If You Like... Military Men

The If You Like... series helps you find the kinds of Romance you want to read by grouping together Candy Hearts Romances that share themes.

Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Military Men.

Soldiers back from war are in need of love.

Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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Je T'aime by Ursula Whistler
rating: erotica (R)
Looking for inspiration, designer Genevieve Hoffman agrees to an apartment swap and heads to the south of France. But when the apartment owner's brother returns from deployment, she finds herself  with a man who inspires fantasies rather than fashion.
Etienne Gagnon barely made it out of Syria alive during his last special forces assignment. All he wants is a little R&R in the apartment he shares with his sister. But the woman making breakfast in his kitchen isn't his sister. He might not understand a word coming out of her mouth but he has no problem reading body language and likes what she's saying just fine.

I Love You by Brandy Wilson
rating: spicy (MA)
Tate Campbell liked his life. Running his bar kept him busy and paid his bills, and a relationship with anyone wasn't on the horizon. He sure wasn't expecting a Valentine surprise, especially one who looked like a fallen angel—with a broken-down car.
Dace Robinson's career as an ER doctor left little time for relationships. Valentine's Day was just another day on the calendar, albeit one filled with annoying decorations and sad reminders she had no one special in her life. Until the night car trouble compelled her to seek help in a biker bar, and the handsome owner claimed Dace as his woman—she had no idea how sweet Valentine's Day could be.

Charm Me by Tina Stetler
rating: spicy (MA)
Summer Dawn Riley’s an extraordinary elemental witch whose troubled past haunts her. She’s created a calm life for herself teaching yoga and keeping people at a distance. Her life takes a one eighty degree turn when she enrolls in a women’s weapons class and meets ruggedly handsome Devlin Sawyer.
Devlin, a former Navy Seal, has sworn off women after two long-term failed relationships, but there is no denying his attraction to Summer. She intrigues him like no other woman ever has. Despite her attempts to ignore him, Summer is drawn to Devlin. His magic signature is strong, but he’s no warlock. Will Valentine’s Day magic find them a future together?

If You Like... Erotica

The If You Like... series helps you find the kinds of Romance you want to read by grouping together Candy Hearts Romances that share themes.

Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Erotica.

Some like it hot. These Candy Hearts Romances come with plenty of tabasco. These titles are so hot they are only available in the Wilder Roses catalogue (18+ only). Stock up on batteries and lock the bedroom door before reading these.

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Melt My Heart by Marie Tuhart
rating: erotica (R)
Veterinarian Lexi Mallory wants to submit to the sexy new Dom from the club, but trauma from her past keeps getting in the way. It's a good thing Gabriel Huntington has a special way with difficult subs and sees the gorgeous Lexi as a delicious challenge. Unfortunately, Lexi fears her inability to relinquish control that will finally test Garbriel's patience and he'll end their contract. Can Lexi lower her barriers and allow Gabriel's touch to melt her heart?

Je T'aime by Ursula Whistler
rating: erotica (R)
Looking for inspiration, designer Genevieve Hoffman agrees to an apartment swap and heads to the south of France. But when the apartment owner's brother returns from deployment, she finds herself  with a man who inspires fantasies rather than fashion.
Etienne Gagnon barely made it out of Syria alive during his last special forces assignment. All he wants is a little R&R in the apartment he shares with his sister. But the woman making breakfast in his kitchen isn't his sister. He might not understand a word coming out of her mouth but he has no problem reading body language and likes what she's saying just fine.

You're Tops by Sydney St Claire
rating: erotica (R)
When her husband ran off with a perky, much younger woman, Regina Cox got the house, a decrepit car, and her freedom. Divorced, she plans to remain man-free and focus on her career as a writer. Trouble is, the skinny boy next door who used to tease her about her braces is now a handsome hunk and features as the hero in her latest romance novel.
Tucker Owen is a Dom with his eye on the new divorcee next door. His fantasies center around draping Regina over his spanking bench. Too bad she’s a strong woman and not submissive in the least. But when he learns she writes erotica romance and is having trouble getting the research right, he offers a week-long tutorial that’s bound to teach them both a few things.
Regina can't refuse all the research she could ask for and no strings sex on top. And with the sassy sub, Tucker soon discovers the pleasure that comes when the topper is topped.

Tweet Me by Desiree Holt
rating: erotica (R)
Don’t call. Don’t text. Tweet me…
Married to her work, event planner Avery Kurtz runs her life and her business on a private message feed. She has no time to waste on emails or a love life, and Valentine’s Day means just more parties to plan. But when Tanner Voss, best man in Avery’s best friend’s wedding, is assigned to help finalize plans, her world is turned heart-side up. The hotshot attorney might be a player. He’d hit on her before and she avoided that mistake but he’s also surprisingly cooperative, focused on making the perfect choices for their friends, and even on board with her messaging preference. Between the erotic dreams about the sexy litigator and her body urging her to forget caution, Avery is wondering if she was wrong about Tanner and wants him to do more than “tweet me.”

Red Hot by Kayden Claremont
rating: erotica (R)
Treena Stanton, artistic coordinator of Sierra’s Cowboy Theme Park, wants to exact revenge on Clayton Wagner. She had a crush on him in school, but he never acknowledged her existence. Revenge is sweet but not as sweet as the pleasure of his touch.
Strategic accounts manager, Clayton Wagner lost a bet and has to work the next twenty-four hours at his buddy’s theme park. But when his "boss for the day" with mouth-watering curves demands he wear a cowboy costume, all he can think about is finding out what's under her petticoat.
But when the truth is revealed about their past, will the sparks of passion fizzle or burst into Red Hot flames?

Surprise Me by Anita Kidesu
rating: erotica (R)
Josie and Carson Sandberg are on the cusp of being empty-nesters. With a cross-country move and Carson's busy work schedule, there hasn't been much time to connect. When gifted with a romantic getaway and challenge that says "Surprise Me", the two embark on a trip that reveals secret desires and more. But sometimes a fantasy is better left undiscovered...

If You Like... Shopowners

The If You Like... series helps you find the kinds of Romance you want to read by grouping together Candy Hearts Romances that share themes.

Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Shopowners.

Women in business for themselves! With a business demanding all one's time and more, is there room for love? These Candy Hearts Romances say yes.

Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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3 Wishes by Peggy Jaeger
rating: sweet (PG)
Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Say Yes by Katie O'Sullivan 
rating: sensual (PG-13)
Darby Malone has trouble saying no. Hosting a children’s Valentine party at her recently renovated gallery is the last straw, and the last time she intends to say yes to anything. That is, until she meets Ben, a well-known Cape Cod artist with eyes as deep and blue as the ocean. He stirs feelings in her that have been dormant for too long. Can she afford to say yes to him?
Ben Phillips needs this gallery show. His life has been empty since his wife died four years ago, his paintings the only thing giving him solace. But his style has changed, his art completely different than the breezy shore paintings he staked his reputation on. Can he convince Darby to give him a chance – and to consider him for more than just a place on her gallery walls? Will she give him a place in her heart as well?

Forget Me Not by Maureen L Bonatch 
rating: sweet (PG)
The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can't recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband. Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she'll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4. To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their "rinky-dink" town in her rearview mirror.
If Cole can't believe she's a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?


Sweet Kiss by Judy Ann Davis
rating: sweet (PG)
Hard-working Kate Clark opens a thriving coffee shop that quickly becomes the local hang-out for students and the community. Her one wish is to eventually buy out her sister’s share of the old Florida home they inherited. However, Violet is in desperate need of cash and has other plans.
Tappe Vanderberg, Kate’s childhood friend and high school sweetheart, has sold his lucrative internet security business to return to Little Heron Shores and fulfill his dreams of owning a marina. Now the handsome Dutch-born businessman is making waves with single women all over town—including loony, post mistress Eva May Poole who’s in search of husband number three.
But it’s Kate Clark who’s wreaking havoc with Tappe’s heart, not Eva May. Can he find a way to shake the dingbat post mistress and convince Kate to give him a second chance and the sweet kiss he remembers from an earlier time?

Got Love? by Angela Hayes
rating: sweet (PG)
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, gorse fairy, Flora Hawthorne is up to her neck in flowers, chocolate, and all things romance. She has no time for love, until she comes face to face with her own personal Cupid and the sparks fly!
Looking to settle down, Cupid Tharin Terize wants fairy Flora Hawthorne to be his valentine, not just for one night, but for the rest of time. Now, all he has to do is convince her.

Adore Me by Darcy Lundeen
rating: sensual (PG-13)
A hacker is targeting Meredith Crismis’s struggling new dessert company. But when the tech firm she depends on sends hunky computer expert Vlad Wiznitsky to fix the problem, things begin improving for Meredith, both personally and professionally.
First, her relationship with Vlad heats up to the sizzling point, then Meredith’s given the chance to snag a wealthy customer who could put her company’s bottom line permanently into the black. It seems like a dream come true, until the persistent hacker turns her “Divine Desserts” website into an X-rated marketplace, the wealthy customer demands a discontinued decorative item or else no sale, and her relationship with Vlad begins to unravel under the pressure of her obsession with professional success.
For a woman who deals with creating intricate wedding cakes and luscious muffins, life has suddenly become the ultimate recipe for disaster.

Charm Me by Tina Stetler
rating: spicy (MA)
Summer Dawn Riley’s an extraordinary elemental witch whose troubled past haunts her. She’s created a calm life for herself teaching yoga and keeping people at a distance. Her life takes a one eighty degree turn when she enrolls in a women’s weapons class and meets ruggedly handsome Devlin Sawyer.
Devlin, a former Navy Seal, has sworn off women after two long-term failed relationships, but there is no denying his attraction to Summer. She intrigues him like no other woman ever has. Despite her attempts to ignore him, Summer is drawn to Devlin. His magic signature is strong, but he’s no warlock. Will Valentine’s Day magic find them a future together?

For Keeps by Veronica Lynch
rating: sensual (PG-13)
Meghan Muldoon is at a crossroads: struggling to balance the demands of a high stress vocation as an advocate for victims of violence and her feelings for Keenan Rossi, a man who wants to make their relationship permanent.
On Valentine's Day, a series of routine crises force Meg to question staying in a profession which fulfills her both professionally and spiritually--or devoting the rest of her life to the one person who completes her.
Which one is For Keeps?

Find Me by Cait Jarrod
Rating: sensual (PG-13)
In Heather Ridge, Virginia, myth has it the lucky recipients of the two FIND ME candy hearts distributed each year are soul mates.
Too afraid of seeing her one-time trusted friend, good-hearted Lyse Haynes refuses to go to her high school class reunion. But when she receives a second invitation containing the elusive candy heart, she takes an overdue vacation to pursue the dream of finally finding her soul mate.
Ice cream creator Cooper Schmidt plans to take his product nationwide. His marketing team proposes the perfect destination for his next store. Unfortunately, it belongs to the father of the woman he’s harbored feelings for since high school. He uses her belief in myths and mails her the candy heart to entice her to Heather Ridge, in hopes she will convince her father to sell.
There’s just one problem. After ten years, his old feelings tumble forward, stronger than ever, and Lyse has a decision to make—discover who has the candy heart companion or follow her heart.

Sweetie Pie by Willa Blair
rating: spicy (MA)
Makenna Stewart flees Scotland for the Big Island of Hawaii intent on making real a cherished dream—a bakery of her own. Hard work and long hours leave Makenna craving some fun in her life. Her best customer, Greek-god sexy surfer Tom may be just what she needs, but she suspects there’s more to him than board shorts and a devastating smile.
Retired professional surfer and real-estate multi-millionaire Tom Bensford, is there when she opens every morning, but he’s not craving her Morning Glory muffins. Fascinated by the dark-haired, blue-eyed wahine with the creamy Celtic skin and devastating Scottish accent, he’s never met a woman like her. Too bad he’s about to destroy her dreams.
To him, it’s just business. To her, it’s the kind of betrayal she fled Scotland to escape. Can the island magic in Makenna's heritage save her dream and their romance, or will his secret tear them apart?

If You Like... Speculative Fiction Romance

The If You Like... series helps you find the kinds of Romance you want to read by grouping together Candy Hearts Romances that share themes.

Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Speculative Fiction Romance - Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal.

Enjoy genre-blending stories? Fantasize about worlds that are not quite our own? Find a Candy Hearts Romance to take you to a different place, for love is universal.

Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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(Science Fiction) Real Love by Charlotte Copper 
rating: sweet (PG)
As a young girl, Monda was placed into the tutelage of Mistress Teevac. Trained to use her empathic skills and educated in the ways to please a man, Monda is on her way to her new mate and master when her spaceship crashes. Rescued by a handsome space lieutenant, who literally makes her heart race, Monda’s eyes and heart are opened to new possibilities.
When Lieutenant Patrick Lancaster looks at the exotic Monda, he sees beautiful not alien. With an instinct to protect her and the desire to have her, he’d be honored to call her his own, but the starts have something else in mind. Or do they?

(paranormal) Forget Me Not by Maureen L Bonatch
rating: sweet (PG)
The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can't recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago. What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband. Any practical girl would question her sanity. But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she'll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4. To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known. Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their "rinky-dink" town in her rearview mirror.
If Cole can't believe she's a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has at love exists in her memories?

(paranormal) www.CUPID by Annette Miller
rating: sweet (PG)
Allison McCall, supervisor in the Romance and Proposal Department of Cupid Corp., firmly believes rules are meant to be followed, yet her own love life is unfulfilling.
Preston Carlyle, Allison’s former boyfriend and one of more creative agents, believes rules should be broken occasionally to give true love a chance. Only he’s having a hard time convincing Allison and Cupid his techniques are working.
From the disastrous paperwork and the frequency of Allison’s visits to Cupid’s office on Preston’s behalf, she fears her position and his job are in jeopardy. But when she finds out he’s requested a transfer to the Holiday Security Agency, Allison decides to prove she cares for him…even if it means breaking a few rules.

(paranormal) Got Love? by Angela Hayes
rating: sweet (PG)
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, gorse fairy, Flora Hawthorne is up to her neck in flowers, chocolate, and all things romance. She has no time for love, until she comes face to face with her own personal Cupid and the sparks fly!
Looking to settle down, Cupid Tharin Terize wants fairy Flora Hawthorne to be his valentine, not just for one night, but for the rest of time. Now, all he has to do is convince her.

(time travel) For You by Emma Kaye 
rating: sensual (PG-13)
It's Valentine's Day, and candy heart sayings mock Drew Engledown's lonely state. He wants more in his life than work, but hasn't met anyone he can imagine spending his life with. When he puts his own life at risk to save a friend, he's sent back in time to Regency London and mistaken for a murdered earl. Has he been given a chance at love with the earl's beautiful widow, or will he suffer the same fate as the previous lord?
When her husband's heir lays claim to all she once owned, Lady Engledown is left nearly destitute. So she doesn't know whether to be relieved or angry when the earl returns but claims he's not her husband. Could he be telling the truth, or is he toying with her? She doesn't know what to think of this man who is so different from the husband she never loved. Can they find happiness together, or will this man she comes to love leave her worse off than before?

(paranormal) Charm Me by Tina Stetler
rating: spicy (MA)
Summer Dawn Riley’s an extraordinary elemental witch whose troubled past haunts her. She’s created a calm life for herself teaching yoga and keeping people at a distance. Her life takes a one eighty degree turn when she enrolls in a women’s weapons class and meets ruggedly handsome Devlin Sawyer.
Devlin, a former Navy Seal, has sworn off women after two long-term failed relationships, but there is no denying his attraction to Summer. She intrigues him like no other woman ever has. Despite her attempts to ignore him, Summer is drawn to Devlin. His magic signature is strong, but he’s no warlock. Will Valentine’s Day magic find them a future together?

(fantasy) Marry Me by Heidi Kneale
rating: sweet (PG)
In 1905 New York City, affluent Millie Moore wants to be outspoken like the suffragettes she admires. She also wants to rid herself of an annoying and controlling suitor. For a well-brought up young lady whose mother fears her impending spinsterhood, speaking her mind is an uphill battle.
When Raymond Wilson sees Millie at a rally, it’s love at first sight. Not wanting his stutter to ruin his chances, he enchants a little candy heart to do his talking for him.
For Millie, Raymond is a breath of fresh air. And maybe, just maybe, someone she could love. But for her social-climbing suitor Guy Elliot, he’s a threat to his plans. And Raymond isn’t the only one who knows something about magic. Now the ante has been upped and Millie is the prize…

(science fiction) Ever After by Candace Sams 
rating: Sweet (PG)
Dillon Greenleaf is a member of Mythreal royalty and head of his planet's security. Debutantes have been chasing him his entire adult life in order to wed a man of power, and he's totally off women in general. But when he meets Keira Foley, an Earth officer, who he suspects is a pirate spy, he finds he quite likes the Plain Jane female.
 Keira has been pegged brilliant and unattractive by her fellow officers, something she doesn't mind until she meets the hot, royal stud-muffin who believes she is capable of treason against her own world. When they meet again at the Earth Embassy's Valentine's Day ball, Keira however blows Dillon's mind.
Yet, in the midst of trying to find the real traitor, Dillon's match-making grandmother, and a night made for love, Keira and Dillon must decide if they can put aside their differences in time to find a love that will be ever after.

Planet 9 or Planet 10? At least call it Planet Bob for now.

@micquai had some fun.

Today's TASE Day is brought to you by the ever-interesting kerfuffles that happen within Astronomy circles. This is far more fascinating, optimistic and potentially science-furthering that the last debacle involving sexual harassment.

New Planet?

Today's hot-and-bothered fun is revolving (pun intended) around the unofficial nomenclature of a possible new planet in our solar system.

We're not talking yet another dwarf planet, but a large, solid(-ish) no-IAU-doubts-about-it Planet (with a capital P).

Astronomer Mike Brown (fondly known as @PlutoKiller, and for good reason), has been calling it Planet Nine.  This is because the International Astronomical Union (IAU), since 2006, has reclassified the rocks revolving about our Sun into different categories.  The most famous category is Planets, of which there are officially eight.

So, going by the official IAU definition, if this mystery planet is as massive as they believe it is, it would make official sense to call it Planet 9.  He's blogging about it at Find Planet Nine.

But a lot of people are freaking out about its name.  Isn't Pluto supposed to be the ninth planet?

Not any more.

Before the official IAU re-definition of what a "Planet" was, we (the general populations of humans currently living on Earth) identified with nine: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

So, most everyone who was born in the 20th Century (and hadn't studied the history of astronomy), have always believed there to be nine planets, no more, no less.

Then we started discovering more. And more. Eris, Makemake, Haumea, Sedna, Quaoar... the list goes on.  Astronomers everywhere started finding more and more of these little Pluto-sized planets roaming about. Not wanting to confuse kids who had learned that their very educated mothers can now serve us more than nine pancakes, the IAU did a reclassification; Pluto and several of his sisters are now Dwarf Planets.

A lot of people channeled their newly-discovered inner Plutophile and got their panties in a twist. Understandable. Most humans are discomfited with change.

Me, I'm okay with their being currently eight major planets and a handful of named dwarf planets. I can't get up in arms about Pluto, because long before there was a reason to get up in arms over Pluto, I was up in arms over Ceres.

Anyone who says in my presence, "Reinstate Pluto as a planet!" I say to them, "What are your thoughts on Ceres?" because Ceres was once defined as a planet, and enjoyed that status for a good fifty-plus years.  As a junior astronomer, I thought it dreadfully unfair that it got demoted.

However, it made sense. As more and more bodies were discovered in the orbit of Ceres, we learned that this little world whom the Dawn spacecraft is currently keeping company, was not alone. Vesta was discovered and more rocks. Lots of rocks. Enough that we called them asteroids. Thus, Ceres got demoted. Still, I'm happy to call Ceres a planet (dwarf or otherwise).  It's not her fault if she was the victim of the Grand Tack model.

So yeah. This whole brou-ha-ha over Pluto's demotion? Seen it before with Ceres. Only this time, the flames of controversy have been fanned by the hot wind known as social media.

But that's not going to stop people wanting Mike and everyone else to call this newly-hypothesised planet Planet 10.  Doesn't help that it's also being called Planet X (X meaning "mystery" or "unknown", not the Roman numeral ten).

I propose we could call it Sol o, after the current exoplanet naming convention.  (Okay, so what if that convention is for naming exoplanets and not the planets belonging to our solar system?) However, since Planet X is too confusing and Planet Nine might not be socially acceptable, I don't mind calling Planet Bob Sol o because...

Earth = Sol b
Mercury,Venus,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn = Sol c,d,e,f,g
Uranus = Sol h
Ceres = Sol i
Neptune = Sol j
Pluto = Sol k
Haumea = Sol l
Eris = Sol m
Makemake = Sol n

Planet Bob = Sol o

Note, I didn't include Sedna and a few named others in this list, as they haven't been officially recognised as Dwarf Planets yet by the IAU.  So if we happen to locate and confirm Planet Bob before more Dwarf Planets get officially accepted, Sol o is a perfectly good name until we can raid our Roman mythology for an official moniker.

Waitaminnit. You mean we haven't discovered Planet Bob yet?

Depends on what you mean by "discover". Funny thing about astronomy. We look up into the sky, we see stuff, then it takes us a very long time to figure out what it means. Sometimes we're right; sometimes we discover something new and unexpected.

Mike believes Planet Bob is out there because gravity. Gravity is a very good way for astronomers to figure out the existence of stuff we can't see. (Like dark matter, etc.)  It is how we postulated and later discovered Neptune (Uranus' orbit had a few gravitational discrepancies that later led to Neptune's discovery). There is also a very good chance that we might have taken a picture of Planet Bob during our many astronomical surveys, but haven't had a chance to get around to analysing the data yet, or analysing more of Mike's pool of data (re: Planet Bob) and married the two up.

This taking pictures of stuff in the sky and not knowing what it is, is pretty much how we roll in astronomy.

We'll do astronomical surveys (ie taking detailed pictures of stuff in the sky), let the astrophysicists propose the existence of something somewhere, then we go back and look at pictures to see if anything in those pictures matches up.  This happens so often we have a name for it: precovery. Lots of stuff has been precovered. 

One slight problem with this precovery option. There's a possibility that Planet Bob might be in the particular part of its orbit that places it against the background of the Milky Way Galaxy. There's an awful lot of bright stuff there, and spotting an apparently small, Magnitude 20-something planet might be incredibly difficult.

Still, we humans love a challenge. But we also like letting our imaginations run away with us.

Maybe for now we should call Mike's Planet Nine and Plutophiles Planet Ten --- Planet Bob.

________________________________

Her Grace would much rather get upset over the proposed naming of Epsilon Eridani b to AEgir, especially as much of the human race knows it (subconsciously) as the planet Vulcan. However, if you're completely NOT into Star Trek, it is also the star system where Babylon 5 is located.

Was chatting to a mate of mine about this subject. Kept talking about Sol o.  So my mate says, "Why don't you call it Planet Han instead?"  Groan.

Happy Australia Day!!

We take a break from all the candy hearts to bring you some delicious Australia Day Lamb.

Happy Australia Day!  

Have you got lamb for the barbie? To show how important it is, here's a few reminders:

Forget shrimp--throw some lamb on the barbie and have a Happy Australia Day, mate!

_________________________________

Her Grace prefers thick mint sauce.

Romance Novels - 21st Century Feminist Fiction

(Recently had a conversation with someone who had a very negative view of the Romance genre. This person also believes that feminism is nothing more than a gender-reversed misogyny, which is a very incorrect idea. Feminism is nothing of the sort. No wonder their view of Romance was so skewed.)

In the 21st Century, the genre of Romance is being reclassified as feminist fiction. Refs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7  I say it's about time.

Here's why:

1. Our Heroine is the center of the story. It is her story. It's about what her dreams are, her goals, her desires. What she wants is important. Very important.
2. It's about respect. In the end, Our Heroine's choice are respected by Our Hero and others. She's not shamed or mocked for her pro-activity. In fact, she's often encouraged and when she's successful, she's lauded.
3. It's okay for Our Heroine to have desires. She is not chastised or shunned for having yearnings in her heart (or other places). Let her heart flutter, let her loins burn, let her indulge in deep, passionate kisses. It's okay.
4. Success happens. One of the main qualifiers of Romance is the HEA (Happily Ever After). But it's not just limited to her romantic love life. Our Heroine also experiences success in business, in social circles, in her art, her hobbies and her goals. She is shown that no matter what she sets out to achieve, women's success is possible and commonplace.
5. Win-Win situation. See, Our Hero gets success as well. Like Our Heroine, he also gets love, respect, success and happiness. He earns the trust of  a woman, and that is a very big thing. Also, he's placed in an environment where it's safe for him to express himself, be emotional, admit weakness and not be ridiculed. Not enough men in real life get that luxury.

The world is a big, scary place full of problems that haven't been solved yet. Romance gives us a chance to escape that world and daydream about a better one of happiness and love and success. Feminism is about achieving those goals in real life and while we have a long way to go, at least the journey has started.

Go read a romance book or ten. You'll be glad you did.

__________________________________
Her Grace embraces idealism for its positive message.

Interview - Charlotte Copper

Today's Friday Interview is on a Sunday because tomorrow is the release day of Real Love - A Candy Hearts Romance. I'm really excited about this one because it's a Science Fiction Romance with candy hearts. I've got a soft spot for Science Fiction.

We welcome Canadian author Charlotte Copper to Romance Spinners for some fun.

As a young girl, Monda was placed into the tutelage of Mistress Teevac. Trained to use her empathic skills and educated in the ways to please a man, Monda is on her way to her new mate and master when her spaceship crashes. Rescued by a handsome space lieutenant, who literally makes her heart race, Monda’s eyes and heart are opened to new possibilities.

When Lieutenant Patrick Lancaster looks at the exotic Monda, he sees beautiful not alien. With an instinct to protect her and the desire to have her, he’d be honored to call her his own, but the starts have something else in mind. Or do they?

As this is out tomorrow, you can grab a pre-order today:  The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Kobo

Let's have a chat with Charlotte:

HWK: I'm a sucker for Science Fiction. What made you consider an SF theme in connection with something as contemporary as candy hearts? (I love how Monda considers them 'candy prophecies'.)

CC: I had most of the story written, but I was having trouble pulling it all together and finishing it. When the call came out for the Candy Hearts series, I took another look at my WIP which at the time was called Purple Skies, and all the pieces just fit into place. As you say, I would never have thought to put something like candy hearts into the original story. I’m glad you think it worked, thanks.

HWK: Monda speaks English very well for an alien. Was this part of her general training or something specific? Does it have anything to do with her destined master and mate?

CC: Now, Heidi, you’re putting me on the spot for questions I was able to avoid in my book! In the simplest of views, I just thought of humans as having been scattered across the universe, and while that means they could have taken and/or developed any language, being English speaking myself, it just made it easiest. It was definitely something I took great leniency with. Had the story been longer, I was definitely considering the fact Monda had been trained in the “main” languages of the universe, but I felt my choice of English was rather biased since we have so many other ancient and beautiful languages here on Earth.

HWK: What kind of parallels do you see between Science Fiction's visionary nature and Romance's HEA (Happily Ever After)?

CC: I think it comes down to hope. Hope that we aren’t alone. Hope that there is a future beyond just what we can see. And I’d like to think (hope) that if aliens did come to earth, that they wouldn’t come to overthrow us, but that they’d come to learn and share and work together so that we all live happily ever after.

HWK: What values do stories with Happily Ever After offer to our society?

CC: I going to cheat on this one and say “see above”…hope.

HWK: You wake up one morning to discover that carbohydrates as a food source have disappeared. No more bread, rice, potatoes, corn, etc. How would this affect your diet?

If that means that Coke and chocolate now become food groups, then I’m all for it. Of course, I’d miss my morning Miniwheats.

HWK:  Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?

I’m assuming you mean besides the fact that Coke and chocolate should be food groups? People need to put aside their hatred, accept the fact that everyone is different, and embrace those differences. They say it takes a village to raise a child, I think it takes a child to raise a village. Our children are born without racial prejudices. If we saw the world through their eyes, we would be color blind to the world’s differences and we would have a future of friendships, everyone-in-the-class-is-invited birthday parties, and rainbows.

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Haven't you scored your pre-order yet? Real Love is out tomorrow!  

The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Kobo

 

Interview - April Hollingworth

Today's Friday Interview is happening on a Sunday because tomorrow's the release date for sweet Candy Hearts Romance story "Be Mine"! Out from The Wild Rose Press on 11 Jan 2016.

Pre-order this book R I G H T  N O W!! If you don't, you might make puppies cry.

buy links: TWRP | Amazon | Kobo | B&N

Romance Spinners welcomes April Hollingworth to our august pages for some fun and merriment and some Sweet Romance.

Beth has always loved Mark. He was the boy of her dreams even though she was nothing more than his little sister's best friend. Now he's back from the military and looking at her differently. Though that could be the plate of lasagna she dropped in his lap.

A series of mishaps gives Mark opportunity to spend time with her. He is sure that he is the man for her but experience has taught Beth not all men can be trusted. Can he convince her that he wants her to be his for Valentine's Day and ever after?

Doesn't that make your heart flutter?

HWK: In "Be Mine", Beth and Mark have known each other since they were young. Why has it taken them this long to realise their love?

AH: Beth always knew she loved Mark, but as Beth is his younger sister’s best friend he never really noticed her when they were growing up. Then he went away to college and straight into the army, and he didn’t see her again until he finally arrived home.

HWK: I love Sweet Romance. What aspects of Sweet allow you to explore Romance in "Be Mine" without the need for sexytimes?

AH: I love sweet romances too. With Mark and Beth they had heat and the blossoming romance igniting them together, so I felt if I was to write a sexy scene for them it would be purely for the sake of it, so no hanky-panky for them. They do show their passion for one another in other ways, during self-defence classes and etc by a look, touch and even teasing words.

HWK: I agree. Sometimes the subtlest of glances can say so much. How does writing Romance satisfy your soul?

AH: I feel happier in myself, as if by writing it I’m keeping a part of romance alive. Sounds strange I know. The way I think of it is like reading a fairy-tale, what I write brings me to a place where happily ever after will happen, even if the road is difficult and dangerous, it’s a guarantee at the end that love will triumph. Also I just adore romance.

HWK: What psychological benefits do readers gain from reading Romance novels?

AH: : I think as a reader and a writer of romance, I think psychologically reading romance has a calming effect. When I read romance books of heroines standing up for themselves and yet taking a chance on love, I know that’s what I want for myself and others too. Reading of a powerful man who becomes gentle for his woman is wonderful. It’s almost as if romance books are teaching us that we don’t have to settle, that we should take control of our lives and follow our dreams, after all our soul-mates our out there, but if you settle, you may never meet them.

HWK: A law is passed and mint flavour is banned from all toothpaste. What flavour do you suggest they replace it with?

AH: No mint flavour toothpaste, hmmm that’s a hard one. Okay raspberry flavour toothpaste. I love raspberries.

HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?

AH: Love unconditionally and follow your heart wherever it takes you. After all, life is an adventure so enjoy it.

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"Be Mine" - A Candy Hearts Romance is out from The Wild Rose Press and you can preorder it wherever all good ebooks are sold. I recommend trying here:

TWRP | Amazon |  Kobo  | B&N

Interview - Stephanie Kepke

Today we welcome Stephanie Kepke to Romance Spinners for some fun and excitement just before her Candy Hearts Romance release You &; Me, out from The Wild Rose Press 11 January.

I've read an ARC of "You & Me". It's got a certain literary beauty to it. Fr'ex, check out this excerpt:

She belonged in blossom pink or cerulean blue, sage green mixed with crisp white. But, all she wore was black or occasionally charcoal gray. On my single mom budget, I bought her skinny jeans at Target and cute cotton tops at Kohl’s. Still, she wore her baggy sweatpants and that black hoodie that hid her figure. Not that I wanted her to flaunt it, but I wanted her to own her beauty. Her glossy, raven hair was kept in a messy topknot at all times. Her stormy gray eyes, just like her father’s, almost blue, but not quite, were ringed in thick black liner. She was hiding. Better not to be noticed.  

Isn't that swoon-worthy? Grab your pre-order now:

TWRP | Amazon | Kobo | B&N


Official blurb:  Forty year old Alex Spencer has given up on love. Having escaped five years earlier from the verbally abusive and two decades older, Trent Peterson, her life revolves around her daughter, sixteen-year-old Josie, even if Josie wants nothing to do with her.

But with Valentine’s Day looming, Alex’s high school sweetheart, Billy Leibowitz, whom she kicked out of her life twenty years earlier thanks to Trent’s demands, has been invading her thoughts. Alex searches for Billy in vain—it seems as if he’s simply disappeared. Suddenly, Candy Hearts, which Billy sent to Alex every Valentine’s Day, start arriving in the mail. Is Billy sending the Candy Hearts? Will this finally be her chance at happily ever after?

So, shall we have some interview fun?

HWK: in You & Me Alex Spencer clearly regrets being forced to give Billy up completely. How long after that final breakup with Billy did she start googling him?

SK: Alex started Googling Billy after she left Trent and escaped to her parents’ home on Long Island. Her parents had passed away while Alex was living in California with Trent and when she returned she was alone, an adult orphan with just her daughter. It was about twelve years after she cut ties with Billy.

HWK: What three pieces of advice would Alex give to her daughter Josie?

SK: Very interesting question! I think she’d tell Josie:

• Never depend on a man for your own happiness.
• Know your self-worth.
• Be you – always. Never bend to someone else’s will or fundamentally change who you are.+

HWK: What is it about the Romance genre that appeals to you?

SK: There’s a guilty-pleasure deliciousness about romance stories that you just don’t get in any other genre. Plus, there’s nothing more interesting than the dance of two people falling in love – whether it’s for the first time or long lost lovers finally reuniting after years apart. That seems to be a big theme in my work – second chance romances. I’ve always loved the idea of redemption and recapturing a relationship that seemed lost forever.

HWK: As a music aficionado, what parallels do you see between a good song and a good story?

SK: I believe the parallels between a good song and a good story lie in the emotions each evoke. The best music makes you feel something and the same holds true for the best stories. Really, they complement each other – I make soundtrack Pinterest boards for each of my stories, because music often plays a big part and I feel it enhances the reading experience.

HWK: A government incentive program is introduced to pay citizens a hundred dollars a week if they take up a new arts and crafts skill. What would you choose?

SK: That’s a tough one – I love arts and crafts! I even had a business selling custom scrap books and picture frames. I guess I’d have to say I’d take up knitting, because I tried to take it up when I was a kid, since my mother was an avid knitter back then and I never quite got the hang of it. I think as an adult I’d probably have more patience and would have an easier time mastering the skill.

HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?

SK: If I could convince the world of anything, it would be to adopt, not shop – if you’re bringing a pet home, please adopt a pet in need from a shelter, rather than buying one. And while I’m on my soapbox, please be sure to spay and neuter your pets. And please, please, please – never, ever dump your pets at a kill shelter. So many perfectly adoptable companion animals are killed in shelters every day – I know, I have a rescue page on Facebook. Thanks so much for the opportunity to “preach it!”

Getting off my soapbox now… Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’ve had a lot of fun chatting!

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Only a few days left to secure your preorder for "You & Me": TWRP | Amazon | Kobo | B&N

Candy Hearts Romance promo video

Plus, for your chance to win a Kindle Fire, enter The Wild Rose Press' Rafflecopter draw. You have until Valentine's Day to enter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have cool friends...

Like Michael Collings, who gave me the best punchline for the following joke:

Stephenie Meyer, JK Rowling and Heidi Kneale walk into a bar and the bartender says..., "Hi Heidi. Who are your two friends?"

Candy Hearts Romance Rafflecopter giveaway!

My publisher The Wild Rose Press wants to give away a Kindle Fire to celebrate the release of the Candy Hearts Series. They've set up a Rafflecopter draw.

I know you want to win a Kindle Fire. All you need to do is enter the following Rafflecopter draw for your chance to win.  All you need to do to score an entry is to like the Candy Hearts Romance facebook page, like the TWRP facebook page, and/or to leave a comment here on the Romance Spinners blog. Want more entries? Check out other Candy Hearts authors' blogs for more chances to win. You can start with The Wild Rose Press Blog, then move on to The Carus Chronicles, and then on to Authors' Secrets and then to...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'll keep posting the Rafflecopter link over the course of the next six weeks, so stop back regularly for even more entries. You have until Valentine's Day to enter.

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Her Grace would love to see you win a Kindle Fire.

Candy Hearts Romance

We're gonna have a bit of fun here for the next several weeks as we celebrate the multiple releases of The Wild Rose Press's Candy Hearts Romance series.

Conversational candy hearts have been used for over a hundred years to communicate the sentiments of the heart, especially when real words fail. Every single one of the Candy Hearts Romance stories has a candy heart or two... or a thousand.

Ranging from sweet (like "Marry Me") to sensual to hotHOThot (18+), from Historical to Contemporary to Science Fiction, there's a Candy Hearts Romance for every taste. Isn't it all about the variety?

Romance Spinners will be featuring spotlights, highlights, recommendations, author interviews and more, all the way up to Valentine's Day. Look for the Candy Hearts tag for all these fun posts.

My Candy Hearts Romance "Marry Me" is out on 1 Feb. Get your preorder here:  TWRP | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Are you on NetGalley? Snag an ARC from there in February and post an honest review on the review site of your choice.

Fret not if you think you'll get sick of candy hearts. I'll throw in a few TASE Days as well. After all I are serious cat.

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Her Grace loves a good book. As if her TBR pile isn't big enough.