GIVEAWAY: Goddess in the Middle by Stephanie Julian

"GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE, the latest in the Forgotten Goddess series, is paranormal romance at its best!"

~ Rho, The Romance Reviews

(Read the full review.)

TOGETHER. THEY CREATE THE MOST POWERFUL MAGIC OF ALL ...

Romulus and Remus are sexy werewolf cousins with an unbreakable bond. When they meet beautiful goddess Amity and save her from an encroaching demon, they discover that the three of them together are way more powerful than any of them could ever have imagined. And they're going to need that power to overcome the forces that are determined to steal Amity's magic and destroy the two men.

As different as night and day, and each an amazing man in his own right, Rom and Remy make all of Amity's deepest fantasies come true ...


Now, let's hear from the author, Stephanie Julian!

Q: What gave you the inspiration for the Forgotten Goddess series?

A: I had already written several stories set in the Etruscan Magic world and I’d mentioned a few of the deities so writing their stories was a natural progression. And it all started with a question: What do deities do when they’re no longer worshipped? Are they still needed? What happens to their powers? And what happens if someone wants to take those powers?

Q: Please share a fascinating experience or research fact while in the course of writing Goddess in the Middle.

A:  Hmm, fascinating for me or for you? I’m fascinated by all aspects of research. I love sitting down with a 1,000-page text book on Etruscan tombs and art and combing through all the minutiae to find pieces to add to my stories. Here are just a few of those tidbits. Etruscan goddesses are always shown wearing red shoes. Etruscan demons have blue skin. Archeologists are divided over where the ancient Etruscans originated. Women were considered equals in Etruscan society (until the Romans came along).

Q: Do tell us about Amity. Who is she in mythology, and what characteristics from the original goddess did you imbue into your character?

A: Amity is actually Munthukh, the Etruscan Goddess of Health. She’s shown on an ancient Etruscan mirror as one of Goddess Turan’s handmaidens and she’s shown helping another goddess get ready for her wedding by applying makeup. So of course, Amity now uses her remaining power to help injured and disfigured people regain their confidence in their appearance.

Q: How did you come up with Rom's and Remy's characters?

A: Amity is not in anyway a kick-ass heroine. She is a strong character but she’s not a fighter so she needed a hero who could take care of her. Two would be even better. And they’re werewolves! I drew their names from Roman mythology (Romulus and Remus are the mythical founders of Rome and were raised by a wolf) but their characters are totally unique. Remy is scarred but he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. Rom wears his scars on the inside and is the darker, broodier half of the pair. Together they create the perfect trio with Amity.

Q: Who was your favorite character in this book? Why?

A: Usually my favorite character is the hero. As a writer, I have to love my hero as much as I want the reader to love him. And I do love Remy and Rom but Charun, the Etruscan God of the Underworld, has that dark, mysterious thing going and what woman isn’t drawn to that? Sure, he’s done some horrible things but if you were trapped in hell forever, I think you’d be ready to bust out in any way possible. And are you really sure Charun has killed anyone in pursuit of his escape?

Q: What is it like writing about characters involved in ménage a trois? What fascinates and draws you?

A: I think the fantasy of the ménage is what draws you in. Two hot guys at your beck and call? Seems like paradise. One is dark and brooding, the other is brighter, able to make you smile. And all of their energy is focused on you. They’re dedicated to you. 

Q: What's up next in the Forgotten Goddess series?

A: Well, I kind of left Kari, Amity’s twin sister and the Goddess of Healing, in a bind. And Cat, the new Goddess of the Moon definitely has more of a role to play in upcoming stories.

Thanks for having me over to chat.

Thank you, Stephanie! That was enlightening!

GIVEAWAY

Three (3) lucky winners will win a copy of GODDESS IN THE MIDDLE! Sponsored by Sourcebooks. Thank you!

To enter, simply

1. Be a follower, and
2. Ask Stephanie a question or answer this question: What story in mythology would you want authors to tackle and put a modern spin to it?

Note :

1. Only one winner per household

2. U.S./Canada residents only

Contest Period: July 30 to August 7

Contest Winner Announcement: August 11

Winners will be randomly selected via Randomizer.org. Please come back and check if you're the winner.

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY: Luscious by Amanda Usen

"SCRUMPTIOUS delivers a yummy treat for the senses and the imagination!"

~ Ashia, The Romance Reviews

(Read the full review.)

Scrumptious is the first book. After that comes, LUSCIOUS. (Don't you just love these mouth-watering titles?)


ABOUT THE BOOK: Plain old ice cream just isn't going to cut it. To beat these blues, chef Olivia Marconi needs the good stuff: rich, creamy tiramisu gelato. And no place better to get it than Italy. But a fresh start is nearly impossible with Sean Kindred dogging her every move. She's been burned by his too-hot-to-handle antics before. Though there's no denying the man can still get her all fired up. Could a weeklong affair finally turn into something more lasting...or will it all go up in flames?


Now, let's hear more about LUSCIOUS from Amanda!

Q: What gave you the inspiration for your delicious (food), sexy chefs series?

A: I met my husband in culinary school and I’ve cooked in Nashville, New Orleans, Monterey and Buffalo. There’s always so much drama in kitchens – cursing, yelling, joking and flirting. There’s a lot of pressure, a rich environment for conflict and romance! When we lived in New Orleans, my husband cooked sauté for Susan Spicer at Bayona, one of the finest restaurants in the French Quarter, and I was her pastry chef. Ben would come home with burns on his arms that he wasn’t even aware of because there was no time to do anything other than cook during service. Chefs are an interesting breed. They are tough enough to take the mental and physical heat of a busy kitchen, but they are also creative, nurturing and indulgent. In other words, fun hero and heroine material!

Q: Please share a fascinating experience or research fact while in the course of writing LUSCIOUS.

A: When I decided to write a book set at a vineyard, I wrangled an invitation to spend the day harvesting and crushing grapes at Arrowhead Spring Vineyard in Lockport, NY. I showed up and said, “Hi, I’m the chef who is writing a book.” Robin said, “Hi, I’m the farmer who is distributing bins.” I hopped on her tractor and spent the day following her around, picking her brain about all the things she and her husband, Duncan Ross, have to do to run the vineyard and winery. I snipped grapes, drove the tractor and helped dump thirty-pound bins of grapes into the crusher. It was exhausting but exhilarating. I scrawled all sorts of great details in the little notebook I kept in my pocket.

When the book was finished, Robin read it to make sure I hadn’t taken too many liberties with the wine-making process. I was thrilled when she said it sounded perfectly possible, and even more excited when she offered to host a LUSCIOUS release party in the tasting room at the vineyard. We served the fruit of my labors – the 2010 Arrowhead Spring Vineyards Chardonnay!

Q: Wow, that's exciting! And also exciting for us to hear. Back to LUSCIOUS, we first met Olivia Marconi from Scrumptious, where we practically see her break down after she finally discovered her husband cheating on her. How has this incident shaped her to be the woman she is in LUSCIOUS?

A: When we see Olivia again in LUSCIOUS, her marriage is over, she hates her job and her two best friends have just fallen in love with each other. The bad decisions she has made over the past few years have made her doubt her judgment and her cooking abilities. She wants to quit. In fact, she is on her way to Italy to tell her parents she doesn’t want to run the family restaurant anymore. Olivia has deep-seated feelings of inferiority because her husband chose other women, her best friend is an amazing cook and her mother is so hard to please. Olivia needs to regain faith in herself, and she does through food and love, my favorite combination.

Q: Tell us more about Sean. What makes him a swoonworthy hero?

A: Oh, I do love Sean Kindred. It took me a little while to realize that just because Sean is determined to seduce Olivia, he isn’t a bad boy at heart. Sure he plans to ditch his business suit at the earliest opportunity and begin bodily erasing all the damage Olivia’s ex-husband did to her during their unfortunate marriage, but it’s because he’s had a crush on her for half his life. He doesn’t want to miss another chance with her. Sean is intelligent, protective and willing to take a risk. Underneath his indecent intentions, he’s rock-solid and completely devoted to Olivia. Swoon!


I'm swooning here myself! Sean sounds like a great guy. And we don't have to wait. LUSCIOUS is now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other stores.



GIVEAWAY

Three (3) lucky winners will win a copy of LUSCIOUS! Sponsored by Sourcebooks. Thank you!

To enter, simply be a follower and answer this question: What is your favorite food? Why?


Note :

1. Only one winner per household
2. U.S./Canada residents only


Contest Period: July 27 to August 4

Contest Winner Announcement: August 5

Winners will be randomly selected via Randomizer.org. Please come back and check if you're the winner.

Good luck!

Writing Through Writers Block by Beth D. Carter

There is something really sad when a story is half-way through and the motivation for the characters up and dries out.  Questions like "how do I resolve this situation" or "where do I take them now" abound through the mind, adding to the frustration of trying to produce a story.  As a writer, I've had my fair share of writer's block, and I've discovered for myself that it's best to let the story go.  I save it, store it, and sometimes I go back and revisit in case something jumps into my mind.

My novel Love Story for a Snow Princess was one I had shelved for a while because of those very reasons.  The story went through a lot of revisions from when I first conceived it.  I had an idea of a socialite deciding her life is meaningless when her best friend dies in her house from an overdose.  She decides she needs to get away from her vices by becoming a mail order bride to someone in Alaska.  But it just didn't work so I shelved it.  When another idea presented itself to me, I reworked my earlier writing and the story morphed into what is it today.  

I've only had one book I had to work off deadline, and that was A Silver Lining, a Battle of the Sexes story published through Loose Id.  I turned in my story synopsis and outline to my editor in July and I had to have it finished by November.  Whenever I got stuck on something I would move away from the section I was trying to write and move on to another part.  Since I didn't have the option to sit back and wait for motivation, I found this method worked best for me.  By having something to look forward to and connect with, I was able to manipulate my characters into getting from point A to point B a lot faster.

Some stories are easier to write than others.  Such is the case for my first M/M romance-You Can Run. It was written in my mind when I moved from Baton Rouge, LA to Los Angeles, and when I sat down to my computer I wrote it in two weeks!  Through my entire journey across Interstate 40, I saw Big Rig trucks traveling up and down the road.  At night I would see them lined up in a row, bunked down for the driver to rest at truck stops.  I started imagining one of my heroes, Kyle, a young kid with a secret who needed to get out of town.  I pictured how the driver of a truck, Del, would react to having such a guest.  I must have taken a thousand pictures of trucks and the countryside!

Sometimes there are stories that a writer must let go of for various reasons.  For me, it usually stems from the characters completely taking over and leading me away from the vision I had of the story.  When that happens I have to rethink the entire plot.

If all else fails and writer's block has its tight tentacles in you, then taking a break might be just what is needed.  Drink some wine or relax in a hot bath, read a steamy romance or watch a great flick.  And then when you sit back down to pound the keys, hopefully writer's block will be a thing of the past.

-Beth D. Carter

www.bethdcarter.com


Check out Beth's interview of her book IN A CHORD and stand to win awesome giveaways!

GIVEAWAY: Thunder on the Plains by Rosanne Bittner

"THUNDER ON THE PLAINS by Rosanne Bittner is a journey of love in the Wild West that is not for the faint of heart.  Gloriously well written, this powerful tale will haunt you long after you have finished it." 

~ Lisa, The Romance Reviews

 Read the full review.

Hello, All!   Author Rosanne Bittner here, and I am happy to join the Romance Review blog with answers to questions sent to me in support of the reissue of my novel, THUNDER ON THE PLAINS!  In celebration of this reissue I am running a "virtual" party all this month (July 2012).  If you visit my web site at www.rosannebittner.com you will find a link to my party and you can join a contest to win a free copy of THUNDER – and you might even end up winning a free Kindle Touch!

                The first question sent to me was to ask how I view the research process as far as describing the beauty of the American West.   For me, research is the best part of writing!  I have a great passion for the West and it's grand landscape and exciting history.  My husband and I have traveled the West for close to 30 years and I have visited nearly every historical site written into my books.  I continue to be totally fascinated by how fast the West was settled, its ecological affect as well as it's emotional affect on Native Americans, and the pace at which people poured into the West, especially the fanatical quest to find gold.  The Western landscape can be compared to no other, from the vast plains and prairies with endless horizons, to the looming greatness of the Rockies and Sierras.  It's difficult to describe the beauty and grandeur of our American West to those who have never been there, but I try hard with my descriptions, which is why the West is a place that must be visited in order to properly describe it – even then it's often difficult to find the right words.  How many ways are there to say "vast" and "grand" and "splendid?"  If I sound redundant in describing the country I love so much, it's because there just aren't enough words.

                Thank you for your comment that my characters are so explicit and detailed that it's almost as if they really are a part of history – and you wondered if I become attached to them.  That's a definite YES!  I absolutely hate leaving my stories and characters, which is why I love writing big, fat books – so I can stay with these people as long as possible – and so I can properly flesh out all my characters and show how they  become involved in real American historical events.  The love for my characters is also why I have written series books (notably my SAVAGE DESTINY series – 30 years old and still selling) and why I've written several trilogies.  In my book IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAINS, the heroine builds a monument to her father just outside of Denver, Colorado.  The characters in that book were so real that I had readers write to me wondering where that monument is so that they can visit it!!!  It doesn't exist, but they thought the people in my book really lived, and that is a wonderful compliment!

I was also asked my favorite feature about the heroine in THUNDER ON THE PLAINS, Sunny Landers.  Sunny comes from wealth, and at a very young age her father dies and leaves her partly in charge of finishing his dream of building a transcontinental railroad across the West, something in which Sunny's father is already heavily invested.  What I liked most about Sunny was her determination to finish her father's project – the way she takes over and stands against a very prejudiced group of wealthy "good ole' boys" who don't believe there is a place for a woman in their meetings/decision making.  I also like the fact that in spite of her wealth, Sunny understands and accepts the kind of life led by Colt Travis, the half-Indian western guide Sunny meets when she visits the building sites for the railroad.  Colt's life is as different from Sunny's as can possibly be, but it fascinates her – and their meeting leads to falling in love – two people from very different worlds who (it seems) could never possibly truly share a life together.

What sparked my love for the 1800's Old West was probably watching so many westerns on TV and in the movies when I was growing up.  Of course many of the TV westerns and older western movies left a lot to accuracy, but I was impressed by the stunning landscape.  If you watch old John Wayne movies, one of the grandest things about them is the background scenery.  It is often quite spectacular, and it always fascinated me.  When I was older my husband and I were finally able to drive out and visit such places, and I was even more awestruck when I saw them with my own two eyes.  What led to my wanting to write about the West and pioneers was A LANTERN IN HER HAND by Bess Streeter Aldrich – and THE PROUD BREED, by Celeste de Blasis.  My quest to tell the truth about our Native Americans came from Dee Brown's BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE.  And if you want to read about eastern Indians and the earlier history of our country (which I write about in my Wilderness trilogy), pick any book by Allen Eckert.  It some of the most fabulous writing of true history I've ever read.  He brings it all to life.

                You asked if there was meaning to my title, THUNDER ON THE PLAINS.  It refers to the big, roaring train engines that "thundered" across the plains and prairies when they built the transcontinental railroad – and it also refers to the thundering hearts of two people very much in love but who face many obstacles in finding a life together.

                In reply to your sixth question, our hero, Colt Travis, is a survivor because from childhood he had to rely only on himself to "make it" in the world.  It toughened him up.

                My favorite moment in Sunny and Colt's story?  It would have to be the wild, passionate tryst that took place when they go riding alone out on the plains.  Woo-hoo!  It's hot!  All that passion they have been trying to avoid finally explodes into a great love scene!

                To answer your last question, I can't think of any particular fact or person that readers might not be aware of – but I am proud of my reference in this story to Abraham Lincoln and his death and how it affects Sunny.  I often refer to a real historical character in my stories.  In my Wilderness trilogy (Tor/Forge Books) I refer to a very young George Washington, who makes an appearance in one of the books.

                Thanks for your request for some input!  I hope everybody will read THUNDER ON THE PLAINS, and don't forget to visit my web site and join my on-line contest!    

Rosanne Bittner

GIVEAWAY

Three (3) lucky winners will win a copy of THUNDER ON THE PLAINS! Sponsored by Sourcebooks. Thank you!

To enter, simply be a follower and tell us: What about the Wild West do you love reading about?

Note :

1. Only one winner per household

2. U.S./Canada residents only

Contest Period: July 25 to 31

Contest Winner Announcement: August 5

Winners will be randomly selected via Randomizer.org. Please come back and check if you're the winner.

Good luck!

Blogging with Gabby

Hi, I'm Gabriella Bradley and will attempt to make this blog post interesting. I'm a horrible blogger. Never know what to say or what to write about!

I'm a romance writer and I write most genres, but I specifically like writing paranormal and science fiction. I've been a writer my whole life but didn't seriously write for publication until much later in life. Blogging about myself would make for a boring blog, so I'll blog about my books.

The Samsara Chronicles was an exciting project that kept Diana Kemp and me busy for years. We wrote, revised, edited, re-wrote. And I'm sure if we tackled it again, there would be things we'd want to change. Is a writer ever satisfied with the end product? I don't think so. I've talked to many writer friends and they say the same. I've learned not to read my books anymore once they're published. If I did, there would be no end to revisions and my publisher and editor would disown me.

My latest work went up for sale recently at eXtasy Books. It's a soft science fiction romance and it is doing rather well at eXtasy Books, I'm pleased to say. I mention this because like many an author experiences, some of my books have bombed. It's tough in the publishing world today. All you have to do is look and see how many new releases there are at Amazon/Kindle. In the last 30 days, Kindle has released 53,614 new titles. Wow! That's what we compete against. In fiction, 21,690. Over a period of 90 days, Kindle released 62,802 books. That's a lot of books to compete against. So what do we write that stands out? I haven't got a clue. I just write what the muse tells me and hope the finished product sells a few.

My latest release is Toxic Haven. This is the blurb:

Haven Drew is about to blow the whistle on a genetically damaging by-product of the Dahkhar Mining Corporation when she is thrust from her safe white-collar life into the mine itself.

Her analytical skills are used by the very corporation that she wanted to expose and lives are placed in her hands and in front of her guns, daily. Trapped in a vortex of rage and shame she is confronted by two familiar faces, and they are being housed in her cell. Josias and Isan were investigating the disappearance of personnel at the Corporation headquarters when they were relieved of their duties and assigned to positions working in the mine.

It might not be love at first sight, but biology is powerful and with her mates at her side, there is nothing that they can't do. Risking life and limb isn't an ideal honeymoon but they manage to work together toward their goal of launching themselves into space and to a colony infected by disaster. How romantic can you get? (Adult content).

I have quite a few other projects on the go but finding time to write is not always easy, though I do try to write whenever I can. Life has a habit of interfering and my regular job keeps me too busy.

Project K, available at eXtasy Books and Kindle, is another recent release and I'm working on book 2 for that one.

What else can I tell you? I love to hear from readers, so fire questions at me... My email is: gabriellabradley@gmail.com

Check out Gabby's interview of her series THE SAMSARA CHRONICLES and stand to win awesome giveaways!

GIVEAWAY: Back to Back to Back with Jill Shalvis

Three new Lucky Harbor stories all for our reading pleasure: the Chocoholics!

"The calories in chocolate don't count because chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, and everyone knows that beans are good for you."

"LUCKY IN LOVE hits all the right notes--funny yet sweet, a light romance that was made all the more unforgettable by its witty heroine and Mysterious Cute Guy hero."

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone . . .

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all . . . anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

Read the full review.

"You'll love the small-town atmosphere and the quirky cast of secondary characters in this series."

Her love had come along...

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

Read the full review.

Love can happen in a heartbeat.

Grace never thought she'd be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh's lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad . . .

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "good bedside manner." Josh and Grace don't know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day . . .

GIVEAWAY

Three (3) lucky winners will win a prize pack that contains a copy of AT LAST and FOREVER AND A DAY! Sponsored by Hachette Book Group. Thank you!

To enter, simply be a follower and make up your own chocolate witticism!

Like--

Chocolate is a woman's best friend!

When in doubt, eat chocolate.

No pain, no chocolate.

It doesn't matter how silly it is. Just write down what you can think of, and let's giggle over it.

Note :

1. Only one winner per household

2. U.S. residents only

Contest Period: July 22 to August 4

Contest Winner Announcement: August 5

Winners will be randomly selected via Randomizer.org. Please come back and check if you're the winner.

Good luck!


Want more AWESOME GIVEAWAYS?

Join our July party! Over 400 prizes to be won! Head on over to http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

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The Story Behind the Story of PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN by Karen Kay

Good Morning!

Thanks for joining me here today. Let me say upfront that I will be giving away a free book today — I'm experimenting with giving away ebooks — so far I haven't figured it out, so I might still be giving away mass market books — but I will be giving away another book to some blogger today — so come on in and please leave a comment in order to enter the contest.

I thought I'd tell you a bit about the writing of the book, PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN today. This book has only recently been issued as an ebook — and this cover is probably my favorite cover of all of these ebooks. I love them all (the covers), but this one particularly touches my heart.

PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN was a book that was written at a time in my life when things weren't going too well. I've already blogged about the writing of GRAY HAWK'S LADY and how that book was written as I met and fell deeply in love with my husband, Paul. Unfortunately PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN's story isn't quite so bright, I fear. At this time in my life, I'd recently gone through a divorce and had returned to California where I hopped straight into a relationship that was anything but a good one. However, I didn't realize that at the time, and so stayed in the relationship prehaps beyond what I should have.

Believe it or not it was the writing of this book that opened my eyes to what my heart and mind were refusing to see. (This is the book that I had written before I met and married my husband, Paul, whom I love so very much.)

Off to the left here is a picture that was taken just a little bit later than this time period in my life — I'm the one sitting down on the far right in the white jacket. Anyway, back to my story. I was in the middle of writing PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN and it wasn't going very well due to many different elements in my life that just weren't right. But it was a scene near the beginning of the book that opened my eyes to what was going on around me. I know that sounds funny, but I guess sometimes we don't always really realize things until it hits us square in the face. In this very telling and important scene the heroine, Julia, is talking with her husband, Ken, in flashback, I believe. In this scene Ken is saying some horrible things to Julia. Really horrible — and all those words came directly out of the mouth of this man who was in my life at that time. Actually I had to go back and revise that scene because what was really said was doubly worse than what was written. I edited it because I thought that it would probably seem unreal to others that someone could say such horrible things to another human being.

Over to the right is another picture that was taken about that time (I don't have many pictures that were taken at this period in my life). And this picture was taken almost a year later. Anyway, back to my story. It was the writing of that scene and the fact that my hero in the book, Neeheeowee, a friend of Julia's, was going to save her and bring love to her. Not her husband, Ken — a terrible man — but rather Julia's friend from the past, Neeheeowee. It was this realization and a few other incidents that happened around that time that decided me. This relationship broke up very, very shortly after the writing of that scene.

Off to the left here is a picture taken about 2 years after the incidents that I am describing above — this was taken at an RWA convention in Florida way back when — and I'm here with friend, Catherine Snodgrass.

Now you may wonder — if this time period produced such a terrible example of mankind — who did I pattern the hero after? Here I was fresh out of a divorce, and having jumped into a soul-destroying relationship.

Well, similar to the heroine in the story, I had a friend at this time who was never unkind to me, who liked me and never judged me, and who always took my side in most everything. Although never romanctically involved, the hero in the story took on many of the different characteristics of my friend. Also at this time period in my life, my friend needed a friend, and I became that to him.

In the story of PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN, both the hero, Neeheeowee (Proud Wolf — translated literally "Wolf on the Hill") and the heroine, Julia, bring a better life to each other through happenstance, through love and through commitment to their friendship, which in the story, itself, becomes a deep, lasting love. When I first saw this ebook cover of PROUD WOLF'S WOMAN, I was so struck by how this cover brought this story to life. For me this cover says more than mere words what is felt between these two courageous people in this story.

It's sometimes said that truth is stranger than fiction — and for me this was really true in the writing of this book. I was certain no one would ever believe the terrible words that were thrown at Julia in the story — and although I wrote them word-for-word originally, I went back after I'd finished writing the book, and edited them so that another might actually believe that a man might say such things.

This was a major book for me — a book that completely helped to open my eyes. It was also a book that aided me in envisioning a true love — if only because in this book, both the hero and heroine discover a love that had always been there, but had gone unnoticed because of their different cultures.

Well, that's all for today. I really hope that you've enjoyed the blog today, sad though it is. But perhaps it's not so sad, since it was the writing of this book that opened my heart to the fact that there could be so much more to life and to love. Please don't forget that I do have about 7 new to ebooks on sale at the moment — and here is the link to go and see all these beautiful and wonderful new covers that Samhain Publishing has done. They are works of art. http://store.samhainpublishing.com/karen-kay-pa-1676.html

Please do come on in an leave a comment.

GIVEAWAY: Pride and Pyramids by Amanda Grange and Jacqueline Webb

International bestselling author Amanda Grange and Egyptology expert Jacqueline Webb team up to create a breathtaking historical tale set in the land of the Pharaohs. Sourcebooks Landmark is proud to present Pride and Pyramids: Mr. Darcy in Egypt (ISBN: 9781402265341, July 2012, $14.99 U.S., Trade Paperback, Fiction). The beloved Darcy family takes on the pyramids of Egypt in this unique Pride and Prejudice sequel.

"Grange provides a really intriguing possibility as to what may have been going on in Darcy's head throughout it all… Amanda Grange does a great job of keeping both the language and the behavior authentic to Jane Austen and the early 19th century... she is one of the best at doing so that I have found...." 

--Epinions.com

Pulled into the craze of Egyptology, Elizabeth, Darcy and their lively children embark on an expedition to Egypt with Colonel Fitzwilliam's younger brother.  Romantic interludes between Darcy and Elizabeth intertwine with the unraveling of a mystery dating back to an ancient Egyptian woman. They find long-hidden treasure thwart a theft and betrayal by the ever-villainous George Wickham, and lay to rest an ancient ghost. The Darcys' adventures at the hands of these talented storytellers open up whole new realms of exploration for lovers of Jane Austen and the Regency world.

"...A very absorbing story that blended well-loved characters with a new and novel adventure..."

--Bridget

Read the full review.

About the Authors

Amanda Grange is a bestselling author of Jane Austen retellings that are from the point of view of Austen's men. She has sold more than 150,000 copies of her novels and is branching out into other areas of historical fiction. Jacqueline Webb is an expert in historical Egyptology and has written two novels published in the UK.  Both authors live in England. 

For more information, please visit http://www.amandagrange.com

GIVEAWAY!

Sourcebooks has very kindly offered 5 copies of PRIDE AND PYRAMIDS to 5 lucky winners! US/Canada only.

Mechanics:

Answer this question: 

Would you read a romance novel set in Egypt? What would draw you to pick up such a book?

Contest Deadline: July 27, 2012, 1159pm EST

Winners selection: August 2012

Want more awesome giveaways?

Join our July party! Over 400 prizes to be won! Head on over to http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

You have to be logged in in order to play. Register now! It's free! 

Sex, Life and Hannah Blog Tour

Hannah is back in this third volume of Sex, Life & Hannah: Summer Season!

The Summer Season picks up where its predecessors left off, chronicling the exploits of Hannah, a female professional trying desperately to make sense of the L.A. single life. Through broken hearts, broken dreams, and nearly-broken bed frames (yes—there is a lot of sex), Hannah grapples with the modern late-twenty-something's conundrum: Does the fairytale life exist, and is it worth having? 

Sex, Life, and Hannah is acclaimed by audiences as jaw-dropping, frank, and relatable. Writer's Digest hails it as "an honest, sensitive, and intelligent investigation of the human heart… [with] wit, charm, pathos, and passion."

Let's hear more about it from the author herself: Dorota Skrzypek

Q: What gave you the inspiration to write SEX, LIFE & HANNAH?

A: Growing up, my guilty pleasures were romance novels, and daytime and night time soap operas, but not until Sex and The City did I feel like I should give writing a shot. The style of writing on that TV show made me feel like there was an audience for the topics I wanted to discuss and the types of stories I wanted to unravel. I didn't just want to write about romance and idealistic sex, I wanted to expose some of the awkward, real-world stuff too, like performance issues, and STDs, and questions regarding your sexuality.

Q: The book is written in the first person point of view. Would you say you identify with the titular character, Hannah? In what ways are you similar to (or different from) her?

A: I identify with Hannah most in that I was on the same quest she's on when I was in my late twenties: Find The One. I was done with the parties and the dating and really wanted to settle down and start a new phase of my life. Maybe my biological clock was ticking, maybe my liver was screaming "give me a break!", or maybe I was just convinced that finding The One was going to somehow complete me, but it definitely became a quest, ridden with a lot of anticipation and anxiety.

Q: Where did you come up with your hilarious cast of secondary characters? Which one is your favorite?

A: The secondary characters are a patchwork of a lot of interesting people I've had the pleasure of knowing, or still know, in my life. For example, my best friend is a guy, and someone I've known since high school, who is also very sexually ambiguous. His strength, independence, knowledge, and acceptance are like a guiding light, and he is a true confidant. We've always been there for each other, through the most intense growing pains, just like Hannah and Jack.

Q: What is your favorite scene? Why?

A: I drag my hands up his torso, feeling his ribs—our lips locked the whole time. I finally draw away and start unbuttoning his shirt. I stop at the stubbly patch on his chest, the hair having just started to grow back after being shaved in preparation for his tattoo.

"What's your favorite movie?" I trace the heart and my initials in it with a finger.

"What?" he snickers.

"Your favorite movie. Of all time. Tell me right now." I let my heels slide off and try to figure out how to slip out of my pants.

"The Usual Suspects," he replies.

I want to believe in destiny—that everything happens for a reason and that we each have some predetermined path we're supposed to tread; that as much choice as we think we have in where we live, who we're with, and what job we have, there's really a greater power that controls our fate and we can't do anything to change it. I want to believe that all the decisions I've made with men so far all happened for one reason: to lead me to this. And that as rushed and wrong as this feels in some ways, that Christian is The One.

This scene out of Chapter 23 is definitely one of my favorites because I've toiled with the notion of destiny often in my life. If you believe in destiny, it is almost like a calming effect, because you have this sense that things will unfold as they are supposed to; so maybe you're less angry about something not working out exactly how you thought it would. But maybe believing in destiny is a cop-out, and you should have just worked harder or tried something different. I'm still not sure…

Q: What's up next for you?

A: I am really looking forward to working on the last book in the Sex, Life, & Hannah series. This is the first time the palette has felt so bare, the journal entries have felt so used, and the story options have felt so tremendous. I am interested to see what my imagination will come up with for the finale.

Thanks, Dorota!


Join the Treasure Hunt!

Collect the quotes from all the participating blogs. The quote from TRR is below. To check out the other blogs, here's the link: http://www.sexlifeandhannah.com/summer-season-virtual-book-tour/

"I love him. And that's what love is about, right? For better or worse, through thick and thin, in sickness and health. You don't just ditch someone because they've changed."