Posts Tagged ‘novella’

Review: The Taming of Mei Lin

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

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The Taming of Mei Lin
Author: Jeannie Lin
Publisher: Harlequin Historical Undone
Pub. Date: September 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1426852923
Retail: $2.69
Length: Novella

Faced with a proposal from a man she despises, impetuous Mei Lin makes a daring declaration: she will only marry the man who can defeat her in a sword fight. She has bested everyone who has so far tried to teach her a lesson…until a handsome stranger comes to her village. In captivating swordsman Shen Leung , Mei Lin finally sees a man she wants to marry. A man she’s willing to surrender to in every way….

~*~*~

A passion-packed short story left me desperate for more.

In a genre that can sometimes feel quite limited in scope, it’s unfortunate – but probably natural – that a lot of the reviews Jeannie Lin will get will focus on the setting instead of the writing. But after reading The Taming of Mei Lin, a very short story released by Harlequin Historical Undone on 1 September, I found myself eager to read more because Jeannie Lin’s beautiful writing style drew me so deeply in to this fascinating time period.

The Taming of Mei Lin is set in China in 710 A.D. Around 35-pages long, it’s the prequel to her novel Butterfly Swords, which will be released in October by Harlequin Historical.

The heroine, Mei Lin, is being harassed by a local official because she spurned his offer of marriage, declaring that she’d only marry a man who beat her in a sword fight. When gorgeous Shen Leung – a legendary wandering swordsman – arrives in her village and tests her skill, she realizes he’s her one chance to escape her lonely life. More than that, though, she’s drawn to him in a way she’s never been to anyone.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from such a short story, but Jeannie Lin packs a lot in. The language is sensuous, the tension almost unbearable, and the plot twisty as a snake. This is one of my favorite passages, soon after Mei Lin arrives at Shen Leung’s room to kill him for (accidentally) publicly humiliating her.

They were still lying among the wreckage of the sleeping cot with the quilt tangled between them. She went still and soft beneath him. He could feel her heart beating against his chest. The last dregs of wine still swam in his blood and he sank his head down over her shoulder. The day had brought a long journey, an unexpected duel, several rounds of drinking and then finally this wild tussle with a beautiful she-demon. The scent of her hair assailed him. Orange blossoms mixed with something mysterious and feminine.

“You smell nice,” he said dully.

She said nothing. All he did was turn his face the slightest bit and his cheek brushed inadvertently against hers. Smooth, cool skin.

He inhaled. “You wore perfume to come and kill me?”

I love how familiar the imagery seems at first – a cot, a quilt, a tipsy hero, a duel – then the smell of orange blossoms reminds me these characters live in a time and place I’ve never explored in fiction before. It makes me stop and reconsider what that room looks like, that quilt and that cot. The hero had been drinking rice wine, not a tankard of ale, and the duel had been fought with Chinese swords, not pistols.

This story’s a beautiful reminder of love’s universality – that you didn’t have to live in Regency England to fear rejection, fight for the person you love, or triumph when you learned your passion was returned. But more than that, it’s a well-written, engrossing story.

As a woman who loves both beautiful writing and unusual settings, I’m thrilled Jeannie Lin’s work is being published. Now I just have to figure out how to get my hands on Butterfly Swords, since Harlequin doesn’t deliver to the UK and I hate reading on my computer.

*Update: Butterfly Swords will be sold by Book Depository in the UK. Huzzah!

Rating: 9 (Excellent)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

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Rating: 9.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Review: Texas Tangle

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Texas Tangle
Author: Leah Braemel
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub. Date: June 28, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1426890376
Retail: $3.99
Novella

Thanks to her cheating ex-husband and her thieving brother, all horse breeder Nikki Kimball has left is a bruised heart, an overdrawn bank account and an empty home. When sex-on-legs Dillon Barnett and his brooding foster-brother Brett Anderson start showing more than just neighborly attention, Nikki is intrigued…and a little gun-shy.

Dillon and Brett have a history; back in high school, the two friends fought a bitter battle over Nikki. Now, ten years later, Brett still longs to be the man in Nikki’s life, but he’s determined to stand back and let Dillon win Nikki’s heart.

Society says Nikki must choose between the two men she loves. Is Nikki strong enough to break all the rules in order to find happiness?

~*~*~

A woman who’s lived her life trying to please others throws caution to the wind in this sexy and highly emotional read that gives new meaning to love and relationships.

Her whole life Nikki Kimball has tried to do the right thing. When she got pregnant at an early age, she married the baby’s father because that’s what her parents wanted. While he repeatedly cheated on her, her parents told her to stay with him or be disowned. After her brother gets in trouble with the law and needs a place to stay, her parents tell her it’s her familial duty to help him. But on the day her truck breaks down and she finds all of her worldly possessions and money stolen by her brother, Nikki finally reaches the breaking point and starts living her life for herself.

Dillon Barnett has loved Nikki since they were in high school, but he never made a move. Along a deserted road on a dark night, a broken down truck finally gives him that chance. He comes to her rescue, driving her home. When they discover her home robbed of its contents, he offers her a new home at his place. What Nikki thinks is just neighborly help soon morphs into something more. Dillon starts showing her she doesn’t have to do everything on her own and that he’s interested in a long term relationship. But Nikki’s skittish after all the pain of her marriage and doesn’t trust Dillon’s words. Compounding her mistrust is that Dillon’s not good with words, but his actions speak very loudly, and they say he owns her.

Someone else cares for Nikki too, and that’s Dillon’s foster brother Brett Anderson. Brett is a police officer, and back in high school he and Nikki had a very passionate night that he’s never forgotten. Throughout the years Brett has continued to be a part of Nikki’s life by checking up on her after finding her ex in numerous compromising positions. He’s given her a shoulder to cry on but would like to do so much more. And just when he thinks he can finally claim her, he finds out Dillon got there first.

No matter how he feels about her though, he’d never interfere with Dillon and Nikki’s relationship. He and Dillon got into a fight over her long ago that almost destroyed their brotherly bond, and Brett doesn’t want that to happen again. The temptation grows stronger when Dillon suggests they form a threesome. Brett’s willing to risk everything–including the support of a loving family–to remain by Nikki’s side. Now if they can just convince Nikki to stop worrying about others perceptions and embrace this unconventional, yet very loving, relationship they’ll finally have the family they’ve always dreamed of.

This is a very sexy story with two very honorable men. I can understand Nikki’s dilemma in loving them both since they’re both very appealing. Dillon is tough and hard working. While he has trouble talking about his feelings, showing them is what he excels at. His love for Nikki knows no bounds. Her happiness is all that matters and because of this, he sets any feelings of jealousy aside to form this new family.

Brett is equally noble. Coming to live with the Barnett family from a very physically abusive home, he doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his standing in his foster family. It takes a lot to convince him that he’s worthy of love and that love is unconditional. Realizing that a “true” family loves you no matter what, finally releases the demons haunting Brett and allows him to embrace this new relationship. Fear has been holding Nikki back too. She and Brett are a lot alike in that respect. They want a family so bad that they don’t always make decisions that will make them happy. Seeing them come to the realization about their own self-worth is very emotional and inspiring, and makes you root for the threesome to work.

This is a very good story with the problems associated with a threesome shown in a very believable way. There was never an ick factor for me. The sex scenes were very tasteful, yet retains their steaminess. Hopefully readers can put aside any preconceived notions regarding threesomes and take a chance on this truly emotional story that gives a whole new understanding of what defines a family.

Rating: 7.5 (Good+)

Heat-Level: 6 (Erotic)

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Rating: 9.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Review: Exclusively Yours

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010


Exclusively Yours
Author: Shannon Stacey
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub. Date: June 7, 2010
ISBN-13: 9781426890017
Retail: $4.79
Novella

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town—and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan—for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

~*~*~

Exclusively Yours is a funny, light and contemporary read that will leave readers wanting a little bit more.

Lately I’ve been reading new books by new authors (or at least they are new to me) and while I’m always a bit reluctant and leery, I have to say that I’ve been finding some really good books. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey was another good read.

High School sweethearts Joe Kowalski and Keri Daniels were wildly in teenage love, planning a future until Keri bolted without any warning from their town to establish a career and new life as a journalist. When her boss uncovers that Keri had a relationship with Joe, a reclusive and bestselling author, she wants an interview. Receiving an ultimatum of reporting about Joe and his recent love scandal or losing her job, Keri is forced back into the life of the one man she had loved and hurt the most.

Once Joe discovers that Keri is back in his town trying to get a story about his life, he plots to get reacquainted with his former love by bribing her into spending a two week vacation with him and his family. In return, they both get to ask each other a question each day.

Normally, I don’t fall for the beta heroes, but Joe was amusing, sweet and it was so obvious from the start that he was still in love with Keri. The author made several references to the pain he experienced when Keri left throughout the story and how he ended up as a famous author.

There was a cast of secondary characters. The whole Kowalskis are in full attendance at the campsite and I loved every minute of their banter and all the siblings had their own issues. Though I am not into bitchy female characters at all, I had to say that I liked Terry (Joe’s sister) a lot. She was the type to say it like it is and she had a whole lot of drama. Not only did Keri bail out on Joe, but Terry and Keri were once BFFs and Terry carried the pain of her best friend leaving her. There was some laugh out loud moments with the fights between Keri and Terry. I felt the emotions from Terry. She is like a child who didn’t want to lose her friend or have problems with her husband. Though she is catty at times, I understood where her place of anger stems from.

My only quarrel with this story was the abrupt way that the storylines ended. Granted, the book was relatively short but the issues could have been tied up better. Terry and Keri’s relationship was never settled in my opinion. They eventually began to talk at the campsite but they only discussed Terry’s marital issues. There was no discussion of their fall out or an apology. I find it hard to believe after holding so much anger inside, that Terry would just let go of her anger toward Keri. I’m sorry, but if my best friend ditched me, I would want to say, “You had hurt me a lot when you stopped being my friend.” A conversation about the past should have occurred.

The storyline with Joe and Keri’s past didn’t seemed to be that prevalent in the conversations between them. For Joe to have the freedom to ask Keri any question he wanted, he sure did waste them. I do understand that he was trying to convince her to stay and not rehash the past but I need more of a resolution when reading a reconnecting love story.

Overall, I still enjoyed the story and I would definitely read another book by this author. I am kind of hoping that the younger brother gets a shot at love as well.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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Review: Song of Seduction

Sunday, June 20th, 2010


Song of Seduction
Author: Carrie Lofty
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub. Date: June 7, 2010
ISBN-13: 978426890024
Retail: $4.79
Novella

Tormented by guilt. Haunted by scandal. Freed by love.

Austria, 1804

Eight years ago, composer Arie De Voss claimed his late mentor’s final symphony as his own and became an icon. But fame has a price: fear of discovery now poisons his attempts to compose a redemptive masterpiece. Until a new muse appears, intoxicating and inspiring him…

Mathilda Heidel renounced her own musical gift to marry, seeking a quiet life to escape the shame surrounding her birth. Sudden widowhood finds her tempted by song once more. An unexpected introduction to her idol, Arie De Voss, renews Mathilda’s passion for the violin—and ignites a passion for the man himself.

But when lust and lies reach a crescendo, Arie will be forced to choose: love or truth?

~*~*~

Carrie Lofty’s Song of Seduction is a novel of sheer perfection. Her talent and writing transcends the limits of art and emotions that can be conveyed through words on a page. Never has a book so eloquently stated the influence of music and the bond it creates between two people.

Arie is a musician who enjoys solitude and music. At the beginning he is a shallow, hollow form of a man, trapped in guilt and shame of past transgressions, but still possessing a burning desire to compose music. Such detachment from society forces his intolerable outings to be brief until he meets Matilda Heidel. She becomes his muse…a face for his inspiration to create beautiful, timeless music. Matilda captures his heart and warms his soul.

Matilda Heidel was torn away from her music because of marriage and the everyday duties as a new wife. Now a widow, Matilda is eager to have the opportunity for her idol Arie De Voss to tutor her. She is dismayed when she discovers Arie is a not the idol she imagined him to be. Still, Matilda finds she cannot resist the appeal of Arie’s talent and the music he creates.

Matilda displays such passion to any music she plays and Arie exerts that same passion to the music he composes. She perceives him as no one else does by being exposed to his music and he sees a stunning woman whose talent can match his own. This ultimate attraction throws them both off guard, but neither is willing to let go of the other.

He took her pendant between the thumb and forefinger, grinning…”Your Morgengabe. A strange word.”

“You asked about it?”

He nodded. “A gift from your husband because you were an innocent on your wedding night.”

Her lungs shunned breath. “Yes.”

“A pity” he whispered. “I should have liked to give it to you instead.”

Music is their language, their communication and their ultimate weapon of seduction. It is the means by which they break down each other’s barriers. There are pages where they do not utter even a single word but volumes are spoken through music and what it communicates to the other person. It says what they are too afraid to say…what they can’t vocalize with any amount of words. It is how a frustrated composer communicates to his muse and how a shy and timid widow communicates to her idol.

Gently, and rendered with as much skill and passion as he had ever encountered, Frau Heidel played Love and Freedom. She produced the right degree of vibrato, innately aware of how her dynamic fingers conjured magic from four strings. Tones shimmered and wept. Upon reaching the movements stark adagio, she slowed and swayed. Her intensity never wavered…

He strained the muscles in his neck, and the very limits of his musical faculties to identify any poorly executed note. But her intonation remained flawless. In her hands, the symphony sounded divine. Effortless.

Lofty’s writing is as lyrical as any piece of music. She writes phrases that jump right off the page and into your soul. It becomes so powerful you can actually develop a sense of the music, allowing yourself to hear what these characters are creating. Beautifully composed and painfully descriptive, Carrie pulls such emotion with her writing you hold your breath in anticipation of the next phrase and its sheer beauty. The characters she creates are carefully crafted to have flaws, insecurities, desires, dreams, and every amazing aspect pushes the character a little further into your heart. Lofty adds a unique twist by including famous composers and musicians as additional characters to the story. This all makes the novel a tender, emotional and heartwarming journey. If you have any appreciation for music and treasure a well-written story, Song of Seduction is the answer. This story will stay with you long after you have read it.

Rating: 9.5 ( Near Perfection!)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Review: Taken By Moonlight

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010


Taken By Moonlight
Author: Dorothy McFalls
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
Pub. Date: May 25, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1600885440
Retail: $3.99
58 pages

Bored of society’s ballrooms and events, Lady Amelia wants more from life. But not to be kidnapped! A rogue with a wildness that both frightens and excites her steals her away from the only family she’s ever known and tosses her into a world of werewolves and danger.

Dimitri, a lone wolf who plays by his own rules, agreed to capture Lia and bring her to back to his former wolf pack. According to his sister, Lia is the pack’s last hope for survival. But once Dimitri has her, will he be able to let this beguiling she-wolf go?

~*~*~

Dorothy McFalls has crafted a suspenseful Regency paranormal novella that will keep you turning the pages until the end.

Dimitri, Lord Carew, is the new catch of the London season—but everything about him contains an air of mystery, from the manner he came by his title to his sensuous, dark looks and strange accent.

Lady Amelia Routledge is tired of senseless admirers and yearns to fill a powerful restlessness in her that cannot be named.

At a ball, she locks eyes with the enigmatic Carew and soon finds herself in the garden kissing him—and compromised.

But bad goes to worse when she is kidnapped and taken to be the mate of the alpha wolf of Dimitri’s pack—a wild, untamed wolf who wants to mate with her and possess her by brute force, because according to prophecy, only she can save the pack.

Dimitri is a lone wolf/man who must obey his leader unquestionably or pay with his life. But what will he do if his feelings for Lia get in the way? And what will happen if the only way he can save her from the alpha is to possess her himself?

Why does the pack want Lia? What is the strange restlessness that drives her?

McFalls has created a page-turning story that seamlessly blends the Regency world with paranormal elements. The dark, paranormal world she builds in this short time is filled with authentic Regency details. The characters are well drawn. But be forewarned—the story is billed as erotic and heats up quickly! I thought this was a really fun read!

Rating: 8.5 (Very Very Good)

Heat-Level: 6 (Erotic)

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Rating: 6.3/10 (3 votes cast)

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Review: Her Captain Dares All

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Her Captain Dares All
Author: Eliza Knight
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Pub. Date: April 28, 2010
Retail: $4.00
126 pages

Pursued by kidnappers, Lady Tessa Woodward is running for her life. When handsome Captain Jeremy Williams comes to her rescue in the backstreets of Paris, she persuades him to help her escape France and return to her home in England.

Captain Jeremy Williams is captivated by Lady Tessa’s fiery nature and agrees to give her passage aboard his ship. Once on board, his desire grows and soon reveals a sensual side to the woman he can’t deny. But when danger threatens his lady, will the captain dare all to save her?

~*~*~

After a chapter or two, Eliza Knight subtly draws readers into the clever world of the Men of the Sea series.

Her Captain Dares All is Book 3 in Eliza Knight’s Men of the Sea series. Characters from previous titles in the series are mentioned, but reading order does not necessarily have to be chronological for each to be enjoyable. This book surprised me after a rough start. Once together, Lady Tessa Woodward and Captain Jeremy Williams enchant. As soon as they sail off from France to England, this story begins to read like the kind many romance readers first fell in love with; love on the high seas. I almost wish Tessa and Jeremy could have spent more time in the close confines on his ship, The Conqueror. Knight has a deft hand at building sensuality in subtle but no less satisfying strokes:

When she turned to face him, he stood so very close, his masculine scent of shaving cream and the sea wafted over her. She closed her eyes for a moment to breathe in his delicious aroma. The familiar tingle that now came about whenever he was near wound itself around her and settled in her core.

Dialogue swept me into this story as much as the plot. Almost as soon as Tessa and Jeremy began to converse, I began to enjoy the storyline:

“Captain, will you be sleeping in here as well?”

A wicked glint flickered in his eyes. “Would you like me to?”

Tessa gasped, shocked at his question, and at the way his words sent tremors rippling through her core. “No!”

Captain Williams laughed heartily. He removed her hand from his arm to give her a lingering kiss on the wrist. She sucked in her breath, and yanked her hand away.

“I promise, my lady, I will never sleep with you, not unless you beg me to.”

The character of Jeremy is most enjoyable. He is the quintessential historical navy captain, a man deeply in love with the sea. From the onset, his life as a seaman is precious to him—something he thankfully does not have to give up. The story is all the better for the fact that Tessa’s character understands fully that the sea is a part of the man. Knight did an excellent job building his character and motivations. Tessa’s motivations at times were questionable, especially in regard to her own safety and Jeremy’s feelings for her. He chases her across the sea, a three-month journey, and she refuses him, citing that he does not really love her. The all-out gesture should have been enough, in my opinion. Despite this, the ending seemed to click together well and the characters do get a satisfying HEA.

Knight easily draws readers into the setting, whether it’s the danger of the nighttime streets of Paris, the vast reaches of the sea and the snug confines of The Conqueror, the sophisticated society of London or even the cultural flavor of the West Indies. She paints a scene and builds a storyline with sensuality and intrigue in equal measure. Point of view changes were done smoothly, never jarring me out of the story. The only thing that distracted me was the occasional tendency to tell instead of show and a couple of turns of phrase that seemed too modern for the time period. Overall, after reading Her Captain Dares All, I’m tempted to read the first two books in this series.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory )

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

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Alice Audrey is Moving In

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Today, please welcome my friend and ex-Avon Fanlit cohort, Alice Audrey, whose first book, MOVING IN was just released. Alice generously agreed to a virtual sit down with me here on the Blog.

~*~*~

Question
Tell us about Moving In. What was your inspiration for this book?

Answer
It started with Suzie’s House – a bit of serial fiction I post on my blog every Friday.  The book had to tie in with it and use some of the same characters, at least peripherally, but be able to stand on it’s own.  When I hit on the idea of neighbors and friends, the character Diane was born.

Diane and Suzie make good foils for one another.  Both of them are the Susie Homemaker type.  They enjoy cooking and crafts, and remodeling.  But Suzie is quite comfortable with her roll of boarding house owner while Diane struggles against the idea of becoming a housewife.

From there I found Trigvey, the man who would seem to be Diane’s perfect match.  As a doctor with no outstanding loans, he can easily afford to let her stay home, and needs the kind of attention he can’t get any other way.  They enjoy one another’s company and value one another, but when push comes to shove, both are afraid to take on the roles a marriage would require of them.

Question
How long have you been writing?

Answer
I’m almost afraid to answer that.  34 years.  Yes, I’ve very stubborn, and started young.

Question
I love call stories. Can you tell us yours?

Answer
Moving In was suggested by my editor.  You know how you tell editors and agents about your web presence while at conventions?  Well, they really do check them out.  Vicky Reed didn’t just read my blog, she got hooked on Suzie’s House.  She asked if I had anything that tied in with the series.  I didn’t, but it was easy for me to come up with something.

~~~

Moving In
Author: Alice Audrey
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Pub. Date: February 2010
Novella

When Diane and Trigvey move into the same building on the same day, more than their suitcases get tangled up.

Trigvey never once doubted his calling to be a doctor, but an accident in the ER has him doubting himself. Diane’s willingness to listen helps him get his head on straight. If only he felt worthy of a woman like her.

Diane is the kind of woman who would love to be someone’s wife. Not a trophy wife, or simply married, but the kind of wife whose job is to stay home and take care of the family, even if the family is only a husband. She feeds Trigvey and consoles him, and doesn’t even know she has him wrapped around her finger. Jilted for a career-woman and raised by a bitter divorcée, Diane no longer believes in that dream. It’s up to Trigvey to convince her it could still be real, if she chooses him.

~~~

Question
I know you’ve written single titles in the past. What’s the biggest difference between that and writing this novella?

Answer
Actually, I’ve written short stories, novellas, category romance, single titles and epics.  I’ve written science fiction, romantic suspense, historical romance, and romantic comedies.  This was the first “sweet” book I’d ever written, and the first time I worked closely with an editor.  I found both somewhat challenging, but the differences in the process were no greater than the differences between any of my other books.

Question
Can you share an excerpt of Moving In you haven’t posted anywhere else before.

Answer
Trigvey stared at the ceiling. He needed things. A lot of things. He’d lost control of himself and scared Diane off, which made him feel useless.

His thoughts circled endlessly as day faded into twilight. When someone knocked on his door, he knew who it was, but couldn’t imagine why she’d come back.

He didn’t mean to bound to his feet, and certainly had no intention of rushing to the door, but arrived short of breath and threw the door open.

Diane didn’t meet his eyes. “I… um… Would you like something to eat?”

Did she feel sorry for him? Not that it made much difference. He’d eat anything to be with her.

“Yeah. I’d like that a lot. You didn’t cook for me, did you?”

“I was going to cook for myself anyway,” she said.

She led the way down the stairs.

“You really are going to have to let me take you out sometime,” he said quietly.

She didn’t respond and he wondered if she’d heard over the quiet clattering of their footsteps on the steps. “Some place nice,” he continued.

Still, she didn’t say anything, but when she opened the door to her apartment, a rolling wave of hearth and home poured out.

He glanced at the sofa. She’d added a throw pillow done in some kind of silky fabric with an Oriental design to match the rug. A bookcase stood where his belongings had been.

She hadn’t wasted time erasing every trace of his presence.

Question
I’m the type of reader who has to be taken with the hero. Why will readers love your hero?

Answer
Trigvey is quite the mix.  When we first meet him, he looks like a total bad boy; sunglasses, ripped jeans, three days growth of beard.  He’s arrogant and irritated.  Diane thinks he might be a bum.  The next time we see him he’s wearing surgical scrubs and is wrung out body and soul.

He’s an ER doctor under particularly high pressure due to mismanagement at the hospital.  When a simple mistake has disastrous results, he questions the foundations of his life.  He really tortures himself over it.

Diane’s love redeems him.  She helps him forgive himself and get his priorities clear.  He’s smart enough to know what she does for him, but baffled about how to return the favor when she seems so well put together.  That won’t keep him from trying.

Question
What’s coming up next for you?

Answer
I’m working on a follow up book using more characters from Suzie’s House.  This time the mother of a boy who was abandoned to an abusive father turns out the be the heroine.  Yeah, I like challenges.

~*~*~

Alice will be with us today to take your questions and comments, and she’ll be giving away an electronic copy of MOVING IN to one lucky commenter.

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Barbara Monajem gets funky…historical style

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Today, the guest blogger is my chapter mate, Barbara Monajem, who writes paranormal and historical romance, and currently has a short out for Harlequin in their Historical Undone line. Please extend a warm welcome to Barbara.

~*~*~

FUNKY HISTORY

Patrick needs a respectable new wife to be a mother for his daughter.
Notorious Eliza paints nudes to support her young son.
They should resist the attraction. (They don’t.)
They dare not fall in love. (They do.)
They must not marry… for one day Eliza’s most scandalous secret will surface and destroy them all.

Many of the blogs I’ve written to promote my Harlequin Undone, Notorious Eliza, ended up talking about another book instead: William Manchester’s A World Lit Only by Fire. At first glance, there’s not much connection. Notorious Eliza is a short Regency romance; A World Lit Only by Fire is non-fiction, and it’s about the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. I adore this book, because it’s full of what I call funky history. That’s the kind of history we are deprived of in school, because it’s… hmm. Sometimes it would be called inappropriate. Sometimes it’s not considered factual. Sometimes it’s downright gross.

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Notorious Eliza
Author: Barbara Monajem
Publisher: Historical Undone
Pub. Date: January 1, 2010
Format: E-book
Price: $2.69

Eliza Dauntry was infamous. Most people assumed she was a wanton because she supported herself and her son by painting portraits of courtesans. Yet Eliza hadn’t been tempted by a man since her husband’s death…until she met Patrick Felham. An old friend of her husband and a one-time rake, Patrick awakened a yearning in Eliza that demanded to be satisfied at once….

Patrick was looking for an upright woman to become his wife and stepmother to his daughter, not a siren like Eliza Dauntry! But Eliza had aroused his desire ever since he saved her scandalous self-portrait from the auction house. The chance of an affair with the alluring widow was irresistible, but this notorious woman could also turn out to be his perfect bride…

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Regardless, it’s the fun stuff, such as, for example, the medieval belief in incubi (and succubi), and that impregnation by an incubus could be a legitimate excuse for a pregnancy when one’s husband was away. It’s the wild orgies in the Vatican held by a Borgia pope. It’s the pagan superstitions and bizarre visions of the great reformer, Martin Luther. Maybe this stuff isn’t appropriate for high school history courses, but I can tell you one thing—the kids would remember it.

I certainly did. The friend who gave me A World Lit Only by Fire does wonderful trompe l’oeil work, and the combination of that book and the paintings on my friend’s walls inspired me to write Notorious Eliza—about a woman hired to disguise the scandalous paintings on the walls of a ballroom, and man who has to go through his own private renaissance to realize what he really wants in a wife. It’s my little piece of made-up funky history, and I had a blast writing it.

What funky history did you learn, either in school or after you graduated? Were you shocked? Did it make history come more alive for you?

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