Tag Archive | Soul Mate Publishing

The Earl’s Enticement: Collette Cameron

About The Earl’s Enticement

She won’t be tamed.

A fiery, unconventional Scot, Adaira Ferguson wears breeches, swears, and has no more desire to marry than she does to follow society’s dictates of appropriate behavior. She trusts no man with the secret she desperately protects.

He can’t forget.

Haunted by his past, Roark, the Earl of Clarendon, rigidly adheres to propriety, holding himself and those around him to the highest standards, no matter the cost. Betrayed once, he’s guarded and leery of all women.

Mistaking Roark for a known spy, Adaira imprisons him. Infuriated, he vows vengeance. Realizing her error, she’s appalled and releases him, but he’s not satisfied with his freedom. Roark is determined to transform Adaira from an ill-mannered hoyden to a lady of refinement.

He succeeds only to discover, he preferred the free-spirited Scottish lass who first captured his heart.

Amazon

Excerpt

Adaira stepped around the mare and ever-so-gently touched the foal. Was the new addition a laddie or lassie? Skimming her hands over the newborn, she bent to take a peek. A colt. The sheen of his coat glistened in the muted light. Other than a white face and leg markings, he was the color of rich Turkish coffee.

“Ooh, you’re magnificent!” she breathed in awe.

“He is, indeed,” rumbled a harmonious baritone.

She whirled around. The Earl of Clarendon leaned across the stall door. His forearms rested on the top edge. He clasped a silver flask loosely in one hand. His shirtsleeves were rolled to his elbows, and he wore no waistcoat or jacket. The top of his shirt was unfastened too.

Just perfect. She wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the earl, and here he was, in her sanctuary. She ought to be afraid, after his parting words, but she sensed something altogether different.

No, she wouldn’t stare at the crisp dark hair on his forearms or peeking from the collar of his open shirt. Bugger it. She curled her hands into fists against the oddest urge to run her fingers through the curly hair on his chest.

A bolt of unease speared her, though whether from his disquieting presence or her awareness of him as an attractive man, she couldn’t be certain.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “What are you doing here, my lord?”

About Collette Cameron

Award winning, Amazon best-selling, and multi-published historical romance author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Teaching. A Pacific Northwest Native, Collette’s been married for thirty years, has three amazing adult children, and five dachshunds. Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate. You’ll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels. Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

Website Blue Rose Romance Blog Twitter Facebook

Wareeze Woodson and “An Enduring Love”

May12

Wareeze will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and an ebook of An Enduring Love Worth Keeping will be awarded to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Click on the banner to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

About An Enduring Love

Born and raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s death-bed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval.

Nearly four years later, she escapes and arrives in London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball is very awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young debutante later in the evening.

Trouble, tangled in suspense and danger, follow her from Latvia. Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love? Is it worth keeping?

Excerpt

The gangplank of the Dragon’s Stirr had been lowered ready for Latvian passengers to board. The creak of the ropes tying the vessel to the dock rasped Rebecca’s nerves, reminding her that soon Rhys would sail back to England without her. Devastated by the thought of such a loss and at such a time, she swallowed hard. How can I bare to let him leave me behind?

Standing on the dock in the mid-day sun, she tried to hold back her sobs and for a moment, she feared her knees might give way beneath her. She clinched her jaw, trying to hold steady and caught the lapels of Rhys’s finely tailored jacket with trembling fingers. A rising ocean breeze stirred his dark hair and swirled her skirts about her ankles as he placed his hand over hers.

When Rebecca gazed into Rhys’ deep blue eyes, Gorgi Weister’s words intruded. Sudduth is almost believable when he claims undying devotion. I admire his talent. Her chest burned with apprehension and she gulped a deep breath. What if Weister is correct? Does Rhys wish to abandon me as Weister implied?

Weister’s sly innuendoes and the sound of his mocking laughter circled in her mind, but she pushed such negative views aside. Guilt for allowing a moment of doubt to fester filled her with shame, but that too, she brushed aside. Ne! I refuse to believe Rhys would desert me. Although we have only been married a few months his love is strong and will endure forever, as will mine. Nevertheless, doubt crawled into her head, impossible to completely deny. Still, why would a government official such as Gorgi Weister attempt to stir trouble with lies? It made no sense!

About the Author

I am a native of Texas and still live in this great state. I married my high school sweetheart, years and years ago. We raised four children and have eight grandchildren, and grandchildren are Grand. At the moment, all my children and my grandchildren live within seventy miles of our home, lots of visits. My husband and I still love each other after all these years the stuff romance is made of, Happy Ever After!

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Blog

Wareeze Woodson and “Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman”

Feb6

Wareeze will be awarding one eBook to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and one $50 GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the banner above to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

Dearest Lady Bromsworth,

Because of my deepest concern for the Laningham family, I write to ask you for the truth of the dreadful incident involving Lady Laurel Laningham. The late Lord Laningham served in the Peninsula you understand. How sad he succumbed to his wounds leaving a young wife and son behind. His grieving twin sister nearly went into a decline, or so I heard. All due to that little Corsican upstart, Bonaparte, thinking to fight all of England and our brave soldiers dying by his order.

I don’t hold with gossip as you know, but I seek the truth to still the old tabbies’ tongues about the matter. Listening to rumors is a vulgar habit, and I try to always gather the facts of a situation instead. The facts, as I understand them, are incredible, scarcely believable, thus my inquiry.

My butler informed me that dear Lady Laurel Laningham survived when a carriage over turned with her and her little son inside. She was on her way to Sussex to visit her aunt, or so it was supposed. Tis a great shame what with her being so recently bereaved and so lovely. She is not your average silly, pea-goose, either to undertake such a trip without cause. I asked myself if such could be true, and what with the condition of the roads along with the less than trust-worthy coachmen handling the ribbons, I concluded the account could be accurate.

Alarmed, I sat down at once with pen and paper to hand. He told a tale of a stranger riding off with the young Lord Laningham leaving the widow stranded in an over-turned coach. The tale becomes even more incredible at that point. You can imagine my horror and concern.

The abductor is rumored to be Lord Gladrey himself, the boy’s own guardian. That cannot be possible. I know Lord Gladrey. He is such a fine gentleman, gracious and always mindful of his family, such a dear, kind gentleman. If he did take charge of his ward, I’m certain he had a perfectly sound reason for serving Lady Laningham such a turn. It is quite natural for his cousin to appoint Lord Gladrey as guardian to his son. He and the twins are rumored to have been very close.

Please enlighten me of the facts of the situation so I’ll be able to ward off any unwelcome comments from the Ton. I dare say, you are aware of how vicious some of their tongues can become. I am more than willing to promote the proper happenings for dear Lady Laningham’s sake. I anxiously await word from you, a dear friend and neighbor of the family.

Truly Yours,

Lady Pickering

Reporter: Lord Adron Gladrey, I work for the Tribute. My editor is interested in the happenings involving an overturned coach. We understand you rode by and took charge of your ward, Lord Laningham. Why at such at time did you ride away with him before you?

Lord Adron Gladrey: I felt it necessary to protect my ward. Due to a misunderstanding, I thought he was being taken to France. The war- torn country is hardly a safe environment for my ward. I understood, his mother was careless and she wouldn’t understand the danger to my ward.

Reporter: Why didn’t you talk to her?

Lord Adron Gladrey: She left Landings as I arrived back in England. There was no time. I felt the need to rescue my ward before something dreadful happened to him. The entire incident was merely a misunderstanding. I would appreciate it if you people would let the subject alone.

About Conduct Unbecoming of a Gentleman

Recently widowed Lady Laurel Laningham flees Landings to escape her untenable position. Alone now and at the mercy of her sister-in-law, she decides to nestle under her aunt’s wings for a spell. To add to her burdens, her young son’s new guardian, Lord Adron Gladrey, has announced his intentions to take complete charge of his ward. The killer is stalking her and a devious jewel thief is stealing the family jewels. Can she convince her son’s guardian she is not a dangerous lunatic and is perfectly capable of raising her son or will he always consider her untrustworthy as a mother to his ward? Will his stubborn blindness send her straight into the path of the murderer, or will he relent in time to save her from following her husband into the grave?

Available

Amazon

Excerpt

His voice floated down to her. “Are you or the child injured?”

“I think several scrapes and bruises at most.” Laurel trembled and brushed her bonnet out of her face. She heard his quick intake of breath.

“You’re positive? You must have taken quite a tumble when the coach overturned. Possibly you’re more injured than you know.”

“Only a little shaken.” She took a deep, calming breath then continued with more force. “I’m certain we’re both fine.”

He hesitated and exhaled deeply. “A damsel in distress then. Do you perhaps have a name?”

Authority rang in his voice. She clutched Jamie a little tighter and offered him a tremulous smile. “Laurel Jane Laningham. Thank you for coming to our rescue.” She shaded her eyes with one hand, waiting for him to return the introduction.

“Let’s get you out of there. Hand me the boy first.”

He reached down into the overturned coach and Laurel lifted Jamie above her head into the waiting arms of the stranger. Her rescuer leapt to the ground with her son. A chill of foreboding curled around her. He’d said the boy. An unknown man shouldn’t know the child was a male. With every one of her senses alert, she listened intently for the stranger to return. Saddle leather squeaked and the thunder of hooves struck the ground in retreat.

Laurel screamed, “Bring my son back. I’ll see you hanged for this, you blackguard. Come back here. Help. Driver, help me.”

About the Author

I am a native Texan and still live in the Houston area. I married by high school sweetheart, and after raising 4 children, they blessed up with 8 grandchildren. AND after all these years, we still love each other. True romance is happy ever after.

Contacts

Website • Twitter • Facebook

B.J. Scott and “Highland Homecoming”

Dec2

B.J. will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card, Scottish shortbread cookies, can cooler and mouse pad (US/CANADA ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click the banner above to follow the tour and increase your chances of winning.

Since this is a historical romance, I was given the option to discuss something interesting about Scottish history. One of things I found interesting was the reason the thistle is considered the emblem of Scotland over the sweet smelling heather.

The prickly, green leafed weed, with the purple floral crown is seen on almost anything associated with Scotland. The legend is that in 1263, during the reign of King Alexander III, Vikings, led by their king Haakon IV landed on the shore of Scotland. Had they come to invade Scotland, were they raiding villages along the coast or had they been forced ashore by a storm? The answer may never be known, but it castles on the coast were on guard for an attack, because it had been attempted in the past. When the Vikings came ashore, the cries of the barefooted warriors, as they stepped on the thistles served as a warning, allowing the Scots to prepare for the invasion and thwart the attempt. The first use of the thistle as an emblem was recorded in 1470 when it appeared on a silver coin issued by King James III.

The thistle in ancient times was thought to be a symbol of nobility of character and birth. To do harm to the thistle would result in punishment. Because of this belief when the ancient chivalric, noble Order of the Thistle was founded by James II, the thistle was chosen as the symbol in 1687. Their motto “Nemo me impune lacessit” (no one harms me without punishment.) In Scots “Wha daurs meddle wi me”

The order still exists today, the motto used on many things associated with Scotland.

About Highland Homecoming

The last thing Alasdair Fraser expects to find on an isolated beach in Northern Scotland is a beautiful, unconscious lass. Unable to turn his back on someone in need, he delays his journey and tends to her injuries–an act that has him questioning his destiny and his plans to rejoin the fight for Scotland’s independence.

Will he drop the shield that guards his heart or will the secrets she fails to reveal and his own stubbornness keep them apart forever?

Available

Amazon

Soul Mate Publishing

Excerpt

Perched on a stool by the fire, he watched her sleep, wondering how he was going to ever let her go. She was by far the loveliest woman he had ever seen, and she did not seem to be put off by his size, awkwardness, or lack of manners. But duty dictated that they part ways.

After tossing a log on the fire, he spread a pelt on the floor in front of the hearth, then lowered himself to the ground. He pulled the tunic over his head and tossed it on the stool, then did the same with his trews and boots, before settling beneath a length of plaid

The last thing he wanted to do was lie on the floor and go to sleep. If truth be known, he wanted to slip beneath the covers, take Lauren in his arms, and make her his own. But that would not be right or proper. They were not betrothed and despite what people might think of him, he was a man of honor.

The women he’d bedded in the past had all been of questionable repute and none had been untried maidens. If Lauren was not already married or spoken for, he held enough respect for her that he would wait until their wedding night. But then again, if she did not get her memory back, he might never know for certain.

He slammed his fist on the floor. What the hell was he thinking? He was never going to take a bride. Especially one with no past. He was a warrior. There was no future for them, something he best not forget. He tucked the plaid around his shoulders and dozed off.

An ear-piercing scream disturbed his slumber and Alasdair jolted up with a start. Wasting no time, he climbed to his feet and raced to the pallet.

About the Author

With a passion for historical romance, history in general, and anything Celtic, B.J. always has an exciting work in progress. Each story offers a blend of romance, adventure, suspense, and, where appropriate, a dab of comic relief. Carefully researched historical facts are woven into each manuscript, providing a backdrop from which steamy romance, gripping plots, and vivid characters—dashing alpha heroes and resourceful, beguiling heroines you can’t help but admire—spring to life. A member of RWA, World Romance Writers, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and Savvy Authors, B.J. also writes contemporary, paranormal, time travel, and romantic suspense.

C.S. Lewis first captivated B. J.’s imagination in the fourth grade, and her desire to write sprang from there. Following a career in nursing and child and youth work, B.J. married her knight-in-shining-armor, and he whisked her away to his castle by the sea. In reality, they share their century-old home in a small Canadian town on the shore of Lake Erie with three dogs and a cat. When she is not working at her childcare job, on her small business, or writing, you will find her reading, camping, or antique hunting.

Contacts

Email • Website • Blog • Facebook • Amazon Author Page

Colette Cameron: “Highlander’s Hope” and Author Interview + GIVEAWAY

May23

A hearty welcome to Colette Cameron, a fellow Regency romance author! Colette is offering a $10.00 Amazon gift card drawing to anyone that comments and also connects with her on Twitter, Facebook, or follows her blog. Just leave a comment here explaining how you connected and leave an email address so she can contact the winner.

Susana, thank you so much for hosting me today. I’m thrilled to be here!

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, or perhaps, I should say it came easily for me. That’s before I decided to try my hand at writing a romance novel. A notice that someday I’d write a book had floated around in the back of my mind for years. Not a romance novel of course. I couldn’t write one of those. All that dialogue! So what did I sit down and write? You guessed it. A historical romance

Once I started writing Highlander’s Hope, I was addicted. This what I was meant to do! Next to raising my three children, it’s been the most challenging and rewarding experience I’ve ever had.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing in February 2011. That nagging notion to write a book became more persistent, so one day, I plopped myself in front of my computer and starting typing away. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing—or what I was getting myself into.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Critique partners are a must! I didn’t have any for Highlander’s Hope.

Learn all you can about the publishing industry and about the craft of writing. I know many people have an innate gift for writing but here are still the mechanics that must be mastered. Attend workshops and conferences, join writers groups like Romance Writers of America, and read, read, read. Read books in the genre you write in to stay abreast of what’s currently being published. Read books on the craft of writing. Read articles and blogs of other writers. You will be amazed at how much you’ll learn and how many other writers and authors are willing to help you.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I haven’t suffered from writer’s block yet, though I had times where I’ll get stuck on a plot point. I let my mind play around with it a bit—sometimes it takes a few days—and then, all of a sudden, a solution will pop into my mind. That happened at the doctor’s office the other day. Poof, right in the middle of reading a book about life during the Regency era, I read something that triggered a whole scenario. It solved a plot problem and gave me a good three or four chapters of material.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?

I hadn’t thought about that before. For my first three books, it has been the characters. I have another nine planned, and most of those I already know who at least one of the main protagonists is. I do have notes for several story plots though, and I don’t have characters for all of them yet.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A friend of mine calls me a linear panster. It’s an oxymoron but it works for me, because I do write from beginning to end—I just don’t know exactly where I’m going along the way. Sometimes that’s great. I’ll write something that astounds me. Other times I write something that doesn’t move the story forward, and I end up cutting it. Even those cut scenes have value though. I’ve used phrases, ideas, or parts of them for some of my other work. I like to post them on my blog for my readers to enjoy too.

All my books start with a single scene or idea, and the book develops around it. I do have ideas or plot points that I want to include in my books, but I also love seeing where my characters and the story take me. I couldn’t possibly come up with some of the things in advance that emerge as the story progresses. I often wonder, “Where did that come from?”

For my last two stories, I’ve completed Goal, Motivation and Conflict charts for my hero and heroine. I also have a questionnaire of over fifty questions I complete for each of them. By having both those items in my writer’s toolbox, I really know my characters. I don’t get stuck wondering what they’ll do or say.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

Yvette is allergic to anything alcohol. Her pets are named after Roman or Greek Gods and their names all begin with “A”.

Ewan plays the bagpipes, and has four younger siblings.

Are you working on something at present that you would like to tell us about?

I’m currently working on The Earl’s Enticement. It’s the third book in my Blue Rose Trilogy.

The story is about Adaira (Addy) Ferguson, an outspoken Scottish aristocrat who cares more for horses than she does society’s conventions. She wears breeches, swears, and mistaking him for his blackguard brother, abducts Roark (Rory) Marquardt, The Earl of Clarendon.

What are you reading now?

I’ve been doing a lot of reading on Regency history lately. Right now I’m reading “What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew.”

What is your favorite food? Least favorite? Why?

My favorite food is Chicken Alfredo or Spinach Tortellini in Alfredo sauce. I love pasta in any kind of white sauce. I loathe peas and mushrooms. Ugh! When I was little, I was forced to eat canned peas. My great grandmother told me I’d like them when I grew up. Nope. Still don’t like peas. Mushrooms remind me of slugs and they taste like dirt. Betcha wish you hadn’t asked me that question!

What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

I never set out to be a romance author. In fact, romance is the one kind of book I thought I’d never be able to write.

If your publisher offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming project, where would you mostly likely want to go? Why?

I’m so glad you asked. Scotland. I need to do research for my six book Regency Highlander series.

Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, would you consider straying outside your genre?

I only write Regency historical right now, though with the highlanders, I suppose you could say I write Scot’s highlander historicals too. I do have a couple ideas for a historical paranormal and a contemporary too.

What is something you’d like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I’d like to get The Earl’s Enticement completed and submitted and complete a stand-alone novel that is begging to be written.

Every writer dreams of getting “the call.” What were you doing when yours came? Who got to hear the good news first?

We had just gotten home from camping. I’d submitted a full manuscript the day before we left. When I checked my email, there was an email from Soul Mate Publishing saying they wanted to publish Highlander’s Hope. Naturally, I remained calm and oh, so casually mentioned my good fortune to the hubby and daughter.

That’s a colossal lie. I vaguely remember running outside and jumping into my husband’s arms, completely incoherent and crying. He thought someone had died.

What are your favorite pastimes?

I enjoy gardening, bird watching and amateur photography.

What is the one modern convenience you can’t do without?

Hot water and toilets.

How did you pick the names for your characters?

I did a search of Scots first names for Ewan. I wanted something a bit different but not really odd. Ewan sounds like a strong name, and as I got to know him, he name really seemed to fit him. McTavish just sounded lovely. His English title, Viscount Sethwick, I made up. I always wanted a son names Seth, but my hubby didn’t like the name.

I wanted Yvette to have a French name because her mother had been French. Ironically, it wasn’t until after I named her that I realized I’d picked yet another name that rhymes with several family names: Collette, Minette, Georgette, and Annette. No…, I’m not kidding!

Stapleton is a nice hardy English name.

What’s something unusual you found during your research?

Yvette is allergic to spirits (alcohol) which was a bit of a problem during the Regency era. Water wasn’t safe to drink, so people generally didn’t drink it. Even children drank coffee, tea, and spirits. Poor Yvette, does drink a lot of tea!

I also had to research marriage laws because her stepbrother tries to force her to marry him. Stepsiblings could legally marry, but there were a whole list of other marriages that were deemed illegal. For instance, if a man’s wife died, he couldn’t marry her sister.

And then there was the delightful Scots Canon Law I used to get Ewan and Yvette married without a ceremony. Scots church law allowed anyone to over see the exchanging of vows. In Scotland, irregular marriages included simply proclaiming your were married in from of witnesses.

What’s first thing you look for when you are choosing a romance novel to read? Why?

Okay, so you’ve picked out a book to read.

Can you tell me something that really annoys you after you’ve bought a book and started to read it…or maybe even finished it?

About Highlander’s Hope

She was the heiress determined never to marry.

Shipping heiress Yvette Stapleton is wary of fortune hunting men and their false declarations of love. She’d rather become a spinster than imprisoned in the bonds of marriage. At first, she doesn’t recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London’s docks. Her reaction to Lord Sethwick’s passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony.

He was the nobleman who vowed to make her his own.

Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, Lord Sethwick and Laird of Craiglocky, hasn’t dreamed of the sensual beauty he danced with two years ago; he’s determined to win her heart. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, he unwittingly draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scottish Canon law to declare her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, “I do.”

Amidst murder and betrayal, Ewan attempts to win Yvette’s forgiveness. But is it too late? Has his manipulation cost him her love?

Excerpt

Take a peek at several excerpts posted on my blog below.

http://www.blueroseromance.com/2013/04/final-excerpt-of-highlanders-hope.html?spref=tw

About the Author

In February 2011, Collette decided to sit down and write a Regency suspense romance. She wrote Highlander’s Hope, the first book in her Blue Rose Trilogy. She has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Teaching. She’s been married for 30 years, has 3 amazing adult children, and 5 dachshunds. Her puppy, Ayva, sits on her lap while she writes. Ayva also nibbles at and lies on the keyboard. Collette loves a good joke, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate. She just finished The Viscount’s Vow, the second book in the series. It releases from Soul Mate Publishing next year. You’ll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels.

Contacts

Web site • Blog • Facebook Fan Page • Facebook Page • Twitter • Google+ • Linked In • Pinterest

Soul Mate Publishing Author’s Blog • Goodreads