Vicky Dreiling's Blog, page 18
May 20, 2011
Goodreads Giveaway for HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL
Enter for a chance to win one of 10 free copies of HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL on Goodreads. The contest runs until June 17, 2011 (US & CA only). To read an excerpt click on this hyper link for HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL, which will be on the shelves June 28, 2011!
May the Magic Romance Fairies be with you!
Cheers!
Vicky
May 16, 2011
Book Giveaway RIPE FOR PLEASURE!
Cheers!
Vicky
Winner Announced: Spotlighting Historical Romance Author Isobel Carr & a Giveaway
Congratulations to Chris S – you won a copy of RIPE FOR PLEASURE! Please email Isobel at: izzy@isobelcarr.com for instructions to get your copy. Thanks everyone for stopping by. Stay tuned for more featured historical romances and giveaways!
Happy Monday, everyone! I know you're thinking what's good about Monday? Books, of course!
Like all of you, I just love a sexy hero in romance novels. So after seeing the gorgeous cover of Isobel Carr's new historical romance RIPE FOR PLEASURE, I asked her to tell us what inspired her hero. Isobel will be giving away one signed copy of her new release to one commenter. Please welcome Isobel!
***
Lord Leonidas Vaughn. Leo. Just where did he come from? That was the question posed to me for this blog post. When I started the proposal that turned into RIPE FOR PLEASURE, the series was about two brothers and a sister. I could see their parents. The father a classics scholar and the mother a great fan of English and Scottish history. Each kid would have a crazy name. One from dad, one from mom.
When asked to make the series more hero-centric, I proposed something I've long wanted to do: younger sons! My editor loved the idea, and soon we were off to the races. I already had Leo in my minds eye. Tall, brawny Scot. Son of a Scottish duke. Scion of a slightly mad family. Mother is a force to be reckoned with. Dad is a little more laid back, but there's a core of iron under the façade (he is a duke after all). Elder brother is a bit placid. He's a good eldest son. Will be a solid duke someday. But still a bit of disappointment to mommy who likes the "flair" of the family she married into. Little sister is a wild child. A chip off the maternal block. Middle son, my Leo, is the charmer, the peace maker, the guardian.
His story has to shake all that up. His charm has to fail. His ability to keep all the disparate elements of his family happy has to become impossible, and most importantly, his natural tendency to guard what he loves has to become an obstacle to getting what he wants. He has to be made to choose which parts of him are most important. Which relationships are vital. And he has to do it all while his family meddles and behaves like the ruling aristocrats that they are. Ruthlessness is bred in the bone among the top ten percent (just look at the real history!). And this is especially true for Leo's cousin, who's grown up deprived of everything that should have been his birthright and desperately wants it back.
Finding a heroine for such a man (and such a family) was a bit of a challenge. Originally, Viola was a young widow with family problems of her own. Leo yawned. She was a nice girl, he was sure, but it was all so easy. She'd be so easy to seduce. Too easy. He needed someone with a bit more spark, and a much darker backstory . . . so, yes, still a widow. But one who eloped really young and was widowed not long after. Someone who'd lost things. A girl left with nothing and no one. A girl who grew into a woman while making hard choices and keeping her eye on the goal. Workhouse or pampered mistress? It's not a hard choice, really. Viola had learned the hard way that practicality and facing reality head-on were better choices than fantasy and blind trust in providence. Cynical. Wounded. Oh, yeah. She's really a classic rake from an old skool romance waiting to be rescued and redeemed (I can't help it, I seem to have a *thing* for second chance stories and I like my heroines on the naughty side).
So there you have it: ruthless eccentrics, wounded hearts, a bit of role reversal, characters who are all antiheroes/antiheroines, and a whole lotta baggage to lug around and sort out before there's any hope of an HEA.
***
Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one signed copy of RIPE FOR PLEASURE. (US & Canada Only Please)
Spotlighting Historical Romance Author Isobel Carr & a Giveaway
Happy Monday, everyone! I know you're thinking what's good about Monday? Books, of course!
Like all of you, I just love a sexy hero in romance novels. So after seeing the gorgeous cover of Isobel Carr's new historical romance RIPE FOR PLEASURE, I asked her to tell us what inspired her hero. Isobel will be giving away one signed copy of her new release to one commenter. Please welcome Isobel!
***
Lord Leonidas Vaughn. Leo. Just where did he come from? That was the question posed to me for this blog post. When I started the proposal that turned into RIPE FOR PLEASURE, the series was about two brothers and a sister. I could see their parents. The father a classics scholar and the mother a great fan of English and Scottish history. Each kid would have a crazy name. One from dad, one from mom.
When asked to make the series more hero-centric, I proposed something I've long wanted to do: younger sons! My editor loved the idea, and soon we were off to the races. I already had Leo in my minds eye. Tall, brawny Scot. Son of a Scottish duke. Scion of a slightly mad family. Mother is a force to be reckoned with. Dad is a little more laid back, but there's a core of iron under the façade (he is a duke after all). Elder brother is a bit placid. He's a good eldest son. Will be a solid duke someday. But still a bit of disappointment to mommy who likes the "flair" of the family she married into. Little sister is a wild child. A chip off the maternal block. Middle son, my Leo, is the charmer, the peace maker, the guardian.
His story has to shake all that up. His charm has to fail. His ability to keep all the disparate elements of his family happy has to become impossible, and most importantly, his natural tendency to guard what he loves has to become an obstacle to getting what he wants. He has to be made to choose which parts of him are most important. Which relationships are vital. And he has to do it all while his family meddles and behaves like the ruling aristocrats that they are. Ruthlessness is bred in the bone among the top ten percent (just look at the real history!). And this is especially true for Leo's cousin, who's grown up deprived of everything that should have been his birthright and desperately wants it back.
Finding a heroine for such a man (and such a family) was a bit of a challenge. Originally, Viola was a young widow with family problems of her own. Leo yawned. She was a nice girl, he was sure, but it was all so easy. She'd be so easy to seduce. Too easy. He needed someone with a bit more spark, and a much darker backstory . . . so, yes, still a widow. But one who eloped really young and was widowed not long after. Someone who'd lost things. A girl left with nothing and no one. A girl who grew into a woman while making hard choices and keeping her eye on the goal. Workhouse or pampered mistress? It's not a hard choice, really. Viola had learned the hard way that practicality and facing reality head-on were better choices than fantasy and blind trust in providence. Cynical. Wounded. Oh, yeah. She's really a classic rake from an old skool romance waiting to be rescued and redeemed (I can't help it, I seem to have a *thing* for second chance stories and I like my heroines on the naughty side).
So there you have it: ruthless eccentrics, wounded hearts, a bit of role reversal, characters who are all antiheroes/antiheroines, and a whole lotta baggage to lug around and sort out before there's any hope of an HEA.
***
Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one signed copy of RIPE FOR PLEASURE. (US & Canada Only Please)
May 5, 2011
Giveaway On the Man Candy Monday Blog
Hi everyone!
I'm blogging – or should I say swooning – over Henry Cavill at the Man Candy Monday blog. Today is Henry Cavill's birthday, and since I used him as the model for my hero Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne in my debut historical romance HOW TO MARRY A BOOK, I thought I'd do a giveaway. Click on ManCandyMonday and leave a comment for a chance to win 1 of 5 signed copies of HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. (US & Canada only please) 
April 28, 2011
Guest Post: Donna Grant – Winner Announcement!
Congratulations to Julie! You won a copy of Donna Grant's WICKED HIGHLANDER!
My friend and fellow author Donna Grant is the award winning author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance – Scottish Medieval, historical, dark fantasy, time travel, erotic, and paranormal. We met many years ago at our local RWA chapter and have been friends ever since. I'm thrilled for her success with her Dark Sword series published by St. Martin's Press. Please welcome Donna!
****
The recurring theme of good versus evil shows up in movies and books more often than not. There's a reason for that, I believe. It begins with the choices we make and the circumstances we find ourselves in daily. Every decision, every path we take could take us to good or evil ends.
In UNTAMED HIGHLANDER, the fourth in my Dark Sword series, it's about good versus evil. Evil has many forms. To some it could be the co-worker who never shuts up, or plays their music too loud in the next cubicle. It could be the neighbor who won't mow their lawn or the devious kid down the street that vandalizes things. A "friend" who sabotages everything we do. Or it could be the person out to do you physical harm.
I wanted the "evil" part of my series to be truly wicked, a person who didn't think twice about doing whatever needed to be done to get what they wanted. There's something about knowing someone has aligned themselves with the devil that gives me the willies. And it fit with what I needed in my series.
So just how evil is my villain in UNTAMED HIGHLANDER? As a Druid Deirdre is given a choice to continue on the path of true magic or undergo a ceremony where her soul is given to the devil, making her a drough. Of course, she chooses the evil path, and she's then able to control black magic making her a formidable foe that is nearly unstoppable. Deirdre's goal? To rule the world and have all men bow before her.
She knows just how to put people in circumstances that will leave them no choice but to align themselves with her or risk those they love. Her black magic combined with her ever-growing number of allies puts her in a position to attain everything she wants and more. There's just one thing in her way – a small group of men and women who will do anything to stop her. No matter the costs.
By the same token, I also have Druids who use their magic for good. The heroine in UNTAMED HIGHLANDER is special because she was held as a prisoner by Deirdre and forced to become a drough. Because Isla is forced the evil hasn't really taken her. She's able to use the black magic to strengthen her own magic, and that will help her in the battle with Deirdre. And to give her love to an immortal Warrior who has vowed to kill all droughs – Hayden.
Other heroines have special magic as well like healing, talking to trees, helping plants to grow, or seeing the future. But always they use their magic to help people and fight evil.
What's your favorite good vs evil movie, TV show, or book? 
I'll be giving away a signed copy of WICKED HIGHLANDER to a commenter.
To find out more about me please visit my website at www.donnagrant.com. To read more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of the Warriors, take the quiz, download wallpaper, search characters, or watch the book trailers, please visit www.donnagrant.com/darksword.
hugs,
D
Guest Post: Donna Grant
My friend and fellow author Donna Grant is the award winning author of more than twenty novels spanning multiple genres of romance – Scottish Medieval, historical, dark fantasy, time travel, erotic, and paranormal. We met many years ago at our local RWA chapter and have been friends ever since. I'm thrilled for her success with her Dark Sword series published by St. Martin's Press. Please welcome Donna!
****
The recurring theme of good versus evil shows up in movies and books more often than not. There's a reason for that, I believe. It begins with the choices we make and the circumstances we find ourselves in daily. Every decision, every path we take could take us to good or evil ends.
In UNTAMED HIGHLANDER, the fourth in my Dark Sword series, it's about good versus evil. Evil has many forms. To some it could be the co-worker who never shuts up, or plays their music too loud in the next cubicle. It could be the neighbor who won't mow their lawn or the devious kid down the street that vandalizes things. A "friend" who sabotages everything we do. Or it could be the person out to do you physical harm.
I wanted the "evil" part of my series to be truly wicked, a person who didn't think twice about doing whatever needed to be done to get what they wanted. There's something about knowing someone has aligned themselves with the devil that gives me the willies. And it fit with what I needed in my series.
So just how evil is my villain in UNTAMED HIGHLANDER? As a Druid Deirdre is given a choice to continue on the path of true magic or undergo a ceremony where her soul is given to the devil, making her a drough. Of course, she chooses the evil path, and she's then able to control black magic making her a formidable foe that is nearly unstoppable. Deirdre's goal? To rule the world and have all men bow before her.
She knows just how to put people in circumstances that will leave them no choice but to align themselves with her or risk those they love. Her black magic combined with her ever-growing number of allies puts her in a position to attain everything she wants and more. There's just one thing in her way – a small group of men and women who will do anything to stop her. No matter the costs.
By the same token, I also have Druids who use their magic for good. The heroine in UNTAMED HIGHLANDER is special because she was held as a prisoner by Deirdre and forced to become a drough. Because Isla is forced the evil hasn't really taken her. She's able to use the black magic to strengthen her own magic, and that will help her in the battle with Deirdre. And to give her love to an immortal Warrior who has vowed to kill all droughs – Hayden.
Other heroines have special magic as well like healing, talking to trees, helping plants to grow, or seeing the future. But always they use their magic to help people and fight evil.
What's your favorite good vs evil movie, TV show, or book?
I'll be giving away a signed copy of WICKED HIGHLANDER to a commenter.
To find out more about me please visit my website at www.donnagrant.com. To read more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of the Warriors, take the quiz, download wallpaper, search characters, or watch the book trailers, please visit www.donnagrant.com/darksword.
hugs,
D
April 26, 2011
Happy Release Day to Margaret Mallory!
Margaret Mallory's THE GUARDIAN is book 1 in The Return of the Highlanders series and looks fabulous. Check out the blurb!
THE GUARDIAN
THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I
Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest 
challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.
PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.
As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas — and he won't take no for an answer.
I had the pleasure of meeting Margaret in person at the RWA conference last year when she was a RITA finalist for KNIGHT OF PLEASURE. Margaret is a warm, engaging author and she regularly gets glowing reviews of her books. Romantic Times gave THE GUARDIAN a 4 & 1/2 Top Pick review. For more information, click on the hyperlink: THE GUARDIAN
Congratulations, Margaret. I can't wait to read THE GUARDIAN!
Happy Release Day to Madeline Hunter!
Madeline Hunter's DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS releases today! This is the fourth book in the Rarest of Blooms Series. This one is Daphne and Castleford's story. I love the gorgeous cover. 
I know you'll want to read an excerpt, so click on the link DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS.
I've long been a fan of Madeline's books, starting with BY ARRANGEMENT. Imagine my reaction when my editor informed me that Madeline had provided a wonderful quote for my debut historical romance HOW TO MARRY A DUKE. It was truly dignified -snort! I believe it was more like this: Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
If you're interested in her backlist, click on this link for Madeline's printable blooklist: has a .
Many thanks to Madeline again for the author quote. I can't wait to read DANGEROUS IN DIAMONDS.
Cheers!
Friend Book Feature: Kieran Kramer's CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE
Happy Release Day to my friend Kieran Kramer for her latest release CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE. What I adore about Kieran is her positive outlook on life, and I think that shines through in her books. And isn't this a gorgeous cover!
Click on the hyperlink to read an excerpt of CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MARRIAGE.
Cheers!
