trueromance

Setting: Isle of Skye, Viking-ruled Scotland, 1098 AD
Subgenre: pararnormal, historical
Hero: Duncan of Skye
Heroine: Isabel of Duntulm

One sentence summary: A man gifted and cursed by the Fae to heal with his touch seeks answers to the mystery of his powers and meets a woman who could be that answer, if not for her own secrets.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The scene near the end when the answers to all their questions are found and their path is clear.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing: Falling in love.

Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine: She has an special relationship to the sea and water.

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: My heroine, Isabel, is – for many reasons – a whore.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: My hero, Duncan, is a healer.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will like the strong sensuality, the emotional story and the touch of paranormal elements.

What’s next: I’m working on my next historical series for Harlequin and working on a new paranormal project, too!

Why do you think that romances with paranormal elements/characters/plots are so popular? Why do you like or dislike them?

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Dear Frankie

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Deeply emotional, historical romances

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? The Three Investigators and The Secret of Terror Castle. Loved Jupiter Jones and the guys!

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Spongebob Squarepants!

6. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I’m also a dental hygienist and enjoy it, so I’d keep on being it!

7. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read and watch movies/tv

8. What does love mean to you? Love means. . . (had to stop myself from saying ‘never having to say you’re sorry’!). . . that another person is the part of you that you didn’t know you were missing. Love means having someone at your back, in your heart, in your face when needed, but always there for you.

9. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I would not liked to have lived in medieval times….waaay too dangerous and uncomfortable! LOL! No undies? Yuck!

10. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? I’ve used all my favorites so far!

11. Dog person or cat person? I am completely missing the pet gene, so neither.

Today we welcome the finalists from the 2011 Readers’ Crown® Contest! These talented authors were selected by RomCon® readers who judged their books using a 20 point questionnaire.

They will be chatting with us about the stories behind their books, what’s next in their series, and other fun things, such as what they do when they aren’t writing. We’re giving away a general admission ticket to RomCon® 2011 to 3 lucky commenters today!

Best First Book
Ashley March Seducing the Duchess
Courtney Milan Proof by Seduction
Jessica Chambers Voices on the Waves
Liz Talley Vegas Two Step
Olivia Cunning Backstage Pass

Long Contemporary Romance
Carly Phillips Love Me If You Dare
Carly Phillips Kiss Me If You Can
Christina James A Place To Call Home
Julie James Something About You
Linda Warren Skylar’s Outlaw

Long Erotic Romance
Annabel Joseph Firebird
Elizabeth Amber Dane, The Lords of Satyr
Jaci Burton Riding The Night
Nadia Aidan Twelve Wicked Nights
Olivia Cunning Backstage Pass

Long Historical Romance
Courtney Milan Trial by Desire
Deeanne Gist Maid to Match
Monica McCarty The Chief
Robyn DeHart Desire Me
Tracy Anne Warren Wicked Delights Of A Bridal Bed

Long Paranormal Romance
Gabi Stevens The Wish List
Keena Kincaid Enthralled
Melissa Mayhue A Highlander’s Destiny
Patti O’Shea In the Darkest Night
Shannon K. Butcher Living Nightmare

Long Romantic Suspense
Brenda Novak White Heat
Brenda Novak Body Heat
Cindy Gerard Risk No Secrets
Joyce Lamb True Vision
Pamela Clare Naked Edge

Mainstream Women’s Fiction
Carol Snow Just Like Me, Only Better
Jessica Chambers Voices on the Waves
Susan Crandall Sleep No More

Romantic Novella
Abby Gaines No Ordinary Man (in One in a Million)
Abby Gaines Chasing the Dream (in The Memory of a Kiss)
Amanda McCabe Snowbound and Seduced (in Regency Christmas Proposals)
Cindy Gerard Leave No Trace (in Deadly Promises)
Veronica Wolff The Drowning Sea (in Ladies Prefer Rogues)

Sci-fi/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance
Anne Marsh Bond with Me
C.J. Barry Body Master
Erin Quinn Haunting Warrior
Melissa Mayhue A Highlander’s Homecoming

Short Contemporary Romance
Abby Gaines Her Surprise Hero
Holly Jacobs A One-of-a-Kind Family
Liz Talley Vegas Two Step
Mary Sullivan A Cowboy’s Plan
Sandra Hyatt His Bride For The Taking

Short Erotic Romance
Anne Rainey What She Craves
Aubrey Ross Codename Courtesan: Winter
Aubrey Ross Codename Courtesan: Autumn

Short Historical Romance
Blythe Gifford His Border Bride
Bronwyn Scott A Thoroughly Compromised Lady
Kate Moore To Tempt a Saint
Kathryn Caskie The Duke’s Night of Sin

Short Romantic Suspense
Catherine Mann Renegade
Helen Brenna Along Came a Husband
Helen Brenna The Moon That Night
K.M. Daughters Capturing Karma
K.M. Daughters All’s Fair In Love And Law
Linda Conrad Her Sheik Protector

And don’t forget–we’ve gathered together some wonderfully generous folks who are providing a limited number of RomCon® 2011 scholarships for active duty service men and women and their families, as well as veterans and their families–they are our American Heroes! If you know any American Heroes who deserve a scholarship, please have them write to us for more information or simply register right here– http://romcon2011americanheroes.eventbrite.com

Congratulations to all the wonderful finalists of the 2011 Readers’ Crown® contest! And we’d like to thank our hundreds of reader judges who took the time to read the competing books and give them a thorough assessment. Winners will be announced on June 30, 2011–so stay tuned!

Elaine Levine & Michele Callahan
RomCon® Directors
www.RomCon2011.com (tickets are still available!)
www.romconinc.com

Setting: Southwest US
Subgenre: Urban Fantasy
Hero: Janet Begay
Heroine: Mick

One sentence summary: Janet faces the possibility that she might have to fight Mick to the death to protect herself from him.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Mick and Janet confronting each other in the cave at the end.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I’m going home to Mother.”

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Stormwalker, hotelier, biker, occasional world saver.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Dragon, protector, biker, Janet’s backup..

What you think readers will like best about this book: The tension between Mick and Janet; Mick’s important question to Janet; Gabrielle’s role in Janet’s life.

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

What’s next: So many things coming up next!
As Jennifer Ashley
Pride Mates (Shifters Book 1) re-releases in paperback in July! It has already e-released).

In August:
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (Book 3 of the Mackenzies series), comes out, along with the re-release of The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Book 1). Ian’s mad, he’s bad, and he’s back!

My Shifters series continues with more books and novellas this year and next, plus I’m working on more Allyson James things for you all.

Giveaway: Post an answer to this question: What’s your favorite setting for romances or Urban Fantasy? US? England? Australia? Elsewhere? Particular city or rural area?

I’ll give away the entire Stormwalker trilogy (Stormwalker, Firewalker, Shadow Walker) to one lucky commenter!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Chocolade or Shakespeare in Love

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Intriguing mystery novel

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Cinderella

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Bugs or Elmer Fudd

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? a) Thank you! You’re the reason I write! b) If you don’t find my book in a bookstore, ask the bookstore to special order it for you. They will!

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Musician, dollhouse miniature builder, landscape design

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Build dollhouse miniatures, play guitar, garden

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Tea. Iced. The good stuff (no instant). No sugar or anything to ruin the taste (maybe a little lemon if I’m feeling wild)

10. What does love mean to you? Caring deeply for someone for who they are, not what they are.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? The 1770s and the mid 1800s for the same reason. Huge panniers in one, big hoop skirts in the other. I want to be able to get through doors and sit down. Also the big hair of the late 18th century had to have been a pain.

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? I have so many characters that I think I’ve used all the names on my lists! Need new ones.

13. Dog person or cat person? Both. I have cats, but love dogs, especially big dogs (German Shepherds, Labs, Retrievers)

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.

Setting: Contemporary, Montana
Subgenre: Paranormal
Hero: Nick Chien
Heroine: Jessie Healy

One sentence summary:
A wounded Native American shapeshifter’s efforts to escape three blood-thirsty ghosts, places him at the mercy of an enemy healer with supernatural powers as dangerous as his own.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
My very favorite scene is when Jessie, a dream walker who visits the dreams of humans to help them recover from trauma, uses her gift to enter Nick’s dreams in an effort to discover if he is telling the truth. He is so badly injured that she has never actually seen what he looks like until this moment and she is so overtaken that she makes an unforgivable breech of ethics and makes love to him, knowing that he will not remember her intrusion upon waking…but he does. She is so snagged and the fallout is huge for them both. Boy, I love that scene.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
She hates Skinwalkers and has been trained since birth to see them as her deadly enemy. So she would never touch one, heal one, harbor one or love one. But then she does all of those.

What is your heroine’s occupation:
She’s a social worker who helps children overcome extreme mental trauma.

What is your hero’s occupation:
He runs a group of eco-friendly mutual funds and buys land to be preserved as wild space, because he is, after all, a wolf. He’s also a billionaire. Having a long life has such privileges.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
Watching two enemies discover that everything they think they know about each other is wrong as they battle the irresistible attraction for one another.

What’s next:

GOLD RUSH GROOM (Sept. 2011)
A greenhorn prospector is about to lose everything to the surf when a pretty hauler offers to rescue his gear if he’ll agree to be her partner until Dawson City.

SOUL STALKER (Dec. 19, 2011) In the next installment in my Tracker series, a Native American shape-shifting raven needs the help of an enemy, who can speak to the dead, in order to stop a supernatural killer.

For excerpts visit www.jennakernan.com.

QUESTION:
The heroes in my TRACKERS series include a grizzly bear, a timber wolf, a raven and soon, a buffalo. What animals would you like to see as a shapeshifter?

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!

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.

Cara Elliott – TO TEMPT A RAKE

Setting: London and Vienna in 1814
Subgenre: Regency-set Historical Romance
Hero: Marco (Giovanni Marco Musto della Ghirardelli, the Conte of Como)
Heroine: Kate (Miss Katharine Kylie Woodbridge)

One sentence summary:
Old secrets ignite new passions as Kate and Marco find themselves caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
There is a scene where Kate and Marco hide out from their enemies in an estate outbuilding that houses a collection of oversized erotic statues. Well, their blood is a little heated from the chase, and that arouses the need to let off a little steam, so to speak. So as one thing rubs against another . . . I’ll let you use your imagination. Suffice it to say, it was fun to write!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Sitting demurely in a drawing room, sipping tea and making polite talk about the weather or the latest style of fashion.

What celebrity is your hero like:
Marco is definitely a Johnny Depp kind-of guy. He’s a devastatingly handsome rogue who is cool and sardonic on the outside, but sensitive and sweet on the inside. Though, of course, he would rather eat nails than admit it.

What celebrity is your heroine like:
Kate has the fire and spunk of Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth in “Pirates of the Caribbean.” She’s brave, brash, beautiful . . . and a little dangerous.

What is your heroine’s occupation?
An expert botanist, who has also has a few less ladylike talents, having spent half her life sailing the high seas with her gentleman-pirate father.

What is your hero’s occupation?
A wild, hellraising rake, who also serves as a clandestine spy for England.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
The banter between Kate and Marco, and the way that two cynical people who have been hiding painful secrets slowly soften and let love into their hearts.

What’s next:
Too Wicked To Wed, the first book in my new “Lords of Midnight” trilogy, debuts in November. (The series features three hard-bitten rogues who are tamed by love.)

So, what kind of hero gets your heart going pitty-pat? The cynical bad boy I-don’t-Have-A-Heart kind of guy like Captain Jack Sparrow? Or the quiet, sensitive, self-effacing Hugh Grant of Notting Hill? Do dish! And do you have a favorite character from a book or movie who is the perfect example?

I’ll be giving away 3 autographed copies of To Tempt A Rake, so leave a comment! Also, in celebration of St. Valentine’s Day I have a contest going until the end of February over at my website, with a prize of yummy chocolates! So head on over to caraelliott.com

HEALING THE HIGHLANDER – Melissa Mayhue

Setting: 1305 – Highlands of Scotland
Subgenre: Paranormal Historical/Time Travel
Hero: Andrew MacAlister
Heroine: Leah Noble MacQuarrie

One sentence summary: Leah Noble MacQuarrie thought escaping seven hundred years into the past would keep her safe from Faerie Magic, but she learns almost too late that Faeries are no worse than Mortals and the Magic she feared may be the only thing that can save her.

Scene you like most and would never cut: There’s a scene where Leah decides to stand up for the rights of her young cousin, protecting the boy as her older sister had protected her. Although Leah’s already faced several situations she didn’t think she was brave enough or strong enough to overcome, this is the point where she really comes into her own.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Meekly accepting her fate

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy: Neither. He’s a plaid-wearing Highlander. And we’ve all heard those stories about what is – or isn’t – under the plaid!

Ancillary character you had the most fun with: There were several characters I enjoyed in writing this book, but I suppose my favorite would have to be the hero’s brother, Colin MacAlister. His part is small, but writing Colin’s scenes allowed me to begin sharing bits of what is to come since Colin’s book is next in the series – HIGHLANDER’S CURSE, due out March 29, 2011.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby: Leah loves to read – though the availability of books is a problem for her twenty-first century sensibilities living in 14th century Scotland!

Your hero’s favorite hobby: Andrew doesn’t have hobbies. He might tell you it’s gaming… but we all know it’s really searching for the cure to heal the damage from the debilitating wounds he’s suffered.

What you think readers will like best about this book: What I like best, and hope reader’s will, too, is how Leah grows to accept herself — her magical powers and her inner strength – and through that journey finds her One True Love. I also think there are a couple of twists and turns that they’ll find fun, too!

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Many readers have asked for Dallyn’s story, but I’m not yet quite sure what the Faerie High General’s story IS!

What’s next: On March 29, HIGHLANDER’S CURSE releases. It’s Colin’s book, the last of the MacAlister brothers, so Rosalyn [their mother] will finally have all her sons settled. Right now I’m working on the next book, bringing in a whole new twist that I think readers will enjoy. That book, tentatively titled WARRIOR’S REDEMPTION, should be available in January 2012, and will pick up with a character readers first met in HIGHLANDER’S HOMECOMING, Malcolm MacDowylt. And believe me, there’s a whole lot more to Malcolm and his family than first meets the eye!
My thanks to Sue and to Borders for inviting me to share my thoughts on HEALING THE HIGHLANDER and what’s coming next from me.

One of the things I enjoyed most in writing this book was having the chance to check in on old friends from past books in the series. It was fun for me to see what they were up to in their lives and I’d like to ask all your readers how they feel about that. Do you guys enjoy seeing what characters whose stories you’ve read before are doing now?

To get everyone ready for the release of HEALING THE HIGHLANDER, I’m offering a gift to one lucky poster today – Any two of my backlist books along with some treats to keep you warm and cozy while you read: Scottish tea, shortbread cookies, and some fuzzy socks to keep your feet toasty!

MELISSA MAYHUE writes award-winning paranormal romance for Pocket Books, all set in an imaginary world of Faeries and Mortals. Her seventh book, HEALING THE HIGHLANDER hits stores on February 22 and her eighth, HIGHLANDER’S CURSE, is available on March 29, 2011.
You can visit her on the web at: www.MelissaMayhue.com or come Twitter with her at www.Twitter.com/MelissaMayhue

Setting: New Orleans, as well as a mortal-run prison island for immortals
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Aidan the Fierce–a Viking berserker–who is reincarnated repeatedly, this time as Declan Chase, a modern-day Celtic warrior
Heroine: Regin the Radiant, an immortal Valkyrie and the last of the Radiant Ones.

One sentence summary:
A gritty, passionate love story about a fiercely loyal Valkyrie and a tormented soldier who has no memory of her or his previous lives–which is a problem since he works for an order bent on eradicating all immortals.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
In the book, Regin recounts to Chase details about his past lives, weaving these mesmerizing tales for him in order to delay her torture or execution (à la Arabian Nights). In one scene, Chase asks her what she would tell a future reincarnate *about him*. She describes a scorching interlude–detailing how they would touch each other and kiss–that makes even a disciplined soldier like Declan lose control.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Saying “I don’t want to stand out in a crowd.” Regin loves being a showstopper, enjoys doing/saying things just to shock people.

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy:
He goes commando under commando pants.

Ancillary character you had the most fun with:
The millennia-old vampire Lothaire the Enemy of Old basically writes himself. He’s evil, but with flair, and such a contradiction. He’s physically magnificent but emotionally chilling, crazed but cunning, and though he kills so easily, he has his own warped code of honor. Lothaire is a fearless warrior, yet he’s haunted by one vulnerable female.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby:
Making demons eat things (crab traps, pizza boxes, fire extinguishers, etc.). Pranks “involving nuclear waste” are a close second.

Your hero’s favorite hobby:
He has none. No pastimes, no social life, no relationships. He’s obsessed with destroying the creatures that murdered his family.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
The intensity of the hero! Declan is tormented by his fever-pitch–but forbidden–desire for Regin. In one scene, he’s in the shower, roaring with frustration, pummeling the wall because he wants her so much–and he believes he can never have her. He was the villain of my previous book, Demon from the Dark, so he’s got a lot of making up to do.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Nïx the Ever Knowing, Soothsayer Without Equal, though Lothaire is a close second. His story is coming up next!

Anyone who’s read my Immortals After Dark series can tell I love dark, tortured alpha heroes, and Declan Chase is no exception.
What is your favorite alpha male trait? Who are some of the great alpha heroes in romance? One commenter will be chosen to win a $20 gift certificate to Borders!