Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 70

Confession: My Rather Embarassing Secret to Productivity

When you write for a living, a lot can get in the way of productivity. I know I'm supposed to write regardless of mood or mayhem, but when it comes to distractions I have *plenty* and *sometimes* they don't do much for my mood. (I homeschool my six kids, if you missed that.) So while I have a decent allotment of reserved writing time thanks to my husband's generous overseeing of the children after dinner, I spend more of that time than I care to admit staring at my file without exactly racking up the wordage. Talk about frustrating! But last week, something changed.

Something epic.

I started playing spider solitaire.

Okay, I know. First of all, solitaire is hardly the latest fad. There's no real reason I should have just discovered it, and truth be told I didn't *just* find it, but I did just find it as a writing aide. You see, when I was a kid my mom and I used to play double solitaire all the time. These days the high tech version is a bit more practical (one thing you can say about computers is it's much harder for the kids to scatter the cards, lol). It also opened a few doors for me, because I don't think I have the patience to play spider solitaire by hand. At any rate, last week during one of my mom's visits, we started having competitions—her on one computer, me on another—of two suit spider solitaire to see who could finish more stacks of cards (not games, mind you, because we don't win often enough for that, lol). It was at some point during these neck-and-neck card games I noticed the stats display. And that's when the addiction started.

I'm a numbers person. I love math. I wanted my stats to increase. But let's not forget the other side of my brain and this whole writing gig, right? Anyway, later as I stared at my stagnant screen, wishing I could just play spider solitaire for comparable royalty payments, I had a light bulb moment.

Yes, you can play solitaire. If you write 200 words first.

So now something cool happens. Instead of staring at the screen and pecking out maybe 100 words an hour, I'm blowing out 600 or more words in the same amount of time. AND playing 2-3 games of spider solitaire! Don't ask me how it works. Don't ask me WHY it works. But darn if it doesn't WORK! I allow myself one game of spider solitaire every time I hit 200 words, and now I'm writing like crazy. It's works. IT WORKS!

And finally, so do I!

Did you know my romantic thriller FAMILIAR LIGHT is only $1.50 for a limited time? It's a best seller at All Romance eBooks, too! If you're not familiar with the story, here's the blurb and a short excerpt. If you enjoy it, you can read the whole first chapter for free at Noble Romance. ;c)

FAMILIAR LIGHT | excerpt

"Can I help you?" The gruff question trickled through the cavernous space like water leaking through pipes. He seemed to materialize from the shadows as he strode toward her, the rise of heat from the concrete floor keeping him just out of focus.

But her heart knew.

She swallowed a hard knob of regret. "Bridger?"

He couldn't have heard her—not with the way she clung to his name, as if saying it out loud would be to lose another piece of him. But his step faltered, and the recognition in that interrupted cadence brought the burn of tears to her eyes.



No regrets.

She stood, trembling, as the fifty feet between them dwindled to ten. When he was close enough for her to make out the stubble lining his jaw, his legs stopped moving, but his gaze tore over her. The impassioned glare was without direction, a harsh reflection of the hard lines edging his face. The warm brown eyes she remembered were now a bitter shade of espresso.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

The words, tense with fury, sent her backpedaling against the concrete wall. Too late, she realized she no longer knew this man. They were kids when they'd parted ways, too naïve to realize they'd never keep those breathless promises. At least she'd been that way. His tone suggested otherwise.

They were alone in the deeply shadowed belly of Barrier Shoals Light. And for the first time within those walls, Laney tasted fear.

"Was I supposed to wait for you?" he asked.

Seven years had passed since her weak-kneed promise to return to him. She didn't have an answer for that.

He took another step, boxing her against the curvature of the rock. He stood close—so close, she had to tip her head to meet his eyes.

And she summoned courage to do it.

"Was I?" he asked, his voice softer now. He leaned closer. The stifling heat morphed into sexual innuendo, his skin slick with sweat, daring her to touch.

She was one careless thought away from taking him up on that unspoken suggestion. Her fingers itched to claw through his hair, to draw him closer until the distance between them evaporated. Memories of frantically grasping for purchase against the stone wall besieged her, curling fear into boundless adrenaline. "Did you?"

Her words coaxed a slow grin from his sensual mouth. "Was I supposed to?"

FAMILIAR LIGHT | blurb

Seven years of longing comes down to just one night.

Laney Kent returns to Barrier Shoals hoping to reunite with her first love, Bridger. She anticipates his reception might be chilly, but what she doesn't expect is to become the victim of a deadly obsession … or that this night with Bridger could be her last.

Bridger Jansen tangled a lot of sheets trying to forget about Laney, but his heart knew what the rest of him refused to admit: he could love no one else. He's determined not to forgive her for leaving him without explanation, but when he fails to protect her from a viscous attack, the person he can't forgive just might be himself.

Only $1.50 at Noble Romance!

03.11.12 #SixSunday with Tide of Lies

Can't wait for this one? Check out FAMILIAR LIGHT (on sale for $1.50!) to get the early scoop on the unsolved murders leading to the LIES! Last week, Holden returned to his apartment to find someone had broken in. Julia evaded the intruder, but the disruption kept her from telling Holden the truth. It also brought forth her own confession: she doesn't regret their past. This is from Julia's POV as she realizes walking away will come with a price much larger than she expected.

Maintaining one-sided contact with Holden over the years through news coverage had eroded her image of the half-wild boy she'd once known into someone quite the opposite. The stickler-neatness of his apartment—the décor of which consisted primarily of leather and electronics—only furthered the image brought on by his detached, cool exterior. Holden's eyes, in a rare instance when they did soften, never quit searching, reading . . . digging. But in one blink, it all changed. Somehow saying it aloud—admitting she was glad for what they'd done—triggered the demise of his defenses, taking hers down with them. All those years of letting go had just gone to hell, the door slamming on her escape with a sense of finality that made argument useless.

TIDE OF LIES – romantic suspense coming April 2, 2012 to Noble Romance

Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time!  To see other participating authors, click here.

03.10.2012 #SweetSat Samples: Unforgiven

Riley Beckett's past just came back to haunt her ... and this time he's got a gun. UNFORGIVEN ... click image.

Congratulations to deeg131(at)etc, this week's gift card winner! If you'd like to be eligible for my weekly giveaways of a $10 gift card to Noble Romance or $5 to Amazon (winner's choice), simply subscribe by email using the box to your left. You'll be automatically entered every week for as long as you remain a subscriber.

Gage and Riley were once lovers, but a deadly twist of fate tore them apart. Now, one year later, they're thrown together by a murder in which Gage was the intended victim and Riley is wanted for the crime.

In spite of all she'd seen in the last two days, Riley was genuinely surprised when Gage flashed yet another fake ID at the Sunrise Motel just outside of Tehcotah. He'd tucked his shoulder-length hair under a baseball hat to resemble the photo on the driver's license, but it was probably for naught, as the kid who gave them a room at the low-rent establishment barely glanced in his direction.

"Checkout by eleven. Channel seventeen porn's on the house. You want the good stuff, it's extra." The desk clerk didn't bother to look up as he slapped a key on the counter. It was attached to a lime green key chain advertising a local tattoo parlor.

"Thanks man." Gage palmed the key.

Riley wasn't sure she'd have touched it at all.

The man pointed down the lone hallway. "Room's that way."

"Classy," Riley muttered as soon as they'd put distance between themselves and the front desk.

"Relax. At least I didn't pay the hourly rate." Gage laughed, clearly finding more amusement in the idea than she did. "We need to shower somewhere, and it's here or a truck stop. You can't go just anywhere this filthy and reeking of smoke."

Riley stared at the threadbare carpet running the length of the hallway and snorted. "Looks to me like 'just anywhere' is exactly where we ended up."

"Don't tell me you've gone high maintenance on me." Gage stopped in front of a door featuring chipped paint and the words Room 34. The four hung upside down, but someone had corrected it by drawing in the number right side up with a marker. "This is us." He opened the door and flipped the light switch.

Riley peered into the room. Both the dark brown carpet and faded floral bedspread boasted stains of questionable origin. The wallpaper—an unfortunate blend of orange and avocado green—had probably been there longer than she'd been alive. Yellow light emanated from a dust-covered lamp, highlighting a Bible on the bedside table. "This is . . . great."

"Sarcasm?"

"You think?"

BUY @ NOBLE ROMANCE | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

For more Sweet Saturday clean excerpts, click here.

UNFORGIVEN

Riley Beckett's past just came back to haunt her . . . and this time, he's got a gun.

When Gage Lawton finds his brother shot dead on his back porch, every shred of evidence points to one person: Gage's former lover, Riley. He and she didn't part ways on good terms, and he's not planning to rekindle anything now–not when he's got a revolver pointed at her head and a finger on the trigger.

A year after Riley swore she and Gage were over, he returns in a hail of gunfire. One look into those achingly familiar blue eyes and she knows how wrong she was to let him go, but now far more than their heated past stands in the way. A twist of fate puts them in the crosshairs of a killer, leaving Riley with two slim options:  trust her greatest betrayer or face a murderer on her own.

BUY @ NOBLE ROMANCE | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

A "Shameless" Visit with Cheryl Douglas

For more information about the Nashville Nights series from Cheryl Douglas, please click the image above.

Today I'm going to introduce you to one of the most organized, planning-ahead..ed authors I've ever met, and I decided that before I'd even met her. While stalking Cheryl Douglas for this interview, I saw her entire series—covers, blurbs, and release months—all laid out on her website. It was a beautiful thing, y'all. I feel a little scrappy now myself, but I'm hoping to snare some of her aura before she slips out the back. So you guys give her a big hello, but not too big (we don't want to scare her off before I bask in her productive mojo).

Welcome, Cheryl! Your writing career was 37 years in the making. ;c) What was the turning point that made you take the plunge and go for it?

Thanks so much for having me, Sarah. I was at a crossroads in my career when the commercial space I leased for my nutrition business came up for renewal. I had to make the decision if it was something I wanted to do for the next five years. I decided it wasn't. While I enjoyed my job, it had become just that, a job. I lost the passion I once had for building my business, and once the passion is gone, it's difficult to get it back! I've always enjoyed writing. I took several courses over the years, and decided it was the right time to make a change.

How AMAZING you were able to take that step! And what great things from that leap … which brings us right to your book, lol. Congratulations on the release of SHAMELESS! Can you give our readers a brief introduction to the story?

Thank you! I am so excited about the release of this book. The story has been floating around in the back of my mind for years. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally get it out there. Shameless is a story about mistakes, regrets, and redemption. The hero, Trey Turner, is a country singer at the top of his game professionally, but his personal life has been a shambles since his divorce. He and his wife suffered a tragedy and eventually grew apart, but Trey hasn't been able to find peace without her. His ex-wife, Sierra, has tried to move on, but when he walks back into her life after five years, she realizes she has some difficult decisions to make about her future. Because of their past, trust is a huge issue. The road back home is often a long and winding one, as is the case with Shameless.

Oh, that sounds so good! I love when characters have a past. *happy sigh* A quick look at your website reveals a lineup of six releases for the Nashville Nights series, which is kicked off by the March 2012 release of SHAMELESS and continues with a new release every two months. Tell us about the series. How are the books related?

All of the stories in the Nashville Nights series are connected by a common place, Nashville, country music, and a familiar cast of characters. Book two, Fearless, is the story of Sierra's sister, Lexi, and Trey's bodyguard, Josh. Book three, Ruthless, follows the journey of Trey's sister Marisa, and his manager, Luc, whom I love, by the way. That story was so much fun to write. I had no idea Luc would be such a complicated character with a colorful past, until that story started to evolve. Book four, Reckless, features another up and coming country music star, Ty, and Trey's publicist, Avery. Book Five, which I am currently in the process of writing, stars Ty's younger brother, J.T. and Luc's daughter, Nikki. For those of you who like a rough and ready cowboy, this is the book for you! Book five, Heartless, is another story about re-writing history, but with a different twist. The hero in this book is J.T. and Ty's older brother, Derek. His college sweetheart, Ashley, married Josh, from book two, but they divorced many years ago. Derek never got over her, and when he moves back to town, he wants another chance with his first love, but her teenage sons are vehemently opposed to the relationship! To read all about the series, visit my website at www.cheryldouglasbooks.com.

'Scuse me . . . my jaw might be on the floor. What a GREAT series! I love all the little plot connections. What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of Shameless?

Trey, the main, character is a recovering alcoholic who has fallen off the wagon after three years of sobriety.

Another great plot thread! Let's have some fun with Shameless. What's the first sentence?

The sexy little waitress stretched to offer her neck as Trey Turner prepared to do another body shot at the urging of his inebriated friends.

Well, that's one heck of a way to kick things off – I love it! What's your favorite line in the book?

One would take the edge off; twenty would end it all. This refers to pills. It speaks to Trey's frame of mind when he's at his lowest point, suffering from depression, and indulging in to alcohol.

Wow, that's intense. How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that's it. Three!

Two innocent people still lost their lives and he lost what little remained of the life he'd known. If he hadn't gone to the bar that night, he wouldn't have been on the road at two a.m., wouldn't have rushed to the aid of the minivans' passengers. He wouldn't have been holding the hand of that little girl as he watched her slip away. 

I have to say, I love your writing already. That was incredibly sad, and I'm impressed with your ability to draw that emotion so quickly. (Which is a compliment, LOL.) Which scene of SHAMELESS was most difficult for you to write? Why?

The most difficult scene was Trey and Sierra's reunion. It had been five years since they saw each other. There was so much pain and resentment, yet shared memories of ten great years together. I needed to capture how each character was feeling, which wasn't easy because there are so many conflicting emotions involved.

From what I've already seen, no doubt you nailed it. ;c) Which scene of SHAMELESS would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

There is a scene in the book, from Trey's point of view, where he and Sierra sing together onstage. I've always wished I had that kind of gift, to be able to sing to an audience, without fear or reservation, knowing you're evoking a powerful emotion. This scene was about two people re-connecting through the power of music. I've always thought that watching two talented artists perform together onstage, immersed in the music, is an amazing thing to watch.

Oh, yes, I agree. What a beautiful thing for your characters to experience (and your lucky readers!) What are you currently working on? 

I'm currently working on book five in the Nashville Nights series, Relentless. I am also releasing a novella trilogy under a different pen name, because it is a different sub-genre of romance. The first book in the novella series is almost ready to be released, while the other two books in that series are at various stages of editing.

Wow, you're busy! And it all starts with SHAMELESS, so here's a closer look:

SHAMELESS | blurb

Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts, but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He's desperate to make amends for the mistakes he's made, and convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.

Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves and a fiancé who loves her. Unfortunately, her fiancé isn't the only man professing his love. He may be able to offer her safety and security, but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?

CHERYL DOUGLAS | bio & linkage

It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirty years.

My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone's never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I'm so thankful I did.

I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.

When I take a break from writing it's to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.

www.cheryldouglasbooks.com

Thank you all so much for joining us today. Readers, I hope you'll scoot over to Cheryl's website and check out the rest of her series. It's pretty amazing! Cheryl, thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope SHAMELESS is the first in a long line of successes for you. ;c)

Lunar Love Giveaway Hop: March 8th-13th

Click image for 170+ more lunar love giveaways!

"When I finished it, honestly, all I could do was sit there – a little awestruck."

– Laura Mcquillen on HAWTHORNE (full review)

Welcome to the blog hop celebrating the full moon! The Lunar Love Giveaway Hop is sponsored by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Bookworm Lisa, and all books featured in the hop will have paranormal, supernatural, science fiction, time travel, or — of course — moon elements in their plotlines. For me, that only means one thing: HAWTHORNE! Yep, that's right! Here's your chance to win a copy of the story that once bested Frankenstein and The Legend of  Sleepy Hollow, if but for a few days, on Amazon's ghost story best seller list. (I have screen shots for my scrapbook, LOL!)

WHAT YOU CAN WIN

My paranormal romance HAWTHORNE in PDF or Kindle/Nook gift formats. And if the winner is also an **email subscriber** to my blog at the time of the drawing, he or she will also get a $5 gift certificate to Noble Romance, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice).

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, simply comment here with your email address. To subscribe to my blog (only required if you'd like a chance at the gift card add-on), please use the box at the top of the sidebar on your left. Note: You MUST confirm your subscription for it to be a valid entry!

ABOUT HAWTHORNE

"Ms. Ballance will absolutely blow your mind with this haunting tale." – Nikki (full review)

"When I finished it, honestly, all I could do was sit there – a little awestruck." – Laura Mcquillen (full review)

"Sarah Ballance does an amazing job of creating plot twists, subtle foreshadowing, and a sense of peace when you hit the end, that you're left speechless and dumbfounded" – Carrie-Lynn (full review)

HAWTHORNE

After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother's passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home.   She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.

Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace.  In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything.  What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?

EXCERPT | BUY FROM ASTRAEA PRESS | AMAZON KINDLE | B&N NOOK

CLICK HERE TO REJOIN THE LUNAR LOVE GIVEAWAY HOP!

Shadonna Richards: Beautiful Love Quotes & Romantic Words

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Walk down the aisle with this best selling romantic comedy! Click image for details.

Today, please welcome Shadonna Richards with a heartwarming guest post and an introduction to her romantic comedy, AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE.

Hi, everyone!

I'm Shadonna, author of An Unexpected Bride, a romantic comedy about Emma Wiggins who is about to marry her heart-stopping, gorgeous boss, CEO Evan Fletcher in seven days. Only he doesn't know about it yet! Since An Unexpected Bride centers around the theme of love and companionship, I thought I'd compile a list some of the most romantic quotes or the most beautiful words you can say to someone you care about. Check this list out:

"Love means never having to say you're sorry." —From Love Story (1970) – Jennifer (Ali MacGraw) to Oliver (Ryan O'Neal)

"You had me at hello."—From Jerry Maguire (1996) – Dorothy (Renée Zellweger) to Jerry (Tom Cruise)

"I love you. You're my only reason to stay alive… if that's what I am."—From The Twilight Saga: New Moon Edward (Robert Pattinson) to Bella (Kristen Stewart)

"Love is like a sunshine. It brings a golden glow to its beholder's face. And a warm feeling all over their body. It awakens souls and opens eyes. And when its over, it leaves a billions of small memories called stars. To remind the world, that it still exists." – Author Unknown

"If you are in love…that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you." – John Steinbeck

"When you love someone, it's something. When someone loves you, it's another thing. When you love the person who loves you back, it's everything." – Author Unknown

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and to be loved in return. – Author Unknown

"Don't give up too easy on finding true love…we all need love." – Shadonna Richards (An Unexpected Bride, Sept 2011)

"Life is about moments…we have to make each moment a special occasion." – Shadonna Richards (An Unexpected Bride, Sept 2011)

Hope you enjoyed the list. I thought I'd leave you with a synopsis of An Unexpected Bride. Enjoy.

AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE

Desperate to fulfill her ailing grandfather's last wish to see her settle down and get married, Emma Wiggins, a 30-year-old, career-focused executive tells him a little white lie on his deathbed that she is in fact engaged–to her boss, deliciously handsome and emotionally unavailable, Evan Fletcher.

The situation takes an unexpected turn when her grandfather's condition improves slightly and to her shock, he goes ahead and arranges a wedding ceremony at his hospital bedside before he passes on. Now, all Emma has to do is convince unsuspecting, commitment-phobic Evan to tie the knot with her in seven days. Can love blossom in the most unlikely situation?

Website / Twitter

Sarah here: What a great list! Readers, which one wins as your favorite? What other romantic quotes do you love? Please share your thoughts in the comment section, and thank you all so much for being here. Shadonna, it's been a pleasure. You've already got an Amazon bestseller on your hands, so I'll simply wish you a long, leisurely stay at the top. ;c)

"A Tryst of Fate" with H.C. Brown

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Enjoy a private TRYST with H.C. Brown's latest release! Click image for details and purchase information.

Today I'm thrilled to welcome H.C. Brown, who not only *always* has an Amazon best seller (or three) among her titles, but happens to be an incredible friend. Her latest release is available from Silver Publishing, and she's here today to tell us all about it. She's also got a copy of her book for one of you, so stay tuned to the end to find out how you can win it!

Welcome, H.C.! It's great to have you back. You've been busy lately! Can you tell us about your most recent release, A TRYST OF FATE?

I had the idea to have a man sent back in time, who would be the complete opposite of what was considered 'normal' in Georgian England. Colt Daniels is six-five and built like a linebacker and I had so much fun writing about his exploits in 1775. Of course, as usual my plots end up as tender love stories. T

I SO love the idea of him being "out of place" in the era. That certainly has to make for some interesting reading. ;c) Early on, Colt is captivated by a painting. What about the painting of Lord Alexander Swift captured Colt's attention? Does it begin as a surface attraction, or is the draw bone deep?

Colt is refurbishing an old Georgian house, he finds a portrait of the owner and there is an instant connection.

Sounds like one he couldn't deny, and considering the events to follow I'd have to say the connection was a good one, lol. How did you research the historical aspects of this book?

I spent three months researching the Georgian period for A Tryst of Fate and Lord & Master. I read a lot of court documents for the feel of the time and of course, read as much information as I could find on the other social and economic history of the time.

Court documents—that's one I haven't heard before. How clever! What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of A TRYST OF FATE?

I usually give my stories a little twist and a lot of conflict and this one is the same.

Even the title has the "twist" in it, LOL. Let's have some fun with A TRYST OF FATE. What's the first sentence?

Colt Daniels lifted his bidder's card. "Thirty thousand."

Wow, he most certainly does mean business! LOL. What's your favorite line in the book?

The last one LOL.

Oh, nice tease! ;c) How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that's it. Three!

Colt gazed down at the glossy illustration. A trickle of ice slid down his spine. The portrait of the Honorable David Fitzhugh depicted a tall, muscular man with dark flowing hair—and the royal blue eyes that stared back at him were his own.

Wow. Talk about a connection! What are you currently working on? 

Lord & Master has just been published by Noble Romance, a M/M historical, BDSM  romance novel.

I'm working on three  stories, Hurt Me Good a M/M BDSM novel, Vanilla Boy a BDSM novella and #4 in the Pride Brothers Series. Nox

All destined to be best-sellers, I'm sure! ;c) Let's take a closer look at A TRYST OF FATE.

[image error]A TRYST OF FATE | blurb & links

After inheriting a Georgian house in London Colt Daniels, millionaire art dealer, becomes obsessed with a portrait of the home's former owner, Lord Alexander Swift. Searching for information, Colt goes into the cellar where Alexander Swift and his lover Fitzhugh mysteriously disappeared. When his flashlight fails, Colt finds himself transported to 1775 and comes face to face with the man of his dreams. In a time when man-love led to the hangman's noose, can colt convince Alexander he is the man's destiny?

MORE INFO & BUY @ SILVER PUBLISHING

AUTHOR LINKS @ WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER

**GIVEAWAY**

If you'd like a chance to win A TRYST OF FATE, simply leave a comment with your email address. A winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

H.C., thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and tell us about your newest release. Readers, thank you for joining us today–if you have a moment, please say hello. I hope you'll have a chance to check out some of H.C.'s work. ;c) Have a fantastic day, everyone!

Heather Boyd is "Engaging the Enemy"

To learn more about ENGAGING THE ENEMY and Heather's other books, click image above.

You guys are in for a special treat today! I know Monday is usually my day for prattling on, but today I give you Heather Boyd with a special guest blog and a chance to win goodies. That said, I'm going to get the heck out of the way. Heather mentions cheesecake, and I think that calls for a visit to the kitchen while she's got you all occupied. :c) Heather, take it away!

Hi Sarah, thanks for having me here today.

When I watch the movie When Harry Met Sally I start to think about the way I live my life. Could I sit in a diner and fake a screamer? Could I ever, even accidentally, have sex with Billy Crystal? Probably best for all concerned that I don't try either. Not sure my husband would forgive me for the latter. The first, though, he'd probably laugh at and then make me take a bow.

I'm low maintenance, unlike Sally from When Harry Met Sally. She likes it the way she likes it. I do wonder if I'd be still married if I had her attitude. But she got me thinking about what's important to me. So after much pondering and silent inner debate here is my top 10 things that make me happy:

10. Baked Cheesecake — my biggest weakness. I have no resistance. Utterly none.

9. The Princess Bride. There really is no other choice for a good pirate story to cheer your day.

8. Fog. Enough said, yes?

7. John Cusack — I've been a fan since The Sure Thing and he's never let me down since.

6. Coffee — I do not function without my daily dose

5. Sherlock (TV series) – the second season is utterly awesome

4. Sunrise. I love mornings

3. Rupert Penry Jones — just because he exists. So pretty

2. Lindt Chocolate Balls. Large white chocolate goodness with a deliciously gooey centre. Perfection.

1. Writing. Big surprise, huh? I am constantly amazed that I fell into this career. I've been a public servant (mastered the hour long 10 minute morning tea), a financial planner (blitzed the complicated excel spread sheet), bookshop owner (almost as good as writing) and a lot in between but I've finally found my bliss.

Engaging the Enemy is the first book in my new regency series, The Wild Randalls. The series is about three brothers, and one hot-headed sister, torn apart by the machinations of their own family and the lengths they will go to find each other and their place in society again. Engaging the Enemy is Leopold Randall's story as he returns to Romsey Abbey, home of his young cousin, the Duke of Romsey, in search of information. But nothing at Romsey is as he expects and his whole life is turned upside down by what he discovers there.

ENGAGING THE ENEMY | blurb

A duchess should be regal, aloof and the image of calm elegance. But those words have never applied to Mercy Randall, Duchess of Romsey. A widow and mother of a young duke, Mercy is lonely and floundering to keep the estate afloat. When she discovers the existence of Leopold Randall, her husband's estranged cousin, Mercy commits to help him locate his missing siblings if he'll return the estate to order. Although cautioned against trusting a man who would inherit everything should her son die, she impetuously hands over the estate to Leopold's care in the hope of keeping him near.

Leopold Randall, heir to the young duke, has returned to Hampshire to demand information regarding the fate of his missing siblings. Unfortunately, the Duchess of Romsey is clueless about them, yet her struggle to maintain the estate tugs at Leopold's sense of duty. At her insistence, he steps in to bring order to chaos while searching for hints to his family's whereabouts amongst the old duke's papers. Yet the duchess tempts him in ways best unspoken. He fights to hide his weakness for her and a shameful past that could see him banished again. But when Leopold discovers a threat against the duchess and young duke's life, he must join forces with the temptress to protect his last known relative.

Of course, I fully expect that my top 10 will change from year to year but I'm pretty sure I'll always love writing. To celebrate the release of Engaging the Enemy, we are giving away a digital edition to one random commenter. To enter, simply list your top 3 things that make you happy.

HEATHER BOYD | bio & linkage

Heather Boyd is the author of erotic romance with an historical bent. A fan of regency England settings, she writes m/f and m/m stories that push the boundaries of propriety and even break the laws of that time. Brimming with new ideas, she frequently wishes she could type as fast as she can conjure up new storylines. Heather lives with her testosterone-fuelled family north of Sydney.

Her published work include: The Distinguished Rogues (Chills, Broken & Charity), The Hunt Club Chronicles (Almost an Equal, Barely a Master & Hardly a Stranger) and short erotic romance One Wicked Night, In the Widow's Bed, Love Me Tender, Wicked Mourning and The Almack's Alternative.

Links @ Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Smashwords | Book Trailer | Email: heather@heather-boyd.com

**GIVEAWAY**

Don't y'all go anywhere without entering Heather's giveaway! To enter, list the top three things which make you happy. Be sure to leave your email address when you comment. Thanks so much for being here, Heather, and have a wonderful day everyone!

 

 

03.04.12 #SixSunday with Tide of Lies

Can't wait for this one? Check out FAMILIAR LIGHT (on sale for $1.50!) to get the early scoop on the unsolved murders leading to the LIES! Last week, Holden had to leave Julia at his apartment to chase a lead in her attack. Julia vowed to herself she'd tell Holden the truth when he returned, but someone else got to her first. This snippet is from Holden's POV when he discovers her missing.

The speed at which panic infiltrated his system might have left him wondering about the depths of his feelings for Julia, had he the ability to think of anything beyond finding her alive and well. The alternative? He wasn't going there.

Working his way across the room, he glanced back and saw the chain busted from the door through which he'd entered. The sight of it hanging uselessly from the jamb bludgeoned him from within. Uninvited guests were never a good sign, particularly within the realm of a murder investigation—at this point, he didn't need proof the cases were related; his gut demanded evidence they weren't.

TIDE OF LIES – romantic suspense coming April 2, 2012 to Noble Romance (excerpt subject to the wrath of my editor)

Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time!  To see other participating authors, click here.

03.03.2012 #SweetSat Samples: Unforgiven

Riley Beckett's past just came back to haunt her ... and this time he's got a gun. UNFORGIVEN ... click image.

Congratulations to dz59001(at)etc, this week's gift card winner! If you'd like to be eligible for my weekly giveaways of a $10 gift card to Noble Romance or $5 to Amazon (winner's choice), simply subscribe by email using the box to your left. You'll be automatically entered every week for as long as you remain a subscriber.

Gage and Riley were once lovers, but a deadly twist of fate tore them apart. Now, one year later, they're thrown together by a murder in which Gage was the intended victim and Riley is wanted for the crime. Last week they narrowly escaped a house fire which Gage believes to have been rigged. Now, he's relaying the details to his boss, Maverick, via phone.

Maverick's ability to spew profanity had improved significantly in the handful of months since Gage signed on. It took a good sixty seconds before Gage could understand a word Maverick said . . . or maybe it just took that long for him to say anything intelligible. Either way, it was impressive.

"What the hell were you thinking going into his house? I told you—"

"You told me not to kill him," Gage said, cutting him off and earning a sharp look of alarm from Riley. "And I didn't touch him."

"You burned down his house."

"No, he burned down his house. The question is, why."

BUY @ NOBLE ROMANCE | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

For more Sweet Saturday clean excerpts, click here.

UNFORGIVEN

Riley Beckett's past just came back to haunt her . . . and this time, he's got a gun.

When Gage Lawton finds his brother shot dead on his back porch, every shred of evidence points to one person: Gage's former lover, Riley. He and she didn't part ways on good terms, and he's not planning to rekindle anything now–not when he's got a revolver pointed at her head and a finger on the trigger.

A year after Riley swore she and Gage were over, he returns in a hail of gunfire. One look into those achingly familiar blue eyes and she knows how wrong she was to let him go, but now far more than their heated past stands in the way. A twist of fate puts them in the crosshairs of a killer, leaving Riley with two slim options:  trust her greatest betrayer or face a murderer on her own.

BUY @ NOBLE ROMANCE | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE