Michelle Styles's Blog, page 3

Why you should read Reese Ryan's Bourbon Brothers

Over the last year, it has been my pleasure to discover Reese Ryan and her Bourbon Brothers series. It started in a moment of solidarity -- both our books were featured on an ad Harlequin did and so I went looking -- first for her (as Harlequin has a habit of not telling its authors about such things) and then for the book as I spotted something about bourbon and distilleries on her website.
 As luck would have it, the wrong blurb was on Amazon.co.uk  and my heart sunk as I wanted to read about bourbon distilleries and not cowboys. At this point I believe I cemented my crazy lady status to Reese who had no idea about the mix up in blurbs and could not understand about why I was banging on about how writing about a bourbon distillery would be such a great concept but of course cowboys were fine as well. She assured me her books were about bourbon.
The ad which led to my discovery
of Reese RyanI read Savannah's Secrets and was blown away. It was just the right tonic for that particularly day. Then in October, I read the next in the series The Billionaire's Legacy and it was equally as good.
All I can say is read them and enjoy. Bourbon or your fave tipple makes a great accompaniment.
By this point, I considered Reese a friend and therefore had no compunction in strong arming her to get my hands on an arc of Engaging the Enemy, the third book and Parker's story. Happily she obliged, even though  I am convinced she still thinks me crazy (but in a nice sort of way). It went straight to the top of my reading pile and I was not disappointed.
 It is the best of the series so far.
 If you want to see a master author at work, read Engaging the Enemy, her handling of two potentially very difficult characters is amazing.  Her ability to communicate the emotional truth of her characters is incredible.
There are a number of scenes that I loved in the story but my favourite was when the two main characters had to hold hands and recite what they liked about each other. There was a brief visit from Savannah (Book 1) whom I had happened to like.
I cannot change my skin tone,  my DNA or my ancestry but reading allows me the privilege of walking in another's shoes and viewing the world through another's lenses.
 I am so pleased that Reese Ryan decided to share her world with readers. For me, she is one of the best series authors writing at the moment.
My one regret at the moment is that her other writing commitments means I will have to wait a little while for the next installment of the Bourbon Brothers. I can't wait to see what she does next. Reese kindly allowed me to fangirl and even send the recipe I had used last Christmas to make fruit cake laced with bourbon. I think a Christmas set Bourbon brothers would be excellent but it is up to Reese. I personally live in hope.

This is my review:
In her third installment of her highly-readable Bourbon Brothers series, Ryan has excelled herself. Her book more than delivers on the Desire promise of sensual glamour, heroes to fall in love with and strong capable heroines. The story and the characters will linger in your mind long after you finish the book. The story is stand-alone but for readers who started with earlier books, there is a welcome return to the Bourbon Brothers' world and a chance to catch up with characters. Savannah, the heroine of Savannah's Secrets, is in several key scenes in the early part of the book, for example. In Parker Abbott, Ryan has taken a potentially difficult hero (he prefers data to interacting with people any day and his people skills are not the best to say the least) and created an alpha hero to really root for as he falls for his former childhood friend, Kayleigh  who now despises him and his family for the wrongs she thinks they did to her family. However, Kayleigh, a woman who has made sure she can find a way to exit every relationship, needs a handsome fake fiance who knows that the relationship has an end date and Parker fits the bill. The growth of their emotional relationship had me turning the pages long after I should have been asleep and the ending brought a huge lump to my throat. Ryan's writing is as ever as smooth and rich as a fine glass of bourbon.My only regret at reading this so fast is that I now have to wait a long time for the next installment.So what you are waiting for? Grab a glass of bourbon (or your favourite tipple) and treat yourself to a wonderful feel-good read.
You can buy the book here:Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Twl99J
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2OqRcCa
iTunes: https://apple.co/2JGYmnd
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2JHgmO4
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2FuJO4z
Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/2Wm4Yc3
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HHbiaAReese is currently doing a giveaway:
Giveaway ($25 reader’s choice gift card): http://bit.ly/EngagingGiveawayHer website is here:Author Website: http://ReeseRyan.comPersonally I'd sign up for her newsletter as she does have exclusive excerpts etc. It is a great way to discover what is coming up next.Newsletter: http://bit.ly/VIPReaderListAnd I really enjoy her VIP readers group on Facebook -- it is a great place to discover new to me authors -- particularly Authors of Colour.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReeseRyanWrites/

Historical Treasures feature.

Woo Hoo!
I am very excited. Sent as the Viking's Bride is one of the featured books this week in Collette Cameron's Historical Treasures. http://bit.ly/HighlandTreasures_1_8_19

Every week Collette features some of the best new releases and bargains in the historical romance genre. You can find more about her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/historical-treasures
It is a great way to uncover hidden gems.

Wanted:Have you seen this book?

As part of Harlequin's attempt to get Harlequin Historical back into North American retail, they have re-released my book The Warrior's Viking Bride in Walmart and Target stores. It is part of a trial. Who knows if there will be more releases -- it is entirely dependent on how well this book does.
My fingers are firmly crossed that this trial succeeds and Harlequin Historical returns to retail.
So if anyone happens to see it in Walmart or Target, could you please take a photo for me?

All I want for Christmas...

It is that time of year.

What does @michellelstyles want for Christmas?Find out on @AngiMorganAuthr’s @GetLostInAStory
http://bit.ly/GLIAS_Styles$20.00 #Giveaway to a blog commenter.Ends 12/14

A favourite quote from my latest

This is a favourite quote from my latest novel SENT AS THE VIKING'S BRIDE
You can read the first chapter for free  on overdrive.com 
Currently available for purchase at harlequin.com and  millsandboon.co.uk

An excellent reference manual for self-editing your manuscript

Troubleshooting Your Novel: 100 Incredibly Practical Ways to Fix Your Fiction by Steven James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent manual to help you edit a manuscript and ranks up there with Self Editing for Fiction Writers in terms of its effectiveness. It is a book aimed at helping the author revise or edit the manuscript. His earlier book Story Trumps Structure is about the organic process of writing a manuscript.
The one caveat I would have is that James has little idea or interest in the romance genre as he primarily writes thrillers aimed at men. Thus those two chapters are far weaker than the rest of the book (78 other chapters). However as I have written over 27 bestselling romances for Harlequin, I was not as concerned about that section -- I just rolled my eyes and muttered a few unprintable words.
The other sections are excellent however. The chart in the show (render) v tell (summarize) chapter is one of the best I have seen and is certainly worth the price of the book. The questions and fine-tuning your manuscript in each chapter are thought provoking.
It is a book which has made me think. I suspect it is a book that will find a place on many writers' desks for many years to come.


View all my reviews

A great book for any author seeking to improve her social media skills.

Building Online Relationships: One Reader at a Time by LaShaunda Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you want to get better at social media, read this inspiring and thoroughly helpful book. Hoffman sets out simple steps about how to improve your social media skills. She breaks things down into bite-sized portions and allows you to set your own goals. I have read it and am still working out my plans but it has inspired me so much. It is a book I plan to go back to.
The book was recommended to me as a must-read for any author seeking to improve her social media skill set and I agree it is true. My only slight quibble is that social media moves so quickly that the book could do with an update.
Nevertheless, it is pure gold dust.


View all my reviews

cover reveal SENT AS THE VIKING'S BRIDE

As I just discovered my cover and blurb today and am so thrilled!

She’s the wife he doesn’t want……and the woman he needs!Desperate to escape her murderous brother-in-law and protect her young sister, Ragnhild agrees to marry an unknown warrior, and arrives penniless at his remote island. Only Gunnar Olafson’s belief in love died with his family—he does not want a bride! But as yuletide approaches Ragnhild transforms his isolated existence. Can she melt her Viking warrior’s frozen heart?
To be published 27 December 2018.

Make a Date with Harlequin --Super sale until April 8 2018

To celebrate its Make a Date with Harlequin Spring campaign Harlequin has put 60 of its ebook backlist on super special  of $1.99. This includes 8 of my Vikings! This is across all e-book channels (so wherever good ebooks are sold in  North America). My titles on super special are:

Taken by the VikingThe Viking's Captive PrincessPaying the Viking's PriceReturn of the Viking WarriorSold to the Viking WarriorSummer of the VikingTaming His Viking WomanSaved by the Viking  Warrior

Celebrate Valentine's Day with New Authors (and me)

Because I am so excited about my new book The Warrior's Viking Bride, I have joined  forces with Book Sweeps in their latest giveaway  -- 40+ books to be won as well as a brand new e-reader including a signed copy of THe Warrior's Viking Bride.

I am also sending out my v occasional newsletter tomorrow (14 Feb 2018) which has details of a giveway for my subscribers. This is open to all my worldwide readers. If you have not signed up yet, there is still time.

It is very easy to enter the Booksweeps contest -- so why not give it a go? Enter HERE

And I had another lovely early review for The Warrior's Viking Bride from Chicks, Rogues and Scandals. It is so wonderful when a reader *gets* what the book is about.  My favourite bit was: Ms Styles has created an original and I found it to be a very moving story about moving on, and second chances. The storyline is a wonderful blend of romance and action with that seductive and mysterious quality that you only get from the Medieval era. I think Ms Styles has got Aeden and Dagmar spot on, they are both highly charged individuals who need the other in each of their lives.
This is so good, I cannot recommend it more. You can read the full review here