Eliza Lloyd's Blog, page 9
December 23, 2015
A Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to celebrate the holidays I am giving away ebooks! What you sayz? Yep, all of the ebooks I have released are eligible (and are still "in print" and not including anthologies).
Is there a book missing from your collection? Or are you just starting out and not sure what to read?
Here's all you gotta do:
1) On the front page of my blog sign up for Eliza by Email
2) In the comments of this thread, tell me which ebook you want - don't forget your email address and how you want the book delivered (Nook, Kindle, etc.) The first person to tag/claim one of my ebook wins it. If someone beats you to the book you wanted, post a second choice in another comment. We'll do this until one of each book has been claimed or until December 31st. Oh, and one win per person.
Remember: First person to claim a book by its title, wins it!I'm limiting this to Kindle, Nook and Ellora's Cave, since I have accounts with each of them.
December 20, 2015
My Writer Friends: Welcome Ruth D. Kerce!
I'm so happy to have my friend Ruth Kerce in to tell us about her Christmas novellas. How did we become friends? We shared a release day some years ago (plus we are Word With Friends competitors.)
CHRISTMAS READS from Ruth D. Kerce
A big thank you to the wonderful Eliza Lloyd for allowing me to promo my newest Christmas release on her blog. I’m also going to sneak in a promo for a limited-time, Christmas freebie for readers. I hope you enjoy both stories.
CHRISTMAS COWBOY is part of the Reindeer Games multi-author, holiday series. My particular story is a stand-alone, short novella (erotic romance).
==========BLURB: He breeds horses. So what’s a cowboy do with reindeer? She knows he can breed & sell the reindeer, if he’ll only believe. Together they find their miracle and also find love.==========
This story was such fun to write. I write multi-genre romances, but being born and raised in Oklahoma, sexy cowboys are always a favorite for me to write.
Purchase CHRISTMAS COWBOY at:Amazon- B&N- ARe- ChangelingPress
XMAS AFFAIR is a short contemporary, holiday story which I indie published several years ago. It’s a sensual romance and a quick read, showing that holiday wishes can come true...
==========BLURB: There's no hunk to kiss under the mistletoe until a past love reappears in her life. He left her once. Can she ever trust him again? Does she even want to?==========
This story will be free at Amazon from Dec 23rd through Dec 27th (if Amazon runs the promo as scheduled). Tell your friends!
Download XMAS AFFAIR free (for a limited time) only at: Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Ruth D. Kerce was born in Oklahomato a military family. She’s lived various places, including overseas. Not wanting to be confined in her stories, she decided to write multi-genre romances and loves the variety and freedom it gives her. She holds multiple degrees and has been a teacher, analyst & web guru. Now living in Nevada, she writes fulltime when life doesn’t get in the way. Ruth’s website: http://www.RuthKerce.com Connect on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthKerceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthDKerce
Or email Ruth: RDKerce@aol.com
CHRISTMAS READS from Ruth D. Kerce
A big thank you to the wonderful Eliza Lloyd for allowing me to promo my newest Christmas release on her blog. I’m also going to sneak in a promo for a limited-time, Christmas freebie for readers. I hope you enjoy both stories.CHRISTMAS COWBOY is part of the Reindeer Games multi-author, holiday series. My particular story is a stand-alone, short novella (erotic romance).
==========BLURB: He breeds horses. So what’s a cowboy do with reindeer? She knows he can breed & sell the reindeer, if he’ll only believe. Together they find their miracle and also find love.==========
This story was such fun to write. I write multi-genre romances, but being born and raised in Oklahoma, sexy cowboys are always a favorite for me to write.
Purchase CHRISTMAS COWBOY at:Amazon- B&N- ARe- ChangelingPress
XMAS AFFAIR is a short contemporary, holiday story which I indie published several years ago. It’s a sensual romance and a quick read, showing that holiday wishes can come true...==========BLURB: There's no hunk to kiss under the mistletoe until a past love reappears in her life. He left her once. Can she ever trust him again? Does she even want to?==========
This story will be free at Amazon from Dec 23rd through Dec 27th (if Amazon runs the promo as scheduled). Tell your friends!
Download XMAS AFFAIR free (for a limited time) only at: Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Ruth D. Kerce was born in Oklahomato a military family. She’s lived various places, including overseas. Not wanting to be confined in her stories, she decided to write multi-genre romances and loves the variety and freedom it gives her. She holds multiple degrees and has been a teacher, analyst & web guru. Now living in Nevada, she writes fulltime when life doesn’t get in the way. Ruth’s website: http://www.RuthKerce.com Connect on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthKerceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthDKerce
Or email Ruth: RDKerce@aol.com
December 3, 2015
Regency Country Life
I am very much charmed by English country homes with the large barns, green hill sides with grazing sheep, rock fences and nearby streams with the gently turning water wheels. These were the homes of squires and modest barons. The Bennets had such a home in Pride and Prejudice.
They had great names, usually prompted by a local natural feature or nearby historical monument: Broadoaks, Moat Farm, Oak Farm, Lakeland, Manor Farm, Church Farm, Old Hall Farm. In Wicked Siren (Wicked Affairs, 6) , my country baron Alex Preston lived in Kent at Oak Hoo:
“Prior to my family owning the home, it was called Oak Hoo. Hoo being an old Saxon name for the spur of a hill.”“Oak Hill, is it?”“No. We never changed the name. Mosteveryone still calls the place Hoo.”
Naturally when I pictured Oak Hoo, I pictured this.
And then there was Glen Arbor, the home of Edward Chase, the Earl of Redding. This story was Wicked Lord (Wicked Affairs, 3). While the home had all of the bucolic earmarks of a country manor, this home was more stately with matching landscaped grounds. Edward even tries to charm his new wife by telling her about the deer that graze on the lawns.
Edward’s gaze followed hers, glancing at the Palladian monument, a testimony to his great-grandfather’s grandiosity. Edward did enjoy the breezy old mansion, but then he’d grown up here, running the fields, swimming its lakes and riding everywhere else.
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from and inspired by the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). That which is recognized as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of Palladio's original concepts. Palladio's work was strongly based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans – Wikipedia
This style was also popular during the colonial period and through the Revolutionary War in America. Palladian can still be considered a simple, boxy style home in contrast to the showy Georgian architecture which would typically involved white paint, crescent shapes and wrought iron balconies.
It is hard for some to think of the Regency period outside of London ballrooms and the flurry of the Season but the country house parties, the poor relatives and the vicar’s daughter were best featured in rural settings. I find a lot of comfort in the idea of changing seasons, planting and plowing and the inevitable cycle of life and death. Both the squire and the duke would maintain their herds, breed their horse stock and “chill” in the country.
Nearly all of my story arcs end up in the country: for healing, for peace, for family time. I find the English countryside to be one of my favorite story settings.
They had great names, usually prompted by a local natural feature or nearby historical monument: Broadoaks, Moat Farm, Oak Farm, Lakeland, Manor Farm, Church Farm, Old Hall Farm. In Wicked Siren (Wicked Affairs, 6) , my country baron Alex Preston lived in Kent at Oak Hoo:
“Prior to my family owning the home, it was called Oak Hoo. Hoo being an old Saxon name for the spur of a hill.”“Oak Hill, is it?”“No. We never changed the name. Mosteveryone still calls the place Hoo.”Naturally when I pictured Oak Hoo, I pictured this.
And then there was Glen Arbor, the home of Edward Chase, the Earl of Redding. This story was Wicked Lord (Wicked Affairs, 3). While the home had all of the bucolic earmarks of a country manor, this home was more stately with matching landscaped grounds. Edward even tries to charm his new wife by telling her about the deer that graze on the lawns.
Edward’s gaze followed hers, glancing at the Palladian monument, a testimony to his great-grandfather’s grandiosity. Edward did enjoy the breezy old mansion, but then he’d grown up here, running the fields, swimming its lakes and riding everywhere else.
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from and inspired by the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). That which is recognized as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of Palladio's original concepts. Palladio's work was strongly based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans – Wikipedia
This style was also popular during the colonial period and through the Revolutionary War in America. Palladian can still be considered a simple, boxy style home in contrast to the showy Georgian architecture which would typically involved white paint, crescent shapes and wrought iron balconies.
It is hard for some to think of the Regency period outside of London ballrooms and the flurry of the Season but the country house parties, the poor relatives and the vicar’s daughter were best featured in rural settings. I find a lot of comfort in the idea of changing seasons, planting and plowing and the inevitable cycle of life and death. Both the squire and the duke would maintain their herds, breed their horse stock and “chill” in the country.
Nearly all of my story arcs end up in the country: for healing, for peace, for family time. I find the English countryside to be one of my favorite story settings.November 8, 2015
Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Oh, My!
We're celebrating historical romance all week!
One copy of my book Wicked Secrets is part of the Grand Prize Basket in the Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Oh My event on Facebook. Monica Burns and Amanda Mariel, the event hostesses, have told me the Grand Prize contains over 40 books, mine included. Daily giveaways will be held as well as other fun posts. I hope you will visit Monica's and Amanda's event. The link is http://on.fb.me/1MpxHjh
One copy of my book Wicked Secrets is part of the Grand Prize Basket in the Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Oh My event on Facebook. Monica Burns and Amanda Mariel, the event hostesses, have told me the Grand Prize contains over 40 books, mine included. Daily giveaways will be held as well as other fun posts. I hope you will visit Monica's and Amanda's event. The link is http://on.fb.me/1MpxHjhOctober 22, 2015
Let me introduce you to the Forresters
Hi everyone! I am finishing up the second book in the Infamous Forresters' series. I introduced you to Adam in the novella All A Mistress Wants. The rest of the family wasn't clear to me when I was writing that story but in the second book, about the third son named Joshua, the family is coming into clear focus.The second son, Roman, is the heir to Sterling and Adam's confidant. Roman is a bit of a mystery to his family. He is a gambler but he is so much more.
Joshua is a traveler and an introvert. He loves his books, his maps, his history. And he has a great weakness when it comes to women in trouble. He can't save everyone but he does try. I haven't titled this book yet. It currently has the original title of "Joshua's story."
Nicolas, the fourth son, is off on an adventure in Hudson Bay, Canada. He is a sportsman and a hunter. On a return trip to London he becomes involved with a metis - an American Indian/French woman with an unquenchable spirit.
And then there is Oliver. The youngest son. A military man. Assigned to the HMS Victorious, Oliver's adventures leave him clinging to life, one wild adventure at a time.The Forresters also have a married sister. I haven't made any decisions to write her story but she will be around.
The next story will be out in March 2016 in the Seven Nights of Sin Anthology. Like this page so you can keep up all the latest for this release.
October 10, 2015
Pre-release sale of The Darkness in the Marquess of Dane
On October 14th, my new release The Darkness in the Marquess of Dane will be available but you can get it on sale now for only .99 cents. After that it will back to it's regular price of $2.99. Better hurry.
Here's a new blurb:
“Is deflowering all that you expected?”
She turned away from his mocking gaze. Dane rolled to his side beside her, slowing as he came to rest on his back.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said.
“Is that what you think this is about? That I’m trying to scare you? I have better things to do with my time.”
She sat up in the bed and peered over her shoulder. “I think that you have nothing better to do than intimidate anyone who dares show you a kindness.”
“You aren’t old enough to know that no one is kind without an ulterior motive. And, in case you’ve forgotten, I’m paying you. Neither kindness nor fear has anything to do with our time together. Unless I wish it.”
He swung his feet off the bed. “Dress yourself, Miss Turnbow. I’ll send for the carriage.”
So he wasn’t going to accept the price for which they had bargained. She couldn’t read anything into his decision. Should she be insulted that he did not want her? Or should she be thankful his reasons for entering into their Faustian bargain were to remain unclear and unfulfilled?
If he was inviting her to leave, she wouldn’t hesitate. She ignored the torn undergarments but buttoned her short jacket. Her cape would cover a multitude of outward sins. Her conscience would have to deal with everything else.
Dane stood at the table, his robe still disarranged and too revealing. He had collected a metal box that now sat before him with the lid thrown back. “Your money,” he said, glancing at her as she approached.
He threw the money on the table one bill at a time, giving her time to count. When he stopped at two thousand five hundred, she said, “But you’ve already given me five hundred.”
“Humor me.”
She reached for the money, feeling a moment of uncertainty now that Dane’s sexual excesses officially tainted her. Tarnished, that was what she was.
He started a second stack that grew to five thousand pounds, the pile of money in a small mound on the table.
“Another week, Miss Turnbow. What do you say?”
* * * * *
Mark stood at the library door, drink in hand, when Christina came in the front door of their townhouse.
Looking at her brother was more difficult than she imagined it might be—after the events of last night.
“You look like you could use a drink,” he said.
She did not bother to remove her cape, instead brushing past him and walking to the sideboard. She had never been interested in hard alcohol, preferring sweet drinks like ratafia or lemonade. Drunkenness to the point of forgetfulness seemed a good idea for the first time in her life. It would dull her memory temporarily, but she thought she’d earned a few hours to disconnect from her new reality, that of a fallen woman.
She poured the brandy into her glass and lifted it with shaking fingers. Mark reached around her and took the glass.
“Christina.”
She turned into his chest and his arms went around her.
There were no racking sobs, but the trickle of tears came. The pent up pressure crumbled beneath her brother’s support.
“I got the money,” she said. Before she left, Dane had stood at his table, counting out the bills as if they were ha’pennies. And then, when he’d counted out another five thousand, she’d almost gotten sick. His offer was untenable and no one would ever have to know about the new offer or the twenty-four hours she had agreed to spend with him.
“Am I the worst brother in Christendom, allowing you to do this wretched thing?”
“I had to help, Mark.”
“I know.”
“And you will be happy to know I am still a virgin.”
Mark took her by the shoulders at held her at arm’s length. “Dane? He didn’t touch you?”
She sucked in a breath and she felt the crush of anxiety at the realization of what she had done. “I didn’t say that. He is…very different.”
She reached for the brandy. Mark didn’t stop her this time. Once she swallowed, the golden elixir trailed down her throat, leaving behind a scorching reminder that she was not a practiced drinker.
She coughed and set the glass aside.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
“I will make this up to you some day. I don’t know how, but I promise I will.”
“Just help John make this right. Use this money wisely so that when I do have to give up my virginity, it is to a man who will appreciate my worth.”
Here's a new blurb:
“Is deflowering all that you expected?”
She turned away from his mocking gaze. Dane rolled to his side beside her, slowing as he came to rest on his back.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said.
“Is that what you think this is about? That I’m trying to scare you? I have better things to do with my time.”
She sat up in the bed and peered over her shoulder. “I think that you have nothing better to do than intimidate anyone who dares show you a kindness.”
“You aren’t old enough to know that no one is kind without an ulterior motive. And, in case you’ve forgotten, I’m paying you. Neither kindness nor fear has anything to do with our time together. Unless I wish it.”
He swung his feet off the bed. “Dress yourself, Miss Turnbow. I’ll send for the carriage.”
So he wasn’t going to accept the price for which they had bargained. She couldn’t read anything into his decision. Should she be insulted that he did not want her? Or should she be thankful his reasons for entering into their Faustian bargain were to remain unclear and unfulfilled?
If he was inviting her to leave, she wouldn’t hesitate. She ignored the torn undergarments but buttoned her short jacket. Her cape would cover a multitude of outward sins. Her conscience would have to deal with everything else.
Dane stood at the table, his robe still disarranged and too revealing. He had collected a metal box that now sat before him with the lid thrown back. “Your money,” he said, glancing at her as she approached.
He threw the money on the table one bill at a time, giving her time to count. When he stopped at two thousand five hundred, she said, “But you’ve already given me five hundred.”
“Humor me.”
She reached for the money, feeling a moment of uncertainty now that Dane’s sexual excesses officially tainted her. Tarnished, that was what she was.
He started a second stack that grew to five thousand pounds, the pile of money in a small mound on the table.
“Another week, Miss Turnbow. What do you say?”
* * * * *
Mark stood at the library door, drink in hand, when Christina came in the front door of their townhouse.
Looking at her brother was more difficult than she imagined it might be—after the events of last night.
“You look like you could use a drink,” he said.
She did not bother to remove her cape, instead brushing past him and walking to the sideboard. She had never been interested in hard alcohol, preferring sweet drinks like ratafia or lemonade. Drunkenness to the point of forgetfulness seemed a good idea for the first time in her life. It would dull her memory temporarily, but she thought she’d earned a few hours to disconnect from her new reality, that of a fallen woman.
She poured the brandy into her glass and lifted it with shaking fingers. Mark reached around her and took the glass.
“Christina.”
She turned into his chest and his arms went around her.
There were no racking sobs, but the trickle of tears came. The pent up pressure crumbled beneath her brother’s support.
“I got the money,” she said. Before she left, Dane had stood at his table, counting out the bills as if they were ha’pennies. And then, when he’d counted out another five thousand, she’d almost gotten sick. His offer was untenable and no one would ever have to know about the new offer or the twenty-four hours she had agreed to spend with him.
“Am I the worst brother in Christendom, allowing you to do this wretched thing?”
“I had to help, Mark.”
“I know.”
“And you will be happy to know I am still a virgin.”
Mark took her by the shoulders at held her at arm’s length. “Dane? He didn’t touch you?”
She sucked in a breath and she felt the crush of anxiety at the realization of what she had done. “I didn’t say that. He is…very different.”
She reached for the brandy. Mark didn’t stop her this time. Once she swallowed, the golden elixir trailed down her throat, leaving behind a scorching reminder that she was not a practiced drinker.
She coughed and set the glass aside.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
“I will make this up to you some day. I don’t know how, but I promise I will.”
“Just help John make this right. Use this money wisely so that when I do have to give up my virginity, it is to a man who will appreciate my worth.”
September 30, 2015
Wicked Affairs, Book Seven - Readers' choice
Decisions, decisions.
I'm toying with book seven in the Wicked Affairs series. I've got three stories I'm working on and want your opinion on the book you most want to read. The titles are all tentative so don't read anything into them AND the stories aren't under contract yet either (so a contract will win out, no matter how things go here). So here they are:
Option One:
Wicked Shades
Audrina and Gray Paquin find themselves in a problematic marriage. Gray is the consummate gentleman but his wife needs a very strong hand. Audrina is the sister to Clarissa (Wicked Desires) and Juliana (Wicked Indiscretions).
Option Two:
Wicked Scandal
Emberline Booth (we met her briefly at Glen Arbor, Edward Chase's home in Wicked Lord) is a long time acquaintance of Trenton James (we met him in Wicked Siren, one of Viviana Love's backstage admirers), one of the ton scoundrels, who has suddenly set his gaze upon widow Emberline. She'd rejected Trenton once and he'd punished her in return - causing great harm to both families. What is she to do know that she really needs him?
Option Three:
Wicked Jade
Viscount Robert North (brother of Emberline Booth) is tempted by a married woman. (I know who this is, but to tell you would give away an upcoming storyline).
Leave a comment for the story you'd most like to read... And please bear with me on which ever story it ends up being.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
I'm toying with book seven in the Wicked Affairs series. I've got three stories I'm working on and want your opinion on the book you most want to read. The titles are all tentative so don't read anything into them AND the stories aren't under contract yet either (so a contract will win out, no matter how things go here). So here they are:
Option One:
Wicked ShadesAudrina and Gray Paquin find themselves in a problematic marriage. Gray is the consummate gentleman but his wife needs a very strong hand. Audrina is the sister to Clarissa (Wicked Desires) and Juliana (Wicked Indiscretions).
Option Two:
Wicked Scandal
Emberline Booth (we met her briefly at Glen Arbor, Edward Chase's home in Wicked Lord) is a long time acquaintance of Trenton James (we met him in Wicked Siren, one of Viviana Love's backstage admirers), one of the ton scoundrels, who has suddenly set his gaze upon widow Emberline. She'd rejected Trenton once and he'd punished her in return - causing great harm to both families. What is she to do know that she really needs him?
Option Three:Wicked Jade
Viscount Robert North (brother of Emberline Booth) is tempted by a married woman. (I know who this is, but to tell you would give away an upcoming storyline).
Leave a comment for the story you'd most like to read... And please bear with me on which ever story it ends up being.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
September 19, 2015
Imogene Farrell - Book cover reveal
I've got a new series coming up, something near and dear to my heart, mostly because I love the tough, foul-mouthed orphan Imogene Farrell.
I'm showing the covers here but jump over to the series page and you can also see the blurbs for each book.
I have the lovely Dar Albert to thank. It wasn't easy to find a cover model that would work for all four covers, but she got close. I absolutely love the Book Three cover for the Frenchman's widow - it is so absolutely perfect for that book. Right now, I'm targeting November 1st as the release date for book one!
I'm showing the covers here but jump over to the series page and you can also see the blurbs for each book.
I have the lovely Dar Albert to thank. It wasn't easy to find a cover model that would work for all four covers, but she got close. I absolutely love the Book Three cover for the Frenchman's widow - it is so absolutely perfect for that book. Right now, I'm targeting November 1st as the release date for book one!
September 14, 2015
Play It Cool: Release day September 16th
Wow, this release happened fast. Seems like just yesterday I was editing this story. Play It Cool is book three in the Cold Play series. This is a romantic suspense series, all with international settings from London, England to Athens, Greece and all points in between. The heroes are all very, very bad men who've come to the realization there is only one thing worth dying for - not country, not money, not power - but the women they love.
Blurb for Play It Cool!
Ingrid is attracted to the sexy Spaniard and he’s just the man she needs for a one-night stand. He’s the perfect lover and a great antidote to forgetting her fiancé. Too bad she hasn’t told him who she really is.
Rafe is a thief and liar. He has spent his life breaking hearts and scamming the unsuspecting. Until he is caught up in a scheme that threatens his daughter, Rafe has never considered settling down. Until CIA strongman David Freeman forces him into a corner.
Just as Rafe finds love and lust with the peaceful beauty Ingrid, his world comes crashing down. He learns the hard way the woman he is falling for is the missing Rittenhauser heiress. Just the kind of woman he needs to avoid if he is to change his ways.
And just the kind of woman to despise him for his humble beginnings and illegal activities. One last job for Freeman to earn his freedom and maybe win Ingrid the old fashioned way...with sex and seduction.
Blurb for Play It Cool!
Ingrid is attracted to the sexy Spaniard and he’s just the man she needs for a one-night stand. He’s the perfect lover and a great antidote to forgetting her fiancé. Too bad she hasn’t told him who she really is.
Rafe is a thief and liar. He has spent his life breaking hearts and scamming the unsuspecting. Until he is caught up in a scheme that threatens his daughter, Rafe has never considered settling down. Until CIA strongman David Freeman forces him into a corner.Just as Rafe finds love and lust with the peaceful beauty Ingrid, his world comes crashing down. He learns the hard way the woman he is falling for is the missing Rittenhauser heiress. Just the kind of woman he needs to avoid if he is to change his ways.
And just the kind of woman to despise him for his humble beginnings and illegal activities. One last job for Freeman to earn his freedom and maybe win Ingrid the old fashioned way...with sex and seduction.
August 15, 2015
All A Mistress Wants
Last November, I participated in an anthology titled Wanton Christmas Wishes with a story titled All A Mistress Wants. Well it is finally available on its own. And check out this beautiful cover by Dar Albert from Wicked Smart Designs.
Eloisa Larkin wishes for the one thing she can’t have—the love of the powerful Duke of Sterling. Being his mistress provides many luxuries but being hopelessly devoted to a man who loves another as left her feeling alone and the last thing she wants is to spend Christmastide with him and his family.
In book two, you’ll meet Joshua Forrester and the mysterious woman who’s being immortalized on a scandalous painting. Coming soon!
