____________________________
Her Grace doesn't mind celebrating twice.
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
Australia Day: take two?
In case some natural disaster interfered with your Australia Day a month ago, you can celebrate it today.
____________________________
Her Grace doesn't mind celebrating twice.
____________________________
Her Grace doesn't mind celebrating twice.
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Friday, 12 February 2016
Interview - Barbara Burke
Whaddya know? A Friday Interview on a Friday!
We'd like to welcome Barbara Burke, author of Not2Nite - A Candy Hearts Romance to Romance Spinners. As this beautiful WWII novella was released this week, you can grab a copy if it right now:
Amazon | KoboBooks | B&N
When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter's night in the middle of the blitz she's infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn't he know there's a war on?
Guy's just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He's very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it's really possible to fall in love in only one night - especially when there's no guarantee of tomorrow.
HWK: Nice to see another historical Candy Hearts story. What inspired you to set your story during the Blitz?
BB: It’s nice to be another historical Candy Hearts writer. Thank you for inviting me to be on your blog, Your Grace. I’m generally a Regency writer, but unless I wanted to incorporate time travel into my story I knew I would have to write something Victorian or later because Sweetheart Candies came out in the 1860s. I thought about a WWII story for purely practical reasons. It seems to be a hot period right now (my daughter finds it an incredibly romantic time, for example, and she’s right; who doesn’t love Casablanca?) and I thought that might help sales. Also, I’m a big fan of the music of that era – my husband and I like ballroom dancing and I adore the foxtrot – so that was a bit of a spur. When I started researching it I became absolutely fascinated. So much so, in fact, I’m now writing another one about an aviatrix who ferries planes for the RAF.
HWK: What lessons can the iGeneration, living in this world of technology and terrorism, learn from the Greatest Generation, who lived through WWII?
BB: I suppose it’s to work together. I did a lot of research for Not2Nite – which basically means I sat around reading a lot of memoirs when I should have been actually writing. One of the things that stood out for me was how people looked out for each other and put their own personal concerns aside. I’m sure there was lots of moaning, but the things that everyday Brits put up with because ‘there’s a war on’ was absolutely gob-smacking. And they carried on doing so. Rationing was still going on in the 1950s so they could pay off their war debt to the United States. I can’t imagine that happening today.
Having said that I have no problem with Millennials – I even have one of my own. I think they’re an absolutely wonderful generation – smart and connected and caring. I can’t wait to see how they do when they’re in charge.
HWK: Is there an element or theme you like to include in all your stories?
BB: Well, I’d like to have a cat in every story because my co-workers – and I use the word workers in its most forgiving sense because they’re even less productive than I am - and constant critics are cats, but that doesn’t always work out. Other than that I like snappy dialogue and I refuse to allow my heroine to randomly do something completely stupid just because the hero has entered the building. No humiliating falls or senseless spills. My heroes fall for competent women. Molly, my heroine in Not2Nite, actually gets knocked down by Guy, the hero, come to think of it, but she certainly doesn’t come across as incompetent because of it.
HWK: I agree that Georgette Heyer is one of the great writers of the 20th Century. What, in your eyes, makes her works great?
BB: Well, I was being a little tongue-in-cheek with that remark. Let’s say she’s one of my favourite writers of the 20th Century. I don’t think she’s got a single book I’ve only read once. I’m the kind of person who can read something over and over again and continue to derive pleasure from it and she comes through in spades for me. Her characters are drawn so deftly and her dialogue just sparkles. And, of course, she owns the Regency. She invented a genre! How many writers can make that claim?
HWK: A Nigerian Prince shows up on your porch with the $2.5 million you won in the Spanish Lottery. However, it comes with a condition. You cannot spend it on yourself, or anyone you know personally. What do you do with it?
BB: Hmm, $2.5 million doesn’t buy anything like as much as it used to so I’ll have to be careful with it. The town I live in, which is the provincial capital so there’s no excuse, no longer has a library downtown and I think that’s a huge problem. So I guess I’d use the money as seed to get things started to build a downtown library again. People on the street would have access to books and the Internet and a warm and comfortable place to sit and read. And just as a general principle there should always be a downtown library everywhere there’s a downtown. Now let’s get to the more interesting part of the question: tell me more about the Nigerian Prince.
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
BB: Good grammar isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. (Thus speaks a woman who has been known to start a sentence with ‘and’.) If there’s one thing that sets my teeth on edge it’s people who misuse the language and then shrug it off with a casual ‘you know what I mean’ as if that’s any kind of excuse. I once saw a British television show in which the protagonist (who I will love forever) walked into an office and noticed a large sign on the wall which used the word ‘your’ when it should have been ‘you’re’. When he pointed it out and was met with indifference he sighed and said: “You’re the one who looks stupid”. That’s exactly how I feel. I try not to be too pedantic about it. And (see, there I go using ‘and’ at the beginning of a sentence) though it drives me crazy I’m trying to force myself to accept that words change and now it’s okay to say disinterested when one means uninterested and decimate when one means devastate. However, I will never accept people being referred to as ‘that’ instead of ‘who’. It’s The Man Who Would Be King not The Man That Would Be King. Who are we to argue with Kipling?
Having said that, I’m a typical Libra, which means I can see both sides of any issue. You wouldn’t believe how many hours of sleep I’ve lost debating the merits of the Oxford comma with myself.
Amazon | KoboBooks | B&N
Amazon | KoboBooks | B&N
When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter's night in the middle of the blitz she's infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn't he know there's a war on?
Guy's just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He's very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it's really possible to fall in love in only one night - especially when there's no guarantee of tomorrow.
Normally the phrase "Not Tonight" is considered the antitheses of romantic. However, as this novella is set during The Blitz in London, the idea that one will not die tonight lends a thread of hope to this title. That totally worked for me.
So let's have a chat with Barbara Burke:
HWK: Nice to see another historical Candy Hearts story. What inspired you to set your story during the Blitz?
BB: It’s nice to be another historical Candy Hearts writer. Thank you for inviting me to be on your blog, Your Grace. I’m generally a Regency writer, but unless I wanted to incorporate time travel into my story I knew I would have to write something Victorian or later because Sweetheart Candies came out in the 1860s. I thought about a WWII story for purely practical reasons. It seems to be a hot period right now (my daughter finds it an incredibly romantic time, for example, and she’s right; who doesn’t love Casablanca?) and I thought that might help sales. Also, I’m a big fan of the music of that era – my husband and I like ballroom dancing and I adore the foxtrot – so that was a bit of a spur. When I started researching it I became absolutely fascinated. So much so, in fact, I’m now writing another one about an aviatrix who ferries planes for the RAF.
HWK: What lessons can the iGeneration, living in this world of technology and terrorism, learn from the Greatest Generation, who lived through WWII?
BB: I suppose it’s to work together. I did a lot of research for Not2Nite – which basically means I sat around reading a lot of memoirs when I should have been actually writing. One of the things that stood out for me was how people looked out for each other and put their own personal concerns aside. I’m sure there was lots of moaning, but the things that everyday Brits put up with because ‘there’s a war on’ was absolutely gob-smacking. And they carried on doing so. Rationing was still going on in the 1950s so they could pay off their war debt to the United States. I can’t imagine that happening today.
Having said that I have no problem with Millennials – I even have one of my own. I think they’re an absolutely wonderful generation – smart and connected and caring. I can’t wait to see how they do when they’re in charge.
HWK: Is there an element or theme you like to include in all your stories?
BB: Well, I’d like to have a cat in every story because my co-workers – and I use the word workers in its most forgiving sense because they’re even less productive than I am - and constant critics are cats, but that doesn’t always work out. Other than that I like snappy dialogue and I refuse to allow my heroine to randomly do something completely stupid just because the hero has entered the building. No humiliating falls or senseless spills. My heroes fall for competent women. Molly, my heroine in Not2Nite, actually gets knocked down by Guy, the hero, come to think of it, but she certainly doesn’t come across as incompetent because of it.
HWK: I agree that Georgette Heyer is one of the great writers of the 20th Century. What, in your eyes, makes her works great?
BB: Well, I was being a little tongue-in-cheek with that remark. Let’s say she’s one of my favourite writers of the 20th Century. I don’t think she’s got a single book I’ve only read once. I’m the kind of person who can read something over and over again and continue to derive pleasure from it and she comes through in spades for me. Her characters are drawn so deftly and her dialogue just sparkles. And, of course, she owns the Regency. She invented a genre! How many writers can make that claim?
HWK: A Nigerian Prince shows up on your porch with the $2.5 million you won in the Spanish Lottery. However, it comes with a condition. You cannot spend it on yourself, or anyone you know personally. What do you do with it?
BB: Hmm, $2.5 million doesn’t buy anything like as much as it used to so I’ll have to be careful with it. The town I live in, which is the provincial capital so there’s no excuse, no longer has a library downtown and I think that’s a huge problem. So I guess I’d use the money as seed to get things started to build a downtown library again. People on the street would have access to books and the Internet and a warm and comfortable place to sit and read. And just as a general principle there should always be a downtown library everywhere there’s a downtown. Now let’s get to the more interesting part of the question: tell me more about the Nigerian Prince.
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
BB: Good grammar isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. (Thus speaks a woman who has been known to start a sentence with ‘and’.) If there’s one thing that sets my teeth on edge it’s people who misuse the language and then shrug it off with a casual ‘you know what I mean’ as if that’s any kind of excuse. I once saw a British television show in which the protagonist (who I will love forever) walked into an office and noticed a large sign on the wall which used the word ‘your’ when it should have been ‘you’re’. When he pointed it out and was met with indifference he sighed and said: “You’re the one who looks stupid”. That’s exactly how I feel. I try not to be too pedantic about it. And (see, there I go using ‘and’ at the beginning of a sentence) though it drives me crazy I’m trying to force myself to accept that words change and now it’s okay to say disinterested when one means uninterested and decimate when one means devastate. However, I will never accept people being referred to as ‘that’ instead of ‘who’. It’s The Man Who Would Be King not The Man That Would Be King. Who are we to argue with Kipling?
Having said that, I’m a typical Libra, which means I can see both sides of any issue. You wouldn’t believe how many hours of sleep I’ve lost debating the merits of the Oxford comma with myself.
HWK: I'm rather fond of the Oxford comma.
____________________________
Not2Nite is out now for lovers of WWII and Romance. Get it from your favourite ebook retailer or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Interview - Beverly Breton
Amazon | KoboBooks | B&N
During the day, Megan surrounds herself with water lilies and goldfish in the ponds she creates. At night, memories of her lying ex-boyfriend are a reminder she can never again trust a man.
Jason embraces his career as paramedic firefighter, even though ugly experience declares his profession a greedy mistress. During quiet nights at the station, he wonders if this bachelor existence is all he’ll ever know.
Then Jason meets Megan and sparks fly, chased by flashes of anger when Jason, battling a raging apartment fire, stands up Megan on their first date. Is St. Valentine powerful enough to bring these two strong-willed people together?
Shall we have some interview fun?
HWK: You've played quite nicely with contrasts and opposites: water vs fire, noisy day vs quiet night. How do the metaphors of opposites work for you?
BB: Life is about balance, always. The constantly tipping scales in every aspect of our lives is what makes life so frightening, and marvelous!
HWK: What drew you to horticulture for this tale?
BB: I love to read stories that have an element of wonder, a thread of the magical, and I have always found nature to be wonderful and magical. Flowers and plants particularly draw me. I have been a florist since high school, and studied Horticulture, along with English Literature, in college. So making water, plants, flowers, animals, frogs, and koi important parts of I’m Sure was a natural. My first romance for The Wild Rose Press, Stars In Her Eyes, is all about water--Karen and Spence meet via a head-on collision in a wave pool. In Under A Halloween Moon, wind and fire lend a magical air to the story. May Day Magic hinges around the surprise delivery of May Day baskets of flowers. And Crazy Happy Hearts is completely tied to the ocean where Kenny and Susan grew up, and reunite decades later.
HWK: You're best known for your non-fiction. What lured you to romantic short stories?
BB: All the hours over all the decades I’ve read and stayed awake far into the night reading romance! There is absolutely nothing to compare with a good romance novel for me, so how could I not want to write romances myself? I fell hard for Thomas Hardy in college, but discovered since his stories are not all happy ever after, they aren’t true romances. The first true romance author I fell hard for was LaVyrle Spencer because her romantic pairings were not always the clichéd romance couple. Like Morning Glory that pairs an ex-convict with no money and no prospects with a poor tired widowed farm wife.
According to my horoscope, I was born on The Day of the Nonconformist! I have to believe it when I write because I find I don’t want to conform to an expected format or type of writing. I’m always drawn to trying something a little off the norm, for me, or the genre.
HWK: Why do you think reading fiction is important to our culture?
BB: I know why reading fiction is important to me. Fiction is a safer place for authors to share the thoughts and feelings that plague them, astound them, scare them, confound them. Issues and thoughts we would shudder at talking about we can offer up between the pages of a fictional novel. Then readers can open up to feelings and fears they don’t understand in this safer place. Between the pages of every book, there is an ongoing and forever dialogue between the authors and the readers, available anytime anywhere. I can’t imagine life without this ever-present opportunity.
HWK: Two days after computer viruses make the jump to human viruses, the World Health Organisation bans all personal computers. How do you adjust to your technology-free yet healthier lifestyle?
BB: Easily. As long as we still have phones and stationery and pens to keep in touch with each other, the only major difficulty I’d have is going back to writing on typewriters with their very limited capacity for editing. I would not be excited about returning to white-out….
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
BB: Not sure I’m ready to take that podium… What I think about lately is how uncomfortable, and bad, we tend to be with confrontation—defined as any time a person has to stand up to another person with a difference of opinion. Whether in business dealings, a personal relationship, a romantic relationship, a community group, many of us are not adept at undertaking “confrontation” as an opportunity for growth and harmony. I would convince people that kind and constructive ways to approach differences do exist! And dealing is always better than denying or burying because long-standing disagreements don’t go away, but fester until this buried anger causes ugly destruction and often irreversible damage. So I think I would want to convince people to treat each other with respect and consideration, every one everywhere, even when you disagree!
I think I did take that podium after all…
Thank you, Heidi, for asking.
HWK: Never be afraid to speak up for a better world.
________________________
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
You're Invited to a Book Launch
If you are in the Perth or Rockingham area, please come along.
Monday 22 Feb, 5:30pm
Rockingham Central Library (Dixon Road, Rockingham)
Bookings Essential
ph: (08) 9528 8683
email: RCLcontact@rockingham.wa.gov.au
I have candy hearts and a few e-copies of books to give away.
Interview - CJ Fosdick
How does a klutzy slogan writer from a quiet Wisconsin Village who’s pushing thirty expect to meet the man of her dreams? Living with a long-tailed cat, a grandmother who bakes giant Snickerdoodles, and an autistic brother who “collects” neighborhood lawn ornaments, Katie has her hands full…until she opens the door to a “hot” rookie cop investigating a not-so-petty theft. Is it a major crime or an arrest of the heart?
I love the double-meaning of the title. Grab your pre-order now:
TWRP | Amazon | Kobo
So, on to the interview:
HWK: I love your plot element of a brother who "collects" things. What was your inspiration for this element?
HWK: You've written "Hot Stuff" with a decidedly humorous slant. How do you see humor beneficial to our society?
You are amazed to hear and understand their thought transfers. He calls you a beautiful worm. You always loved tall, steely men. Your heart beating in fear takes a leap of faith. As an eye, ear and nose doctor, you see the possibility of great medical strides. You invite them inside your modest farmhouse for spiked cider and Mars candy bars. The alien dog sidles up to your giant Schnauzer. They sniff each other’s behinds, then settle down together on the sofa, like old friends. The tall alien sidles up to you as well. With a face like Donald Trump, nobody has ever called you beautiful. Your heart trips. In the back of your mind, another possibility rises. You love science fiction. New career? How hard would it be to write a Space adventure? Maybe even a romance?
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
So, on to the interview:
HWK: I love your plot element of a brother who "collects" things. What was your inspiration for this element?
CJF: I have a long-time friend who has an autistic child now living in a group home with other handicapped adults. When he was a child, he focused on “collections.” Their home was filled with a maze of candles in all colors and sizes. Though most of them were gifts, or bought by his parents, I think he had to be watched carefully to prevent “collecting” from other homes and stores wherever candles were displayed. Because of my friend and her severely Autistic son, I’ve learned a lot about the disease. Aspergers is a milder syndrome of Autism—and a perfect foil for Kate’s brother—who creates a scenario for his sister to meet the man of her dreams—a handsome rookie cop.
HWK: How did Kate land her slogan-writing gig?
HWK: How did Kate land her slogan-writing gig?
CJF: She was once a Wild Rose Editor who was fond of snappy phrasing, but with a legendary sweet tooth, she thought writing slogans on candy hearts would give her a lifetime “fix” of the product. (She was offered a job by the head candy maker after winning a slogan contest.)
HWK: What is the strangest thing you've written?
HWK: What is the strangest thing you've written?
CJF: A script in the words of a famous local deceased man in an annual “Walk Through the Cemetery Tour.” Actors who dressed the part memorized scripts written by local writers, and brought to life the contributions and characters of famous deceased at their gravesite.
HWK: You've written "Hot Stuff" with a decidedly humorous slant. How do you see humor beneficial to our society?
CJF: Easy Answer. With all the negativity -especially in this election year- I think I think finding humor in any situation may be the straw that readers will grasp. I took a reader poll last summer and found that women read (and buy) most books and they prefer romance AND mysteries equally. Reading something with a different setting, different voice and attitude is like armchair time travel. Escapism at its best. Women shoulder more responsibility today than in any other era. They have a career, a home to manage, children or grandchildren to raise, aging parents to care for and little time for romance outside of books. Little time even for reading romance. When they do, I think they identify with an intelligent but flawed and funny heroine. Who doesn’t need to see the lighter side of everything? Even the new Star Wars has elements of humor and irony.
I write feature articles for a local magazine called “On the Lighter Side,” and I never run out of real life scenarios that tickle the funny bone. There will always be some humor in my stories, along with a bucket of emotion and intrigue. The dark side is not my bag. Society needs to laugh more and lighten up.
HWK: Due to bizarre circumstances involving a sinkhole, a mistaken identity and one ugly pet dog, you must change careers. What will your new career be?
I write feature articles for a local magazine called “On the Lighter Side,” and I never run out of real life scenarios that tickle the funny bone. There will always be some humor in my stories, along with a bucket of emotion and intrigue. The dark side is not my bag. Society needs to laugh more and lighten up.
HWK: Due to bizarre circumstances involving a sinkhole, a mistaken identity and one ugly pet dog, you must change careers. What will your new career be?
CJF: A green spaceship from Mars lands in your back yard on Halloween, turning your garden into a sinkhole. The ship looks like a giant pickle covered with zits the size of softballs. A tall, one-eyed , big-eared Martian breaks out of his pickle, followed by a very ugly little creature with a big nose and a dragon tail. Together, they climb up cucumber and tomato vines to reach the lip of the sinkhole and spy you frozen in shock and covered in dust. You are dressed for Halloween as the Statue of Liberty in a Donald Trump wig with a flashlight torch. The alien blinks when you direct light into his big eye. His ugly pet trumpets a protest through his big nose, spewing a puddle of green slime.
You are amazed to hear and understand their thought transfers. He calls you a beautiful worm. You always loved tall, steely men. Your heart beating in fear takes a leap of faith. As an eye, ear and nose doctor, you see the possibility of great medical strides. You invite them inside your modest farmhouse for spiked cider and Mars candy bars. The alien dog sidles up to your giant Schnauzer. They sniff each other’s behinds, then settle down together on the sofa, like old friends. The tall alien sidles up to you as well. With a face like Donald Trump, nobody has ever called you beautiful. Your heart trips. In the back of your mind, another possibility rises. You love science fiction. New career? How hard would it be to write a Space adventure? Maybe even a romance?
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
CJF: Read more, text less, don’t be seduced by soft chairs parked in front of computer screens that lure you into the dark side of violent games, “FREE” beauty products, and fixed realities. Think OUTSIDE your own box. Spread kindness. Take a hike. Smell the flowers outside. Laugh at yourself. Get lost in entertaining reads that nourish your own imagination. Write slogans on candy hearts!
_______________________
Grab your preorder today for a fun read tomorrow:
Monday, 8 February 2016
If You Like... Sweet 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 Sweet Romance.
Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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Marry Me by Heidi Kneale
Secret Admirer by Ally Hayes
Forget Me Not by Maureen L Bonatch
Be Mine by April Hollingworth
Hot Stuff by Cj Fosdick
I'm Sure by Beverly Breton
Only Yours by Nancy Fraser
3 Wishes by Peggy Jaeger
Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Sweet Romance.
These Candy Hearts Romances are about the flutterings of the heart, not the throbbing of the loins. Coy glances, a subtle touch of the hand or even the gentlest of kisses are the hallmarks of these Sweet tales of love.
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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…
rating: sweet (PG)
Andi’s new to town and looking for a fresh start in the dating department. She’s attracted to the guy she sees each morning, but begins flirting via text with Garrett, a friend of her new co-workers. Despite many attempts and determination, she misses opportunities to introduce herself to Cute Coffee Shop Guy or actually meet Garrett in person. With Valentine’s Day approaching she succumbs to the sugar rush of Candy Hearts and when ‘Secret Admirer’ continues to appear in the messages, she takes it as a sign to decide which guy is her real Secret Admirer.
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?
rating: Sweet (PG)
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?
rating: Sweet (PG)
Hot Stuff takes on double meaning when klutzy Kate is faced with rookie cop Dallas looking for a stolen lawn statue. In her quiet, crime-free Wisconsin village, Kate has her hands full writing slogans for candy hearts and keeping her kleptomaniac brother with Asperger’s Syndrome inside the law. Even her grandmother’s famous Snickerdoodle cookies can’t ameliorate the crime when a stolen lawn statue turns out to be a drug dispenser. Will Kate rise above her concern of what Dallas’s uniform represents and admit the charming Texas rookie is the man of her dreams?
rating: sweet (PG)
During the day, Megan surrounds herself with water lilies and goldfish in the ponds she creates. At night, memories of her lying ex-boyfriend are a reminder she can never again trust a man.
Jason embraces his career as paramedic firefighter, even though ugly experience declares his profession a greedy mistress. During quiet nights at the station, he wonders if this bachelor existence is all he’ll ever know.
Then Jason meets Megan and sparks fly, chased by flashes of anger when Jason, battling a raging apartment fire, stands up Megan on their first date. Is St. Valentine powerful enough to bring these two strong-willed people together?
rating: sweet (PG)
Everyone expects Rebecca Winston to marry her high school/college sweetheart, Garrett Langley. The problem is, the flame’s gone out on their romance. They’re still best of friends, but only friends. When Garrett’s father has a heart attack, his older brother Wyatt (an L.A. attorney) returns home for the first time in years. The attraction between Rebecca and Wyatt is immediate.
Can Rebecca expect her family and, especially, Garrett to understand that her desires have changed and turned toward Wyatt?
Can Wyatt get past the feeling that he’s poaching his younger brother’s girl?
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.
Sunday, 7 February 2016
Interview - Peggy Jaeger
"3 Wishes" is out tomorrow (8 Feb) from The Wild Rose Press. Grab a pre-order R I G H T N O W! from your favourite ebook retailer:
The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | B&N | Kobo
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.
What's not to love about this book? It's got chocolate. It's got luurve. It's got the HEA we all crave.
I had a delightful chat with Romance author Peggy Jaeger (who's written a few other nice books) about "3 Wishes" and the value of Romance in our world today.
HWK: Many Romance heroines tend to be on their own or only have a small family. You feature a wonderfully big Italian family for your heroine Chloe. What fun aspects does family dynamics add to your story?
PJ: This is a fabulous question. I lovelovelove big families because I am an only child. I always dreamed of having brothers, sisters, and cousins galore to help navigate me through life, provide information on what to expect, advice on how to solve problems, and basically just to have a related peer to play and live with. The San Valentino family is huge! Chloe has 4 older brothers and a younger sister, all of whom she adores. And her parents are all part of large families a well. The fun thing about writing this big family was discovering all their individual personalities and quirks and then melding them together as a cohesive unit. Of course the hard part was keeping all of them separate and individual, and not sounding or acting like the other! But this is the way I imagine a big, loud, and loving family is in real life.
HWK: I hear you. I've got thirty-six cousins myself. What drew Chloe to the candy trade?
PJ: The family story goes that when Chloe was six, her Nonna Constanza was making Christmas cookies for the clan and Chloe wanted to help. At the time, she’d been watching television and a commercial for Hershey’s Kiss candy came on. Chloe asked Nonna if they could add a candy kiss to the cookie, Nonna said “Si!” and from then on, Chloe was fascinated by all things candy and chocolate related. By the time she was ten she was making her own chocolate candies using molds and recipes in her mama’s kitchen and giving them as presents to her friends and family. In college, she took business courses to help her understand how to run her own business. When she graduated, her Uncle Sonny gave her a $25,000 no-interest loan to open her own shop and she was able to repay him that first year. She’s never looked back and feels very blessed to be doing what she loves.
HWK: Ah, passion. Gotta love it. The contemporary world needs Romance stories. What values do you see Romance bringing to the world?
PJ: Another fabulous question. Love is the one universal emotion I believe all humans desire. To give love, to be loved, to share love. And romance is just a way of expressing that love. When I see a couple who have been married for 50+ years in church holding hands, that is romantic to me. When I see a new father feeding a baby so his wife can take a nap, that is romantic to me. Romance isn’t just candy and flowers ( although Chloe would say yes to the candy part of that equation!) The world today is filled with a great many negative emotions, feelings, and events. A little romance goes a long way to helping ease a burden, a sad heart, or even dry a tear. That’s why I think it is so important that we read romance, and live romantically. Romance, despite what the cruel media says, is not dead, nor a fairy tale. It is a living, breathing, fluid emotion.
HWK: I so completely agree with you. It makes the world a better place. As an author, why did you choose Romance?
PJ: I believe every person deserves a happily ever after ending in their life. You don’t need a billionaire, a castle, or to be as beautiful as Helen of Troy to find your one true soul mate and be happy. Love is work. Hard work. But when you find that one person who fulfills all your fantasies and desires, you will get your HEA.
HWK: Are there any other genres you love?
PJ: I love Regency Romances but I don’t write them. I live in the here and now and that’s what I’m comfortable writing. If I wrote a regency, I would have to learn all the little intricate things about the era so that I don’t make a mistake with the writing. I’m too busy to learn, but never too busy to read.
HWK: Bless your furry little soul; I love Regency as well. Yeah, different rules, different times, different dynamics can make things interesting. Speaking of different dynamics... Local laws in your city change. Now everyone must own a pet. A random stranger on the street doesn't know what she should get? What pet do you recommend and why?
PJ: This is probably one of the hardest questions I’ve been asked recently! Seriously. I love cats and dogs, and have had both. There’s nothing as rewarding as a dog who loves you unconditionally. Cats, because of their independence, may not be as physically loving as a dog, but there is nothing sweeter to me when I am writing than to have my kitty slumbering on the table next to my laptop, her little paws stretched out to me, indicating she is with me. Tough question. Can’t you get both??
HWK: Of course you can. One final, very important question: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
PJ: Just this: God puts dreams in our hearts and we have a responsibility to make them come true. I was 54 years old when I got my first romance novel published, At a time when many people are looking to start winding down in their careers, I made a 180 degree shift and turn from my lifelong job of nursing and retired in April 2015 to write full time. I’d always had the dream in my heart to write romance, but life intervened. Marriage, child, job, family obligations came fast and frequent and I never had the time to devote to my writing. When my hours were downsized from my job due to an organizational shift in my clinic, I decided to start doing what I’d only dreamed of. Within 6 months I won a contest and another 2 months I had a publisher for my first novel. Since then I have had 3 books in a 6 book series published, along with a novella (3 Wishes!) coming out in 2016.
Never, ever, ever give up on a dream. You are never too old to see it come true. ‘Nuff said.
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'Nuff said. Thank you for joining us at Romance Spinners.
"3 Wishes"- a Candy Hearts Romance by Peggy Jaeger, is out 8 Feb (tomorrow!!) from The Wild Rose Press. Also available where all good ebooks are sold.
If you haven't got your copy of "3 Wishes" yet, get one here:
Saturday, 6 February 2016
If You Like... Falling in Love Again
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 Falling in Love Again.
A broken heart is not the end of the world. Romance believes in the HEA. Find love again with these Candy Hearts Romances.
Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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Me + You by Brenda Gayle
I'm Sure by Beverly Breton
Chill Out by Jana Richards
Pick Me by Tanya Hanson
Kiss Me Again by Monique DeVere
Ask Me by Laura Strickland
All Mine by Tamrie Foxtail
Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Falling in Love Again.
A broken heart is not the end of the world. Romance believes in the HEA. Find love again with these Candy Hearts Romances.
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rating: spicy (MA)
Teacher Lori Tait has always wanted a family, but now she's 40, she’s pretty much decided all the good men are taken. Instead, she devotes herself to her students, particularly one little girl whose struggle with math seems inconsistent with an otherwise brilliant and artistic mind.
Mark Wilder hadn’t planned to become a father, but when a fling resulted in his daughter, Grace, he whole-heartedly embraced the role. Raised in a family of boys, what does he know about women and girls? Once he learns of Grace’s inability to comprehend basic math, he welcomes the role of tutor as a way to connect with his daughter; the opportunity to spend time with her sexy teacher is an added bonus.
When Lori cracks the mystery of Grace’s problem Mark’s world is thrown into turmoil; he’s the last person who can help his daughter. He pushes everyone away, confirming Lori’s theory about men. Grace, however, has other plans. Using her new-found understanding of math, she sets out to prove to her father and teacher that, together, they add up to the perfect match.
rating: sweet (PG)
During the day, Megan surrounds herself with water lilies and goldfish in the ponds she creates. At night, memories of her lying ex-boyfriend are a reminder she can never again trust a man.
Jason embraces his career as paramedic firefighter, even though ugly experience declares his profession a greedy mistress. During quiet nights at the station, he wonders if this bachelor existence is all he’ll ever know.
Then Jason meets Megan and sparks fly, chased by flashes of anger when Jason, battling a raging apartment fire, stands up Megan on their first date. Is St. Valentine powerful enough to bring these two strong-willed people together?
rating: spicy (MA)
Renata Cabral needs to hide for the weekend. Her cousin’s Valentine’s Day wedding means she’ll face embarrassing questions from her large, extended family. Questions like “Why aren’t you married yet?” Since the breakup of her last relationship, she’s not ready to answer that question. She invents a work-related excuse and escapes to a friend’s lakeside cottage.
Noah Brownlee has been hiding for two years. But now he’s ready to come home and mend his broken relationship with his brother. When a friend offers the use of his lakeside cottage, Noah arrives in the middle of a blizzard with his English Mastiff, only to find the place is already occupied. With her big brown eyes and quirky sense of humor, Renata stirs feelings he thought long dead.
As the blizzard rages, the candy hearts predict love. Can Valentine’s Day work its magic between them?
rating: sweet (PG)
Volunteering at a horse rescue has helped heal schoolteacher Kelsey Hunter after her celebrity ex's betrayal. Life in the rural California community suits her better than the bling of Hollywood. When she seeks help for a classroom project, she's thrown into the sphere of a down-to-earth organic farmer and horseman who could really steal her heart...
However....Landry Mills is really successful mega-spokesmodel for a famed Westernwear line, He’s returned to his hometown to regroup and reconsider signing the next contract. Meeting Kelsey explodes feelings in him he wants to make real. But finding out a fancy director's son recently crushed her spirit has him take things slow. What will Kelsey do when she finds out he's a celebrity in his own right? He might not be able to bear it...
rating: spicy (MA)
What can be more romantic than a Valentine’s Day wedding? A Valentine’s Day wedding on a Caribbean beach!
The last thing Riley Flynn wants is to be present at her ex-fiancé’s wedding—which should have been hers—but she refuses to give him the satisfaction, despite the nosedive her life has recently taken. Now, if she can only find a plus one to prove she isn’t a complete failure.
All Sam Rutherford wants is a peaceful life, but his zany neighbor is making it impossible. The woman is a menace to herself, and anyone in her path—he has the dent in his car to prove it. But when she raises those big amber eyes and confides in him, how can he say no to anything she wants? Soon she’s invading his life and bungling her way... into his heart.
rating: sensual (PG-13)
Alone on Valentine’s Day, Leo Rankin attends the library’s Blind Date With a Book event hoping for something he can take to bed with him that night, and finds himself competing against Gerri Webb for the last remaining book. Wild child Gerri is not his usual type. Yet he feels an immediate, sizzling attraction and agrees to share the book and its accompanying bag of candy hearts.
The whole idea of a Blind Date With a Book is to go off genre, so Gerri doesn’t mind when their flirty conversation suggests they unwrap each other rather than the mystery book. When a candy heart advises, “Ask Me,” she asks Leo back to her apartment. She never expects button-down Leo to hit all her buttons, but by the next morning she fears her heart’s in danger. Can one night spent off genre translate to real life?
rating: sensual (PG-13)
For nearly a decade Maggie has put the needs of her younger siblings ahead of her own. Now she’s willing to accept a marriage without passion in order to protect her brother, but fate has a wicked sense of humor. On the eve of her wedding, Maggie meets the man of her dreams.
When Shamus loses a bet the penalty is a blind date. Shamus is prepared to endure a long, boring night; the last thing he expects is to find the woman who can bring his heart back to life.
But Maggie is keeping secrets--and her engagement is only one of them.
Friday, 5 February 2016
If You Like... Second Chances
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 Second Chances.
Ever find the love of your life, only to lose your chance? These Candy Hearts Romances give us hope that we can reunite again with our high school crushes or young puppy loves no matter how long it's been.
Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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Text Me by Erin Bevan
One Kiss by Misty Simon
Dare Me by Debra Druzy
You're Tops by Sydney St Claire
You & Me by Stephanie Kepke
Sweet Kiss by Judy Ann Davis
Red Hot by Kayden Claremont
Chill Out by Jana Richards
www.CUPID by Annette Miller
Be Mine by April Hollingworth
Be My Love by J.C. McKenzie
Find Me by Cait Jarrod
Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Second Chances.
Ever find the love of your life, only to lose your chance? These Candy Hearts Romances give us hope that we can reunite again with our high school crushes or young puppy loves no matter how long it's been.
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rating: sweet (PG)
When Erika’s ex becomes her boss less than a year after dumping her by text, she gets desperate to find a date to the corporate Valentine’s dance so he doesn’t suspect she still has feelings for him. Though not a fan of texting for the obvious reason, she doesn’t have much choice but to tap the keypad in order to gain the attention of the only viable candidate from the classified ads.
Grayson made the mistake of listening to his brother a year ago and has regretted what he did to Erika ever since. But his brother’s next suggestion just might be his salvation when he takes out an ad for a Valentine’s date…and Erika answers.
Using a pseudo name and keeping contact to text messages only, Grayson’s plans to make Erika fall back in love with him appears to be working…until the date of the dance draws near, and she pushes a meeting—face to face.
rating: sensual (PG-13)
The last place Lorena Weber wants to be on Valentine's Day is a singles party thrown by her newlywed best friend. But how can she say no? She'll give it an hour—two, tops—and then she's heading back to her normal life. But she didn't plan on seeing the one man who had turned her world on its side New Year's Eve with one kiss that opened doors she had firmly locked.
Caleb Manning got coerced into attending this ridiculous party by a co-worker. He'll stay for an hour at most and then he'll head home. That was the plan until he recognized Lorena across the room and had to see if that kiss was only New Year's Eve magic or something more.
rating: spicy (PG-13)
For wedding stylist Misty Morningside, mixing business with pleasure is a professional no-no. That is, until she runs into wedding photographer Adam Wright at a Valentine’s Day event. Dare they set aside business for one night of pleasure?
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.
rating: spicy (MA)
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?
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?
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?
rating: spicy (MA)
Renata Cabral needs to hide for the weekend. Her cousin’s Valentine’s Day wedding means she’ll face embarrassing questions from her large, extended family. Questions like “Why aren’t you married yet?” Since the breakup of her last relationship, she’s not ready to answer that question. She invents a work-related excuse and escapes to a friend’s lakeside cottage.
Noah Brownlee has been hiding for two years. But now he’s ready to come home and mend his broken relationship with his brother. When a friend offers the use of his lakeside cottage, Noah arrives in the middle of a blizzard with his English Mastiff, only to find the place is already occupied. With her big brown eyes and quirky sense of humor, Renata stirs feelings he thought long dead.
As the blizzard rages, the candy hearts predict love. Can Valentine’s Day work its magic between them?
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.
rating: Sweet (PG)
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?
rating: sensual (PG-13)
Broken-hearted and bitter, Brenna Jones plans to spend Valentine’s weekend at her parents’ cabin, reading romance novels and devouring heart-shaped candy. When her truck hits a snowdrift and plows into a bank—during a storm, no less—her plans take a drastic detour. Eric Buchanan, the playboy jerk from her past, comes to her aid. He’s her only option for reaching safety.
Eric can’t wait to escape his parents’ latest attempt to set him up. He’s given up on happiness, knowing he blew his chance at love a decade ago. When his snowmobile ride turns into a harrying escape from a blizzard, he discovers Brenna stranded in the storm. After he ensures her safety, he plans to explain the misunderstanding that tore them apart. Can a secluded cabin help Eric convince Brenna to be his love?
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.
Thursday, 4 February 2016
If You Like... Cowboys
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 Cowboys
Do you melt when Our Hero drawls, "Howdy"? Do chaps in chaps make you hot? Round up these Candy Hearts Romances featuring a cowboy.
Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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Ooh La La by Doreen Alsen
Red Hot by Kayden Claremont
Pick Me by Tanya Hanson
Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Cowboys
Do you melt when Our Hero drawls, "Howdy"? Do chaps in chaps make you hot? Round up these Candy Hearts Romances featuring a cowboy.
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rating: sensual (PG-13)
Aspiring choreographer and dance teacher, Simon West is walking along the hall in the college where he teaches when he gets knocked over by klutzy, two left feet, accounting professor Veronica Cooke. Simon wants to get to know the beautiful woman who ran him down, but how will she react when she finds out his alter-ego is a super sexy cowboy at an upscale exotic dancing male revue and that he makes ends meet by taking off his clothes?
rating: erotica (MA)
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?
rating: sweet (PG)
Volunteering at a horse rescue has helped heal schoolteacher Kelsey Hunter after her celebrity ex's betrayal. Life in the rural California community suits her better than the bling of Hollywood. When she seeks help for a classroom project, she's thrown into the sphere of a down-to-earth organic farmer and horseman who could really steal her heart...
However....Landry Mills is really successful mega-spokesmodel for a famed Westernwear line, He’s returned to his hometown to regroup and reconsider signing the next contract. Meeting Kelsey explodes feelings in him he wants to make real. But finding out a fancy director's son recently crushed her spirit has him take things slow. What will Kelsey do when she finds out he's a celebrity in his own right? He might not be able to bear it...
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
If You Like... Vintage and Historical
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 Vintage and Historical Romance
Like to step out of time? Harken back to yesteryear? These Candy Hearts Romances will take you back to the past.
Candy Hearts Romances are available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, KoboBooks, or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
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(vintage-1980's) 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?
(vintage-1960's) Only Yours by Nancy Fraser
rating: sweet (PG)
Everyone expects Rebecca Winston to marry her high school/college sweetheart, Garrett Langley. The problem is, the flame’s gone out on their romance. They’re still best of friends, but only friends. When Garrett’s father has a heart attack, his older brother Wyatt (an L.A. attorney) returns home for the first time in years. The attraction between Rebecca and Wyatt is immediate.
Can Rebecca expect her family and, especially, Garrett to understand that her desires have changed and turned toward Wyatt?
Can Wyatt get past the feeling that he’s poaching his younger brother’s girl?
(historical-1940's, WWII) Not2Nite by Barbara Burke
rating: sweet (PG)
When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter's night in the middle of the blitz she's infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn't he know there's a war on?
Guy's just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He's very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it's really possible to fall in love in only one night - especially when there's no guarantee of tomorrow.
(historical-1905, Golden Era) 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…
(historical-RegencyRomance) 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?
Today in the If You Like... series, we look at Vintage and Historical Romance
Like to step out of time? Harken back to yesteryear? These Candy Hearts Romances will take you back to the past.
-------------------------------------
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?
rating: sweet (PG)
Everyone expects Rebecca Winston to marry her high school/college sweetheart, Garrett Langley. The problem is, the flame’s gone out on their romance. They’re still best of friends, but only friends. When Garrett’s father has a heart attack, his older brother Wyatt (an L.A. attorney) returns home for the first time in years. The attraction between Rebecca and Wyatt is immediate.
Can Rebecca expect her family and, especially, Garrett to understand that her desires have changed and turned toward Wyatt?
Can Wyatt get past the feeling that he’s poaching his younger brother’s girl?
rating: sweet (PG)
When ARP warden Molly sees a light shining through the darkness of London on a cold winter's night in the middle of the blitz she's infuriated with the careless American who struck it. Doesn't he know there's a war on?
Guy's just trying to find his way through a maze of unlit streets. He's very sorry and Molly reluctantly forgives him. When he accompanies her on her nightly rounds the two learn about each other, themselves and whether it's really possible to fall in love in only one night - especially when there's no guarantee of tomorrow.
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…
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?
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Interview - Annette Miller
Buy Links, because it's available right now:
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.
Of course, with a blurb like that, we had to cross-examine Annette to find out what make www.CUPID and the author tick:
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.
Of course, with a blurb like that, we had to cross-examine Annette to find out what make www.CUPID and the author tick:
HWK: Even love is ruled by bureaucracy. What gave you the idea of incorporating Cupid for the guidance of romance?
AM: Everyone always seems to have this preconceived notion of Cupid as a cute cherub with a bow and arrow or a mischievious imp. I guess I pictured him as more of a corporate man, treating love like a business because of a broken heart in his past.
HWK: Preston's not doing a very good job. How did Preston get promoted to the Romance & Proposal Department from Flowers & Poetry?
AM: He pulled a few strings because the girl he loved in college is the head of that department. So, a little bit of this, a smattering of that, and there you go. Moved to the place you want to be.
HWK: You seem to enjoy inserting the fantastical into your stories. What is it about Fantasy that sings to your soul?
AM: The world these days truly lives up to the phrase "harsh reality". Fantasy, and romance, give readers a softer place to live. Those worlds are usually saved, not by the big names, or prominent people, but by regular folks who know doing the right thing is hard, but worth it. And I like to think there are magical creatures watching over us.
HWK: Would today's society benefit from a real life Cupid Corp?
AM: I think so. Sometimes people need that little voice in their ear or a gentle nudge in the right direction.
HWK: Due to a Very Sticky Situation, you must turn to a life of crime. What new criminal career would you choose?
AM: Robbery. When I built enough capital, I'd become a megalomaniacal overlord of the planet. I like to dream big.
HWK: Preach it! If you could convince the world of ANYTHING, what would it be?
AM: Don't let people you can't do something because "it's crazy" or "there's no money in it". Follow your heart and trust your instincts. You have them for a reason. Get rid of anyone who doesn't encourage and support you. It's your life. Grab it and run!
HWK: Sounds great!
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Happy Book Birthday for yesterday. www.CUPID is available right now for your reading pleasure:
Monday, 1 February 2016
Happy Book Birthday, Marry Me!
Marry Me - A Candy Hearts Romance
is out today 1 February 2016!
Buy now:
Or wherever all good ebooks are sold.
Celebrate by buying a copy, reading it and leaving an honest review on the site of your choice.
If that's not enough excitement for you, the official Book Launch of Marry Me will be
22 February 2016, 5:30pm at Rockingham Central Library (Dixon Road, Rockingham, WA).
For more information or to RSVP your attendance, contact the Rockingham Central Library on (08) 9528 0602 or email RCLcontact@rockingham.wa.gov.au.
Meet the author (yours truly), play some games, enjoy a few candy hearts and possibly win some prizes.
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Meanwhile, my publisher The Wild Rose Press is giving away a Kindle Fire to celebrate the release of all the Candy Hearts Romance via Rafflecopter.
Finally, let's have some fun with the Candy Hearts promo video:
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Her Grace must note that when it is 1 Feb in her part of the world, it might not yet be 1 Feb for the rest of the world. If you are reading this a day early (by your calendar), she begs your patience. Go ahead and preorder the book. It will be delivered to you as soon as Feb 1 ticks over for your bookseller of choice. That might only be a few hours, or it might be tomorrow morning. She assures you, this book is worth the wait.
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