Kristin Holt's Blog, page 41

3-day blast August 20-22

TRUTH IS RELATIVE

By: J.J. Lyon

Pages: 275

Publisher: Gem Cache Publishing

Genre: Fiction/Mystery

Anthony Blackwell’s “gift” compels people to confess their deepest secrets.

It corrupts his relationships, derails his career and drives him toward eviction—until he becomes Anthony Bishop, private investigator. 


His first case drops him into a deadly family drama that will save him financially, if it doesn’t kill him first.

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 J.J. Lyon is a wife, mom, public relations professional and recovering journalist.

Her passion for prose and love of the American West are so intertwined; she doesn’t think she can separate them. When J.J. runs out of words, she reaches for her camera, takes off on a back road and returns home with a bucketful of inspiration.

She lives in a mountain valley with her husband, three children, some cats, two goats, a bird and a basset hound. 

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New Release: 7-30-14

~ NEW RELEASE 7-30-14 ~

Low Introductory Price $1.49

Also available with Kindle Unlimited

Copyright © 2014 Kristin Holt

THE BRIDE LOTTERY

A Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance (Rated PG)

Forty Bachelors.

Fifteen Brides.

What could go wrong?

Colorado, 1881

Evelyn is in a pickle.

In less than five months, Evelyn Brandt will be an unwed mother. Her parents discover her secret and send her away on the next west-bound train. They insist she deliver the child on the other side of the continent where the disgrace won’t harm her father’s business empire and the family’s social standing. She’ll be allowed to return home after the child is adopted by decent people and her corset fits properly once more.

Sam’s in charge of the Bride Lottery, and the competition’s fierce.

It’s too bad the mail order bride agency failed to round up even half their order, ‘cause every man on the mountain wants a bride—except Sam Kochler— so he’s saddled with enforcing the rules. He received bios of each lady the agency sent, so when Evelyn steps off the train, he’s a tad curious and a mite too interested.

The tougher the competition becomes, the worse some fellas behave, and it’s not long before Sam finds himself courting Evelyn— only to protect her while she makes up her mind. He won’t allow himself to fall in love and still doesn’t want a wife….or so he keeps telling himself.

Copyright © 2014 Kristin Holt

Paperback edition coming soon.

 

Copyright © 2014 Kristin Holt

New Release: 6-12-14

NEW RELEASE: 6-12-14

GIDEON’S SECONDHAND BRIDE: A Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance Novella

Low introductory eBook price $0.99– Available at Amazon.com, BN.com, Smashwords.com, and coming soon to iBooks, Kobo, Scribd and other online retailers.

Available as a paperback book (list price $5.89) from Amazon.com and soon at BN.com as well as other online retailers.

 

GIDEON’S SECONDHAND BRIDE

A Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance Novella (Rated PG)

The last thing John Gideon wants is another wife.

Mere weeks have passed since John buried his wife, but he must trudge forward. For the sake of his three little ones, he has no choice but to remarry. His mail order bride must agree— this marriage will be strictly business.

Permilia is desperate to flee the bonds of marriage….

The War Between The States cost Millie her kind, gentle husband. He came back in body, but his soul was ravaged by war. To save herself and the life of their toddler son, she leaves her abusive husband though she has nowhere to go, no money, no family. A single option surfaces— a farmer has sent for a mail order mother, housekeeper, and help-meet. It’s a marriage in name only, so she justifies disappearing into the west and keeping her secrets.

….a marriage her husband vowed she’ll never escape.

Oliver Owens warned Permilia the only way she’d leave him would be through the undertaker. It’s only a matter of time before he catches his runaway wife.

He doesn’t want a wife.

She doesn’t want a husband.

Marriage of convenience?

Perfect.

A Peek Inside GIDEON’S SECONDHAND BRIDE….

With two days until GIDEON’S SECONDHAND BRIDE’s release date… I have a little teaser for you!  Here’s a little segment to introduce John Gideon and his mail order bride, Millie.

 

“HOLD REAL STEADY,” he spoke at her ear. “Stay loose. The gun will buck, but fighting it throws the shot.”

She nodded, redistributed her weight from foot to foot, and tensed up.

“Relax.”

“I am relaxed.”

No, she was strung tighter than a bed rope, but he knew better than to say so.

“Close one eye.” Even looking straight ahead as he was, he could see the cute way her eye squinted shut, her mouth puckered in concentration. Almost like a kiss.

She fired. The rifle stock struck her shoulder, knocked her backward and into him. The cut length of tree trunk spun as it fell. His arms came about Millie’s middle like he’d done so a hundred times, the most natural thing in the world.

He tried to keep his eyes on the log to judge her shot, but found the woman snuggled against him far too distracting.

“I hit it! Did you see that?” She spun in his arms, her face turned upward to his. Satisfaction glittered in eyes an impossible blue. “I hit it!”

“Yes, ma’am. That you did.” He found himself smiling in response to her delight. Early morning sunlight illuminated her youthful skin, so pale compared to his own, so enticingly feminine. He needed to trail a fingertip along her jaw, if only to assess its softness, so he clenched his fingers in the worn calico of her dress to keep from touching her skin.

Her mouth drew his attention as plump lips parted. It would be so easy to lower his head and steal a kiss. Interest, something a whole lot like desire, flickered in her eyes and he simply knew she’d had the same thought. His gaze slid lower, returning to lips he ached to taste.

Why did it feel so good to hold her? He didn’t want to like it, didn’t want to feel this pull toward a woman who wasn’t Abigail. Sure as sunrise, attraction for his secondhand bride was not part of the plan, ran counter to their agreement, and definitely not a good idea.

Nothing had changed. He still didn’t want a wife— just a help meet. Given her abusive son-of-a-bitch husband still lived, John couldn’t be more than a stand-in husband and he’d do well to remember that.

Copyright © 2014 Kristin Holt

New Book, available June 12th…sneak peek

 ~ COVER REVEAL ~

GIDEON’S SECONDHAND BRIDE

A Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance Novella (Rated PG)

On Sale Thursday, June 12th, 2014

 

The last thing John Gideon wants is another wife.

Mere weeks have passed since John buried his wife, but he must trudge forward. For the sake of his three little ones, he has no choice but to remarry. His mail order bride must agree— this marriage will be strictly business.

 

Permilia is desperate to flee the bonds of marriage….

The War Between The States cost Millie her kind, gentle husband. He came back in body, but his soul was ravaged by war. To save herself and the life of their toddler son, she leaves her abusive husband though she has nowhere to go, no money, no family. A single option surfaces— a farmer has sent for a mail order mother, housekeeper, and help-meet. It’s a marriage in name only, so she justifies disappearing into the west and keeping her secrets.

 

….a marriage her husband vowed she’ll never escape.

Oliver Owens warned Permilia the only way she’d leave him would be through the undertaker. It’s only a matter of time before he catches his runaway wife.

 

He doesn ’t want a wife.
She doesn’t want a husband.
Marriage of convenience?
Perfect.

Copyright © 2014 Kristin Holt

5 Stars for THE COWBOY STEALS A BRIDE!

5.0 out of 5 stars

Intriguing Romance (Posted May 20, 2014)

by Carol Goode

I loved this book! Kristin has a great style of writing incorporating facts and details from the past to give the story clarity and believability. I loved her characters. She writes as if she were standing in the shoes of each person and can really feel their emotions and think their thoughts. Kristin writes the way I have always wanted to write. She has mastered the art of weaving a story through many plots and sub-plots and leaving no loose ends dangling. I started with this book, though it is the second in her series of three. The book stood fine on its own, but I loved how little things made more sense when I then read her first book in the series. I anxiously await the third book.


When I was a young teenager, my grandmother had a shelf of romance paperbacks in the summer kitchen of her home. I read them voraciously always putting myself in the place of the heroine of the story. This book is better than all those I read so long ago. I give it my highest praise! I hope Kristin Holt will continue to write and fill my bookshelf with beautiful literature that I can pass on to my grand-daughters.

THE HUSBAND-MAKER TRILOGY’S NEW CLOTHES

I’m pleased to announce new artwork for the Husband-Maker Trilogy: THE MENACE TAKES A BRIDE, THE COWBOY STEALS A BRIDE, and (soon) FINALLY A BRIDE. I’ve worked with some very talented artists and am pleased with the results.

Why buy new clothes for books?

Within the next month, both THE MENACE TAKES A BRIDE and THE COWBOY STEALS A BRIDE will be available from Amazon.com in paperback.  If I had to create wrap-around covers anyway, might as well give these books new duds for the occasion. Besides, I like the idea of an image of Mitzi enjoying Garth’s chocolates and Julia waiting in Conrad’s company. There’s something just right about a heroine on the cover of a sweet (G/PG) romance novel cover.

Stay tuned for the cover art reveal (and the book to follow later in 2014) of the third installment in the trilogy, FINALLY A BRIDE. For those of you familiar with the trilogy, this is Andrew and Lillian’s story. The Three are determined to shove Andrew off his patootie and get him good and married to Lillian, who’s been waiting on him for a decade. Andrew’s father, Pastor John, has made appearances in the first two books in the trilogy (MENACE, COWBOY), but this time he’s working hard to protect his son’s precious relationship with Lillian from his friends’ shenanigans. He’s sure his cohorts will mess things up beyond repair—as they insist on brining Dr. Flint Maddox into the game. I hope you’ll join me for this romantic comedy wherein Lillian is FINALLY A BRIDE.

In the meantime, look for a few mail order bride novellas to make their debut— in a  new series (unrealted to The Husband-Maker Trilogy).    If you’re interested in catching my new releases, please take a moment and sign up for my once-in-a-great-while newsletters.  You’ll be the first to hear about new books and special sales.

THANK YOU to the Artists:

The cover art for THE MENACE TAKES A BRIDE is by Heather Holt (heatherholt.carbonmade.com , heatherh.holt@gmail.com).

The cover design of THE COWBOY STEALS A BRIDE is by Elaina Lee (www.ForTheMuseDesign.com).

Myriad Definitions of “Sweet Romance” and/or “Clean Romance”

I’m stunned at the wide variety and significant differences between definitions applied to “Sweet Romance” and/or “Clean Romance.”

I’ve come across reviews criticizing a book advertised as “sweet” for being too graphic or containing coarse language. On the flip side, reviews scattered across the Internet chastise writers whose books don’t contain enough of these elements to meet personal tastes and be ‘real;’ to them, ‘sweet’ has nothing to do with absence of certain content. No wonder readers are often disappointed.

I wish we had a non-judgmental label. Consider how the label of “clean” romance rubs many readers (and writers) the wrong way. While combing the internet, I came across this posted statement: ‘While I respect people’s different religious and moral opinions, I strongly object against censorship and calling a book a “clean” read, which implies that more sensual stories are “unclean” and “dirty”.’ I understand where this reader is coming from.

Readers, writers, publishers, and well-informed adults have defined Sweet and/or Clean romance as:
(An even dozen definitions/opinions –some of which I agree with, others I do not. I suspect you’ll agree with some and disagree with others; hence the industry’s dilemma)–
1. Sweet romances emphasize emotional intimacy and may contain sexual tension (G to PG heat levels).
2. Sweet romances show no explicit sexual details, contain no sexual scenes, and do not contain pre- or extra-marital sex.
3. However, hero and heroine may have a [sexual] history—either involving each other or someone else altogether. But during the story they are chaste. Most couples will share a single kiss, or a little more. It’s possible to see sexual tension while retaining characters’ purity.
4. Sweet Romance is slow and it simmers and it’s not expressed so blatantly. The hero and heroine may not ever make the declaration until the end, but you feel it as you read, you know the love is grow[ing].
5. Sweet romance is an uncomplicated story about one person finding another. They do have conflict and obstacles however it does not change how each character the hero and heroine feel about each other.
6. Well-written Sweet Romances contain major setbacks, characters who struggle. Sweet romance can be angsty (good emotional conflict). After all, happily-ever-after is infinitely sweeter when EARNED. However, there isn’t a lot of ugliness, such as cheating, breaking up, nasty fighting between hero and heroine. Progression of the relationship is a little more complicated than the darker romances.
7. Sweet Romances are not to be confused with Christian Romance or Inspirational Romance. Sweet romances are not preachy; faith may intertwine with life, but religion is NOT a key element of the story, and characters do not have a faith crisis.
8. Sweet romances often contain strong themes along the lines of: ‘community is important’, ‘traditional values’, ‘faith and hope play a role in the story’.
9. Sweet romances have no offensive language, (though they may contain some mild language).
10. Sweet Romance must have an optimistic ending.
11. Sweet romances have ooey gooey characters that can’t stop thinking about romance.
12. Sweet romance is young adult fiction, an immature attempt at romance, or a fiction that ignores a very integral part of life (sex, to be blatant).

Hmmmm. Interesting concepts to think about. What is a Sweet/Clean Romance, to you?

[originally posted on www.KristinHolt.com]

Myriad Definitions of “Sweet Romance” and/or “Clean Romance”

I’m stunned at the wide variety and significant differences between definitions applied to “Sweet Romance” and/or “Clean Romance.”

I’ve come across reviews criticizing a book advertised as “sweet” for being too graphic or containing coarse language. On the flip side, reviews scattered across the Internet chastise writers whose books don’t contain enough of these elements to meet personal tastes and be ‘real;’ to them, ‘sweet’ has nothing to do with absence of certain content. No wonder readers are often disappointed.

I wish we had a non-judgmental label. Consider how the label of “clean” romance rubs many readers (and writers) the wrong way. While combing the internet, I came across this posted statement: ‘While I respect people’s different religious and moral opinions, I strongly object against censorship and calling a book a “clean” read, which implies that more sensual stories are “unclean” and “dirty”.’ I understand where this reader is coming from.

Readers, writers, publishers, and well-informed adults have defined Sweet and/or Clean romance as:

(An even dozen definitions/opinions –some of which I agree with, others I do not. I suspect you’ll agree with some and disagree with others; hence the industry’s dilemma)–

1. Sweet romances emphasize emotional intimacy and may contain sexual tension (G to PG heat levels).

2. Sweet romances show no explicit sexual details, contain no sexual scenes, and do not contain pre- or extra-marital sex.

3. However, hero and heroine may have a [sexual] history—either involving each other or someone else altogether. But during the story they are chaste. Most couples will share a single kiss, or a little more. It’s possible to see sexual tension while retaining characters’ purity.

4. Sweet Romance is slow and it simmers and it’s not expressed so blatantly. The hero and heroine may not ever make the declaration until the end, but you feel it as you read, you know the love is grow[ing].

5. Sweet romance is an uncomplicated story about one person finding another. They do have conflict and obstacles however it does not change how each character the hero and heroine feel about each other.

6. Well-written Sweet Romances contain major setbacks, characters who struggle. Sweet romance can be angsty (good emotional conflict). After all, happily-ever-after is infinitely sweeter when EARNED. However, there isn’t a lot of ugliness, such as cheating, breaking up, nasty fighting between hero and heroine. Progression of the relationship is a little more complicated than the darker romances.

7. Sweet Romances are not to be confused with Christian Romance or Inspirational Romance. Sweet romances are not preachy; faith may intertwine with life, but religion is NOT a key element of the story, and characters do not have a faith crisis.

8. Sweet romances often contain strong themes along the lines of: ‘community is important’, ‘traditional values’, ‘faith and hope play a role in the story’.

9. Sweet romances have no offensive language, (though they may contain some mild language).

10. Sweet Romance must have an optimistic ending.

11. Sweet romances have ooey gooey characters that can’t stop thinking about romance.

12. Sweet romance is young adult fiction, an immature attempt at romance, or a fiction that ignores a very integral part of life (sex, to be blatant).

Hmmmm. Interesting concepts to think about. What is a Sweet/Clean Romance, to you?

BIG SALE on my titles–right now on Smashwords.com.

BIG SALE on my titles–right now on Smashwords.com.

Exciting news! If you’ve not yet picked up my titles (3 at present), now is a great time to do so. This sale is part of a big promotion running March 2nd through 8th, for Read an eBook Week.

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is FREE with the coupon code Smashwords provides, immediately below the gold “BUY” button. Both HUSBAND-MAKER TRILOGY titles, THE MENACE TAKES A BRIDE and THE COWBOY STEALS A BRIDE are 75% off, making them $1.00 even. What a STEAL!

All versions (epub, mobi, and more) are available on Smashwords for the two HUSBAND-MAKER TRILOGY books. Presently, only epub is available (on Smashwords) for HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

As HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is only available on Smashwords as an epub might inconvenience you, I have an offer I hope you’ll find appealing. If you need mobi (Kindle), I’ll make you a trade. Please sign up for my newsletter here on my website, then click on CONTACT and send me an email. Let me know which version (i.e. mobi, pdf, etc.) you need, and upon confirming you’ve registered for my (occasional) newsletter, I’ll email you the book…FREE!

Happy READ AN EBOOK WEEK!