I know, how odd that it looks like a white Christmas here when it is actually Halloween, right? I had to share some of the pics I took yesterday when we rode our ATV in the beautiful snow we had here in NC up the side of a mountain and along another road. It was definitely a winter wonderland!
We don't usually have snow this early but this is off Hurricane Sandy. I was so sad to see the devastation in the north east. I hope all of you, your families and homes are okay or that you will bounce back soon. I'm thinking of you.
Best wishes for a happy Halloween!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com
P.S. My book, My Fierce Highlander is an Epic Award Finalist in historical romance!
P.P.S. My story, My Brave Highlander takes place in a winter wonderland also, in the icy north of Scotland during November.
Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?
Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.
Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.
A White Halloween
Labels:
Halloween,
Highland romance,
Scottish historical romance,
Vonda Sinclair,
winter,
winter storms

Guest: Amy Gamet + 2 Book Giveaway!

We're pleased that our special guest today is Amy Gamet and she's giving away both of her books. Welcome, Amy! Please tell us about yourself.
I am a stay-at-home mom to three young kids, with an
awesome husband who gives me time to write whenever he can. I used to teach middle school math, and
though I loved the kids, I enjoy writing much more than I ever loved the
Pythagorean Theorem.
Q: Why do you choose to write romance?
A: My first attempt at writing professionally was for
magazines. I got three assignments on my
first three query letters, which was wonderful. The articles were short, but it
was a high to see my name in print. Then our family moved to a new home—a real
fixer-upper—and I was sidelined by home improvement projects for over a year.
When I tried to go back to writing articles I found I
had little interest. It took me a while
to realize a simple truth—I don’t even like to read magazines, so why one
earth did I think I would like to write for them? Around that time, a friend started a book
club and invited me to join. We read
mostly women’s fiction with a little chick-lit, and the point was hammered home
even harder. I like to read romances,
almost exclusively. I dropped the book
club and tentatively started several rough drafts in quick succession, soon
realizing it would take some time to learn the craft of writing fiction. Everything I had written up until that point
had been non-fiction.
Q: I'm glad you found romance. How do you choose names for your characters?

Q: How neat! I love that name. Which element of story creation is your favorite?
A: The characters come easily to me. Once I know who they are, their word choices
and language just flow into the dialogue.
I enjoy how different they are from each other, and how they choose to
express themselves. I really love
characters with strong personalities, whether they be opinionated or kind and
loving.
Q: I agree with you about that. Which element of this story was the hardest for
you?
A: The suspense plot doesn’t come naturally to me. I have to work at it. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, I almost never
think people have ulterior motives, and I believe people are genuinely good at
their core. Not exactly suspense
material, eh? I try to make this work in
my favor, by making my villains human and relatable, just like my heroes. The elusive plot details have to be hashed
out on giant sheets of paper in a rainbow of scented markers before I even know
where to begin. (Okay, maybe the scented
markers aren’t a necessity, but that’s what I use—and I refuse to share them
with my marker-destroying progeny. Mommy has to have some things of her own.)
Q: LOL What inspires you? What motivates you?
A: I can’t believe I get paid for this! I love to write, like some people love to
take naps or go skiing. After years
spent working jobs that were an imperfect fit for me, I’m motivated by the
writing itself, and the just rewards of that writing. When I read a good review or hear that
someone got lost in one of my stories, that’s amazing to me. I love the idea of a person I don’t even know
picking up my words and experiencing what I’ve written. It’s just incredible.
Q: Please tell us about your other books.
A: My first book, Meant for Her, is about a
woman whose father dies and leaves behind a coded message for her to
decipher. Her father was a notorious
traitor who went into hiding ten years earlier to avoid prosecution, leaving
Julie to fend for herself as a teenager.
Hank Jared is the Navy investigator on her father’s homicide case. He’s falling for Julie despite his position
and reservations about her possible involvement in his espionage.
In Meant for Her, we meet Julie’s best friend
Becky O’Connor, who’s nursing her own wounds over her sister Meghan’s abandonment. Meghan ran away years before with Liam
Wheaton. Meghan and Liam’s story is my
current book, Love’s Greatest Gift: A Christmas Novella.
We also get to know Julie’s aunt Gwen, who is the
clear fan favorite, with many reviewers asking to hear her story. She took Julie in to live with her after
Julie’s father’s abandoned her. Gwen’s
husband was killed in a tragic accident just a year before, but she would never
turn away an injured soul. Gwen knows
what it means to find true love, she just isn’t convinced she’ll ever
experience it again. I’m going to prove
her wrong this winter, when Colin Mitchell, a man from her past, comes back
again in Book Three of the Love & Danger series.
Q: Please describe your journey to publication.
A: I thought I would submit my first book to
Harlequin, but as I was writing it I also joined an email loop for
self-published romance authors. It
sounded wonderful—total control over your books, your covers, your marketing. According to the authors on the loop, if I
could write a good book, it would eventually find its audience. I never did submit anything to Harlequin, and
I suspect I never will. I am loving
being in charge of my own destiny.
Q: Way to go on striking out on your own! I agree it's a wonderful way to go. Would you like to ask readers a question?
A: When my mom told her friend Joy I had written a
book, Joy said, “Everyone should write a book in their lives. It’s wonderful
that Amy’s already done that.” What
about you? Have you ever considered writing your own book? What would it be about?
I would like to give away a copy of both ebooks in the
Love & Danger series, Meant for Her and Love’s Greatest Gift.
Thanks so much for your generous giveaway, Amy! Everyone, to enter this contest, please leave your email address along with your comment so we can contact you if you win.
Love's Greatest Gift EXCERPT:
~~~
Meghan O'Connor had been in love with Liam Wheaton
since as long as she could remember.
Her parents had done what they could to stop it,
carefully erasing his name from the birthday party invitation list and failing
to pass on phone messages when they intercepted his calls. But Largo was a
small town, with only one class at each grade level, and ten months out of the
year Liam and Meghan spent six hours a day together.
There was talk of sending Meghan to boarding school
at Saint Catherine's, but in the end Bill O'Connor couldn't justify the
additional expense, just to get his daughter away from Chip Wheaton's son.
Chip was a drunk, and a mean one at that, who could
be found at The Well any night of the week. He worked at the quarry, or doing
construction, in-between layoffs and being fired time and again. His wife
Lindsay cleaned houses and cared for the couple's five children, who always
seemed a shade dirtier and a tad more disruptive than the other children of
Largo.
Liam was the oldest. He got a job as a stock boy at
the Super Duper when he was fourteen, and the townspeople could often be heard
commenting on how clean and polite he was for a Wheaton.
Meghan didn't care that Liam was a Wheaton. All that
mattered to her was that he was gentle and kind, going out of his way to make
sure she was happy, and flashing his devil-may-care smile to cheer her up when
she was not.
He had the darkest brown hair and strong, handsome
features, marred by a razor-thin scar that ran from his left ear to his chin.
His father had crashed the family sedan into a maple tree when Liam was five,
propelling the unrestrained boy face-first through the windshield.
Meghan thought the scar made him look like a warrior.
For the most part Liam was quiet, keeping his smart
wit and quick temper hidden from those who didn't like a fast tongue on those
they look down upon. He excelled in school, but with the future before him like
so much blank paper, Liam knew only that he wanted to spend it with Meghan.
He only got in serious trouble once, when Ricky
Powell asked Meghan to go with him to a dance and she said no. Ricky touched
her face and called her a bitch who'd rather go slumming with trash. Liam broke
Ricky’s nose in two places.
The pair signed up for track and field instead of
soccer so Liam didn't have to buy cleats and a ball, and when Meghan tried out
for a part in the school play, Liam volunteered as a stage hand. It was after a
performance of My Fair Lady, in the heavily draped wings of the stage, that
they shared true love's first kiss.
Patty O'Connor didn't miss the high flush on her
daughter's ivory cheeks, nor the newfound spring in Meghan's step. Patty was in
the crowd when Liam broke the school record for the hundred meter dash, and saw
Meghan embrace Liam like only a woman holds a man.
A shocked Patty could feel the eyes of the other
parents upon her, shame covering her like fire, wishing the bleachers would
give way beneath her just to draw attention away from that filthy embrace.
Meghan was taken out of track and field, and the
theater troupe, and her father sat her down to explain exactly what kind of
people the Wheatons really were.
Meghan seemed to take his words to heart.
Over the next several weeks, she went out of her way
to make it up to her mother, watching her younger sister, cleaning the house
and doing the shopping. Patty was just beginning to think things were back to
normal when Bonnie Harrison called to say she saw Meghan and Liam making out
behind the Super Duper, “like a couple of horny teenagers.”
Saint Catherine's was called, only to find that the
nuns were in the process of shutting down the school due to poor enrollment.
Patty marched a mortified Meghan into the principal's
office at school, and Meghan shriveled as she listened to her mother reprimand
the administrator for allowing Liam Wheaton to get his grubby paws on
her innocent daughter. Well aware on which side his bread was buttered, the
principal gave Liam his own private lunch table, away from his classmates, and
Liam's desk was moved to the opposite side of the classroom.
It was a full year before her mother sent Meghan back
to the Super Duper.
“I need eggs for the casserole, and I can't walk away
from these,” she said, gesturing to several pots bubbling on the stove. Patty
exhaled loudly, staring at her daughter. “Go to the store. And no funny
business, young lady. Do you hear me? If that Wheaton boy is there, you ignore
him. Not a word.”
Meghan's bike flew down Main Street as fast as her
feet could pedal, her dark hair blowing behind her in the breeze. All the way
there her heart pounded in her chest, her hands gripping the handlebars too
tightly as her emotions raced in anticipation.
They hadn't even spoken since the fateful track meet,
the adults keeping a close watch on them at every turn. Meghan pulled her bike
up on the curb, hastily snapping the lock and running inside. She scanned the
aisles one by one until she found him, his long body reaching onto a high
shelf.
She bit her lip as she started toward him. “Liam,”
she called out lightly, and his head snapped up.
His eyes held hers, devouring her, setting her belly
to tingling. “Meggie.”
“My momma let me come buy some eggs.” What a stupid
thing to say, but it didn't matter, because they were together again,
face-to-face.
“I've missed you,” he said, his eyes falling to her
lips.
Meghan felt herself flush, loving the sound of his
words after so much silence. “Meet me,” she said quietly.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
He took a purposeful step toward her. “The old powder
mill, by the river.”
She had heard stories about what went on there. Dirty
stories about men and women and what they could do to each other. She felt
dizzy, even as she nodded her consent. Anything to be close to Liam. “When?”
“I get off at six.”
Her parents were going to a concert, and Becky had a
sleepover at a friend’s house. “I'll be there.”
And so it was that Meghan O'Connor and Liam Wheaton
made love at the old powder mill, the summer they turned sixteen. When Meghan
slipped from Liam's arms and raced to beat her parents home, she had no idea
that two great changes were about to take place, that would alter her life
forever.
A new life was forming in her belly, and the old
powder mill was about to go up in flames.
Buy Love's Greatest Gift at: http://amzn.com/B009QFC756
Please visit Amy online at: www.amygamet.com
Thanks so much for being our guest today, Amy!
Labels:
Amy Gamet,
Christmas story,
contemporary romance

I'm a Sucker for a Bad Boy Hero
Over the past few months I've been highlighting my BDSM backlist, but you may not know that a couple of my early releases had no BDSM elements, in fact, were not erotic at all. My first sale ever was a contemporary romance, The Ride of Her Life, about a good girl who wants to be bad and a bad boy who wants to be good. There are several reasons that this has always been one of my favorite books.
* It was my first sale. I think the first sale always holds a special place in an author's heart.
* I'm a sucker for a bad boy hero - especially one who rides a Harley
* The Ride of Her Life won the 2009 NEC Reader's Choice award for short contemporary romance.
* The cover is totally made of awesome
Blurb:
After a devastating diagnosis, sensible Sarah Austin yearns to live life to the fullest. When she talks her former teenage crush into a cross-country ride on his Harley, she thinks it’s her one and only chance for adventure, including a fun fling with love ‘em and leave ‘em Bastian.
No longer a rebel, Dean Bastian is a counselor for troubled teens and ready to settle down. He doesn’t know why Sarah is so desperate for an adventure, but he’s willing to do anything to keep a smile on her face, even pretend to still be a bad boy.
Sarah doesn’t want to burden anyone with the future she faces, but can Dean convince her that the rest of her life can be an adventure…with him?
About The Ride of Her Life:
"...I loved the way Ms. Moore kept the tension between these two...This is definitely a keeper and a recommended read. ..."
- Nickie from Romance Junkies
"A great story of finding love and romance when you least expect it with a person you could spend the rest of your life with."
- Sheryl from ecataromance Sensual
“…The secrets in this story drew me into it and held my attention until the very end…”
- Missy – Fallen Angels Review – Recommended Read
"The Ride Of Her Life has a nice balance of heartfelt moments and scenes of careless exuberance of falling love."
- Mrs. Giggles
Excerpt:
He was out in the driveway, polishing the bike, when Sarah pulled up to the curb. At least, he thought it was Sarah. The woman who stepped out of the late-model Ford was petite, wearing faded blue jeans and a tight T-shirt that hugged her every curve. She pulled out a familiar saddlebag and slung it over her shoulder, then grabbed a pizza box out of the backseat. She nudged the door closed with her hip.
Dean couldn’t take his eyes off her, or her new short, spiky hairdo. She looked sexy as hell. He felt his body tighten as her hips swayed in the well-washed denim. Her white T-shirt stretched seductively across her breasts and his heart pounded at the sight. They were only talking about the trip and he already couldn’t control his response to her. They hadn’t even left the driveway yet. What would happen once they were on the road? He felt more than a little irritated that he was so out of control around her.
“What did you do to your hair?” he called out, a little harsher than necessary.
Her bright smile faltered and she lost the little rhythm she’d had in her step. Real smooth, Bastian. She continued up the walk at a slower pace and Dean met her halfway. He took the pizza box out of her hands but she didn’t meet his glance.
“I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” he told her. “You look great. In fact, I was blown away. You look so different.”
She shrugged her shoulders and finally looked at him. “I can’t fit a hairdryer in here,” she said, pulling the saddlebag off her shoulder. “The stylist said I just use a little gel and I’m ready to go.”
He’d always been one of those guys who loved women with long hair. Preferably flowing in a riot of curls down her back. But one look at Sarah and he was a changed man. The smooth pageboy she’d worn before had been plain and simple. But this flirty style brightened her eyes and flattered her tiny features. With a simple haircut, Sarah had been transformed from merely pretty to palm-tingling sexy.
He wanted to touch her again. Really touch her this time. Play with the fringe of hair around her face. Nibble on her pretty little ears. Kiss the bare nape of her neck. He grasped both ends of the pizza box. He was in big trouble.
The Ride of Her Life is available both as a download and in print.
Samhain e-book Print
Amazon e-book print
Barnes & Noble e-book print
How about you? Are you a sucker for a bad boy hero?
Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com
* It was my first sale. I think the first sale always holds a special place in an author's heart.
* I'm a sucker for a bad boy hero - especially one who rides a Harley
* The Ride of Her Life won the 2009 NEC Reader's Choice award for short contemporary romance.
* The cover is totally made of awesome
Blurb:
After a devastating diagnosis, sensible Sarah Austin yearns to live life to the fullest. When she talks her former teenage crush into a cross-country ride on his Harley, she thinks it’s her one and only chance for adventure, including a fun fling with love ‘em and leave ‘em Bastian.
No longer a rebel, Dean Bastian is a counselor for troubled teens and ready to settle down. He doesn’t know why Sarah is so desperate for an adventure, but he’s willing to do anything to keep a smile on her face, even pretend to still be a bad boy.
Sarah doesn’t want to burden anyone with the future she faces, but can Dean convince her that the rest of her life can be an adventure…with him?
About The Ride of Her Life:
"...I loved the way Ms. Moore kept the tension between these two...This is definitely a keeper and a recommended read. ..."
- Nickie from Romance Junkies
"A great story of finding love and romance when you least expect it with a person you could spend the rest of your life with."
- Sheryl from ecataromance Sensual
“…The secrets in this story drew me into it and held my attention until the very end…”
- Missy – Fallen Angels Review – Recommended Read
"The Ride Of Her Life has a nice balance of heartfelt moments and scenes of careless exuberance of falling love."
- Mrs. Giggles
Excerpt:
He was out in the driveway, polishing the bike, when Sarah pulled up to the curb. At least, he thought it was Sarah. The woman who stepped out of the late-model Ford was petite, wearing faded blue jeans and a tight T-shirt that hugged her every curve. She pulled out a familiar saddlebag and slung it over her shoulder, then grabbed a pizza box out of the backseat. She nudged the door closed with her hip.
Dean couldn’t take his eyes off her, or her new short, spiky hairdo. She looked sexy as hell. He felt his body tighten as her hips swayed in the well-washed denim. Her white T-shirt stretched seductively across her breasts and his heart pounded at the sight. They were only talking about the trip and he already couldn’t control his response to her. They hadn’t even left the driveway yet. What would happen once they were on the road? He felt more than a little irritated that he was so out of control around her.
“What did you do to your hair?” he called out, a little harsher than necessary.
Her bright smile faltered and she lost the little rhythm she’d had in her step. Real smooth, Bastian. She continued up the walk at a slower pace and Dean met her halfway. He took the pizza box out of her hands but she didn’t meet his glance.
“I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” he told her. “You look great. In fact, I was blown away. You look so different.”
She shrugged her shoulders and finally looked at him. “I can’t fit a hairdryer in here,” she said, pulling the saddlebag off her shoulder. “The stylist said I just use a little gel and I’m ready to go.”
He’d always been one of those guys who loved women with long hair. Preferably flowing in a riot of curls down her back. But one look at Sarah and he was a changed man. The smooth pageboy she’d worn before had been plain and simple. But this flirty style brightened her eyes and flattered her tiny features. With a simple haircut, Sarah had been transformed from merely pretty to palm-tingling sexy.
He wanted to touch her again. Really touch her this time. Play with the fringe of hair around her face. Nibble on her pretty little ears. Kiss the bare nape of her neck. He grasped both ends of the pizza box. He was in big trouble.
The Ride of Her Life is available both as a download and in print.
Samhain e-book Print
Amazon e-book print
Barnes & Noble e-book print
How about you? Are you a sucker for a bad boy hero?
Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com
Rome conquers Gaul in 52 B.C. and the rest is history!
Earlier
this month, we welcomed Jenna Ives as a new blogger to Fierce Romance. I’m
thrilled to say that I’ve joined the FR family as a new blogger, too!
-
Roman soldiers baked their own bread to
eat while on campaign. Every group of eight soldiers had an iron skillet that
folded away in their pack just for that purpose. A soldier's daily grain ration
was about 3 ½ pounds, and the army docked their pay for the grain they were
given. Imagine if our army leaders charged soldiers for their meals today!
- Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry, but if they were already married when they enlisted, that was okay. You might think this rule would be a problem for a romance between my unmarried Roman commander, Leonidas, and the woman he loves, but you’ll just have to read CONQUEROR VANQUISHED to see how Leo skirts that particular issue!
- Most of our system of measurements came from ancient Rome. A Roman foot was 11.65 modern inches, a Roman mile was 5000 Roman feet (compared to our modern 5280 feet), and a Roman hand (4 inches) is still used today to measure the height of a horse at the shoulders. Fascinating stuff!
- A typical Roman fort was basically a small, self-sustaining, walled city, with a network of roads that connected several buildings including a house for the Commander, several barracks for the soldiers, stables for horses, a granary, kitchens, a smithy, even a hospital (if needed). With its high rampart walls and wide dirt moats, it was an almost-perfect, defensible stronghold.
- Since my story is a romance, I also had to research ancient Roman weddings. I was amazed at how many traditions of our modern weddings can be traced back to Roman times! Take the wedding cake, for example. After an ancient Roman ceremony, an offering was made to their main god, Jupiter, which usually consisted of cake. Once the priest had made the offering, this cake was eaten by the bride and groom, and then shared with wedding guests. Many more of our modern wedding traditions come from ancient Roman times, too, including carrying a bride over the threshold!
I’m
Leigh Court, and I write historical erotic romance, usually set in Victorian
England or ancient Rome. I’ve always loved reading historical fiction, and I
love writing it just as much!
I
have two Victorian romances in Secrets anthologies with Red Sage Publishing
(with another one on the way for 2013!) and one Roman epic published by Ellora’s
Cave called Conqueror Vanquished.
The
teaser is this: What happens when two supposed enemies are forced to look
beyond the reason for their hatred? They find an emotion just as strong….love.
And
here’s a little background… In 52 B.C., Rome has just conquered Gaul…
>>Leonidas
Danae Vorenus, commander of Rome’s prestigious Sixth legion, is ordered to
establish a strategic outpost in Gaul after its surrender to Julius Caesar. But
on the way to his new post, Leonidas is wounded in an ambush. Only one person
can save his life, and she’s his sworn enemy.
Solange is a
healer. She values every life, even if it belongs to one of the hated Romans
who’ve just conquered her land. Bound by her duty and now by her new position
as a subject of Rome, she is obliged to tend Leonidas.
But the relationship between conqueror and conquered soon evolves into much more. Their forced intimacy ignites an unexpected attraction, and prompts the two enemies to look beyond the reason for their hatred to explore the powerful emotions simmering underneath.<<
But the relationship between conqueror and conquered soon evolves into much more. Their forced intimacy ignites an unexpected attraction, and prompts the two enemies to look beyond the reason for their hatred to explore the powerful emotions simmering underneath.<<
For
me, writing about ancient Rome is fascinating. They were such a technologically
advanced and self-sufficient people, especially the army. And since any good historical story needs to
be grounded in reality, I did a lot of research for this one. Most of the information
I found on ancient Rome is common knowledge, but I did uncover some fascinating,
little-known facts:
- Roman soldiers were forbidden to marry, but if they were already married when they enlisted, that was okay. You might think this rule would be a problem for a romance between my unmarried Roman commander, Leonidas, and the woman he loves, but you’ll just have to read CONQUEROR VANQUISHED to see how Leo skirts that particular issue!
- Most of our system of measurements came from ancient Rome. A Roman foot was 11.65 modern inches, a Roman mile was 5000 Roman feet (compared to our modern 5280 feet), and a Roman hand (4 inches) is still used today to measure the height of a horse at the shoulders. Fascinating stuff!
- A typical Roman fort was basically a small, self-sustaining, walled city, with a network of roads that connected several buildings including a house for the Commander, several barracks for the soldiers, stables for horses, a granary, kitchens, a smithy, even a hospital (if needed). With its high rampart walls and wide dirt moats, it was an almost-perfect, defensible stronghold.
- Since my story is a romance, I also had to research ancient Roman weddings. I was amazed at how many traditions of our modern weddings can be traced back to Roman times! Take the wedding cake, for example. After an ancient Roman ceremony, an offering was made to their main god, Jupiter, which usually consisted of cake. Once the priest had made the offering, this cake was eaten by the bride and groom, and then shared with wedding guests. Many more of our modern wedding traditions come from ancient Roman times, too, including carrying a bride over the threshold!
I enjoyed researching the ancient Roman empire
almost as much as I enjoyed writing CONQUEROR VANQUISHED, and you can read an
excerpt at: http://www.leighcourt.com/books/conquerorvanquishedexpt.html.
This Roman setting is a departure from my previous two Victorian romances, but
I’m obviously drawn to the past, when men were noble, and lived for honor.
What about you? Do you prefer modern men or
historical men?
In the Dark
I sometimes wonder if I haven’t read too many books. But how
can one read too much? How can that be a bad thing?
Well, the other morning I started to wonder if it was, and I’m sure my hubby was thinking the same thing, because he had to sort of rescue me. I started out to my car, which is parked in a garage, and halted at the door. Something wasn’t quite right. It seemed very dark for some reason, and it took me a moment to figure out what was missing. Then it registered…
The light was out.
Now, a normal person would simply pull out her cell phone,
the glow of which could be seen on Mars, and head out, darkness be damned. I,
however, hesitated, my zoetrope of scenarios whirring away in my adrenaline-fueled
imagination. Every book I’ve ever read where a person starts to go somewhere
and a light is out, yet the person continues forward, has ended badly for the
person. Naturally, then, my mind spun with the possibilities. The most logical
was that the light bulb to the garage door light had gone out—plain, simple,
boring. However, logic has never been my strong suit, so I immediately veered
from “logical” to “What if?” and finally to “better safe than sorry.”
In other words, because I wasn’t sure that someone or
something with murderous intentions wasn’t hiding in my garage and hadn’t
unscrewed the light bulb in my garage’s overhead light, my husband ended up
standing at the door to make sure I made it twenty feet to the safety of my
little car (that, if a fly farted in it the right way, would fly into pieces on
the highway).
This is how I think, but I can’t be the only one. How many
times have you read a book in which the lights had been knocked out on purpose
so some nefarious bad-doer could engage in a variety of bad doings? And what
happens then? That’s right—some dorky secondary (or thirdary) character like
the expendable, red-shirted Star Trek guys blunders across a serial killer or a
mob hit man or a mummy or a mutant hedgehog with revenge on its mind, and that’s
the last time he’s ever seen with all his body parts in one location.
So, with my imagination working in overdrive, I woke my
hubby up to watch me to my car, just in case something sinister was at hand. To
his credit, he stumbled to the door with me without question, the only
statement he made being, “No one could get in our garage. It’s secure.” To
which I replied, “What if some alien life-form transformed itself into
something that could slither under the wall or through the window into the
garage and wait for me?”
Still patient, he sighed and threw his man logic at me: “If
the alien life form had the skills to transform itself to slither into the
garage, it certainly wouldn’t need to have it pitch dark to attack you.”
Touchè.
But this is how I think and Hubby knows it, so he watched me
safely to my car before locking up and ambling off back to sleepyland, probably
wondering why his flake-o-meter hadn’t picked up on my peculiarities before the
wedding.
He was right, of course. There wasn't anything in the garage except me, my car, and my wild imagination. The next day he asked me if I wanted him to accompany me to the garage again, but I declined. I used my cell phone to guide me through the dark, and, once again, I made it to my car just fine.
Or maybe not just fine, because I still wonder if I don't read too much--too many mysteries, too many thrillers, too much horror, too much intrigue. Hmmm...
Nah. lol
Hope your Halloween is happy and safe. If you're looking for a bit of scary erotic romance for this creepy season, please check out Seducing Gracie from Changeling Press. Then you'll understand...muhahahahaha!
Happy Reading!
I'm Going to Sleep for a Week
I'm not a morning person. Never have been, never will be. I've just started week 4 of getting up at 6:00 in the morning to write. Who was it that said if you did something for two weeks in a row you'd start a new routine?
Yeah...no.
Four weeks later, getting out of that bed is still as hard as it was on Day 1. It's by sheer willpower alone I force myself out of that bed each morning. But I do it then stumble to the coffeemaker.
The reason I'm having to wake up so early is because I write best in the mornings now. Didn't used to be that way. Used to be at night. I don't know if it's mommy brain or just getting older, but by the time I have free time at night, I can barely put a coherent thought through my head, much less create a fun and exciting life for the people who live in my mind. So getting up earlier was the only option to make more time to write so I could meet my deadline.
And I HAVE gotten a crap-ton done in the last 4 weeks, despite being a single mom and working another job. I've written 35,000 words, (already had 15k written when I was told the deadline) and those words are not first draft quality. It's the polished, completely fleshed out stuff I post for my CP's. Once I finish, all I'll have to do is go through their crits, makes some adjustments and then it's off to my editor.
I've also proven something to myself this month. I can put out a book fast. A really freaking good book, too. I've always been envious of prolific writers. Always in awe of how they write so fast and still produce a good book. Always wondered how in the world they were able to get it all sorted out and have it make sense on paper so fast.
Up until this point, the fastest I've written a novel-length book has been 5 months. I was thrilled with that, lol.
Now I'll have a book written, polished and off to my editor in around 45 days. I'm really stunned by that. Never thought I could do something that quickly.
I used to be the Queen of Procrastination. Used to let blocks in story keep me from writing for weeks. I haven't had the luxury of being able to do that this time. I've had to use every spare minute. (I'm two weeks behind on Dexter and Homeland :( There will be a marathon viewing when I'm done)
And when I come to a part in the story that is giving me fits because something isn't working, I don't walk away, I sit there and figure out what isn't working. I rewrite the scene, try different approaches until it clicks.
I won't lie. My schedule has been rough. I'm tired. A little on the cranky side, but I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything.
Because I've learned two very valuable lessons:
1) There is always time to write, you just have to be willing to sacrifice other things. (Mine has been sleep, lol)
2) I don't have to wait until I'm walking in the grocery story, three weeks later, and have an ah-ha moment to fix a difficult chapter. It can be worked through in a matter of hours.
Now I'm off to write. :)
Abby
Yeah...no.
Four weeks later, getting out of that bed is still as hard as it was on Day 1. It's by sheer willpower alone I force myself out of that bed each morning. But I do it then stumble to the coffeemaker.
The reason I'm having to wake up so early is because I write best in the mornings now. Didn't used to be that way. Used to be at night. I don't know if it's mommy brain or just getting older, but by the time I have free time at night, I can barely put a coherent thought through my head, much less create a fun and exciting life for the people who live in my mind. So getting up earlier was the only option to make more time to write so I could meet my deadline.
And I HAVE gotten a crap-ton done in the last 4 weeks, despite being a single mom and working another job. I've written 35,000 words, (already had 15k written when I was told the deadline) and those words are not first draft quality. It's the polished, completely fleshed out stuff I post for my CP's. Once I finish, all I'll have to do is go through their crits, makes some adjustments and then it's off to my editor.
I've also proven something to myself this month. I can put out a book fast. A really freaking good book, too. I've always been envious of prolific writers. Always in awe of how they write so fast and still produce a good book. Always wondered how in the world they were able to get it all sorted out and have it make sense on paper so fast.
Up until this point, the fastest I've written a novel-length book has been 5 months. I was thrilled with that, lol.
Now I'll have a book written, polished and off to my editor in around 45 days. I'm really stunned by that. Never thought I could do something that quickly.
I used to be the Queen of Procrastination. Used to let blocks in story keep me from writing for weeks. I haven't had the luxury of being able to do that this time. I've had to use every spare minute. (I'm two weeks behind on Dexter and Homeland :( There will be a marathon viewing when I'm done)
And when I come to a part in the story that is giving me fits because something isn't working, I don't walk away, I sit there and figure out what isn't working. I rewrite the scene, try different approaches until it clicks.
I won't lie. My schedule has been rough. I'm tired. A little on the cranky side, but I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything.
Because I've learned two very valuable lessons:
1) There is always time to write, you just have to be willing to sacrifice other things. (Mine has been sleep, lol)
2) I don't have to wait until I'm walking in the grocery story, three weeks later, and have an ah-ha moment to fix a difficult chapter. It can be worked through in a matter of hours.
Now I'm off to write. :)
Abby
Love Charms-Do They Work?
I'd like to believe in charms. How about you?
Or look at it another way. Do you believe in the power of positive thinking?
If you do, then you can see how a love charm might work IF you believe in it. You cast your charm. Then you see your target. Maybe you relax a bit, smile at him, you act more confident because you are more confident. You're using magic. How can he resist?
I'd like to believe in magic. I do believe there many things out there in the universe, and right here on this planet, that we simply don't understand yet. People who lived a thousand years ago would have thought it was "magical" to speak to someone in another town through a telephone. Electricity? Magical. Music coming out of a box with no singers or instruments nearby? Magic. Why shouldn't extrasensory perception exist? We just can't explain how it works yet.
There are many things to be learned and developed which we simply don't understand yet.
So I've written a series of romance short stories based on the concept of a love charm. The first one, Love Charm for Ashley, is available now.
Here's an excerpt:
But Link: http://amzn.com/B009RZ8YXY
So, tell us, what do you believe in that we don't understand yet?
Or look at it another way. Do you believe in the power of positive thinking?
If you do, then you can see how a love charm might work IF you believe in it. You cast your charm. Then you see your target. Maybe you relax a bit, smile at him, you act more confident because you are more confident. You're using magic. How can he resist?
I'd like to believe in magic. I do believe there many things out there in the universe, and right here on this planet, that we simply don't understand yet. People who lived a thousand years ago would have thought it was "magical" to speak to someone in another town through a telephone. Electricity? Magical. Music coming out of a box with no singers or instruments nearby? Magic. Why shouldn't extrasensory perception exist? We just can't explain how it works yet.
There are many things to be learned and developed which we simply don't understand yet.
So I've written a series of romance short stories based on the concept of a love charm. The first one, Love Charm for Ashley, is available now.
Here's an excerpt:
Ashley clutched her love charm to her breast as the evening
cruise ship pitched under a full moon. She’d followed the directions for the
spell carefully, as any good teacher would. Lilac and rose petals, oil of
lavender, a snip of her own hair and the spell was finished. All wrapped up in
a sachet of pink silk and hope.
Hope that she suddenly didn’t want to throw into the cold
black waters of Boston Harbor. Because if the spell didn’t work, and actually,
she was not the kind of person who could believe in charms and spells; well, if
it didn’t work, then what would she do next? Pushing thirty, no man in sight,
and a long string of lackluster boyfriends in the rear-view mirror.
“Do it, Ashley!” Brenna, her roommate and cheerleader
approached with the wavy gait of a drunken sailor. The empty wine glass in her
hand bore testament to Brenna’s conviction that Saturday night was for
carousing.
“Careful, Brenna.” Ashley automatically held out a hand.
“Don’t get too close to the railing.”
“You’ve got everything the spell called for. A full moon.”
Brenna gestured to the sky. “A body of water.” She flung one arm toward the
harbor and her wine glass flew out of her hand and disappeared under a slapping
wave. “Whoops!” Brenna giggled.
“I don’t know, Brenna.” Ashley followed the trajectory of
the wine glass with a dispirited eye. No man would emerge out of those
lobster-crawling depths. But the directions had been clear. Toss the charm into a body of water under the light of a full
moon. Ashley looked back at Brenna. “How is this spell going to bring me
a good man?”
“Who knows? What’ve you got to lose?” Brenna grabbed the
packet and, before Ashley could blink, she’d thrown it overboard. The pale silk
bobbed for one second in the moonlight, and then sank, like Ashley’s heart.
“I didn’t make my wish, Brenna!”
“No problemo.” Brenna giggled again. “I made one for you.”
“That’s grand, Brenna.” Ashley tried hard to stifle the
sarcasm.
“No, I mean it.” Brenna grabbed her arm. “I wished for my
brother to come for a visit and give you a fab…a fab.u.lush weekend.”
“You think he’ll come all the way from the Middle East just
to show me a good time?” Ashley tried to speak lightly, though disappointment
clogged her throat like a trapped wishbone.
“Home for some reason. I forget.” Brenna waved a hand, as if
she might conjure him from the sea. “Ya know, he’s a lady-killer.”
“Yeah. I’ve heard you say that.” Ashley spoke dryly. Like
she needed a lady-killer. Of course, Brenna's brother lived in Florida, so it
wasn’t likely he was in the neighborhood. But it would be just her luck, that
he’d show up and make her the focus of his attention for the nanosecond he
stayed in town.
She had a knack for attracting the kind of men who didn’t
stick around and Brenna’s brother, if only half her stories could be believed,
was exactly that type of guy. A different woman every night. Gone on a moment’s
notice when the Army needed him in some far-flung corner of the globe. A
secretive job in the Special Forces, which, of course, is why women fell all
over themselves to bask in his reflected macho glory.
No thanks. Not for her. She wanted someone steadfast and
true. Someone who’d hold her tight all night long, someone who’d smile at her
in the morning.
“Come on, Brenna.” Ashley held onto her friend as the big
ship docked at Rowes Wharf. “Time for you to get home.”
“Home?” Brenna stumbled on the gangplank, then looked up at
Ashley. “How much have I had to drink?”
“Too much if you have to ask,” Ashley answered. “Are you
expecting to meet someone? Because there’s a man out on the dock waving at
you.”
“Brenna!” A tall, rangy man dressed, despite the cool
temperature, in only blue jeans and a black t-shirt, held open his arms. His
grin lit up the night, and Ashley felt an ugly pang of jealousy pierce her. She
stomped off the boat, looking for a cab. Wouldn’t you know? Her spell brought
in a man for Brenna.
The man now had one arm looped around Brenna and was
grinning down at her with unmistakable affection. But Ashley knew she wouldn’t
be able to leave her tipsy friend without checking him out. Sighing, she walked
over to join them.
“Ashley!” Brenna’s eyes telegraphed a message of excitement.
“Look who’s here!”
“Who?” Ashley couldn’t help looking at the man, and their
gazes locked as he smiled at her.
“I’m Glen.” He held out his hand and, reluctantly, Ashley
responded. She forced herself to break contact with his eyes, but then her gaze
got caught on his wide shoulders, moved down to admire his muscular arms, and
progressed directly to his strong forearms. It was only when she reached the
sight of their hands clasped together that she realized she’d been holding onto
him for too long.
And her entire body buzzed from that one point of contact.
“Hey,” he said softly, leaning down to speak close to her
ear. “You’re shivering.”
Somehow he was clasping her hand now, instead of shaking it,
and he tried to pull her closer to his warmth.
She had to resist. “Brenna—” she gasped. It was too awkward
to try to explain that she’d never take a man from her best friend, even if he
were the most appealing man she’d ever seen.
But he must have understood. Suddenly, he laughed. “Brenna
is my sister,” he said.
“Oh!” Excitement fizzed within her. He wasn’t taken, at
least not by Brenna. Also, that’s why he’d somehow seemed familiar. Though she
hadn’t recognized him in the dark, she’d seen pictures of him and heard so many
stories from Brenna that she felt like she knew him. Not that her knowledge
brought any comfort in its wake. One thing she knew for sure was that he was a
here-today, gone-tomorrow type of guy.
“And you are?” Glen broke into her thoughts.
“Ashley.” She refused to be drawn into his orbit.
“You’re Brenna’s roommate?" He raised his brows.
"That’s great.”
She knew better than to ask, but the word came out anyway.
“Why?”
He gave her an irresistible grin that she recognized from
the photos. All white teeth and wicked curves. “That means I’ll be spending the
night with you.”
But Link: http://amzn.com/B009RZ8YXY
So, tell us, what do you believe in that we don't understand yet?
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland is famous for being the
childhood home of the late Queen Mother and the setting for Shakespeare’s
Macbeth. It is still the home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, the
Bowes Lyon family. The current owner is Michael Fergus, 18th Earl of
Strathmore and Kinghorne.
Angus is called Scotland’s birthplace because on April 6,
1320, the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed by the Scottish
nobility in Arbroath Abby in Angus. The Scots declared their nationhood and
right to self-government and sent it to the Pope because they were trying to
throw off the rule of Edward II of England.
Glamis (pronounced Glams as in glam rock or glamour) has been a Royal residence since 1372 when Sir John Lyon was granted the
thaneage of Glamis by King Robert II. Four years later, he married the king’s
daughter, Princess Joanna.
“The house from the greatness of its mass, the many towers
atop, and the spread of its wings, has really a very singular and striking
appearance, like nothing I ever saw.” Thomas Gray (1716 – 1771)
Five hundred years ago, the castle was surrounded by extensive walled gardens created by the 3rd Earl in the late 1600s. In the 1700s the 9th Earl replaced these with a landscape park. Many of the huge conifers were planted by the 13th Earl after 1865.
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Walking beneath the pleached alley of beech. |
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The perennial flower borders were extensive. |
We walked through the Pinetum, a collection of exotic trees and conifers, many of which are native to North America, planted by the 13th Earl around 1870. We crossed Glamis Burn, a small clear stream, along the way and then came to the Water of Dean, another small burn which drains the Loch of Forfar and flows into the River Isla. The bridge we crossed here is the Earl Michael Bridge, originally built in 1890 and reopened by the Queen Mother in 1996 after restoration by the 18th Earl.
These are the gates that lead into the walled kitchen garden. These are mostly grassy areas now but there are plans in the works to restore it. Did you notice the sky in these two photos, above and below? Yes, rain was on the way and we were looking for shelter. We found it in the closed doorway to what appeared to be a hothouse (no visitors allowed inside), since the wind was blowing from behind the structure. It was only a short, misty shower and a few minutes later we were ready to finish our walk.
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Lions stand guard over the gates. |
We saw this beautiful privately owned cottage along the way. We walked through more woods and to another bridge, then along a road that bordered the Highland cow pasture.
![]() |
bridge over the Water of Dean |
![]() |
An scenic view of the Highland cattle |
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Mama and baby |
Next it was time to eat lunch in the castle's Victorian Kitchen Restaurant and take a guided tour of the castle itself. The tour guide was very gifted with the art of revealing
interesting and entertaining history as we walked through the many beautiful,
opulent rooms. No photos were allowed inside, of course but I've found some online. We started our tour in the dining room. And then visited the drawing room. The most interesting
painting was one where the 3rd Earl wished to be painted as if he were
wearing leather armor that made him look naked, with rippling, bulging muscles.
Hmm. Guess he wanted to be eye candy. This is said to be a Romanesque tunic, with lion epaulettes. Click here to see the painting. It was painted by Dutch artist Jacob de Wet in 1683. The earl's sons surround him and he gestures toward Glamis, the castle he restored and remodeled. If you look closely you will see the castle looks almost as it does now. This is made more interesting by the fact that this earl's father, the 2nd Earl, was one of the richest peers in Scotland, but when he died, he was one of the poorest. When the 3rd Earl inherited this property, it was forty-thousand pounds in debt. But he worked diligently for the next forty years restoring both the estate and the castle, along with his wealth.
We visited the Chapel, the Billiard Room, King Malcolm's Room and many others.
My favorite room was the Crypt. This room is the most ancient part of the old castle and the walls are 16 feet thick. It is filled with hunting trophies from Victorian times, suits of real armour and breastplates used in battles, saddles and other fascinating items hundreds of years old. Also, the Secret Room of Glamis is located here.
There are many legends about Glamis, some true history and some that were surely embellished over the years. The tour guide told us the story of the Secret Room. A man known as Earl Beardie, who was either Alexander Lyon, 2nd Earl of Glamis, or Alexandar Linsday, 4th Earl of Crawford was playing cards late on a Saturday night. It is unclear who he was playing with. He was warned by either family members or servants to stop playing at midnight so that he wasn't committing the sin of gambling on the Sabbath. He refused to stop playing. One story says he played cards all night with the devil. Another says he and his companion played cards well into Sunday and the devil came along and walled them up in one section of the room so that they could play cards until doomsday. From outside the castle, a window can be seen in that area, but not from inside. There is rock wall blocking off the window and the section leading to it. The tour guide assured us that many people had reported hearing noises coming from behind the wall on Saturday nights and that most refused to enter the Crypt on Saturday nights.
Another source says the hidden room was where one of the Earl's deformed children was kept imprisoned so no one would see him. Still another source says what happened was that Ogilvie clansmen were fleeing their Leslie enemies and asked for refuge at Glamis. What they didn't know was that the Earl at the time was friends with the Leslies and he had the Ogilvie clansmen walled up and hidden, where they died of starvation. It's difficult to know what the truth is but I believe all legends contain some truth. Only the Earls know what is truly behind the wall.
I hope you've enjoyed this tour of Glamis!
Thanks!
Vonda
PS
Also available:
Labels:
Glamis Castle,
Highlander romance,
Scotland travel,
Scottish Castles,
Scottish historical romance,
Vonda Sinclair

Have You Been to the Playhouse?
There are 4 stories in the Paolo's Playhouse series and they are all available now for download. Haven't checked them out yet? Here they are.
FLAUNT IT
He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1
When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.
Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?
Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…
RISK IT
Time to put out…or get out.
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2
On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.
Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.
Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.
When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.
BIRTHDAY GIRL
It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3
For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.
Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.
By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…
PLAYTHING
One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4
Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.
When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.
Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.
Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.
I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!
Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com
FLAUNT IT
He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1
When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.
Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?
Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…
RISK IT
Time to put out…or get out.
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2
On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.
Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.
Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.
When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.
BIRTHDAY GIRL
It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3
For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.
Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.
By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…
PLAYTHING
One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?
Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4
Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.
When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.
Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.
Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.
I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!
Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com
Laurel O'Donnell and Angel's Assassin
Please welcome our guest, Laurel O'Donnell!
Laurel O'Donnell has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, the Happily Ever After contest for Angel's Assassin, and the Indiana's Golden Opportunity contest for Immortal Death. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. O'Donnell lives in Illinois with her four cherished children, her beloved husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to escape into a different world to bring her characters to life in her writing.
When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.
Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.
Laurel O'Donnell has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, the Happily Ever After contest for Angel's Assassin, and the Indiana's Golden Opportunity contest for Immortal Death. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. O'Donnell lives in Illinois with her four cherished children, her beloved husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to escape into a different world to bring her characters to life in her writing.
Q: Welcome, Laurel! Please tell us about your latest release. And do you have a review you could share with us?
A: Angel's Assassin is the story of redemption. It's a story about Damien the assassin who longs for freedom, but discovers he wants more when he meets the woman he is to kill.
Blurb: Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…
Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.
Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.
Here's a review from the Indie Bookshelf -
“Everyone loves a good medieval romance! And it's been awhile since I've read my last one. Seriously. I think it's been about 2 years!! So I was very excited to read Angel's Assassin, to say the least.
In order to gain his freedom, Damien, an assassin has one more task to complete, to kill the lovely, Lady Aurora. He's ruthless, cold hearted, and has no interest in his next victim.
Until he discovers that Aurora is more than just another mission. She has a passionate heart that sees the good in everyone, including Damien. He has four days to finish his task. And Damien has to decide which one is more invaluable: his freedom or Aurora's life.
Something I appreciated was the manner of Ms. O'Donnell's writing. It flows with just enough descriptions, and conversations to keep you easily focused.
Damien- What I enjoyed about him so much was he wasn't a brooding hero. He WANTS someone to love to him. His past has left many scars on his emotions, but it's so apparent to see that he doesn't want to be the person he is. He desperately wants a way out!
Aurora- Has a very compassionate heart that wants to help everyone out. She is a beautiful person, and to everyone around her it's easy to see that the beauty is also inward too.
I felt like both of them together was a good match. Their both trying so hard not to be what everyone expects. Both of them have hidden secrets that no one knows, and the two of them are scared to find out what the other would think if those secrets were revealed!
Another thing that I thoroughly liked was that even though this book focuses on Damien and Aurora. There are other characters mixed into the book- both evil/innocent- that give the plot an edge and make you want to know what exactly is being hidden from everyone! I like a good amount of mystery. It makes me all the more anxious to click on to the next page!!!
Angel's Assassin is a great read. Very well done, Ms. O'Donnell!!”
Q: Sounds fascinating! What inspired this story?
A: I wanted to write a hero and heroine who were opposites (even the words in the title are very contradictory). Damien is such a dark hero, he doesn't even see himself as a good person. And Aurora is exactly opposite. She sees good in everything and everyone.
Q: Why do you write romance?
A: I love that there is a happy ever after for the characters. Romance has stories of hope and happiness after overcoming tragedy. They are feel good books. I mean, the things these characters go through and still manage to have a happy ever after gives hope to us all!
Q: I agree. Did you choose the title of your book and if so how did you do it?
A: Angel's Assassin. Well, Damien is an assassin, so that part is pretty straight forward. And Aurora is his angel. J I chose the title Angel's Assassin because it is contradictory. Whoever heard of an Angel who had an assassin? But it also fits the story. Dark and light. Good and evil. It's a perfect title for this book.
Q: I love the contrast! Please tell us about your favorite character in the book.
A: It has to be Damien, the hero. He is such a tragic hero. He doesn't see himself as worthwhile or good. He has been through so much, sold into slavery by his father, abandoned by his brother, taught to kill mercilessly by a tyrannical master. And yet, there is goodness in him. Only Aurora's love can heal him. And throughout the entire story, I was hoping that she could!
Q: Which element of this story was the hardest for you?
A: The ending! I just couldn't find the right ending. I wrote four different endings. Each ending before the final one didn't seem right to me. It didn't give the most satisfactory ending to Damien and Aurora's love. When you read it, please let me know what you think! But I love this ending.
Q: What's next for you?
A: I have epublished my backlist of medieval titles. I have a paranormal romance out with Pink Petal Books entitled, Immortal Death. I have published Angel's Assassin. I am working on my Lost Souls urban fantasy series. Next for me is another episode for Lost Souls, entitled Deception. I'm hoping to have that out by the end of the year. After that, I'm working on another full length medieval romance, and contemplating a medieval series.
Q: Would you like to ask readers a question?
A: I do have a question for readers. I've been playing around with the idea of short medieval stories. For instance, I'm doing an urban fantasy series called Lost Souls. They are about 75 pages long, so they are short stories. I was thinking of doing something similar only set in the medieval era. A medieval series. Would you be interested in reading a series of short stories in medieval times?
Here's an excerpt for you from Angel's Assassin! Enjoy!
Damien watched the startled expression cross her eyes, heard the gasp stop in her throat. His fingers trembled. One quick move… How innocent she was. How trusting. How foolish. Foolish in her blind faith and trust in him.
He had waited a long time for this moment. His freedom was within striking distance.
Her lips parted in a silent gasp and she lifted her chin beneath the pressure of the blade. “Damien,” she whispered.
Betrothed. Anger flared through his veins at the thought of Ormand laying his hands on her, at the image of him kissing her and tasting her as he had. Is that why Roke wanted Aurora dead? So no one else could have her if he could not? Were Roke's thoughts thick with jealous rage just as his own thoughts were now? Did that make him just as evil and twisted as Warin Roke?
He had to do it now. He felt himself swirling toward oblivion. He was becoming lost. Lost to his mission, lost to his freedom, lost to everything he held dear except for her. Damien looked at the silver blade he held to the white skin of her neck. Your freedom means everything to you. He pressed the dagger up tighter against her throat. Her beautiful, smooth, white, flawless throat. Do it.
She should be afraid. Why wasn't she moving? Why wasn't she running or trying to talk him out of it? Would she stand so motionless before another assassin like this? All of his victims had struggled and fought for their lives, especially when they knew their end was near.
Aurora stood before him, her chin held high, unflinching, unmoving. Unafraid.
Damien clenched his teeth tighter. Trusting, he thought with bitter disdain. No one trusted him. No one. Not his father. Not his colleagues. No one. And rightfully so. He was an assassin. He brought death. He was death.
And yet… Aurora stood before him, imperiously, bestowing goodness on him with a simple glance.
His hand shook, his fist tightening around the handle of the dagger. “You're wrong about me,” he snarled.
In her eyes, in her stunning blue eyes, he saw absolution. Damien could not move. His freedom was at hand. Just a little slash with his sharp dagger. But this was Aurora. She was so damned pure and innocent. He wanted desperately to kiss her. He wanted to have her. She was dangerous to him. So dangerous. That thought could not save him from his desperate need for her. Damien growled low in his throat.
He threw the dagger aside and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her against him tightly, pressing his lips to hers. It was a frantic, despondent kiss. A punishing kiss. He would not give up his freedom. Not for anyone. It was all he wanted. It was all he needed. She would not stand in his way.
Angel's Assassin is available at Amazon.
I'd like to thank all the authors at Fierce Romance for allowing me to share Angel's Assassin with your readers. Thanks everyone! :)
What a wonderful and intense excerpt! Thanks so much for being our guest today, Laurel! Everyone, please visit Laurel online:
Website - www.laurel-odonnell.com
Blog - www.herstorycalls.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/ laurelodonnell

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