Erin Knightley's Blog, page 4

Don't Diss a Decade!

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style><i> (as seen on Lady Scribes today)</i><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Whenever ‘outsiders’ ask about what period my historical romances are set in, they are always fascinated to learn that the Regency was such a short period of time. “Only 1811 to 1820? What makes such a short span of time so special?”</div><div class="MsoNormal">And I have to admit, I am tempted to respond:</div><div class="MsoNormal">What makes a ten year span of time so special? Look at it this way. I am a child of the eighties. I lived in the last great era before cell phones came on the scene, or even call waiting. I knew my parents wanted me home because the sun touched the horizon—not because I got a text.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My days were filled with CareBears, My Little Pony, and She-Ra. I traded Garbage Pail Kid cards and friendship bracelets, listened to New Kids on the Block and wore enough neon to light a skating rink. And I did—light a skating rink, that is. I rocked the side ponytail and teased my bangs to stand straight up on end.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can, to this day, recite every word of Ice, Ice, Baby, and can pull a Hammer Time like nobody’s business. I thought my brother was the coolest person ever for wearing parachute pants—not that I would have EVER told him as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rog8ou-ZepE" width="420"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />I cried at ET, stared in wide-eyed wonder at The Goonies (STILL want to go down that water slide into the cavern that held the pirate ship!), and nodded sagely at the wisdom of wax on, wax off. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lived</i> for the trips to my grandparents, where their magical cable box tuned into the glory of MTV, and the Dukes of Hazard came through with crystal clear clarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I can clearly recall the moment my father brought home the Atari, then later the VCR, and greatest of all, the Nintendo. To this day, I will go into 10 year old game addict mode when I hear the Super Mario Brothers theme song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Back then, if you had a monstrous big screen TV—and the living room space to dedicate to it—you had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">made</i> it in life. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asInV8kvLNU..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asInV8kvLNU..." width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neon, scrunchie, & a hoola hoop? I am <i>awesome!</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">As a child of the eighties, I still wonder who shot JR (I was way too young to watch the show, and no one ever told me!), where’s the beef, and where the heck Waldo got off to. I do, however, know exactly what Willis was talking about, and how to walk like an Egyptian (on roller skates – how rad is that?)</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, as far as I’m concerned, it’s easy to see how a decade can be a Big Deal. A lot can happen in that short amount of time—just look at the thousands of books that have been set in that golden moment in history. When manners were king, the prince regent had a taste for decadence, and the waltz was nearly as scandalous as it was titillating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The tensions with France gave rise to the possibility of sexy spies and deadly intrigue, and provided endless possibilities for tortured war heroes returning home. It was Britain in its heyday, with opulence like we can hardly imagine—glittering balls, gorgeous gowns, sporty conveyances, and just enough darkened alcoves to get into a bit trouble.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>So what do you think—can a decade make all the difference?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Which decade do you consider ‘home’ – either in real life, or in your reading preference?</b><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy5Jn9E73ms..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy5Jn9E73ms..." width="150" /></a>And on a side note, if you are a fan of the magical time that was the Regency, I hope you'll check out my Christmas novella, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Mistletoe-..." target="_blank">Miss Mistletoe</a>,</b> which goes on sale on election day! If you ask me, there will be no better day to escape into a fun, happy read ;)  <b> </b><br /><br /><i>Finn, Viscount Edgerton, has avoided the London scene to focus solely on digging out from under the pile of debt his father left behind. A decent dowry could make things a hell of a lot easier for the estate, but he hasn’t met the right woman. And he never would have expected her to come in the form of “Miss Mistletoe”—the young woman who stole a kiss at a ball in front of the ton and caused a scandal.<br /><br />On the eve of her cousin’s wedding, Cece McCrea hardly expects to run into the man who inspired her indiscretion five years ago. This time, she resolves to put aside her childish crush and avoid him altogether. Her will is tested, however, when he pursues her….</i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho...

It's off to work I go!

My big, bad deadline for Book 3, Flirting with Fortune, is nearly at hand.  Time for me to buckle down and get it done!  To that end, I'll be out of pocket for the next couple of weeks.

See you all on the flip side!

Belle - A Regency Sampler

Though I am late publishing my blog this weekend (I'm under deadline, people!), I am thrilled to be able to present you with the fabulous except book I put together with six other fab Regency Authors:

Sabrina Jeffries
Valerie Bowman
Heather Snow
Leigh LaValle
Darcy Burke
and Sara Ramsey

So without further ado... TADA!
Click Here to download the booklet in its entirety!

Romance Readers Do It All Night!

Hello everyone!

Today I'm at LadyScribes talking about books that keep us up all night. Stop by and share your favs, and you could win my "Romance Readers Do It All Night" Giveaway, complete with coffee mug, a Starbucks gift card, swag, and your choice of my first or second book!

Won't you come join us? Click HERE

Name That Title!!

*Cue game show music*


Welcome to Name That Title! The game show where YOU get to take part in naming a book!  Today, we are finding the perfect title for the third in the Sealed With a Kiss Series by Erin Knightley.  
*pauses for applause*

First, let’s take a look at the first two in the series:
So here's your chance to be part of the fun! We are looking for a title that has a similar look and feel, that best matches Beatrice and Colin's story.  Below is a description of the book: 
Lady Beatrice Moore is an accomplished painter, the privileged daughter of a marquis, and a woman with a secret. As a debutant in possession of a sizable dowry, she hates fortune hunters—especially after her friend is duped by one.  She’s bound and determined to teach the unsuspecting ladies of the ton how to recognize the lowlifes who look at an heiress and see only the size of her dowry—and the plan she comes up with will raise more than a few eyebrows.
Six months after his father’s death, aspiring barrister and newly titled baronet, Sir Colin Tate, arrives in town for a memorial exhibit of his father’s most celebrated paintings. But there are more pressing issues on his mind than simply making his entrance into society. With only a short window of time to find a bride before the world knows of his father’s massive business debts, Colin must become what he never imagined he’d be: a fortune hunter.
When Beatrice learns that the son of Britain’s most celebrated painter is in town, she can hardly wait to meet him. His striking looks make her long to put brush to canvas, while his sharp mind and unique, Scottish-tinged accent make him impossible to forget. Colin never expected to find a woman who would pursue him, but that seems to be exactly the case with the lovely and talented Lady Beatrice seeks him out. On the surface, they seem to be the perfect match, but if their respective secrets are discovered, not only could they destroy their perception of each other, but their future prospects as well.
Alright, so here are the titles we have come up with so far. Vote for your favorite or favorites, or add your own in the comments section below.  If yours is chosen, you’ll get a shout out in the Acknowledgements of the book, as well as a personalized advance copy! 
Regardless of which title is ultimately chosen, one lucky commenter will receive an advance reader copy of Book 2 – A TASTE FOR SCANDAL! A winner will be decided by the evening of Monday, Sept 24th.  Good luck and THANK YOU!!
Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)
As a special treat, here is a sneak peek at Book #3 – coming, September 2013!
Lady Beatrice Moore was in heaven.As she walked down Lady Churly’s portrait gallery, accompanied by nothing but the muted whisper of the distant orchestra from the ball and the slightest sense of accomplishment, Bea couldn’t help the sigh of pleasure that escaped her.Finally, she was away from the crowd, far from the eyes of fortune hunters who watched her as a hawk eyed a field mouse, and beyond the earshot of the gossipmongers looking to snap up the latest on-dit.  It was just Bea, the soft glow of the turned-back lamps lining the hall, and an entire wall full of some of the greatest masterpieces England had ever produced.In no hurry now that she had escaped the crush, she clasped her hands behind her back and strolled across the narrow hall, her slippers silent on the herringbone-patterned wood floors. Lady Churly possessed the single largest collection of Sir Frederick Tate’s work: four spectacular portraits that were so much more than the sum of their subjects.  His true genius had been in the play of light, particularly the incredibly life-like shadows that always gave his pieces such moody brilliance. Dark yet full of life, each portrait was an absolute masterpiece.Even more so now that he was gone.At least, as an artist, his legacy was preserved. She paused, studying a painting of a small boy.  His dark hair fell across his forehead while challenging gray eyes stared directly at her. Impossibly, Beatrice felt as though she could see the life within him, almost pull the thoughts from his mind.The tap of approaching footsteps broke through her study. Drat—had someone followed her after all? She scowled, glancing around for someplace to slip out of view—not the easiest thing to do when one was draped in yards and yards of snowy white lutestring.Even if it wasn’t some fortune hunter trying to get her alone, or her mother come to chide her, the company was still most unwelcome. And really, she did not want to be caught snooping.  Where was a decent potted palm when a person needed one, anyway? There were few places to hide, with only one viable option: behind one of the heavy gold curtains that fell in generous velvet waves from the high ceiling to the floor.  Feeling like a thief in the night, she gathered her skirts and slipped behind the nearest fabric panel, pressing her back against the freezing cold glass of the window.  She gritted her teeth against the chill as she flattened herself as much as she could.  She almost grinned—who would have thought she would discover a situation where her small bosom was actually a goodthing?Whoever was out there certainly wasn’t in any hurry. Beatrice willed the person to move faster as the cold seeped through her and raised gooseflesh on her arms. Still, she didn’t dare move a muscle. It was all so very undignified. She hadn’t found herself in a position like this since she was a child.  She was nineteen, no longer a silly twelve-year-old listening at key holes, for heaven’s sake. The footsteps slowed further as they drew closer and closer, and Bea held her breath when they stopped mere feet away.  And then, nothing.  The person just stood there, unintentionally pinning her in place like a trapped mouse. She waited, her lungs burning more with every passing second. Move, for heaven’s sake, move!Just when she thought her lungs would explode, the person stepped away.  As quietly as humanly possible, Beatrice released her breath and sucked in a fresh supply of air. No matter that it tasted of musty velvet and dust motes—it was the sweetest breath she had ever taken.The intruder seemed to have stopped again, this time close to the opposite wall. Blast it all. Was it their plan to hold her hostage all night? Never mind that they had no idea she was even there—it was still annoying. Wait a second. Had not the footsteps come from the opposite direction of the ballroom? Her eyes rounded suddenly. What if this was the mystery guest the entire ton had been atwitter about for the past week?  Lady Churly had promised to reveal the special guest’s identity at midnight, which was only half an hour away.The old, familiar itch of curiosity flared to life deep within her.  She knew it well. It had gotten her into plenty of trouble with her siblings over the years.  Of course, it has also resulted in her discovering all kinds of secrets—all of which she had kept to herself, of course. She had scruples.   Without even making a conscious decision to do so, she started sliding sideways a quarter inch at a time. The edge of the drape was tantalizingly close, and if she could only make it over far enough to peek out with one eye, the burning curiosity would be satiated.She barely breathed as she moved, pacing herself to about the speed of paint drying.  At this rate, it would probably strike midnight before she could catch a glimpse of the mystery person in the room with her. For the thousandth time, she wondered who Lady Churly had secured for the ball. The woman was well-respected and in all the best circles, so Beatrice knew it wouldn’t be anyone scandalous or improper, which didn’t leave much in the way of interesting people. She had pondered the topic all week—along with the rest of the ton, from what she had heard—and hadn’t been able to come up with a single plausible candidate for the surprise guest. Which annoyed her to no end.Now was her chance. She could be the first to know who it was, a thought so tantalizing, she moved the slightest bit faster the last two inches toward freedom—more like the speed of grass growing.  The gold velvet brushed across her hair, then her temple, and finally slid past her right eye. Success!The flash of triumph was immediately trumped by something else altogether as she focused on a man leaning against the opposite wall, his arms folded and amusement lifting the corners of his mouth. Her stomach flopped to the floor with an almost audible thump. He was staring directly back at her.
***“So this is the lady who belongs to the scent of lilacs. How lovely of you to come out and join me.” He was amused.  She was not.Never mind that the almost musical lilt of his Scottish-tinged accent sent a shiver down the back of Bea’s already chilled neck. If he knew she was there, he should have had the decency to say as much. Embarrassment stiffened her spine—Lord she must look a fool. With as much dignity as one in her position could muster, she extracted herself from the heavy drapes and shook out her skirts. “Yes, well, since you wouldn’t leave like a proper gentleman, it seems as though I had little choice.”He lifted a dark eyebrow, tilting his head just enough so that a lock of midnight black hair fell across his temple. “I do beg your pardon. I should have left the moment I realized there was a debutant-shaped lump behind the curtains.”Well, when he said it like that. She lifted her chin regally. “Pardon granted, Mr…?”She waited, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he pushed away from the wall, closing the distance between them with measured, unhurried steps. He wasn’t overly tall, but he had a certain presence about him, as if he could command an army, if so inclined. She couldn’t have taken her eyes from him if she wanted to. With every step he took, her heart seemed to increase, until it fluttered like a caged bird beneath her breast.  He wasn’t traditionally handsome, not like her brother or even her brother-in-law.  His appeal was much more intense than that. His jaw looked as sharp as if it were carved from granite, and already possessed the slightest hint of dark stubble. His cheeks angled high, almost like a woman’s, but his bold, masculine brow provided exactly enough counterbalance to give his features exquisite symmetry and depth.  Such unique beauty made her fingers itched to take up her brushes and commit his visage to canvas.  Her gaze was too bold by half, but he didn’t seem to mind her inspection. In fact, he watched her right back, his flint-colored eyes seeming to take in everything about her, leaving her feeling quite exposed. “Now, now, we haven’a been introduced. I wouldn’a want to break protocol at my very first ball.  Unless, of course, it is your wish, Miss…?”Beatrice almost smiled. She’d as soon walk naked through the ballroom than tell him who she was. A lady did not get caught hiding behind curtains.  “Yes, well…I suppose rules are rules.”  She realized then the importance of what he had said: This was his first ball.  There was no doubt in her mind that he was the mystery guest Lady Churly was so eager to present. Who was this man? Beatrice’s curiosity rebelled with an almost physical force, but she firmly tamped it down. She was dying to know who he was, this man with the lyrical voice, compelling features, and the unmistakable air of mystery, but not at the price of revealing her own identity.  “Indeed.” He paused at exactly the proper distance away and folded his arms, considering her. “Although I suspect that you doona always play by the rules.” He nodded to the curtains behind her.This time she did smile. “My character exposed in two minutes or less.  Alas, I cannot deny it. Following the rules will gain you naught but a stellar reputation and a tremendously boring life.” Her older siblings, Evie and Richard, had taught her that much.His answering smile was nearly as delicious as his accent, his perfectly bowed upper lip curving up to reveal beautiful white teeth. Beatrice unconsciously pressed her lips together.  She hated the crooked front tooth that marred her own smile.“Then you’d think me very tedious, indeed, I’m afraid,” he said, mock regret weighting his tone. “I must admit, I am a rule follower to a fault.”She very nearly rolled her eyes. Any man with a face like that couldn’t possibly be boring. “I don’t believe you. If you were a rule follower, you would never have waited for me to emerge. Speaking alone with a strange female in a darkened gallery is not exactly perfect protocol.”Lifting a shoulder in a sort of half shrug, his grin widened. “Than it is a very good thing that you donna know my name. I’d hate to have it bandied about that I was anything less than a perfect gentleman upon my entrance into society.”“And if we encounter each other by chance?”“Than I’ll throw myself upon your mercy to protect my reputation. In fact, perhaps I should do so now. Preemptively, so as I know I’m safe.”She crossed her arms and nodded, unable to resist playing along.  There was something about the anonymity of the moment that was almost intoxicating, like a first sip of champagne.  “Very well—you may commence groveling.”He dipped his head gravely. “As you wish. Though I wonder, how should I address you?” He took in her elegant gown and the emeralds decorating her ears and neck. “A stór, I think. It suits you.”“A story? How on earth does that suit me?” “Not a story,” he said, pantomiming opening a book. “A stór. My treasure.”She sucked in a surprised breath, warmth infusing her whole body before flooding her face. Her heart shuddered within her. There was something shockingly intimate about being called such a thing by a near complete stranger.  Before she could think of a response, he chuckled.  “As in buried treasure. Unearthed from the depths of the curtains. I didna mean to imply anything else.”“Of course not,” she replied, nodding as though her mind hadn’t gone directly to that ‘something else’.  “You may call me whatever you wish. Now, on with the groveling, if you please—I’ll be missed if I remain much longer.” Hopefully, the soft sounds of the music from the ballroom disguised the breathlessness of her voice.He stepped forward, bringing them closer than even the most liberal of hosts would have deemed proper.  He put a hand to his heart and dipped his head to hers. Mischief lit his eyes, subtly challenging her. “I beg you, a stór, from the very depths of me—could you find it in your heart to have mercy on my depraved soul? Could you carry this encounter close to your breast, not to be revealed under threat of death, or worse—gossip?” She discretely drew in a breath, trying to calm her rioting senses. Good heavens, he was positively mesmerizing when he put his mind to it. The soft, lilting tones of his voice washed over her like warm silk, and she only just suppressed the shiver that flitted down her spine. Doing her best to sound lightly amused, she said, “Very well, you have my mercy. It was a pleasure notto meet you, sir.  I do hope you enjoy the ball.”With a reluctance that surprised her, she started to turn.“Perhaps,” he said, drawing her attention to him once more, “you’d save a dance for me.”She lifted her brow. “Ah, but that would require an introduction, would it not?” Even so, the offer was absurdly tempting. The idea of being pulled into his arms was almost enough to make her forget that dancing wasn’t her forte.“An excellent point, to which I offer this solution: If by the end of the night, you wish to take me up on my offer, then I leave it to you to seek an introduction to me. Seeing how I now have assurance of your mercy, of course.”Beatrice drew back in surprise. “Seek an introduction to you? I do hate to disabuse you of whatever opinion you have formed of me in these past few minutes, but I am not a desperate woman. I assure you, I will be seeking an introduction to no one.” He didn’t look the least bit disappointed, or the slightest bit offended.  Instead, the corners of his eyes crinkled in an almost imperceptible smile. Dipping his head in the approximation of a bow, he said, “Your prerogative.  I of course shall respect your decision.”Was it the accent or his sentiment that muddled her brain and had her leaning the slightest bit forward? “Er, thank you.” Already she was feeling like a ninny for having reacted as she did. “But just so you know,” he said, slipping a gloved hand beneath hers and lifting her fingers to his lips for a feather soft kiss that had her holding her breath. “I’ll be keeping the last dance free.”

About Last Night…

  Last night, shortly after my husband had left for an overnight job and I had settled in on the back porch with the dogs to write, the power for the entire neighborhood went out.Now, first of all, it was a crisp, cool, cloudless evening, so I was a bit surprised it went out in the first place.  Second, we live in the boonies, so the sudden quiet and darkness was utterly complete.There wasn’t a pinprick of light anywhere to be seen, and even the nocturnal creatures seemed stunned into momentary silence.  Me?  I couldn’t help but grin.  Grabbing my flipflops, I headed out into the cul-de-sac, laid on my back, and gazed at the stars.  My friends, it was magnificent. Incredible in a way that is impossible to describe.  Absolutely no man-made light could be seen, not even a flashlight or car headlight.  Above me, the blanket of stars was so spectacular, so complete, I felt as though I were in a planetarium, looking up at a projected image. From one end of the horizon to the other, what seemed like billions of stars peppered the sky, their normally muted splendor seeming to shout their glory. Sad that Kirk couldn’t be there to share it, I decided to get Darcy—aka the dog that stays by my side without a leash. Popping back inside, I snap on her collar, grab the lantern, and at the last second snag my little hand-held pepper spray (we are in the sticks, after all) and head back out.With the lantern on low, I led us back up the driveway and into the cul-de-sac, Darcy happily trotting along beside me.  Once at our destination, I snapped off the light and started to sit back down.And that’s when Darcy decided to have a panic attack.With the suddenness of a cobra strike, she completely spazzed, launching into a freaked out barking fit as if the Swamp Thing himself had risen up in front of us.  The abrupt eruption of noise was so heart-stopping, it scared the absolute bejesus out of me. In that moment, my whole body jerked, including the hand that was holding the pepper spray.More accurately, I should say the finger resting on the trigger.Ppphht!To my horror, a cloud of pepper spray instantly surged from the can, and now Darcy really does think something’s attacking us and starts running in erratic circles, apparently employing a move taught at the doggie school of evasive maneuvering in case of alien attack.Meanwhile, I’m jumping away from the pepper cloud (have I mentioned I’ve been pepper sprayed in the face before? I’m eager to not repeat the experience) and trying to snap the lantern back on. For all I know, a rabid mountain lion is still poised to attack (based on Darcy’s initial reaction). In my heightened state of adrenalin–induced panic, turning on the light seems like a good idea.Darcy does notagree.The moment the light snaps on, her panic hits DefCon 6, complete with Kujo sound effects, as she decides that the lines of shadow the lantern casts on the ground are all black lines of death, there to destroy us both.  Now the crazed dog circles have widened and increased in speed, and I start to think that maybe Sasquach really was out there, and she’s actually saving our lives.With a new surge of adrenaline shooting through my body, we both sprint for the house. Darcy’s growling has stopped as she tries to outrun the death eaters, and I’m just trying to not be slower than whatever crazed wildebeest may or may not be behind us. I almost make it to the front walk when a whooshing sound next door to stop me in my tracks. My neighbor’s head pokes out of his window, and he offers a calm and collected, “S’up?”My heart is pounding so hard in my ears I am lightheaded, and Darcy is still racing through the yard, but my own, much more useful instincts of ego-preservation kicks in, and I slow and offer a negligent. “Nothing. Just looking at stars.  You?”Never mind that my fingers are tingling with residual pepper spray and my dog is running around like Underdog on crack, I refuse to look like a paranoid fool.  “Going to bed early, I guess,” he responds. “Night.”“Night.”I wait for the second whooshing, indicating the window has been closed, before bolting for the front door, corralling my Captain Spazoid dog in with me. I lock the door, wash my peppered hands, and collapse on the couch.Yeah.Moral of the story? Your dog is not an appropriate replacement for your husband for power outage stargazing.  Trust me.

A Labor Day (Make that Week!) Giveaway!!

Forget Labor Day, my friends. Here on this blog, I am celebrating Labor Week!! And what better way to celebrate than to give away the fruits of my labor?

That's right—last week a small, inconspicuous box showed up on my doorstep. Curious, I sliced through the tape, pulled back the cardboard flaps, and discovered...

Advanced Reader Copies of A TASTE FOR SCANDAL!!!


Woohoo! I'm soooo excited to hold this book, the second in the Sealed with a Kiss series, in my hot little hands. There is so much of me in this book, especially since the heroine, Jane Bunting, is a baker.  You'll find this novel filled with the warmth and smells of her bakery, your mouth watering right along with the hero, Richard's.  There are scones, and biscuits (that's cookies for you non-Anglophiles), and breads, and cake—all the things that define Jane's talent and passion.

I have to admit, I gained a few pounds while writing this one.  Not only did I test each and every one of the Regency-appropriate recipes Jane and Richard made together, but it all just sounded so delicious as I wrote and revised, that inevitably I'd run upstairs and filch a sweet or two (or ten).

The release date for this book isn't until December 4th, 2012, but one lucky commenter will win one of the ARCs and be one of the very first to read of Richard and Jane's romance :) Contest is open to US, Canada, and Mexico.

To win:
1) Leave a comment below with your email address (if you don't wish to leave it publicly, leave a comment then email me at erin@erinknightley.com so I know where to find you if you win)
2) Spread the word! No, I'm not going to check up on you, but I'd really appreciate any tweets, Facebook posts, 'liking' the book on Amazon, or even recommendations to your friends about this book :-)

*Winner will be selected on Monday, September 10*

Click HERE for an excerpt
A TEMPTING DIVERSION
Things have always fallen into place for Richard Moore, Earl of Raleigh. His good looks, abundance of charm, and the small matter of being heir to a marquisate make him quite the catch. So when a delectable young woman wants nothing to do with him, he can't help but seize the irresistible challenge.

AN UNLIKELY COURTSHIP
Jane Bunting knows all about responsibility—she has managed to support herself and her brother with their bakery—but she knows nothing of excitement or passion. When dashing Lord Raleigh crosses the threshold of her shop, she has no idea of the potential danger to her reputation . . . or to her heart.

AN IMPOSSIBLE MATCH
Neither imagined things would go so far—until the night their worlds collide, irrevocably changing both their lives. But when duty calls for Richard, and with everything Jane has worked for suddenly at stake, will their taste for scandal be their downfall?

Simple Pleasures- Summer Nights

Today I'm over at Lady Scribes talking about the divine pleasure of a quiet summer evening. I hope you'll stop by and join me :)
Click here

Simple Pleasures - Popcorn!

 Okay, to many of you, that may sound like too simple of a simple pleasure. “Yeah, yeah, toss a bag in the microwave – what’s the big deal.” First of all – yuck! Don’t you dare equate microwave popcorn to real popcorn. That’s like comparing an iPod Touch to a Sony Walkman circa 1989. So wrong. Anywho, for me, popcorn is so much more than that.  Growing up, there were two things that were not to be had in my home: junk food and superfluous piles of money. That meant that Friday nights would involve the family gathering around the old, wooden-box TV in the living room and watching whatever programming the networks deemed worthy that night.  Dad would get to work in the kitchen, popping up a gigantic bowl of oil-popped popcorn, topping with a drizzle of melted butter and a dash of salt, and divvying up the bounty between the five of us.At something like 30 cents a bowl and only two ingredients, it flew under the radar with my health-food loving mom and budget conscious dad. And so, the tradition endured.  Through the years, many things changed in our lives. Friends over for sleepovers, a shiny new VCR, my sister going off to college—but still there was the ever present Friday night treat.  To this day, I can hardly go a week without raiding the pantry for the popping corn and oil. It is the embodiment of comfort food for me, a delicious constant that has followed me through all phases of my life.  It’s the perfect start to a weekend, a yummy end to a long day, and exactly the tradition that I plan to adhere to for a long time to come.I know, I know—who has an ode to popcorn for a blog? Well…I do :) It’s a wonderful, simple pleasure that I can really sink my teeth into!
So what’s your simple pleasure food? What where your family’s weekend rituals?
As for today’s recipe . . . did you even have to ask??Take any pan. Add enough oil to coat bottom of pan. Add 3 kernels of popcorn and cover with lid. Heat on medium high until the three kernels pop.  Immediately add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan with a single layer. Cover with lid. As popcorn pops, shake the pan to evenly heat. Once popping has slowed to less than1 or 2 pops per second, remove from heat, pour in bowl, top with salt and ENJOY!

Starry Starry Night

For the next month, I'm going to be doing a series of blogs centering around simple pleasures :)  I hope you enjoy my first one: Simple joys in life: Just look up My whole life, with the notable exception of college, I have lived out in the boonies. I relish the distance between neighbors, the uncluttered roads and complete lack of traffic lights. I enjoy the sounds of nature, and more than anything, I adore the blanket of stars that are always so visible from my home.To this day, I can clearly recall being roused by my father in the early morning hours in February of 1986, when Halley’s Comet last streaked by the Earth. We bundled up against the frigid night air and headed outside, the pebbly concrete walkway starkly cold against my bare feet.  My dad had a special handheld telescope for just that occasion, and we passed it between us, taking turns looking up into the inky darkness, speckled with a million pinpricks of light.I was tired, and a bit groggy, and I don’t remember whether I actually saw the comet or not, but I remember my father’s excitement at sharing a once in a lifetime experience with us. I remember the vastness of the heavens stretching above us, and the instinctive knowledge that it was an important moment, to be remembered forever.Throughout my childhood, our trusty old white telescope regularly made appearances on the back deck, pointed to the moon, to Saturn, to the North Star—whatever Dad could pick out.  We lived on a sprawling, treeless, 2 acre lot in the rolling hills of Kentucky. Our view of the heavens was unspoiled, unobstructed, and unlimited.  Orion’s Belt, The Big Dipper, The Little Dipper—these are the things I was taught to find, and to this day I still look for them.  After all these years, I never stopped looking up.Every night, I take the dogs out right before bed, and as they wander around and take their time, so to do I. My view is much more obstructed than it once was, with towering pine trees on all sides, but directly above the driveway, I can still see it. The vast carpet of the heavens, like a handful of pixie dust scattered across the finest indigo velvet.  It draws me, a tugging deep in my soul that can’t be set aside.  And I don’t want to set it aside.  The stars that I see are the same that have been seen by my ancestors, the exact same ones that my friends and family around the world see, and the same ones that our descendents will see.  I love the consistency of that. I love the common tie, one that has nothing to do with geography, or time, or privilege.  In this, the privilege is equal.  So, as we all shake our heads in wonder as man puts one of the most advanced vehicles ever conceived on Mars—and records the experience in 3-D HD!—I just hope we don’t stay too glued to our computer screens and TVs.  Don’t forget to go outside and just… look up.
Feeling a bit whimsical today, can you tell?  :) Tell me—are you a fan of the night sky? Can you recognize any constellations? And dude - how cool was the engineering for the Curiosity??
Now, it's late and I haven't made this recipe yet, but holy cow, how perfect is this:MOON PIES!!  I can't *wait* to try this :-)