Jane Porter's Blog, page 14

Mary McDonough’s New Release

My son has been so fortunate to work with an incredible acting and life coach, Mary McDonough.  She’s a wonderful woman and so very talented and I’m delighted to have her as a guest on my blog as we celebrate the launch of her new book, One Year.

If you loved Mary McDonough on the Waltons, and have followed her career since, you’ll want to pick up her newest release.

The Fitzgibbons–especially the women–have long been the backbone of Oliver’s Well, Virginia. Matriarch Mary Bernadette is still striking and tireless at seventy-five, with a generous heart that belies her sometimes sharp tongue. Her husband, Paddy, owns the local landscaping business, daughter Grace is a nun, and son Pat and his wife Megan are successful lawyers. Her grandson, PJ, and his new wife, Alexis, live in a charming cottage behind the main house. Church, family, tradition, and the local historical society–everything Mary Bernadette cherishes is in Oliver’s Well. But below the surface, there are fractures.

Megan sees the strained relationship between her husband and Mary Bernadette, who has never quite recovered from the painful loss of her first-born son. Megan too is torn between gaining her mother-in-law’s approval and living life on her own terms. Alexis loves PJ deeply yet chafes against his grandmother’s influence in their marriage. Then a looming scandal brings unexpected tragedy, compelling the Fitzgibbons to determine the depth of their loyalty, find their strength–and repair the bonds that have held a town, and a family, together for so long.

With warmth and an abundance of insight, Mary McDonough artfully captures the shifting dynamics of family life–and the revelations they may bear just in time.

“Mary McDonough played Erin on the beloved TV show, The Waltons.  Now in her debut novel, a heartfelt, charming story set in a picturesque small town in Virginia, she portrays three generations of women in a modern Irish-American family as they navigate marriage, motherhood and independence.”  –Library Journal

Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Mary McDonough is a born and raised “Valley girl.” Born into an Irish Catholic family, she attended Catholic school until she was cast as Erin on the award winning television series, The Waltons.

Lessons From the Mountain is Mary’s first book. In this strikingly honest book, McDonough shares the story of her overnight transformation from a normal kid in a working class family, to a Hollywood child star. She reveals intimate memories of life in and around that idyllic Virginia farmhouse. Touching, funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always illuminating, Lessons from the Mountain is the story of everything Mary McDonough learned on her journey over–and beyond–that famous mountain.

A sought-after speaker and workshop leader she guides women and teens toward improving their body image through healthy lifestyle choices. Her workshops help individuals create personal change, life balance, and return to a sense of self. Mary’s workshop: BODY BRANDING, GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH THE SKIN YOU’RE IN explores how we choose to “Brand” ourselves and then project that personal branding to the world. “BODY BRANDING” examines how we can undo the negativity about ourselves and change the picture you offer of yourself to the world. Mary also teaches acting as a method of raising confidence and improving communication skills.

Mary left the “Valley” when she got engaged and moved to the OC. She lives there with Don and their blended family, including her lap dog Runtie who was instrumental in the writing of her book. For more on Mary visit MARYMCDONOUGH.COM

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Please help me welcome Mary to JaneBlog and do check out her new release.  And as always, I have a great prize for you.  Leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card plus some awesome reader swag!  Contest ends Friday with the winner announced on Saturday.

I Heart CJ Carmichael

Dear Readers,

CJ Carmichael has been one of my best friends for almost twenty years.  We met before we sold, and CJ was the first author to agree to launch Tule Publishing with me.  Her Carrigans of Circle C have been a big reader favorite and now she launches a brand new series, not romance, but mystery.  And CJ does mystery so very good.

Welcome back to my blog, CJ.  And readers, I hope you’ll love hearing all about her new series, Twisted Cedars.

C.J. Carmichael on writing her new mystery series…

While I’ve written over 45 romance novels, my first love as a reader and aspiring author (if you can call a twelve-year-old that!) was mystery. I devoured the Trixie Belden series as a kid, then went on to enjoy Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and pretty much everything Agatha Christie wrote. Nowadays, my favorite mystery authors run to the like of Liane Moriarty, Kate Atkinson and Laura Lippman.

What appeals to me most as a reader, is what I’m trying to do now as a writer. I’m not into gory details, or clinical forensics. It’s the people—characters—who fascinate me. Their motivations and secrets, their past and hopes for the future. I also love the psychology of small towns, the idea that every knows one another’s business—or at least they think they do!

In writing Buried, the first of my Twisted Cedar mysteries, I wanted to create a town and characters that felt real and interesting to both me and my readers. And I wanted multiple mysteries, some that are solved in each new book of the series, but others that carry on until the final novel. When I hear from readers who say they couldn’t stop reading and that the ending shocked them—that makes me feel I’ve achieved my goal.

Buried is the first novel in C.J. Carmichael’s Twisted Cedars Mysteries.  Here’s more about the book –

A BURIED TALE

Justice is overdue in the coastal town of Twisted Cedars where two unsolved mysteries lay buried in the past.

Over thirty years ago a series of murders targeting Oregon librarians was never solved. Now someone with inside knowledge is feeding clues to true crime writer Dougal Lachlan, promising him the best story of his career. Pursuing the leads means returning to Twisted Cedars, where his sister Jamie, is about to marry a man he deeply dislikes.

Local Twisted Cedars librarian Charlotte Hammond prefers her mysteries—and her romances—between the covers of a good book, especially since the disappearance of her older sister, Daisy, eight years ago. But then the dark and tortured soul who is Dougal Lachlan walks into the Twisted Cedars Library asking for her help.

Before long Charlotte realizes there is no safe zone. Not even in libraries…and especially not in Twisted Cedars.

Forgotten (book 2) will be available May 21

Exposed (book 3) will be coming Fall of 2015

~~

Thank you, CJ, for sharing with us!  Readers, do download and order a copy of Buried.  It’s available in print and ebook and such a gripping mystery for your keeper shelf!

To help celebrate this wonderful release, I’ve got a I Heart CJ Carmichael  prize that includes a $15 Canadian Starbucks drink card, $10 Amazon gift card, CJ Carmichael books and much more.  For a chance to win, leave a comment and tell me if you’re a mystery fan and what you love most about reading them.  Or just talk to me and share what you’re reading right now.  Contest ends Tuesday, April 14th with winner announced on Wednesday!

The post I Heart CJ Carmichael appeared first on Jane Porter.

A Chat With Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock

Dear Readers,

For today’s blog, Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock wanted to share a little about their new Runaway Brides series for Tule, but they also wanted to give readers a chance to be a part of their friendship and working relationship. So today, Cathy and Joanne are having a “Chat With…” and invite you to pull up a chair and make yourself at home.

J: Come in! Come in! We’ve almost got all our clutter tucked away so we’re suitable for company. When Cathy and I visit, we tend to spread out a bit and surround ourselves with snacks. Lucky for you, we left out some Jelly Bellys and Diet Cokes… can I get you anything?

C: Don’t mind the dog toys.  And dogs. And foster puppies. And stacks of paperwork. (Not sure why I decided to start an animal rescue while writing full time, but find these furbabies do fuel the muse!) So, welcome to my writing “den.”

J: We were just brainstorming story ideas and lost track of the time.  Once, when our kids were little, we got so caught up plotting out a series that our children ganged up on us and demanded we leave the McDonald’s Play Place.

C: I think that happened every time we went to the park. Or McDonald’s. (Remember the time one of our kids slid down the slide into a mud puddle and we were the ones crying because we had to leave the park?!) There’s something wonderfully synergistic about brainstorming with Joanne. Our minds travel plotting paths together in a way that makes this job so incredibly much easier.

J: But that was back in the pre-first s ale days when we had so many stories in our brains, they were coming out our ears.  We talked about story premises and the craft of writing eight hours a day, I think. It was my full time job.

C: Kind of like now, except we don’t live in the same town. So we learned ways to brainstorm over the phone and via e-mail. And I gotta say, still seems like we have stories coming out of our ears!

J: Yes, but there’s a new kind of peace about storytelling now that there’s a relative certainty that we have an audience. When we brainstorm now, it’s more focused on a character or two, whereas in the early days, we would discuss every single facet of a story.

C: Linking all the stories through weddings and the Southern setting has been a particular blast, focusing in on the character quirks that led to how even the wedding gown was chosen. I love it! It’s like living in an episode of Just Say Yes to the Dress where each bride is there with her family or friends trying desperately to find the right look for her happily ever after!   

J: It’s been such an incredible gift to work on a series together. We have invested a lot of time in one another’s stories over the years, critiquing each other’s books. I’ve read every word Cathy’s written since before her first sale, and vice versa! So we have a very strong sense of one another’s voices. It was fun to talk about the overlap—the kinds of books we both love to write—and come up with a series we wanted to do together.

C: It’s interesting to me that we never came upon the idea of co-authoring before. The Tule staff and supportive community of writers nudged us into this realization and we’re so very glad they did.

J: Tule has given Cathy and I a chance to visit again. And now that we live farther apart and don’t have small kids to drag to the Play Place, it’s great to have a reason to sit down and brainstorm together. Just having had this chance to work with a friend—to share more laughs and more Jelly Bellys—has given me new creative inspiration for the rest of the year. Working with friends helps you to love your work more, and that’s a really good thing.

C:   I’m reminded of a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.”  Thank you, Joanne, for believing in my work. And most of all, thank you for your friendship. Looking forward to many more projects and shared Diet Cokes over the years.

~~

USA Today bestselling and RITA Award winning author Catherine Mann has written over fifty romance novels and her work has been released in more than 20 countries. Catherine has a Master’s Degree in Theater, having written her thesis about powerful Shakespearean women. Born and raised in the South, Catherine and her flyboy husband have four children and reside in Florida where she is the President and a founding member of the Sunshine State Animal Rescue.

Website l Facebook l Twitter l Pinterest

Joanne Rock writes romance of all shapes and sizes from sexy contemporary to medieval historical and an occasional Young Adult story. She’s penned over seventy books, appearing most often in the Harlequin Blaze series. Joanne taught English at the college level before becoming a full-time writer, and she returns to the classroom as often as possible to share her love of stories. A quiet and unassuming Virgo, Joanne married a fiery and boisterous Aries man in true opposites-attract fashion.

Website l Facebook l Twitter l Pinterest

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Readers, look for Cathy and Joanne’s books, How to Lose a Groom in 10 Days and The Wedding Audition on Amazon and download them today!

Cathy and Joanne also have a lovely giveaway for Janeblog readers!  For a chance to win this fabulous prize, leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win!  Contest ends Sunday night with winner announced on Monday, April 13th.  Good luck!!

The post A Chat With Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock appeared first on Jane Porter.

Travel Junkie

My readers know I’m a travel junkie.  It’s my parents fault.  They loved to travel and they would take us, their four kids, on as many adventures as they could.  Thanks to my parents influence, I knew when I was in high school that I wanted to be a writer, and a traveler.  I couldn’t imagine being tied to a desk job without any freedom.  Fortunately, one of my first jobs out of college was working for a small regional airline (later bought by American Airlines) and my job was to sell these commuter planes, introducing them to travel agents and the public in the San Joaquin Valley.  Metroliners were small, narrow, just 19 seats with no flight attendant or bathroom.  I was 23 and loved the challenge and adventure.  It was all exciting to me:  having an office in the Fresno airport, daily hopping on and off planes, climbing into rental cars at sweltering airports, and driving all over the big valley to talk to travel agents and corporate agents about flying, and seats, and even lost luggage.

Even after I gave up working in travel for teaching and writing full-time, I continued to hunger for travel opportunities.  Every year I try to go somewhere new and so Ty and I have made late Sept/early October ‘our’ travel time since his busy summer season is over and the kids are back in school and we can pretend we’re celebrating our anniversary when in reality, we’re just looking for a good time.  

Travel is a guilty pleasure, though, as I miss the kids and feel as if I should be writing, not playing, but I also love these Fall getaways as I get to have Ty to myself, and I love what a great travel companion he is.  He’s up for anything…well, almost anything.  He doesn’t like big cities and isn’t into traffic and noise, but he loves out of the way spots, small towns, as well as mountains, deserts, islands, and the sea.

This past September we went to one of the places I’ve long wanted to go is Morocco–particularly as Morocco has inspired a dozen different sheikh stories for Harlequin Presents including this month’s release, His Defiant Desert Queen–and so using our anniversary as an excuse to jet to Morocco, we spent three nights in Marakkesh and then another three nights in the Atlas mountains at Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot in a little village called Asni inhabited by Berbers in the foothills of the mountains.  The Kasbah, once a private desert palace, has been turned into a small, luxurious hotel with very special touches, including an authentic Berber dinner one night, while another evening we watched the classic film, Casablanca, on Berber blankets on the Kasbah lawn.

The black and white film was projected onto a screen in front of the swimming pool, and it was such a beautiful warm night, with countless stars twinkling overhead and a warm desert wind rippling the movie screen.  It was an incredible experience to be able to watch Casablanca beneath the stars with Ty at my side, all while I was writing a story that also took place during WWII during the day in the Kasbah’s library.

While I wrote during the mornings, Ty would hike, and then in the afternoon we’d swim, and play ping pong (I was the clear ping pony champion.  I had no idea I was so good!) and then dress for dinner up on the rooftop with its stunning views of the Atlas mountains.

Morocco was everything I’d hoped it would be, and if you haven’t yet read my new desert romance, His Defiant Desert Queen, the latest book in my Copeland mini-series do pick up your copy now before its gone from stores.  It is also available for your e-reader, and I’ve a good excerpt on my website too if you’d like to read more.

I will not marry you. I will not!

When Sheikh Mikael catches notorious model Jemma Copeland flaunting Saidia’s laws—and her body—in his desert, he knows one thing: revenge against his family’s destruction is within his reach! To achieve it he makes Jemma an offer: imprisonment or marriage.

With her life shattered by the scandal that rocked her family, Jemma needed that modeling job. She didn’t know that she was breaking the law! But Mikael’s outrageous proposal pushes her beyond shock…to utter fury. If he expects her to be a meek, pliable bride, this arrogant sheikh has another think coming!

I’ve a special Morocco giveaway to celebrate my new release.  Tell me about what you’re reading now, and/or how you’ve been these past few weeks.  I know I haven’t been very good at keeping up my blog.  I apologize.  I promise to be better this Spring!

His Defiant Desert Queen giveaway closes Friday March 27th with the winner announced Saturday the 28th.

Have a wonderful week and do be sure to bring me up to speed.  I’ve missed being in touch with you!

Jane

The post Travel Junkie appeared first on Jane Porter.

His Only Valentine – Special Boxed Set!

I’m excited to share with you Tule Publishing’s latest, limited, release, His Only Valentine,   a fabulous boxed set featuring 13 romances by 13 New York Times, USA Today and Bestselling authors and it’s available for pennies.

Priced at just .99 cents until Feb 15th, this special set of Tule’s sweet and sexy, flirty and fresh romances make a perfect Valentine gift for yourself, or someone else who enjoys a great love story featuring sexy cowboys, bad boys, tycoons, small town heroes, a sheikh, and beautiful brides.  The Valentine boxset features:

Tease Me, Cowboy by Rachael Johns

Please Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane

Kiss Me, Cowboy by Melissa McClone

The Tycoon’s Kiss by Jane Porter

Second Chance Bride by Trish Morey

Almost a Bride by Sarah Mayberry

The Substitute Bride by Kathleen O’Brien

Hometown Hero by Dani Collins

The Honeymoon Trap by Kelly Hunter

Born to be Bad by Carol Marinelli

Never Seduce a Sheikh by Jackie Ashenden

She’s the One by Kim Boykin

Bet the House by Erika Marks

Learn more about His Only Valentine at Tule Publishing.  And you can download a copy – or gift it to someone you care about – from these online reltailers:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Google Play

iBooks

This special collector set is available for  the month of February and only .99 until February 15th so be sure to grab it soon!

And because I love February so very much, I’ve also got a fun giveaway for you.  

Tell me if you’ve read any of the stories in this pretty Valentine boxed set, and if so, which was your favorite and one of you will win a $25 Amazon gift card plus lots of JP and Tule reader swag.  Giveaway ends Tuesday night with winner announced on Wednesday so do comment today and have a wonderful weekend!

Fast Five with Beth Kendrick

My good friend Beth Kendrick is celebrating the release of her latest novel, New Uses For Old Boyfriends, a second chances, small town, mother-daughter bonding story with a beach house and a hot marine too!  I love Beth’s voice and writing style and am so looking forward to reading this one.

Here’s a bit more about New Uses For Old Boyfriends –

After growing up in privilege and marrying into money, Lila Alders has gotten used to the good life.  But when her happily ever after implodes, Lila must return to Black Dog Bay, the tiny seaside town where she grew up.  She’s desperate for a safe haven, but everything has changed over the past ten years.  Her family’s fortune is gone—and her mother is in total denial.  It’s up to Lila to take care of everything…but she can barely take care of herself.  The former golden girl of Black Dog Bay struggles to reinvent herself by opening a vintage clothing boutique.  But even as Lila finds new purpose for outdated dresses and tries to reunite with her ex, she realizes that sometimes it’s too late for old dreams.  She’s lost everything she thought she needed but found something—someone—she desperately wants.  A boy she hardly noticed has grown up into a man she can’t forget…and a second chance has never felt so much like first love.

 

Sounds really good, doesn’t it?  I hit Beth up for a fun Fast Five earlier today and she responded –

Dark choc or milk chocolate?  

Dark. I’m having some right now, actually. You have to eat chocolate on your book release day. It’s federal mandate.

Beach or mountains?

Beach.

Heels or boots?

Heels. I love the way tall boots look, but my calves get claustrophobic.

Coffee or tea?

Tea.

Morning or night person?

Night. I do my best writing between 8 p.m. and midnight. Or at least, I did before I had kids. Now I go to bed much earlier and try to convince my brain to get creative in the morning. (See above: tea).

For those of you who enjoy ‘books-to-movies’, Beth’s novel, Nearlyweds, a story about three newlyweds whose marriages are accidentally annulled due to a clerical error, is now a Hallmark movie starring Naomi Judd and Danielle Panabaker.  If you didn’t catch it on tv in January, there are two more airings scheduled this month so be sure to check the link for more details!  Meanwhile, I’ve got a fun Hallmark movie and book prize package for one of you!  For a chance to win, leave a comment and tell me if you’ve read Beth’s books and which one you’ve enjoyed the most.

Contest ends Friday, the 6th and winner will be announced on Saturday, the 7th.  Good luck!

 

Bachelor Fan? Check out Marietta’s 6 Hot Bachelors!

Dear Reader,

I’ve been bad.  Instead of writing (and I should be writing) I’ve been reading the first of the Montana Born Bachelor Auction stories coming in and I love them.  This exciting new series set in Marietta, Montana is sexy and sweet, emotional and real and I think they’ve got great covers, too.

Bachelor #1, Beau Bennett, is brought to you by the one and only very talented Sarah Mayberry in Bound to the Bachelor.  Here’s the blurb –

Your date with Marietta local Beau Bennett includes a day on the slopes at Big Sky Resort, complete with a sumptuous meal in the Resort’s fanciest fine dining restaurant and door-to-door transport. Dig deep to secure the attentions of one of Montana’s most eligible – and elusive – bachelors.

Lily Taylor knows Beau Bennett dislikes her, but that won’t stop her from asking him to volunteer for the Bachelor Auction she’s organized to help her friend Molly provide for her tragically injured son, Josh. If Beau’s gorgeous face, piercing blue eyes and chiseled body inspires the women of Marietta to dig into their pockets for a good cause, then Lily will do whatever it takes to secure his participation.

Beau Bennett isn’t sure how he wound up on the auction block being eyed up by hundreds of eager women, but he knows who to blame for it – Lily Taylor, the sexy, distracting, off-limits best friend of his kid sister. As far as he’s concerned, the sooner this nightmare is over, the better.

The last thing either of them expects is for Lily to wind up bidding on – and winning – Beau, or that their date will lead to Beau stepping in to save Lily when her past comes back to haunt her. As Beau does his best to keep Lily safe, they discover that maybe they don’t dislike each other quite as much as they thought.

In fact, maybe it’s just the opposite…

***

After Sarah’s story, there are five more delicious bachelors in the line-up, brought to you courtesy of some of today’s best writers, all bestselling and award winning authors in the romance industry.  I’m sure you’re already familiar with Kate Hardy, Dani Collins, Kelly Hunter, Megan Crane and Kat Latham, but if not, you soon will be.

Now do me a favor.  Check out the six Bachelor Auction series covers above, and tell me which is your favorite bachelor and one of you will win my fun Bachelor Auction Cover Reveal prize consisting of 3 signed JP books, a hand glazed mug, chocolates, a $5 Starbucks gift card and reader treats.

So do comment now, tell me your favorite and check back Friday as the giveaway ends Thursday night and the winner will be announced Friday morning.   Good luck and may the best bachelor win!

 

Taming of the Sheenans

Hi Readers,

I’ve been getting a lot of emails about the Taming of the Sheenan stories and I love hearing from you and how much you’re enjoying the series.  I am enjoying the Sheenan family, too.  These brothers are serious alpha heroes who also have serious heart–and the good news is that there are still three more Sheenan stories to come!

Three more stories you ask?  How can that be?  (I know…5 brothers, 3 stories written, how does that add up to 6?)  Well, I know something those Sheenans of Marietta don’t know.  There’s a mystery in the family, and it’s not just the mom’s tragic death.  There are secrets and we discover all this year.

But before I tell you about the new books coming, let me answer some of the questions I’ve been getting about the series so far.

Reader Question #1:  Did Beauty’s Kiss (Troy’s story) get a title change?  Is Beauty’s Kiss now Tycoon’s Kiss?

Answer:  Yes, the title did get changed end of 2014 because many of my loyal readers didn’t think the title, Beauty’s Kiss, reflected the story as well as Tycoon’s Kiss, because the heroine, Taylor, isn’t a great beauty, but a smart, pretty, and very bookish librarian.  Tycoon was chosen instead as Troy is a self-made man, and wildly successful, so it made sense from an editorial and marketing perspective to rename the story to Tycoon’s Kiss.  (And it’s definitely sold better since the title changed, too!)

Reader Question #2:  What happened to Cormac’s story, Home to Me?  Wasn’t it supposed to be out last May or June in 2014?

Answer:  As many of my readers noticed, Cormac’s story didn’t come out as planned.  Why?  I reluctantly had to put it on the back burner last Spring when I fell behind on my deadlines for Harlequin and Berkley.  I didn’t want to set Cormac’s story aside, but digital publishing is more flexible than print publishing, so it made most sense to shift from Cormac to my contracted deadlines for Harlequin and Berkley, and then by the time I’d wrapped up It’s You for Berkley, it was time to write Trey’s story, The Kidnapped Christmas Bride, which is a Christmas story and couldn’t wait.

Reader Question #3:  So is the next book coming out now, Cormac’s story?

Answer:  Nope!  Cormac still has to wait a little longer as I’m currently working on Dillon Sheenan’s story which will be out a month from now.  Dillon is an interesting Sheenan.  He’s the youngest of the five Sheenan brothers, and has a mind of his own, which includes getting out of Marietta and returning to his high-tech job in Texas.  But fate has other plans for him.  Taming of the Bachelor will release late February, and then early summer ’15 we finally get Cormac’s Home to Me!

Reader Question #4:  So what will you write for Montana Born after Cormac’s story?

Answer:  A missing Sheenan returns to Marietta just in time  for the holidays (November 2015) and its an explosive reunionstory  that is fiery, intense, bittersweet and hopefully very satisfying.

Reader Question #5:  I don’t buy my books from Amazon.  Why are your Sheenan stories only available at Amazon?

Answer:  Good news!!  The first three Taming of the Sheenan stories will soon be available on all retail platforms, including iBooks, B&N, Smashwords, Google Play and Kobo.  They are currently being uploaded to all platforms  and by end of February will be available.   Yay!

Reader Question #6:  Is there an order to the Taming of the Sheenan stories?

Answer:  Each story is a stand alone story and you don’t have to read them in order, but if you like to read books in order, here is how they were written and published:

Christmas at Copper Mountain  (Brock’s story)

Tycoon’s Kiss (Troy’s story, formerly known as Beauty’s Kiss)

The Kidnapped Christmas Bride (Trey’s story)

And then these are the new releases for this year:

Taming of the Bachelor (Dillon’s story) out late Feb

Home to Me (Cormac’s story)  out in June

and the surprise Sheenan Christmas story in November!

So tell me, if you’ve read any of my Sheenan romances, do you have a favorite?  Or a favorite brother? Share with me in the comments below and one of you will win a gorgeous glazed mug, a signed set of 3 Montana Born anthologies (which each feature a Taming of the Sheenan story), a tin of amazing hot cocoa, a $5 Starbucks gift card and lots of fun reader swag.  Contest ends on Thurs Jan 29th with winner announced on Friday the 30th so do comment now for a chance to win!

And thank you for being my reader!  xoxox

Jane

Treat yourself to a Hot Aussie Hero!

I’ve always loved Australia and visited there a few times with my family.  I love the vivid colors, the stunning scenery, the wonderful, big-hearted people and just that punch of strong emotion this country always evokes in me.  It always takes my breath away.

So it thrilled me to bits when Tule Publishing’s Holiday Books decided to introduce readers to four fun and sexy Hot Aussie Heroes from Australia!  Each story is packed with a ton of emotion and a delicious, hunky hero and there’s plenty of gorgeous Australian scenery too, and I’ve invited the four authors of this great new series to join me here and tell you a bit about the stories.

Welcome authors!

Margareta Osborn – The Cowboy

Sexy, laid-back yet capable, Aussie cowboy, Jake Richardson, is the polar opposite of chic, tough, go-get-‘em New York business woman Carina ‘Ree’ Chapman. And when these two meet, their instant antipathy (… or is it instant attraction?) causes sparks to fly.

I’ve always loved the idea behind the Crocodile Dundee movies – the “That’s not a knife. This is a knife,’ quirky kind of humor and it was a variation on this theme that sat at the back of my mind as I wrote ‘The Cowboy’. I’ve worked and lived on the land all my life here in Australia and met plenty of guys like Jake. Put them in an upmarket professional capacity in the inner city and they’ll be all at sea. Place them at home in the Australian bush and they can deal with most things in an offhand way that makes tough and often seemingly irretrievable situations look like a walk in the park. They’ve got that “she’ll be right, mate” attitude, and just knuckle down and fix whatever is the problem – snakes, wild horses, broken down trucks miles from home. It must be the caveman thing – very sexy.

Conversely, I’ve always admired women like Carina. They know the right clothes to wear in any situation, the difference between twenty different kinds of coffee, can put together a marketing plan in ten minutes flat, wear stiletto’s like they’re cowgirl boots and just ooze with confidence in any situation life throws at them. Even finding out their secretary has booked them into the wrong resort, in a place out the back of beyond owned by a sexy, tough cattleman who promises to deliver the five step method to an everlasting relationship. How on earth can an Aussie outback bushman know anything about that? Ree asks herself.

She’s about to find out.

Amy Andrews – The Hero

Finding inspiration for my hot Aussie heart throb was NOT difficult. Justin is an Australian actor who has made it big in Tinsel Town. And there’s plenty of inspiration around for that!

Exhibit A – Chris Hemsworth  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1koL8tdLit4

Exhibit B – Hugh Jackman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNWbW8SbVjw

Exhibit C – Erica Bana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9Peht2B44

Exhibit D – Simon Baker- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIFZ-Rp_0p4

Exhibit E – Sam Worthington   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QvvoTZkfFU

See? I was spoilt for choice. And Justin Wilde is just as hunky!

Madeline Ash – The Playboy

Thanks for having us on your blog today, Jane! I’d love to introduce Parker Hargraves, the sexy hero in my novella The Playboy. Parker was a player when he was younger: blond, gold-skinned and wealthy – and obnoxious to the point where he humiliated Alexia. Years on, he’s learned humility and compassion the hard way, and wants to make amends for how he treated her.

The character of Parker is actually from a manuscript I wrote years ago. I couldn’t get him to connect properly with that heroine, so put it aside. It’s like he knew he was meant to be with Alexia, because as soon as I put him on page with her, he couldn’t get enough! In this version, he owns a successful surf brand and beachside bar, rides the waves every morning, and will do anything to win Alexia’s heart. She’s one lucky lady, let me tell you…

Victoria Purman – The Millionaire

Don’t we all love someone who wants to change the world? Sure, we all love a handsome man too, but combine those looks with a commitment to making the world a better place and, phwoar. Instant hero material.

In The Millionaire, I wanted to explore what happens when suburban reporter Ellie Flannery meets international photojournalist Chris Malone, the man she’s admired because of his work in the world’s trouble spots and disaster zones.

But when she meets him in the flesh, and things get off to a rocky start, she decides that perhaps it’s best not to meet your heroes after all. I loved writing Ellie’s story and how she gradually sees more than his reputation and, for Chris, I wanted to show him coming to an understanding that that there’s more to life than running from one war zone to another and that he should be chasing Ellie’s heart instead.

~~

Thank you, Authors, for sharing your insight with us.  Loved reading it all!  Readers, if you didn’t already do so, please go grab your downloads of each of these fantastic stories and enjoy some sexy fun.  And speaking of fun, there’s more to be had!  I’ve got a great Aussie prize pack worth $50.00 here for one of you.  For a chance to win, leave a comment and let me know if you’ve been to Australia and what you loved most about your trip.  Or if you’ve not been, would you like to visit one day?  Winner will be announced Wednesday, the 28th!

 

Debra Salonen’s Montana Darling

I have been loving Debra Salonen‘s Big Sky Mavericks series and am really looking forward to reading book 3, MONTANA DARLING, which released today.  An award-winning journalist and author of over 26 publishing novels, Debra has an amazing voice and infused humor and warmth in her stories which makes it so easy to fall in love with her characters.

I invited Debra to share more about the new story with all you because I know it’s one you’ll want to read!  Please help me welcome Debra Salonen!

Thank you, Jane–and New Year’s greetings to all of your fabulous friends!

I’m so excited about my new Tule book, MONTANA DARLING.

I love connected books, and this is #3 in my Big Sky Mavericks series. It’s Mia’s book. Mia. As I wrote in my Dear Reader letter: “Poor Mia. That’s what everyone says. A breast cancer survivor and single mom, Mia’s fed up with having things taken from her. Look out, hot, gorgeous, interesting stranger camping on her land. You’re about to meet your match…your perfect match.”

I only had a vague idea of Mia’s hero when I started the book, but I knew he had to be exceptional. And…oh, my…Ryker is very special. I love what one reviewer wrote about him: “Ryker was just the sweetest and most understanding man a person can fall in love with.” I did fall in love with him. I hope you do, too. Who wouldn’t love a man who makes you see yourself through his loving eyes?

I’m working on Meg’s book, MONTANA MAVERICK. This book has been full of surprises, too, starting with the opening line: “It was a dark and stormy night…”

What? That’s been done before? LOL. Just wait. You’ll see…

Do you like description or dialogue to open a book? One winner will get the prize below.

Deb

Here’s an excerpt from Montana Darling:

They waddled quite gracelessly through the wet yard to the patio, which provided enough protection for Ryker to shake out the umbrella and stash it in a dry corner. He pulled a key from his pocket. “Side door,” he said, drawing her with him. “The slider is very sticky.”

Mia had been to Bailey’s workshop several times, but never at night. They kicked off their shoes and boots on a wide woven mat. “My socks are wet.”

“Mine, too. We can dry them on the register in my room.”

His hand was warm and comforting. “Want some tea or cocoa? Won’t be as good as Sage Carrigan’s.”

She squeezed his fingers. “Nothing right now.”

Was that signal clear enough? She wanted something that had nothing to do with food. She wanted him, God help her. She even brought along a couple of the condoms she bought in Bozeman the last time she was there. Not for fear of pregnancy, but because she hadn’t taken him up on his offer of a doctor’s report.

Her lack of female plumbing was another reason why this fling with Ryker could never go any further than a little temporary fun. He wasn’t even thirty. He’d want children at some point. He deserved a family of his own. She wasn’t the right woman for him…long-term, but for tonight? She wasn’t a sex fiend, but she felt fairly confident they’d both enjoy what was about to happen.

“What’s it like living in a jewelry store?” she asked as they passed the new showroom.

He shrugged. “Ask me in a week. When I was doing school pictures, I left in the morning before the ladies got here and they were gone by the time I got back.” He paused, his smile a bit mischievous. “But they’re really nice. They think I’m too thin so they leave plates of goodies for me. One of the ladies–I don’t know which–makes the best brownies on the planet. Do you want one?”

She did. “I cut sugar out of my diet because somebody told me or I read somewhere that sugar feeds cancer cells.”

He pulled her close. “But you got rid of the cancer cells.”

“I did, didn’t I?” What was her excuse for cutting pleasure from her diet? As a punishment for getting sick in the first place? “Okay. Give me a brownie.”

His smile triggered something silly, bright and magical inside her. She applauded when he danced like some crazy hipster down the hallway to the kitchen. He was a young Tom Cruise in white socks and blue jeans, with a mop of curls and laughing eyes.

He returned a second later in serious waiter mode–a yellow plate resting on his uplifted hand. “Madam,” he said with a phony French accent. “If you weel follow me. Your table..or should I say…bed…is waiting.”

Bed. The b-word. God, I’m really going to do this, aren’t I?

His bow was her answer. Tonight was about having fun.

Exactly what he made her want to feel again. Ryker Bensen was the right man to remind her she was still alive.

~~~

Thank you, Debra, for sharing with us today!  Readers be sure to download your copy of MONTANA DARLING today and to help Debra celebrate her new release, I’ve got a special JP Friends Collection prize for you, filled with books, giftcards, a book necklace with your first initial, reader goodies and so much more!  For a chance to win, leave a comment and you’ll be entered!  I’ll announce a winner on Monday, January 12th.