trueromance

Congratulations to Aubrey Ross for winning the Readers’ Crown Award for Short Erotic Romance! Is that not just the hottest cover?

Aubrey is unable to blog today so here is a bit more about her book:
Winter is the second book in a paranormal erotic romance trilogy. It is hot, hot, hot!

After surviving the horrors of a salt refinery, Winter is convinced she’s prepared for anything. Her mission is simple, seduce Ulrick Brant and convince him to reveal the location of the mysterious Chemist. Ulrick is handsome, sexy, and heroic. How hard can this be?

Ulrick doesn’t mind helping the Resistance, but he won’t tolerate being used. Before Winter realizes she’s caught, he has her naked and in restraints. He arouses her slowly, commanding her body with skill and tenderness until they both forget it’s a game.

Winter is dazzled by the pleasure they share, but the Resistance won’t wait forever. Danger is closing in, and Ulrick must choose his final role, ruthless invader, or freedom fighter.

Bio:
When my parents realized I had an aptitude for storytelling—okay, even at an early age I was a consummate liar—they encouraged me to find constructive ways to put all that “creativity” to use. I wrote my first novel when I was in junior high school. It was a typical teenage girl’s fantasy about being kidnapped by a rock star, finding out he was really misunderstood, a millionaire’s son, and living happily ever after with the reformed rebel…

Now I spend my days, and many of my nights, trying to keep up with the characters springing to life within my mind. I find creative ways of avoiding errands and housework because I can’t drag myself away from the dramas unfolding in my latest story. And everyday I thank God I was able to quit my day job and actively pursue my dream!

What is your favorite type of cover?

Hello again! I can’t believe it’s been six months since I last chatted with you about my first anthology for Cleis Press, Fairy Tale Lust. That collection was so well-received by readers (thank you!!) and reviewers that I still get emails about the book and the individual stories. Fairy tales are hot, hot, hot (and I’ll let you in on a secret: I just signed a contract to edit another collection of erotic romance fairy tales to be released next year!), but you know what else is hot? Paranormal erotic romance—which just happens to be the theme of my second anthology, Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance.

Mmm… paranormal erotic romance. Just the phrase conjures up all sorts of delicious creatures and scenarios and when I set out to edit this collection, I was looking for sexy, romantic stories involving all sorts of paranormal elements. The authors didn’t disappoint me! I received hundreds of stories about ghosts, mermaids, werewolves, demons, vampires, possession, witchcraft, magic and more. These stories represent the very best of paranormal erotic romance by some of the finest erotica and erotic romance authors.

Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance includes stories from seventeen amazing authors who pushed the boundaries of the paranormal to deliver uniquely sensual stories of otherwordly delights. The authors in the collection include Justine Elyot, Delilah Devlin, Shanna Germain, A.D.R Forte, Craig Sorensen, Kristina Lloyd, Saskia Walker, Sacchi Green, Nikki Magennis, Alana Noel Voth, Victoria Janssen, Lana Fox, Lucy Felthouse, Kate Pearce, Madeline Moore, Ericka Hiatt and myself, with a foreword bestselling erotic romance author Megan Hart.

Do you like stories about sexy shapeshifters? Then you’ll be delighted with “Where the Heart Is” by Saskia Walker, “Moongirl Meets the Wolfman” by Alana Noel Voth, “Lust As Old As Us” by Madeline Moore and “For Humans, Love’s All About Weight” by Lana Fox. Lana’s story is about a variety of shapeshifter I’d never seen written about before—a birdman! From the air we go to the sea with Delilah Devlin’s mermaid tale (tail!), “Dreaming by the Sea.”

Among the pages of Dream Lover, you’ll also encounter a sugar-addicted male fairy in Shanna Germain’s delicious “Devil’s Food” and a couple of randy clairvoyants in Victoria Janssen’s sexy baking story, “Vanilla.” What can I say? I was hungry when I was reading stories for this collection!

If you like ghost stories, you’ll want to read about Justine Elyot’s sexy cursed poet in “Love Resurrection.” Craig Sorensen takes the traditional ghost story in a different direction with his powerful and sensual tale, “Shattered Belle.” Tormented lovelorn spirits and possession is the theme of Kristina Lloyd’s darkly erotic story, “Living Off Lovers.” I promise you will never look at an old apartment building the same way again!

Kate Pearce takes the motif of the old abandoned mansion to a new level in her story of a centuries-old cursed man and a lovelorn woman in “Folly” and Nikk Magennis gives us a reunion story of witchcraft and revenge in “Old Fashioned Glamour.” “Rainmaker,” A.D.R. Forte’s atmospheric tale of longing and the power of passion, will stay with you long after you read it.

No collection of paranormal erotic romance would be complete without a few demons and Dream Lover is populated by some of the best! There is a vengeful gargoyle in Sacchi Green’s “Freeing the Demon” and a tale of two demons in love in Lucy Felthous’s “Succubus Comes Home.” Ericka Hiatt’s demon in “The Eye of Pearl” is the enemy rather than the hero—and what a story she has written about the power of true love! To balance out the demons, my own story “Thief of Hearts” explores the connection between a fallen angel and the woman he was supposed to protect.

This collection was a labor of love as I have been interested in the paranormal since I read my first Stephen King novel as a young teenager. The appeal of the otherworldly (or underworldy) cannot be denied. To step outside our own reality and explore the farthest reaches of our imaginations to discover the creatures of the night, the magic in the ether—oh, it makes my heart beat faster just to think of the possibilities! And so I’m delighted to present Dream Lover: Pararnormal Tales of Erotic Romance to you. I hope the stories in this anthology will haunt your dreams as they have haunted mine—in the best possible way!

Next up for me is another collection dear to my heart—Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance. I thought steampunk, with its fantastical gadgets, historical settings and tales of high adventure, was the perfect theme for an erotic romance collection. I just turned in the final manuscript to my publisher and I’m happy to say I was right— this is an anthology whose time has come! I can’t wait to introduce to the sensual world of corsets and clockworks. Steamlust will be an October release, and promises to be a one of a kind collection of erotically charged romance. (Not to mention the potential for Halloween costume ideas is staggering!)

Happy reading!

Giveaway: Three lucky commenters will be selected at random to receive an autographed copy of Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance signed by the editor, Kristina Wright.

How Well Do You Know Your Favorite Authors?

This project turned out to be so much fun. My debut novel, FEVER, will be published April, 2012. So, in deciding on a topic for this blog, my idea of a simple, fun game of romance trivia developed into a full-blown get to know your favorite authors. And, boy, did I learn a lot about authors I thought I already knew!

A big thank you to all the authors who participated, offering fun tidbits of information about themselves and their work: Larissa Ione, Christina Dodd, Mariah Stewart, Luanne Rice, Anna Campbell, Joann Ross, Allison Brennan, Kat Martin, Lauren Dane, Jade Lee, Michelle Pillow, Elizabeth Essex, Stephanie Tyler, Elisabeth Naughton, Cynthia Eden, Addison Fox, Christy Reece, Tessa Dare, Donna Grant, Jules Bennett, Juliana Stone, Kristina McMorris, Jessa Slade, Alison Kent, Maggie Robinson, Delilah Marvelle, Darynda Jones, Monica Burns, Nicola Marsh, Sasha White, Laurie London, Amy Knupp, Lori Wilde, Marie Force, Sylvia Day, Gail Barrett, and Marilyn Brant .

I hope all you avid romance readers will be as excited as the authors were to participate in this trivia crossword.

My debut paranormal romantic suspense, FEVER, releases in April 2012 from Kensington. Until I have the book (or an ARC) in hand to offer as a prize, I’m giving away Borders Gift Cards for the top three author trivia buffs. $20—first place (most correct answers), $15—second place and $10—third place.

In the event of a tie in any of the winning placements, I’ll provide tie-breaker questions about my critique partner Elisabeth Naughton, author of the hot ETERNAL GUARDIAN paranormal romantic suspense series, until we have final winners.  How fun is that?

I’ll post a puzzle answer key (or a link to it) in the comments on Tuesday, April 12th.

Rules:
1. You must enter your answers in the comments section of the BORDERS TRUE ROMANCE blog (a.k.a. HERE).
Since there are no duplicate numbers for across and down, simply put the number and your answer in the comments (only for the answers you think you know):
1. Answer here
4. Answer here
18. Answer here

2. All qualifying answers must be entered into the blog comments by:
Midnight Pacific Time (cause that’s where I live) 4/11/11.

3. Have fun! (I hate rules…can you tell?)
Free for all! Go for it!

Hints:
1. You can choose three ways to play (not exactly streamlined, but it’s the best I’ve got for the time being):

o Print out the puzzle and work on paper before entering your answers in the comment section of the Borders blog. (Either print the puzzle below or go to my website for a larger print version.) Printable crossword

o Work online via an interactive puzzle on my website before entering your answers in the comment section of the Borders blog. (This version—for some bizarre reason does not have clue numbers, so you’ll have to keep track with either a printed version or the image on the Borders blog.) Interactive crossword

o Work directly from Borders blog by reviewing the crossword below and entering your answers directly into the comments section of the Borders blog. (If you do this, I suggest opening two browser windows so you can see your comment in one window and the puzzle in the other.)

2. The online interactive version allows you to check you puzzle questions one time for accuracy. It does not allow you to “cheat” by giving hints or getting answers.

3. Yes, there will be others’ answers in the comments section, but there is no guarantee those answers will be right. Trust your own knowledge first.

Bio:

Joan Swan is a triple RWA® Golden Heart finalist, and a double Kiss of Death Daphne Du Maurier finalist. She writes sexy romantic suspense with a paranormal twist, and debut novel, FEVER, releases from Kensington Brava April, 2012.

Currently, she works as a sonographer at a one of the top ten medical facilities in the nation, and lives in magnificent wine country on the central coast of California with her husband and two daughters.

Find Joan here: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Savvy Authors

Setting: Multiple settings in the human and paranormal world
Subgenre: Paranormal romance
Hero: Ares, second Horseman of the Apocalypse
Heroine: Cara Thornhart, human

One sentence summary: When a human woman is dragged into the world of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, she finds herself in a fight for her life, her heart, and the very fate of mankind.

Scene you like most and would never cut: I love the scene in which Ares gives Cara a mild sedative, and it has an unexpected effect on her. She gets a little…amorous…

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She would never, EVER harm an animal or wear fur.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He must win at all costs. Always. He’s no fun to play Monopoly with…

Heroine: Cara loves pajamas. Flannel pajamas with animals on them.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s unemployed, but she should be a veterinarian.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He’s War, second Horseman of the Apocalypse. His job pretty much involves being a legend.

What you think readers will like best about this book: Readers familiar with the Demonica series will like getting to see their favorite characters, and hopefully, everyone will like the humor mixed with a dark, dangerous story.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Reaver. In the Demonica series, he got a fallen angel’s happily-ever-after, but readers want him to have a romance. I do have plans for him, so we’ll see!

What’s next: The last Sydney Croft book (erotic romance written with Stephanie Tyler,) comes out at the end of June. Taken By Fire will wrap up the paranormal ACRO series and take it out with a bang. I’m really excited for this book. After that, at the end of August, I have a Demonica/Lords of Deliverance novella that will release as part as the Supernatural anthology with Alexandra Ivy, G.A. Aiken, and Jacquelyn Frank.

About Me:
What’s my favorite movie of all time? That’s the hardest question ever, because I’m a huge movie buff. I guess I’d have to go with either the Lord of the Rings trilogy or the new Star Trek movie. Or Independence Day. Or…I could really keep going…

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in? I love fantasy. Robert Jordan’s Eye of the World series is a favorite. Once I start reading, the rest of the world is dead to me. DEAD, I tell you…

What’s the first book I remember reading? Tik-Tok of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. I remember that every time I visited my grandparents’ house, I would read the complete collection of Oz books that were my dad’s when he was a child. Tik-Tok of Oz is the one I remember most, though to be honest, I’m not sure why.

What’s my favorite fairy tale? I’ve always been strangely fascinated by Hansel and Gretel, but I LOVE Ever After, the Cinderella movie with Drew Barrymore.
What’s your favorite cartoon character? Spongebob Squarepants. Love that sponge…

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers? I just want to thank them for all the support, emails, and good times. They got me where I am today, and I’m beyond grateful!

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer? I’d go back to doing what I did before, which was to work in the meteorological field.

What do I do to unwind and relax? Watch movies, read, or play RPGs. Right now I’m digging Dungeon Siege 2.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it? Coffee, black and strong!

What does love mean to me? It means sharing each others’s strengths, helping each other through weakness, and building each other up. Love means that you love yourself as much as you love your partner.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Least? The 70’s. Yes, I lived in the 70’s, but I was a kid, so my memories are, thankfully, fuzzy. But the fashion was horrific! Most? I think now. I love the fashion in many periods in history, but I can’t separate the harsh/hard lifestyles and treatment of women enough to properly appreciate the fashion. Plus, I’m not overly fond of dresses.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Rig. I don’t know why, but I want to use it. I’ve had to keep this name a secret from Stephanie Tyler, because she’d steal it. She loves names like that — my husband and I affectionately refer to them as “Steph Names.” (I mean, come on…she’s named characters Hex, Ender, Trance, Mace, and Gearshift. Or maybe that last one was Clutch…) In any case, shh!

Dog person or cat person? I’m a huge animal lover, so I love them both, but I’ll have to go with cat person. They are so underappreciated as pets, and I’ve found that whether or not a man likes cats can tell a lot about them. I could never have married a man who didn’t like cats!

So, here we are, talking about a paranormal series that brings a bit of explosive apocalyptic plot to the scene. I absolutely love apocalyptic fiction, whether the end-of-the-world events come from natural disasters, man-made actions such as nuclear war, or paranormal/science-fiction scenarios like aliens or zombies.

So what is YOUR favorite book, movie, or TV series that focuses on apocalyptic events? Me, I LOVE The Walking Dead and Independence Day!

Greetings!

I’m Gianna Bruno. For years, reading science fiction, fantasy, and romance opened up new worlds to explore and introduced me to interesting characters. I grew tired of journalistic assignments. There are too many formulas, formats, recipes, and prescriptions. I suppose it was no coincidence that, when I started writing fiction in earnest about five years ago, I evolved into somewhat of a cross-genre queen.

There is romance in almost everything I write, as well as a touch of magic. But I favor real life settings, occasionally with a historical backdrop, and my characters are conglomerations of people I’ve met–some of them in the oddest situations and places.
I live in New York City, which is a treasure trove for urban fantasy and magical realist writers. But since I’ve lived a good bit of my life in southern New England: Boston, the North Shore of Massachusetts and Vermont, moving from urban to ex-urban settings, and from fantasy to reality, is so much a part of my life, I’ve learned to see the magic, taste it, feel it.

It doesn’t matter if I’m on a subway, exploring the back roads and byways in Salem and environs, watching hurricane driven surf crash onto a beach, or battling the wind to get down a steep, icy slope. The witches, fairies, ghosts, and occasional alien invade my subconscious and implore me to chronicle their stories and adventures.

My new Eternal Press release, The Journey, began as a dream about a woman walking through a snowy wood and meeting a fairy. Milena is a witch who lives on the outskirts of Salem just before the start of the Civil War. The fact that the Underground Railroad was active in that part of Massachusetts, best known for its prejudice against witches (though it had waned by that time), created an interesting twist and gave Milena a clear mission and sense of purpose.

The result was a traditional fantasy with splashes of fairy magic, witchcraft, voodoo, action, and adventure in a historical setting. I suppose I should mention it’s highly erotic–as a story that explores the dark depths of humanity needs to be.

Hot Chocolate Kiss, published in January 2010 by Eternal Press, has garnered some very nice reviews. Guys love this story because of the action, both on and off the ski slopes. Yes, there are witches and fairies, but they sneak on and off stage like a glint of light on the snow or a gust of wind.

I’m thrilled to be here today to chat with readers, both new and old, answer questions, and give away one of my gift packages: A copy of The Journey and Hot Chocolate Kiss, with a box of chocolates. Check back later for the contest question.

I do occasionally come back to the real world. My current work in progress is a collection of short stories At Home With Peter and Sandra, featuring a couple in the suburbs of somewhere trying to reinvent their relationship. It’s humorous, five flames, and I’m having a great time writing it.

Give away will be a copy of The Journey and Hot Chocolate Kiss, plus a box of chocolates.

There are trailers and excerpts on my website and blog. Please keep in touch and follow me on Facebook or Twitter.

Setting: Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland
Subgenre: Romantic Suspense
Hero: Max Ridgeway, successful businessman
Heroine: FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy

One sentence summary: FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy has survived hell once…but when her lover becomes the target of a sadistic killer, she knows that she will have to face death again if they are both going to live through the nightmare surrounding them.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Very early in the book, Samantha races into a fancy party, desperate to find Max. When she sees him, things between them get hot and heavy—fast. For Samantha, this scene is incredibly important. She’s falling apart on the inside and being with Max is the only thing that actually makes her feel sane.

So it’s hot, it’s a bit wild, but that scene shows readers how much Samantha is struggling in the wake of her attack.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

Samantha is a computer genius. She’s got a load of degrees and far more technical knowledge than most of the FBI agents working in the field. But…Samantha is a behind-the-scenes type of girl. She’s not the guns-blazing heroine who can take out a killer without breaking a sweat. She’s scarred inside, and she’s struggling to face her fears.

What celebrity is your hero like: Joe Manganiello(from HBO’s True Blood). Like Joe, my hero is handsome in a wild, rough way. Sexy.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Gillian Anderson (Oh, yes, let’s go back to my X-Files fan days!)

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Samantha works in the FBI’s Serial Services Division—it’s her job to track and apprehend serials—killers, rapists, and arsonists. Sam’s a computer genius, so normally she works behind the scenes. But, this isn’t a normal case for her.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Max Ridgeway owns a very successful construction business. He’s a hard worker, a self-made man, and a guy willing to fight to the death for those he loves.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

DEADLY LIES is a hot, action-packed read. I hope readers really enjoy the relationship between Max and Samantha, and I also hope that readers enjoy the action scenes in which Samantha and Max hunt down the killer. I love writing scenes about tracking killers!

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

I tend to be asked most about two characters from my Deadly series—Keith Hyde, the man who is the Serial Services Division, and Jon Ramirez a tough, ex-sniper with a very dark side.

What’s next: In July, my next paranormal romance will be released by Kensington Brava. NEVER CRY WOLF will take readers back to my Other paranormal world. Lucas Simone is the alpha of the LA wolf pack—he’s tough, he’s dangerous, and he knows how to kick serious butt. He’s also exactly what Sarah King needs. She has a price on her head, and Lucas is the only person standing between her and death.

All of my “Deadly” books are romantic suspense novels with a dark edge. Some of the characters have very painful pasts, and their stories aren’t always easy. The books are full of death and danger, but love is also always there to balance things in the end (because we are talking romance!). I’m curious…what’s your take on dark books? Do you enjoy sliding into the darker tales? Do you have a dark side of your own?

Three commenters will be randomly selected to win copies of DEADLY LIES.

Setting: Mainly in the Pacific Northwest, current day.

Subgenre: Paranormal

Hero: Talen Kayrs is a vampire prince and soldier. Talen is a leader who believes in fate, and yet pretty much thinks the world should follow his lead. The idea of anyone ignoring fate, or even worse, not following his plan, is truly unthinkable to him.

Heroine: Cara Paulson is a single mother and scientist. She survived a bad childhood with wits and courage. The idea of either fate or an arrogant vampire dictating anything about her life is ridiculous. That is, until Talen touches her.

One sentence summary: FATED is a deeply sexy good-versus-evil vampire story with a unique twist—the vampire race is on the verge of extinction, and only one woman has the power to save it!

Scene you like most and would never cut: It’s hard to choose just one. Talen is pretty much an alpha through the entire book, and a scene arrives where he chases Cara through the house. They’re having some fun, but the sexual tension is still full on. She finds out the big, bad vampire is ticklish. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, and she realizes her heart is in true trouble…because she actually likes the guy.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She’s a plant physiologist and is only happy when there are live plants, flowers and trees around. So she’d rather never be underground. Of course, that’s exactly where she ends up.

What celebrity is your hero like: Ronon Dex from Stargate Atlantis

What celebrity is your heroine like: Audrey Parker from Haven

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be
doing: She’s a plant physiologist because science is ordered and controlled.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be
doing: Talen is a soldier, the head of strategic planning for the entire vampire world.

What you think readers will like best about this book: FATED is a sexy, steamy romance mixed with some genuine warmth. Of course, there’s a lot of action too.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Katie is a young lion shifter in FATED who’s in love with the leader of the lions. Readers keep asking when Katie’s story will be told. It’s coming.

What’s next: CLAIMED is book two and features the romance between an arrogant vampire king and a feisty geneticist. The release date is November of this year.

For more about my books, excerpts and releases, please visit my website: www.rebeccazanetti.com

In FATED, Talen believes in fate and Cara believes in science. Do you believe in fate?

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of FATED. I’d like to give away two copies today. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Setting: Angel’s Bay, California
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Hero: Nick Hartley
Heroine: Isabella Silveira

One sentence summary: Isabella Silveira, a beautiful, quirky, somewhat psychic woman comes to Angel’s Bay after a series of unrelenting dreams about a mysterious man. When her car is run off the road, she is rescued by Nick Hartley, who shockingly enough, looks just like the man from her dreams.

Scene you like most and would never cut: First kiss at the summit overlooking Angel’s Bay and moments later, they discover a beautiful, hidden waterfall. And I have to add a second scene just because it’s fun. Nick and Isabella go to a charity fundraiser, a wild turkey shoot, which they think will involve a bar and alcohol but instead turns out to be a run through the mud to catch an actual turkey.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing: A nine-to-five job or wearing a business suit. She’s a creative, impulsive, free spirit but she also guards her heart because it often gets her into trouble. Isabella is the youngest sister of Joe Silveira, Angel’s Bay’s sexy chief of police for readers of the series who’ve been wanting to know a little more about his family.

Thing your hero would never be caught doing: Performing in his family’s theater. He’s the sane one in the family, until he meets Isabella, who reminds him that believing in a little bit of magic isn’t such a bad thing.

What celebrity is your hero like? Hmm, he’s got a Bruce Springstein vibe when he ditches the business suit and picks up his guitar.

What celebrity is your heroine like? She’s a little like Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls.

What is your heroines occupation? She’s a costume designer and loves to sew, a metaphor sometimes for her desire to repair the torn seams of relationships … like Nick’s relationship with his teenage daughter.

What is your heroes occupation? He’s an architect who moonlights as a guitar player. He’s spent the last few years trying to be a responsible adult but somewhere along the way he lost himself. Until Isabella reminds him of who he used to be.

What you think readers will like best about this book? I hope they’ll fall in love with Nick and Isabella as much as I did. And I hope their hearts will be touched by some of the more emotionally poignant scenes in the story. In addition to the love story, there’s a great story going on between Nick and his daughter that I think will touch anyone who understands how complex a father/daughter relationship can be.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Charlotte! But don’t worry, Angel’s Bay’s more popular continuing characters also have secondary story lines in AT HIDDEN FALLS. And for those of you who really want to know what’s happening with the mysterious father of Annie’s baby, you don’t have to wait any longer.

What’s next: The fifth book in the Angel’s Bay Series, GARDEN OF SECRETS, will be out in September of 2011. And fans of Charlotte, Joe and Andrew will definitely want to be on the lookout for this one.

Thanks for having me on the blog today! If you’re interested in reading an excerpt of AT HIDDEN FALLS, please visit my website at http://www.barbarafreethy.com. While there, you can also check out my Behind The Scenes page which has the history of Angel’s Bay, everything from the gold rush shipwreck to the community quilting that is a big part of the series.

I’d love to give away the first three books in my Angel’s Bay Series to one lucky commenter (including SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER, ON SHADOW BEACH and IN SHELTER COVE).

To enter, tell me what you love most about series books — or if you don’t like series and prefer standalone books, tell me why!

Setting: Dublin, Ireland; in the Unseelie prison; inside the White Mansion; beneath Jericho Barrons’ garage

Subgenre: Urban Fantasy/Romance

Hero: Yeah, right. I’ve been writing what’s turning into a small dissertation on that very topic. It’s like a Fever hairball I’m trying to cough up, LOL. I’ll probably post it at my website eventually. Here’s part of it: There are arguably no heroes in this series. With a minor twist of the lens, those who are perceived as the villains might have been viewed as the heroes, and the heroes might well be villains. It all comes down to who’s writing the press releases. I may eventually have to tell it from someone else’s point of view.

Heroine: Ditto above. You tell me when you’ve finished reading Shadowfever. I’d like some clarity myself. Me, I’m Team K’Vruck.

One sentence summary: It’s our actions that define us. What we choose. What we resist. What we’re willing to die for.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Pretty much the whole book or I would have cut it all. I’m pretty hard on the material. If it doesn’t live up to my expectations, it goes in the trash. A scene? I can’t narrow it down to that. I’d say the last 100 pages. I rarely like to re-read myself but I think the series wrapped up beautifully.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: I can’t.

What celebrity is your hero like: The Unseelie King.

What celebrity is your heroine like: The Unseelie King.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Having sex with Barrons.

What is your occupation, or if unemployed, what should you be doing: Having sex with Barrons.

What you think readers will like best about this book: That I didn’t give them another cliffhanger. I think what they’ll like best is the sense of completion coupled with possibility. I bring the characters to a resting place, a good place to be, full of possibilities for a fascinating future, with the promise of adventures yet to come. Isn’t that what most of us want? A safe port with a damn fast ship in it, so we can sail out and explore like lawless pirates when the mood strikes.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Hmmm…Readers, will you answer that one for me? I’m taking suggestions…

What’s next: A graphic novel from Del Rey set in the Fever World featuring Mac and other Fever World characters. It’s an original story that takes place as a side-adventure during Shadowfever. Also three more novels set in the Fever World.

Sue, thank you so much for inviting me to drop by, and for the many wonderful things you do to spread the word about good books and share the love of reading! And readers, thank you for keeping the faith–especially those of you who’ve been suffering the cliffhangers since Darkfever came out in 2006. I know it’s been a long wait, and love you guys for your patience, enthusiasm and community.

It’s been a long wait for me too, to finally be able to talk about the series from beginning to end and ask the question I’m dying to know:

What do you think of the way things played out? Did I give you what you wanted in the end? If not, what did you want? Who’s your hero in the series? Who’s the villain? Did Mac make the right choices? Could things have turned out differently, with only minor tweaking of events? What subgenre do you think the series falls under? Do you prefer my first-person or third-person point of view novels? Are you a Highlander or Fever fan?

Giveaway — 2 randomly chosen commenters will win a book - good luck!

Cynthia Eden (ETERNAL FLAME)

Setting: Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Zane Wynter, a demon hybrid
Heroine: Jana Carter, an Ignitor

One sentence summary: When Zane Wynter is given the task of tracking down wanted criminal Jana Carter, he never expects to fall for a woman who can literally burn a man to ash with just one look.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

My favorite scene actually occurs at the very beginning of the book. Zane is forced to run into a burning house because he hears Jana screaming for help. This is the scene in which the two characters meet, and they both come together with very altered perceptions of each other. Lots of fire, drama, and a deadly demon who wants to kill them both—all in the first few pages of the book. Definitely my favorite scene!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Due to her past, Jana has more than a few trust issues. She’s not exactly sunshine and light. So she’d never be the sweet welcome wagon that greets new neighbors with a batch of homemade, chocolate chip cookies. Instead, she’d be more likely to suspect the neighbors of evil deeds—and she’d greet them with smoke and fire.

What celebrity is your hero like: I’d say Zane is like Alex O’Loughlin, with an edge.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Jana is like Kate Beckinsale from Underworld. Her outside appearance looks fragile, but that’s just a trick. She’s incredibly strong.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

Jana’s an assassin. Not your typical nine-to-five job, but it’s what works for her particular skill set.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Zane is a bounty hunter for the Night Watch organization. Night Watch hunts the killers (often very real monsters) that human cops can’t catch.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

I hope readers enjoy the action as well as the intense, sexy scenes between Zane and Jana.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

This is the third installment in my Night Watch series, and I’ve gotten a lot of reader email about my cop, Antonio Young. He’s a human in a world full of paranormals, but he seems to fit well into the mix.

What’s next:

In July, I will be releasing my werewolf romance, NEVER CRY WOLF, with Kensington Brava, and then later in 2011, I’ll be releasing the first book in my new Fallen Angel series. There are currently four books planned for my angels, and I am having a fabulous time writing about them!

Thanks for checking out my post!  And now it’s time for my question. My heroine, Jana, is a woman with a very dark past. She isn’t a “good girl” by any stretch of the imagination (lucky for her, Zane is a very bad boy), but, what do you think about heroines who have a darker edge? And do you have a favorite “dark” heroine?

Thanks, again!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden
ETERNAL FLAME—Available 11/30/10 from Kensington Brava