by Sarah | Apr 14, 2014 | Guest Authors, Top Ten Tuesday, Writing
As a writer of historical fiction, I feel as if I’m constantly hopping back through time to visit the settings of my books (lately I’ve been spending a lot of my time in Sherwood Forest). So it seems natural that when I sat down to write a “Top Ten Tuesday” post, era-hopping came to mind.
Many of us have our favorite time periods. Mine might surprise you. Let’s journey back … back … back to …
London, England, during the blitz: sure, I know it was dangerous and noisy with those bombs crashing down all over the place. But you have to admire the spirit of determined defiance. And just think of the camaraderie found sitting in a bleak basement with the neighbors while the sky – and your life – falls around your ears, singing songs about Dover and longing for a cuppa …
Victorian England: A time of plenty – for the privileged classes. The rest of us keep company with the orphans and match-sellers starving in the streets. Then again, these are the people who more or less invented our concept of Christmas festivities. And it’s the birthplace of London Steampunk, no? Can’t be all bad …
Concord, Massachusetts during the nineteenth century: Oh, to breathe that rarified air and share a conversation with the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott! Perhaps I’ll be fortunate enough to cadge a walk in the woods at Walden Pond with Henry David Thoreau. Sheer bliss, but it’s obvious I’ll need a moniker made up of three names before I can fit in. Laura Rose Strickland, maybe …
St. John’s, Newfoundland during the eighteenth century: A cold, rocky coast, an abundance of fish and the cleanest air in the world. It may be a hard life, but it holds the priceless promise of starting anew. I have all I need in the strength of my back and the skill of my hands, with which to build a home. Heck, my ancestors took root here and so can I …
Tudor, England: No, I’m not attracted to the scandal or the treachery. And it seems horribly easy to get tossed into the Tower of London or earn a date with the headsman. As for Elizabeth the First with her white pancake makeup and her bald head – frankly the woman terrifies me. But oh, the music! I’ll go just for that …
Medieval Europe during the plague: I know, I know, there were rats. And fleas. And that pesky Bubonic thing. But just think: all of us who are descended from Europeans can take pride in the fact that our ancestors survived the dreaded epidemic. If they hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here …
Sherwood Forest during the thirteenth/fourteenth century: This is familiar ground for me. I’ve already written three novels and a short story set here and I think I know the territory pretty well. How can I resist actually setting foot on that blessed soil and walking for a while beneath those magical trees? I just might meet the descendants of Robin Hood …
Ireland during the Viking age: Not everyone knows the Vikings settled some of the great cities in Ireland including Dublin, Waterford and Wexford. There, the fierce invaders elbowed aside the Celtic residents, intermarried and eventually settled peaceably enough to beget a strain of flaxen-haired, blue-eyed Irishmen and women. Hmm, I wonder what it would really be like to give those horned warriors a warm welcome …
Iron Age Britain: I think my heart is here first and foremost. Give me a round-house on the Scottish coast overlooking the wild, western sea. People in this place weave enchantment into their music and magic is a fact of life. The gods are alive in every tree and rock, and Christianity has not yet appeared over the eastern horizon …
Stonehenge: Need I say more? Just the name evokes a sacred atmosphere and a mystical way of life. It’s sunrise on the summer solstice. The world holds its breath as knowledge meets belief and light cleaves stone. Here, I want to stand …
Well, we’ve journeyed our way back some distance to where the last remnants of the ice age breathe cold vapor over the land and the clean air makes it impossible to imagine pollution. Hope the time machine works for us on the way back. Then again, maybe not …
*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00HJEHOFE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | The Wild Rose Press |
Champion of Sherwood – blurb:
When Gareth de Vavasour, nephew of the Sheriff of Nottingham, is captured by the outlaws of Sherwood Forest and held for ransom, he knows he will be fortunate to escape with his life. Amid the magic and danger that surround him, he soon realizes his true peril lies in the beautiful dark eyes of Linnet, the Saxon healer sent to tend his wounds.
Granddaughter of Robin Hood, Linnet has always known she is destined to become a guardian of Sherwood Forest, along with her sister and a close childhood companion. She believes her life well settled until the arrival of Gareth. Then all her loyalties are tested even as her heart is forced to choose between love and the ties of duty, while Sherwood declares its own champion.
Author web page: www.laurastricklandbooks.com
*~*
Champion of Sherwood excerpt:
“Champion.”
He spun once more. A man stood behind him, wreathed in white mist pure as the moonlight. Gareth reached for a weapon he no longer wore.
“Peace,” the man said.
“Who are you? How come you here?”
“I am the spirit of this place. Some call me the Green Man. Others call me Robin Hood.”
“Robin Hood is long dead.” Gareth had heard the tales. Who had not?
“Aye, long dead,” the man agreed, “as are many who dwell here. This is our bastion, our refuge, a place of faith and strength.”
“What do you want with me?” Surely, and surely, he was back asleep on his tether, and dreaming.
“Nay, lad, you are not dreaming.”
“Can you hear my thoughts?” What madness was this?
“I ask of you, young man, only one thing, one boon, one favor if you would survive this night.”
“Of course I will survive. This is but darkness, and trees, and moonlight.”
The man waved one of his hands. A creature appeared beside him, a pure white wolf with its hackles raised. Another subtle movement and he stood flanked on the other side by a great, white hart, its sides streaming mist. The trees overhead tossed their branches and Gareth felt the power gather, sharp and vital, around this being who faced him. Fear such as he had never known — not even when awaiting the arrival of his father with the strap — engulfed him.
He said, “What do you seek of me? What boon, what bidding?”
“I ask of you but one promise, that you should follow what is in your heart.” The man smiled again. “Does not a true champion, always follow his heart?”
*~*
by Sarah | Apr 9, 2014 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
Hi. This is Jane Austeen, and welcome to Proud but Not Prejudiced. Today I’m here with Amy Evans, an animated redhead in her early thirties. Amy is dressed rather unusually for our show in a full-length classic black gown. But I must say, Amy, that off-the-shoulder style and deep plunging back really show off your gorgeous tan. I take it you’ve spent a lot of time out in the sun lately?
AMY: Thanks for inviting me today, Jane. Yes, we moved from Cincinnati down to Providenciales this summer. No more snow for this gal. And you-all know what they say: when you’re in the islands, live like the islanders.
JANE: So Amy, tell our audience what you were doing in Cincinnati.
AMY: To tell the truth, Jane, I was a stripper. Oh, should I have said adult entertainer or one of those other fancy terms? Well, whatever you call it, I showed men my titties for tips.
JANE: Um, wow. I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed a stripper before. I’m not sure what to ask.
AMY: Oh, I don’t do that anymore. Walt hit a big lottery and his wife agreed to a divorce for half which wasn’t so unexpected ‘cause they hadn’t been in love for a long time. And then we met and he invited me to go on a trip with him, and the rest, as they say, is history.
JANE: So a romantic road trip led to your happy relationship?
AMY: Well, I’m not sure how romantic it was, especially at first. Walter was a perfect gentleman, damnit. He seemed to like my son JG better than me. But Aunt Morgan said be patient, he liked me fine. And it turned out she was right. She usually is.
JANE: So you called your Aunt Morgan for advice in matters of the heart?
AMY: Oh, no. She was there too. In fact, to tell the truth, Walt loves her almost as much as he loves me.
JANE (with an uneasy laugh): You mean loves her in a platonic sort of way, of course.
AMY: No, not really. Aunt Morgan is smokin’ hot, and she’s fascinating to talk to. And Walt is real smart, loves history and all that stuff.
JANE: My goodness. Your aunt must be quite a woman.
MORGAN: Thank you.
JANE: Wait, who said that?
AMY: Oh, that was Aunt Morgan.
JANE: You mean like she’s a multiple personality or something?
AMY: Naw, nothing fancy like that, although it is a bit complicated. She’s a real person except that she lives in here with me. Ask her something.
JANE: Hello, Aunt Morgan. How long have you lived there with Amy?
MORGAN: I came to live with Amy when she was six. I’d been living with her grandmother, but she was in the hospital dying when Amy came to visit. Seemed like a good choice, and she’s turned out to be my favorite special niece ever.
AMY: Why thanks, Aunt Morgan. That’s a real nice thing to say.
JANE: So I take it you’ve been doing this for a long time, Aunt Morgan. So how old are you anyway?
MORGAN: You know a woman doesn’t like to talk about her age, particularly a woman like me.
JANE: Our audience is the soul of discretion. You can tell us.
MORGAN: They probably won’t believe it anyway. But the truth is, Jane, I’m more than 1500 years old.
JANE: 1500 years? I’m not too good with math, but that was long before Columbus. Were you a Native American?
MORGAN: Of course not. I’m British. A queen in my first life. In fact, you’ve heard of me. And my half brother Arthur was a king. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.
JANE: Um, King . . . Arthur? Morgan? You mean, you’re that Morgan? Morgan le Fay?
AMY: And Aunt Morgan told me that this gown was way better than anything Guinevere ever owned. That’s why I wore it.
(at this point the network interrupted the broadcast, so we’re not sure what happens next)
*~*~*~*~*
Strange Bedfellows has 4 first-person narrators. In this excerpt, Amy’s 11-year-old son JG is speaking.
Sava pats my hand. “Now tell me what’s so epic about Aunt Morgan, JG.”
“One day, Walt asked her a question directly, and she answered him just like an ordinary person would. So although I’ve been around her eleven years more than him, he’d already figured out that she was like a different person. So I got my nerve up and asked her like who she really was, and she answered me too. Said, ‘Hold that thought.’
“Then while we were driving down here she started telling us her life story. How she was born back in the fifth century in Cornwall which I looked up and it’s a part of Great Britain. And how her father was a duke who was killed fighting against the king who then married her mother and then guess what! She’s Morgan le Fay! The evil witch from the King Arthur story only she’s not really evil although she really is a witch. And somehow she learned how to jump from person to person so she wouldn’t die but we haven’t gotten to that part of the story yet and now she’s living inside my mom!”
I got a little loud as I told that last part and Sava holds a finger to my lips. “Shhh. Don’t tell everybody, doofus.” She’d picked that up from Marcus, but coming from her it seemed, well, friendlier. “Let me see if I got this straight. Your mom’s cool enough to sunbathe in the nude and she’s a stripper who trusts you enough to leave you at home at night all by yourself and she’s traveling with a really nice guy who isn’t sleeping with her because you haven’t said it’s okay, AND she has the real Morgan le Fay living in her head, and you somehow think I might not want to be your girlfriend anymore because of that?” She does this real exaggerated show like she’s scratching her head. “Let me see. Um, gee, I don’t know.” She crosses her arms and shakes her head sadly. “Marcus is right. You are a doofus.”
At least I think that’s what she said. I sort of lost track of everything after the word ‘girlfriend.’
*~*~*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00ISC1RHC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] |
BLURB
Commentators claim that Politics makes Strange Bedfellows. Politics? Hah. I heap scorn on such an ill-considered opinion. For you and I both know: it is love that makes the strangest bedfellows.
Here. Let me give you just one example. A strange tale that begins with . . .
Walter—a loveable middle-aged accounting nerd. Crappy job, boss from hell, loveless marriage—who gets a do-over when he wins a big lottery. He hits the road only to find . . .
Amy—Sweet, Southern gal stuck in Cincinnati, stripping for a living because it pays better than Wal-Mart. Seems an unlikely candidate to do-over with, but stranger things have happened. It might work out, except she’s got this crazy . . .
Aunt Morgan—everybody has a crazy aunt, but this one is special. Engaging, seductive even . . . how old is she, anyway? And how can she always be around?
*~*~*~*~*
Rusty Rhoad grew up on the South Carolina coast, practiced chemical engineering near Houston, Texas for 32 years, and now writes humorous Arthurian fiction “full time.” “I love characters who see the world with their tongues firmly in their cheeks,” Rhoad writes. “Life is too often serious; fiction should always have a place for the offbeat, the quirky, and the sardonic.”
Rhoad’s first novel, Return from Avalon (and Points West), was released by Soul Mate Publishing in July 2013; his second novel, Strange Bedfellows, was published in March 2014. A third book, Avalon, South Carolina, is due out this summer.
*~*~*~*~*
Blog: http://allthingswordsblog.wordpress.com/
by Sarah | Mar 28, 2014 | Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Saturday Spotlight, Writing
Shadows of the Past
Publish date: 4th December 2012
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.
| [amazon_link id=”B00AK2D9I8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | Wild Child Publishing |
Blurb
Anne’s relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.
The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world–one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil’s vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve’s soul from its torment.
Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?
A touching, compelling story of tragedy, loss and the power of endless love and good magic.
The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.
Excerpt
“Come, we should leave at once,” she said and glanced nervously over her shoulder. “Something terrible happened after you left for town. I think the Abbess found out about us. Our meeting in Uncle Ryan’s cabin is no longer a secret. We have been overheard. For all I know someone spies on us even as we speak. I think the Abbess, or one of her ‘friends,’ is hovering somewhere nearby and listening to every word.”
Andrew pulled Genevieve to his chest. “Do you regret you’ve come with me?”
Passion smothered Genevieve’s doubt and guilt. “Never,” she answered, aware of her body’s response to his touch, and she succumbed to his embrace.
Calming the gnawing unease in her mind and the thought of Sister Dominica guessing she was the dough of a sinner, Genevieve repeated, “Never.”
With her eyes closed and their bodies touching she became, for the very first time, simply a woman. She melted in his embrace in spite of the invisible vicious threat breathing around them. Aware they might never be alone again, she fought hard to silence the voice of conscience berating her.
“Oh, God. Please forgive me,” Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his head to kiss her. Their lips met in a passionate first kiss.
Genevieve’s spirits fell and her heart skipped a beat when, a couple of seconds later, she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on a knot strangers.
… . . .
Tears welled in Anne’s eyes, blurring her vision. She couldn’t explain them, or the sudden sadness seeping into her heart. This should’ve been a moment of happiness or, at least, contentment. She was with Neil again, and the outcome of their trip together should, very likely, bring their reconciliation. Why then did she seem detached from where she stood?
Anne shivered. Why the deep feeling of having seen this place, this forest before? And why the eerie sensation of being present here only in the body, while her mind was far away?
Away from the forest.
Away from Neil, the man who’d betrayed her trust and her love.
An onrush of sensations unfamiliar to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated her.
Anne edged cautiously closer to the rim of the bare cliff. Her foot tapped the edge. It seemed solid. She stared into the darkness of the abyss at her feet. It echoed the shadows in her heart. An unusual curiosity took hold of her. Should she step ahead? What was down there? Other human bones? Another mystery? The presence of evil, creeping up and enveloping her, became almost palpable. The vines of fog folded around her, dragging her to the depth. Her throat turned dry, and she gasped for air.
Megan’s face contorted, the voice no longer pleasant. A hoarse gurgle, spluttering distorted words, “Yes, come… I’m waiting… I’ve been waiting for you for such a long time…”
Carmen’s links:
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmen-Stefanescu-Books/499245716760283
Twitter @Carmen_Books
by Sarah | Mar 27, 2014 | Author Interview, Friday Dialogues, Guest Authors, Writing
Personal
- Do you laugh at your own jokes?
Yes, which annoys my teenage daughters SO much! They find me funny but would never admit it, which just adds to my fun
- Have you ever found true love?
Yes, and we’re still married 16 years later – my husband and I met when we 18, married at 24 and had our first child at 25. A lot of people thought things were too intense and quick between us but I knew he was the one. We’re still very happy!
Your Novel
- How did you choose your title?
Luckily, Harlequin have the final say on titles which I am extremely grateful for – I absolutely hate coming up with titles! I am so unimaginatively boring when it comes to naming my work. What Belongs To Her is my twelfth novel and coming up with titles never gets any easier!
- Who is your most unusual/most likeable character?
I adore Marian Cohen who is the matriarch of Templeton Cove – so far I have written four Templeton Cove books for Harlequin Superromance and Marian makes a significant appearance in all of them. She is by far one of my favorite characters I have ever created J
- You got the call – your novel is being made into a TV series or movie – who’s in your dream cast?
This is an easy question for me because I start each new book trawling the internet for images of my hero and heroine – for What Belongs To Her, Sasha Todd would be played by Angie Harmon (Rizzoli & Isles) and John Jordon would be played by Cam Gigandet (Easy A)
Writing
- How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas?
I am usually writing one book, editing another and promoting another – I am always busy! As well as juggling three books, I always have new ideas leaping into my head or ideas how to expand a plotline or character. I use a computer file for new story ideas and the notebook on my Blackberry for any expansions on the book I am working on…I also carry a notebook!
- What are you working on now?
Right now, I am coming to the end of my first draft of my third Victorian romance for eKensington. Tentatively called, The Passion of Monica, the heroine of this book was a secondary character in book two but every time she appeared onstage, I know she deserved her own time in the spotlight. The Passion of Monica has been my most enjoyable book to write to date––hope my editor loves it as much as I do!
Fun (Crazy, odd questions just for fun)
- Are you a neat freak? Or clutter-bound?
Clutter-bound
holiday in the Maldives
- Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten.
Snails
Quick Questions
- Sing in the rain or dance in the streets?
Dance in the streets
Pen
Summer
TV
Theater
Urban
- Facial hair or clean shaven?
Clean shaven
Marvel
Cowboy
Sunset
- Fall leaves or Spring flowers?
Spring flowers
Jelly
Spender
*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00FBZ5SOM” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon [/amazon_link]| BN | Amazon UK |
She’s ready to take back what’s hers
Since the moment a local crime boss claimed ownership of her family’s fairground, Sasha Todd has dreamed of righting the wrong. Now it’s time to act, and backing down from the man’s estranged son is definitely not an option. After all, giving up her legacy to hot-blooded John Jordon means losing the chance to finally heal the wounds in her past.
Stopping John in his tracks—and resisting the sizzle between them—is Sasha’s best defense. But there’s more to him than she thought, which changes everything. With what matters most at stake, she’ll have to risk a brand-new future with John, or walk away from the man whose heart belongs to her.
*~*
Bio:
Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington–her debut was released in April 2013 and she has since signed for three more.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Links:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Also by Rachel Brimble:
[amazon_link id=”B00BNRHN6S” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]A Man Like Him:[/amazon_link]
Changing her life
again.
After two years in hiding, Angela Taylor knows her independence is worth it. As long as she can escape her past, she has everything under control. Until a flash flood hits the park where she works, and hot Chris Forrester shows up the exact moment she needs a hero.
Chris proves he can save lives—and weaken a girl’s knees. But how can she make him understand that she’s off-limits, that getting close to her will endanger his life? Her happiness or his safety: it shouldn’t even be a choice. Because when you love someone, you protect them, no matter the cost. At least, that’s what Angela keeps telling herself
.
by Sarah | Mar 26, 2014 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Thursday Tell All, Writing
What is your story?
My story is about me returning to Montana to help Reagan plan her wedding as I finally cut all ties with my first love, Caleb, and realize my love for Chayton. And some of the crap we went through to get where we are now, including dangerous stuff I’d rather not relive.
Who are you?
I’m an obsessive-compulsive fashion consultant who likes to be in control and needs things organized. I’m working on some of those traits.
Do you feel your author, Angela Smith, portrayed you accurately?
She portrayed me pretty well, even the bad parts.
Do you have any special strengths?
My biggest strength is clothes related, of course, seeing as how I’m a fashion consultant and have been for many high-end clients. I can fix just about any wardrope emergency or problems with hair or makeup. I could be a professional organizer, too, because I have a knack for getting things organized.
Do you have any special weaknesses?
I’m OCD and I expect everyone to abide by my standards. If I want the towel hanging a certain way, why can’t they just do it that way?
What makes you happy?
My friends and family, especially when they do things my way, haha. No really, I’m not that bad.
What are you afraid of?
I used to be afraid of, not necessarily change, but the things that go with change. I need my roots to have stable ground. But I’m learning to let go of some of my roots and plant new ones.
What do you regret?
My past and some of the things that happened, some of the things I couldn’t control and even some of the things that aren’t my fault but will always make me feel guilty. Sometimes I feel guilty for being so happy, for being the one who survived.
What is your biggest disappointment?
There are so many, I don’t want to give anything in the story away. But you’ll learn about them if you read my story.
What in your past had the most profound effect on you?
Being in a wreck with Caleb when I was eighteen years old.
Who is your true love?
Chayton Chambers.
What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why?
Being in a wreck with Caleb years ago changed my entire life, my entire perspective on life, and it made me who I am today.
Was there a major turning point in your life?
I think coming to Montana with my cousin and meeting Chayton was the biggest turning point in my life. We really had a connection, even though we were just friends at the time, and I was still trying to hold onto a failing relationship with Caleb.
What is your most closely guarded secret?
I don’t really have secrets anymore.
Do you have any hobbies?
Lots! I love fashion, and I love going out on the slopes with Chayton. We love skiing and snowboarding, and he’s going to teach me to ice climb. And of course the summer we love to be outside to fish, kayak, and dirt bike. Chayton is working at getting the city out of me.
Name five items in your purse, briefcase, or pockets.
A really good mirror, concealer, lipstick, a comb, and antibacterial lotion.
If you had the power to change one thing in the world that didn’t affect you personally, what would it be?
My past. Not that I haven’t learned to appreciate the present, but there’s a lot of things in my past I wish I could change and take back.
How do you envision your future?
I envision Chayton putting a ring on my finger and maybe eventually building a house together like Garret and Reagan did.
What is your most prized mundane possession? Why do you value it so much?
The stuffed bear Reagan gave me, because it is a symbol of my new life, of who I am today and everything we have both gone through. She has her stuffed moose, and I have my stuffed bear. We laugh about that a lot.
What was your family like?
Crazy. My mom was a little obsessive herself. She always wanted me to be on my best behavior, to grin and fake it. Now that I’m older, I know she only had the best intentions, but it drives me crazy sometimes because I can’t hold off on speaking my mind most of the time even when I know I should.
When’s the last time you saw any member of your family? Where are they now?
I see Reagan, my cousin, every day. I saw most of my family at Reagan’s wedding and we plan to go visit them and they’ll visit us soon.
Did you ever meet any other family members? Who were they? What did you think of them?
I know all of my family and now I am meeting Chayton’s.
What is your worst childhood memory?
The wreck that killed my friends.
What is something you had to learn that you hated?
I always hated math, but it’s important to know measurements and such in fashion.
What do you find most relaxing? (Not as in stress relief, but as something that actually calms you down.)
Being on the slopes with Chayton, and going to his cabin to lounge in the hot springs.
What is the perfect romantic date?
Pretty much what I mentioned above. Having a nice dinner outside in the warmer weather. Cooking together and enjoying a glass of wine or one of Chayton’s’ cocktails while we watch the sunset on the porch.
What is more important – sex or intimacy? Why?
Both! I believe it’s important to have sex to strengthen intimacy and I believe increased intimacy.
What’s the worst thing you’ve done to someone you loved?
I was pretty mean and insensitive to Chayton, but that was before I admitted my love for him.
What one act in your past are you most ashamed of? What one act in your past are you most proud of?
I am proud of who I have become. I’m sorry that I didn’t’ try to change things when I was younger.
What trait do you find most admirable, and how often do you find it?
Honesty. I find it often among my true friends, but sometimes honesty is in the eye of the beholder.
Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Which is more valuable? Why do you feel this way?
Oh yes. There’s a lot of things I could have prevented if I’d tried hard enough, including hurting others. That’s one of the reasons I’m trying to watch my words. Then again, there are some things you just can’t prevent.
What one word best describes you?
Obsessive.
How do your friends see you?
I think they look up to me. I mean, they know I’m a genuine person and I’d do anything for them. I love a good party and I love to help organize parties, but I’m also a bit rash in my decisions. I tend to overreact sometimes.
How do your enemies see you?
Umm, I don’t think I have any enemies, but if I did they’d probably see me as rash.
What, if anything, haunts you?
My past and some of the things that happened.
How private of a person are you? Why?
Not really at all, depending on the person I’m with. I’m an open book to most people who know me.
If you were to gain an obscenely large sum of money (via an inhertiance, a lawsuit, a lottery, or anything else) what would you do with it?
Give most of it away and invest some for me and my family’s future.
What would you wish for if you found a genie?
I’d wish for the ability to see the future and make decisions based on that. But in reality I wouldn’t because even that would have consequences.
*~*~*~*
| [amazon_link id=”B00IPSCM3W” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon[/amazon_link] | BN | Crimson Romance | iTunes |
Blurb:
Hollywood fashion consultant Naomi Fisher is happy to use her obsessive-compulsive planning to assist with her cousin’s wedding, but her history with the sexy and sullen Chayton Chambers, the groom’s brother, terrifies her. When the groom is kidnapped at his own wedding, Chayton and Naomi rush to find an important relic to satisfy the ransom before her cousin becomes a widow before a bride. Naomi trades garters for guns as survival, and love becomes a deadly game impossible to resist.
Information about the book:
Title: Fatal Snag
Author: Angela Smith
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 17 March 2014
Publisher: Crimson Romance
About the Author:
During her senior year in high school, Angela Smith was dubbed most likely to write a novel, and that has been her dream ever since her mother read Brer Rabbit to her and her sister so often that they were able to recite it back to each other before actually learning to read. She’s always enjoyed stories about the adventure of love, and getting involved in the legal field developed her love of suspense. A certified paralegal, work gives her perfect fodder for her romantic suspense stories. When not caring for her small farm or spending time with her husband of two decades, she enjoys creating, reading, and dreaming of the places she’ll visit one day.
Angela Smith LOVES talking to readers. You can contact her in the following ways:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaSmith
Twitter – https://twitter.com/angelaswriter
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173505.Angela_Smith
Website – http://www.loveisamystery.com
Email – angela@loveisamystery.com
by Sarah | Mar 24, 2014 | Book Spotlight, Guest Authors, Saturday Spotlight, Writing
Like all of us here, I love romance, but like happiness, romance can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. As I get older I feel more comfortable with examinging my need for romance and what I like when I like it, and particularly how my needs for romance change. I loved Valantines Day when I was young, for example, but my opinion on that has changed somewhat, and I’d prefer something more spontaneous at this end of a long term marriage.
However, and this is the difficulty with romance, discussing your romantic needs seems antithetical to receiving them. Seeing hubby walk through the door with a huge bunch of roses is completely different to getting a bunch after telling him I’d like him to bring flowers home more often. Romance can be a delicate thing and nuances, attitudes and circumstances can completely alter the same gesture. I don’t expect my husband to just know what I need in any area of my life, and at the same time, the most romantic moments for me, are when I’ve done nothing to solicit his romantic action.
So, part of romance, is learning how to receive what he is offering as well as getting what I want. My husband likes to make me mix tapes of music he is listening to. We don’t always share the same tastes, but I love those music collections, because I feel as though I have been invited into his secret world, as if he is reaching out to me and bringing me close. They’ve also become a map of our marriage, as we tend to play his latest gift for a solid week or so after he gives it. If a new partner asked me what I like romantically, music mixes might not be at the top of the list, but when they come from my husband, my heart bursts with joy.
So, in the spirit of trying to communicate what our best romantic gestures are, I thought this Top Ten Tuesday on Sarah’s Story Lines will be a ten favourite romantic gestures, in the hope you might make your own, and start the conversation in a gentle way that wakes us up to the romance we need, as well as the romance that might already be all around us.
10. Public declarations of love.
Like everyone, I get insecure every now and then. I love it when my husband, rather than enjoy my insecurity, seeks to reassure me by telling a pretty woman who is trying to flirt with him, how much he loves me, or reaching for me to introduce me to her. These petty rivalries exist (sometimes) between women, and I love it when my husband chooses me, over and over again, above all other women.
9. Saving for a romantic holiday.
I’m a traditionalist in this department. I love Paris, Rome, London and New York. When we decide we’re going to go to one of these cities, and we plan it, get excited, gather resources and set up a fund account, I get so excited and every little moment is like a huge romantic gesture. (We’ve only done this twice, but I’m hoping there will soon be a third.)
8. Long slow deep kisses.
Especially when either of us walk though the door at the end of the day. No further explanation required.
7. Food and Wine gifts
He doesn’t do it all the time, but one of hubby’s romantic gestures I’ve come to love and appreciate, is when he is home late, he brings something to contribute to dinner, like a bottle of wine, a loaf of excellent sour dough, or two delicate pastries. It’s his little way of acknowledging I work too and I had to steer our ship alone today.
6. Looking at our Wedding Photos Together.
This is one I asked for, but he now knows that we do it each year on our anniversary. We snuggle up in bed and go through the wedding album. He focusses and engages with me and we talk about the year we’ve just had. I love these moments, and they end up being the best part of every one of our anniversaries.
5. Booking a beautiful restaurant for no reason
Confession time. I’m still working on this one. For some reason I am always the one who suggests the restaurant and the night out. But I’ll get there! I have to think of a way to let him know this is something I would like, without feeling like I forced him.
4. Sitting and Chatting about our day
This one he does quite a lot. If he comes home and I am cooking, he opens the wine he bought and we sip and chat. He doesn’t run off somewhere else, and I am always so grateful for that. We both work hard, so we have a lot to chat about in our day. It’s never dull and we both feel a close part of it all when we do settle down to eat or get on with something else.
3. Note and Pics
For some reason, my hubby likes to leave me photos. I’m still not completely sure what this is about, but he will change my desktop or photocopy images and leave them around for me. Sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are just something nice he saw. I have grown to love these little cartoons, jokes and other images, even though I confess, sometimes I wonder where his head is at.
2. Buying me a book or Journal.
Being a writer books and journals are my very favourite gift. This is one I taught my husband, but he’s really good at it now. He just keeps an eye out and about once a month or so there is a new journal and about every two months, he pops home with a book for me. The best thing is, they’re not always books I would choose, but I try to read every single one. It’s my way of saying thanks.
1. Mixed tape.
This has to be my number one, because my digital mixed tapes are such a big gift.
What are some of your favourite romantic gestures?
Barbra Novac is a writer of erotic romance, and erotica. Spellbound is her new book, coming out in April 2013.
Blurb:
When struggling film maker Connie Berringer goes to her local to drown her financial sorrows in cheap wine, mysterious stranger Jack Sinclair offers to buy her a drink claiming she’s beautiful. She begrudgingly accepts to ease her wallet, but is too smart to be fooled by the line. When the drink arrives, it’s not a beer, but a fifty-thousand dollar bottle of Grange Hermitage. Connie’s interest in Jack Sinclair dramatically changes, only to find he’s vanished.
Over the next few days Jack will turn up at the most unexpected moments rapidly becoming a crucial part of Connie’s world, and soon, an exciting adventure in the bedroom. Connie discovers a self in Jack’s arms she never knew, including the depths of passion she is capable of and the lengths Jack will go to stimulate that passion. Jack sees something in Connie he wants, but his search for it in the past will come back to haunt him, resurfacing as a threat to the new relationship he’s found.
Sophisticated, erotic, witty and tantalising, Spellbound reaches into the broad sweep of the soul from the suspenseful drama of a homage to Hitchcock to the slow ticklish thrill of a completely romantic romance.
You can find our more about Barbra Novac at www.barbranovac.com or www.barbrawrites.com
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