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Dear readers
 I'm not afraid to state that social media stresses me - where, how, what and why, are questions I'm constantly asking.
As an author, I was quickly told, and then constantly reminded, that social media is a must to keep in contact with my readers. I do love that engagement with you. Writing is such a solitary occupation. As I work, my only companions are my characters, who often are loud, pushy and noisy. So it's fun to be able to connect with readers in the real world.
But all this connection takes time - time away from my writing. Therefore, I need to ensure I'm making the best use of social media for you, my readers, while leaving me time to write those stories you love.
There are so many choices now - facebook, twitter, myspace, google, tumblr, quora, pinterest, hootsuite etc
How, where, why and what are swirling in my head. For instance, I just went and had a look at tumblr but have no idea how to make it work!
I'm  assuming you want to learn about my up and coming books, a little about me, and also giveaways and contests - but is that it?
So, I'm throwing the floor open to my readers. After all, I should be listening to you!
1. What social media do you use and why?
2. What are you looking for when you engage with an author?
3. How much time, or how often, do you spend on your favorite social media platform?
4. And what do you want to hear from me (if anything)?
Leave a comment and let me know what you think about social media, and I'll give away a copy of one of my eBooks - your pick - to three commenters! Spread the blog link and help me get opinions from loads of readers. Open internationally, closing June 30th.
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 Congratulations to Stella - Random Org picked comment number one as the winner! I've emailed Stella.
I can remember the exact moment I learned there was such a thing as an Italian man.
I live in New Zealand and Italian men are few and far between. I was about twenty-one years old and it was the character, Vinnie, from Wise Guys (going back a few years). He was the first Italian I fell in love with. Since then, there have been many, many Latin hunks on my radar, and when I actually went to Italy—ooh la la. But that’s another story…One I'm not sharing. Not until we get to know each other better.
Here are my top 10 reasons why I love Italian men:
1. They speak the language of love
2. They Understated Style - the way they dress makes you want to undress them
3. Sex Appeal
 4. Dark and handsome
5. Charm – kiss my hand, old fashioned charm
6. Warm eyes that sparkle with the joys of life
7. They always smell divine – no Old Spice for them, more like Dolce & Gabbana
8. Dinner out means eating Italian food
9. They understand the value and tradition of family
10. They’re just too smooth to move—irresistible!
You only have to look at the famous Italian designers like Max Mara or Dolce & Gabbana to understand that they know how to make a woman look  good! A hot Italian on my arm is an accessory I’d love to own. And I’m not alone…
Plus, in surveys of the best lovers in the world, they are, if not number one, pretty close to it.
So, is it any surprise that for my first contemporary, I decided on an Italian for my hero, Dante Lombardi, in the The Reluctant Wife.
Dante is a typical, wealthy Italian, tall, dark and extremely handsome. He’s a little bit arrogant and a whole lot sexy! Read an excerpt of his forceful personality here..
I’m giving away a $10 eGift Card (Amazon or B&N) to one lucky commenter. Just tell me what other attributes you'd find in an Italian hero, or post a picture on my Facebook page of your hot Italian, or tell me why you loved Dante, in THE RELUCTANT WIFE, if you’ve read the book. Closes 16 June 2013, open internationally.
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Dear readers
 Tattoos - are they art or something else?
Anyone who reads Regency historical romances, for that matter any historical romance, will note that there were acceptable behaviors and norms of the time. Even over the last fifty years what’s acceptable behaviors, clothes, language etc. have changed dramatically.
I know I’ve laughed at the Society norms of the 1800’s, such as widows having to wear black for the year of morning, or men and woman having to wear gloves at all times so that skin is not touching skin etc
So I found it interesting today that a New Zealand Maori has been denied employment with Air NZ because she has a cultural Ta Moko tattoo visible on her arm that might be displayed in certain uniforms.
The language of Ta Moko is used to design a unique piece of body art expressing aspects that relate to the wearer, such as family etc. The lady in question’s Ta Moko was a graphic interpretation of her children.
I can understand Air NZ not wanting a winking sailor, or a naked lady riding a Harley motorbike, or a home-drawn LOVE carved on each knuckle, but since the rise of professional tattoo parlors, tattoos have now become an art form, and in this instance a graphic representation of culture.
Tattoos are obviously a taboo, or are they?
I suggest Air NZ needs to change with the times. It appears their advertising and marketing department has, so Air NZ obviously wants  the public to perceive them as modern and hip.
This from her interview in the paper today:
She said it was a double standard from an airline whose logo is a koru – a Maori symbol. Heavily tattooed NZ singer Gin Wigmore has appeared in Air NZ ads, as have numerous inked All Blacks.
Ms Nathan said she never thought her ta moko - depicting her heritage and her two children would limit her career choices.
Even ten years ago tattoos were frowned upon, now they are common place. I can’t for the life of me see how a cultural tattoo, professionally done would offend anyone. This was Air NZ’s reply...
Air New Zealand said last night that tattoos were seen as "frightening or intimidating" in many cultures.
Hmmm – perhaps I’ve simply got the brains to understand that what I see on her arm might have cultural significance. Or maybe I’m more tolerant of changing social norms.
What do you think? Should tattoos be allowed on cabin crew? Are they an art form? Would you be offended by a Air NZ Flight Attendant with a cultural tattoo on their arm?
Click the link to read the full article. It's caused a ruckus here in NZ, with even the Prime Minister saying Air NZ needs to revisit their hiring policy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10886641
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Dear readers
 Have you noticed hero traits usually don’t differ across the genres? There is a certain type of man we all fall in love with. Sure, we usually write them as tall, gorgeous and charismatic, but we like them to have substance when they open their mouths.
We love our heroes to be compassionate, intelligent, humorous, selflessness, tough but tender, determined, and fearless when it comes to protecting the ones he loves.
If we delve deeper across genres, those qualities morph into other differences. Some books call for the hero to be extremely wealthy and domineering, or they have special powers like shape-shifting, or they are over the top dominant alpha males with dangerous jobs like fire-fighting, or the beta male who quietly gets on and saves the heroine without too much fuss, or, as in historicals, they are extremely arrogant peers of the realm.
In the Regency period, heroes tend to be very alpha. Not always, but it’s hard to have a believable peer of the realm who is not alpha. The world lay at their feet. It was impossible not to get a god like complex, or at least become extremely confident bordering on arrogant. Kind of like today’s movie or singing super-stars.
Alpha heroes are usually devilishly handsome men, who start their journey by seeing women as ‘disposal pleasures rather than meaningful pursuits’ as said by the heroine, Vesper Lynd, in James Bond’s, Casino Royale.
Since hero traits in romance are very similar, how do we make our readers fall in love with our hero, in particular?
The crux is to have a believable and sustainable emotional conflict. If you nail this, you can make your reader fall in love with your hero (and heroine).
For example, in INVITATION TO SCANDAL, Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, is trying to clear his late father of treason. He’s all about honor and atoning for his father’s perceived sins, in order for his mother and sister to be accepted within Society.
Rufus’s journey sees him facing the dilemma of what constitutes honor. How far is he prepared to go to restore his family’s honor? Can he sacrifice his own honor to save those he loves?
In my first contemporary, THE RELUCTANT WIFE, Conte Dante Lombardi, feels the weight of tradition. He’s the last male heir and without a son, the family loses their title and estates. Unfortunately, his simple solution of marrying to procure an heir backfires, and when his lasted test results arrive, he realizes he’s running out of time. Desperation sees him blackmailing his errant wife back into his bed!
It’s the combination of internal conflict/fears and the relationship between the hero and heroine that drives their growth and their journey towards their happy ever after.
There are many types of heroes, yet, for me, it’s the journey the hero takes because of, and with the heroine, that makes us completely love him.
What is your favorite trait in a hero and why? What romantic hero best demonstrates that trait?
Don't forget to stop buy my previous blog and tell me about your favorite tropes - you could win a copy of The RELUCTANT WIFE!
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Market Trends in Romance Books. I want to know...
 As with any product, readers’ tastes and preferences change over time. Traditional Publishers have known this for years. So why is it such a hot topic at the moment? I’ve seen authors bemoaning the fact they have to change their writing preference – they don’t. But they may no longer sell as many books if they don’t. Trends and tastes change. You only have to look at music, clothes etc
Many authors believe we are in one of those significant change periods. There has been a lot of talk about what readers really want to read. What genres are they asking for, buying loads of, or, what are their hot selling favorite books and why?
I think this topic is discussed more often now because of the rise in self-publishing. When authors traditionally publish, most publishing houses tell authors what they are looking for, and we assume they have done research on what readers wanted. However, if you self-publish for a living, you have to follow trends yourself.
That’s why browsing readers’ forums, going to reader conferences like RT Book Reviews and RomCon are so important. I like chatting with readers on Facebook, twitter and other social media platforms. I ask readers to email me and tell me what they liked or didn’t like about my books, and what they are looking for in a story. It helps me deliver a ‘marketable’ product.
At the moment the buzzword is ‘sex’ and lots of it. Fifty Shades of Grey was a trailblazer and it appears women love the sexier reads. If so, and if I want to appeal to my readers, which I do, after all I want to write something they wish to buy, then perhaps it might be a good idea to ramp up the hotness. That doesn’t mean I have to write erotica. I can if I want! That’s the point. I just can't expect it to sell necessarily.
I’ve always tended to write sensual, sexy reads because that's the type of story I like to read myself, and it also suits my heroes who are always strong alpha males. In fact, I’ve been surprised when some reviewers of my books call them historical erotica!
But I don’t have to fundamentally change what I love to write. I DO follow the market and take precautions to ensure if one genre becomes less popular I have another genre as well. I write both historical and contemporary romances.
Although I write what I’d love to read and I can’t help the type of characters and stories that pop into my head, I will always take note of what readers want because they are my customers.
As one of my fellow writing friends said, “There is no point in railing against readers tastes and preferences – they are the audience, and if you’re not reaching them, figure out why and then decide if you want to change what you do to build a bigger reader tribe. Your choice – but if continue to do what clearly has limited appeal, no point getting mad.'
So, here is your chance. Readers, feel free to tell me what you look for in a story and what type of stories you're tending to read more of. What and which authors can't you get enough of?
One commenter will win an eBook copy of my contemporary romance, THE RELUCTANT WIFE. (Closes 31 May 2013 - open internationally)
Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother's heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.
Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him. As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.
RT Book Reviews
Genre: Contemporary Romance, General Contemporary Romance, E-book
Sensuality: HOT
RT Rating - 4 STARS
Evans’ offering is an entertaining one. Her main characters are a wonderful match, from their stubborn natures and their inability to communicate with each other, to the chemistry that ignites between them. The author pairs this with magical scenery that will have readers yearning to be in Italy with Abby and Dante.
Abby Taylor is swallowing her pride to ask the husband she left three years ago to loan her the money for her grandmother’s heart operation. Conte Dante Lombardi needs a child to secure his legacy and who better then to have that child with then his wife. Desperate, Abby agrees to Dante’s terms — until she learns why he wants the child and that she may not be able to give him one. As passion flares to life between them Abby and Dante will have to learn to talk to each other and trust each other in order to obtain their happily ever after. (ENTANGLED INDULGENCE, Dec., dl., $2.99)
*Web Exclusive Review*
Reviewed By: Sabrina Cooper
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Happy Mother's Day!
 I have my mum staying with me this weekend and it's been lovely. We both enjoy the autumn sunshine walks, the lying on the couch reading our kindles and then the evening drinks where we discuss what's right with the world.
My mum is my biggest fan. She is a ferocious reader and is always keeping me up to date with new writers, new themes and what she likes etc. She even grammar checks my work and is a fabulous beta reader for me.
I did take her out for lunch yesterday (for mother's day in New Zealand), but everything was booked and we ended up coming home, sitting outside in the sun, and looking through the vines, out over the calm sea. We had a sandwich and a cup of tea, and discussed the plot of my current work in progress, A Promise of More for Loveswept.
I wanted to add more in the first chapter about my heroine but she told me it didn't need more and she understood perfectly who the heroine was and what motivated her.
It was the perfect day.
I try to see my mum as often as I can. We play bridge together at least once a month and talk on the phone once a week. I know I probably take her for granted and I love that Mother's Day makes me remember that I shouldn't.
Happy mother's day, mum! Thanks for being my mother, friend and advisor. It's a role that inspires me and humbles me, and I look forward to many more years of celebrating your day!
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01May
Book Lover Buffet Guest Authors
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Dear Readers
I love meeting new authors, and since joining in the Book Lovers Buffet 99c sale that's currently running, I've met three new historical authors. Come say hello, and check out their books on sale for $0.99.
 Rogue's Hostage by Linda McLaughlin
Colonial America -
His hostage. Her destiny. In the midst of a war that threatens the fabric of her life, Mara finds herself torn between love and loyalty.
In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupre's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.
French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left. But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.
 Wear Black by Eilis Flynn and Heather Hiestand have released their first collaboration, Wear Black, a Victorian England-set paranormal historical with a romance subplot.Death did not end his service to the British Empire
Beneath Windsor Castle, a shadow network of immortals keeps the British Empire safe. Army captain Lucas Fitzrobbins becomes one of them when the cure for his mortal wound turns out to be a vampirism potion. He is abruptly inducted into the secret St. George Protector Society…and it’s not long before the Society’s newest recruit discovers it has dark mysteries as well…
Marked as a target
Hampering Lucas’s efforts to adjust to his after-life is An Tighearn operative Nellie Clifton, a beautiful and enigmatic assassin, who has marked Lucas as her latest quarry. But then…
Secrets are threatened to be revealed
A brutal killer stalks the seamy underside of London. Protectors and assassins alike must leave the shadows to find the fiend before their existence is revealed to the world. Tasked with the job of tracking down the murderer, Lucas discovers that the crazed butcher may have connections that go to the heart of the British Empire. One thing is certain:
The Queen must never know..
 Tame a Wild Wind by Cynthia Woolf - Amazon Bestselling Western Author
Love is never easy...
Former Texas Ranger Sam Colter isn't looking for love. Neither is pretty widow Cassie O'Malley. But when a man stalking Sam for killing his brother kidnaps Cassie, Sam discovers it's more than duty that sends him racing to her rescue. Will Cassie realize the truth about her own feelings before it's too late?
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Dear Readers
The Book Lovers Buffet $0.99 SALE presents To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield and 149 other books from contemporaries to historicals to  erotic. For three days only - 1 May to 3 May. Come and meet new authors, have the choice of eBooks and enjoy the romantic feast. Loads of contests and prizes on offer too.
Amazon
All Romance
B&N
Kobo
To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield - Book #1 Wicked Wagers Trilogy (Top 5 Finalist in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012)
A spirited heroine, a rakish duke, and three wagers that will change their lives…
Let the Wicked Wagers Begin…
Lady Caitlin Southall’s temper has finally got the better of her. She’s challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn’t win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.
Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father’s pile of rubble, the terms are set. And he’ll do anything to win—except fall in love...
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I get asked a lot about the marketing side of the writing business. After all, authors are all readers. "How can I position my book to attract readers," is a question I'm often asked. A lot of authors focus on trying to attract reviews, which is a good tactic, but they forget to do the basic ground work first. So, my post today is to all those readers who are also authors. I hope it's useful. Readers, tell me if you agree with me!
We all know reviews can sell books. Word of mouth can lift a book into the best-sellers lists i.e. The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst demonstrates this perfectly. A previously self-published author, published by a new publishing company, eBook only, hits the USA Today and other best seller’s lists.
But as an author we can’t always control reviews or word of mouth. So what can we control?
I’m a marketing graduate and I’ve worked in senior marketing roles for many, many years. I was pretty good at my job; do you want to know why? I’ll tell you anyway. I could always put myself in my customers’ shoes. After all, we are all somebody’s customer. That’s something we have in common. All authors are also readers. It should make our job easier but it often doesn’t. Sometimes we’re too close to the story. So let’s take a step back.
Marketing to a reader should be simple because we are readers. So let’s start by thinking about how a reader buys a book.
In-store, readers are often attracted by a cover. Don’t underestimate the power of a cover. Come on. We’ve all gravitated to a beautiful cover. We may not always buy the book but it does help get a reader to pick up your book. Covers should reflect the genre and type of story you’ve written. If you write inspirational, you’re not going to have scantily glad people in a sensual embrace. That’s not what appeals to your market. If you write paranormal, you usually have darker covers with paranormal elements. Often the big six publishers don’t give you any say in your cover, but you can always give them feedback. Whether they listen to you or not is up to them. Personally, in the world of self-publishing, authors are beginning to know more about marketing to their readers than the publishers. Publishers should listen to their authors more.
If you’re self-publishing, I thoroughly recommend employing a professional to design your cover. There are many great designers out there and the costs are quite competitive. In addition, if you have beta readers, put the cover past them for feedback. In short, make sure you have a fabulous stand out cover.
Online a cover still draws readers. How do I know this? I know because I’m still drawn to great covers when I’m surfing the online bookstores. Plus, when I read any online bookstore’s newsletter, I have to read it with the covers downloaded, and often I’ll stop at a book’s blurb if a cover grabs me, especially if the cover is genre specific. Is this what you do too?
Designing a cover that works online is tough. It needs to attract a reader or clearly show your brand, in thumbnail size. That’s tough but very doable. Look at Courtney Milan’s covers. She spends a lot of time and money on her covers and you can tell. She gets her beta readers to give feedback. Her brand is prominent even on very small thumbnail images. Her covers target her readers perfectly.
Your cover is advertising, and prime brand building, real estate. Your brand is what you should be building, so your name should always be more prominent than the title. In addition, you should build a similar look and feel so readers recognize that this book looks like one of your books.
Now - the title. I will often pick up a book if the title grabs me. For instance, I love a clever title. I just looked at the Romance best seller list on Amazon. One jumped out at me straight away. ‘She Owns the Knight’, a clever play on words that tells me everything I needed to know about what that story involves. It’s obviously a medieval and the woman is in control. Sounds perfect to me. I love a strong heroine.
In addition, a title can tell a reader exactly what the book is about without having to read the blurb. For instance, my first self-published novella series (reached #3 Amazon Bestseller Books Regency) I called Wicked Wagers. The first book was called To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. It’s obviously a historical and it’s a series about wagers. And it’s probably sensual (Wicked).
So what happens once you’ve got a reader’s attention with your cover or title, and they’ve picked up your book! If they’re like me, they read the blurb, or as I call it the marketing pitch. A blurb can contain anything you like. Its core job is to make the reader want to buy your book or at least read the first chapter. It should set the tone of the book and give the reader a promise about the story to come. There is no point writing a witty and funny blurb if the book is actually dark and gritty. You’ll attract the wrong readers and they’ll be disappointed.
Here’s my blurb for To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield.
Let the Wicked Wagers Begin...
Lady Caitlin Southall's temper has finally got the better of her. She's challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn't win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.
Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father's pile of rubble, the terms are set. And he'll do anything to win--except fall in love...
My target market of Regency readers will recognize this type of story. I’ve sold thousands of copies of this self-published book at $2.99 (without any free days) so something obviously worked.
A blurb is not a step-by-step overview of the story. It should give the reader a sense of the type of story, but leave them having to pick up the book to see what happens. It should entice and tease the reader. Is there a hook or question the reader just has to investigate in order to find out what happens? In To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, I want to know what the wager was. Then who won?
That leads us onto the next piece of the marketing face – the first chapter or sample. As a reader, I know you have about 3 pages to grab me. Making an emotionally exciting first chapter is the key. Layering can help you with that. What do I mean by layering? I mean start with a way to make the reader ask questions and want to know the answers. Then keep layering on more questions.
Let’s look at the first page of To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield.
“If you’re going to point that delectable rump at a man you’re asking for trouble.”
Caitlin cursed under her breath and ignored the cultured baritone voice goading her from behind. She remained bent, focused on her task, determined to clear the stone from her horse’s hoof. Still, irritation dribbled down her back. If she were a cat her hackles would have risen.
She knew who the voice belonged to. She’d heard the melodically ducal tones in church and the village store often enough. Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, consummate rake and the most powerful man in the Kingdom next to the Prince Regent. The man determined to see her father ruined.
First question – why does the Duke want to ruin her father? Why is she not frightened of him? Why is she unimpressed by him?
Of all the damnable luck. Why did she have to run into the likes of Dangerfield on her very first gallop upon Ace of Spades? She rarely rode her horses off the estate, and certainly not dressed in men’s clothing. Why did he spot her today of all days? She’d needed to put the stallion through rigorous race-condition tests and had ridden farther than she’d envisaged.
Why is she dressed in men’s clothing and why is she riding the stallion off her estate? Why does she have to test the horse?
“You do realize men love a challenge and you, my lovely, are a challenge incarnate. I would have your name.”
It was her turn to smile. “I’m surprised you don’t recognize me.”
They’ve met before – where? Why doesn’t he recognize her?
Go through your opening few pages, and with a pink highlighter, mark the questions you’ve raised for your reader. Do you have plenty of questions? Do the questions grow as the chapter unfolds? Look at some of your favorite books. See if they layered their story. What is it that drew you in? Enticing questions is what will keep a reader reading. People are inherently nosey and can’t resist wanting to know more. That is what will make the reader buy the book – wanting to know more, wanting to learn about your interesting characters.
But it doesn’t finish there. You have to deliver on the promise you’ve given the reader in the title, cover, blurb and opening chapter – give them an un-put-a-down-able story. They’ll love you for it. This is the key to building a writing career. Make the reader want your next book. I often put the teaser of the next book in the series in the epilogue.
Here’s the end of epilogue in Invitation to Scandal, my May 2012 Kensington Brava release.
Samuel kept to the shadows of the ballroom, careful to keep his expression bland and drawing limited attention to himself. He longed to destroy the man who’d taken his master from him.
It wasn’t until he’d followed the couple back to Hascombe, the Strathmore estate, that his plan for revenge formed and crystallized. Now with heightened anticipation he watched the young, dark-haired beauty rise on tiptoe, kiss her brother’s cheek, and, with a gay laugh, flounce away to join her friends.
Madeline. Rufus had a sister. A sister he protected with a ferocious and all-consuming fervor.
Madeline. A cold, cruel smile curved Samuel’s lips.
Revenge would never taste so sweet.
See how I’ve set up the next book? I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve had about this little snippet from those who have read Invitation to Scandal. They can’t wait for Invitation to Passion, due out in the next couple of months.
Building the readers curiosity is what makes them buy the next book and invest in you as an author. Nothing sells the next book like the satisfaction the reader gets from the last book. Ensure you have a quality product from cover, to title, to blurb to sample chapters, to the full book. A good book is what gets the reviews and the word of mouth.
All of the above is what can get the reader to pick your book up in the first place, for if no one reads it, they can’t review it or talk about it.
Good luck.
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Dear Readers
 My blog winner is Marsha Dawson - I've emailed her. Thank you to everyone who kindly shared their views on eBooks...
Celebrating Earth Day - April 22. I'd love to say that I read eBooks because I'm thinking of the trees. I suppose that's one of the reasons, but it's not the main one. The main reason is convenience.
A debate still rages regarding the rise of eBook versus Paper. I used to always read books. I thought I always would, then I received my first Kindle and the world changed! Here's how...
1. I can read without glasses. Have you snuggled up in bed and tried to lie on your side reading  with glasses? They dig into your face. I hate it. Kindle allows me to set the print size, making print big enough to read without glasses has made reading in bed enjoyable again.
2. I can buy a book to read immediately, wherever I am. Awesome. Not having to go to the book store or library.
3. Living in NZ meant access to most books was limited to what our one bookstore chain decided to bring into the country. Now I have instant access to millions of books.
4. Let's not forget price. The access to great reads at fabulous prices, and I'm not talking soley about free books, but books at under $8 means I'm reading more. I'm talking about fair prices for the author and reader. Ebooks are usually under $10 - that's a cheap afternoon/evening's/weeknd entertainment.
 5. The range of stories is increasing. eBooks have allowed a flourishing self-publishing market to develop, and the range and types of stories available is no longer controlled by what the publishers consider is a marketable story. Readers now have choices...
6. It helps the planet - no trees involved. No fuel used for delivering the books to books stores. No fuel used by readers driving to the book store etc
7. Easy to take on holiday or when I'm travelling. Usually my suitcase is full of books. Now I carry on one small device and I have a library at my fingertips.
8. No one can see what I'm reading. Not that I ever really try to hide it, but it's nice to be mysterious...or it's a good conversation starter - 'whatcha reading...'
9. I never lose a book. If my Kindle breaks, all my stories are housed on Amazon and I can download them onto another device. I also don't have to have huge storage space. I no longer have overflowing bookcases that make my house look a mess.
10. Okay - purely selfish, but eBooks have allowed me to build a career and make a living. Yip,  eBooks for authors has been like moving from a corset to a bra - more comfortable, easier, and convenient. I can tell the stories I want, sell them at a fair price and earn money. Long may it last!
Without the rise of eBooks, Readers would have access to fewer stories, fewer readers and higher priced books. It seems to me a winner all around...
Okay - now you can let me have it. I'm sure there are those that strongly disagree with me, or maybe you're a convert too. Let em know what you love about your preferred reading format, book or eBook and why.
What I'd really like to know is how you decide what books to buy? I used to go to a bookstore and browse. How do you browse now?
I'm giving away a copy of INVITATION TO SCANDAL, in book or eBook format (or a choice of any of my books if you already have it).
Don't forget to visit the other stops on the Just Romance Me Earth Day blog hop and be into win amazing prizes. There is also one huge prize for the hop.
INVITATION TO SCANDAL
was a TRR Top Pick 5 star review...and a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick 4.5 star review... Read the reviews here
Her secrets are coming undone...
Plagued by scandalous rumors, Rheda Kerrich will stop at nothing to restore her reputation and make an honest living for herself-and she's determined to do it without a husband. But times are hard, and smuggling is a risky though profitable trade. So when a dashing agent for the English government catches her in the act, she desperately resists his charms and conceals her illicit profession. Until she realizes he may be the key to her ultimate freedom-and unbridled passion.
Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, has never had trouble beguiling the ladies of Kent. When his search for "Dark Shadow," a cunningly elusive smuggler, leads him to alluring and headstrong Rhe, her objections to his amorous advances merely incite a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. Soon, they'll find the very secrets driving them apart could ensnare them in a love they can't escape…
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 Dear Readers
Welcome to the RomCon Tax Day Relief Blog Hop STARTS 15th April, 2013
Death and taxes, who first penned that line? According to my research it was Daniel Defoe, in The Political History of the Devil, 1726:
"Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more firmly believed."
Click the RonCon image to see the list of other participants...
I love Daniel Defoe, I was inspired by one of his poems to write my second Regency romance. INVITATION TO SCANDAL popped into my head from reading a Daniel Defoe poem about the town of Deal in Kent, England, and the towns infamous reputation for smuggling.
Her secrets are coming undone...
Plagued by scandalous rumors, Rheda Kerrich will stop at nothing to restore her reputation and make an honest living for herself-and she's determined to do it without a husband. But times are hard, and smuggling is a risky though profitable trade. So when a dashing agent for the English government catches her in the act, she desperately resists his charms and conceals her illicit profession. Until she realizes he may be the key to her ultimate freedom-and unbridled passion.
Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, has never had trouble beguiling the ladies of Kent. When his search for "Dark Shadow," a cunningly elusive smuggler, leads him to alluring and headstrong Rhe, her objections to his amorous advances merely incite a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. Soon, they'll find the very secrets driving them apart could ensnare them in a love they can't escape.
INVITATION TO SCANDAL was a TRR Top Pick 5 star review...and a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick 4.5 star review... Read the reviews here
However, I think Daniel missed the boat on his quote of death and taxes being the only certain things in life. For I think you need to add LOVE to the things certain in life. Think about it. For the majority of people, at some point in their lives, LOVE is all around…tee hee
So, let’s forget about the money that we may have to hand over to the tax department, and focus on one of the more fabulous aspects of human life – LOVE!
Grab your favourite beverage, a piece of something decadent like Hokey Pokey cheese cake, and a new romance novel, and slip into another world where you know there will be a HAPPY EVER AFTER. Taxes and death have been sent to purgatory (well they are in my books anyway).
I can’t supply the drink or food from here in New Zealand, but I can supply the book.
I’m giving away a SIGNED copy of INVITATION TO SCANDAL in book or ebook format, and a $20 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N, to help ease the pain of tax time! Simply follow the instructions in the rafflecopter below...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The winner of my birthday giveaway was Alisha Woods - I've emailed you about your prize.
Happy Birthday to me!
April 3rd is my birthday. I just missed out on being an April Fool's baby! And of course it's my twin sister, Leigh's birthday too. It's so much fun having someone to share my special day. It does mean I have to buy Leigh a present on my birthday though. A 'give one and get one back' sort of thing. Usually Leigh and I agree to let each other buy our own present. It ensures we always get what we want.
I'm not telling you how old I am, but can you guess? I'm now on the wrong side of half a century!
Anyway, I intend to spend the day by the pool, having some friends over for the afternoon and generally having as much birthday cake as I can. Maybe a bottle of champers with dinner.
I want you to share in my special day too, so one lucky commenter will WIN a copy of Invitation to Scandal in book or eBook format (or your choice of a book of mine that you haven't read). Simply tell me what you'd love to do on your birthday or a special place you'd like to visit for your birthday. Open internationally. Winner drawn on Sunday 7th April.
INVITATION TO SCANDAL - TRR Best Historical 2012 Nominee
Her secrets are coming undone...
Plagued by scandalous rumors, Rheda Kerrich will stop at nothing to restore her reputation and make an honest living for herself-and she's determined to do it without a husband. But times are hard, and smuggling is a risky though profitable trade. So when a dashing agent for the English government catches her in the act, she desperately resists his charms and conceals her illicit profession. Until she realizes he may be the key to her ultimate freedom-and unbridled passion.
Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, has never had trouble beguiling the ladies of Kent. When his search for "Dark Shadow," a cunningly elusive smuggler, leads him to alluring and headstrong Rhe, her objections to his amorous advances merely incite a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. Soon, they'll find the very secrets driving them apart could ensnare them in a love they can't escape…
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 Happy Easter Holidays
Easter is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated weekends. Schools close for 4-5 days and stores close on Easter Sunday. It’s illegal to trade on Easter Sunday in NZ. It’s a day of celebrating what you believe in.
I wonder what families did in Regency England. There certainly wouldn’t have been any chocolate Easter bunnies or eggs. But they would have had hot cross buns.
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten hot or toasted during Lent, beginning with the evening of Shrove Tuesday (the evening before Ash Wednesday) to Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the Crucifixion.
Traditionally they are made with sweet currants, but here in New Zealand we’ve got a bit adventurous – my favorite is chocolate hot cross buns, followed by coffee flavored. Do you like the non-traditional flavors?
Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year, particularly if "Half for you and half for  me, Between us two shall goodwill be" is said at the time.
I think that’s a super tradition. I’m off to toast my hot cross bun for breakfast and then take some around to share with friends.
Speaking of Chocolate – don’t forget my contest at Fresh Fiction. A Little Bit Naughty - WIN a copy of Wicked Wagers, The Complete Trilogy and a decant parcel of Whittaker’s, World Famous in New Zealand, chocolate. Closes 8th April 2013.
And, and… The Romance Review Book Voting closes SOON -on 31 March 2013. INVITATION TO SCANDAL is up for Best Historical 2013. There are many fabulous historical authors to vote for – so let’s show some love.
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Dear Readers,
I'm joining in the fun over at the Fresh Fiction Epic Spring Break contest. Heaps of contests from loads of authors, with the chance to win fabulous prizes....
My contest is called A Little Bit Naughty and you can win a BOOK copy of Wicked Wagers, the Complete Trilogy and a boat load of Whittaker's (world famous in New Zealand's) chocolates...
Simply fill in your details on the contest form and you might win this very decadent prize. There is nothing better than reading a sensual Regency romance and indulging in scrumptious chocolate.
Wicked Wagers, The Complete Trilogy is a book version of all my Wicked Wagers novellas.
A compilation of Award Winning author Bronwen Evans's, fabulous Regency historical romances. Wicked Wagers trilogy, the complete set. Three notorious rakes and three determined ladies collide in this set of three linked Regency romance stories, all based around a series of scandalous dares, wagers, and challenges.
To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield (Top 5 FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012)
Lady Caitlin Southall's temper has finally got the better of her. She's challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn't win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.
Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father's pile of rubble, the terms are set. And he'll do anything to win––except fall in love...
To Wager the Marquis of Wolverstone
Marcus Danvers, the Marquis of Wolverstone, is renowned for his cynical demeanor. It's rumored that long ago, a beautiful woman broke his heart. Now he lives life for pleasure. He's the consummate, handsome rake. If anyone tries to get too close—let's just say his bark is as bad as his bite. That is, until the beautiful, as she is deceitful, Contessa Orsini re–enters his life with a wager he cannot resist. When he wins, he'll have Sabine exactly where he wants her—in his bed and at his mercy.
Forced to return to England and avenge her father's death, Sabine knows the one person who can help her is the only man she has ever loved—Marcus. The man who hates her with as much passion as he once loved her. But Marcus doesn't know that by winning the wager he'll also be getting his revenge. For there are some secrets best left buried...
To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood - Top Pick Night Owl Reviews
Henry St. Giles, the Earl of Cravenswood, longs to find his soul mate. Now that his two best friends, both reformed rakes, are happily married, the need becomes an obsession. When they challenge him to find a wife by the end of the season or marry his neighbor, the innocently alluring Lady Amy Shipton, he can't believe his luck. He wins, either way. But a darkened garden, a case of mistaken identity, a drunken kiss, and a dropped emerald earring, leads Henry on a Cinderella hunt. He knows the woman he held in his arms could be the one he's searched for all his life. He just has to find her.
Lady Amy Shipton is determined to marry for love instead of sharing her husband like her mother did. So why did she let her handsome neighbor and romantic fantasy, the Sinful Saint as he's called for his bedroom prowess, seduce her in his garden? And what can she do when in the middle of their passionate encounter; he whispers another woman's name. Now Henry is hunting the owner of the earring Amy left behind, and she's determined to retrieve it before her identity is revealed. She's not about to give her father the ammunition he desperately wants to force her down the aisle.
Praise for the little bit naughty Wicked Wagers series:
To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, Top 5 finalist in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012
RT Book Reviews 4 Stars – To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood. Evans' latest offering is a doozy and an atypical historical romance. She leads off with a hero that is actually looking for love and a woman who is very strong–willed and independent. Readers will love the quick–witted dialogue and obviously close relationship between the characters.
Night Owl Reviews Top Pick 4.5 Stars – To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood is a fitting and wonderful end to a sexy and fun series. The Wicked Wagers series has been an entertaining romp as three confirmed rakes find their matches in three very different women
Contest ends 8th April 2013.
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 Dear readers - AND THE WINNER IS, AS DRAWN BY MY NEPHEW, JORDON, MAGGIE LE PAGE...
Please welcome my friend and fellow author, Angi Morgan. Angi writes fabulous romantic suspense stories for Harlequin Intrigue.
She's kindly taken the time today to pop by and introduce her latest Intrigue release, DANGEROUS MEMORIES. Her book has received rave reviews and it is one of my 2013 MUST READS...
DANGEROUS MEMORIES by Angi Morgan
THE MORE SHE REMEMBERS…
About the murder? That's where the marshal comes in. But about Levi himself? Jo knows how dangerous it is to put her heart on the line, especially to him.
THE MORE HE HAS TO PROTECT HER…
And himself. Shielding her from bullets is easier than shielding his heart from what will be required of him when Jo goes into WITSEC.
~ ~ ~
“From the echoing shots in a cemetery straight through the hair-raising conclusion, this story of missing memories and murders will rattle readers from the opening pages, as they guess and guess again who the real culprit is.” 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times Magazine
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Thanks for having me today Bronwen and for helping me to introduce the Australian/New Zealand release of Dangerous Memories. My book is coupled with Cassie Miles' Hostage Midwife. As a result, the cover reflects Cassie's story instead of mine. So I'm including the North American cover to give you more of glimpse how Jo & Levi look--believe me, these models nailed the physical descriptions. I hope the scene grabs you and (blatant promo here) makes you dart to a store and purchase. (LOL) I definitely had fun with these characters.
~ ~ ~
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 Levi's muscles grew taut and he may have sucked in his gut. Jolene wasn't certain, but it was nice to think he was showing off. Even endorphins couldn't shake the eerie feeling from her dream. She needed to move more than the two feet available in the compartment. "When is the train going to leave?"
"Any minute. We can talk about your dream." Levi stretched a white undershirt over his head.
"No talking. Not yet."
She tried to dart to the side, make it to the corner before he could move again, but bad timing chose that exact moment for the train to ease into motion. She fell against his body. His bare arms quickly wrapped her in a protective embrace, leaving the shirt stuck around his neck. Her hot cheek pressed against the smooth cool skin of his shoulder.
"It's okay, Jo."
The way his hand skimmed her hair and the back of her neck, soothed her like a drug. She could become addicted very quickly to this level of comfort. Her hands found the natural curves of the muscles in his back. The vibration of the train made her toes tingle, at least that was the most logical explanation. If she didn't have that reasoning, then she was tingly all over because he was holding her.
Oh, no. Not again. He'd think she'd done it on purpose, to get close to him. She jumped away from him as quickly as she'd landed there. She just should have left before her hands had wandered around his strong sinewy back. One step and the couch was against her knees. Not far enough.
She couldn't let him talk or touch her. She sidestepped his body and shuffled to the sink to splash water on her face. Stay awake. Keep it together. Just ignore him until he shares answers. He moved toward the window, slipping the curtain open an inch with that long finger that had slid over the curve of her collarbone.
It couldn't be happening again. She refused to believe she still had a crush on the handsome Levi Cooper.
~ ~ ~
Angi Morgan writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi is a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.
~ ~ ~
FIND ANGI
Website Connect on Facebook FB Fan Page Twitter @AngiMorganAuthr
A Picture A Day Goodreads Book Trailers on YouTube
BUY THE BOOK: Mills & Boon Kindle Nook
~ ~ ~
Angi's giving away a copy of her book through Book Depository. Just leave a blog comment to be eligible. HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT A BOOK FROM THE COVER ALONE?
Thanks for stopping downunder today!
The book is fabulous and it's so kind to offer one lucky reader a copy!
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08Feb
Entangled in Love Hop
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Congratulations to Karina - who was my lucky winner...I've emailed her about the prize.
I love the month of February - it's time to get Entangled in Love. I'm offering a $20 Gift Card plus a eCopy of my latest release The Reluctant Wife.
As a single gal, the day can be daunting. What if no cards come? I say screw that. Like most things I'm jumping in with both feet. So I've decided to do an ode to Valentine by selecting my dream fantasy Valentine's Day dates.... My top 5.
How do I love thee - let me count the men!
1. Hugh Jackman - he's my number one. Do I need to state why? I think not... he has it going on! Tall, dark and handsome and he appreciates older women, his wife is 8 years older than him!
2. Stephen Fry - what! I hear you ask. Well, I LOVE a man with intelligence and wit and boy does that man command the English language.
3. David Beckham - have you seen the latest YouTube clip. He has all the moves and a body to match!
4. Kelly Jones - lead singer of the Stereophonics. I could listen to his voice all day! It's so gravely it sends tingles over every inch of my body.
And finally number 5. James McAvoy because of the accent and he's so cute! I can just picture us in the Scottish Highlands...
Tell me who your top 5 are and be in to win $20 Gift Card plus a eCopy of my latest release The Reluctant Wife.
There are also heeeaps of other prizes to be won so check out who else is playing here.
To kick things off there's a mighty Twitter partaay on February 8th, 2013 at 9pm EST. The Hashtag to use is #EntangledInLove and there'll be Valentine’s day related questions with each question bringing prizes with it!
2. Fill in the hash-tag as #EntangledInLove. Fill in the hosts
@entangledpub @totalbookaholic @babsbookbistro @anjanavasan. Enter your twitter handle, follow the tweets, answer the questions and you may just get lucky!
Don’t forget to mention the #EntangledInLove hashtag in your replies!
Thanks for stopping by and happy Valentines! Hope you get showered in chocolates and happy endings!
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 It’s that time of year again. No, not tax time, thank goodness, a very romantic time, Valentine’s Day. I can hear men groaning all over the world. But does it really have to be such a chore. It’s the little things that count. I’d be happy if a man simply made me breakfast in bed or took me to my favorite movie.
Did you know that Saint Valentine was a third century Roman priest who was stoned and beheaded for secretly marrying soldiers who were not allowed to wed? Not very romantic is it?
It was however, Geoffrey Chaucer, in the middle ages England who started the idea of associating the day with romantic love. Lovers would give each other flowers or poetry. Since the 19th Century handwritten valentine’s have become the norm.
I wonder if any men, or women for that matter, still write each other a valentine’s poem? I’d absolutely love it if a man wrote me a simple heartfelt note, it doesn’t even have to be a poem, just something that demonstrates that he understands me and appreciates me.
For those of you out there thinking of writing your own Valentine’s day message instead of simply buying a card, here is one of my favorite heartfelt poems ‘Valentine’ by John Fuller. His novel Flying to Nowhere (1983), a historical fantasy, won the Whitbread First Novel Award, and was nominated for the Booker Prize. Rather than being a somber, I’ll die without you type of poem, it’s fun and really shows the depth of his feelings for his wife. I can picture a rake in one of my historical romances actually thinking this about his lover or wife, and planning to bath (no showers in 1800’s and do some of the things he mentions in this poem. Here’s a taste of his poem (I’ve cut some of it)…
The things about you I appreciate may seem indelicate:
I’d like to find you in the shower
And chase the soap for half an hour.
I’d like to have you in my power and see you eyes dilate.
I’d like to have your back to scour
And other parts to lubricate.
Sometimes I feel it is my fate
To chase you screaming up a tower or make you cower
By asking you to differentiate Nietzsche from Schopenhauer.
I’d like to successfully guess your weight and win you at a fÃte.
I’d like to offer you a flower.
I like the hair upon your shoulders,
Falling like water over boulders.
I like the shoulders, too: they are essential.
Your collar-bones have great potential
(I’d like all your particulars in folders marked Confidential).
I like your cheeks, I like your nose,
I like the way your lips disclose
The neat arrangement of your teeth
(Half above and half beneath) in rows.
I like your eyes, I like their fringes.
The way they focus on me gives me twinges.
Your upper arms drive me berserk.
I like the way your elbows work, on hinges.
I’d like you in my confidence.
I’d like to be your second look.
I’d like to let you try the French Defence and mate you with my rook.
I’d like to be your preference and hence
I’d like to be around when you unhook.
I’d like to be your only audience,
The final name in your appointment book, your future tense.
Go on, I challenge you to write something for the person you love this Valentine’s Day and put it in a handmade card. I’m sure whoever receives it will understand how special they are!
Email me a picture of your hand made card and I’ll draw one lucky winner who will win a copy of Wicked Wagers The Complete Trilogy (book or eBook). Entries close 14 February 2013.
PS. The Wicked Wagers cover (designed by Carrie Divine) is in the JABBIC contest. If you love it go and vote – it’s number 51 in historical category.
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02Feb
Jabbic Covers Contest
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I don't necessarily judge a book by it's cover, but I do know that certain covers make me stop and take a second look at a book.
If they're really good, I'll read the blurb and the sample. If they're absolutely gorgeous I might simply buy the book!
And I'm talking online as well as in a book store. Covers have impact in the virtual world too.
Want to spend a fun few minutes looking at beautiful covers. Go over to
https://jabbic.hbarwa.com/readers/
and judge the covers contest....My book, Wicked Wagers, is entry 51 in the historical section...
What do you think? Would it make you read the blurb? Or even better yet, would it make you buy the book?
WICKED WAGERS THE COMPLETE TRILOGY - now available in eBook and paperback
A compilation of Award Winning Author Bronwen Evans's fabulous Regency historical romances. Wicked Wagers trilogy, the complete set. Three notorious rakes and three determined ladies, collide in this set of three linked Regency romance stories, all based around a series of scandalous dares, wagers, and challenges.
Book one in the series, To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, was a TOP 5 FINALIST in the Kindle Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012
Lady Caitlin Southall's temper has finally got the better of her. She's challenged Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, the most notorious rake in all of England, to a wager. She wants her house back. The one her destitute father lost to Dangerfield in a card game. But if she doesn't win their bet, she not only loses her home, she loses her dignity and pride and damn it all, maybe her heart... For the handsome Duke has decreed, when he wins, she must spend the night in his bed.
Harlow Telford is amused by his hellion neighbor, Caitlin, or Cate to her friends, who seem to encompass everyone on earth except him. When she bursts into one of his private gatherings, he mistakes her for the entertainment. Her slap across his face sets him straight and raises the absurd desire to seduce the unconventional beauty into his bed. When she issues her daft challenge to win back her father's pile of rubble, the terms are set. And he'll do anything to win--except fall in love...
To Wager the Marquis of Wolverstone
Marcus Danvers, the Marquis of Wolverstone, is renowned for his cynical demeanor. It's rumored that long ago, a beautiful woman broke his heart. Now he lives life for pleasure. He’s the consummate, handsome rake. If anyone tries to get too close—let’s just say his bark is as bad as his bite. That is, until the beautiful, as she is deceitful, Contessa Orsini re-enters his life with a wager he cannot resist. When he wins, he’ll have Sabine exactly where he wants her—in his bed and at his mercy.
Forced to return to England and avenge her father’s death, Sabine knows the one person who can help her is the only man she has ever loved—Marcus. The man who hates her with as much passion as he once loved her. But Marcus doesn’t know that by winning the wager he’ll also be getting his revenge. For there are some secrets best left buried…
To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood
Henry St. Giles, the Earl of Cravenswood, longs to find his soul mate. Now that his two best friends, both reformed rakes, are happily married, the need becomes an obsession. When they challenge him to find a wife by the end of the season or marry his neighbor, the innocently alluring Lady Amy Shipton, he can’t believe his luck. He wins, either way. But a darkened garden, a case of mistaken identity, a drunken kiss, and a dropped emerald earring, leads Henry on a Cinderella hunt. He knows the woman he held in his arms could be the one he's searched for all his life. He just has to find her.
Lady Amy Shipton is determined to marry for love instead of sharing her husband like her mother did. So why did she let her handsome neighbor and romantic fantasy, the Sinful Saint as he's called for his bedroom prowess, seduce her in his garden? And what can she do when in the middle of their passionate encounter; he whispers another woman's name. Now Henry is hunting the owner of the earring Amy left behind, and she's determined to retrieve it before her identity is revealed. She's not about to give her father the ammunition he desperately wants to force her down the aisle.
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 If you’re reading my blog then you know I’m an author. I write romance novels. I grew up reading books and living in imaginary worlds. I often wonder if the books fed my imagination, and helped develop this joy of writing, or if I would always have had the skill for story-telling.
What I do know is that if I’d been born in certain parts of the world, I may, perhaps, never have had the joy of losing myself in any written story. Due to religion, poverty, customs etc I may not have been allowed to read or I may not have been given the opportunity to learn to read.
I have a very active and vivid imagination but I can’t make myself think about what it would be like to be denied the ability and joy of reading. Can you? No Famous Five. No Narnia. No Devil’s Bride. No Lord of Ice. No The Great Gatsby. None of my favourite stories. I’m feeling sick just thinking about it.
I live in New Zealand. A country tucked down, at what most kiwis call the arse of the world, where we are pretty much forgotten about. We are a country of four + million people and I like to think we are, on the whole, a tolerant group of human beings. I guess the tolerance comes from the fact we are so small and we all have the drive to travel and see the world. This desire to travel allows us to experience and understand the many diverse cultures that make up this world.
What it doesn’t mean is that we don't see when some customs and traditions are, in fact, denying peoples basic human rights. Like the right to better oneself, and the right to an education if they want one.
 I’m humbled and blown away by the 15 year old Malala Yousafzai a Pakistani school student and education activist from the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
She was shot in the head for WANTING to be educated. She wants to be able to read and write. How can that be wrong? She’s denied this because she’s female. Again, how can this be right? What threat could she be if educated? It appears she must be a huge threat because a cowardly gunman had to shoot a defenseless girl!
Malala’s about to have another operation, in England, to have a plate fitted to the hole in her skull caused by the bullet. She’s still a target, yet she refuses to back down. She wants to learn to read and write.
I think about the joy reading gives me, the income I survive on which is derived from my writing, and I question how far I’d be prepared to go to ensure the freedom to education for those I love. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not sure I’d be as brave as Malala, but then I’ve never been denied an education.
The next time you read your favourite story, think about Malala and others like her. I pray she gets to grow up and lead a long life filled with stories. I also hope that one day I get to read her story, written by herself. Wouldn’t that be the writing on the cake!
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AND THE WINNER IS.... Kaylyn Davis. I've sent you an email, Kaylyn. Thanks everyone for sharing your favorite books. I've grown my TBR pile!
I love reading. That’s probably obvious because I’m an author. I love reading all sorts of books, but predominantly romance because it allows me to relax and slip into a new world, and to experience a range of emotions from laughter, fear, sadness and joy! Plus, let's not forget the Happy Ever After.
So I was excited to join The Romance Review Romance Madness Blog Hop open until 29 January, 2013, where I get to talk about my recently read favourite books. It’s hard to pick only a couple because I’ve read so many romances lately that are super – Grace Burrowes - , Samantha Grace - , Lori Wilde - Dating Mr. December.
As I’m now writing Regency and contemporary romances, I thought I’d highlight two of my favourite books, one from each genre...I also thought I’d highlight some relatively new authors instead of promoting those who really don’t need any promotion, we all know they are fabulous story tellers. That way, perhaps I can help you find a new favourite author...
Keep reading to learn about the three ebooks you can win here at my stop!
Regency – have you tried my fellow Kiwi and fellow Random House Loveswept author, Wendy Vella. Wendy’s just released her first book, The Reluctant Countess, Jan 2013, which I think is  very funny as my first ever contemporary released late Dec 2012 is called The Reluctant Wife. Perhaps we kiwi’s do stick together.
I got to read this story for a cover quote and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here’s the blurb...
Regal, poised, and elegant, Sophie, Countess of Monmouth, is everything that a highborn lady should be. But Sophie is hiding a past that is far from royal. When Patrick, Earl of Coulter, realizes that her story doesn’t add up, he resolves to find out the truth of what Sophie and her sister-in-law are concealing. Although Sophie has every reason to avoid him, the handsome and charismatic Patrick awakens something wicked deep within her soul . . . a powerful need that Sophie must stifle in order to protect her place in society.
Despite Sophie’s humble background, the raven-haired beauty has won Patrick’s heart. But what Sophie needs now is an ally. Viscount Myles Dumbly, the disgruntled former heir of Monmouth, is determined to expose Sophie as a fraud to recapture his lost inheritance. Soon Patrick is drawn into a fight for both their lives. Somehow he must find a way not only to rescue Sophie from poverty once and for all, but to keep her in his arms forever.
What I really liked about this story was watching Sophie and Patrick fall for each other. There are secrets, lies, a secondary romance, and a gorgeous, bold and vulnerable hero, and a sassy determined heroine. Patrick is looking for the love and laughter he was denied as the only child of his parents, smothered in duty and responsibility. Sophie projects herself as cold and aloof when underneath she is strong, caring and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what is hers. There is a strong sense of family, honor and protection and it adds some wonderful secondary characters that you grow to love as well. I thoroughly recommend you reading it. A bargain at $2.99!
 Contemporary – sticking with my New Zealand theme, I’m introducing fellow Kiwi author Toni Kenyon, and her wonderfully different contemporary Private Love in a Public Place.
Mags O'Brien lives on the alcohol-soaked, drug-enhanced concert circuit, managing out-of-control rocker Julian MacAvoy. She helps him spread his musical gospel to his adoring followers, despite the fast-spinning turnstile on his bedroom door, and the broken hearts he leaves in his wake.
Mags believes she’s immune to Julian’s magnetic personality but when controversy hits the tour, she finds herself in danger of falling at his feet, slave to his appetites and her own desire and need.
Julian refuses to be tamed, but the pressure of the ravenous crowds’ clamps tighter and tighter around him. His chaotic world starts to crumble when he realizes his motivation to continue touring comes from an unobtainable woman. Can he force her to make the agonizing choice between himself and her estranged husband?
An erotic and candid look at life on the road.
I don't often like first person, but the strength of the characters and the 'world' this book is set in grabbed my attention from the start. The hero is unconventional and the set up very different from anything I've read lately and that's what kept me reading. I couldn't stop. From the minute I read the sample I had to buy and read.
Mags is open and real, a woman I could relate to, in a job many of us would see as glamorous (manager to a rock star or babysitter perhaps) but which she made very real, faults and all. Jules is that mix of arrogant tosser and little boy lost, who you can't help but fall in love with. A rock star that shows us he's human. I thoroughly recommend, go on give it a go.
Finally, I thought I’d finish by revealing a little about my latest and first contemporary release, The Reluctant Wife, Entangled Publishing Indulgence $2.99 December 2012.
Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother's heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.
Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him.
As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.
...an intense, passionate rollercoaster of a love story—just perfect!
- USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson
I hope I’ve wetted your appetite for a little romance. Follow the Rafflecopter instructions, and be in to win a copy of – To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. PLUS an eBook copy of Toni Kenyon’s latest release, Catch. PLUS an eBook copy of Wendy Vella’s The Reluctant Countess. That’s THREE eBooks!!! But wait there's more... A $20 Amazon or B&N egift card
so you can buy more of your favorite books!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open Internationally! Winners Drawn 30 Janaury 2103.
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