Rae Summers's Blog

Fab new review for ‘Let’s Misbehave’

Three and a half years after the release of my first novella, and reviews are still coming in. Best of all, the reviews only seem to be getting better! Today Google Alerts alerted me to a new review for Let’s Misbehave from Maria at Romantic Historical Reviews. Thanks Maria, and I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

It’s hard to pick a favourite quote from this review, but I’m going with this one: “A novella is a tightly reined format in which to fully explore a full love story but I felt this one did just that.”

You can read the full review here.

Let’s Misbehave is available from Amazon and will soon be available on the other major ebook retailers – watch this space!

Masterly, eloquent and superb sexual tension

Thank you to Romantic Historical Reviews for what has just become my favourite review for Prohibited Passion. Reviewer Anita calls the prose ‘beautiful’ and the portrayal of the Prohibition era ‘fascinating’. Best of all, are her comments on the sexual tension – ‘sweet but hot’.

You can read the rest of the review here: http://www.romantichistoricalreviews.com/prohibited-passions-by-rae-summers/

Summer Loving for only 99c

Check out the Minxes blog today for a special promotion running 15th to 19th July only: 6 romances priced at only 99c each (77p in the UK).

 

Question for historical romance readers

Do you read one particular time period – or do you read quite widely across all periods?

This question came up recently on Kboards, the site for Kindle authors, and I’m curious to know the answer.

At the moment, Amazon lumps all historical romances into one category. Since there is such a vast range of historical settings, from ancient civilisations to 20th century, it can be hard to find books that appeal to your particular tastes if you are more selective about what you read.

It’s particularly interesting that such a large genre is lumped together, when more niche books, like military romance, time-travel romance, holiday-themed romance and sports romance (I kid you not!) have their own categories.

What do you think? Do you think Amazon should create searchable sub-categories for different historical settings or time periods?

If you feel strongly about this, either as a reader or an author, you can add your voice to the call to Amazon here. Click on the yellow ‘Contact us’ button, log in, then click on ‘Something Else’, select ‘More non-order questions’ from the drop down list, then ‘Give Amazon Feedback’ then ‘Opportunities for Improvement.’ Type your email to them and hit send.

I know it sounds complicated but it is easier than it sounds – though Amazon don’t make contacting them easy!

Just out of interest: I’ve heard that Barnes & Noble have 17 sub-categories for historical romance!

 

‘Prohibited Passion’ available for free!

My latest 1920s romance, Prohibited Passion, is free Friday and Saturday on Amazon only. I’d really appreciate it if you’d take the time to download – and if you actually read it and review it,  I promise you my lifelong thanks!

Set on a transatlantic cruise liner, this short, sweet novella tells the story of respectable English widow Jenny, whose careful life is turned upside down when she gets stuck in an elevator with a suave Prohibition gangster.

Prohibited Passion is available from Amazon and Amazon UK.

A change of scenery

There won’t be another Rae Summers for a while, since I’ll be concentrating on my contemporary novels, published under the name Romy Sommer. My first Romy novel, Waking up in Vegas, released this week through Harper Impulse, the brand new romance imprint from Harper Collins.

I am so excited about this story and had such fun writing it that I really want to shout from the rooftops “Buy my book!”

What happens in Vegas…

Waking up to the bright lights of Vegas in an unfamiliar penthouse suite, cocktail waitress Phoenix Montgomery finds she’s covered from head to foot in gold glitter and not alone – aside from the empty bottle of champagne, there’s a mystery man in the shower and a huge sparkly ring on her finger!

Stays in Vegas?

There’s no denying Max Waldburg’s demi-god sex appeal but commitment-phobic Phoenix doesn’t do relationships. Only it seems her new husband (agh!) has other ideas…he’s trying to keep that ring on her finger and his wife firmly back in his bed. The only question on her lips is – why? Or maybe, why not?

Available now on pre-order from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks.

 

 

#Sample Sunday

Here’s a sneak peek into Prohibited Passion, which will be released on Amazon on 1st May. Jazz, Prohibition, and a trans-Atlantic cruise liner form the backdrop for this 1920s romance.

* * *

“It’s a raid!” someone yelled.

The music crashed to a stop, and suddenly people were everywhere, running in all directions and shoving around her.

Colin grabbed her hand and pulled her across the dance floor, to the back of the club behind the podium.

“My stole!” she cried, but the din swallowed her voice.

Then she saw a door that hadn’t been there before, where a concealed panel had slid open in the back wall. Jenny followed Colin through the door, hanging onto his hand so as not to get separated from him in the push of the crowd. Casting one last look back at the club, its dazzling lights still shimmering off every surface, she saw that the waiters had begun to hammer wall panels over the bar, concealing the liquor behind a fake façade. Then she was borne away down another long, dingy corridor and out into the cool, crisp air of an unlit alley at the back of the building.

They followed the crowd into a side street. The wails of police sirens at the front of the building was louder here. She drew a shaky breath of relief, adrenalin coursing through her and making her blood pump and her head clear. And that was when she remembered Tom. Where was he? Had he got out in time? Or had the police found him?

Surely as the owner of the night club, he could not hope to escape unscathed?

“This way.” Colin tucked her arm through his and they headed away from the club at a brisk pace, towards Fifth Avenue where they melted into the late evening crowd.

Tom had made no move. And she hadn’t needed to make a choice.

New cover sneak peek

One of my favourite moments of being an author is when you click open the attachment from the cover artist, your heart in your throat as you wonder if the cover will do justice to the words you’ve laboured so long and so hard over.

With Prohibited Passion, I didn’t have that fear, because the cover existed before the book!

I knew the story I wanted to write, so when an opportunity to win a custom cover design came up on Brenda Novak’s auction, I thought “what the hell?” I set my bid limits and duly forgot about it. Lo and behold, I won the bid and the services of the wonderful Viola Estrella.

Viola’s cover is breathtaking, I’m sure you’ll agree. I kept this image on the pinboard beside my desk all the way through writing the book, and it helped keep me focussed on the characters and the feel of the story. I’m still in love with this cover, not just because it’s so atmospheric, but because it matches the book so well. It’s an upside down way of working, but I highly recommend it!

Prohibited Passion will be on sale on Amazon at the end of April. For a sneak peek at the story, check back here on #SampleSunday.

All the action happens over on my other blog. So if you’v...

All the action happens over on my other blog. So if you’ve stumbled here looking for Rae Summers or Romy Sommer, pop on over to www.romysommer.com and say ‘hi’. Or feel free to browse my Rae books in the right sidebar.

Romance Madness Hop: why I love this book

The theme of The Romance Reviews‘ Romance Madness Hop is books we love.

Since I write historicals, I thought I’d feature an historical novel that was recommended to me separately by three of my writer friends. By the time I reached the end of the Prologue, I understood what they were all raving about. The book is Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase.

This RITA award winner was published by Avon Historical in 1995 and though the cover may seem dated, I predict the words within will become a romance classic.

Jessica Trent is a feisty, unconventional heroine in the Georgette Heyer mold, and the snappy dialogue would have done that grand dame of Regency Romance proud. The book grabbed my attention on page one, and didn’t let go until long after I’d turned the last page. But perhaps the best part of this novel is the hero, the dark, devilish Marquess of Dain. Swoon.

Sebastian Ballister, Marquess of Dain, is every mother’s nightmare. He has devoted to his life to every vice imaginable, and he’s quite happy with that. Just as well his taste in women doesn’t run to ladies of quality, or more reputations than his own would be ruined. Enter Jessica Trent, a no-nonsense, intelligent spinster set on removing her impressionable brother from Dain’s influence. Sparks fly from the first time they meet and soon all of Paris is laying bets on whether she’s the woman to bring the notorious bachelor to his knees.

The game is on and both intend to win. Neither intend for their rivalry to end in marriage. But one compromising kiss is all it takes and before Jessica can catch her breath, she’s whisked back to London, married to the Lord of Scoundrels, and ensconced in the wilds of Dartmoor where the chemistry and the drama are only ratcheted higher.

Lord of Scoundrels is a fast-paced read that is un-put-downable. To see for yourself, read this extract on Loretta Chase’s website.

The Romance Hop runs from 25 to 29 January, and there are prizes galore. To follow the Hop, or to sign up for great prizes, click on the button below.