Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I’m frolicking (visiting) at Sweet ‘N Sexy Divas today and talking about romance writers. Pop over to say hello and comment on my post – you know you’re a romance writer when…

And why am I frolicking here?

Because I’m hard at work on a historical romance where there is currently much frolicking. It’s rubbed off on me, hence the topic for my TT this week.

Thirteen Synonyms For FROLIC

1. Caper

2. Prance

3. Scamper

4. Tomfoolery

5. Skylark

6. Curvet

7. Dally

8. Carouse

9. Romp

10. Disport

11. Gambol

12. Cavort

13. Revel

I’m off to continue with my historical frolicking. Tell me – do you have any exciting plans to celebrate the arrival of the New Year? Will you be frolicking?

I’d like to welcome author Meg Mims to my blog today. Meg is an award-winning author and artist who writes historical, western and mystery/suspense. Her first book, Double Crossing, is currently available from Astraea Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble as an ebook and will soon be in print. Meg is also a staff writer for RE/MAX Platinum in Michigan and for Lake Effect Living, a West Coast of Michigan tourist on-line magazine. She earned an M.A. from Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program in January of 2010. Today Meg is talking about romance and romantic suspense. Over to Meg!

How much romance does a Romantic Suspense have to include? Some are quite tame, some have hot sex scenes, and some include only a hint or promise of romance. Are readers pretty tolerant in this genre?

Romantic Suspense was once considered a “crossover” – blending traditional romance with the intrigue of mystery or crime, or even plain adventure. Juggling more than one plotline is necessary, along with striking some kind of balance. If the romance is stronger, then it must end “HEA” or Happily Ever After. If the suspense is stronger, then the outcome can be iffy—as long as justice is served in the end in some fashion.

In Double Crossing, heroine Lily Granville is focused on tracking her father’s killer. Like in many romantic suspense plots, she meets a man who can help her—and sexual attraction plays a part in the relationship that grows from necessity to friendship and total trust. The focus stays on the twists and turns of why Lily’s father was murdered, and how to avoid being the next victim. Being classified as “clean” fiction, the characters maintain a fairly “hands-off” level of romance and the ending reflects that. However, the promise is there for more adventure.

There are plenty of top-notch authors in romantic suspense. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series blends romance, adventure, suspense, mystery—and sometimes a violent murderer. While Stephanie tracks down her bond skip, she has run the gamut from killers to a donut thief. There’s Ranger danger, hot sex at times with cop Joe Morelli, and adventures with Lulu the ex-whore or her Grandma Mazur at the local funeral parlor. Bizarre at times, irreverent, thrilling and funny, yet satisfying to a large readership, Stephanie always collects her bounty hunter fee.

Tess Gerritson’s thriller-suspense books incorporate romance also, but with more depth when she explores politics, business and intrigue style plots, with betrayals and gripping tension. You can find whatever you like in the romantic suspense genre, from inspirational to erotic, from historical to contemporary, from fantasy to science fiction, even ghosts or paranormal elements.

Oddly enough, if you do a search on Amazon for “romantic suspense,” you won’t find a single male author listed with a book. Perhaps “they” classify this genre as geared to and written by women only. A shame, because this genre can get down and dirty with the most complex plots and deep emotional characters.

The key is to keep the reader on their toes, to twist and turn the plot threads and produce a page-turning success.

Question from Shelley: How much romance do you prefer in your romantic suspense reads? Lots or just a dash to spice things up?

Blurb: A murder arranged as a suicide … a missing deed … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered.

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey.

As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?

Read an excerpt

Purchase Double Crossing from Astraea Press, Amazon or Barnes & Noble

To learn more about Meg and her books visit her website Meg Mims

Joanna Chambers is visiting me today. She’s a fellow Carina Press author and is celebrating a new historical release called The Lady’s Secret. Welcome, Joanna!

Hi Shelley, thank you for inviting me over to talk about The Lady’s Secret which has just been released by Carina Press. I thought today I’d talk about power dynamics.

My heroine, Georgy Knight is a failed-actress-turned-stagehand. When she discovers that she and her brother are in fact legitimate—and that her brother is therefore the true Earl of Dunsmore—she embarks on a quest to find evidence of her parents’ marriage. But the only way she can gain access to the ancestral home to search for evidence, is to pose as a valet of one of the guests. Thus Georgy becomes George Fellowes, passing herself off as a man to the hero, Nathan.

The power differential between Georgy and Nathan in The Lady’s Secret is huge. She is (officially) illegitimate, a member of the lower classes, and acting as his servant. He is an all-powerful aristocrat and the master in their master-servant relationship. He seems to have all the cards, but in truth there is more than one kind of power. Nathan might have economic and political power but from a personal perspective, his life is mapped out for him. In this sense, Georgy has more freedom, and hence more personal power than Nathan.

Eventually, both my heroine and my hero overcome their powerlessness and seize what they need. Georgy goes out and fights for what is rightfully hers and Nathan rejects society’s constraints to do right by the woman he loves whatever society may think.

I hope readers will agree that when the book ends, Nathan and Georgy have reached a sort of equilibrium of power, each of them matching the other, neither one of them in charge. Because I think that’s something that I—speaking as a reader now—like to see in romance novels: a H/H who fully deserve and match one another. Equality of Arms.

What do you think? What romance novel most encapsulates for you ‘equality of arms’ at the end?

Blurb: The Lady’s Secret

London, 1810

Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate—until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland. Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.

Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…

But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Purchase The Lady’s Secret

To learn more about Joanna and her books visit her website Joanna Chambers. You’ll also find Joanna at her blog, on Twitter as @ChambersJoanna and at Facebook.

One of my favorite things about taking a holiday, apart from stepping away from my normal routine, is that I get the chance to catch up on my reading. During my visit to China, I managed to get through twenty-eight books in lengths ranging from shorts to long novels. Since I love to talk books, I thought I’d mention some of my favorite holiday reads instead of doing a Tuesday Teaser.

I started off with The Waiting Booth (Whispering Woods) by Brinda Berry. This is a young adult story and was a great start to my reading binge. The Waiting Booth features a missing boy, government agents and an interdimensional portal. The plot moved along and I kept zipping through the pages until I reached the end.

The Devil to Pay by Maria Zannini was an interesting read with great world building. Heaven or hell? Our heroine is in a bad place in her life and wants out. Unluckily, that’s just the start of her problems. This is a self-published book and well worth a read. I’ll be snapping up the second story in Maria’s series when it comes out.

Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning is the second book in her Sinners on Tour series. It took me a while to warm to the hero, but this book was an excellent way to pass a long bus ride. It’s a hot, sexy read, and I’m counting the days until book three hits the shelves.

I’m a sucker for a friends-to-lovers story, and Hot Head by Damon Suede grabbed my attention straight away. Sexy firemen, best friends, lots of emotion and confusion along the way. This is a gay romance, and I really enjoyed it.

Then came my Carina Press binge. Yes, I’m a Carina author, but I have to say if you haven’t tried some of the stories available from Carina you’re missing out. I read Golden by Joely Sue Burkhart. Just excellent. I loved this story, which is a historical set in China. Caddy Girls by VK Sykes and Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley are both stories I’d recommend to any contemporary fan. I enjoyed reading both stories.

And my final recommendation is Chasin’ Eight by Lorelei James. The hero and heroine really grabbed me in this one, and it was fun watching them both grow during the course of the book. This is book eleven in the Rough Riders series and one of my favorites in the series to date.

Have you read any extra good books this month? What are you reading at present? If you have time give me a two sentence teaser in the comments, because I need to load up my iPad again.

“If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere.” ~ Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), American actress and singer

Auckland library does an awesome monthly newsletter for romance readers. It’s one of many genre newsletters they send out each month to those who sign up for them. In the recent August one, they featured Rule Breakers i.e. a list of books that feature “rules” in the title. Thank you Auckland Libraries. Your newsletter totally rocks and you did all the ground work on this one.

Thirteen Rule Breaker Romances

1. Bending the Rules by Susan Andersen (contemporary)

2. Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockman (romantic suspense)

3. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake – by Sarah MacLean (historical)

4. Aussie Rules by Jill Shalvis (contemporary)

5. When pleasure rules by J.K. Beck (urban fantasy)

6. The rules of gentility by Janet Mullany (historical)

7. Rules of an engagement by Suzanne Enoch (historical)

8. Rule’s bride by Kat Martin (historical)

9. Breaking the governess’s rules by Michelle Styles (historical)

10. Rules for being a mistress by Tamara Lejeune (historical)

11. Breaking the rules by Tawny Weber (contemporary)

12. Rules of attraction by Christina Dodd (historical)

13. When passion rules by Johanna Lindsey (historical)

When it comes to rules, I’m mostly a good person, but there are a few where I just have to break out and disobey. I’m not telling what they are…

Do you follow rules or do you like to flout convention and break them?

Today I started polishing/editing the new gothic romance I finished last month. Part of my day was spent surfing the web and consulting my collection of reference books. One of the points I needed to check on was 18th century cosmetics.

Last week during my blog hopping, I visited Carol Dunford’s blog, Les Femmes d’Ecriture. Author Brinda Berry was visiting and discussing the use of podcasts for research. Brinda said she finds podcasts an excellent way to research various topics. You can read her post here.

The idea of using podcasts struck me as brilliant. I spend a lot of time walking the dog and often wear my iPod. Sometimes I listen to RWA workshops but hadn’t thought of checking out podcasts for research purposes. Today I came across the perfect podcast at the Colonial Williamsburg website, which answered all my 18th century cosmetic questions. It was called The Art of Beauty. For those who are interested in history or who write historical novels some of the other podcasts look exciting too. Topics vary from The Art of Cut (about men’s tailoring) to Music and Dance and Animals.

So what did I learn about cosmetics?

1. Pale is good and tans were frowned upon. A hat was a woman’s best friend.
2. Dark eyes and hair were preferred because both set off a pale skin.
3. Most people of the time bore scars and smallpox marks on their faces and many had hollowed cheeks after losing teeth.
4. Things like lead and other harmful substances were used to make the skin appear pale.
5. Patches in the shape of moons, stars and other shapes were very popular. They were perfect to disguise smallpox marks.
6. Mouse fur was used to make eye brows appear thicker and darker. Yuck!

Armed with this information, I’ll be able to make my heroine appear more authentic. If I suddenly time traveled back to the 18th century the other women would laugh for sure. Each summer my freckles join hands, go forth and multiply. A hat and suntan lotion don’t seem to help much!

What do you think of the beauty ideals of the time? Pale skin and dark hair? Do you listen to podcasts? Do you have any favorites that you subscribe to and would recommend?

I have author, Miranda Neville visiting me today. She’s celebrating the release of her historical romance, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton, which is out at Avon on July 26. Her heroine, Celia is taming a dandy, among other things. Please welcome Miranda and read on to learn about Celia…

The 13 Step Guide to The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton

1. The hero starts out needing a good kick in the behind. Tarquin Compton is London’s social leader, famous for his fine figure, perfect dress, and poisonously witty tongue. Someone needs to take him down a peg, or three.

2. Celia Seaton is the woman to do it. He ruined her marriage prospects and she’s angry.

3. When she finds him the wilderness, having lost his memory and most of his clothes, she tells him his name is Terence Fish and they are betrothed.

4. Tarquin isn’t pleased, but “Terence” turns out to be a different guy than she expected: kind, brave, amusing – and really hot.

5. In fact he’s just the man to help her escape across the moors, pursued by the villains who kidnapped her.

6. Tarquin happens to have a naughty novel with him, which Celia finds highly educational. And you know what happens when a man and a woman spend several days alone together. There’s a reason they used to have chaperones.

7. They fall in love.

8. Tarquin gets his memory back and the real trouble starts. He goes back to being the rude dandy she hates so much. Or does he? Perhaps he’s changed.

9. A house party in a ducal mansion provides opportunities for late night corridor prowling.

10. We find out why Tarquin became the way he is – and how he discovers the socially unacceptable Celia is the woman he wants and needs.

11. We learn what Celia’s kidnappers want – and how it relates to the shameful secrets of her past.

12. We meet the villains, some more desperate – and more villainous – than others and learn how our intrepid hero and heroine foil them (of course) as true love overcomes all obstacles (of course)

13. The thirteenth point I leave up to you. What would you like to know?

Blurb:

Being kidnapped teaches Miss Celia Seaton a few things about life

LESSON ONE
Never disrobe in front of a gentleman … unless his request comes at gunpoint.

LESSON TWO
If, when lost on the moors, you encounter Tarquin Compton, the leader of London society who ruined your marriage prospects, deny any previous acquaintance.

LESSON THREE
If offered an opportunity to get back at Mr. Compton, the bigger the lie, the better. A faux engagement should do nicely.

LESSON FOUR
Not all knowledge is found between the covers of a book. But an improper book may further your education in ways you never guessed.

And while an erotic novel may be entertaining, the real thing is even better.

Purchase The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton

To learn more about Miranda and her books visit her website.

CONTEST: Miranda is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift card to one commenter during her blog tour. The winner will be drawn at the conclusion of Miranda’s tour. For full details and more chances to win follow the VBT for The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton

Looking for a good book to read? A bargain? Look no further.

Thirteen Ellora’s Cave Books At A Bargain Price- $1.50 or less–at Amazon

1. Talking Dogs, Aliens & Purple People Eaters – A female alien crash lands in New Zealand. She and her aunt meet a human cop and hook up with a talking dog. Chaos ensues.

2. Sex Idol – Reality shows in the future. Oy, the mind boggles!

3. Summer in the City of Sails – a country girl travels to the big, bad city looking for adventure. She meets a soldier who feels he must babysit her. She leads him a merry chase.

4. Soldier of Fortune – a companion book to Summer in the City of Sails. Vacation lovers have a surprise meeting in a war zone.

5. Playing to Win – A professional rugby player discovers he has a son, but the boy’s aunt and guardian wants nothing to do with him. A romantic suspense with a creepy stalker.

6. Fancy Free – a woman inherits a condom company and is shoved way out of her comfort zone.

7. Make That Man Mine – a secretary decides it’s time to make her move and claim a sexy detective as her own. The detective has other ideas….and a big secret!

8. Issy’s Infatuation – a sports romance featuring rugby. It’s World Cup year for rugby. Get in the mood and follow Issy’s rugby progress.

9. Never Send a Dog to do a Woman’s Job – The talking dog is back again, trying to keep an alien from seducing the heroine. Just quietly…she’s not very good at her job.

10. Wanderlust – Mystery and murder. Become a tourist and go on tour in India. Experience the sights while watching for the murderer.

11. Lynx to the Pharaoh – jump back to the past and visit Egypt…

12. Fallen Idol – more reality shows from the future. This one is a gay romance.

13. Last Wish – a man wants a silver teapot for his mother’s collection and ends up with much more–a testy genie who wants to end his contract. This one is a gay romance.

The above books are also available in other formats at All Romance ebooks. Most of them are selling for $0.74.

Have you purchased any bargain books recently?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath, which is out today. I’m currently reading chapter four, and I’m enjoying this historical romance very much.

His guilt increased when he found himself enticed by the lure of Jayne’s hips gently swaying as she preceded them from the room. He didn’t want to contemplate the hell that awaited him if she consented to her husband’s insane notion to get her with child.

page 10, Waking Up With The Duke

Blurb:

The Duke of Ainsley, known for his talents in the bedchamber, is stunned when his long-time friend, the Marquess of Walfort, asks him to get his wife with child. During a night of debauchery with Ainsley, Walfort was paralyzed in an accident. His wife, Jayne, has never forgiven Ainsley for his role in the debacle that robbed her husband of feeling from the waist down and robbed her of the opportunity to have a child.

Ainsley owes his friend–and more–his friend’s wife. After much reluctance, Jayne agrees to spend one month with Ainsley, in hopes of getting her with child, but she has terms: he is never to kiss her, she will take no pleasure from the act, and she will do nothing to bring him pleasure, other than what is necessary for him to fulfill his obligations.

But as the days and nights follow, she discovers a man with the ability to make her feel alive as she never did, a man who can make her dream again, make her feel young again. In his arms, she will come to realize a love far greater than any she has ever known.

Purchase Waking Up With the Duke

Check out the Waking Up With the Duke Virtual tour. Everyone who comments on one of the tour posts goes into a draw to win a $25 Amazon voucher. Waking Up With the Duke is out today.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from Scoundrel, book two in Zoe Archer’s Blade of the Rose series. I’m a fan of this series. If you enjoy historical romances set in unusual settings plus a little paranormal, this is the series for you.

“You abducted me from my cabin in the middle of the night, forced me off my ship, stuck me in a minuscule boat, and then brought me here,” London said, her voice surprising her with its strength. “If all you want to do is talk, then it sure as hell had better be good.”

Page 74, Scoundrel

Blurb:

The Blades of the Rose are sworn to protect the sources of magic in the world. But the work is dangerous—and they can’t always protect their own…

READY FOR ACTION…

London Harcourt’s father is bent on subjugating the world’s magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn’t bothered to tell her so. He’s said only that he’s leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity—unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day.

RISKING IT ALL…

Bennett is a ladies’ man, when he’s not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London’s father. Sometimes, he’s a ladies’ man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again—but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart…

Purchase Scoundrel