What makes me special?

Yesterday's issue of Kristin Lamb's blog hit a chord with me.  I follow her blogs, and have gotten lots of useful information from them.  Her writing and marketing advice is solid, and I devour her posts when they come in my inbox.

Her post yesterday has had me thinking, though, about what makes my writing different from all the other romance authors out there.  

One of the primary reasons I started writing novels, was that I couldn't find any to read that I really enjoyed.  Protagonists were always in their early twenties, idiots, or the love interests were kazillionaires.  The trope of kazillionaire sweeps virgin off her feet, only to fall in love and live HEA was starting to get to me.

I wanted to write about real people.  Reall people with real jobs, and real issues.  Sure pregnancy scares are real.  I've had my share.  But I'm not twenty-something anymore, and that doesn't really bother me as much now.  If I were to get pregnant NOW, that would be something different.  After I wrote a few books about real people, I found myself wanting to tackle some social issues in an entertaining way, to give my books a little more depth.  Notice I said little.

See, I'm happy writing the burgers of literature.  People want burgers more than they want fois gras.  And I can't write fois gras anyway.  I don't think I have that kind of talent.  Besides, I personally can't relate to that kind of stuff.  I never have.  Granted, I've read lots of classical literature:  Canterbury Tales, Candid, Shakespeare, etc.  I love it all.  Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is probably my favorite book.  But in the grand scheme of things, most of those are just the burgers of their time period, with on-going themes that people still find relevant.

So, my books are still fast-food romances, brain candy.  But they have older heroes and heroines, with real jobs and real problems, that hopefully, readers can relate to.  They're still escapist fantasies, but not so unrealistic to be ludicrous.  I have no idea if I've actually gotten that out in my "platform", so I'm thinking I need to revamp my pages to make that clear.  Someday, I'll get to that...

Come Full Circle spotlight

Please welcome Natalie to our blog today as she sponsors a giveaway! Check out her book, Come Full Circle, which was a 2012 Festival of Romance Reader's Award Finalist, and be sure to enter the rafflecopter to be in with a chance of winning a $10/£10 Amazon GC.

Blurb

Fifteen years ago, Bethany Minor fled her hometown after being left at the alter by Dane Brennan. After the sudden death of her mother, she is forced to return home and face her past. 

The years have been hell for Dane, and seeing Bethany again only reopens wounds he long thought closed. 

When they realize the flames of their past love never died, Bethany and Dane will need to 

confess all before they can have a chance to reclaim their life that once should have been. 

But when the truth of the past is finally revealed, will they still stand as a couple?



Purchase from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Meet and Greet next weekend

So, it's happening!  I'm sorry I flaked out last Monday with another author from the mingle, but Thanksgiving holidays grabbed me by the short and curlies, and wouldn't let go.  I didn't have time to do anything but chase kids around like a crazy person.  Who in the world came up with the idea of giving them the entire week off for Thanksgiving, right before Christmas?  Now I'm cringing at the idea of doubling my pleasure in three weeks when they have two entire weeks off.  And I've got to clean for two days to get my house back in some semblance of order from the holiday.  And no.  My Christmas tree is not up.

So Saturday, I'll be meeting these wonderful ladies. Yes the meet and greet is for fans and readers, not me, but since this is my first event, I'm honestly not expecting that many people to show up for myself.  That's why I'm taking my bestie, Charis.  Then I know I'll have one fan.  Yes, she's sort of been forced to read my stuff, but she liked it all by herself.

So we're planning all sorts of cool prizes, like free books, autographed Christmas ornaments, and other nifty little trinkets.  I'll have post cards to pass out and a little bowl full of chocolates, because that's just how I roll.  If anybody's around Dallas on the 7th, stop by and see me or some of these other awesome romance authors at the Coffee House Cafe.  It'll be a fun time, and I'll be tweeked to the max, because I haven't had a good coffee house coffee in for-evah!  I plan on having several!

Saved by a Rake

Title – Saved by a Rake

Author – Em Taylor

Genre – Regency Romance (Historical)

Publication Date – November 22, 2013

Publisher – Author

Cover Artist – Veronica Fernandez

SYNOPSIS 

When Lady Rebecca Eversley is left ravished by the Earl of Newthorpe and facing ruination, she has the choice to point her pretty little nose in the air and face the gossips of the Ton or scurry off to the country to live out her life as an old maid. When she meets Lord Daniel Ramsey, a notorious rake, she decides on the former course of action.



Daniel has been given an ultimatum, marry before his father dies or lose the majority of his inheritance money. Rebecca seems the perfect candidate, especially once rumours about her start to circulate in the drawing rooms of Mayfair.



When Newthorpe is found dead on the morning of their wedding, the people they care about find themselves suspects in the case. Who murdered Newthorpe and can Rebecca ever get over what he did to her?

ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF Goodreads 

EXCERPT

As his lips briefly touched hers, the carriage jolted, pushing him closer to her. He caught her around the waist to ensure she did not bounce off the seat, then, without thinking, covered her mouth with his.

He noted a moment’s hesitation from her before she moved her lips and reached up to tangle her gloved fingers in his curls. Tentatively she touched her tongue against his, causing him to stifle a groan. He had been without a woman for over a month and now his pretty little wife had her arms around him, kissing him as if she had done it a thousand times. She was a quick learner as she explored his mouth with her tongue, pressing herself closer to him.

Devil take it. He had been struggling all day to stop himself becoming aroused. Her wedding gown had been low cut and her stays showed her breasts off perfectly. He had been distracted throughout the service and the wedding breakfast as images of disrobing her later had flitted through his mind. He wanted to see those breasts again.

He unfastened the three buttons on her pelisse, peeling the material away to her side, then pulled out of the kiss and began to pepper light kisses along her jawline. God, he wanted her, and he was most definitely aroused now.

He kissed her neck and was about to place his hand over that beautiful inviting orb, when he sensed her tensing. He pulled away slowly, tugging the material of her pelisse back over her. When he looked into her eyes, they were bright with confusion, passion and fear, all clearly warring within her. He cursed himself for being too impatient. Then he cursed Newthorpe for what he had done and could not help thinking that death was too good for the blaggard.

“No. That’s the only word you ever have to say and I will stop,” he said simply.

“I am sorry, my lord. I just expected some time before… well I expected to wait until we were in the coaching inn tonight.”

“Yes, of course. It was very impatient of me. I beg your forgiveness.”

Rebecca nodded and looked out the window.

The streets of London rushed by as they headed for the Great North Road. He studied the view out of the other window, and they sat in silence for a long time. Eventually Rebecca spoke in a small voice which sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.

“I fear I will not make you a very good wife if a mere kiss frightens me.”

He turned and took her hand in his. He wanted her to be comfortable and not think he was going to pounce on her and ravish her at any given opportunity.

“I have no doubt that you will make a wonderful wife, Rebecca. You just need time and patience and I have an abundance of both.”

She turned large, tear-filled eyes towards him. “You should take a mistress as soon as we reach Scotland.”
He could not possibly have heard correctly. She was giving him permission to have a mistress? Surely not. But her mouth was set in a firm line as if she had made up her mind. A stab of hurt hit him. She thought of him as a rake who would be unfaithful.

He pursed his lips and considered her. What should he do? He wanted to rail at her and tell her he had no intention of being unfaithful. He had taken vows only a few hours previously and yet now she was giving him permission to break them. But maybe the idea of him having a mistress brought her comfort. She was clearly terrified of intimacy between a husband and wife.

“We shall discuss it once we reach Scotland, my lady. I have no wish to think beyond our present journey.”

“Do you not see that I can only ever tolerate the marriage bed for the sake of giving you an heir,” she wailed, pulling her hand away from his. “He ruined me in more ways than you can ever know.”

“You are only ruined if you allow him that power. A skilful lover could make you feel very different about certain aspects of a marriage.”

“Well, I have heard enough tales to know that you are a skilful lover, Lord Ramsey. But I think you should save it for your mistresses.” Her tone was almost venomous but he ignored it, knowing that it was fear that drove her.
She turned her head to look out of the window again. He was at a complete loss. She thought him almost as bad as Newthorpe. Well, not quite but she did not think he would be faithful. A long silence stretched out between them as he considered what to say to her. Her back was rigid, and she swiped at her cheek with one gloved hand.
“What he did to you…”

“What he did has destroyed me, and I am not sorry that he is dead. I wish I had been the one to kill him.”
“Please, Rebecca…”

She burst into tears and fished in her reticule for a handkerchief, he presumed. He held his out to her and with a large sob she accepted it. He untied her bonnet and threw it onto the seat opposite before gathering her in his arms.

She tried to move out of his grip but this time he held firm, knowing that she would accept his comfort, which she did, weeping as she buried her face in his coat.

As her sobs turned into sniffles, which turned into silence then light snuffles of sleep, he held her and wondered how he was going to help his beautiful young wife over her fear of physical love.

My Review:

If you are into historical romances with great sex scenes, buy this book.  Daniel is absolutely swoon-worthy, and Rebecca is a likable, relatable heroine.  The book was well edited and well-written.  The conflict is subtle, not thrown at the reader and shoved down their throats.  The ton is actually sort of kind in this Regency, where usually it is a vile, hateful antagonist.  I enjoyed it immensely.  While waiting for the other shoe to drop, I really enjoyed the play between the characters in this story, and the well-drawn secondary characters.  And then the other shoe fell, and I was actually surprised (maybe because I didn't read the blurb, I don't know).
This was a refreshing read for me, as the last Regency I read left me wondering what was wrong with the world we live in.  This was wonderful.  Thanks, Ms. Taylor.




AUTHOR BIO: 

Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination—as if that is a bad thing. She’s traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.



Unfortunately, Em was put off reading and writing by school and although she rediscovered her love of reading many years ago, she only tried her hand at writing again in 2011. After a year of writing fan fiction, she wrote an original short story for an anthology. This was followed up with two more shorts and 4 novella length books, all published under a pen name. Having fallen in love with a new sub-genre, courtesy of books by Mary Balogh and Lynsay Sands, she decided to try her hand at her new favourite genre for reading—regency.



Having bitten the bullet, she feels she has found her home in the 19th century, and it does give her an excuse to watch Colin Firth in a pair of buff breeches and riding books ad infinitum.

STALKER LINKS: 

Website/Blog | Blogger Spot | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin | Goodreads 

GIVEAWAY 

$50/ £50 Amazon Gift Certificate 

 CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Release Date: 26th November 2013

Synopsis

Life can be a bitch but love can get you through any storm.

Madison Cole’s family is the Storm Motorcycle Club. Her father is the President and her brother is the VP. She grew up surrounded by bikers, crime and violence. Two years ago she walked away from her family and the world they live in. Her soul was shattered, her heart was broken and she had an addiction she couldn't shake. She picked up the pieces and put herself back together. Now her family wants her back. The club is being threatened and they send a club member to return her home to safety; the one person that could destroy everything she has worked so hard to build.

Jason Reilly has sacrificed a lot for the motorcycle club he calls family. Two years ago he made the biggest sacrifice of all; he gave up the woman he loved for them. Now he is being sent to bring her back and he is conflicted. He thought he was over her but discovers their connection is as strong as ever. Their love was all-consuming, passionate and fiery. It was also their undoing and he doesn't know if either of them is strong enough to battle the demons that ripped them apart, to find love again. 

Madison and Jason are brought back together by a force out of their control; one that pushes them to a breaking point. Can they overcome their past and discover a love worth fighting for or will the harsh reality of their world finally and completely break them both?

Buy Links:

US AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GSWF888/
UK AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GSWF888
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-nina-levine/1117477701?ean=2940148841777&itm=1&usri=2940148841777
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/storm-storm-mc-1

Excerpt

I grabbed my
purse and headed outside to go and buy lunch.
J was on the phone, but saw me come outside and signalled for me to
wait.

“I’m going to
buy lunch, J.  And I only get an hour so
I don’t have time to wait for you,” I said, tersely.  He kept talking and scowled at me.  I turned and started to walk away from him,
towards the cafe where I always bought lunch.

I could hear
him muttering something into the phone and then he must have ended his call
because he went silent.  Then, he barked,
“Madison!”

The last thing
I wanted to do was stop for him, but there was something in his tone; a ‘don’t
fuck with me’ command.  So I stopped, and
turned around to look at him.  Oh,
my.  He was shitty. 

He stalked to
where I was and got in my face.  “Why the
fuck do you have to be so difficult about this?” He was fuming.

Well, I could
see him, and raise him in his anger.
“Maybe it has something to do with the way Scott has gone about
this.  And the fact that he sent you!”

He
flinched.  It was only for a second, and
most people wouldn’t have even noticed it.
But I knew J, and I saw it.  It
surprised the fuck out of me.  “Well
then, it looks like we’ve got some shit to sort out, babe, because I’m not
going anywhere.”

“I don’t want
to sort shit out with you.  That ship
sailed two fucking years ago, J,” I spat.

He gripped my
arm, pulling me closer, “No, it fucking didn’t,” he growled, eyes blazing, “And
you can’t deny there’s still something here.
I feel it and I know you feel it too.”

I laughed.  No, actually, I cackled.  “You wanna fuck, J?  I can feel that, and, yeah, if you wanna go there, I’m all for it.  But don’t mistake my desire for your cock for
anything else.”

About the Author

Nina Levine is an Aussie writer who writes stories about hot, alpha men and the tough, independent women they love. You won't find any whiny, spineless women in Nina's books and you certainly won't find weak men. 

A warning though, you will find hot, dirty sex, lots of swearing, occasional violent encounters and men and women who live fast and love hard.

Nina's debut book Storm will be releasing in November 2013. It is based around the Storm Motorcycle Club and is the first book in an MC series.

Connect with Nina:  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

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