Sarah MacLean's Blog, page 20

Gayle Callen's Ten Steps to Procuring an Engagement!

[image error] I'm so excited to host Gayle Callen here on the blog as part of the release month celebration of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord  and to talk about her most recent release, A Most Scandalous Engagement ! The book is the second in a series...and I love the premise...three friends decide to break into a men's club and steal a nude painting...and get caught!

Who can't get behind that idea?

Gayle has given us a little taste of the new book with the following Ten Steps to Procuring an Engagement!

Welcome, Gayle!

1. Set your sights on your best friend's brother, a man you've worshipped from afar your whole life. He hasn't noticed you, only because he thought you were too young for him and he wasn't ready to settle down. Ignore the fact that he doesn't seem to like the same
things you do. He's perfect.

2. Never dress in boy's clothes with your female cousins and attempt to steal a nude painting off the wall at a gentlemen's club—you might be caught.

3. This scandalous night might only get worse: a drunken wager among three men about which of you is the model! Lie through your teeth—each of you should pretend to be the model, loyalty and sisterhood and all that.

4. But if those men do wager over you—and one of them is Peter Derby, the friend who rescued you from childhood scrapes—promise him the truth about the painting if he'll pretend to be your fiancé.

5. A fake fiancé will help you secure the interest of the man you've really chosen—this man will see that he's almost lost you!

6. And a fake fiancé will also stop another man from blackmailing you into marriage over that blasted painting, not the sort of engagement you mean to procure.

7. Once your childhood friend is pretending to be your fiancé, try to keep him at a distance, ignoring the heated way he's suddenly looking at you, and how you never noticed how very…intriguing he can be, or how much you admire the way he's made his own fortune rather than inheriting it. Remind him that there's another man you're supposed to marry, and deliberately misunderstand the challenge in his eyes. He's just teasing you.

8. When he sneaks into your bedroom trying to prove you're the nude model, ignore how very excited his presence makes you, how boy-next-door Peter has begun to inspire recklessness and yearning. Try to remember the name of the other man you should marry.

9. Remind yourself that pretending to be Peter's fiancée in public, accepting his touches and attentions and smoldering looks, should never carry over when you're alone in a dark carriage, and he's offering to show you just how to seduce a man—that other man, the one you should be focusing on.

10. When a villain threatens you, and life gets crazy, and you find yourself turning to Peter, perhaps you should rethink your strategy to procure a real engagement.

So yummy!

Gayle is generously offering up a copy of A Most Scandalous Engagement to one lucky commenter! In honor of engagements, tell us your favorite engagement story...either real, fictional, or one of those fabulous youtube videos (you know the ones I mean)! We'll choose a winner on Friday... **Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this and next month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Kate Noble's Ten Love Scenes that Make Your Heart Melt

I think Kate Noble is the cat's pajamas. There, I said it. I won't take it back. She's fun and funny and when I met her in NYC at Lady Jane's Salon, she proved to be one heckuva reader. And then I read The Summer of You and Oh. Em. Gee. Can that girl write. Wounded hero, awesome heroine, country house, lake, yes, please.

So, I'm particularly happy that Kate is here today as part of release excitement for Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord...and it doesn't hurt that she's talking about great love scenes...who doesn't love that?!?
Welcome, Kate!

Ten Love Scenes that Make Your Heart Melt

Don't you just love a good love scene?

I'm not talking about sex scenes, although those are represented -- I'm talking LOVE scenes. Scenes where that most frightening, exciting of emotions is expressed, and you just have to hold your breath for a moment, and wait and pray and hope for the feeling to be returned in kind. They can be from Books, movies, TV, heck, even commercials. It was REALLY hard to narrow this list down to ten. Be advised: Here be spoilers, as well.

1. Anne Elliot receives a letter. 

Persuasion is the most romantic of Jane Austen's works, and Anne Elliot, her most romantic character. (Austen's description of Anne: "She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequence of an unnatural beginning.") 

Captain Wentworth came back into Anne Elliot's life after a decade, reminding her of the 'what if's of the choices of her youth. Throughout the book, we see them come closer and move away from each other, like a wave upon the shore. Finally, when he overhears her defending women's constancy against the forces of time, he is compelled to speak. But can't. Because they are in a room full of people. So he takes a piece of paper, and writes her a letter, saying that his poor male heart had been constant to her. When she reads it… oh, when she reads it… 

2. Jordan Catalano takes Angela Chase's hand in the hallway. (My So-Called Life "Self-Esteem") 

Secretly making out in the boiler room is all hot and sexy, but there comes a where a teenage girl realizes she has to be acknowledged by the guy outside of said boiler room. Where he has to declare to the world – or the entire high school – that she is with him. Angela Chase had given up on Jordan Catalano. but after a moment of realization in English class (which, lets remember, was not Mr. Catalano's best subject) Jordan comes up to Angela in the hallway, and takes her hand. Oh, just watch the clip. (Note: this scene is brought to you by my teenage wardrobe of plaid, plaid, and more plaid.) 

3. Anthony Stewart-Head meets his neighbor over coffee. 

Love scenes need not be confined to straight fiction. As Don Draper tells us, some of the best story telling is done in advertising. And these turn-of-the-90s Nescafe ads (the American version -- and yes they did air over here – were called Taster's Choice) do it right. They build on each other, pulling a love story out of a freaking-instant coffee. Before Tony Head was Giles, he was the coffee starved neighbor of beautiful Sharon Maughan, and each commercial was like an episode, or a chapter, and each time the sexual chemistry built, and built, until finally… they kiss. And believe it or not, that kiss was front-page news in England. 

4. Viola and Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, telling the story of their lives. 

One of my favorite romantic movies does not have a happy ending. Shakespeare in Love gives the drama of Romeo and Juliet a source, making it the on-stage version of the romance between Shakespeare himself and a young noblewoman named Viola. She loves the theater, girls aren't allowed to act on stage, contrived events throw them both on stage, during the premiere performance of Romeo and Juliet.  But the thrill of being onstage, playing these fantastic parts is undercut by the sorrow that they know this is the last time they will be allowed to see each other. It's painful and beautiful and wonderful to watch. 

5. Heath Ledger finds his old shirt. 

In Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal play Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, cowboys who become lovers, but keep it secret from their families and society for the whole of their lives. Once Jack has died, Ennis visits with Jack's parents, and he breaks down when he finds his old shirt hanging inside one of Jack's old shirts, a memento from the start of their relationship. 

6. Princess Ann loves Rome 

Audrey Hepburn's first film, and she gets to play a princess. A terribly sheltered one, who, on a diplomatic tour of Europe, decides to skip out on her responsibilities for a while and go on a Roman Holiday. And hey, if you met Gregory Peck, wouldn't you take time off from your real life too? 

But come the end, she has to go back to being a princess, but she breaks diplomatic protocol and declares that out of all the places she visited, Rome was her favorite. 

7. Pacey remembers everything. 

One of the better inventions of the mid-90s, was Dawson's Creek's Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson). And one of the better things they did with the character (lest we forget that awful season one Sleeping-with-the-Teacher storyline which is just creepy now) is they made him fall for Joey Potter (Mrs. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes). But alas – they couldn't be together, because according to Dawson, he and Joey were Meant To Be. (Hey, its his show…) But the chemistry between Pacey and Joey spoke otherwise. Joey was never less annoying and Pacey was never more heart-stopping than when they were close but couldn't be more, as typified in this scene at the Anti-Prom, where Pacey told Joey, "I remember everything". 

8. Gen and Carmen find themselves lying on the grass. 

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is not, from the outside, a romantic novel. It is about a formal party in a South American country that is taken hostage by guerrilla fighters. For six months. Gen, the translator for a Japanese ambassador, and Carmen, the lone young woman amongst the guerrilla fighters, become friends, as she wishes for him to teach her to read. They fall in love so easily. Told mostly from Gen's perspective, and as if a memory, one night, they find themselves in the back yard, steps away from the road and freedom. They could run away from this horrible situation… but they stay. They spend the evening on the grass… and in each other's arms. 

9. Jim kisses Pam! Jim kisses Pam! (The Office, "Casino Night") 

It seems forever ago, but there was a time when Jim wasn't with Pam. In fact, Pam was with Roy. And Jim's love went unrequited and unnoticed by Pam -- until he got up the gumption to tell her how he felt in a terribly heartbreaking scene, as he's shot down with the most painful, "I… can't" from Pam. (Seriously, John Krasinski cries, thus cementing my crush upon him.) And that's the scene that would have made this list if Jim hadn't, at the very end of the episode, found Pam alone in the office, talking on the phone, and wordlessly come up to her and kissed her. AND THEN LEFT US HANGING FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER. 

10. Rhett, Scarlett, and the Staircase 

In Gone with the Wind, this is the moment that Rhett finally, finally loses control, and gives into his impulses regarding Scarlett. And the morning after, Scarlett doesn't seem to mind. (FYI, the movie is pretty faithful to the book in this scene.)

Love this list!!!

Did I tell you Kate was fab or WHAT?! Ok. What did she miss? Name the best love scene (book, tv, commercial or film) in comments for a chance to win a signed copy of Kate's The Summer of You (which is totally awesome)! We'll choose a winner on Wednesday...and don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Lila DiPasqua's Ten Reasons to Try Fiery Tales!

Today, Lila DiPasqua is here on the blog, talking about her super sexy "Fiery Tales" series--collections of fairy tale-inspired novellas! Lila's Awakened By a Kiss and The Princess in His Bed are historical hotness at its finest! Thanks for coming over to celebrate the release of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord, Lila!


When I landed a contract with Penguin Berkley to write fairy tale retellings with my own sexy twists I was over the moon! I took my love of fairy tales, historical romance and passionate love stories, and blended them into steamy fairy tale retellings in Awakened By A Kiss and my newest release, The Princess In His Bed—the first two books in my Fiery Tales series!


Now, I know what you're thinking: I grew up reading fairy tales, Lila. Will I like your version of Fiery Tales?

Here are ten reasons why I think you just might:

1. There are three hot historical bad boys who will seduce the objects of their desires in each book. Repeatedly. *winks*

2. There are three smart heroines who will make these gorgeous men lose their hearts.

3. In The Marquis' New Clothes, (from THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED) the hero does not walk down the street naked while people snicker.

4. When our hero, Adam de Vey is naked, he's quite impressive to behold. There is nothing on his muscled body to snicker at.

5. If you've been in a fire and have scars on your body, (Emilie from The Lovely Ducking in THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED) spike the hero's interest by boldly writing him letters asking him to explain sex and seduction.

6. Princess Gabrielle can't sleep at night. (The Princess and the Diamonds from THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED) There is something hard in her bed. Not just the stolen diamonds tucked under her mattress, but the handsome Marquis on it. No peas stuffed under this Princess's mattress!

7. Sleeping Beauty has the tables turned on him in Sleeping Beau when he is awakened by a luscious kiss. (in AWAKENED BY A KISS)

8. Nicknamed "Le Loup" the wolf, Nicolas is indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing as he secretly works for the Crown. (Little Red Writing from AWAKENED BY A KISS) He never expected that his suspect would turn out to be his sexual soul mate.

9. Elisabeth (Bewitching in Boots from AWAKENED BY A KISS) is the King's favorite daughter and a woman used to getting what she wants. And she wants the Captain of the King's private Guard, tall, dark and oh so handsome, Tristan. The problem is, he hates her. She intends to rely on wit,
seduction…oh and her lucky boots in order to have him!

10. These books are set in the very decadent, elegant and most wicked time when the genre of fairy tales was born! Dare to step into my Fiery Tales world? You just may be swept up…and scandalized.

*smiles*


Thanks for having me, Sarah!

Yum! You can read excerpts from The Princess in His Bed and Awakened By A Kiss at Lila's website!

And one lucky commenter will win a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS or THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED---winner's choice! To enter, comment below with your favorite fairy tale! We'll choose a winner on Wednesday, just in time for US Thanksgiving! **Don't forget to leave your email so we can get in touch with you!

Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Toni Blake's Ten Ways to Celebrate Your Inner Shoe Lover

[image error] Today, I turn the blog over to Toni Blake, who was the first Avon author to welcome me to the Avon fold...and definitely one of the nicest! Something you should know about Toni, besides the fact that she writes fabulous small town romances set in Destiny, Ohio (the first, One Reckless Summer , is one of my very favorites and the next, Whisper Falls , is out December 28th!), is that she is the best bargain hunter I have ever met.  She could competitively bargain hunt.  She's like the Teddy Roosevelt of bargain hunting (but way hotter).  Seriously. And, she always always ALWAYS looks amazing. I'm not sure she's real, honestly.

I'm so happy to host Toni here as part of the release celebration for  Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord ...in no small part because she is going to talk about one of my very favorite things: Shoes.

Welcome, Toni!


Normally, when invited to visit someone's blog, I would talk about my quaint, small town Destiny series, or the next book in the series, Whisper Falls (coming to a bookstore near you on December 28, just in time to wash away those post holiday blahs). But on this particular occasion, I've decided to go in a different direction. I decided to make this about … shoes! After all, most of us like shoes, yes? And we all gotta wear 'em, so why not enjoy 'em?

I'll also point out that as sweet and heartwarming and genuine as the heroines of my Destiny books are, they also appreciate a good pair of shoes and would probably like having these in their closets.

Ten Ways to Celebrate the Shoe Lover in Me
(Note: These shoes appear in no particular order)

1. My lime green wedges (right) are the perfect summer confection – plus I have a dress that goes with them that would do any Destiny garden party proud.

2. My silver Born flower flip flops (left) are tres comfy and just super fun to wear. It's like a party on top of my feet. And I also have them in black – for more sophisticated flip flop occasions, you know.

3. Love my black boots (below). They're almost enough to make me appreciate cold weather. And I suspect Rachel from Sugar Creek owns a pair just like them, 'cause she's that kinda chick.

 

4. My leopard print slip-ons (left) are probably my absolute fave shoes. I'm a leopard print loving girl, and these are totally comfortable for long periods – so … both fashionable and practical. What more could I want from a shoe? Oh, and these shoes might have made a guest appearance in my book, Letters to a Secret Lover.

5. Okay, I'm not gonna lie to ya – these shoes (right) hurt my feet. Bad. So bad I can't wear them. I wore them once, though, to a cocktail party thrown by my publisher, Avon/HarperCollins, and they were all the rage – and they even have tiny little black sequins sprinkled over the toes that you can't see in this picture. Anyway, they're gorgeous, but just too tight. And sadly, they were quite expensive. So I'd probably be willing to auction them off to the highest bidder who's a size 8 (or maybe 7 ½ more realistically.)

6. These replaced (left) Shoe #5. Not quite as fabulous, but totally cute and flowery, and much more comfortable. And did I mention the flowers are sort of velvety?

7. Simple comfortable slip-ons, of which I clearly own many – the charm of these is that they're hot pink (right). My only regret is that they don't look nearly as pink and cute in this picture as they are in real life. These would so fit the typical Destiny wardrobe.

8. These pretty strappy black heels (below) served me well at the last couple of writing conferences I attended. Not 100% comfortable, but I'm willing to suffer … to a degree.

9. I used to have carmel brown boots, but one of them kind of fell apart. So when I went shopping to replace them, I decided chocolate brown (right) would be more useful and am happy with that decision thus far. 

10. The tops of these flip flops (below) are dragonflies. Adorable, yes? Enough said.

So there you have it – ten of my favorite pairs of shoes. Hey, maybe next time we'll do purses! But only if Sarah's next book title has a much larger number in it, like maybe twenty or something. ;) For now, though, chime in on shoes. Tell us about your fave pair. How much are you willing to suffer in an uncomfortable pair of shoes? Or hey, put your bid in on my tight but fabulous open-toed pumps!


And after that, I do hope you'll check out my sexy, heartwarming, and humorous Destiny series. You can learn more about it at www.ToniBlake.com, and remember, Book 3 in the series, WHISPER FALLS, comes out very soon. The book's hero, Lucky Romo, is the baddest bad boy I've ever written, and the heroine, Tessa, would totally wear my silver flip flops!

Best. Blog post. Ever.

I told you Toni was a fashionista!


Two lucky commenters will win!  The first, a copy of Sugar Creek , and the other, an e-ARC of Whisper Falls!  **Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!
Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Anna Campbell's Ten Matters to Be Mulled by Moonlight When Making Midnight

Today, I turn the blog over to the fabulously talented, incredibly funny, wonderful Anna Campbell, who I always knew I'd like...and then LOVED when I finally met her!  I'm only happy that Anna lives all the way in Australia, because if she lived in New York, I'd never get any work done for hanging out with her! 

Welcome, Anna!

Sarah, huge congratulations on the release of your second Avon historical romance, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord! And thank you for having me back for your latest blog party. I had a ball last year – in fact, I still have the tattoos to prove it!

I'm right in the middle of releases. In fact, as in the middle as you can be! My last release in late May was My Reckless Surrender and my next release isn't until late April 2011. But does that daunt me from coming up with something to blog about? Can Sarah count to ten? And hopefully ELEVEN!

My next release is called Midnight's Wild Passion (yeah, over the top but definitely grabs the attention!). It's the closest I've ever come to writing a classic Regency romance. Here's the blurb:

London's most notorious seducer, Nicholas Challoner lives solely for revenge…

The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister—now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas's vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe's unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue—banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie—Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is, and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes…

I thought I'd talk about ten things that inspired this story. Believe me, it will make much more sense next May! Well, at least I HOPE so!

1. Theme song! A lot of writers make a soundtrack for their books. I tend to just have the radio on a classical music station. But for MWP, I fell in love with a song by English band Muse called Undisclosed Desires. It absolutely describes the developing relationship between the hero and the heroine, especially these lyrics:

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart,
I want to recognize your beauty`s not just a mask,
I want to exorcise the demons from your past,
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart…

Here's a link to the video. It's rather cool, although I'm not convinced by the girl jumping around in scraps from her granny's knitting basket. 

2. The irresistible force and the immovable object romance.

3. How nice it was to dress my characters up and send them to parties – sadly my heroine is in disguise so her dressing up is mostly drab. But she does get a few moments to play Cinderella.

4. Which leads me to mulled wine…uh, point I'm mulling over number four. This is my first Cinderella romance!

5. Actually the REAL fairytale inspiration for this story is a much more obscure fairytale that I remember from my childhood. It's called Cat Skin – hmm, perhaps they should have called it Midnight's Wild Cats and it would be better known!  

6. How fond I am of heroines with secret identities! I only realized this with my last book, but every single one of my heroines hides her identity for at least part of the book.

7. A big part of mulling over a book (and one where the author TRULY suffers!) is finding a physical inspiration to match the hero she has in her head. This was the closest I came to rakish Nicholas – he's my first blond hero!

8. And this is the photo for Diana, the very beautiful Alison Doody, who as a bit of trivia starred in a couple of the Barbara Cartland adaptations in the 1970s. Clearly she's used to being a romance heroine! Actually now I think of it, Marcus Gilbert, my Nicholas model, was in some BCs back then too!

9. Cherry trees. Cherry trees feature strongly in this story. Hey, shoot me, I LOVE cherry trees. Hmm, shootings feature too…

10. And so forth! There is much to mull over when you master Midnight!

Thanks so much, Anna!  I love having you...and I'm so so excited to finally be official pub-sisters with you in May! Eleven and Midnight will be out together! Yay!
So what's your favorite classic Regency romance? You can give us TEN if you want! I'll choose one commenter on Friday to receive a signed copy of My Reckless Surrender, the book I was NOT talking about today, LOL!


**Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Melissa Walker's Ten Ways to Entertain Yourself, Pop Culture Style

There are some very cool things about Melissa Walker, namely: she's super fun, she writes great books, and she lives around the corner from me. This results in an electric combination that usually makes for a fabulous 6pm writing break in our favorite restaurant on the block...during which we right the wrongs of the world over wine and these little tartine thingies that make me oh, so, happy.

So, of course, when I decided to host a celebration here for the release of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord, I asked Melissa to come over and celebrate with me! And I'm so so happy that she did, because I love Melissa's doses of Pop Culture awesome (she finds the coolest stuff!)...and now you're getting one (to get them more regularly, read her newsletter I Heart Daily, or sign up for daily emails from the I Heart Daily team!)

Ten Ways to Entertain Yourself, Pop Culture Style

1. Caitlynn and Tyler on MTV's Teen Mom. I swoon for this couple of stellar teenagers who have more heart that most adults I know. Watch!

2. http://imremembering.com/. Just go.

3. Kermit puppets do "Under Pressure."




4. The Twilight hand model carries an apple in her purse to pose for photos. Not kidding.

5. Stop and draw the flowers. It's worth your time.

6. New favorite twitter follow: @kanyejordan (adds "Liz Lemon" to the front of Kanye West's tweets and makes it sound Tracy Jordan-esque). Ha!

7. The Goonies 25th Anniversary DVD. "Goonies never say die!"

8. Fashion + a daily cast of Nerd Boyfriends = Love.

9. Ann M. Martin writes a prequel to The Babysitter's Club series—genius!

10. Back to the Future 25th Anniversary trilogy DVD set. (Was 1985 a good year for movies or what?!)

Thanks for coming over to hang out, Melissa!

Melissa is the author of the Violet books ( Violet on the Runway , Violet in Private and Violet By Design ) and Lovestruck Summer , and her next book (which I have read and is AMAZING), Small Town Sinners , is out in the Summer!

I've got a copy of Lovestruck Summer here for one lucky winner! Recommend one thing from our pop-culture annals to Melissa and me, and we'll choose a winner on Wednesday to win the book! **Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Debra Mullins's Ten Decades of Hollywood Heroes!

I'm so happy to host the wonderful Debra Mullins today on the blog as part of the celebration of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord! The first book in Debra's Brides of Nevarton Chase series, Tempting a Proper Lady , is out now, and the next, Too Wicked to Love, is out in June!

I'm particularly excited because she is going to talk about one of my favorite topics--Hollywood Hotties...and because obviously Debra and I are kindred spirits...as her list includes several of my go-to dreamboats!

This is such a fun post...I'm so happy to share it with you!

Ten Decades of Hollywood Heroes
By Debra Mullins

I was always compelled to write, but what I chose to write—romance novels—was directly influenced by the movies I watched growing up. The hero always got to me, how he managed to do his duty while still falling head over heels for the heroine. So here is my list of Hollywood heroes over the past ten decades. Now, this isn't the list, just my list, so feel free to add your own suggestions as we go!


Since we're starting off in the twenties, I think this quote from Rudolph Valentino sums up how women feel not only about romantic leads on the silver screen, but also about heroes in romance novels:


"Women are not in love with me but with the picture of me on the screen. I am merely the canvas on which women paint their dreams." --Rudolph Valentino

1920-1930 – Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino. Dashing Douglas Fairbanks did all my favorite films: Robin Hood, The Thief of Baghdad and The Mark of Zorro. To this day I love heroes with secret identities. Rudolph Valentino, dubbed the original Latin Lover, made a splash in movies like The Sheik and Son of the Sheik. His death at age 31 spurred one of the first female mass hysterias for a pop icon.

1930-1940 –Errol Flynn. Errol Flynn stole my heart with swashbuckling romance in movies like The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Adventures of Don Juan and Captain Blood.

1940-1950 – Tyrone Power. Tyrone Power continued the swashbuckling tradition in movies like The Mark of Zorro and The Black Swan. (You can blame him and Errol Flynn for my first book, Once A Mistress .)

1950-1960 – John Wayne. My favorite movie of all time is The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, filmed in Ireland. What a wonderful romance against a stunning backdrop!

1960-1970 – Sir Sean Connery. From 007 to Highlander to The Rock to Entrapment, Sean has got "it"—that elusive charisma that keeps women coming back for more. He could film a denture commercial with that accent and have women running to the store to buy some.

1970-1980 –Frank Langella and Christopher Reeve. Another actor who did a terrific job as the lead role in the 1974 remake of The Mark of Zorro is Frank Langella, just before he kicked off the vampire craze a couple of decades early with his sensuous performance in 1979's Dracula. And Christopher Reeve as Superman and then later in Somewhere In Time …wow, those eyes.

1980-1990 – Harrison Ford, Cary Elwes and Patrick Swayze. Harrison Ford stole my heart in 1977 as Han Solo, but the bulk of his work falls into the 1980's as he switched off between Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Cary Elwes charmed as Wesley in The Princess Bride. I loved the way he loved Buttercup and how he would allow nothing, not even death, keep them apart. And Patrick Swayze? Again, I love an alpha male who can dance. Dirty Dancing, Road House and Ghost: Patrick had it all.

1990-2000 – Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp. I love the way Antonio Banderas moves in Desperado, and I'm a sucker for any man who can pull off Zorro with flair. And that accent—delicious. (I'm such a sucker for Latin men.) And I've been a fan of Johnny Depp since he first appeared in the TV series 21 Jump Street. Loved him in the camp classic Cry-Baby and of course, as the Irish rogue Roux in Chocolat. He also makes a heck of a pirate!

2000-2010 – Hugh Jackman and Jim Caviezel. Hugh Jackman won me over as Wolverine in the X-Men movies, and his poster on my wall inspired a few of my darker heroes. (I also had the opportunity to see him on Broadway in The Boy From Oz. Again—an alpha male who can dance and sing!) Jim Caviezel stole my breath as Edmond Dantes in the remake of The Count of Monte Cristo, also inspiring for an hero or two.

2010 forward - Robert Downey, Jr. Robert Downey, Jr. makes be believe in heroes, not only because of his terrific work in Ironman and Ironman 2 but also because of his triumphs in his personal battles. Loved him in Sherlock Holmes as well, and I can't wait for the sequel!

That's my list. Tell me, who's on yours?

I love this list!  I'm also a sucker for Tyrone Power, Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas and RDJ...but I was sad to see that my Marlon Brando didn't make the list, Debra! What about you, readers?

Debra has generously offered a signed copy of her most recent release, Tempting A Proper Lady ! Tell us who is on your list of Hollywood Heroes (from any decade) for a chance to win on Monday! **Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this and next month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Lorraine Heath's Ten Ways To Woo Your Husband

When I started writing for Avon, I would call my sister, who is largely responsible for my love of romance novels, and squee whenever I met one of our favorite writers.

When I met Lorraine Heath, there was much squeeing.  Much. Much. Squeeing.  She's fabulous. Her books are fabulous ( In Bed With The Devil and Between the Devil and Desire have permanent places on my keeper shelf and my bedside table). And I still pinch myself every time I see my name near hers on Avon lists or, say the RT Historical Romance of the Year List!

This month, I'm so excited, because Avon is releasing not one but two Lorraine Heath novels!  The first, Passions of a Wicked Earl is out now, and the next, Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman is out at the end of the month and I. Can't. Wait!

Passions of a Wicked Earl is the story of a young bride who makes a mistake, and ultimately has to do everything she can to win back her husband.

Lorraine has given us a little taste of the awesome inside this book with the following Ten Ways to Woo Your Husband!

1. Don't remain at the country estate where he has exiled you. 

2. When having your portrait done with him, wear something provocative so he can't take his eyes off you. 

3. Constantly rearrange the furniture in the middle of the night, when the servants are already abed, so he is forced to assist you if wishes to find any peace so he can sleep. 

4. At the ball, dance with a handsome duke to make your husband jealous. (Make sure, however, that the duke is your ally and wants to taunt his brother into claiming you as his wife.) 

5. Hint that you have a ticklish spot, then dash away with a laugh that dares him to try to find it. 

6. Toss whiskey on him. When he returns the insult, invite him to sip the whiskey from your skin. 

7. Brazenly ask him to kiss you. 

8. Don't be afraid to let him know that you yearn for his touch. 

9. Get him a dog. 

10. Fill his boring, staid life with laughter and love.

*sigh*

I love. These rules.

I have one copy of Passions of a Wicked Earl to give away! Tell us the way you wooed your love or, if you haven't wooed a love yet, tell us the trick you've got up your sleeve to woo him when he shows up! We'll choose a winner on Friday... **Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this and next month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Pamela Palmer's Ten Ways to Recognize a Feral Warrior Shapeshifter

A confession.  Before Pamela Palmer, I'd never read a shapeshifter romance. I know, I know, it's devastatingly shocking...and frankly I shouldn't be so quick to admit it in mixed company, but you'll be happy to know that once I read Desire Untamed , I couldn't stop myself...and in the ensuing year, I have done my very best to make up for lost time because Oh. Em. Gee...they are good.

And now, I can't stop myself.

Pamela Palmer has made me a shapeshifter addict. Like, I might need a 12-step program, seriously.

I'm so so so thrilled that Pamela was willing to take time out of her crazy schedule of writing more of these books (the next...Hunger Untamed, about Kougar...is out February 22nd! Yummy cover here!) to help celebrate the launch of Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord with her:

Ten Ways to Recognize a Feral Warrior Shapeshifter

1. He's big (at least 6'6"), thoroughly ripped, and gorgeous. A beautiful male specimen.

2. He's not alone, and his friends are every bit as big and buff.

3. He walks like the predatory animal he is.

4. Around one thick biceps, he wears a golden armband with the head of the animal he shifts into.

5. Somewhere on his body, if you're lucky enough to see them, are a set of permanent claw marks that first appeared when he was marked by the animal spirit to be the next (and only) shifter in his animal line.

6. He's aggressive, a true warrior, and likely to be fighting draden (which you can't see), Mage (which you can unless you've been enthralled by one) or each other (just for the fun of it).

7. If he's in fighting mode, he's likely gone feral, meaning he no longer looks quite human with the fangs that have dropped from his gums, the claws that have sprouted from his fingertips, and the animal eyes now staring at his opponent. Or you.

8. If you happen to watch him get injured, look closely and you'll see the injury heal miraculously fast. The man is immortal.

9. He disappears in a shower of sparkling lights. And where he stood now prowls a magnificent creature—perhaps a lion or wolf or panther.

10. You see him watching you with a fierce and sexy look in his eye that promises he'll take you to paradise, he'll protect you with his immortal life. And he'll never let you go.

*sigh*

Did I not say that these Feral Warriors were addictive? I mean, please. Are you surprised after all these traits? Pam has offered a signed copy of Rapture Untamed, about my favorite of the Warriors, Jag, to one commenter!  Last time Pam was here, we had commenters choose the most unlikely shape shifter (I believe the were-turtle won!) This time, tell us what animal you most enjoy (or you'd most like to see) in a shape shifter romance! We'll choose one commenter at random on Monday to win Pam's book!

**Don't forget to share your email address with us so we can reach you if you win!

Stay tuned all this and next month for fabulous prizes and awesome Ten Ways posts from an incredible range of authors! And don't forget to read more Authors Rule(s)!

Ten Things I'm Thinking About Today...

I don't usually do such random posts...but there are a bunch of things that are in my head today...so bear with me!

1) Election Day. Anyone who has been reading the blog for any length of time knows I'm a big nerd about Election Day.  I love voting.  It gives me a fabulous, warm, fuzzy feeling.  Don't believe me? Go try it yourself...and while you're pulling that lever, ticking that box, punching that chad, don't forget that there are millions around the globe who don't have such a privilege. (There are already 6 million people on Facebook who voted today! Amazing!)



2) Halloween. I know it's late.  But it's never too late to coo over this photo of a baby dressed as a chicken. Seriously. Cuteness overload.

3) It Gets Better. I've been talking about this on Facebook and Twitter since Dan Savage started his YouTube campaign against bullying.  The videos are super duper powerful and worth spending some time watching. My favorite so far is this one, featuring the LA Gay Men's Chorus and their friends and family. I defy you not to tear up.



4) A week since release date!  I'm so so happy to say that Ten Ways has officially been in the world for a full seven days...thanks to all of you who have purchased the book...I hope it's treating you well! Smart Bitches, Trashy Books is talking about the dialogue in the book today, and if you head over to B&N.com, you can learn all about the fabulous Ricky Mujica (cover artist) and how the cover came to be thanks to Melissa Walker!

5) Prosciutto. My husband turned 35 this week and as a gift, he received a literal haunch of prosciutto from my father (he's Italian. There is no better gift than cured meat). There are only two of us in this house and, like, four pounds of prosciutto. So if you have a recipe that involves prosciutto, lay it on me in comments. I could use it.

6) The fabulous Anna Campbell is hosting me on the amazing Romance Bandits blog...I'm kind of blown away by all the comments...and I'm convinced that it has something to do with the naked photo of Anthony Bourdain. It sure can't be because of me! Go on over to see the picture and to get a chance to win signed books from me!

7) Nine Rules!  So, with all the excitement around the release of Ten Ways, I can forget that I wrote another little book earlier in the year.  But I just heard that RT Book Reviews has nominated Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake for Historical Romance of the Year! I'm floored, because I'm nominated alongside (eep!) Lisa Kleypas, Liz Carlyle, Connie Brockway, Lorraine Heath & (OH MY GOD) Johanna Lindsey.  I can't even believe it.  Let's just move on before my head explodes.

8) Sees Candy. I grew up on the East Coast. We don't have Sees like you lucky ducks on the West Coast. Happily, however, I married into a family from Fresno, CA, and my mother in law believes in candy on Halloween even for children in their 30s.  The box came today. I've already opened it and gorged on raspberry cremes. Yum.

9) The Park Slope Teen Writers Workshop. Last week, I started facilitating the Park Slope Barnes & Noble Teen Writers Workshop. I took over from the amazing Ned Vizzini, who is now a big-time Californication-style author who lives in LA and has movies made from his books. The students in the group are super talented...their work is showcased on the Give Us Money blog...and there's always room for more!  If you know a teen in NYC, please have them connect with me, or just attend the next workshop!

10) Apartment hunting.  We need a bigger one, as my books have now officially taken over our two-bedroom apartment. Ask me what the least fun thing in the world is? Apartment hunting.  Blergh.

Anyway...that's what's in my head right now...thank you all, again, for all your support of Ten Ways...and of the other authors who are guest blogging all month! xoxo