Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 92
January 13, 2012
WE'RE BACK!

We are SO sorry for not being here with you for the last week! The Plotmonkeys site was hacked along with many others and it took awhile to find a solution … but we're HERE and we're STAYING! So please spread the word that we are back live! And to celebrate we are having a HUGE GIVEAWAY … 4 WINNERS … FOUR (4) SEPARATE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARDS!
WE DON'T KID AROUND! WE ARE CELEBRATING!!!!!
LEAVE A MESSAGE/POST BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!
SPREAD THE WORD – TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!
January 11, 2012
Guest Vivian Arend

THE REALITY OF ROMANCE
When I mentioned to a reader I was working on the second book in the Six Rack Ranch series, she was very excited, until she learned that the heroine was a widow with three little boys.
"Kids in a romance? A hot romance? That's not possible."
O_o
Really?
Movie stars get warned to never work with children or animals, because they tend to steal the show. I was told having kids in a romance would ruin the story, or at the least, ruin the mood.
Fine. Great. That works for all those single men and women who I can write about meeting and falling in love, but it's not reality. Single parents need love. Heck, married people still need romance and love. All the people warning me away from writing a book with children involved—do they think romance disappears the instant a woman breeds? That there isn't love after childbirth?
Bull-hockie.
So I stuck to my guns and wrote about Beth, a young widow recovering from the car accident that took the life of her first husband. She's got three boys under the age of eight and she's carrying a lot of baggage. Things that the hero, Daniel, is more than willing to help her through. They meet, they meet again, and suddenly I got a taste of where writing romance with children gets difficult.
Yes, it's much easier to write a single woman arranging a tryst than a thirty year old trying to find a time and place to get together with someone she's interested in. Beth has not only her agenda, but her sons to worry about—their wellbeing and their happiness. It's not only a couple looking for a happily-ever-after, but a family.
That's the reality of life. It's not always easy, but men and women do it every day—they do what's necessary for their families, they sacrifice for their children, and they try their best to find happiness in the midst of the work.
In the end, I'm very pleased with how Beth and Daniel come together. And those three little boys were very much a part of the entire adventure—and that's real.
I hope you enjoy Rocky Mountain Haven, their story.
~~**~~
If you'd like to try a taste of the Six Pack Ranch, I have an ebook copy of winner's choice—either book one in the series, Rocky Mountain Heat, or an ARC of book 3 that will be releasing March 13, Rocky Mountain Desire. Leave a comment to be entered: What's a favorite romantic moment/gift/touch you love? To me, candlelight=romance in a big way.
~~**~~
Rocky Mountain Haven
Six Pack Ranch, Book 2
It's the quiet ones that take you by surprise.
Beth Danube's emotionally abusive husband is dead and buried. So is her heart. It's no big deal, she has all she wants: her three little boys and a fresh start in a small Alberta town. What she doesn't want is another man in her life—not now, maybe not ever.
After ten years of unsatisfactory, missionary-position sex, she never expected her libido to reawaken. One look at sex-in-boots Daniel Coleman in a Calgary bar, though, blows the dust off her sexuality.
Sensing an edge of desperation, even fear, beneath Beth's come-on, Daniel finds himself giving in to the powerful urge to let his normally subdued desires run wild. The lady wants non-judgemental, non-vanilla sex? She's got it—in and out of the bedroom.
At first, friends with blazing-hot benefits is more then enough. Then she realizes Daniel is burning away the protective fortress around her heart…and the guilty secret she dare not reveal.
Warning: One woman determined to retake control of her life, a man with the single-minded purpose of offering her—and her body—everything she needs. Inappropriate behaviour in barns, change rooms, and oh-my-gawd phone sex with a cowboy.
~~**~~
First Chapter: Excerpt
Buy links:
Rocky Mountain Heat: Samhain | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo – all links HERE
Rocky Mountain Haven: Amazon | Barnes & Noble – all links HERE
Rocky Mountain Desire: Amazon | Barnes & Noble – all links HERE
~~**~~
January 3, 2012
Bittersweet

In an ironic and somewhat painful twist of fate, today is one year since we lost BUDDY. In my mind, today is all about him. Not a day goes by when I don't think of him, some funny thing he used to do or how he curled up with me every weekend afternoon for my nap. I still miss that most of all. Some of his more memorable moments are below. Many of you remember him from years past when I shared things with you. There will never be another Buddy. I miss you my man.
And now the good news. DESTINY is available in stores and online and in eBook format everywhere!
From New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips comes her second novel set in Serendipity, the quaint upstate New York town where love, fate, and fortune are intertwined…
Nash Barron may be cynical about love, yet even he likes a good wedding. But the only good thing about his brother's wedding is Kelly Moss. Nash can't help but admire her confidence and beauty, but he's forced to keep his distance because getting involved with Kelly could destroy his relationship with his newly discovered half sister, Tess…
Kelly came to Serendipity to give Tess–her half sibling as well, thanks to an illicit affair–a second chance at life. She learned long ago not to rely on anyone but herself. Besides, she doesn't want to upset Tess's life by pushing for a fling with Nash. Except the more she gets to know him, the more vulnerable she becomes to the kindness beneath his gruff exterior, and the less she's able to stay away. But she has other reasons for keeping her distance. Like the secret from her past she knows Nash will never forgive…
For all things DESTINY including BUY links, visit the DESTINY page on my website: www.carlyphillips.com!
In honor of Destiny, today I am blogging at other places around the web:
HEA USA Today Blog
Lady Scribes
Click on each to visit me and see what I have to say on Destiny and other things!!
HAPPY 2012. I wish you all the good health and happiness life can bring!
January 1, 2012
New Year's Day aka The Morning After

So … the winner of our $50 Amazon gift card is:
Melanie Revis (Comment #103)
Please email me at: carly phillips @ mac . com to claim your prize!
Here's to a healthy, happy, successful 2012!
December 31, 2011
New Years Eve!

Ok it's New Years Eve … some of us are going out. Others are staying in. I'm having dinner out with hubby and family friends and then will be home before the New Year hits, TV will be on, hubby will be asleep, I'll be reading in bed (or sleeping)! Very exciting but that's the way we roll. What about you? Home? Out? And if home what are YOU reading?
December 29, 2011
Mah Jong!

1 Week till Destiny!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!
PRE ORDER LINKS – HERE!
We all know I can be a broken record when it comes close to book release time. I'm so lucky you're all so understanding here and you humor me! Before I forget, today I am also guest blogging at the fabulous Lauren Dane's Blog so when you finish here, please head on over there because guess what? I am giving away 5 – yep you heard that right – 5 copies of KISMET in eBook format of your choice. Link at the bottom.
But no, you don't get away from me that easily … not yet. Did you PREORDER DESTINY? All buy links/all formats HERE!
MAH JONG
So what do I want to talk about today? A guilty addiction and no it's not Angry Birds. My old injury gets cranky if I even think of using that iPhone App so I deleted it a long time ago while I was still in the brace for the repetitive stress injury on my hand/thumb. This guilty addiction? Here's the thing – I swore I wouldn't do it. I swore I couldn't. I had so many reasons – I didn't want to make a commitment to be somewhere every week. I didn't want to always be with people. I didn't like "games." I wasn't any good at it and found it too difficult. I admit there were times when I thought I'd be old and gray and everyone would be playing and I'd be alone … in my house or nursing home or whatever. But then some good friends wanted to learn. I showed up once to be nice. And they sucked me right in and wouldn't let me go …
MAH JONG. It's a game played with four people. Lots of older Jewish people play (that's a stereotype but true and b/c I'm Jewish I figure I can say that.) It's addicting.
And we play weekly, get together for lunch and play, ignore phone calls from family and kids, refuse to pick up the little ones from school, and basically … become our mothers. (But that was another post). Anyway, if you don't see me on Twitter any given afternoon … you can pretty much figure what I'm doing. Because on Mah Jong days, I get up early to get my writing in so I can play guilt free.
Have you ever played Mah Jong? Have another guilty addiction you want to share?
***
OK as promised: the link to Lauren Dane's Blog – where I'm guesting and giving away 5 copies of Kismet! Click HERE!
December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!

The winner of the $25 Amazon G.C. is:
MARIE! Comment # 74
Congratulations! Email me at: carly phillips @ mac . com to claim your prize!
And now … from all of us at Plotmonkeys to all of you … MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This circled around Facebook … and it's worth posting here, of all places where our favorite things are books!
I don't know about you but this is MY KIND OF TREE!
December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve – and what are you reading?

First, I hope you're having a wonderful weekend surrounded by those you love! Second, it's still Saturday so we're going to talk books. I don't know about you but I find December the hardest month to find new books to read. So what did I do? Taking a hint from Leslie, I downloaded the book that started me on reading and ultimately writing Romance- LaVyrle Spencer's SEPARATE BEDS. I wondered if it would stand the test of time – and I discovered that though I kept asking myself "what point of view is this?" I DIDN'T CARE. I still fell in love with Clay, I still found myself repeating lines in my head days after I read it, and I still hold it close to my heart. And that feels good. Want to know something else funny? When I was considering my move to Berkley, the senior editor told me she'd worked with LaVyrle Spencer – and I swear that helped sway me!
What oldies are close to your heart? And have you reread them recently? What did you think?
And since I'm on vacation for a bit and as always, looking for books. What are you reading?
December 23, 2011
Carly Contest!

Today is 2 days before Christmas! I'll be announcing the winner ON Christmas day. But even though you'll get all your gifts, there's always room for more, right? A chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card to buy … more BOOKS!
(*Yes, Amazon has other things, but what really matters? Books!)
What do you hope to get for the holidays? Post for a chance to win!
December 21, 2011
2 Weeks till Destiny – Jan. 3!

Sorry we're up late today … and doing a switch! Carly here instead of Julie …I'm very excited about book # 2 in the Serendipity series hitting stores in 2 weeks. If you haven't read Serendipity, you have time! Destiny is Nash Barron's story (and though I'm sure it stands alone, these stories will be more fulfilling if you read them in order). I admit to being surprised at the reaction to Nash – people weren't in love with him – in fact readers resented him for how he treated Ethan!!! As a writer, I thought I motivated Nash and Dare's feelings towards their oldest sibling was well motivated. I still do. But I was unprepared for the impact of Ethan! Readers fell in love with him but they were angry at Nash!
Good news – Nash doesn't find the road to true love easy. Nash also doesn't find the road to peace with his brothers easy, either. Nash learns a lot about himself in Destiny. He discovers that though he's always thought he was there for the people in his life (and he was), he can be quite judgmental and they don't exactly feel they can turn to him for everything … He needs to reassess himself and others before he loses the woman he loves. So if you had problems with Nash in book one, prepare to take this journey with him in book 2!
As for Kelly, don't be too hard on her for what she did with Tess. She was at her wits end and wanted only to save her teenage sister from herself. Trust me, you will learn a lot more about why she did what she did – and how she and Nash deal with their combustible chemistry!
But there's still two weeks to go before you can read Destiny …however KISMET is available in eBook for the low low price of .99 cents! Price will probably go up after Destiny hits shelves so don't forget to treat yourself to this sizzling stocking stuffer now! Just like readers had issues with Nash, another character they had problems with was Lissa Gardelli, the barista / newspaper writer who gave Faith such a hard time in Serendipity. Guess what? Lissa has had a tough life and you'll learn why – and see what happens when she's reunited with her high school sweetheart in Kismet and hopefully fall in love with her by the time you are through!
So I'm guessing by now you know where to find me and how to buy my books? Let's make it easy – Here's the SERENDIPITY SERIES PAGE (click on the colored link). Choose the book that interests you and you'll find all available links on each book page!
So which character pushed your buttons in Serendipity and why? And what would you like to see happen to him/her in the future?