trueromance

Congratulations to Brenda Novak for winning the ‘Long Romantic Suspense’ Readers’ Crown Award with White Heat!

And now for INSIDE, her brand new romantic suspense novel that published on June, 28th.

ON LOCATION….
What would happen if a man who’d been wrongfully imprisoned for fourteen years was finally exonerated but knew the prison gang he’d joined in order to survive would kill his sister and her kids if he didn’t continue to support them and their illegal activities? How would he ever really “get out?” And what would happen if, in exchange for his sister’s protection, this man was willing to go back inside a different prison—over the express disagreement of the female Assistant Deputy Warden whose job it would be to protect him—to expose a new gang?

Whatever came next would involve plenty of danger. That would be a given. The potential for such high-stakes conflict against this gritty backdrop is what got me excited to write INSIDE. But I knew, in order to pull off the story the way I wanted, I’d have to make the setting more believable than ever—and that meant I had to go “inside” myself.

I didn’t have any contacts at Pelican Bay, where the story is set, but I drove the four hundred miles (mostly on narrow, windy roads) from my home in Sacramento to “California’s Siberia.” I explored the area, only twenty miles south of the Oregon border, as well as Crescent City, the closest town, which has an economy that’s almost completely dependent on the prison. Then I did a lot of research on gangs and learned such interesting terms as “blood in, blood out,” which means you have to draw blood (possibly even kill a man) to get in and they’ll spill your blood if you ever try to get out; “in the hat,” which means you’re marked to be beaten (this usually happens to pedophiles and others in for sex crimes); “bitch” or “punk,” which is what some of the stronger men make of the weaker men they force to gratify their sexual impulses.

Determined to get firsthand experience on how a prison is run to enhance my research, I contacted a friend in corrections who could give me a tour of Soledad in the Central Valley. Investigative Officer David Doglietto, or Dog as he’s called, took the better part of a Saturday to show me through.

From the outside, Soledad is as stark and imposing as a prison is meant to be. It actually looks more daunting than Pelican Bay. Except for three surrounding fences, the middle of which is electrified, Pelican Bay resembles an industrial park, and yet it’s the most notorious prison in California. With its own fire department, water treatment facility, boiler plants, electrical generators, full medical department with hundreds of medical personnel, and an educational department with teachers and even a school superintendent, it’s almost a town in and of itself–and that was the same with Soledad, which sits in the middle of acres and acres of farmland, it’s only neighbor another prison. At Soledad, security was strict, but not like it would be at Pelican Bay. And once I got inside, there seemed to be a surprisingly casual atmosphere. Maybe it was the mural-covered hallway, but it felt more like a high school to me—until we reached the cells.

Knowing Soledad housed Level 3 offenders, some of whom had committed serious crimes (as evidenced by the pictures we saw of gang stabbings and the homemade implements used to create such injuries, made from such innocuous substances as ballpoint pens, plastic spoons, Styrofoam cups, combs and even Ziploc bags that were melted down and sharpened), I didn’t want to be left alone with any of the inmates. The pictures of the stabbings (or being “shanked” as they call it in prison) were gruesome. But those inmates we encountered as we moved from R&R (Receiving and Release), the dining hall, the various cellblocks, P.I. (prison industries) and the yard typically nodded a polite hello. Some even muttered a greeting before striding past us with much more of a sense of purpose than I had expected.

In the yard, they were playing basketball. I found it interesting that they had sporting equipment and learned that they typically behaved themselves quite well during sporting events. No one wanted to risk losing such an enjoyable pastime.

Despite all the things I’ve seen on TV, or perhaps because of them, I didn’t realize just how difficult it would be to spend years upon years in such a place. Some programs paint prison as too hard, others as too soft. The degree of difficulty became clear to me, however, when Dog asked two inmates to come out of their cell and allow me to go in. I’d been in empty cells before, at Alcatraz and other places, but never one where inmates were currently living. It was a completely different experience. With two small TVs playing (each occupant had one rigged above his bunk), personal items stacked wherever they’d fit, laundry strung across the entrance (apparently they don’t like to send their clothes to be laundered because they’re afraid they won’t get the same ones back; they also barter for these items), and my husband behind me, there was so little space I could hardly turn around.

I have to admit, I felt a moment of panic when Dog surprised me by closing the door—and I knew I wouldn’t have to stay.

–
Brenda Novak
brendanovak.com

Harlequin will randomly select 3 commenters to winners a set of the six books! Valid only in USA.

Watch how the covers have changed over the years and get an exclusive sneak peek at how a Harlequin® Blaze™ cover is made, and all the fun behind the scenes at the photo shoot!

Extra Innings by Debbi Rawlins
One sentence summary: The book is an Encounters, a trio of novellas revolving around three minor league baseball players hoping to be called up to the Majors and the three women who challenge them more than the game.
Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine? Naturally I like all three women, and choosing one I like the best feels too close to naming a favorite child. That said, Tori tickled me. The woman has no concept of censorship. Bless her, she says all the things I wish I could.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing? One hero is an enigmatic short stop, another is a bad boy pitcher who’s already pitched in the Majors, and the third a heartthrob first baseman.
What you think readers will like best about this book? The stories are fun and fast paced, with the heroines achieving what few of us mere mortals can.

If you had the chance to go out with a celebrity, be it a sports figure, movie star, singer, anyone, who would it be, and what about him or his profession do you find attractive? This is just between you and me. of course

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Hard to choose just one, but I’ll pretty much see anything Bruce Willis does, and I’ve watched Pretty Woman and Pride and Prejudice an obscene number of times.
2. What’s your favorite cartoon character? I had a ridiculous crush on Johnny Quest.
3. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Anything to do with animals
4. What do you do to unwind and relax? I love to read, grow flowers, not to be confused with weeding, play with my dogs and annoy my cats.
5. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Any time before women wore pants would have been a deal breaker for me. If I ever wear a dress again it’ll because someone held me down and sprayed it on.

Hotshot by Jo Leigh
One sentence summary: He shattered her heart once, can she dare to let him get close enough to do it again?
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Sara is an Air Force Captain
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Luke is an Air Force Pilot
What you think readers will like best about this book: The passion and the redemption.

Have you ever reconnected with a guy from your past? Was it disappointing or did it change your life?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Too many to name, but some are Raiders of the Lost Arc, Love, Actually, Sin City, Broadcast News
2. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Rocky & Bullwinkle
3. What do you do to unwind and relax? Hang out with my pets.
4. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Least: Upper Palaeolithic. So few really great handbags. Most: 1930s-40s. Of course, I’d want to be as tall and gorgeous as Kate Hepburn while I’m there.
5. Dog person or cat person? Both. We have four dogs and five cats, all rescues!

Too Hot to Touch by Julie Leto
Scene you like most and would never cut: I love the final scene where the hero has to use skills he disapproves of in order to get the heroine back. She’s brought him to his knees. That’s always fun.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: My heroine would never be caught saying, “Well, officer, you see, I lied about who I was and I’m actually a fence dealing in stolen goods.” It’s all true, but she’d never say it.
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? My hero is not quirky. He frowns at quirky. Unless it’s the heroine, in which case he embraces it. Heroine: I think the fact that she lives a double life is fairly quirky.
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a fence, meaning she moves stolen goods for her adopted brother, who is a thief. But she’s also an art expert.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Alex would never be unemployed! His family owns an auction house in Madrid and he runs it.
What you think readers will like best about this book: I think the readers will love the subtle references to a certain legend regarding a mask-wearing bandit who made the ladies swoon all over colonial California. And they’ll love Alejandro, because he’s the quintessential tall, dark and handsome hero.

Readers always seem to love spin-offs and sequels. How many is too many?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Star Wars, or what George Lucas wants us to call now “A New Hope.” This story ignited my imagination in ways that directly led to me becoming a writer.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? The kind that is well-written and emotionally compelling. It can be anything, but it’s the writing that grabs me and takes me away.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Misty of Chincoteague, about the wild horses. I distinctly remember that book.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? The better question is what is NOT my favorite fairy tale. I adore fairy tales.
5. What do you do to unwind and relax? Ha! I wish I could say I escape to my vacation home in the south of France, but honestly, I usually try to find a Criminal Minds or NCIS marathon to watch on television. I do love to travel, though.

Cowboys Like Us by Vicki Lewis Thompson
One sentence summary: When an injury ends Logan’s pro baseball career, he heads to the Last Chance Ranch and discovers that Caro Davis makes him forget all his troubles!.
Scene you like most and would never cut: When Logan’s thrown from his horse into a patch of wildflowers and ends up with them in his hair.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “My glass is half empty.”
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Logan can juggle cocktail shakers.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a bartender.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He was a pro baseball player and now has to figure out what to do with his life.
What you think readers will like best about this book: COWBOYS LIKE US is about resilience — finding new dreams when old dreams die.

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Anything starring Colin Firth.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? A swashbuckling adventure in which I picture Colin Firth as the hero.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? THE SECRET GARDEN, which I now picture starring a young Colin Firth.because guess what? The boy in that book is named Colin.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast, which I’d love to see enacted by Colin Firth.
5. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I love you all almost as much as I love Colin Firth

The Braddock Boys: Travis by Kimberly Raye
One sentence summary: A sexually frustrated wedding planner meets the ultimate Texas bad boy (oh, and he’s also a vampire).
Scene you like most and would never cut: They’re like my babies. I love them all!
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I can’t do that”. Holly is the ultimate wedding planner and she wants to make dreams come true for her brides.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He’s a working cowboy who trains horses. Very good at what he does because of his vamp senses. Can communicate telepathically with the animals and understand their primal instinct.
What’s next: I’m currently working on the last book in the Braddock Brothers series—this book features Colton and will finally give the brothers closure on the tragedy that destroyed their family. Oh, and I’ve just discovered Twitter. I’m becoming a major Twitter whore.

What’s your favorite hero type? Cowboys? CEOs? Cops? Vampires? Which type of man really floats your boat?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? The Terminator. The romance was skimpy, but those few moments were smokin’ hot!
2. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? It’s so comforting to know that I’m not the only hopeless romantic out there.
3. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? A baker. I love to bake goodies in my spare time. (Cupcake Wars here I come!)
4. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Neither. I’m a diet coke fanatic and yes, Brenda, it is possible to consume an entire six pack in less than three hours.
5. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Regency. Too many rules. Most? The Wild West. No rules!

Undeniable Pleasures by Tori Carrington
One sentence summary: In UNDENIABLE PLEASURES, the third and final book in the Pleasure Seekers miniseries, bad boy Jason Savage from RECKLESS PLEASURES is all over over a special case involving a difficult federal witness…along with sexy club owner Jordan Cosby, who has ‘pleasure’ written all over her…
Scene you like most and would never cut: Oh, that’s a tough one! Each scene is so tightly connected to the next if you were to cut one, the entire story might unravel. But I know that’s not what you mean. Hmm…in this case, I’d have to say one of my personal favorites is when Jason and Jordan indulge in a hot and heavy hallway make-out session at his grandmother’s house and she catches them. Instead of scolding them, however, she merely asks they not get anything on the rug…and points out there is a perfectly good bedroom nearby. Few things are more satisfying than when a character – secondary or otherwise – surprises you….
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “No.” Well, at least not to a perfectly good proposition from a perfectly yummy proposition maker. Too suggestive? Well, then, let’s go with “Single With a Cat.” Of course, this is before she’s put in protective custody and ends up spending more time in her apartment in two weeks than she has in the past two years and one of her friends gives her a black, long-haired female named Cleo to keep her company. Then again, by book’s close, it appears she’s not going to be single for very much longer, either….
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero and heroine: She loves breakfast cereals…the sweeter and more kid-like the better. He loves to cook…the more complicated and gourmet the better. A match made in Food Network Heaven…
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: An inactive Marine, he’s one of the original six partners of Lazarus Security, which usually handles more important cases than Jordan’s… But as luck would have it, this particular one turns out to be one of his most important to date….
What you think readers will like best about this book: The interplay – sexual and otherwise - between these two strong-willed, independent characters. She’s the ultimate bad girl to his irresistible bad boy. They’re lucky to make it out alive, much less in love. Also the fact that it’s intimately tied into stories that have come before.
What’s next: RED-HOT SANTA, Harlequin Blaze Uniformly HOT! available December 2011. While UNDENIABLE PLEASURES is the final book in the Pleasure Seekers Miniseries, I’m thrilled to report Lazarus Security stories will continue, beginning with RED-HOT SANTA, which features Jason Savage’s younger brother Jackson and Jackson’s longtime best friend Maxine McGuire…who decides she wants to take “friends with benefits” to a whole new hotter level….

When did you first discover the hotness that is Blaze? Have you been with the line since the beginning? Or are you just now picking up the awesome titles?

About Me:
Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Tony and I are both coffee fiends. Rare is the time you’ll find us without a cup at our elbows. I do tea every now and again, usually green. In the summer, I’m also a huge fan of frappes, a favorite of our comedic mystery gal pal Sofie Metropolis, who drinks ‘em all year long. For info on all of our titles, visit us at toricarrington.net. For fun and easy Greek recipes, go to sofiemetro.com.

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: London and England, 1819
Subgenre: Regency historical
Hero: Tristan, Duke of Castleford
Heroine: Daphne Joyes

One sentence summary: Castleford is diverted from following pleasure’s path to hell when an unexpected inheritance makes him cross paths with Daphne, and his fascination with her leads to a pursuit, to a seduction, to danger, and to mysteries that she would rather keep as secrets.

Scene you like most and would never cut: My favorite between the two main characters comes after Castleford first calls on Daphne and she has the temerity to refuse to receive him. Let’s just say he does not take it well, and doesn’t stand down. There are also a series of scenes among him and his friends that I love, and my favorite may be when they have a “guy” party while he burns the bed in which he has led a dissolute but very pleasurable life.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Being a woman, I need some man to take care of me.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He only performs his ducal duties on Tuesdays.

Heroine: She has established a rule in her household that no one pries into anyone else’s life or past.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Daphne owns a business called The Rarest Blooms that grows flowers and plants that are sold in London. She also takes women into her home who are on their own and in need of support, either due to family issues or because they are running away from something.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He is a duke. That means he has duties in the government, and he also has considerable estates and finances to manage. If he were going to be employed, he might become a private investigator. He has shown a tendency in the series to be very talented at poking his nose into other people’s business.

What you think readers will like best about this book: It is an angel and the sinner story at heart, and I think reader’s like those. I also think they will like the understated but very present humor, and Castleford’s distinctive way of looking at the world.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: As it happens it has been Castleford! I have been getting lots of emails from readers ever since he showed up in the first book of The Rarest Blooms series, Ravishing in Red. Some have also been asking about Katherine, a woman who has played a secondary role in the series, but I resolve her story in this book too.

What’s next: I am beginning a new series and am working on the first book, that I expect to be published in the spring of 2012. No title yet, and I am superstitious about discussing my stories until they are almost finished, so I am going to leave it at that.

When you have been in significant relationships, has it been a case of like minds attracting, or opposites attracting? Which kind of attraction do you think works best in life? In romance novels?

To celebrate the release of Dangerous in Diamonds, I will be giving a signed copy of any book from my backlist to two people who comment. (I am sorry, but the two in one trade printing of By Arrangement and By Possession, and the Tapestry anthology, are not included as choices because I no longer have author copies of them.) My booklist can be found at www.MadelineHunter.com

Setting: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; Glacier National Park, Montana
Subgenre: Contemporary/Romantic comedy
Hero: Nick Lowery, architect
Heroine: Harper James, divorce attorney

One sentence summary:
Twelve years after their divorce, Nick Lowery and Harper James face off as best man and maid of honor in the same wedding, are forced into a road trip, and wonder if they can ever possibly forget the past and get along.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
Oh, gosh, that’s a tough one…there are quite a few favorites in this book. But the one that leaps to mind first is the scene in which the wedding party goes on a trail ride in Glacier National Park. Harper’s horse is a far cry from the faithful steed she imagines, and she encounters some trouble. When Nick joins the fray, there’s this mixture of terror, humor, attraction irritation…and wildlife…that I just love.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“All you need is love.” She’s a divorce attorney, after all, and most people getting divorced have found that love is only one of the things you need for a happy marriage. Case in point: Harper and Nick, Round 1.

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy:
I wonder if Nick goes commando…well, let’s stick with boxers for my official answer.

Ancillary character you had the most fun with:
BeverLee was great fun to write—my first Texan! She seems like such a stereotype at first, but I think you’ll see pretty fast just how multilayered BeverLee really is. I also have to mention Father Bruce. I just love that guy. He’s Harper’s foil in the marriage game—obviously, he wants people to stay together, whereas Harper’s career is facilitating divorce. They’re great friends, though, and their conversations are wicked fun.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby:
Does cleaning count? She’s a bit on the, er…anal retentive side. She also likes bike-riding and sitting on her deck, watching the sunset, throwing tennis balls to her dog, Coco.

Your hero’s favorite hobby:
Nick likes building things out of whatever material is at hand—steel, wood, French fries. Like his author, he also enjoys watching the Yankees win.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
I think they’ll like the humor and the beautiful settings, but mostly, I think they’ll love the characters. Like the rest of us, Nick and Harper are flawed—and wonderful—and they each view their version of the past as true. They really, really loved each other, but they weren’t able to make their marriage work for very solid, realistic reasons. In their heart of hearts, they’ve never been able to let go of that love, and this little road trip will remind them of that fact, and just how important that love still is.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
There’s quite a few, actually! I’ve had requests for Natalie’s story—she’s the younger sister in Too Good To Be True; Parker, the heroine’s best friend in The Next Best Thing, and even requests for a romance for Mike O’Neill, the heroine’s dad in Just One of the Guys. I love all these characters, so you never know…readers just might see them again.

What’s next:
Until There Was You is due out in November, and I’m really excited about this book. First of all, it has the hero’s point of view (at last!) as well as the heroine’s. It’s a story about the power of first love, the return of the high school bad boy, and how the years have changed the people involved. Family roles, rivalry, what it means to be chosen…all that juicy stuff. And a great dog, too. Plus a couple of cats, who are also quite nice.

A lack of love was never the problem with Nick and Harper. They had great reasons to get married…and great reasons to separate, too. What, aside from love, chemistry and genuinely liking a person, do you think are the critical elements to a long-term, happy relationship?

Setting: Ebbany and the space between the Three Worlds
Subgenre: Paranormal/Fantasy/SciFi Romance
Hero: Bronse Chapel
Heroine: Ravenna, Head Priestess of The Chosen Ones

One sentence summary: Bronse is a super elite soldier for the Interplanetary Militia (IM) who begins to dream about a woman with abilities that have the potential to save his life, if only he heeds her warnings!

Scene you like most and would never cut: When Ravenna exposes to Bronse that there is much more to her abilities than he realizes.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Turning her back on the other Chosen Ones.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He doesn’t have anything quirky! He’s very straight-laced. Heroine: Ravenna’s key quirk might be the way she deals with her sometimes-obnoxious brother, Kith.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She is the Head Priestess of The Chosen Ones

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He is the Commander of the First Active Extreme Tactics Force for the Interplanetary Militia.

What you think readers will like best about this book: The super hot soldiers and their dogged loyalty to one another. The troubled and powerful Chosen Ones are also very compelling.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: (answer only if applicable) Jasmine from my Nightwalkers series. But actually, I just finished book six in the Nightwalkers series, entitled Adam, and she’s the lead heroine. It’s due out in November 2011.

What’s next: Seduce Me in Flames. Due out July 26th! The adventures of the IM soldiers continue as we learn more about the Three Worlds!

If you could create your own world, what would be the most peculiar thing about it? Anyone who comments becomes eligible to win a signed copy of Seduce Me in Dreams!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Avatar. I just love the imagination and all the boundaries it stretched.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Strangely enough, I am a sucker for fictionalized stories about Queen Elizabeth I or anything about the Tudor dynasty. I try to imagine what it must have been like, how hard it must have been to be a powerful woman back then.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
Go Dog Go!
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Beauty and the Beast of course.
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Calvin and Hobbes.
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? To read the FAQ on an author’s website BEFORE writing to them. It’s kind of annoying to be asked questions over and over that are clearly answered already.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
I’d probably work in an animal shelter.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Watch HGTV. I’m addicted to Mike Holmes, a knight in shining overalls!
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Neither. Hot Cocoa, made with milk not water!
10. What does love mean to you?
It means someone understands exactly who I am and wants to be in my life anyway.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? The Wild West perhaps. It all depends on the ‘class’ of clothing you are talking about. Most? Elizabethan. All the jewels and wealth spent to adorn clothing…it makes up for the corsets and panniers.
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? LOGAN. I love that name. But ever since Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine…it’s going to be hard to work it out.
13. Dog person or cat person?
Umm. Cat. Like…nine cats worth of a cat person. Possibly eleven soon. I never make it through kitten season unscathed it seems. And if you get one kitten, well, it needs another to play with you know…

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.

Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay

Setting: Last Chance, South Carolina
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Hero: Clay Rhodes
Heroine: Jane Coblenz

One sentence summary:
With bad guys on her trail, Jane uses her last dollar to buy a ticket to Last Chance, South Carolina, where she encounters a town filled with lovable and quirky characters, not to mention Clay Rhodes, a sexy country and western musician who’s determined to rescue her, whether she thinks she needs it or not.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
The emotional high point in the story comes when Clay confronts Jane about her past. Clay knows something terrible happened to Jane when she was seventeen. In fact, the local police chief is convinced that Jane was involved in a murder, but the chief, who is also Clay’s older brother, can’t prove his theory. Clay wants to believe in Jane’s innocence, but he also trusts his brother. He’s horribly conflicted and he’s scared that learning the truth about Jane’s past might change the way he’s coming to feel about her. When Clay finally gets the truth out of Jane, he’s really surprised by it. Of course I can’t divulge Jane’s secret because it would be a huge spoiler.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Jane is the walking embodiment of the power of positive thinking, so she would never fall into pessimism without a huge push. She committed to “manifesting” a better future for herself and she works hard at reaching her goal. She has her moments of doubt, of course, but she refuses to give into them. Instead she unfailingly finds the silver lining in every gray cloud — until the climax of the book, when her faith in the future is challenged to its core.

What celebrity is your hero like:
Clay is a successful musician so I have always imagined him looking like Trace Adkins or Tim McGraw. From an artistic standpoint, though, Clay’s music has a big emotional punch like the music of David Wilcox or James Taylor.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Jane looks a little bit like Jennifer Garner. But beyond that, she’s her own self. She has a beautiful singing voice that’s somewhere between Dolly Parton and Leeann Womack — what I think of as a real bluegrass voice. She hails from West Virginia and she’s also a coal miner’s daughter.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Jane has a dream of becoming a country and western singer, but in the meantime she makes her living as a beautician. She arrives in Last Chance without a job, but that’s quickly remedied when she takes a job as the manicurist at the Cut ‘n Curl, the local beauty shop owned by Ruby Rhodes, Clay’s momma. You can just imagine what fun I had writing the beauty shop scenes, where the gossips, church ladies, and unrepentant matchmakers come together to meddle in the private lives of Last Chance’s younger set.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Clay is a musician. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the lead singer in Clay’s band, Clay walks away from Nashville. He’s discouraged about his future at the beginning of the book. He’s come to Last Chance to figure out what comes next. In the meantime he’s sitting in with the local country and western band, playing organ on Sundays at church, and helping out at his uncle’s hardware store.

What do you think readers will like best about this book:
I’m sure readers will love the quirky town of Last Chance, South Carolina and its cast of busy bodies and matchmakers. And, of course, there is the loveable eccentric who owns the miniature golf course right outside of town dedicated to the Lord, called Golfing for God. The putt-putt place is a character unto itself.

Aside from the quirky town and its inhabitants, I think readers will fall in love with Clay’s best friend, Ray Betts. Ray suffered a brain injury in a car accident when he was a teenager that has given him an unusual view of the world. Ray is determined to help Clay find the perfect woman, and his attempts at matchmaking are both sweet and amusing. He’s my favorite secondary character.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Well, since this is my debut novel, I haven’t heard from many readers, yet. But I’m sure that as the series goes on, readers will want to see Last Chance’s police chief, Stone Rhodes, find his way back to love. Stone is a widower and a single father struggling with his grief. In CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE, the fourth book of the series, Stone will meet someone who helps to melt his cold and lonely heart.

What’s next:
There are four Last Chance novels in the works.

The next book, HOME AT LAST CHANCE, features Tulane Rhodes, a NASCAR driver, whose sponsor has painted his car pink and put a snuggle bunny on its hood in order to advertise Cottontail Disposable Diapers. Tulane’s contract also requires him to officiate at baby-changing races that the good ol’ boy finds humiliating and embarrassing. When Tulane blows off one of these appearances, his sponsor sends Sarah Murray, a prim little market researcher to keep him in line. Sarah quickly learns all of Tulane’s embarrassing secrets, then proceeds to bond with the church ladies of Last Chance in their quest to rebuild the putt-putt place right outside of town. Tulane’s career is in Sarah’s capable little hands, while his thoughts are stuck on those bodacious S curves Sarah’s got hidden underneath her tailored business suits. . . HOME AT LAST CHANCE will be available in the fall of 2011.

Two more Last Chance books are scheduled for 2012 — LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN and CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE.

Last Chance is not a real place, of course, but it was suggested by a little town in South Carolina where I spent my summers, swimming in a black-water river, fishing for catfish, and learning a lot of life lessons from a village of good people with solid values. There is something golden about the summer memories of early childhood, when we’re free to discover and learn. My childhood summers gave me so many ideas for wonderful stories. I’d love to hear some of your stories of special times in your childhood and how your parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, or distant kin made them special. Come share your memories and stories with me, I’d love to hear them.

Four lucky commenters will get free copies of WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE.

LOVE LETTERS PUT TO THE TEST

Ahh, love letters. They’ve been exchanged for centuries. Even today, people often find greater ease in communicating their feelings on paper—or on an electronic screen—than in person. Indeed, it was a stack of heartfelt letters sent from my grandfather to his “sweetheart” during World War II (click here for a peek) that inspired me to pen my forthcoming debut novel, LETTERS FROM HOME.

The earlier the time period, it seems, the more beautiful the correspondence. To prove my point, I embarked on an online hunt for prime examples to share, and discovered a famous letter from King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn:

I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us; for necessity compels me to plague you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love….

Such eloquence somehow smoothes right over the fact that good ol’ married Hank was actually hoping to secure a regular Friday-night booty call. Likewise, in Lewis Carroll’s case, one can easily forgive his comparing kissing to chewing on a furry ball of fruit.

Thank you very much indeed for the peaches. They were delicious. Eating one was almost as nice as kissing you; Of course not quite; I think, if I had to give the exact measurement, I should say three – quarters as nice….

Unfortunately, I soon realized that fancy words of bygone eras don’t necessarily mask hints of…shall I say, unhealthy devotion—as expressed in a letter to Scott Fitzgerald by his wife, Zelda:

I could never do without you if you hated me and were covered with sores like a leper – if you ran away with another woman and starved me and beat me I still would want you….

And, as proven by Kenneth Fearing, even historical sentences can occasionally sound much too similar to a misery-filled country-western song:

I may have lied to you and about you, and made a few pronouncements a bit too sweeping, perhaps, and possibly forgotten to tag the bases here or there, and damned your extravagance, and maligned your tastes, and libeled your relatives, and slandered a few of your friends, O.K., Nevertheless, come back. Because tonight you are in my hair and eyes…

The idea of being in a man’s hair and eyes, like snowflakes or dandruff, might have struck me as a bit strange—had I not been hung up on his libeling her relatives or slandering her friends (albeit, it was only a few, and who could take that personally?).

Nothing, however, prepared me for a, um, love letter I subsequently happened across from Napoleon to Josephine, thereby blowing my theory out of the water:

I love you no longer; on the contrary, I detest you. you are a wretch, truly perverse, truly stupid, a real Cinderella….What business is so vital that it robs you of the time to write to your faithful lover?… Who can this wonderful new lover be who takes up your every moment, rules your days and prevents you from devoting your attention to your husband?

Beware, Josephine; one fine night the doors will be broken down and there I shall be.

Uh, yeah. Can we say “stalker,” people? Then again, maybe I’m judging too harshly, given his abrupt change of heart in the very same paragraph:

In truth, I am worried, my love, to have no news from you; write me a four page letter instantly made up from those delightful words which fill my heart with emotion and joy. I hope to hold you in my arms before long, when I shall lavish upon you a million kisses, burning as the equatorial sun.

Okay, so not all historical figures knew how to pen a letter worthy of sweeping their objects of affection—or obsession—off their feet. Plus, drinking and writing clearly don’t mix. But what has remained a constant through time is the potential power of the written word, a gift we as readers and authors should never take for granted.

Has a written message strongly affected your life? Is there anyone (fictional or real) with whom you wish you could correspond? Did a letter from a book ever strike a chord? Two randomly chosen commenters will win a copy of LETTERS FROM HOME (US/Can only). Good luck!

Visit www.KristinaMcMorris.com to read an excerpt, to sign up for the newsletter, or for details about an exciting love letter contest running right now!

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About the book:
Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn’t need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she’s set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief conversation - cut short by the soldier’s evident interest in Betty - but Liz can’t forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from “Betty” are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn’t know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.

DARK PASSAGES: Tristan & Karen
Book 4 in The Brethren Series

Setting: Lake Tahoe, California and Las Vegas, Nevada
Subgenre: Paranormal romance/vampires
Hero: Tristan Morin, a Brethren vampire
Heroine: Karen Pierce, a human

One sentence summary:

An unexpected road trip leads to unexpected danger when vampire Tristan Morin must defend himself and the woman he loves against a sadistic, ruthless enemy.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

I love the way this book opens: with Tristan and Karen making love for the first time. By this point in their relationship, they’ve known — and resisted — each other for years, and are finally giving in, throwing all of their inhibitions aside. It’s a different kind of love scene from anything I’ve written to date because it’s more a physical surrender for them than an emotional one. They’re ripping clothes off, shoving each other into walls; everything is fierce and passionate and harried. And the whole time, Tristan’s struggling not to bite Karen, feed from her, because he knows if he does, then he’ll be emotionally and psychically bound to her. He’s terrified of that kind of vulnerability with anyone, but especially with Karen, and he’s fighting it tooth and nail. (Pardon the vamp pun!)

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

Karen isn’t one to back down from a challenge or a fight. She doesn’t give up easily, especially when in pursuit of something she wants, believes in or knows is right.

What celebrity is your hero like:

Chris Evans. I think Tristan definitely shares the same sort of devil-may-care charisma and sex appeal that he exudes on-screen. Evans is a strikingly handsome man, but he has a boyish charm as well, traits I definitely envisioned for Tristan.

What celebrity is your heroine like:

Jennifer Lawrence, the young actress from “Winter’s Bone.” I imagine Karen has that same appealing contradiction of stoic outer beauty and inner strength. Jennifer is from Louisville, my home town, and the first time I saw her photo, I thought, “Put another five years on her, and that’s Karen to a T.”

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

Karen is a registered nurse specializing in the field of oncology. She and Tristan met at a hospital in Reno while he was going through a medical residency. It’s her background in cancer treatment that lands her the job as the only human living at the Brethren compound in California, because it uniquely qualifies her to administer care to those vampires suffering from the enigmatic and ultimately fatal disease that has taken the life of Tristan’s mother.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Tristan is a doctor. Though this wasn’t necessarily by his choice, it’s a career he enjoys and at which he excels. When he’s focused on his work, he’s able to put aside other distractions in his life — like his attraction to Karen.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

I hope readers connect with the characters. Tristan and Karen are both filled with this relentless passion for each other, but it’s an attraction they struggle against throughout the story. It isn’t until they find themselves in danger — their lives, as well as their love, on the line — that they’re forced to admit their feelings to themselves, and each other.

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

Technically, I have written about these characters, but they’re definitely the ones readers ask about the most. I’ve received countless emails begging for more books focused on Brandon and Lina. They were the central characters in “Dark Thirst,” the first book in The Brethren Series, but then faded into secondary roles in subsequent books. It continues to amaze and delight me that readers have connected so strongly with them, and that they have garnered such a broad fan base. Which brings me to…

What’s next:

“Dark Vengeance,” the next novel-length installment in The Brethren Series will be released in electronic and trade paperback this summer. The story comes full-circle, with Brandon and Lina again taking center stage in the lead roles.

In “Dark Vengeance,” Brandon Noble thinks the worst is behind him and is ready to begin a new life with the woman he loves. Lina Jones is more reluctant to let bygones be bygones, but agrees to try for Brandon’s sake. But just as they look forward to a promising future together, a ghost from their past returns — one who’s hellbent on revenge.

You can find out more about me and The Brethren Series by visiting online: www.sarareinke.com. Friend me on Facebook, or become a “Tweet peep” on Twitter for your chance to win exclusive prizes throughout the year!

I’m giving readers the chance to revisit their favorite characters from my Brethren Series. If you had the chance to see a new story centering around favorite fictional characters, who would they be?

3 signed copies of “Dark Thirst” and “Dark Hunger” to 3 random commenters