trueromance

Readers’ Crown Award Winner, Sci-fi/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance

Some ideas are simply before their time. Shortly after I sold my first books, I was invited to be part of a novella. My shapeshifters were born in the hundred or so pages I whipped up for it. These shapeshifters had no home of their own, no identity, no sanctuary, and faced certain extinction. They were stranded on Earth, a world that didn’t understand or want them. In turn, they were forced to become us to survive. I knew them. I understood them. I cried and cheered for them. I loved them. They deserved a book.

Unfortunately for them, the novella never took off and my shapeshifters were relegated to CD backups. I sat on that story for seven years, writing other books, fulfilling other contracts, and watching the world and the market change. To my wondrous ears, readers spoke—more paranormals, darker, edgier, grittier, and sexier. The time was finally right for my shapeshifters to make their début, and I was lucky enough to find a publisher and editor who believed in them as much as I did.

In this series, I bring alien shapeshifters into this crazy, chaotic, complex, treacherous, and sometimes fragile fabric of life we’ve woven. Their problems are real, and the issues they present are difficult, as complicated and challenging as any we face today. How can they be accepted here? How will they survive? Who will believe in them? These are the hard questions faced by my shapeshifters and the humans they fall in love with. Poised on opposite sides of the fence, they clash, they grow, and they come to understand that hope never dies and love transcends all. Even for those who aren’t quite human.

I would be happy to give away one copy of Body Master to one lucky commenter.

For more, visit www.cjbarry.com

Readers’ Crown Award Winner, Romantic Novella

Heroines Rule!

What do a racetrack gofer and a seed biologist have in common? They’re the heroines of my last two books, and at first glance they’re as different as two women can be. Jennifer Ashby, heroine of NO ORDINARY MAN, is 22, high-school educated, the granddaughter of a chicken farmer. She struggles to help her granddad out while putting herself through night classes and gofering by day. Sadie Beecham, heroine of HER BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING is 29, a genius (her mom’s convinced she’ll win a Nobel Prize) who studied at Princeton on a full scholarship, and now works as a seed biologist, developing new crops that will feed the world.

But Jenn and Sadie do share some traits. For example, they both know that they want in a man…and what they don’t want. Jenn wants an ordinary guy, which puts Eli Ward, a hot-shot NASCAR driver who thinks home is a dirty word, out of the running. And Sadie’s met the man of her dreams, the perfect Dr. Daniel.

But…and here’s something else they have in common…though both these women think they have their lives mapped out, their plans get overturned. Jenn finds herself posing as Eli Ward’s girlfriend to earn ten thousand dollars that could change her life…only her life is changing in ways she never anticipated or wanted. And Dr. Daniel gets engaged to Sadie’s best friend, leaving her no choice but to “stop the wedding.” If only the bride’s brother, the infuriating Trey Kincaid, would stop interfering in her schemes!

Turns out these women have one more, very important thing in common. They’re both capable of bringing a gorgeously difficult man to his knees! And that’s what I love about being a writer: I get to explore the different ways that different kinds of women end up with a guy who’s definitely not perfect, but he’s perfect for them.

If you’d like to see how these two very different women achieve the same result, leave a comment. One commenter will win copies of both NO ORDINARY MAN and HER BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING. To read excerpts from both books, visit www.abbygaines.com

Readers’ Crown Award Winner, Long Paranormal Romance

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to Borders and to Ellen in particular for inviting me to be here today to chat about A Highlander’s Destiny. I’d also like to say a HUGE thank you to all the Reader Judges of the RomCon Reader’s Crown Contest for naming this book the Best Long Paranormal of 2011. It’s doubly exciting for me to have this book win since it was the beginning of a mini-series within the whole series, stretching through the next two books that follow, A Highlander’s Homecoming [which itself was a RITA finalist this year!] and Healing the Highlander.

So, without further ado, here’s the scoop on A Highlander’s Destiny:

Setting: Current Day – Stretches from Virginia to Colorado to Sedona, Arizona before ending up in Scotland – with a quick detour to the Faerie homeworld, Wyddecol.

Subgenre: While the Daughters of the Glen series as a whole is time-travel, this particular book borders on paranormal romantic suspense, building the world of the Fae and introducing new characters.

Hero: JESSE CORYELL is a man adrift in life, searching for his destiny. He’s tried to lose himself in his work, taking on the worst mankind has to offer, but as a Fae descendent, what he really needs to find is his true love. When he sets out to help a mysterious woman locate her sister, what he gets is much more than he bargained for, battling an undeniable attraction to his sexy new client while fighting an ancient evil to keep her safe and rescue the missing girl.

Heroine: DESTINY NOBLE, abandoned by everyone she’s ever loved, will stop at nothing in her desperate quest to find her sister. Authorities have declared Leah a runaway, but Destiny knows better. Her prophetic dream visions have shown her the frightening truth. They’ve also shown her Jesse. But finding her Soulmate could result in the most painful loss of all when she’s forced to choose between loving Jesse and saving Leah.

One Sentence Summary: Jesse and Destiny race against time to save an innocent girl from an ancient evil but with true love as their most powerful weapon, they each risk sacrificing their own destiny in the process.

Scene you like most and would never cut: My favorite scene is in the helicopter. I can’t really say more about it except that the reason it’s my favorite is because I love surprises and poetic justice!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I do believe in Faeries!” At least not until she has absolutely no other choice.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero: Jesse sees himself as a modern-day Highland warrior. The only thing that keeps him from wanting to transport back to the middle ages is the fact that he’s unwilling to give up his fast bikes and modern conveniences!

Your heroine’s occupation: Destiny is working at a Renaissance Faire telling fortunes.

Your hero’s occupation: Jesse works for the family company, Coryell Enterprises, specializing in international covert rescue operations.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: The last opportunity readers had to spend time with the evil Nuadians was in Highland Guardian. In A Highlander’s Destiny, they get to catch up on what’s happened to the exiles from the Faerie Realm as the Nuadians introduce a whole new level of danger. A Highlander’s Destiny and the two books that follow it are more closely linked than others in the series and I think it will be fun for readers to be able to see what happens to some of the secondary characters in, A Highlander’s Homecoming and Healing the Highlander.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Interestingly enough, in the time since this book was released, one of the top requested character stories is for Chase [Destiny’s brother].

What’s next: My next release is scheduled for December 27, 2011. Warrior’s Redemption will feature a new style of cover and, while continuing in the world of Daughters with some of the characters readers have already met there, will be a spin-off of the series featuring a whole new level of magic. For readers of the series or readers who just love time travel, highlanders, and medieval historicals with a paranormal twist, this book should be on their watch list!

Since Borders is kindly featuring all the winners of the Reader’s Crown contest here on the True Romance Blog throughout July, here’s a question for your readers: Are you more inclined to give a book a try when it’s made the finals or won a contest? Or does that have no influence on your decision in choosing new authors to try?

Comment for a chance to win a gift pack which includes an autographed copy of each of the three books in the mini-series-within-the-series mentioned here: A Highlander’s Destiny, A Highlander’s Homecoming, and Healing the Highlander! (Valid only in USA)

About Me:

What’s my favorite movie of all time: This changes depending on my mood! I can share a few of those I watch over and over again – An American President, The Thirteenth Warrior, The Fifth Element, The Quiet Man, and Lord of the Rings [the whole trilogy] are examples of my favorites. The one thing they pretty much all have in common is they reflect my need for a Happy Ever After!

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in: Again, depending on my mood — but always needing that Happy Ever After – something with romance and fantasy

What’s the first book I remember reading: The little readers in school about Dick and Jane and Spot. I think one of my first regular books was one of The Bobbsey Twins stories, followed by Pippi Longstocking [loved those!] and I vividly remember adoring my Nancy Drew Mysteries! [Which I still have packed away since I had all boys who weren’t interested in reading them – waiting for a granddaughter to share them with!]

What’s my favorite fairy tale: Cinderella [though I would have liked her to be more assertive by the end of the story!]

What’s my favorite cartoon character: Bullwinkle - I loved how he always got all the good lines.

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers: How very much I appreciate them! And how much I love to hear from them!

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer: I think I’d enjoy being a genealogist. I love research and digging into my own family tree [even though it’s frustrating as all get out!]

What do I do to unwind and relax: Spend time with family, read, work in my garden, play on the internet [Hello, my name is Melissa and I am a Farmville-acholic].

Tea or Coffee? Both!!! And how do I take it: Coffee in the morning with hazelnut creamer and tea in the afternoon with sugar, thank you.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? I’m sure I would have detested having to wear corsets and hoop skirts. Or bustles. Most? Fashion-wise I have to go with our own era because of the freedom we have to dress as we please.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet: Thorn. But I think he might be coming soon….

Dog person or cat person: Dog. Specifically, Boston Terriers. Though I adore our cat, too. Basically, I’m a soft touch for just about any pet out there – except snakes. My oldest son had a snake. Totally NOT a fan.

Hi everyone! Let me start by saying how thrilled I am that Something About You won the Readers’ Crown award for Best Long Contemporary romance! Many, many thanks to all the readers who voted for the book—I’m truly honored.

Writing Something About You was an interesting experience for me. Those of you who’ve read the book know that I dedicated it “To the jokers in the room next to me at the JW Marriott.” I came up with the idea for the story while at the RWA conference in San Francisco. Earlier that evening, I’d pitched to my editor a different idea for my third book—something about a female screenwriter and a male film director not getting along while working on a movie together. Then I went to bed that night and—
quickly realized there would be no sleep for me.

See, the people in the hotel room next to me decided to have a party. All night long. And their guests were coming and going from the room, repeatedly SLAMMING the door next to mine. All night long.

At some point there was shouting outside my room, and being nosy—I’ll admit it—I ran to my peephole to sneak a peek at whatever was going on. And I remember this distinctly: while I was watching the people out in the hallway, one of the guys turned and stared right at my door—as if he knew I was watching. It was this freaky, Alfred Hitchcock-esque moment: me, pressed against the door in my pajamas, watching someone who was watching me right back. Then the man turned and walked away, and I had one thought.

I need to use this in a book!

So I grabbed my notepad and the ideas began pouring from my pen. The book opens with a woman in a hotel room, who is kept awake all night when her next door neighbors are. . . having a loud sex marathon! Except this is no ordinary sex marathon, the sex ends in. . . a murder! And the woman, being nosy and staring out her peephole, is the one person who saw the murderer leave the hotel room. . .

Since I was writing a romance, I quickly thought next about who the main characters would be. In the book, the heroine is an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and the hero is an FBI agent assigned to the murder investigation. The two have a bad history together—and don’t get along at all—which makes things extra-tricky when the murderer comes after the heroine and the hero is assigned to protect her. . .

And there you have it—the backstory on how Something About You came to fruition. I have much for which to thank those jokers in the room next to me, because Something About You was the first book in which I used the Chicago FBI and U.S. Attorney’s offices, elements that I continued in both my fourth book, A Lot Like Love, and my next release, About That Night.

But how about you guys? Let’s hear from you! Anyone else have a seemingly “bad” experience that turned out to be a blessing in disguise? Any other good examples of “wrong place, wrong time” stories—books, movies, or TV—that you can think of? Or maybe you just have a comment or question for me. . .

Three randomly-selected people who leave a comment below will win a copy of Something About You.

For more information about Julie’s books, or to read an excerpt of Something About You, visit www.juliejames.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.

Setting: Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland
Subgenre: Romantic Thriller
Hero: Mark Ryan, sexy FBI agent
Heroine: Jessica Ford, ambitious young lawyer, reluctant witness, Mark’s still ticked-off ex-girlfriend

One sentence summary: While someone gets busy trying to kill her, Jess inherits a dead woman’s job – and the dead woman.

Scene you like most and would never cut: A very sexy bathroom scene between Jess and Mark; also, I absolutely love the ending. And – okay, you said one, and I’m already over.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: I give up.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine: Mark isn’t a fan of deep water; Jess is blind as a bat without her contacts/glasses.

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Jess is a member of a hot-shot criminal defense team

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Mark is an FBI Special Agent currently charged with keeping Jess alive

What you think readers will like best about this book: The chemistry between Mark and Jess; Clementine the cat; two runaway teenage girls; Jess’s sisters; and, oh, yeah, the non-stop, hold-your-breath suspense.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: So many characters, so little time! But probably the daughter from Vanished.

What’s next: Sleepwalker, a romantic thriller starring a hot female cop and the even hotter male thief she’s trying to capture. What is it they say about the best laid plans…? Out in December, 2011.

How much romance do you like in your thrillers? Should the romance be the focus, should it be fifty-fifty with the suspense, or should the suspense be the focus of the book? It’s always a difficult decision for me, and I’d be interested to know what you think.

Several Justice-themed gift baskets will be given away. Please see my website: www.karenrobards.com, or visit me on facebook for details

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Impossible to answer. There are so many!

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? I love romance, romantic suspense, and thrillers.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? A Wrinkle in Time, probably second or third grade. I loved it, and still do.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast, the Disney version. I’m a sucker for bookworms.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (hey, I have boys; also, I like their theme song)

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I love books. I love to read them, I love to write them, I love to browse bookstores and just look at them on the shelves. If I was hungry and had a few dollars and was given a choice between buying food or a book, I’d go with the book every time.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I can’t imagine no longer being a writer. I’ve been writing all my life.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read.

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Tea. Iced.

10. What does love mean to you? My three sons and my husband. And my parents. And my sister and brothers and their families. And my friends. And – okay, I’ll stop now.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Least: Elizabethan England – those neck ruffs look uncomfortable, and somebody obviously had to iron and starch them. With my luck, it would be me. Most: Ancient Greece. What’s not to love about a toga?

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Persephone. It’ll happen.

13. Dog person or cat person? Both. I have two dogs, a German Shepherd and a beagle, and three cats, all of which sit around me as I write. I also have a twenty-five year old parrot who sings gospel, and a thirty-year-old (does that mean he’s immortal?) pony.

Setting: 17th Century, England/Scotland
Subgenre: Historical romance
Hero: Connor Grant, Highlander turned captain in the king’s royal army
Heroine: Mairi MacGregor, daughter and passionate patriot of Scotland

One sentence summary: When she’s reunited with the man who broke her heart as a child, Mairi MacGregor must learn how to surrender her pride to do what’s best for her countrymen, but it’s her heart she’s most afraid of losing.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Connor and Mairi’s first kiss after seven years. The scene is passionate, filled with banter and sexual tension. It demonstrates Mairi’s strength and determination to resist the longtime love of her life in a fun, sexy way.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I should be home doing as I’m told”

Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine: Mairi is a Highland rebel bent on clearing Scotland of Protestants.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Mairi is a Highland rebel bent on clearing Scotland of Protestants.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Connor is a captain in the Royal Army, duty bound to protect the throne.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will like the history between Connor and Mairi, the comfort and chemistry they have with each other despite their mutual mistrust at the other’s motives. First love is hard to forget and when it’s rekindled the sparks fly!

What’s next: I just completed book 4 in the Children of the Mist series, CONQUERED BY A HIGHLANDER, possibly my favorite of the four. (But I always say that after each book)

In TAMED, Connor does something for Mairi that melts her heart. What is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?

I’ll give away a signed copy of TAMED BY A HIGHLANDER to one commenter.

About Me:

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

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Historical romance with honorable men

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? I’ve been reading novels since I was eleven. The most memorable though was The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

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

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Pepe le Pew (what a romantic!)

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I’d like to thank them for their support. Without them I wouldn’t get paid for doing what I love.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Teacher

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? spend time with my family

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Coffee- cream and 2 equals

10. What does love mean to you? 1 Corinthians 13:4 sums love up to me perfectly.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I don’t think I would have enjoyed the late 1600s with all the extra stiff layers in dress and seeing men in high heels and puffy ribbon bows. I would have loved the Renaissance period with the more graceful, elegant fashions.

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? It was Tristan and I found the right fit in SEDUCED BY A HIGHLANDER

13. Dog person or cat person? Dog. I have 4

Setting: Boston, Detroit and New Orleans
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance (vampires)
Hero: Hunter, a laboratory-born Breed assassin
Heroine: Corinne Bishop, Breedmate recently freed from imprisonment in those same labs

One sentence summary: As a blood war escalates within the Breed, the Order’s most lethal warrior will have to decide how far he’ll go to end his enemy’s reign of evil–even if carrying out his mission means shattering the heart of the woman whose biggest mistake may have been in trusting him.

Scene you like most and would never cut: I’ve been lucky I guess, because I’ve never been asked to cut a scene from any of my books. In DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT, the scene I feel would be most missed is the one where Hunter learns about his origins in Dragos’s labs. I’ve known the truth of what happened to him ever since he walked onto the page in VEIL OF MIDNIGHT (Book 5, January 2009), but it took this long before I could share it as part of Hunter’s story.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Oh well, I gave it my best shot. I quit.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Hunter is a virgin. Not really “quirky” but it says a lot about him. He’s never known intimacy or compassion, having been born and raised to be a killing machine from the time he was a boy. Because emotions and social interactions are new to him, he can be kind of quirky in a Spock-ish way sometimes….

Heroine: Corinne’s quirks were stripped from her the day she was abducted and imprisoned in Dragos’s labs. Before that time, she was a free-spirited eighteen year old who loved the blues and jazz. She still loves it, she discovers when she and Hunter end up in a sultry, shadow-filled club in New Orleans.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Corinne doesn’t have a job, but she does have a driving purpose now that she’s been rescued from years of captivity and torture. If she had a job, she would probably be some kind of avenging angel.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Hunter is Breed, but more than that, he’s Gen One Breed, which means he’s stronger, more deadly than later generations whose bloodlines have been diluted from their otherworlder forbears (my “vampires” are actually an alien/human hybrid). Hunter is also an assassin, and he’s the very best. He used to serve Dragos, the enemy of the Order, until several months ago (story timeline) when circumstances persuaded him to join forces with the warriors of the Order.

What you think readers will like best about this book: DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT is Hunter’s story, which readers have been asking me to write for quite some time. But more than just his story and happily-ever-after, this book also revisits the Order in Boston and the conflict that’s been escalating with their chief adversary, Dragos, as well as those brewing with a certain member of the Order itself. There is a lot of drama (good and bad) ahead for Lucan and the rest of the warriors and their mates in this book.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: That honor definitely goes to Sterling Chase, aka Harvard. And the good news is, his book, DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT, will be coming out next January! I had a great time tormenting poor Chase, and I think readers are going to love his special heroine too. Their book wraps up the larger story arc that’s carried the series from its beginnings and spins the Midnight Breed world into an exciting new direction. I can’t wait to share all the upcoming twists and surprises with my readers!

What’s next: As I mentioned above, DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT will be releasing in January. In the meantime, I’m working on a Midnight Breed novella, which will release as an e-book original from Bantam Dell around November or December of this year. The novella will be a standalone romance featuring a secondary character readers have already met in the series. I’ll post more details about it at my website (www.LaraAdrian.com) and on my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/LaraAdrianBooks) in a few weeks.

Thank you, Ellen and Borders, for inviting me to be part of the True Romance Blog today! I’m looking forward to popping in to say hello and chat a bit with readers.

For a chance to win a signed copy of DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT and some Midnight Breed series swag, tell me in the comments what you like best (or like least) about long-running series.

Random drawing, open to U.S. and non-U.S. entrants, but void where prohibited. And all that other legal stuff that needs to be said. We’ll post the winner’s name in the comments section tomorrow.

Good luck to all, and thanks for reading!

About Me

What’s my favorite movie of all time? I love so many movies! I can’t possibly point to any one as my all-time favorite. How about if I tell you my all-time favorite song instead? It’s IMAGINE, by John Lennon. If I could choose a particular song to hear in my last moments of life, this is the one.

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in? Anything dark and engrossing, whether it’s a paranormal romance or urban fantasy, or a psychological thriller, or horror (excluding slasher stuff and serial killers doing awful stuff to women – blech!).

What’s the first book I remember reading? I can still vividly recall sitting in first grade reading Dick and Jane books aloud in class one day and thinking to myself, wow, this reading thing is *easy*. I’ve been a devourer of books ever since.

What’s my favorite fairy tale? Hands down, it’s Beauty and the Beast. I love the message of: “Look inside a person’s heart and love them for who they truly are.” That’s practically the romance writer’s credo!

What’s my favorite cartoon character? Not really a big cartoon fan, sorry to say.

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers? Thank you for reading! It’s such an incredible privilege for me to have a career doing something I absolutely love. Hearing from readers who enjoy my books and root for my characters’ happiness the same way I do is icing on an already wonderful bit of cake. I feel very fortunate, and I am grateful every day.

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer? Ooh, tough question. I’d love to be a bookstore owner, or maybe even an editor. I would need my book fix one way or the other!

What do I do to unwind and relax? Unwinding and relaxing is rare these days, I have to tell you. But my favorite thing to do is read, uninterrupted. For a whole day. That would be heavenly. So much the better if the reading could be done on a beach somewhere, with a tropical drink in hand and my husband kicked back on the chaise beside me.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it? Coffee, black and strong. Preferably fair trade, shade grown Colombian.

What does love mean to me? Simply put? Everything.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I wouldn’t want to live in the Georgian period, with all that white face paint and powdered wigs, even though I like the look of it aesthetically. It must have been awful in reality. I like the fashions of the 60s, with sophisticated styles and clean lines. Think classic Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? It works the opposite way for me. I start with the character, then find a suitable name. Which isn’t always easy….

Dog person or cat person? It’s definitely a dog’s world, but I’ve always been drawn more to cats. We have three former strays who keep things lively around our house. It’s a shame to me that more people don’t recognize what truly wonderful, loving and loyal animals cats are. Yes, they can be aggravatingly stubborn at times too, but that’s part of their charm!

More Midnight Breed books:

Setting: Peru and Sierra Leone
Subgenre: Romantic Suspense
Hero: Luke (Doc Holiday) Colter
Heroine: Val (Valentina) Chamberlin

One sentence summary: His plans for a quiet vacation in the Peruvian Andes turns deadly when a Black Ops., Inc. operative rescues a stunning stranger from a mysterious train robbery and discovers she’s the target of a vengeful manhunt.

Scene you like most and would never cut: First scene, Chapter 9 – Luke and Val are tucked into a cave in the Andes, hiding out from the kill team that is after her. The team has already passed them by, so they’re just waiting it out a little longer as some extra insurance before they head out to continue dodging their pursuers. It’s the first kiss scene, involves her very bad case of claustrophobia, Luke’s total reluctance to admit it was more than a kiss, and a potato. Yes, a potato :o)

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She’d never be caught dead playing the diva, even though with her beauty, fame, and influence she could walk all over people.

Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine: She’s claustrophobic, a problem she’s fought to overcome since she was the victim of an abduction for ransom when she was a little girl.

What is your heroine’s occupation? Valentina is an international supermodel and philanthropist

What is your hero’s occupation? Luke is a former Navy SEAL, and a current team medic for Black Ops., Inc. a covert paramilitary unit based out of Buenos Aires

What you think readers will like best about this book: Hopefully the action and adventure and a really dynamite love story. Doc has this great sense of humor which lends a wonderful sense of playfulness to the mood of the story and helps see him and Val through some really tough spots.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I’ve had the most requests for Nate Black (CO and founder of BOI) and Juliana Flores’ story.

What’s next: I’m currently writing LAST MAN STANDING, Joe Green’s book and I’m having such a great time writing this emotional and action-packed story, which takes place in Sierra Leone and the U.S.

What draws you, the reader, to the Romantic Suspense genre and what are you NOT finding there that you would love to read about? I’ll be giving away 2 copies of RISK NO SECRETS, Book 5 in the BOI series to 2 commenters.

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? - THE BRIDESMAIDS. It totally rocks! Best chick flick ever!
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Romantic suspense, what else?
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Black Beauty
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Snow White
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Tweety Bird
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I’d like to tell them that I so treasure the support and enthusiasm I feel from them with every new release. Every writer worries that the next book won’t be the best book and that they will somehow let their readers down – which is the last thing we want to do. So when I hear from my readers after each release and they tell me that they now have a new favorite, it’s like manna from heaven! So thanks! And thanks again.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? My ‘fantasy’ career? A singer. Probably country.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax? READ! Typical busman’s holiday. I also love to have fun with my girlfriends, family, travel, fish (yes, I said fish), and I have some favorite TV shows, with Justified, The Good Wife, NCIS, The Closer, Burn Notice and Rescue Me topping the list.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Tea. On ice. No sugar.
10. What does love mean to you? My husband and my children. There is nothing more fulfilling.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise, and why? Most? Oh, the Regency era would be my least favorite. All those wigs and corsets – need I say more? As for most favorite? I think the Roman’s had it right. Soft, flowing dresses, sandals and updos :o)
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? The truth? I don’t have that special name just waiting for a character. When my characters come to me, they have names. Don’t ask me how or why. I just know that this guy is a Luke or a Gabe or this woman is a Jillian or a Jenna. They arrive with perfect fits :o)
13. Dog person or cat person? We have both. Please don’t make me chose :o)

Setting: Regency Ireland
Subgenre: Historical paranormal
Hero: Daigh MacLir
Heroine: Lady Sabrina Douglas

One sentence summary: His only memory is of a beautiful woman he’s never met. Her only hope is a mysterious man who invades her dreams. As dark forces close in, can she save him from hell or will he send her there? (Are three sentences cheating?)

Scene you like most and would never cut: It’s always difficult to pick one scene, but I enjoyed writing about Sabrina’s healing gift as she fights to save Daigh. Of course, she doesn’t realize she’s not the real reason he survives, but I always love describing the magic in my story. It’s as if my imagination kicks into overdrive, and I can play with words in a way I can’t at other times.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Lady Sabrina would never be caught glad-handing and engaging in party chit-chat. She’s a confirmed introvert. Hmm, who did I model her after?

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine: Does being un-killable count as a quirk? If so, Daigh’s a bundle of quirkiness. As for Sabrina, other than falling through time now and again, I suppose she’s as normal as the next girl.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Sabrina possesses the power to heal and uses this power as an aspiring priestess of High Danu.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Daigh doesn’t remember what he did before being found upon an empty Irish beach. But his scars and his dreams hint at an unspeakable violent past. One best left buried.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: Time travel, the legend of King Arthur, a sprinkling of Welsh history, and a deliciously tormented hero all wrapped up in the redemptive power of love. What’s not to like?

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Since the Heirs of Kilronan trilogy began in January, readers have enjoyed the character of Jack O’Gara and would love to see more of him. The trick will be how to bring him back from the dead.

What’s next: The thrilling conclusion of the Heirs of Kilronan trilogy comes out in January 2012. HEIR OF DANGER features Brendan Douglas. He’s been on the run for seven years, but with the looming threat of King Arthur’s return, Brendan will have to confront his past—including the woman he left at the altar. I’m also working on a new regency-paranormal project which I hope to unveil soon.

It’s summertime and wedding season is in full swing. When I married, I had the traditional church wedding. How about you? Were your vows exchanged at a big formal affair or at something smaller and more intimate? Were you married on a beach at sunset or a mountain top at dawn? In front of a justice of the peace? Or did you go for something completely original? Write and let me know!

Comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy of LORD OF SHADOWS. I’ll pick the lucky winner at the end of the day and announce it tomorrow. Thanks again for letting me come and chat with you. It’s been a pleasure!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Local Hero starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It’s a classic fish out of water plot, but the off-beat characters, the stunning Scottish scenery, and Mark Knopfler’s haunting soundtrack are pitch-perfect.

2. What’s the first book you remember reading? One my most cherished memories is reading The Secret Garden with my mother. Every evening we would curl up in a chair together, and take turns reading. A chapter a night until we were finished. That book is still one of my favorites, and my mother and I still trade books back and forth.

3. What’s your favorite fairy tale? I’ve always been a sucker for Beauty and the Beast and the idea of love taming even the worst demons inside us.

4. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I try not to think about that possibility too hard. But one thing I know for certain—even if I never sold another book, I’d keep writing. It’s just what I do.

5. What do you do to unwind and relax? Curl up on the couch for family movie night complete with lots of popcorn.

6. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Coffee. Cream and sugar. There’s no starting the day without it.

7. Dog person or cat person? Cat definitely. I like their independence. And the fact I don’t have to walk them.

8. What does love mean to you? Love means that however much he or she drives you crazy, you wouldn’t want to wake up beside anyone else.

9. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Being a jeans and T-shirt kind of gal, I view the Victorian era’s hoop skirt as the single cruelest fashion item ever devised. That being said, for some reason I love the nineteen fifties elegance. Gloves and hats and dressing up to go shopping. Women reveled in their femininity back then, and curves were in vogue. I’m still not certain I’d want to dress like that all the time, but a few days to travel back in time and indulge my fantasy might be fun.