trueromance

A MIDWINTER FANTASY (Christmas Anthology)

Title: “A Christmas Carroll” by Leanna Renee Hieber (Strangely Beautiful #2.5)
Setting: 1888 London, England
Subgenre: Victorian Gothic Fantasy Romance
Hero: Vicar Michael Carroll
Heroine: Headmistress Rebecca Thompson
One sentence summary: In a harrowing, Dickensian event, spirits force Vicar Michael Carroll and his unrequited love of twenty years to be dangerously honest with one another, else their souls and those of their ghostly aides, shall be forever trapped in purgatory.
Scene you like most and would never cut: The first chapter, where the whole Guard is back together again, carousing and teasing one another mercilessly. And the end, which just feels like relaxing what has been twenty years of tensed shoulders.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Anything overly sentimental. Rebecca is a reserved, elegant, frigid, no-nonsense woman. Only Michael’s steadfast warmth proves able to break down her walls.
What celebrity is your hero like: Michael Sheen
What celebrity is your heroine like: Emma Thompson
What is your heroine’s occupation: Headmistress of Athens Academy
What is your hero’s occupation: Parish Vicar
What you think readers will like best about this book: It’s simple sweetness, an achingly beautiful and emotional resolution to twenty years of unrequited love. It’s focus on hope, redemption and second chances.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Elijah and Josephine of the Guard
What’s Next: Strangely Beautiful book #3, but I’m unsure on release details, and a new Victorian Gothic Fantasy YA series, MAGIC MOST FOUL, set in 1880 New York City featuring a heroine who suffers from Selective Mutism and a hero trapped in a painting. Supernatural danger is the half of their troubles. - http://www.leannareneehieber.com

Title: “The Worth of a Sylph” by L. J. McDonald (Sylph series #2.5)
Setting: A medieval style fantasy world in the middle of winter
Subgenre: Romantic Fantasy
Hero: Mace, a hardened, grim battle sylph who dislikes and distrusts men.
Heroine: Sally
One sentence summary: When Mace is sent out of the Valley to Eferem in search of a runaway boy, he never expects who he finds, or how they’re going to affect him personally.
Scene you like most and would never cut (and optional excerpt): The scene where Mace turns into a rat, and his grand entrance into the tavern afterwards.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: I would normally say anything kind towards a man, but well…
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a cook at a tavern and a single mom in a medieval world, which is a very hard thing to be.
What is your heroe’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He’s a protector. His life is dedicated to protecting his queen and his master, along with any woman who needs it, no matter who or why.
What do you think readers will like best about this novella: I think they’ll like the message it gives that people can change. Sometimes it’s not easy, but they can do it
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Well, this is my writing about the character people want to see. Mace is pretty popular.
What’s next: In the sylph world? More sylph books of course.

Title: “The Crystal Crib” by Helen Scott Taylor (Magic Knott Fairies series #2.5)
Setting: Contemporary Iceland and the Norse gods’ Kingdom of Asgard.
Subgenre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Hero: Vidar, son of the Norse god Odin.
Heroine: Sonja.
One sentence summary: In the frosty North, in the ice palace of Valhalla, Sonja’s life depends upon unraveling the mystery of the Crystal Crib—and upon winning the love of Odin’s son.
Scene you like most and would never cut: I love the juxtaposition of the normal world and the fantasy world so my favorite scene is where Vidar takes Sonja to the Norse gods’ kingdom for the first time.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: After her experiences in Iceland, she will be sticking to sun and sand vacations and staying away from snow and ice.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Sonja works for her aunt’s travel business.
What is your heroes’ occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Vidar owns a theme park in Iceland called ‘Santa’s Magical Wonderland’. This keeps him busy when he isn’t doing Odin’s bidding.
What do you think readers will like best about this book: For me the most magical part of the story is Sonja’s journey of discovery as she meets her extraordinary father Troy and discovers her heritage. I hope readers will enjoy sharing Sonja’s revelations.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I’m guessing the heroine’s father Troy. He has been in the other Magic Knot Fairies books and I know readers want his story as I have many emails asking me when it will come out.
What’s next: The third in The Magic Knot Fairies series will be released as an e-book in July 2011. This book features Nightshade, the winged vampiric fairy. His story takes him to Scotland where he clashes with both the Seelie and Unseelie Scottish fairy courts before he wins his feisty Scottish heroine.

2 Randomly chosen commenters wil be chosen for Sue’s Stash Giveaway! Good Luck!