Kieran Kramer's Blog, page 6

February 24, 2013

Wicked In Your Arms: 5 Fun Facts with Sophie Jordan

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


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


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


Welcome Sophie!!!


Amazon | B&N | iBooks
indiebound | BAM


Wicked In Your Arms

The Forgotten Princesses

#1

Avon

July 26, 2011


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


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


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


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


 



 


5 Fun Facts about WICKED IN YOUR ARMS:

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


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


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


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


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


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


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



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


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


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


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


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Published on February 24, 2013 21:01

February 17, 2013

The Rake and the Recluse: 5 Fun Facts with Jenn LeBlanc

Those of you who have heard of Jenn LeBlanc know her as the author who wrote the big pink book, THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE. The other thing Jenn is known for is her gorgeous stock images that can be seen gracing the covers of Tessa Dare, Pamela Clare, Lara Adrian, Mia Marlowe, Delilah Marvelle, Elisabeth Naughton, Laurie London and many others.


Today, Jenn is sharing five fun facts about her novel. Please give her a warm welcome and leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE. To complete the pink cover theme, I am giving away a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA.


 


The Rake and the Recluse by Jenn LeBlanc

Kindle | Nook | iBooks
   Kobo | All Romance


 


The Rake and the Recluse

January 1, 2012


A woman out of time.

A man stifled by propriety.

A nemesis determined to take her away.

A brother to the rescue.


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


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


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


 



 


5 Fun Facts about THE RAKE AND THE RECLUSE:
1. It’s a one of a kind, fully illustrated serial novel.

2. The woman who portrays Francine in the book, Cora, is actually my best friend. She was standing in for a model who was a no-show, then ended up with the part. I had to rewrite the character for her.

© 2010 Jenn LeBlanc




3. Things I has to research: Friesians, sign language (French, British and English), Harrod’s, Queen Victoria, borderlands, geography, maps of 1880s London, drunken pears, whiskey, Lindasfarne Honey Meade, Royal Navy procedure, PTSD, train schedules, trains in general, and a thousand other things.


4. I actually have a Samson, Delilah and Zeus, in my house. But they aren’t Friesians.


5. The print edition weighs 3.8 lbs. has over 135,000 words, 740 pages and 100 illustrations.

© 2010 Jenn LeBlanc




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


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



Canon. Curls. Colorado. CJs. Chuck Norris.


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


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


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


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



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Published on February 17, 2013 21:01

February 10, 2013

The Darkening: 5 Fun Facts with Caris Roane

Sensual Sundays…Mandays…Teasedays…Hot Hunk Fridays…these are events that this week’s guest, prolific author Caris Roane, holds on her website. Are you getting the picture here?  Caris writes super sexy stories!


For a long while, Caris wrote Regency romances under the name of Valerie King. These days, she’s known for her Guardians of Ascension series, which New York Times bestselling author Lara Adriad dubbed as “sexy, cool, edgy romantic fantasy….”


This week, Caris is sharing five fun facts about her novella, THE DARKENING, and giving away an ebook copy as well as some fabulous swag. Please give her a warm welcome to the blog, and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win on Friday!


Meanwhile, I hope all of you have a happy Valentine’s Day. Love is all around us. Let’s share it and celebrate it!


Hugs from Kieran :>)


THE DARKENING

A  Guardians of Ascension Novella

February 14, 2013 


A tortured warrior and a peace-loving counselor battle to protect Second Earth against a powerful dark force…


He thwarted connection of any kind…

Fearing that his newly emerged grayle power will kill innocent ascenders, Samuel Daman struggles to keep his distance from beautiful Vela Stillwell.  But the breh-hedden has struck and her light floral scent tears at his restraint.  When the enemy draws them both into the darkening, a place of secret travel for Third ascenders, will Samuel learn to control his power, or will he destroy what he desires most?


She hid from grief…

Vela Stillwell wanted a new life, away from Militia Headquarters, away from the reminder of all she’d lost when her husband died five years earlier.  Seeking a more reclusive occupation, she finishes her last day of work only to have Samuel Daman and the infamous breh-hedden sweep through her life.  Though trying to disconnect from her new emerging power and from Samuel, the call of the darkening pulls Vela into an adventure that both terrifies her, yet reveals the truth about her deepest desires.  Will she succumb to the breh-hedden, or will her fears prevent her from living life to the fullest?


 



 


5 Fun Facts About THE DARKENING: 

1.  I listened to the soundtrack from the movie, “Inception”, over and over.


2.  I kept sniffing a candle that had a fragrance called, “Sweet Peas”, which figures into the storyline.


3.  While writing THE DARKENING, I kept picturing the hero with a smoky aura, very sexy.


4.   Though THE DARKENING is a novella, I worked in my usual epic themes, like just how much should the individual give up in times of war.


5.  And finally, I collected note-cards and other swag with red hearts on them to give away because THE DARKENING releases on Valentine’s Day.  Which means, that I’ll be sending out a gift pack of these goodies in addition to an e-copy of THE DARKENING!


 


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Leave a comment to be entered to win an ebook copy of THE DARKENING by Caris Roane along with a fun swag pack and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 2/15.


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


 



Caris Roane has published over fifty Regency romance novels and novellas under the pen name, Valerie King.  In 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance.


Having enjoyed the paranormal genre, Caris created  a unique vampire world based on ascending dimensional earths in a series called Guardians of Ascension.


Her most recent self-published project, THE DARKENING, launches February 14th, just in time for Valentine’s Day.   THE DARKENING continues her Guardians of Ascension series.


Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy.


 


Connect with Caris:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter


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


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Published on February 10, 2013 21:01

February 4, 2013

The Importance of Being Wicked: 5 Fun Facts with Miranda Neville

Miranda Neville is the queen of creating sexy, adorable beta heroes–you know, the type that doesn’t quite know what he’s getting into when he meets up with the heroine. Who doesn’t love the idea of teaching a man a few lessons in love? Miranda’s gotten lots of well-deserved praise for her Burgundy Club series as well as her new Wild Quartet series. She is also one of the fabulous hostesses at The Ballroom Blog. When not writing, Miranda can be found cooking 30-minute recipes, gardening, cross-country skiing, and procrastinating….


She also apparently loves cats (see the darling one in the video below). This trait puts Miranda at the top of my special secret list of authors I adore because they also love cats. When I see them at conferences, I hug them a little tighter than other people and maybe even slip them some chocolate! Watch out, Miranda! This may happen to you at RT and RWA this year! :>)


Today she is sharing five fun facts about her latest release, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED, which Publishers Weekly chose as one of the top ten romances of the fall! Let’s give her a warm welcome, and be sure to leave a comment at the end to win a copy of Miranda’s book as well as one of mine!


The Importance of Being Wicked by Miranda Neville

Amazon | B&N | iBooks
BAM | Kobo | Book Depository


 


The Importance of Being Wicked

The Wild Quartet #1

Avon Romance

November 27, 2012


The rules of society don’t apply to Caro and her coterie of bold men and daring women. But when passions flare, even the strongest will surrender to the law of love….



Thomas, Duke of Castleton, has every intention of wedding a prim and proper heiress. That is, until he sets eyes on the heiress’s cousin, easily the least proper woman he’s ever met. His devotion to family duty is no defense against the red-headed vixen whose greatest asset seems to be a talent for trouble…


Caroline Townsend has no patience for the oh-so-suitable (and boring) men of the ton. So when the handsome but stuffy duke arrives at her doorstep, she decides to put him to the test. But her scandalous exploits awaken a desire in Thomas he never knew he had. Suddenly Caro finds herself falling for this most proper duke…while Thomas discovers there’s a great deal of fun in a little bit of wickedness.


 


read an excerpt of the importance of being wicked by miranda neville


 


5 Fun Facts about THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED:

1. The hero is a duke descended from King Charles II and an actress. True fact: Charles made several of his illegitimate sons into dukes, and their descendants are still pillars of the peerage!


2. The duke, Thomas, is a very proper guy despite his scandalous origins. Caro calls him Lord Stuffy.


3. Their attraction flares up at a very naughty masquerade. Here’s a picture of such an event. What kind of dancing do you think these people are doing? Looks like a kind of Regency mosh pit to me.


Regency mosh pit


4. Caro succeeds very well in unstuffing Lord Stuffy. He has a lot to learn and she is all too happy to educate him!


5. Caro’s cat was inspired by my cat Ernie. Exactly how important the kitty is to the plot is a matter of argument. Ernie thinks he is the main character, as revealed in this video.



 


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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING WICKED by Miranda Neville (e-book or print, winner’s choice) and a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 2/8.


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



miranda neville author photoI grew up in England reading Georgette Heyer and other historical romances, always dreaming that I’d write one myself. Life kept on getting in the way. I studied history and wrote non-fiction, changed careers a couple of time, raised a daughter. Now I write Regency set romances for Avon, enjoying my characters’ happy endings as much as my own. I live in beautiful rural New England where I survive the winters by skiing and the summers hiking and gardening.


 


Connect with Miranda:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Ballroom Blog




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


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Published on February 04, 2013 10:37

January 27, 2013

The Dark Lady: 5 Fun Facts with Maire Claremont

Maire Claremont‘s debut, THE DARK LADY, is dubbed by Grace Burrowes as containing “as much romance, adventure, passion, torment, and triumph as any one love story could deliver.” Her book won the 2011 Golden Heart for Historical Romance. Need I say more?


Yes, as a matter of fact–I do. This woman clearly has talent, my reader friends, but the icing on the cake is that she’s also incredibly fun and full of life. You’ll feel that energy in her writing. She’s not sitting on the sidelines of anything, our Maire. When she tells her romantic tales, she’s fully immersed in them–and you will be, too.


Thanks so much for visiting the blog, Maire, and we all wish you much continued success in your writing career! Readers, you know what to do…enjoy the excerpt and those 5 Fun Facts, and leave a comment to be eligible to win!


 


The Dark LadyThe Dark Lady

A Novel of Mad Passions #1

Signet

February 5, 2013


The Victorian era was full of majestic beauty and scandalous secrets—a time when corsets were the least of a woman’s restrictions, and men could kill or be killed in the name of honor….


Lord Ian Blake has returned from India a broken man. Years ago, he pledged to Lady Eva Carin—his childhood companion and ” first love—that he would bring her husband back alive. His failure haunts him. But even his jade soul can’t anticipate the shocking sight of beautiful, independent Eva confined in a madhouse….


Locked in an asylum, forgotten by society, Eva is adrift in both body and mind. For Ian to break her free, they must cross a powerful enemy—and prove her sanity to England’s unforgiving aristocracy. But the biggest danger of all may come when the secrets of Eva’s tragic past are finally unlocked….


 


Read an Excerpt



5 Fun Facts about THE DARK LADY:

1) The idea for The Dark Lady came to me in the middle of the night, the first chapters fully formed. I had to get up and immediately write them.


2) Laudanum addiction in Victorian London was extremely common, and you could get it over the counter.


3) The Dark Lady was inspired by the beautiful, angsty relationships written by the Bronte sisters.


4) I never thought I’d win the Golden Heart, romance’s premiere award for unpublished writers, and certainly not with a book that has scenes with my heroine in the insane asylum. The book did win, and I achieved a massive dream. Literally, I often fantasized about winning.


5) It was incredibly easy to have a woman committed in the Victorian era. Very little reason was needed, just two doctors signatures, which I find horribly shocking. Luckily for my heroine, she has a hero determined to set her free!


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Leave a comment to be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card from Maire Claremont and a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 1/25.


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



2011 Golden Heart winner Máire Claremont first fell in love with Mr. Rochester, not Mr. Darcy. Drawn to his dark snark, she longed to find a tortured hero of her own… until she realized the ramifications of Mr. Rochester locking his frst wife up in his attic. Discovering the errors of her ways, Máire now looks for a real-life Darcy and creates deliciously dark heroes on the page. Oh, and she wants everyone to know her name is pronounced Moira. Her parents just had to give her an Irish Gaelic name.


 


Connect with Maire:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter




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


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Published on January 27, 2013 21:01

January 20, 2013

The Scoundrel Takes A Bride: 5 Fun Facts with Stefanie Sloane

Stefanie Sloane is a double-nominated RITA finalist whose Regency Rogues series has delighted and intrigued readers. Stefanie’s resume is impressive: a former Amazon employee (she was the 30th!), a distant relation to William Wallace, spent ten adolescent years dancing (ballet, tap and jazz), and did I mention she’s Julia Quinn‘s BFF?! I also know that Stefanie loves animals–I’ve seen pictures of her dogs, read how much she loves four-legged creatures, and witness on Facebook how hard she works to help shelter animals find homes–which makes her my total favorite.


Welcome, Stefanie! We’re so glad to have you here on the blog. Readers, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win a copy of THE SCOUNDREL TAKES A BRIDE!


 


The Scoundrel Takes A Bride The Scoundrel Takes A Bride

Regency Rogues #5

Ballantine Books

January 1, 2013 


A notorious scoundrel, the right Honorable Nicholas Bourne has spent years in the East Indies amassing a fortune through questionable means. Still, his loyalty to his older brother Langdon remains true and trusted. But when Lady Sophia Southwell, the woman promised to his brother, seeks his help on a dangerous mission, he is troubled—and torn. Unable to dissuade her from her quest to find a killer, he vows to keep her safe. This makes his mission the hardest test of his wits, honor, and skill. For Sophia is the secret love of his life.


For years, Sophia has planned her daring act of revenge against her mother’s killer. She has painstakingly prepared herself by studying the criminal mind. Now she knows the moment is right and that Nicholas is the man to help her. But she doesn’t count on the reckless temptation of his rugged sensuality or the captivating intensity in his deep eyes. When desire and emotion intoxicate her as they venture together into the darkest corners of London’s underbelly, Sophia must contend with a yearning even more powerful than vengeance: love.


 


Excerpt of The Scoundrel Takes A Bride


 


Five Fun Facts about THE SCOUNDREL TAKES A BRIDE:

1. I adore putting animals in my books. But when I mapped out the plots for The Saint Who Stole My Heart, The Scoundrel Takes a Bride, and The Wicked Widow Meets Her Match, I knew that the stories were structured in such a way that, well, no pets would be allowed. So I chose Petworth, a small town in Sussex, as the setting of the inciting incident as a nod to our furry friends.


2. The prologue for Scoundrel was the last scene I wrote, added during a snowstorm here in Seattle. From where I sat inside the house, I could hear my daughters playing outside—lots of giggles and high-pitched screaming. A part of me longed to be out in the snow, so I decided to set the prologue during a snowstorm in Petworth, too.


3. U2’s song, “All I Want is You” is my hero Nicholas in song form. Sexy, raw, slightly unnerving but achingly beautiful, bruised and battered but real in a way that most are not.



4. I hit replay on Ingrid Michaelson’s song “Sort Of” way too many times while working on Scoundrel. I suppose it’s Sophia’s song. Simple and straight-forward, pragmatic, unsure, but desperate to follow her heart.



5. There’s a scene in Scoundrel that opens with Sophia and Nicholas talking. My editor assumed this occurred post-coital because of where it takes place, with the va-va-va-voom happening off screen. But it’s not! I swear! See if you can find it.


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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of  THE SCOUNDREL TAKES A BRIDE  by Stefanie Sloane and a signed copy of LOVING LADY MARCIA. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 1/25.


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



Stefanie SloaneA native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie credits her parents’ eclectic reading habits—not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere—for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com’s Books editorial department. She spent over five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie currently resides with her family in Seattle.


 


Connect with Stefanie:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter


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Published on January 20, 2013 21:01

January 14, 2013

Help Choose My Next Cover!

Dearest Readers,


Your help is needed over at the Heros & Heartbreakers community today where a poll is running to decide which of three sexy poses will grace the cover of my August 2013 House of Brady novel, Say Yes to the Duke. Please take a moment to voice your opinion – I can’t wait to see which pose wins!


Select A Pose


Poll ends on Thursday - go vote for your favorite now!


Hugs, Kieran

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Published on January 14, 2013 08:25

January 13, 2013

Hot Under Pressure: 5 Fun Facts with Louisa Edwards

Contemporary romance writer Louisa Edwards, a former New York editor turned best-selling author, is no stranger to the culinary world. So what better way to use her experiences than writing delicious romances featuring, in her own words, “smokin’ hot chefs, smart and independent women, and original recipes?”


You go, Louisa! I’m so proud to be at St. Martin’s Press with you!


This week on my blog, she’s sharing some fun facts about the third book in her Rising Star Chef novels, HOT UNDER PRESSURE. As a Navy wife, I have a special fondness for this one because the hero was in the US Navy, on a submarine, no less. If you’ve ever been able to tour a sub, you realize just how heroic those submariners are.


Share your favorite foods to cook or eat in the comments and win a copy of Louisa’s books as well as a copy of my very own DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT. Oh, and hooray for books with purple covers! Have a great week, everyone!!!


 


hot under pressure HOT UNDER PRESSURE

Rising Star Chef Novel

Book #3

St. Martin’s Paperback

March 27, 2012 


Loaded with the hottest dishes and sexiest chefs, the Rising Star Chef competition is about to boil over for one pair of all-star cooks who can’t stand the heat—of working so close together…


SHE’S THE ONE HE LEFT BEHIND


Henry Beck thought he’d already faced the toughest kitchen challenge of his life. After all, what could top sweating it out as a Navy cook on a submarine? But when he learns his competition for the title of Rising Star Chef is the sweet hippie girl he married…and left…ten years ago, the heat is on.


HE’S THE ONE SHE CAN’T FORGET


Now Beck and Skye Gladwell are going head to head in the finals…and sparking up old flames every time they touch. But Skye wants more than a win over the man who abandoned her when she needed him most—she wants a divorce! Then her sexy almost-ex makes a deliciously dangerous proposition. He’ll give in to her demands, but if his team wins the RSC, he has a demand of his own…one last taste of the only woman he ever loved.


 


hot under pressure excerpt


 


 5 Fun Facts about HOT UNDER PRESSURE:

1.) Skye Gladwell is my first “full-figured” heroine. Can’t believe it took me so long!


2.) I had live research on tap for my hero, Beck, and his past as a U.S. Navy submariner–my brother-in-law, Jeff, serves on a submarine.


3.) All three recipes in the back of the book were developed and tested by me and my trusty kitchen assistants. (Thanks for the paella, Daddy!)


4.) The inspiration for my Rising Star Chef competition trilogy was my obsessive love of Top Chef, Iron Chef, and Hell’s Kitchen.


5.) In my original proposal, the hero and heroine were named Seth and Laurel, the title of the book was LUSCIOUS…but they still had to face off in the finals of the cooking competition!


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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of  HOT UNDER PRESSURE by Louisa Edwards and a signed copy of DUKES TO THE LEFT OF ME, PRINCES TO THE RIGHT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 1/18.


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



Louisa Edwards grew up in Virginia before moving to Manhattan to work with some of the biggest names in romance publishing.  She also worked as a restaurant reviewer for a small-town newspaper, a waitress at a retirement home, and behind the counter at an organic bakery before she decided to unite her lifelong passions for romance novels and cooking by writing contemporary romances full of smokin’ hot chefs, smart and independent women, and original recipes.


Speaking of hot, she currently lives in Austin with her husband and two of the naughtiest Border Terriers ever spawned.  You can connect with Louisa on Facebook or follow her on Twitter!


 


 


 


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


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Published on January 13, 2013 21:01

January 6, 2013

FOREVER A LORD: 5 Fun Facts with Delilah Marvelle

Hey, there, Delilah Marvelle! Oh, what you do to your characters…and what you do to your readers, too!


It’s why Delilah’s an award-winning author with 10 dark, edgy, sexy books under her belt and more to come. Readers, if you haven’t already, check out Delilah’s December 2012 release, FOREVER A LORD, which is accompanied by a Hollywood-like book trailer that our intrepid guest author pulled together herself–no small feat. You’ll find the link to the amazing trailer below, but first you’ll want to read Delilah’s riveting excerpt and her Five Fun Facts. She’s so smart, bold, and talented! And she’s also one of the sweetest and most accessible authors you’ll ever encounter online and at conferences.


Find 28 fun facts about Delilah at this link, and readers, please leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of FOREVER A LADY. I’m thrilled to be starting off 2013 with all of you and honored that the totally charming Delilah is here to pay us a visit!


FOREVER A LORD

Rumor Series #3


HQN

December 18, 2012


He’s a fighter, not a lover.  But that’s about to change… 


Lady Imogene Norwood lived a sheltered life of quiet respectability and routine…until she debuts at her first Season. There she meets the wild and broken Lord Atwood among London’s elite. And the very shy English rose suddenly realizes that a little chaos might just be what her heart desires.


Lord Nathaniel James Atwood doesn’t believe true love exists. Since scandal tore him away from his family at an early age, he has spent his life fighting for what he wants. That attitude made him a rising star in bare-knuckle boxing, and now leads him back to London to reclaim the life that was stolen from him. But upon meeting the innocent Imogene, his beliefs are trounced…as guarding his heart against her proves to be the fight of his life.


 



 


 5 Fun Facts about FOREVER A LORD:

1. I watched hours of real Irish bare-knuckle boxing on YouTube to get me into a fighter’s mindset each time I had to sit down and write a boxing scene for FOREVER A LORD. I watched with one hand over both eyes most of the time, but it inspired the heck out of me.


2. I listened to Seether’s Country Song and Bad Karma by Ida Maria so many times while writing this book,  I won’t ever listen to either again. Which is sad, really. Because I used to love both songs. I’m hoping in a year from now, I’ll be able to listen to both songs again.


3. Even though I often compare the Rumor series to the Gangs of New York, I have never actually seen the movie…


4. The original version of FOREVER A LORD was a hundred pages longer. Which came to about 525 pages. Needless to say, it got a much needed hair cut.


5. Mr. Marvelle played Lord Atwood in the book trailer. I had to beg him for weeks to play the part. He finally broke down when I told him I would be on the set with half naked men alllllll day and he wouldn’t be allowed on the set if he wasn’t part of it. I love it that he still gets jealous of me, lol.



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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of  FOREVER A LADY by Delilah Marvelle and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 1/11.


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



Delilah Marvelle spent her youth studying various languages, reading voraciously and playing the pianoforte. She confesses that here ends the extent of her gentle breeding. She was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to her room on many occasions due to these misadventures, she discovered the quill and its amazing power. Soon, to the dismay of her parents, she rather enjoyed being confined to her room. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist and winner of RT’s Best Sensual Historical Romance of the Year. You can visit her at her website atwww.DelilahMarvelle.com or her blog, which explores the naughtier side of history, at www.DelilahMarvelle.blogspot.com.


 


Connect with Delilah:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter


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


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Published on January 06, 2013 21:01

December 30, 2012

Midnight’s Lover: 5 Fun Facts with Donna Grant

Donna Grant is a dynamo!  This NYT and USA Today bestselling author sold her first novel while displaced by Hurricane Rita in 2005. And she’s been going nonstop ever since, taking the publishing world by storm with her Dark Sword and Dark Warrior series. All told, she’s written over 40 books and novellas spanning multiple genres. I’m proud that we have the same publisher and am always inspired by how much Donna cares about her fans. She’s even holding two reader events in 2013, one in Nashville and one in San Francisco.


I’m so glad she’s with us here this week. It’s with great pleasure that I present you with a fabulous excerpt from Midnight’s Lover, followed by Donna’s 5 Fun Facts (which I truly loved), and a giveaway, too. Speaking of giveaways, Donna did an amazing 12 Dark Days of Christmas giveaway at her blog–second year in a row!! Make sure you make her website a favorite so you can stay in touch with what she has going on there in 2013.


 



Midnight’s Lover

Dark Warrior #2

St. Martin’s

June 26, 2012


Defenders against evil. Bound by the gods. The Dark Warriors are taking their battle from ancient Scotland to the modern world—where a woman’s love can set them free…


 A WARRIOR’S PASSION


Driven by the fierce god within him, Highlander Ian Kerr is sworn to fight for the land he loves—and the brother he lost. But when he’s magically transported four centuries into the future, he finds himself fighting his own desires—for a beautiful, bewitching woman who could hold a warrior spellbound…


A WOMAN’S MAGIC


Danielle Buchanan has heard the legends. She has felt the power of Druid blood in her veins. But she has never known a man as fearsome—or as haunted—as the warrior Ian. With her magic, Dani must help him battle an ancient evil. With her heart, she must join him in his quest. But only with her soul can she free him from his curse…and seal their fates together.



5 Fun Facts About MIDNIGHT’S LOVER:

1. The book was already written and set 1600s Scotland when my publisher asked me to think about switching things up and time travel the heroes to modern day.


2. I listened to several movie soundtracks while writing MIDNIGHT’S MASTER (Thor, Clash of the Titans, & King Arthur).


3. When I rewrote MM for contemporary paranormal, I got to add in so many fun things I experienced after a recent trip to Scotland, like traveling the very, very narrow roads.


4. I had no idea I was going to have so much fun writing my immortal Highlanders into modern day situations like discovering what a razor was.


5. For the first time I got to write “y’all” in the book and not have to make myself change it since the heroine is from Texas!


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Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of  MIDNIGHT’S MASTER by Donna Grant and a signed copy of IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A VISCOUNT. Giveaway open to US/CA. Ends 1/4.


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



New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant writes paranormal romances for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Texas with her husband and two kids.


 


Connect with Donna:

Author Site | Facebook | Twitter


 


 


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


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Published on December 30, 2012 21:01