latest release is "Victorian Scoundrel" Book 1 of The Windsor Diaries. It's a steampunk romance, set in an alternative universe and involves Time Travel. Enjoy!
Smiles
Steph

BLURB:It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over form the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Prince Edmund of Wales back to the past and 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon discovers Edmund has struck up a friendship with their great-grandfather, Prince Albert, and his mischief making entails leaving a dinosaur-sized footprint in history. She also meets Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton, and the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. The Prime Minster finds her odd, to say the least.

It's only when Alice falls for the handsome Earl Swinton does she realize the dangers of time travel. How can she give her heart to a man from the past while striving to stop Edmund from changing time with his forward thinking ideas?

EXCERPT:
Tired and thirsty, she finally made it to the courtyard. Edmund was nowhere to be found. She should have expected it, really. No doubt he was in the palace filling their great-grandfather's head with forward-thinking ideas. She crossed her arms, staring at the steps. Several carriages waited nearby. No one in their right mind would let her into the palace looking like she did -- like she had just stepped out of the gutter.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Alice spun around to find herself face-to-face with two gentlemen who stood near one of the waiting carriages. One gentleman was older, Alice guessed in his fifties, one younger. The older gentleman stared at her like she truly was a guttersnipe, but the younger one -- he was tall, with chiseled cheeks and sensitive hazel eyes. His broad chest filled his suit well and he measured her with a cool, appraising look that hinted at... appreciation. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her. Never had a man's stare made her feel so... warm.

"Well?" asked the older gentleman.

Alice straightened her posture with her usual royal dignity and took off her glasses as she always did when she introduced herself. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of York."

The men looked at each other, at her, then back at themselves. She wasn't sure if they were befuddled, confused, or wanted to laugh. Finally, the older gentleman spoke. "Princess Alice is seven years old."

Alice bit the inside of her lip, realizing she had totally forgotten where she was due to the younger gentleman's attention. She slid her glasses back on. "Simply call me Alice -- Alice Windsor."

"And you may call me Prime Minister."

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Molly E, Reader's Favorites:
"Stephanie Burkhart is a highly talented author, showing skills of a seasoned author. Her characters are unique, along with individual personalities, and with a plot line that is truly interesting, this story really comes to life before the reader's eyes. She grips the reader instantly, and keeps them hooked until the last page... I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases! It can't come soon enough for me! Well done, Ms. Burkhardt, in gaining a devoted new fan!"

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

Visit Bayeux, France for Christmas in July

2011-07-12T06:00:00.000+01:00

My .99 cent short story, Christmas in Bayeux, has just been released by Victory Tales Press. Written for their "Stimulating" anthology last year, Christmas in Bayeux is an international contemporary romance. Enjoy a little Christmas in July. *wink*

BLURB:

The ravages of war have taken their toll on Aiden. Seeking peace, he has traveled to Bayeux, France, on a pilgrimage of sorts. Noel, a former exchange student who spent time with his family years before, provides him a place to stay at the old manor she has turned into an inn.

The attraction they felt nine years before at the tender age of sixteen flares to life as they spend time together and prepare the inn for Christmas. But there has been so much loss and grief for Aiden.

Will Noel be able to help him feel again and can Aiden find what he is searching for?

EXCERPT:She pushed two wooden double doors open and they walked into a wide open-spaced entrance hall. "Is this a museum?"

"Oui. It houses our best known prize – the Bayeux Tapestry."

"What is that?" His voice was laced in curiosity.

"Dix Euros," said the clerk. He was in his mid-thirties and wore a blue uniform.

Aiden put his hand over Noel's hand as she reached for her purse. "I'll get it."

"Vous êtes Américain?"
"Oui," said Aiden.

The clerk held out his hand. Aiden slowly took it, surprised by the gesture. What was he doing?

"Américains we like. World War II, yes? Merci – thank you," the clerk said in halting English.

Aiden was stunned. Noel said this occurred, but he didn't think it would happen to him.

"De Rein. Thank you, sir."

"Non, Monsieur, merci. Keep your money."

"Oh, I insist."
"Oui, thank you, merci."

Noel smiled at the clerk, thread her arm through Aiden's, and they walked into the museum. There were a few people milling about in the halls, but it wasn't as busy as he thought it would be. Maybe everyone was at the Christmas markets.

He paused before they got far. "You said—"

She gave him an easy smile. "You handled that well."

******

Check out the Story Teaser on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE

BUY LINK AMAZON:http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-in-Bayeux-ebook/dp/B005BTLSI8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310233043&sr=1-1

BUY LINK SMASHWORDS:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72100

Because He Needs Me

2011-07-11T19:59:00.003+01:00

A new book from a new young company
Leap of Faith publishes
Because He needs me/ Lynn Granville
A story of love and selfless devotion

Oh, God, she hoped he wouldn’t come over! Janni had recognized the one man she hadn’t wanted to see at this wedding. It was ages since she’d been in the same room with Nick Hamilton, and she really hadn’t given the idea that he might be here a thought, though she should have done. It couldn’t matter, of course. Whatever there had been between her and Nick had been over years ago – when he married. Not that it had ever been very much even then!
Janni had been through several love affairs since then, the latest of which had recently ended in tears and recriminations. What was wrong with her for goodness sake? Why couldn’t she find someone who really cared, someone who would give her a home and family, and love – most importantly love?
Nick was glancing her way again, obviously deciding whether or not he ought to come over and say hello. Where was his wife? Janni hadn’t noticed her – and you couldn’t miss a woman like that! Sarah was gorgeous, so it was no wonder that Nick had fallen for her hook line and sinker.
Janni glanced across the hotel’s crowded reception room at the bride and groom; she felt a pang of envy despite her satisfaction at Alice’s obvious happiness. Sheer delight seemed to shine out of her friend’s eyes, testifying to her state of mind. Janni didn’t grudge that happiness one little bit, but couldn’t help wishing that her own life was a little more settled.
Alice and Peter were the perfect pair, and Janni had introduced them nine months ago. Her own lovelife had been blossoming then, but for the past few weeks she had been nursing a bruised ego. Fortunately, it seemed that her heart was pretty resilient, which it would need to be after the way Mark had treated her recently.
Perhaps it was a combination of seeing Nick unexpectedly, and her friend’s shining happiness that made Janni feel so dejected all of a sudden. Damn Mark! He really wasn’t worth getting upset over. One day he’d been eagerly talking about buying a house together, almost the next he was announcing that he was off to America on a three-year research project.
“So what happens to us?” Janni had asked, feeling bewildered by Mark’s sudden about turn.
“It was never going to be more than a temporary arrangement,” he’d said, taking her breath away. “Nothing is forever, Janni. Besides, this is a chance I can’t miss.”
He hadn’t asked her to keep in touch, or whether she would consider giving up her job at the local hospital to go with him. She had sensed his excitement and known he wanted to be free – and that had hurt!
The sharp pain had gone now, but she was still feeling bruised. So much so that when she saw the undeniably attractive man walking towards her, she immediately hoisted her shield into place. Why had he of all people had to be here? And why must he bother to come over and say hello?
She’d had a thing for Doctor Nick Hamilton once, when they were both working at a London teaching hospital, but he’d hardly noticed her. He had fallen in love with and married a very beautiful woman, and they’d lost touch when he moved. Until now, Janni hadn’t seen him for years, but he was a friend of Peter’s, and had been invited for the wedding. It was natural, of course, and she would have realized it if she had thought about it earlier.
“They look happy don’t they?” Nick said glancing at the bride and groom. “Peter and Alice. “
Janni took a deep breath. There was no escaping it! She smiled and nodded. “Yes, I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Peter had been through a rough time before he met Alice – but you know that, of course. You introduced them, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I can claim the credit for that, but they did all the rest themselves.”
He seemed amused at her quip, and hesitated for a second or two. “I know this isn’t the right time to talk shop, but Alice tells me you are thinking of changing your job – going for something new. I wondered if you might consider working for us at the surgery as a practice nurse?”
Janni was startled. He had taken her completely by surprise and she gave no thought to her answer before replying negatively. “I am flattered that you asked,” she said. “But I am happy where I am – and I’ve never considered anything but hospital work.”
“The nurses I need never have,” Nick replied and grinned. “If they had, they probably wouldn’t be what I was looking for. Don’t make that a final no, Janni. Think about it please. If you are truly happy where you are then that’s all there is to it – but if there’s even a chance you might consider coming to us, if only for a few months, I should like to hear from you.” He took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. “I think you would be pleasantly surprised if you paid us a visit. We have all the latest equipment at the surgery. Peter has made sure of that, believe me.”
Janni's heart did a quick tango but she suppressed her foolishness.
Peter and Nick were partners in the country practice as well as friends, and Alice had burned Janni’s ears with stories of how beautiful the village was – and the surrounding countryside.
Alice had been a Theatre Sister before her marriage, but she planned on having a family almost at once. “Before my biological clock runs out,” she’d told Janni laughingly. “I’ve done my stint for the NHS – and I can always go back part time when the children are at school.”
“Yes, I imagine he would,” Janni replied with a wry look. “Alice told me Peter has to have everything just so.”
“We’re in agreement as far as that goes – which is why we both want you, Janni. Why don’t you think about it? Alice is your best friend, isn’t she? It would mean you were able to see her more often, and I understand you are having difficulties at the moment.”
“I see Alice has been telling tales out of school.” Janni frowned.
“She just told me things hadn’t gone well for you, and that you were thinking of making a change. Nothing personal,” Nick assured her. He glanced at his watch and frowned. “Anyway, it was nice speaking to you again, Janni. I must have a word with Alice and Peter before they leave. Give me a call if you are interested, won’t you?” He handed her his card.
“Yes, if I’m interested,” Janni replied, tucking his card into her pocket as he walked away. Her foolish heart was still misbehaving itself. Nick was as attractive as ever, she thought, dressed in a stylish, collarless dark blue suit that showed only a flash of white at the neck and looked as if it might be Armani. It was the kind of suit that was good on young, athletic men and she recalled that he had been keen on sport when she’d known him before. His hair was dark blond and a little longer than she normally liked on a man – but why was she letting herself think about him at all? He was married and she had no intention of getting involved again for a long, long time. Especially with a married man!

Guest Blog: Saskia Walker - 'The Harlot'

2011-07-11T08:00:00.003+01:00

Hi folks!

It's lovely to be here at Lindsay's Romantics. I thought I'd post about the novels I've written (and will be writing) set in Lowlands Scotland.

My interest in Lowland's history and folklore came about when we first visited Fife back in 2003. We stayed in a fisherman's cottage in the East Neuk of Fife and the plan was to kick off work on a historical set on the coast, while Mark (my Real Life Hero) went mountain biking in the area. Success on all fronts -- Mark covered many miles and I wrote while I was there. The cottage we stayed in was right on the seafront and I made notes and sketched out several scenes for a historical novel I'd had an idea for. While we were out and about in Fife I also began to learn about the history of witchcraft and persecution in the area, and that set its own wheels in motion. When I got home I continued to read and research around the subject and daydreamed about passionate wayward men and women with secret magical skills. My imagination was well and truly sparked and now, several stories in, I'm still enjoying exploring that world!

My fictional accounts have their foundation in pagan practice, the strong belief in nature and its power. My editor has said that was what was appealing about my stories is that the magic is covert, and its pagan origins led to convincing scenarios for a paranormal erotic world -- a world that secretly existed beneath the ongoing fear and turmoil in Scotland throughout times of religious and political upheaval, the battles and subsequent union with England.

The fictional characters began to multiply in my imagination, each with their own tale to tell. First up was RAMPANT, a story that is part contemporary and part historical, following the mystery surrounding the ghost of a persecuted witch. THE HARLOT, my most recent publication, is a bawdy erotic romance set wholly in the early 1700's. My heroine, Jessie Taskill, (along with her two siblings, Maisie and Lennox) witnessed their mother's execution for witchcraft when they were children. They were subsequently separated, but their inherited and learned powers thrived in secret, and as adults they each hope to seek each other out. Next up I will be writing THE LIBERTINE (Lennox Taskill's story) and THE JEZEBEL (Maisie Taskill's story) for publication in early 2013.

Here's the official cover copy for THE HARLOT:

It is a Dark Era, one when a lusty lass will do what she must to survive. Even if it means bartering flesh for a palmful of coins…

Forced to watch her mother burned at the stake and separated from her siblings in the aftermath, Jessie Taskill is similarly gifted, ripe with a powerful magic that must stay hidden. Until one night when she's accused by a rival, and Jessie finds herself behind prison walls with a roguish priest unlike any man of the cloth she has known.

In reality, Gregor Ramsay is as far from holy as the devil himself, but his promise of freedom in return for her services may be her salvation. Locked into a dubious agreement, Jessie resents his plan to have her seduce and ruin his lifelong enemy. But toying with Gregor’s lust for her is enjoyable, and she agrees to be his pawn while secretly intending to use him just as he is using her.

If you would like to read the opening scene, (please note, explicit adult content!) you'll find it here: http://www.saskiawalker.co.uk/theharlot.html.

Saskia Walker

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