Carole Mortimer: April News!

Happy April, Everyone.

Wow, can you believe it’s almost halfway through April already? I’m hoping Spring has finally arrived. The daffodils are out, the weather is improving—slowly. I love the Spring, when everything comes back to life for another year, and the night’s finally start staying light longer. I almost forgot to put the clocks forward again this year, on the last Sunday in March. I wasn’t too happy about losing the 1 hour, because Sunday is the only morning I have a lie in! 

April 2^nd was release day of Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3). This is the 3^rd book in the Bestselling Regency Unlaced Series.

Fliss, the heroine, overhears a conversation in which two people, a man and a woman, discuss killing Sinclair—Sin—Montgomery, the Earl of Winterbourne. She has no idea why, or when the murder is to take place, all she does know is that she has to find the earl and warn him he’s in danger. Finding the earl isn’t a problem, resisting Sin is another matter entirely, all while trying to discover who wants him dead. The story begins in England but then moves to Scotland, the home of the hero.

Book 4 in the Regency Unlaced Series, Pursued by the Viscount, is now available for pre-order, and will be released May 27^th. Books 5 and 6 will follow in July and August 2016.

June will see the publication of the first full-length novel in my new contemporary series Knight Security—Defying Asher (Knight Security 1). Asher is a secondary character in my books Savage Alpha, and the novella Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5) in the Royals and Rogues anthology with four other bestselling authors. Both these ebooks came out in March. 

As always, the stories in my Regency Unlaced, Alpha, and Knight Security series are all romances with added suspense and danger. They are also more explicit in their language and sexual content than my other books. In other words, they’re hot!

Carole Mortimer has written over 210 books in the contemporary and Regency genres.

Carole is Recipient of the 2015 Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, a USA Today Bestselling Author, Entertainment Weekly Top 10 Romance Author, 2014 Romantic Times Pioneer of Romance, and in 2012 was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. She is also a Kindle #1 Bestselling Author.

She is very happily married to Peter, they have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man.

Buy links for Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3):

Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/1WvKsPP

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taken-by-the-earl-carole-mortimer/1123314704?ean=2940152591972

This ebook is also available on Kobo, ibooks, and Smashwords. 

Buy links for Pursued by the Viscount (Regency Unlaced 4)

Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/1RzuMvc

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pursued-by-the-viscount-carole-mortimer/1123604103?ean=2940152947298

This ebook is also available on iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords

Website: www.carolemortimer.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CaroleMortimerAuthor

Email: contact@carolemortimer.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@carole_mortimer

Newsletter: www.eepurl.com/2rfzz            

Writing Bull Riders - Jeannie Watt

Hi everyone! 

Recently I started writing bull rider books and talk about fun! I’ve always loved bull riding. It’s the final rodeo event and even my father, who was notorious for leaving things early to beat the crowd out of the parking lot, stayed in his seat until the last whistle blew.

Bull riders are a special breed. They may be cocky or they may be quiet and humble, but regardless of temperament, they have a need to test themselves and the ability to persevere despite debilitating pain. They are driven by a passion that many of us never experience in our chosen careers. Why else would they put themselves up against a cranky beast that weighs well over half a ton?

During my career in education, I’ve taught a few bull riders. Many were impulsive, and some might say reckless, but to persevere in the sport, a person has to train, commit to a schedule, ignore impulse and embrace the science of the sport. Those that can’t do that, don’t last long. I love my bull riding heroes, love exploring their psyches and pitting them against heroines who bring out in the best in them.

Here’s an excerpt from my first bull riding book—The Bull Rider Meets His Match:

Alexa Benjamin had yet to see a bull rider who didn’t walk as if he owned the world, and the guy coming up the front walk of her best friend’s house? He looked as if he were in charge of the universe. Never in her twenty-eight years had she encountered anyone as sure of himself as Grady Owen. Nor anyone quite as irritating.

Lex stepped back from the window, gave her shoulders a roll, then started toward the front door to head off trouble. Grady had just hit the top step when she walked out onto the porch and took a stance. When he saw her, his expression shifted from good natured to hard so quickly it would have been comical if she didn’t suspect that he was there to screw up her best friend’s life. Again.

“Lex. What a pleasant surprise.” But there was no hint of friendliness in his gray eyes.

“Same here,” she said, folding her arms over her chest as she studied the man who was not going to get into the house. Like all bull riders, Grady was one tightly packed unit: average height, lean and wiry. Lex knew if she reached out and ran a hand over his arm, or any part of his body for that matter, all she would feel would be sinew and muscle. Sometimes, in the past, she’d felt a subtle urge to do just that, to touch his fascinatingly hard body. But Grady had always had that effect on her. He drove her crazy with his self-absorbed attitude and cockiness, yet a small part of her found him interesting. She’d reminded herself on more than one occasion that some people found major disasters interesting, also.

Amazon  

Barnes and Noble

Jeannie's Website

The Sydney Brides Trilogy - Kandy Shepherd

Do you enjoy reading connected stories in romance? I'm a fan. I love catching up with characters from previous books and anticipating when favorite secondary characters will get their stories. I really like reading connected stories—and I’ve discovered I like writing them too!

My most recent connected stories are about three friends who run a party planning business called Party Queens. Each heroine brings her own strengths to the business—and each falls for a very different hero. Not only did I love creating a deeply emotional romance for each hero and heroine, I also enjoyed writing the strong, supportive friendships that developed between the three heroines over the arc of the three novels.

 Each book is a stand-alone that can be enjoyed without reading the other two.

I’ve only just seen the cover for The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump and am sharing it here.

The first is Andie and Dominic’s story, Gift-Wrapped in Her Wedding Dress (November 2015); the second gives the stage to Gemma and Tristan in CrownPrince’s Chosen Bride (March 2016); and the third and final in the series, The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bump (July 2016) is Eliza's and Jake’s story and—and brings readers up to date with what is happening with the first two couples too.

I feel a bit sad to say goodbye to these lovely, spirited heroines and the gorgeous heroes who win their hearts. But the good thing about being a writer is I’m totally involved now in the characters for my next book!

The three Party Queens books are published by Harlequin Romance  in North America as the Sydney Brides mini-series. (Mills & Boon Cherish in the UK; Mills & Boon Forever Romance in Australia and New Zealand.)

Do you enjoy a connected series in romance? Do you prefer a complete romance in each book or one that develops over a series? What are your thoughts on cliffhangers? I’d love to read your comment!

Gift-Wrapped in HerWedding Dress and CrownPrince’s Chosen Bride are on sale now.

 The Bridesmaid’s Baby Bumpwill be released on July 1, 2016 and is available for pre-order now.

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

5 Firsts from Katherine Garbera and a Giveaway!

1.     I read my first romance novel at the age of 13, it was Johanna Lindsey’s Fires of Winter.  My grandparents owned a Greyhound Bus depot and after spending spring break with them I took the bus from Okeechobee back to Winter Haven.  My Grandma had taken me to a used bookstore where I picked it up for $.50 and I read it all the way home.  I think if the driver hadn’t been friends with my grandparents’ I might have missed my stop. :)

2.     I sold my first romance novel at twenty years ago.  It was a Maggie Award winning manuscript titled Casanova.  After it was purchased for the Desire line the title was changed to THE BACHELOR NEXT DOOR.  Silhouette selected me as a  “Woman To Watch” and my book was featured in an ad for RT magazine.  My book came out in October 1997 (I sold it in March ’96) and my local Walden Books where I was a frequent shopper put copies of my book by the register.  Click here to check it out!

3.     I went on my first trip by myself when I was 25.  My family is large and very close so there was never really any alone time within our group.  We did everything together.  But when I joined the RWA and learned about their annual conference I knew I wanted to go.  The next summer saw me fly by myself for the first time to New York City where I was met by my cousin and her husband at the airport and they took me to my hotel in Times Square.  It was very exciting and as embarrassing as this is to admit, I felt like a legit adult for the first time in my life.

4.     My first big-time promotion was a billboard in Times’ Square for my first Silhouette Bombshell title Night Life.  This book was different than the romances I had written before.  Told only in the heroine’s point-of-view and it was action.  I loved writing fight scenes and I was thrilled beyond measure to see my cover on a big jumbotron. Click here to check it out!

5.     The first time I wrote a blog I was pretty sure most people would just ignore it.  I really didn’t feel like I had anything to say that would be interesting.  But then I started blogging bi-monthly with the Jaunty Quills and I found that the blog readers didn’t think I was crazy or boring.  And I loved interacting with everyone on the blog.  Learning new things about them and myself as I read their comments. Click here to visit Jaunty!

Now for the giveaway! Tell me one of your firsts and I’ll enter you to win a HIS BABY AGENDA prize pack that includes an autographed copy of HIS BABY AGENA and some cool book swag. Click here to check it out!

More Ice Cream

While I'm awaiting my editor's thoughts on the manuscript I've just submitted, I'm writing a short story spin off from my "ice cream" trilogy (Tempted By Trouble, Anything But Vanilla and Vettori's Damsel in Distress).

There are always minor characters who beg for a story of their own. Some become books but some are smaller than that. Ria (Knickerbocker Gloria) and Graeme Laing, who appeared in Anything But Vasnilla fall into that category.

The scatty ice cream genius Ria is enormous fun and I've been having a great time on Pinterest finding the kind of clothes and jewellery she would wear.

And who would be the stiff, formal, beautifully dressed millionaire who needs the "creases shaking out of his trousers" - her complete opposite - Graeme Laing?

That was surprisingly easy. :)

All that's left is stand back and watch the fireworks as these two overcome their prejudices and discover that they are made for each other!

Roxanne Snopek: Embrace the Lion

Take one wealthy, driven restaurateur, throw in a four-year old daughter he never knew he had and the uber-efficient assistant he’s never really noticed, put them on a wild, West Coast fantasy island for a month, and what do you get? Sun, surf, steam and heart-clutching new beginnings.

That’s the basis of THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY PROJECT, my novel in the sexy alpha-hero Men of the Zodiac series for Entangled Indulgence. My hero, Dane Bergman, is a total Leo: determined, sensual, generous – and self-centered and oblivious. But don’t worry, there’s nothing like instant fatherhood to challenge a man to find his better self, especially with a suddenly-sexy but determinedly-professional executive assistant pointing out all his flaws. Dane finds love, times two, but I don’t make it easy on him!

Leos have a tendency to be show-stealing extroverts, and Dane is a true Leo in this regard. He’s the kind of guy who walks into a room and owns it, immediately. He doesn’t even have to try, which makes people like me – an introverted, neurotic Scorpio usually found hiding at the edge of the crowd, hoping she doesn’t end up on YouTube for choking on her drink – want to punch them.

But they also have the hugest hearts. You just have to find it.

Every sign of the Zodiac has its own unique qualities and right now, the #MenofTheZodiac series is on sale for #99. Twelve full-length novels in one complete set, including THE MILLIONAIRE DADDY PROJECT. It’s out of this world.

And also, right here:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Men-Zodiac-Boxed-Set-Andrews-ebook/dp/B01CNTOHV8/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/men-of-the-zodiac-boxed-set-amy-andrews/1123515667?ean=9781633756151

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/men-of-the-zodiac-boxed-set

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/men-of-the-zodiac-boxed-set/id1090888020?mt=11

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amy_Andrews_Men_of_the_Zodiac_Boxed_Set?id=F2GyCwAAQBAJ&hl=en

The Millionaire Daddy EXCERPT:

“You think you know what’s best for me, don’t you?” He watched with pleasure as Pam’s pupils widened, making her eyes look as dark as the sea.

She snorted. “Because I do.”

Heat scorched between them as they stood toe to toe, their arms brushing together, their eyes locked.

She didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable that they were both half naked.

“Maybe at work,” he said. “But we’re not at work now.”

He nudged her arms with his and bucked one thigh forward until it bumped against her hip.

She shook her head, her gaze like a laser burning into him. “Not appropriate, Mr. Bergman.” But she didn’t back down, didn’t take her eyes off his. Instead, she lifted one eyebrow, the barest hint of a smile teasing her lips.

Her nearness acted like lighter fluid to a spark. How long had this been simmering? How could he have worked so closely with her for so long without noticing her in this way?

And what about her? She knew him, knew his reputation, better than most. She knew enough to insist they keep this private, secret.

Their clandestine getaway.

Her blazing blue gaze told him everything he needed to know.

“What if I don’t want to be appropriate, Ms. Atwater?”

He leaned his head down and lowered his voice. “What if I want to sling you over my shoulder and carry you out to the tide pools, where the water is warm from the sun? What if I want to strip off that top and pour handfuls of warm water over your shoulders, letting it trickle over your breasts, down your belly?”

“Definitely not appropriate.” Her voice trembled slightly but she didn’t break eye contact. A light sheen of perspiration had broken out on her forehead that was not due to the summer heat, he was certain.

“What if we both get in the water to cool off, but we find it’s a little too cold, so I lift you up against me and all of a sudden we’re not the least bit chilly anymore.”

He heard her breath catch in her throat.

“Sounds like.” She paused to swallow, but a smoky husk remained in her voice. “Like we might get sunburned in some delicate areas.”

Only the color in her cheeks betrayed what his words were doing to her composure. It was wildly arousing.

“Oh no. Those would all be under water, hidden and slippery, so all anyone could see from the surface would be us kissing. Completely innocent.”

His own voice was hoarse.

She swayed slightly, and touched his shoulder as if to steady herself. “Innocent,” she said.

He uncrossed his arms and put them around her gently. “Just like this.”

He bent down and touched his lips to hers. A quiver jolted through her and he felt the gasp against his mouth. She gripped his neck and pulled him down closer to her, her tongue meeting his, making the kiss deeper, longer, wetter and sweeter than he could have imagined between them.

Duffy Brown: Braking for Bodies

Hi Cozy Lovers...

Braking for Bodies, the second book in the Cycle Path Mysteries comes out April 4th. The series is set on Mackinac Island where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron. There are no cars, lots of horses and even more bikes. The place is lovely in the summer and about -35 in the winter.

BFB is set during the Lilac Festival. There are a bizillion lilacs on the island and the place is amazing. But at this particular festival there’s a murder.

Not only is this a problem for the dead guy...who deserved to bite the big one...but for the businesses on the island. If word gets out that there’s a killer on the lose tourists will stampede for the ferry docks and leave!

To avoid financial catastrophe the locals pass the murder off as a mystery weekend at the Grand Hotel.

It’s hard enough to solve a murder but when the tourists are out to do the same thing and thinking this is all fun and games, mayhem goes right along with murder in a really big way.

So who is this guy that winds up dead right there in front of the Grand Hotel? It’s Peephole Perry all the way from LA and he’s a real piece of work. He got the name Peephole from sneaking around and getting the dirt on celebs in LA. He’d blackmail them and if they didn’t pay up he’d print the info in the Inside Scoop, a rag he owned and edited.

But want is the Peepster doing on Mackinac of all places? A get-away with his mistress? It might have worked if Peep’s wife didn’t show up looking for the two of them. Maybe he’s after his fav reporter who lives there and she has the dirt on him and he needs to shut her up? Or maybe someone’s followed him all the way from LA and finally did the old sleazebag in?

Mackinac Island looks all calm and peaceful to the tourist but that’s just not the way it is at all.

Duffy Brown
www.DuffyBrown.com

Susan Sands:  Writing and Golf

My husband is a scratch golfer and often has our television tuned in to the Golf Channel. Now, I admit to using it as fine background for a Sunday afternoon nap, but rarely spend time actually watching it as I would another sport.

I've taken a few golf lessons and played a scramble here and there, but it's really not something I've taken to enough to pursue. I have, however come to appreciate the time, training and skill the players employ to achieve that level of game. As a writer, I can't help but compare it to the dedication and creation of a fully formed and well-crafted novel.

When a player tees off, she has to take sharp aim, hit straight, long and be mentally ready for whatever lies between her and the flag stick. She has a plan, especially if the player is familiar with the course. When a writer begins a novel, she has to begin strong, plan for the long journey, understanding the complicated course ahead.

The shots that follow a golfer's tee shot might be approaches, lay-ups, chips, slices, and finally the all-important putts to get to the hole. (Romance writers, stop laughing) As writers navigate the crafting of a story, so many possible pitfalls come into play. We have our own brand of water hazards, sand traps and doglegs to maneuver. But hopefully, we end up with an exemplary product, and thus, a successful outing.

All the classes, the craft books, the writing, writing, and more writing we do is what prepares us for the next round. Too much golf going on at my house? I think so.

My new Southern romantic women's fiction novel, Love, Alabama, will be released April 13th by The Tule Publishing Group. It's currently available for pre-order.

Happy Spring!
Susan Sands

Connect with me!

http://susansands.com

https://twitter.com/SusanNoelSands

https://www.facebook.com/susannsandsauthor/

In Like a Lion, Out Like....What?

 . . . a lamb.... March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Or it's supposed to! Considering our excessively mild winter here in the mid-Atlantic area, March came in quietly, too!  Yes, you hear disappointment in my voice over the lack of winter - and especially the lack of snow. We had one 'blizzard' and a handful of 'polite' snows (you know the kind - the snow lands only on the grass and the roads are completely clear?). Not impressed. 

  Worse, the mild winter is leading us to a terrible allergy season - estimates say that there will be 30-35% more pollen. . . I'm wheezing already! LOL! 

  In my life, I think it will be the opposite path - March has been my quiet time. I've taken the month to recuperate from a really punishing writing/publishing schedule over the last 2+ years. I've written/revised/edited/re-wrote 6 books in 30 months....alternating between two series and publishers. So, for this little short time, I don't have a writing deadline and have taken a deep breath and let it out. (No worries - since it won't last!)

    April is always a very busy month for me - regardless of any writing commitments - and this year will be no different. I'm really excited because of a new opportunity for me - I'll be attending the LoveLetters Convention in Berlin, Germany! I've heard so many good things about this romance readers' convention and am thrilled to have the chance to attend as a featured author. I'll be presenting a talk about Traveling and Researching along with Michelle Willingham (with lots of photos of Scotland and Ireland and England), meeting readers during 'Speed Dating' and signing my latest German release -Der Highlander und die stolze Schönheit aka The Highlander's Dangerous Temptation. That's so cool since that is the book that hit the USA Today's bestselling list here in the US! 

     My only concern is that I might cause an international incident if I try to speak German. Foreign languages are certainly not my forte so I'll try to not to offend anyone during my trip! 

     This is my first time visiting Berlin and Germany -- if you have any suggestions about places to visit or see, anything I should not miss, please post it in a comment below! I need some suggestions for sightseeing. 

  And, at home, I'll be celebrating the release  Blazing Earth, the third book in my Stone Circle fantasy historical romance series. Writers talk about the 'black moment' in a story - the point in the story when everything falls apart and a happily-ever-after cannot be possible. This book is the black moment of my series, when the Warriors of Destiny face their darkest fears and the fate of humanity is at risk. It was a scary, emotional story for me to write and I am so thrilled with the results.... 

As has happened with the first two in the series, I seem to be tapped into something cosmic while planning and writing this book, too. In choosing locations for my stone circles, I avoided the best known ones and selected others nearby - or made them up. In setting this story in England, I did not want to use Stonehenge (too obvious!) so I looked around the area on maps and decided on a site a couple of miles away, a place that just seemed natural for a stone circle. So, imagine my shock when research about the Stonehenge area was published, showing a massive circle located in Durrington Wall -- um....where MY circle is!! Crazy but true! Hope you'll give it a try! 

 
So - how has your March been? Looking forward to anything in April? Any suggestions for what to see in Germany? Let me know! 

Terri is working on some future projects and getting ready for her trip to Germany. Make sure to stop by her FB page at 6pm EDT on Friday, 4/1 for some exciting news for lovers of Scottish historical romances.. Or connect with Terri through her website for lots more info!     

A Witch On A Mission

One day I’m serving lunch, cleaning tables and sweeping the floors at The Brew, my families diner and the next day I’m undercover playing spy for SKUL, a little-known division of Interpol – the Secret Keepers of the Universal Laws. And working with Agent Mick Jasper, who IS altogether putting a spell on me with his dark hair, crystal blue eyes, and perfectly white teeth that I’d love to knock out of his head.

Yeah, I’m a little bitter. I was simply playing a game of Truth or Spell with my sister Lilith after I had complained to her that I was never going get my Witchy Hour and get out of the diner, when I lost the game and put a kitty cat spell on Mick, who just happened to be walking by when I lost. Mick was simply supposed to be turned into a cat for a few hours and not remember a thing. One problem, he was undercover and he didn’t forget.

As luck would have it, he found me at the diner and insists I help him with the investigation because I blend in with the crowd. I’m not sure if that was an insult, but he has no idea I’m a witch and I far from blend in. A witch on a mission to get her Witchy Hour.

Spies and Spells

SPIES AND SPELLS, the first in this highly anticipated new series from USA TODAY Bestseller Tonya Kappes because we know she's a queen at writing paranormal mystery witch series, is here! 


Spies and Spells 
Spies and Spells Book 1 
While Maggie waits for her Witchy Hour, she works at the family diner with her mom, aunt Meme and Lilith, her sister - all witches. Soon Maggie gets entangled with a mysterious handsome stranger, Mick Jasper, and his secret U.S. organization, SKUL. Has she found her calling? 

Amazon

Be sure to visit each blog on the Spies and Spells blog tour. At each stop you will notice a bold and italicized word. These words make up one sentence. On April 9^th, the last blog stop, you will have to opportunity to answer the sentence question and be entered to win a Tonya Kappes Loves Her Readers Mystery Box! On each blog stop, you will be able to enter a Rafflecopter giveway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card and signed print copy of Spies and Spells from Tonya Kappes. An added bonus~ All the blog titles are in the word search puzzle above. There are four extra mystery words in the word search. Find them and be entered to win a Starbucks Gift Card, Kappes mini Tote, Kappes flashlight pen, and Kappes sticky notes! You will be able to tell them to Tonya on April 9^th! Good luck!

Spies and Spells Blog Tour Schedule

April 1^st: Brookes Blog

April 2^nd: Forget The Housework I’m Reading

April 3^rd: Cozy Up With Kathy

April 4^th: A Girl and Her eBooks

April 5^th: Chatting about Cozies

April 6^th: Lisa K’s Book Review

April 7^th: Booth Talks Books Blog

April 8^th: Shelley’s Book Case

April 9^th: Tonya Kappes Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway