Kathryn Nolan's Blog, page 8

Second Draft Update!

 I’m nearing 80,000 words after getting snarled around a few tricky chapters in the middle of this week. But not only did I finally untangle the issues, I’ve also finally reached the part in rewriting this damn book where I fall head-over-fucking-heels for the hero and the heroine and stop yelling at them for making my life extra difficult (it’s not their fault! They’re too in love and they don’t even know what to do about it!) This morning I wrote the cutest little vulnerable scene between these two while crying and then started making a playlist I felt spoke to their passionate love and beautiful memories and smokin’ hot sex. So, you know, all system’s are a go now! And I’m attributing this to the sheer volume of Pina colada mix I’ve been drinking lately. This picture is a pretty accurate representation of my location, mentally.

Tuesday night is my deadline! (*crosses fingers*) And then you’ll have a steamy, second chance romantic suspense novel from me in the spring!

Max and Edward want to tell you the most exciting news...

Edward *adjusts tie, checks cuff links*: It was quite kind of Kathryn to allow us to come join your newsletter for the afternoon, although I need to be off shortly for some…extracurricular activities my lovely fiancée, Roxy, has planned for us this evening.

Max: Sex swing?

Edward *blushing*: A Cavendish has no need for a sex swing.

Max: But I literally saw it when I was over your house for dinner last week.

Edward:……perhaps I have indulged in sexual activity in a swing made for adults.

Max *smirking*: Fiona and I almost had sex on a motorcycle once. *snaps fingers* Wait, I forgot. Then we did have sex on a motorcycle. My bad.

Edward *horrified yet intrigued*: While it was moving?

Max: Nah. But we’ll probably try it for our one year anniversary.

Edward: Dating a Quinn woman is a tricky and often death-defying experience.

Max: Wouldn’t have it any other way. And speaking of, should we tell everyone the surprise?

Edward: After you, mate.

Max: Not the Marrying Kind and Strictly Professional are coming to audio this year. Fiona was so excited she immediately made six spreadsheets just for fun and then went on a shopping spree at Office Depot.

Edward: Of course there are certain scenes I am quite interested in hearing. The, uh, time I first met Roxy at the tattoo parlor. Our extracurricular activities on the table after the board room meeting. Adopting Matilda, of course. There was also a time when Roxy snuck out of her childhood bedroom and into her parent’s garage to surprise me while wearing revealing pajamas.

Max: That fire escape scene would probably be pretty amazing to hear. Helping Pop before his date in Central Park. Seeing Fiona dancing to The Clash at The Red Room. A particularly memorable experience in a supply closet. Cooking her macaroni and cheese on our second date.

Edward: Good lord, is it just my imagination or are we bloody obsessed with our significant others?

Max *nodding*: Fucking definitely, bro. You told me the sweaty-palms-thing would never go away and it hasn’t. I gave her finger guns again and all she did was ask me if I wanted to go out for dinner.

Edward: Our lives will never be the same.

Max: Yeah. But they were pretty boring before Fiona and Roxy arrived, right?

Edward: It was like watching paint dry.

Max: And now its just sex swings and motorcycles. And spreadsheets. Like, honestly, so many spreadsheets.

I am literally freaking out over this news! You’re also going to hear Lou and Sandy, Elliott St. James, Mateo and Rafael. Pop (!!!!) and Angela! All the Red Room dancing and wedding-dress-shopping and rescue-dog-adopting and contract signing and sexy tattooing.

The amazing folks at Podium Audio will be producing both novels (they will be available on Audible and whisper-synced!) and as soon as we've chosen the narrators and pub dates, I promise you will be the first to know!

A Valentine's Day Treat!

A week ago, I wrote a cute and steamy F/F romance for Tell Me A Story – a 24-hour event in Lucy Score’s reader group, where readers help you craft a love story – choosing the names of your characters, the tropes, locations and other key details. Then they toss in a few hundred wildcard items to see how zany you can make it. Oh – and you have just 24 hours to write it.

Behold! Here is the love story that flowed from my fingers 24 hours later! To recap, HEAD OVER HEELS is an F/F romance about good girl Meadow and bad girl Stevie, with a touch of enemies-to-lovers snark, and a level 5 flame-rating (it’s what the readers requested!) It’s set in a roller skating rink and also a Blockbuster in 2002 on Valentine’s Day.

There are about ten different reader wildcards in there and one nod to NOT THE MARRYING KIND. Have fun spotting them!

Head Over Heels

What I'm reading

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho: This book was incredible and a must-read! I already loved his viral Youtube videos and this book is just as amazing. Highly recommend for continued learning on addressing (and dismantling) systemic racism and white supremacy - within ourselves, among our personal circles and within our broader world.

The Groom Will Keep His Name by Matt Ortile: This is an incredible collection of essays about a queer, immigrant experience in America - tackling the author’s Fillipino identity and heritage, racism, sex and queer expression, and what it means to have two homes an ocean apart. The essays are witty, funny, heart-breaking, educational and eye-opening. Totally recommend!

Morning in the Burned House by Margaret Atwood: I’m a huge fan of everything Margaret Atwood has ever written (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace…) but her poetry has always been a favorite. This collection is heart-achingly brilliant and one of my favorites.

A Map to the Next World by Joy Harjo: A former Poet Laureate, this collection of Joy Harjo’s poems and stories is incredible, moving, hypnotizing and inspirational.

I’m a huge fan of Alyssa Cole’s romances and have heard amazing things about her award-winning Loyal League books. I grabbed the first and the second in this series and I’m really looking forward to it. Click the picture for the Amazon page!

Blurb:

A former slave finds danger, intrigue, and passion undercover as a spy in first of this Civil War–era romance series from an award-winning author.

Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army.

Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton’s Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia.

Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy’s favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other. . .

Hidden Gems Bookclub!

Now for some exciting news from our amazing romance community!

The Hidden Gems Bookclub is a Facebook group run by Korrie Noelle, Kalie Phillips and Becca Hensley Mysoor that focuses on reading and amplifying BIPOC and POC authors and main characters from marginalized groups. So if you want a fun, virtual book club (and incredible weekly recommendations) I totally recommend joining. January's read was 'INTERCEPTED’ (by the amazing Alexa Martin).

And they just created a Facebook page here for even more recommendations! (click here!)

Korrie has also started a street team (KK's Street Team) with a committed group of bookstagrammers of various races, ethnicities and backgrounds that are spotlighting diverse love stories. KK's Street Team reviewed and spotlighted NOT THE MARRYING KIND when it released, and I was incredibly grateful for their support and kind words. (Click here to check out their page)

Sparks, bad boys and rock 'n roll

As Fiona would say: I think I’ve been hit by a hurricane of happiness!

This has been the best release ever, you guys. NOT THE MARRYING KIND hit #186 in the Amazon store the day after it came out, and has hung out in the mid-200s for this entire week.

And then I woke up this morning to Max and Fiona at #81 in the entire store (*squeals*) Plus with almost 100, truly incredible reviews. That is all of you — so thank you! Every tag, post, share, IG story, video, book edit and Facebook comment adds up and helps spread the word about romance novels in the best, most organic way.

But rank and reviews aren’t everything. I’ve loved all of the messages I’ve received about Max and Fiona’s vulnerability, flirty banter and hot chemistry; about the playlist and music, about Pop and Angela, Mateo and Rafael. And - of course - our re-visit with Edward, Roxy and the Hand Grenades.

Oh, and…let’s just say I got a lot of messages about the *motorcycle scene*. 

This week in my reader group, we had a blast talking about our favorite concerts of all time (click here), our favorite songs to put us in a good mood (here), our best band tee-shirts (here) and the concert merch we still have lying around (here). It has been just the best to re-live music memories, to feel nostalgic together for live music and the power of songs, and to laugh over our collections of ticket stubs.

So thank you from the bottom of my sparkly heart! I hope you’re able to chase some joy today.

All my love,

Kathryn

Not the Marrying Kind is now live!

My gift to you this Friday: NOT THE MARRYING KIND is live on Amazon and free in KU! Spend your weekend with a dirty-talking, cocky bad boy who falls hard for the Type A, marriage-obsessed good girl.

I poured my heart and soul into this steamy, opposites-attract romance. It’s sparkly and flirty, sexy and sweet, funny and romantic. Plus it’s got a heart-warming cast of side-characters and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

Enjoy your escape with Max and Fiona this weekend. I had butterflies while writing these two lovebirds. I hope they give you butterflies too…

I'm ready for Max and Fiona

Type A attorney Fiona Quinn has one goal left to accomplish before turning 30: A big, fairy-tale wedding. All she needs is a groom. So what if she’s never been in love—or even lust—before? She’s confident she can solve the problem the way she always does, with spreadsheets and an action plan.

When a family emergency brings bad boy Max Devlin swaggering back into town—with his cocky grin, tattoos, and wanderlust—Fiona has to remind herself that he’s as unsuitable as it gets. Nope. Not happening. No matter how irresistible his invitation is for a night or seven between the sheets. If she can’t tie him down—metaphorically, of course—her pants must stay on.

Max can’t remember the last time a woman turned him down. He’s a guaranteed three-orgasms good time, dammit. So what if he’s not the marrying kind? Those sweaty palms he gets when Fiona agrees to help him save his dad’s punk rock club are just an allergic reaction to her methodical march toward matrimony. Before he hits the road again, he’s going to prove to Fiona that life’s more fun when you play rather than plan.

No one gets hurt when it’s all just fun and games, right?

Author’s Note: A steamy, opposites attract standalone romance featuring a cocky bad boy (with a heart of gold) and a buttoned-up good girl (with a secret wild side). 1-click if you’re into dirty dancing, swoony first kisses and hot trysts in supply closets. This book comes with a guaranteed (and very romantic) Happily Ever After.

Photographer:  (c) Regina Wamba

Designer:  Kari March Designs

Three more days to go!

And against the backdrop of his plain black tee-shirt, his muscular arms were covered with tattoos that reached all the way to his knuckles. He looked like a modern-day rake, the kind of man that exists solely to lure women into the best kind of sin.

But it was his smile that had me tightening my hold on the window—a precaution against real-life swooning. A first for me, and not a sensation I’d ever expected to experience.

“Fair warning,” he said, voice like silk. “I’m no Prince Charming.”

“Excellent,” I replied. “I’m not the kind of princess who needs saving.”

A Very Codex Christmas

*Note: This short story contains spoilers for the Codex series, so avoid if you haven’t finished the series yet!

A VERY CODEX CHRISTMAS

 

SLOANE

   

    It was Christmas Eve in Philadelphia – and the Codex team was taking Humphrey and Reggie to the ice-skating rink. They were in town for the holidays visiting, in their words, “their favorite detectives in the whole bloody universe”. I’d managed to convince all of them to go out drinking after we put sharp metal on our feet, but only just barely.

     Shivering, I laced up my skates next to Henry, looking especially academic in his dark pea-coat and glasses.

“Is this where you and your family used to come every year?” I asked. Little white clouds formed in the air when we spoke.

He nodded with a smile, pointing up at City Hall, lit in white and blue lights. “We would skate here and get hot chocolate at that little Christmas village.” To our right was a collection of cozy-looking stands, decorated in twinkle lights and wreaths. “There’s an organ performance in the old Wanamaker building right there, and two floors up, something called Dickens’ Village.” His eyes brightened. “You walk through a demonstration of The Christmas Carol story, and as a kid, just the sight of it would have me over-the-moon about Christmas coming.”

When I raised my eyebrows at his admission, he shrugged with a sheepish grin. “I just loved opening up all the books I got under the tree.”

I laughed, immediately finding Abe in the crowd, listening to Humphrey tell him an extremely loud story with a familiar bemused expression.

“This is, well, my first Christmas I guess.” I finished lacing up my skates, avoiding looking at Henry’s too-kind eyes.

“I’m sure it wasn’t a priority for your parents,” he said, gently.

“No, it wasn’t.” I tugged my white hat down over my ears and blew on my fingers. When I stood on my skates, I wobbled. Delilah and Freya appeared by my side immediately, clutching my hands.

“How did you guys know I needed you?” I leaned on them both, testing out the blades.

“Girl code bat signal,” Freya said wisely. “And I need you both helping me to declare total and righteous victory over Sam on that rink tonight.”

“Wait, you two are turning it into a competition?” Delilah asked with mock surprise.

“I’m a fucking beast on the ice,” she replied. “And I need my stupid-hot-boyfriend to acknowledge my prowess so we can finally settle one of our many debates. Which is, of course, who’s the better ice skater.”

Out on the rink, former Special Agent Samuel Byrne was smoothly, and gracefully, skating backwards across the ice. He gave Freya a sarcastic-looking salute. “It’s me, by the way,” he called out to us. “I’m the better skater.”

“Wow, cheating already,” she yelled. She wobbled away from us, blowing two kisses, and then dancing out onto the ice with a surprising amount of skill.

“I’m guessing she’s been paying for private lessons preparing for this moment,” Delilah said.

“Oh definitely.”

Henry appeared to take Freya’s place, and then he and Delilah eased me out onto the ice without making fun of me once. Delilah skated back a foot, hands out to catch me.

“First time, right?”

“I’m guessing I’m a natural?” I said, brow arched.

“Absolutely,” they said in unison.

Delilah tugged me forward, holding my hand. Henry cheered as Sam and Freya flew past us, looking like Olympic ice skaters. Even when competing on the ice they looked like they belonged together.

“When I was growing up,” Delilah said, “we lived deep in the woods, and my dads used to turn our backyard into this winter wonderland for the holidays. String lights on all the fir trees. Snowmen building competitions. They built this little fire-pit so we could drink hot chocolate around a fire at night. And on Christmas Eve, my siblings and I always had a big slumber party in my room.” She spun around, skating backwards, tossing a pretty smile at Henry.

He chuckled with appreciation. “So…hand-to-hand combat skills and ice skating?”

She pursed her lips. “I’m a woman of many skills and talents, Dr. Finch.”

A light snow was starting to fall, making Delilah look like an ice angel. Henry certainly stared at her like she was. Two flashes of color roared by – Freya and Sam on their third lap.

“Drop me off at the side here,” I said. “You two go skate together. You look like a couple in a Hallmark movie.”

“Are you sure?” she said, eyes teasing.

“Yes, go, go.” I gave her a playful shove that almost sent me falling backwards. Henry took Delilah’s hand as they skated together – he bent to whisper something that made her blush. When I turned back around, I found myself face-to-face with just the elegantly dressed man I wanted to see. Abe Royal wore a black coat over his tailored suit, and not a salt-and-pepper hair was out of place.

“Ms. Argento,” Abe said, eyebrow arched.

I leaned against the ledge with a sly grin. “Abraham.”

He brushed the hair from my shoulders. “You look exceptionally beautiful with snow in your hair.”

My cheeks heated. I wrapped my hands in the lapels of his jacket and brought him in for a pretty steamy kiss for an ice-skating rink. “Thank you for that,” I whispered against his mouth. “And thank you for the two exquisite orgasms you provided earlier tonight.”

He dragged his nose through my hair, kissed my neck. “Always a pleasure,” he said softly. “Besides, after you bear witness to my distinct lack of skill on that rink, I’m concerned you’ll immediately lose any and all sexual attraction to me.”

“Not possible.”

His lips quirked at the ends. “I can successfully de-escalate a high-profile hostage situation but, alas, skating eludes me.”

Humphrey and Reggie appeared out of nowhere, looking jolly and cheerful in their winter garb. “The enchantress is a graceful swan in skates, naturally!”

“Why thank you,” I said, attempting a curtsy. “You make a handsome pair.”

Humphrey kissed the top of Reggie’s head. “Christmas makes happy fools of us both. It is, quite possibly, the most romantic time of the year.”

“It’s my first one,” I said. Abe cast his eyes at me. Shifting on my skates, I said, “When your parents are con artists, holidays aren’t really celebrated. And before I met Abe, I was,” I paused. “Alone.”

A month ago, I’d confessed to Abe how new this holiday was to me, and he’d carefully planned a dozen events – from light shows, to movies, to decorating our first tree. I hadn’t expected to feel so many conflicting emotions, nostalgic for memories that were never mine to begin with. Abe, of course, was helping me create new ones with him.

Humphrey nodded with a serious expression. “Well then, I’m extra happy your uncles are here for our first holiday together.”

I laughed and pretended there weren’t tears in my eyes. “Me too.”

He clapped a heavy hand on Abe’s shoulder. “We shall return with the instrument you’ll need to be a perfect specimen upon the ice.”

“I am simply over-joyed,” Abe said, casting a dry smile my way. Then he leaned in, kissed my cheek. “Happy first Christmas Eve, my charming, sticky-fingered girlfriend.”

I held up his wallet. “You really should keep this thing more secure, Mr. Royal.”

He snatched it from me but traded it for a hot kiss. The next second, Humphrey returned carrying…a penguin.

“No,” Abe said.

“Wait, what is that?” I asked.

Humphrey slid the door to the rink open and smoothly skated out, penguin in hand. It was about three feet high, made of plastic, and had two small handles on the side. I gazed around the rink – saw Henry and Delilah together, Freya and Sam laughing as they raced, and then…small children, tiny children, using those penguins to learn how to skate.

“Yes,” I said emphatically.

Reggie skated behind Humphrey with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face. “It’s the best way to learn, Abe.”

“That cannot possibly be true,” he said.

Humphrey held up the penguin. “Take heart, lad! We must attack the ice the way we must attack life! With vigor! With courage!”

“Take the fucking penguin,” I said, barely suppressing a laugh.

Abe looked at Humphrey, then back at me.

“Do it for me?” I pressed my hands together.

Mirth and affection flared in his eyes. With absolute care, he brushed his gloved hands down his jacket and straightened his buttons. Then he stood in the doorway and stared at the penguin with a look of contempt on his face.

Freya skated by, saw what was happening, and stopped so fast Sam had to dive around her.

“Oh my god, it’s not even my birthday,” she said.

Sam skated up with his best version of a serious look. “Nice choice, sir. The penguin will…serve you well.”

He almost made it without laughing.

Abe scowled at them. “If I could go back in time and give you both a failing grade, I would.”

“You wouldn’t though,” Freya said. “You’re a big softie.”

“What makes you think I’ve gone soft?” he said.

She indicated the tableau in front of her. “All of this.”

“Chin up,” Humphrey said. “Do you believe a man cannot learn a new skill? To humble oneself before the greats of this fine sport is a rare privilege, indeed.”

Freya propped her hands on her hips. “Yeah. What Humphrey fucking said.”

I had a hand over my mouth, stomach sore from laughing too hard.

With about as much dignity as a man has ever mustered, Abraham Royal – once a highly trained agent with the FBI – leaned down and gripped the tiny penguin, putting his weight onto it and sliding onto the ice. His feet went briefly wild before he steadied himself.

“Is this,” Abe said, jaw clenched, “what you meant when you said to be –” he wobbled, almost fell, “an unstoppable force of valiant passion?”

“Well what else could I have meant?” Humphrey bellowed. “The lights! The music! It’s Christmas Eve and the night is so very young!”

Henry and Delilah skated past. Did a double-take.

“Sir?” Henry asked.

“Go about your business,” Abe replied. He was cursing lightly beneath his breath.

Delilah held up her phone. “Filming this for the next time we spar and you incorrectly claim that you’ve won.”

“I’ve never lost,” he replied.

“Not true, Delilah’s better at fighting than you,” Freya sang as she skated past.

I held up a finger. “I believe I’m better at fighting as well.”

“True,” they said in unison.

Henry stood on his skates, laughing so hard he had to hold Delilah’s shoulder to stay upright. “Sir, was this one of the courses you taught at the FBI Training Academy?”

“A man makes himself utterly vulnerable before some of the keenest investigative minds imaginable and they make a mockery of him,” Abe called over his shoulder.

“We wouldn’t have to mock you, sir, if you didn’t lie about going to London on vacation when really you were secretly hunting a criminal mastermind and we had to go rescue you,” Sam called back.

 Delilah appeared behind me, pushing me ahead of her. “Go get Abe before he dies of shame,” she said. With a shove, I flew towards Abe, arms flying, and he managed to catch me before we both fell against the side. I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face. He held me against his chest, hand on the back of my head.

“Something amuses you, Sloane?”

“The fucking penguin.”

His chest rumbled with laughter, and when I finally looked up, he was smiling as big as the moon above us. “Was I dashing and handsome?”

“You were adorable, and I love you,” I said. He dipped his head down, kissed the tip of my nose.

“Was that a good memory for your first Christmas?” he asked, eyes holding mine.

“It was perfect,” I replied.

With a secret smile, I tugged him back onto the ice, penguin discard. We made a slow, clumsy circle around the rink, holding hands. Almost falling. Laughing the whole time.

Humphrey twirled with a happy Reggie. “No more penguin, Mr. Royal?”

Abe shook his head. “I have…humbled myself enough for one evening. And Sloane has taken great pity on my lack of skill.”

“A lucky lad indeed,” Humphrey boomed, stroking his red beard. “In life, we must search for those who eagerly catch us when we fall.” He looked at me and winked. “That’s what family is all about.”

Henry and Delilah slid past. “Merry first Christmas, Sloane,” they said.

Sam and Freya skated past us, both going backwards, arms wobbling as they held their balance. “Merry…Byrne watch out…first Christmas, Sloane!” Freya cheered.

My heart grew three sizes, like that cartoon Abe had shown me just the other night. It was true – on this rink, with my found family spinning around us, surrounded by lights – that all I’d ever wanted in my entire life was this. To find love, to find a family, to make a home.

I turned to the man who made this all possible. Snow was landing in his hair and on his jacket. He cupped my face. “I love you so much,” he said. “Let’s keep making memories.”

“With the penguin, or no?” I asked.

He pressed a kiss to the back of my hand. “For you? Anything.”

What a gift, indeed.

 

THE END

 

© Kathryn Nolan

 

 

             

Calling all bloggers and bookstagrammers!

Hey there!

If you are a blogger or bookstagrammer, and you're interested in helping to promote NOT THE MARRYING KIND please email Rick at rick@twsspub.com!

In the email, please include what you're interested in helping with (reviewing, promotion or both) as well as your blog and/or Instagram links and Amazon profile.

Thank you so much for all that you do!

xoxo

Kathryn