Abigail Sharpe‘s debut with Forever Yours, WHO WANTS TO MARRY A COWBOY?, releases today! Congratulations, Abigail!!

This dynamic author (who’s always smiling whenever I see her) is also a mother, a karaoke singer, and a very active volunteer in her local romance writers organization. She’s currently serving as president of First Coast RWA.

Jessica Lemmon, author of TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE, dubs Abigail’s debut as “a rich and rustic tale of family, friendship, and love guaranteed to lasso your heart.”

Today Abigail is sharing some fun facts about her debut novel and would like to invite you to enter her Goodreads giveaway (ends May 9th) of her book.

Please give our guest a warm welcome and tell us what you like most about cowboys and cowboy romances for a chance to win an e-copy of Abigail’s book as well as a signed copy of my book, LOVING LADY MARCIA.

Welcome, Abigail!

Who Wants To Marry A Cowboy
Forever Yours
May 7, 2013

Something Borrowed, Someone New . . .

There’s nothing florist Ainsley Fairfax won’t do to help her sister get the love of her life—even if it means taking her place on a bachelorette weekend at a Wyoming ranch so Cecelia can sail off with the man of her dreams. Ainsley is determined to spend the time keeping her head down and her heart safely tucked away—until an encounter with the ranch’s hunky owner gets her heart—and steamy desires—to bloom . . .

Riley Pommer doesn’t want to be lassoed into any relationship. But with the family ranch in dire straits, Riley knows his sisters’ crazy plan to turn the ranch into the setting for a dating competition—and using Riley as the bait—is the only thing standing between them and foreclosure. But the rules of the game change the instant Riley lays eyes on the spirited Ainsley. Now, as others try to stampede over their love, can Riley prove to Ainsley that true love is a prize worth fighting for?

5 Fun Facts About WHO WANTS TO MARRY A COWBOY? 

1. The characters of the final version don’t match the original.
While the final version of Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy features eight women vying for the attentions of the unwilling Riley, the original story had 16 women competing for his affections.  I introduced them all at once in the manuscript, like a roll call.
Riley’s family consists of him, his brother, and his two sisters, and Ainsley has a sister.  In the original, Riley’s oldest sister had a toddler and his father was still around, plus Ainsley was an only child.
Secondary character Meagan Donnelly’s name was originally Siobhan Clough, but none of my beta readers knew how to pronounce it or what her heritage was.

2. Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? is my first complete novel, but it’s been rewritten so many times I could have three other manuscripts done instead.  
I learn quickly, though.  I’m lucky enough to have a two-book contract, and the second book, Who Wants to Marry a Doctor, was written only once.  Now, I haven’t yet gotten any markups back from my editor, but I’m hoping that statement stays true.

3. I have a Mary Sue in Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy?  According to Urban Dictionary, a Mary Sue character is usually written by a beginning author. Often, the Mary Sue is a self-insert with a few “improvements” (ex. better body, more popular, etc). The Mary Sue character is almost always beautiful, smart, etc… In short, she is the “perfect” girl.  Except my Mary Sue (her name is Robin) is me without the self-improvements.  Well, okay, she might weigh less.  Her most notable Abigail trait is the ability to talk a cowboy’s boots off. (No, not that way.) She works computer support, which was my job in college.  The story she tells about a man who used his mouse upside down really happened to me.

4. My book birthday is exactly a year after I got an offer on the story.  May 7, 2012 – May 7, 2013.  It seems so fast and yet so slow at the same time.  May is my new favorite month.  (Don’t tell April.)

5. I work as a technical writer, so even when I’m not writing, I’m writing.  Making the move to fiction was hard – my critique group kept telling me the story read like a user manual.  Insert Tab A into Slot B.  I eventually learned to suppress my instructional side and let the romance take over.

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Share your favorite cowboy romances with Abigail and win an e-copy of WHO WANTS TO MARRY A COWBOY? and a paperback copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 5/10.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Abigail is a Boston-bred Yankee now eating grits and saying “y’all” in North Central Florida. She dreamed more of being a stage actress or joining the CIA than being an author. While she still enjoys participating in community theater productions and singing karaoke, the secret-agent career was replaced by hours at her computer, writing stories of love and laughter and happily ever after.

Abigail lives with her husband, two kids, and one crazy princess puppy. She is part of a kitchen blog with friends – chickletsinthekitchen.com – and you can keep up with her on Goodreads or at her website – abigailsharpe.com.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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The lovely Jennifer McQuiston‘s debut, What Happens In Scotland, was dubbed as “Clever and funny, charming and romantic…” by New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean, and I agree wholeheartedly! Jennifer is an amazing writer, and you will love this book! What Happens In Scotland is the Victorian era’s answer to The Hangover: two people who end up married and barely remember a thing. Get ready for some laughs and some real heart, too.

Please give this award-winning author and double-Golden Heart® finalist a warm welcome to the blog and leave a comment for a chance to win Jennifer’s debut as well as one of my books. Feel free to tell us, dear reader, what book or books you’ve read that put a twist on pop culture (movies or other books). Or perhaps you have a question you’d like to ask our intrepid author. She’s had all sorts of interesting jobs and has worked very hard to achieve her writing success.

And isn’t that cover stunning? I want that purple plaid!

Welcome to the blog, Jennifer!

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What Happens In Scotland
Avon
February 26, 2013

When recent widow Georgette Thorold wakes up in a Scottish inn with a wedding ring on her finger and lacking all memory of how she came to be there, she does what any well-bred lady with a modicum of sense and a distrust of marriage would do: she panics, clocks the wickedly handsome stranger in her bed over the head with a chamber pot, and runs.

James McKenzie, Esquire has either spent the evening protecting a very naïve, and—dare he say it—very drunk young lady from the advances of every disreputable character in the town of Moraig, or he has gone and married a pretty, scheming thief. Not that his own head is entirely clear on the matter, but when the woman in question repays his kindness with a knock on the head, the bill for her room, and the theft of his purse, an embarrassed James is determined to track her down and show her she picked the wrong solicitor to swindle.

As Georgette sets out to discover exactly what happened during her forgotten night, she uncovers a man that seems far more a hero than a rake. But when they finally meet, instead of sweeping her into his arms and kissing her senseless, he serves her with a summons, claiming she is a thief. Now the fight is on, and the only question is was it a night worth remembering? Or a mistake they would both rather forget?

5 Fun Facts about WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND:

1. What Happens in Scotland is my midlife crisis
Well…it might be more accurate to say that writing romance that is actually my midlife crisis, given that I already had a perfectly good career in hand when I turned myself over to this madness. But What Happens in Scotland was, appropriately enough, conceived while planning my 40^th birthday party with good friends in Las Vegas, and so I can claim it as my midlife crisis if I want to! I was plotting a new story idea and thinking about preachers dressed like Elvis, and the result is a historical that many reviewers have called a “Victorian-era version of the Hangover.” I *might* have watched the movie for inspiration… and I would love to hear which storylines the readers can note as parallels!

2. My debut novel is actually my fifth finished book.
That’s correct! I have previously written…(drum roll, please)
1) A novel based around an 1854 cholera outbreak that literally had my hero and heroine falling into bed as people fell dead outside their door.
2) A novel based around a syphilis misunderstanding (the physician hero thinks the heroine’s dead husband gave her syphilis and is determined to save her; she is determined to hide the fact the marriage was never consummated).
3) A novel based around the heroine falling in love with the lawyer who is prosecuting her sister, and who teaches her how to pick pockets in Covent Gardens (Oliver Twist-style).
4) A novel with an impotent hero (hint: he gets over it) and a heroine pregnant from her former fiancé.
I don’t know why I never got any of those published, LOL!! But I am glad What Happens in Scotland is the one everyone will know me for… because being known as the author who wrote Love in the Time of Syphilis might not have been the smartest career move.

3. What Happens in Scotland is the first of a 3-book series
I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to sign a 3 book deal, and I am excited about the other two books in the series. Summer is for Lovers will be released September 24, 2013. It is an unrequited love story set in the Victorian seaside resort of Brighton, and features a heroine who swims in secret. Moonlight on my Mind will be released in Spring/Summer 2014. Both books feature heroes introduced as secondary characters in What Happens in Scotland, including David Cameron (a man with a salacious past) and Patrick Channing (a man who is hiding from his future).

4. I decided not to use a pen name, because I am actually pretty proud of what I have accomplished.
I have had a few anxious moments since making that decision… all of them after my book was released and I couldn’t take it back! It was a hard decision to make, but the truth of the matter was I wanted to see my name in print, not a make-believe name. Plus, now I get to sit next to some pretty cool authors at national book signings when they line us up alphabetically… those Mc names are quite popular among historical romance authors, never mind that mine is real!

5. Romance Writer is just the latest in my long line of weird jobs.
I have been the girl who cleaned up the dog poop at a veterinary hospital, the girl whose job it was to pick up the dead birds at a poultry farm, the girl who baled hay when all the redneck boys were too busy playing baseball, and the girl who flipped burgers in college while all the sorority girls walked by. I think I can safely say I’ve moved up in the world, writing emotionally satisfying stories that make people happy!

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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND by Jennifer McQuiston and a signed copy of DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 4/19.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Jennifer McQuiston lives in Atlanta, GA with her family, a houseful of pets who are sometimes better behaved than her children, and the characters who wake her up to write at 4am. An infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer has learned through trial and error that trying to incorporate public health messages into her historical romances doesn’t work. Although, then again, don’t we all need to do our part in a cholera outbreak, even if it means falling into bed?

Connect with Jennifer:
Author site | Facebook | Twitter

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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2011 Golden Heart finalist Kimberly Kincaid may be an awesome cook, have amazing shoes, and be the cheeriest person I know–but she’s also a fabulous foodie romance writer! You have to check out her totally scrumptious debut e-novella, LOVE ON THE LINE, the story of a rough-around-the-edges detective who needs a little TLC and the woman who finds her way to his heart via his stomach.

Today on the blog, Kimberly offers a heartwarming explanation of why food means so much to us…not just as a way to fill our bellies but as a way to fill our hearts. Please give her a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win her novella as well as a signed copy of one of my books.

Welcome, Kimberly!

Food Is Love

One of the first pieces of advice I was given as I started out on my journey as a writer ended up shaping my career so much more than I ever thought possible. It was simple enough, but those are the snippets of wisdom that sometimes have the most impact.

“If it’s at all possible, write what you know.”

Chocolate peanut butter filled goodness!
photo credit: Kimberly Kincaid

Being a very eager fledgling, I sat down and pondered this pretty hard. I knew I wanted to write romance, and contemporary felt like the best fit for my ideas. But I needed something to tap into, something to base my characters’ world on that would engage readers and give me the chance to dip into an environment where I could hit all the notes of sexy and sweet.

And then it hit me. What I needed was a kitchen.

From the time I was small, I have loved to be in the kitchen. My mom is a fantastic cook, and we have German and Italian heritage that passed on the notion that food is love. I grew up happily helping with (and tasting) countless dishes, many of which are still favorites of mine to this day. But the best thing about the food isn’t the actual cooking (although I confess—I do love it). It’s the sharing of a meal, a sharing of that love and caring and intimacy that comes with creating something nourishing for another person.

It’s that food is love.

I re-discovered this concept when I married my husband. Like my family, his is also one steeped in culinary tradition. Every Easter, without fail, you can count on two things. We all get together to celebrate, and the best part of the day isn’t the ham, the spring veggies, or the fresh-baked rolls (those are good too—that’s another post!) It’s my mother-in-law’s homemade Easter candy, and if food is love, this stuff is one hundred percent head-over-heels infatuation.

My mother-in-law, Marie, has tempered chocolate and mixed up filling to make Easter candy ever since my husband and his siblings were small. It’s a tradition that changes a little every year, with the experimentation of flavors and ratios. There’s no actual written recipe (sorry, friends), but even if there was, I doubt I could

Kimberly tempering chocolate
photo credit: Kimberly Kincaid

recreate it with the same tasty finesse, because the God’s honest best part of making it is that we do it as a family. Everyone gets together one day a few weeks before Easter, and for the whole day, we boil, stir, mix, melt and wrap. We laugh a LOT. Even my kids, ages 11, 8 and 6, take part in the preparation. I won’t kid you—it’s a ton of labor, and it’s not easy to get things just right. But the closeness we all get from the act of cooking a family recipe together is what reminds me why I write what I do.

The act of being in the kitchen isn’t about the cooking. It’s about the love. And that is something that I weave into every one of my stories in some shape or fashion, whether it be a family relationship that affects my hero or heroine, or an intimate relationship that blooms between them over time. I write foodie romance because to me, one of the truest passions in the world can be found down the hall in most of our houses.

So tell me, reader friends! What are some recipes you make with the ones you love? Are they sweet, like mine? Or are they sexy, like in my books? And what new recipes and traditions would you love to incorporate into your kitchens?

Amazon

Violet Morgan puts the personal in personal chef, catering to clients who want the full cooking experience rather than a culinary drop-and-dash. But when her brother’s police detective partner is injured in the line of duty and needs help during recovery, she makes an exception. Violet lost her father to the job seven years ago, and worries for her brother’s safety every day. The last thing she wants is to get up-close with her brother’s career-cop partner…again.

For Noah Blackwell, being a detective isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a legacy. So when he’s forced to take mandatory leave and deal with the trauma amnesia keeping him from identifying his shooter, it’s a literal case of adding insult to injury— and now he’s got to deal with an unwanted culinary caregiver on top of it. Never mind that he and Violet shared a steamy, secret kiss last New Year’s Eve. She rejects everything related to the job, and Noah’s not about to be distracted from recovering his memory and getting back to what he does best. No matter how pretty Violet is.

Despite their differences, Violet and Noah share a surprising bond in the kitchen that grows into something neither of them expect. But as Noah heals and their feelings for each other extend from the kitchen to the bedroom, Violet knows she must make an impossible choice. She may wear her heart on her sleeve when it comes to food, but can she risk it all to put love on the line?

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Kimberly will give away one digital copy of her foodie novella, Love On The Line, the story of a rough, gruff cop and the sexy chef who wins his heart by way of his stomach, to one commenter! In addition to Kimberly’s novella, you can win a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA (US/CA). Giveaway ends 4/12.

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. She is thrilled to have collaborated on a Christmas anthology with Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell, titled The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, to kick off her Pine Mountain foodie series with Kensington this October. Her first full-length novel, Turn Up the Heat, will follow in February 2014. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters. Visit her any time at www.kimberlykincaid.com or come check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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“Valerie Bowman pens fabulous, sexy tales–it’s no secret she’s a Regency author to watch.” I wrote this about Valerie not long after she was published, and it’s proven so true! But readers, not only can we watch her career take off like a rocket, which it has–now we’ll be able to watch Valerie on television very soon! She was recently filmed for an episode of Say Yes To The Dress. How awesome is that?!

Here’s the story: As you know, Valerie writes about brides. But she’s also soon to be one herself. Congratulations, Valerie! She’s a fan of Say Yes to the Dress, and the producers of the show thought that she’d make a very cool guest.

And yes, we know she will. She’ll be the best guest ever, and we’re all going to be glued to our television sets cheering her on!!!

So let’s give our bride-to-be and fabulous author Valerie a warm welcome to the blog. I know you’ll have plenty to ask her about her book, SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE, and her TV appearance, so please leave a comment. If you’d like, you can share the name of one of your favorite runaway brides or wedding romances. Either way, you’ll be eligible for a chance to win a copy of Valerie’s book as well as one of mine.

Welcome, Valerie! And everyone, enjoy your spring. Easter’s come and gone, so in the South, this means we can pull out the white sandals (although nowadays, many women here do what they want when they want–and I say good for them, LOL!!)

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Secrets of A Runaway Bride
The Secret Brides #2
St. Martin’s Press
March 26, 2013 

Miss Annie Andrews is finally free to marry the man she loves. With her overprotective sister out of the country on her honeymoon, nothing can prevent her flight to Gretna Greene–nothing, that is, but an abduction by the wrong gentleman.

When Jordan Holloway, the Earl of Ashbourne, promised to look after his best friend’s sister-in-law, he didn’t realize she would prove so difficult. But when he spirits her away to his country house to prevent her elopement, he discovers that the tempting beauty knows how to put up a fight. To make matters worse, he’s stuck playing the role of honorable protector…when what he really wants is to run away with her himself.

5 Fun Facts about SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE:

1. I call Secrets of a Runaway Bride, a Regency retelling of “He’s Just Not That Into You” which was a book and a movie that came out a few years back. The basic premise is that if a man’s into a woman, he shows he’s interested i.e., it’s obvious. You don’t have to wonder. Annie Andrews, my heroine, spends the first part of the book chasing after the wrong man before she realizes the right man has been in front of her face the entire time. And that’s when the real hijinks ensue! : )

2. Dash (a fox) and Duchess (a dog) are two animals who appear in Secrets of a Runaway Bride. I named them after the group historical romance blog that I’m a part of: www.DashingDuchesses.com. Do stop by and have tea with us, sometime.

3. The heroine, Annie, is named after my dog (a black miniature poodle) who passed away of cancer in 2009. I’ve always loved that name and if I had a human daughter might name her Annie. As it was, my dog was like my daughter.

4. There’s a part in the book when Annie reveals that a boy once told her she had “mud-colored eyes.” That actually happened to me once but instead of mud, it was something a bit worse, and also brown. I wrote Annie as a heroine for brown-eyed girls everywhere!

5. Contrary to what the title *may* imply, the bride in Secrets of a Runaway Bride is not trying to run away from a marriage. She’s actually trying to run away to get married. It just happens to be with the wrong man. And it takes the right man to show her the error of her ways (wink).

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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE by Valerie Bowman and a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/29.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes Regency-set historical romance novels aka Racy Regency Romps! Secrets of a Runaway Bride has been named a 4.5 star TOP PICK! by RT Book Reviews. It’s been called “Too Delightful Too Miss!” by New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Kleypas, and New York Times bestselling historical romance author Sarah MacLean says it’s, “Everything a romance should be—sexy, quirky, fun…once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop!” Valerie’s debut, SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT, the first in the Secret Brides series from St. Martin’s Press, was nominated by RT Book Reviews for Best Debut Historical for 2012!

Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in History from Smith College. By day, she is a technical editor at a computer software company. By night, she combines her love of writing, history, and romance to craft stories about people falling in love.

Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her rascally rescue dog, Roo. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or watching Downton Abbey and Hoarders.

Connect with Valerie:
Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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Historical romance author Sophie Barnes is as cool and interesting as her photo, her book titles, and the fascinating/sexy/romantic subjects she writes about in her novels.  She’s a multi-lingual world traveler, a gardener, and a mother, just to name a few of her non-writing roles. Her debut, How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back, was published under the new Avon Impulse imprint. Doesn’t that title alone make you smile? Since then she’s written a new series, The Summersby’s, as well as a Christmas anthology. Next up for Sophie is a new series called The Kingsborough Ball.

Today she’s sharing Five Fun Facts about her November 2012 release, There’s Something About Lady Mary, along with a giveaway. Please give her a warm welcome, and don’t forget to leave a comment about her excerpt, her facts, or anything you wish to ask Sophie. You might also want to talk about those titles…aren’t they a hoot?

Meanwhile, welcome, Sophie! And to my readers, I hope the big winter storms have passed you by. If they haven’t and you’re snowed in, I hope you can stay snug in your beds or on a sofa and read. :>)

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There’s Something About Lady Mary
The Summersby’s #2
Avon Impulse
November 13, 2012

Mary Croyden lives a simple life . . . and she likes it. But when she inherits a title and a large sum of money, everything changes. Forced to navigate high society, Mary finds herself relying on the help of one man—Ryan Summersby. Determined not to lose her sense of self, she realizes that Ryan is the only person she can trust. But Mary’s hobbies are not exactly proper, and Ryan is starting to discover that this simple miss is not at all what he expected . . . but just might be exactly what he needs.

5 Fun Facts about THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT LADY MARY:

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit you here today, Kieran! To keep the facts about Lady Mary interesting, I’ve tried not to include anything that was mentioned in my author’s note or on my website. From a research perspective, writing this book was a very educational experience and for that reason alone, it’s one that I’m particularly fond of =)

1. I wrote this book in the spring of 2011, before receiving an offer from Harper Collins for How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back and Lady Alexandra’s Excellent Adventure, so there was no guarantee that Lady Mary would ever be read by anyone, but I found the idea of a female physician trying to uncover a conspiracy during the Regency too interesting to ignore and thankfully my editor agreed when the manuscript eventually found its way into her hands.

2. There’s a scene in the book where Mary and Ryan save a boy from drowning. The method they use is based on the methods that were applied by The Dutch Society For The Recovery Of Drowned Persons, formed in 1767. Their instructions included: Warmth for the victim, draining the water from head to chest by placing the head lower than the feet, applying manual pressure to the abdomen and restoring breathing with the use of bellows. Other suggestions which I chose not to mention were rectal fumigation and bloodletting, and since they didn’t have bellows handy and Mary is the practical sort, Ryan performs mouth to mouth instead.

3. The Hunterian Museum at The Royal College of Surgeons, visited by Mary and Alexandra, is located at 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London and contains a collection of human and animal anatomy, surgical instruments, wax teaching models, drawings and, as mentioned in the book, the Irish Giant – a seven and a half foot human skeleton.

4. Steepleton House in Northamptonshire where the last scene of the book takes place, is based on Castle Ashby, also in Northamptonshire.

5. Many readers have written to me, asking if I intend to write about Lady Cassandra and Lady Stephanie, both secondary characters in this book. The answer is yes. I already have a plot outline for them, but first I have to complete the series that I’m currently working on.

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Leave a comment to be entered to win a signed ARC of THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT LADY MARY by Sophie Barnes and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/29.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian.

She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing.

When she’s not busy, dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

Connect with Sophie:
Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Upcoming Release: The Trouble With Being A Duke, coming August 27^th from Avon Books.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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Shana Galen, besides a great friend, a wonderful mom, and a Helen Hunt look-alike, is also the bestselling author of The Sons of the Revolution trilogy,  Regency Spies, Misadventures In Matrimony, and her latest Jewel of the Ton series, featuring three captivating courtesans dubbed as–you got it!–the Jewels of the Ton. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook sharing her dry wit, her love for Downton Abbey, and anecdotes featuring the uber cute Baby Galen, and when she’s not there, she’s contributing posts to the Peanut Butter on the Keyboard site, where “mommy brains and writing collide.”

Today she’s sharing some super fascinating Five Fun Facts about her recent release, If You Give A Rake A Ruby. Please give her a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win When You Give A Duke A Diamond as well as one of my books.

Welcome, Shana!!!

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indiebound

If You Give A Rake A Ruby
Jewels of the Ton #2
March 6, 2012
Sourcebooks Casablanca

HER MYSTERIOUS PAST IS THE BEST REVENGE . . .
Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, is a celebrated courtesan with her finger on the pulse of high society. She’s adored by men, hated by their wives. No one knows anything about her past, and she plans to keep it that way.

ONLY HE CAN OFFER HER A DAZZLING FUTURE . . .
Warrick Fitzhugh will do anything to protect his compatriots in the Foreign Office, including seduce Fallon, who he thinks can lead him to the deadliest crime lord in London. He knows he’s putting his life on the line . . .

To Warrick’s shock, Fallon is not who he thinks she is, and the secrets she’s keeping are exactly what make her his heart’s desire . . .

5 Fun Facts about IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY:

1) When I began writing this book, my editor had told me that she wanted each book in the Jewels of the Ton series to have the name of a jewel in the title. She hadn’t decided which jewel would be in the title of this book, and so I had to write the entire thing making sure any jewel would work for the rubies that feature so prominently in the story. I had always wanted Fallon’s jewel to be rubies, so I was relieved when that was chosen.

2) Fallon is loosely based on Nancy from Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist.

3) Initially I argued about the use of rake in the title of the book. Warrick, the hero, isn’t a rake. He is not a womanizer and doesn’t seduce young virgins. But my editor pointed out the term rake has a larger meaning. When I Googled rake, I found this definition: A fashionable or wealthy man of dissolute or promiscuous habits. Warrick isn’t promiscuous, but he has been known for dissolution, and he is wealthy. He’s the youngest son of an earl.

4) Another interesting tidbit about the title is that a suggestion from one of my readers, Melanie Bernard, led to the title. Editors always email out of nowhere and want twenty title suggestions in five minutes. Okay, it’s not that bad, but when you’re as hopeless at titles as I am, that email is terrifying. So I went to my Facebook friends and begged for reader suggestions. A version of Melanie’s suggestion was chosen, and I thanked her in the acknowledgements and sent her an advance copy of the book.

5) Editors also ask for directional ideas to assist the cover designers. This would be great when I am about two-thirds finished with the book. But often these requests come before I have even begun writing the book in question. But I give the designers my thoughts and then forget all about it for six or seven months. In the meantime, I’ve written the book. Then, again out of nowhere, I get the initial cover.

Imagine my surprise when it’s just what I envisioned. Until I found my original notes, I thought the designers just read my mind (I really seem to have trouble remembering anything these days!). And there have been many, many times when I made a suggestion and it was completely ignored. Here are my actual suggestions for the cover of Warrick and Fallon’s book:

I envision a woman in a ruby red gown and jewels, sprawled seductively on a satin bed with a man kissing her. Her hand, unseen by him, is reaching for a pistol or dagger hidden under a jeweled pillow.

As you see, the designers went with the pistol.

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Leave a comment to be entered to win WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND by Shana Galen and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/22.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Her books are published all over the world and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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HOW did this fabulous writer who looks like a romance heroine herself meet two sexy Hollywood male leads? Can I have some of what she’s having?

I’m talking about Erin Knightley, of course, whose debut, More Than A Stranger,  was dubbed as “wonderful and witty” by Vicky Dreiling. Since then, she’s written a novella for the Christmas season and the second book in the Sealed with a Kiss series. When you get a chance, check out her fun bucket list that includes meeting Colin Firth (check), meeting a president or royal (hello, Wills and Kate!), and being on The Price Is Right, just to name a few!

Today she’s sharing Five Fun Facts about the second book in her Sealed with a Kiss series, A Taste for Scandal, which includes a picture of her inspiration for the hero–and he’s totally hot! But my favorite fact is the video in which Erin shows us how to bake a scrumptious Regency confection. She’s adorable and should have her own cooking show!! Please give Erin a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win A Taste for Scandal and one of my books.

Welcome, Erin!!!

Amazon | B&N | iTunes
BAM | indiebound

A Taste For Scandal
A Sealed with a Kiss Novel
#2
December 4, 2012
Signet

A TEMPTING DIVERSION
Things have always fallen into place for Richard Moore, Earl of Raleigh. His good looks, abundance of charm, and the small matter of being heir to a marquisate make him quite the catch. So when a delectable young woman wants nothing to do with him, he can’t help but seize the irresistible challenge.

AN UNLIKELY COURTSHIP
Jane Bunting knows all about responsibility—she has managed to support herself and her brother with their bakery—but she knows nothing of excitement or passion. When dashing Lord Raleigh crosses the threshold of her shop, she has no idea of the potential danger to her reputation . . . or to her heart.

AN IMPOSSIBLE MATCH
Neither imagined things would go so far—until the night their worlds collide, irrevocably changing both their lives. But when duty calls for Richard, and with everything Jane has worked for suddenly at stake, will their taste for scandal be their downfall?

5 Fun Facts about A TASTE FOR SCANDAL

1. The hero, Richard, first showed up in my first novel, MORE THAN A STRANGER, as the heroine’s only brother. He was such a character, he kept trying to take over the scenes he was in! I was only able to reel him in by promising him (and myself!) that the next book would be his

2. I LOVE to bake, and had so much fun putting all the yummy recipes in this book. With the exception of the recipe I invented just for Richard (Lemon blush pie), I found them all in 18^th century cookbooks, and made each and every one in the way it would have been made at the time. I can tell you this much: I now have a VERY healthy appreciation for modern appliances! For a little fun, check out the silly video I made demonstrating how to make chocolate puffs:

3. The inspiration picture for Richard:

4. I was six weeks away from my deadline with a nearly finished manuscript when I had a sudden epiphany: Jane had to teach Richard a lesson. This spurred a huge change to the plot and, after a frantic series of phone calls to my editor and agent, I bit the bullet and tossed two thirds of the book! February and March of last year? Yeah – total blur!

5. My husband was the first to read this book, and I was certain he would be bored to tears since there were no pistols and swordfights like in my first book. It was one of the best moments of my life when he called me the moment he finished reading to gush about how much he loved it, and how he could actually feel the chemistry between them.

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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of A TASTE FOR SCANDAL by Erin Knightley and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/15.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Despite being an avid reader and closet writer her whole life, Erin Knightley decided to pursue a sensible career in science.  It was only after earning her B.S. and working in the field for years that she realized doing the sensible thing wasn’t any fun at all.  Following her dreams, Erin left her practical side behind and now spends her days writing. Together with her tall, dark, and handsome husband and their three spoiled mutts, she is living her own Happily Ever After in North Carolina.

Connect with Erin:
Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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Mia Marlowe is a woman of many talents. I’d even say she’s a dynamo! And that’s not a word I drop every day. She’s been a teacher, a banker, a homeschooling mom, a choir director–and get this: she’s also a classically trained soprano who sang with Placido Domingo.

Wow!!!

Of course, we know Miz Mia as an award-winning author for multiple publishing houses. She’s also one of the original founding members of Rock*It Reads, a group of traditionally published authors bringing quality to self-published reads.

Today Mia’s sharing Five Fun Facts about her latest Rock*It Reads published book, Stroke of Genius. Isn’t that cover to die for? Please give her a warm welcome! And don’t forget that on Friday one of y’all will win a Kindle copy of Mia’s book as well as one of mine.

Welcome, Mia!!!

Amazon

Stroke of Genius
February 20, 2013
Rock It Reads 

Crispin Hawke, a brilliant sculptor, is revered by the ton. His works are celebrated in every fashionable parlor, and tales of his fiery bed skills whispered behind every fashionable fan.

Grace Makepeace is determined to wed a titled lord, but her Bostonian bluntness leaves much to be desired among the well-heeled London crowd. So to gain their acceptance, she commissions the incomparable Crispin Hawke to sculpt her hands—and winds up with love lessons on the side.

Crispin schools Grace in flirting and the delights of the flesh. But when she catches the eye of a marquess, he realizes he’s done his job a little too well. And suddenly he knows Grace is the one masterpiece he cannot bear to part with.

Can an artistic genius transform an awkward heiress into the most sought-after Original without falling for her himself?

Five Fun Facts About STROKE OF GENIUS:

1. Stroke of Genius is a retelling of the Pygmalion myth—the tale of a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation.
2. I listened to the soundtrack from Shakespeare in Love while I wrote it. The lively music helped me keep the tone of my story buoyant and the pace quick.
3. My hero Crispin Hawke is so hot, my heroine Grace says his image is “burned on the backs of her eyes alongside other wonders of the world.”
4. Grace is a devotee of mythology and pores over texts with classical drawings, as much for their nearly nude renderings as the ancient stories. She’s curious about what’s hidden and wonders why everyone makes such a fuss about it since whatever it is fits so neatly behind such a small fig leaf.
5. Stroke of Genius is an Amazon Prime pick. If you’re Prime member, you can borrow Stroke of Genius FREE for a limited time!

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Leave a comment to be entered to win a Kindle version of STROKE OF GENIUS by Mia Marlowe or if you’re a Nook reader, you may choose another of Mia’s Rock*It Reads books (or wait until May for other formats) and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/8.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Mia Marlowe’s work has been featured in PEOPLE magazine. One of her books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands next to Johnny Depp memorabilia. Her Touch of a Rogue was a Publishers Weekly Top Ten Romances for Spring. She’ll have four new releases this year from Kensington and Sourcebooks and plans to publish two more Rock*It Reads ebooks as well. When she’s not writing, she’s walking  her dogs, Harry and Mack, so they can make the world safe from squirrels.

Connect with Mia:
Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Jaunty Quills | Rock*It Reads

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sophie Jordan is known for writing deliciously sexy historicals as well as the YA series, Firelight. But did you know she also writes paranormals under the name Sharie Kohler?

Wow! I am so in awe of you, Sophie!

Today our hugely talented guest is sharing Five Fun Facts about the first book in her Forgotten Princesses series, WICKED IN YOUR ARMS. I love the whole idea of princesses who need to take their rightful places, don’t you? Please give Sophie a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win an e-book copy of her book as well as a copy of my own IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT.

Welcome Sophie!!!

Amazon | B&N | iBooks
indiebound | BAM

Wicked In Your Arms
The Forgotten Princesses
#1
Avon
July 26, 2011

One of the most notoriously eligible bachelors in Europe is finally ready to marry . . .

For fiercely independent Grier Hadley, being the illegitimate daughter of one of London’s most unsavory characters has only one advantage: an enormous, ill-gotten dowry.

Prince Sevastian Maksimi knows where his duty lies: he must find a well-bred young lady-one with a considerable fortune to her name-wed her promptly, and get to the business of producing an heir.

The last thing Grier needs is some unattainable prince curling her toes with his smoldering glances and wicked suggestions. As far as Sev is concerned, she lacks the breeding to become a princess. And yet one kiss from this arresting female is all it takes for him to realize that anyone else in his arms would be unthinkable . . .

5 Fun Facts about WICKED IN YOUR ARMS:

1. WICKED IN YOUR ARMS is a stand-alone book, part of the Forgotten Princesses series. The idea for the Forgotten Princesses series is based upon a Chinese folk tale called The Beggar Princess. I just didn’t think that the “Beggar Princesses” series sound quite sexy … so … I came up with the “Forgotten Princesses”.

2. The heroine of this book is an orphan from Wales and a former “game master”. She’s more comfortable in trousers than a dress.

3. This is a fish out of water story! The heroine’s true birth father, who happens to be filthy-rich, claims her and brings her to London. She’s a definite “misfit” among members of the ton.

4. The hero is a prince from the fictitious country of Maldania. Gotta love a prince!

5. He’s looking for a filthy-rich heiress to help his impoverished country.

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Leave a comment to be entered to win an ebook copy of WICKED IN YOUR ARMS by Sophie Jordan and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 3/1.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature – teaching English seemed a natural choice. After several years teaching high school students to love ANTIGONE, Sophie decided it was time to pursue her long-held dream of writing. Two years later, she landed her first publishing contract.

Her first book, ONCE UPON A WEDDING NIGHT, was a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Nominee for Best First Historical. Her second novel, TOO WICKED TO TAME, released in March 2007 with a bang – landing on the USA Today Bestseller’s List. A few books later marked her first appearance on the New York Times bestseller list with the release of IN SCANDAL THEY WED.

And as if she’s not busy enough, Sophie writes young adult fiction for HarperTeen and contemporary paranormals for Pocket. Sophie resides in Houston with her family and loves to hear from readers. To learn the latest information about Sophie and her books, follow her on facebook and twitter.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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Those of you who have heard of Jenn LeBlanc know her as the author who wrote the big pink book, THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE. She’s also well-known for her gorgeous stock images that can be seen gracing the covers of books written by Tessa Dare, Pamela Clare, Lara Adrian, Mia Marlowe, Delilah Marvelle, Elisabeth Naughton, Laurie London and many others.

Pssst…Jenn, I want to meet your cover men. They. Are. Adorable!!!

Today, Jenn (a truly delightful person with a smile that lights up the room, and no wonder, since she gets to hang out with shirtless hunks all the time!!) is sharing five fun facts about her novel. Please give her a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE. To complete the pink cover theme, I’m giving away a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA.

Everybody, have a great week!

Kindle | Nook | iBooks
   Kobo | All Romance

The Rake and the Recluse
January 1, 2012

A woman out of time.
A man stifled by propriety.
A nemesis determined to take her away.
A brother to the rescue.

How will a powerful Duke deal with a woman who doesn’t know her place? How will a woman used to the 21st century survive in time where she is considered property?

Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.

How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.

5 Fun Facts about THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE:

© 2010 Jenn LeBlanc

© 2010 Jenn LeBlanc

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Leave a comment to be entered to win an ebook copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE by Jenn LeBlanc and a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 2/22.

If you’ve found this post on Kieran’s Goodreads page, click here to leave a comment.

Canon. Curls. Colorado. CJs. Chuck Norris.

Born and raised in a household of other people’s children in this beautiful state —very nearly with a camera in hand— she never left. She started her own family, got used to the curls, went to college, built a CJ, started a business, and totally beat the daylights out of Chuck Norris, all with a camera in hand.

Spending her days in parenting chat rooms she got highly adept with one-handed typing and she can still type just about as fast with one hand as she can with two. It’s a great talent to have when engrossed in a scene and in need of a hit of caffeine. Once she finished her first novel she quickly realized: She was born a photographer.

From the realization that someone ELSE would be shooting the cover of HER book her control-freak took over. What started as an easy cover shoot ballooned into this completely new kind of media, designed specifically for digital book readers.

She lives and thrives off chaos and the constant flow of the creative process. She wears shorts and flip-flops year-round —much to the chagrin of her friends and family— and she is currently working on the illustrations for her second novel. Her first serial novel THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE is doing its own Chuck Norris impersonation with the time travel charts on Amazon. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook sharing eye candy (NSFW) and being a total rock star.

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Claiming your prize: Winner will be contacted via email and will have 7 days to reply, or a new winner will be chosen.

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