Happy President's Day to my American friends.  I had no idea there was a President's Day until my agent told me it was a holiday in the USA this morning.  However, it's a work day here  in New Zealand for me-in fact it's actually Tuesday 21st here.

Over the last few weeks I've read quite a few books. I'm judging in the RWA Rita contest and it's been such fun. It must be so hard to pick a winner as all of my entries were fabulous. 

However, on Saturday I read a book I selected - Natalie Anderson's, Nice Girls Finish Last. I absolutely loved it! Seriously, if you're into a fabulous Alpha hero and a feisty heroine, this book is for you. Plus, as a rugby fan and a Dan Carter fan, I could so picture the scenes in the men's locker room...

Once she was bad...

After one very wild and heartbreaking affair in her past, Lena is now very, very good. She prides herself on her iron self-control - working for the hottest rugby team in New Zealand, it's all testosterone but no touching!

But he's tempting her to be wicked...

Spending day-in-day-out in the boy's locker rooms, Lena thinks she's immune to even the most honed set of abs. Then Seth saunters into her life, and suddenly her inner bad girl is back in the game!

You can read more on Natalie's website

So, don't be shy. Tell me what you've been reading this long-weekend. Share please! I love finding new authors and great romance books.

I've drawn the three winners for an ARC copy of Invitation to Scandal - feel free to review once you've read it! The winners are - MJB,  Susan Barr and Cathie Caffey. I've emailed you all.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment  - remember you can also enter my monthly contest to win more copies of my books.

Yippee - Arc's of INVITATION TO SCANDAL  are finally out. If you'd like a copy leave a comment telling me the name of my heroine and hero, and who Dark Shadow is.  Read the excerpt of Invitation to Scandal to make a calculated guess...

I'll draw a winners on Monday...

Below is a taste of the heat between Rheda and Rufus.

Once inside the dark and shadowy stables, Rufus walked deliberately toward her. She tried to move out of his way, but she wasn’t quick enough and soon found herself up against the stable wall. Rufus’s voice was soft and sensual, calling to her. “Men, too, can tell when a woman is ripe for the taking.”

Rheda found her gaze riveted on his lips. Her heart began to pound in her chest. Her eyes swept across the rest of his face and froze at the expression that greeted her. He had gone quite still. There was soft fire in his eyes, and his gaze held her spellbound.

He reached up and slid his fingers behind her nape. Her breathing faltered altogether. Then shockingly, he lowered his mouth to meet hers in a feather-light contact.

Once again she was immersed in a rush of sensation at the exquisite caress. His lips were warm and firm, yet enticingly soft at the same time—and much too tempting.

Stifling a gasp, Rheda pressed her palms against his chest and pulled back her reeling head. “I am not a mare to be taken on your whim.”

“So you admit you want to be taken. It is only a matter of when.”

Anger flared, dousing her desire. She shoved him away from her and moved away from the wall. To her disappointment he did not even try to stop her. She stood breathing hard looking at his strong face, arresting and strikingly handsome in the dim stable light. He had a beautiful mouth; his lips were chiseled and generous, and they curved now in a knowing smile as he returned her regard.

“You are delusional,” she scathingly stated.

“You have no idea what you are missing, sweetheart. Unlike animals, people experience passion.”

“I am sure you would know.”

He approached across the stable floor. Her legs were shaking too much to move away. He stood so close her breasts almost brushed his chest, but he did not touch her. “But do you know? Have you ever been so caught up in passion you forgot yourself?” His voice became husky. “I’d like to kiss you again.”

She was trapped by the fire in his eyes. Rufus bent toward her, and his warm breath caressed her mouth. Rheda was powerless to move. His hand cupped the back of her head. He drew her close, and his other arm encircled her waist, pulling her roughly against his solid form. She was swamped by the strength and power of the man, yet not afraid. His lips began to play over hers with exquisite pressure. This kiss was slow and erotic and extremely thorough. Parting her lips, his tongue slid into her mouth, creating an intense yearning inside her.

The effect of his kiss had her reaching to grip his shoulders. His lips deepened the kiss, his tongue penetrating and swirling in her mouth, stroking her desire. The heady sensation he aroused was addictive.

She could not resist letting him continue.

Not when he was assailing her mouth with such silken roughness . . . molding, tasting, teasing, and ultimately conquering. All her senses felt pummeled as his tongue worked its magic provocatively against hers, playing a game she desperately wanted to win. But the winning strategy escaped her knowledge. Her body pushed hard against him, and a small moan of surrender escaped her lips.

Happy Valentine's Day

What is it about being in love we all crave? That feeling when you look at your partner and the rest of the world melts away...

I've travelled a great deal. I've visited almost every continent and glimpsed many different cultures, and the one constant theme was love and family. I saw it everywhere.

I'm glad we have a day that celebrates the ideal of love.  For love is what makes us truly human. Love makes us realize what we have, and what we hold most dear.

Here's a poem I found that delivers a true Valentine's Day message...

How is it that each and every time
my life seems on the verge of break down,
you make everything better with the simple things
and put a smile on my face without a sound?

Not even all the riches of the world
would help me make it through a day,
but just a minute spent with you
and my whole world seems okay.

A gaze of your heavenly brown eyes,
a whisper from your enticing lips,
the caress of your comforting hug,
and a taste of your sweet kiss.
All those things helps me through one more day
and makes my life seem worth while.

When you hold me tight in your arms,
I feel safe, as a newborn child
I was torn between what was and what could be,
like my heart was clinging on to the past.
He had shattered my heart in a million pieces,
but because of you the pain didn`t last.

As you come to me with a casual flow,
I get chills down to the bone.
You capture all of my attention,
as you talk with that sexual tone.
When you run your fingers slowly over me,
I lose all of my self control.
Right or not, for a moment all of me belongs to you:
mind, body, and soul

by: Author: Cham Nguyen

I hope you get to spend the day with the one you love, or remember that special someone who is always in your heart.

Love to everyone...

The winner of my blog hop is Melissa Haggerty- I've emailed you.

I've also drawn two other names who will get a copy of my latest eBook To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. They are:

Julianne Keller and Cheryl Lynne.

Welcome to the Cupid's Choice, Valentine's Day blog hop.

The blog hop is running from the 10th February until midnight on the 12th of February. Continue to the end of the hop and enter the draw to be in for the grand prize of a NOOK. At each of the blogs the authors will be giving away additional prizes. Read my post to be in to WIN a copy of all three of my books, Invitation to Ruin, Invitation to Scandal, in book or eBook format and To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, in eBook format.

I'll draw the lucky winner on the 13th February, and deliver to the winner in time for Valentine's Day (if you want all three in eBook format! A book will take longer).

Valentine’s Day. The word sends shivers of delight through many, agony through others, and for a small minority a shrug, as if to say, ‘so what, it’s just another day’.

I must admit I often despair of the consumerism of Valentine’s Day, but I love what it stands for. The reminder that having someone special in our lives is a gift. It’s a gift that someone chooses to share their life with you, the good times and the bad. They love you even when you look your worst, and love you when the world feels like it’s against you.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day I’ve released a Regency Romance, TO DARE THE DUKE OF DANGERFIELD, a $2.99 eBook on Amazon and through Smashwords, B&N, iBooks, All Romance etc. My heroine, Lady Caitlin Southall, needs my hero, Harlow Telford, Duke of Dangerfield, to show her that there is more to love than a cold stone mansion--him. Besides he’s eminently more satisfying.

First, in case you haven’t heard anything about the book yet, allow me to give you a little background. TO DARE THE DUKE OF DANGERFIELD is about Harlow and the daughter of his sworn enemy neighbour, Lady Caitlin Southall. Caitlin and Harlow are drawn together when Harlow wins Caitlin’s home in a card game with her father.

Caitlin does not know why there is such animosity between her father and Harlow, and no one will tell her. All she knows is that she should not feel what she does for the handsome rake. It’s most off putting. She has challenged him for the right to win her house back. She has to win two of the three wagers to avoid having to come to his bed. Why is it, when he turns his devilish smile her way, she wants to lose?

 Here is an excerpt from the book:-

 The woman slid off Dangerfield’s lap, smoothed her gown and then began to stroll around Caitlin, looking her over from top to bottom. “I have to find something you’re good at.”

Caitlin’s hopes soared. She was about to open her mouth to explain exactly what she was very good at when Marcus interrupted.

“Now, now, Larissa. You cannot ask Lady Southall questions that would give her an advantage. We must keep it fair.” And he laughed, as if the idea of Caitlin winning—fairly or otherwise—was a huge joke.

Caitlin had no intention of attempting to win by fraud. Nonetheless, she stood silently, praying Larissa would pick something like shooting or archery—things she excelled at. Please, she begged in her head, not sewing. Not playing the piano.

Meanwhile, Larissa was talking. “… she’s the daughter of an Earl. She must be accomplished. Harlow is always telling me how tedious it is to have to sit and listen to young ladies sing or play the harp.”

Caitlin agreed with Harlow about recitals. And please! please don’t pick those pursuits either.

“Still, she is dressed in male attire, and she sought out Harlow at night, so she is most likely not like most young women of the ton.”

Dangerfield’s face signified agreement. He cleared his throat and rose to his feet. “Very true.”

Yes, Larissa was clever. She’d have to be. Caitlin could not imagine a woman remaining as His Grace’s mistress for very long if she did not have a brain.

“So, perhaps I’m focusing on the wrong person.” Larissa turned a seductive smile upon Dangerfield. “All I have to do is find something that you, my darling Harlow, are terrible at doing.”

A flicker of unease crossed Dangerfield’s handsome face and he shifted on his feet. Only a slight movement, but Caitlin caught it. He was nervous. Good.

Larissa laughed delightedly and clapped her hands. “I’ve got it—”

“Remember who keeps you, my girl.”

“That’s not fair,” Caitlin cried. “You can’t threaten her. I can always veto, remember?”

“He’s only teasing.” Larissa moved to stand in front of Dangerfield. Letting her hands slide up his chest and over his wide shoulders she pressed her ample breasts against him. “He would never get rid of me.” Her fingers gripped his buttocks and pulled him tight against her.

Caitlin felt as though her eyes would pop as she watched one of Larissa’s hands slide over Dangerfield’s hip and down toward his groin.

“He knows the pleasure my body, my hands, and my mouth can give. I’m the best at what I do.” Larissa threw her a scornful look. “You don’t look as if you know the first thing about pleasuring a man. Perhaps I should help Harlow win. Once he’s had you, he’ll realize how much better off he is with me.”

“Enough, Larissa.” Dangerfield removed Larissa’s hands from his body. “That’s enough.”

It was certainly enough. Caitlin felt sick. Larissa was right. Hands and mouth? Mouth? What did she do with her mouth—kissing perhaps? She had no idea what to expect to find in any man’s bed—let alone a man like Dangerfield. And she did not wish to know.

Not much, anyway.

To be in to win three of my books, Invitation to Ruin, Invitation to Scandal, and eBook To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, leave a comment telling me who Larissa is? (tip - it's in the blurb). Sign up for my Regency Seductions newsletter and receive two further entries.
Don't forget to continue all the way to the end of the hop and register for your chance to win a NOOK.

Where did the idea of Valentine's Day cards come from?

According to Robert McNamara, writing of special notes and letters for Valentine’s Day gained widespread popularity in the late 1700s. At that time the romantic missives would have been handwritten, on ordinary writing paper.

Papers made especially for Valentine greetings began to be marketed in the Regency era,  1820s, and their use became fashionable in both Britain and the United States. In the 1840s, when postal rates in Britain became standardized, commercially produced Valentine cards began to grow in popularity. The cards were flat paper sheets, often printed with colored illustrations and embossed borders. The sheets, when folded and sealed with wax, could be mailed.

I really love the idea that romance was truly alive in the Regency period where rakehells abounded (well, in my stories they do).  So I thought I'd let Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield, share a Valentine's Day missive he wrote especially for my heroine, Lady Caitlin Southall.

"You are beautiful beyond words. Your spirit is beyond definition and your goodness beyond my humble ability to express. I love you for all that you are, all that you will be, and all that you give of yourself to me every day.
I love you with all that I am, all that I will ever be, and  I will strive to give you all of myself until my last breath in this world, and then on into the next.
I love you my darling.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Yours forever, Dangerfield."

To learn how these two lovers came to their happy ever after, read To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. Alternatively, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and in exchange for a review on amazon, I'' give you a FREE copy. Open until February 14th 2012.

 "To write a good love letter, you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say and to finish without knowing what you have written."

-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Do you have a favorite love letter? If so, who wrote it and who was it for?

Monday 6th is Waitangi Day in New Zealand, our national day, and the time to celebrate everything New Zealand.

So what better way to celebrate the long weekend than by reading a book by a fellow Kiwi author, Diana Fraser.

I read Diana's self-published contemporary romance called, The Sheik's Bargain Bride $2.99.

I give it five-stars.

Here is the blurb:

Being trapped in a marriage of convenience in a desert kingdom, where duty and tradition reign as supreme as the sheikh, is the worst thing that could happen to freedom-loving Anna Whitman. However she has no choice but to agree to Sheikh Zahir Al-Zaman’s demands when he kidnaps her son.

Duty, loyalty and tradition are the driving forces in Zahir’s life. He’s fought for them all his life and now finds himself obsessed with a woman who appears to be the opposite of everything he values. In order to control his obsession with Anna he believes he needs to possess her. And he’s prepared to go to any lengths to do so—even using Anna’s child to blackmail her into marriage.

But Zahir will not force her into his bed; he has his strategies for seduction. Despite an intense attraction, Anna is not going to make it easy for him. Even when she begins to understand him, and his culture that seemed so restrictive at first, she won’t have a relationship with him based on lies. But how can she reveal her secrets when they will shatter the beliefs he holds most dear?

What a fabulous read for only $2.99. I shall look forward to Diana's next Sheikh story. I love the depth of the characters. The chemistry between Zahir and Anna is electrifying, the passion sizzled and the VERY satisfactory HEA. If I can shed a few tears I know the book is good.

What great books have you been reading this weekend? Let me know. Although my TBR pile is huge.

February - the Month of Love

Valentine’s Day is a poignant day for me.  A very special friend was killed in an avalanche in Telluride, Colorado, on February 14th 1989.  Gone but not forgotten...

Vaughn Shelly was a young man (25 years old when he was killed) who was the typical hero – a fabulous hero. He was tall, over six feet, beautiful, with thick black hair and warm chocolate brown eyes. He was not a muscle man, but he could definitely hold his own without his clothes on!

He was smart, having just graduated from university with a law degree. He was from a prominent family and he had all the makings of a playboy. He loved life and lived it to the full. He could make anyone feel special and he could always make you laugh.

So when my agent suggested releasing a novella for Valentine's Day, I immediately knew who'd I'd base my hero on.  Harlow Telford, the Duke of Dangerfield,  came to life based on my memories of Vaughn.

My hero, Harlow, was a pleasure to write because I thought of Vaughn and the ways he both annoyed me and made me laugh.  Harlow is a beautiful man who has the world at his feet. Just as Vaughn did.

I hope you’ll check out the novella and the excerpt on my website. Here is the blurb for To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield

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, whenhe 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...

The world lost a very special person that day and here’s the full story if you’d like to read more – I was 25 at the time and it was devastating and I remember talking with Todd, the sole survivor, and admiring his courage.

To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield $2.99 at Amazon - more eBook stores to come....

For all of this, I love Valentine's Day. Tell me your favorite Valentine's Day surprise and be in to win a copy of eBook copy of Harlow and Caitlin's story.

The Winner of a copy of Kylie's book, Vengeance Born, is Tina Rucci. Thank you all for stopping by and leaving a comment. It's a fabulous book!

Today I take great pleasure in introducing you to my fellow Book in 50 Days author, Kylie Griffin. Kylie won the Golden Heart Paranormal section in 2010 and has not looked back. This year she has two books coming out with Berkley – the first, Vengeance Born, this month!

I’ve managed to get her to guest blog on Regency Seductions to share a little about her writing journey and her fabulous debut romance, Vengeance Born.

BIO

Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com

Bron, thanks so much for having me as your guest today on your blog. It’s exciting to be sitting in the interviewee chair instead of conducting it! LOL

I’m looking forward to sharing more about my debut book, VENGEANCE BORN, being released with Berkley on February 7^th (just a week away!!!!! I’m a little bit excited, can you tell?).

OK, fire away with the questions!

The winner of a copy of Caroline's The Deepest Sin, is Diane P Diamond. I have emailed you Diane. Thank you all for visiting and leaving a comment.

Please welcome my fellow Brava author,  Caroline Richards, to my blog.  She's visiting to share a little about her latest release, The Deepest Sin, the third book in her 'Sin' trilogy.

Caroline has received rave reviews for her first two 'Sin' books, The Deadliest Sin and The Darkest Sin, and she's followed up with a fabulous third book, The Deepest Sin.

I love this quote from her website about why she loves writing.
The good thing is that while writing is something that you do alone, you’re never lonely. Heroes and heroines most often carry me away, their strong personalities telling me (sometimes even demanding) that they take that carriage ride down a darkened street or pry open a locked door or dance with a stranger with the glint of danger in his eyes. That’s part of the thrill (and sometimes agony, if truth be told) just trying to keep up and marvel/cringe/cheer at what they’ll do next.

Read the blurb

Just when Lady Meredith Woolcott thinks she is safe, the nightmare returns. A madman who will stop at nothing has her in his sights once more. Protecting Meredith was never part of Sir Richard Archer's assignment. His duty is to pursue her...follow her every move...and let her be the bait that draws a murderous villain out of the shadows and into his grasp. Against his orders and his every instinct, Archer refuses to let Meredith endanger herself - and she refuses to relent, forcing them to partner together to ferret out the threat. But the inferno of passion between them has its own seductive dangers, putting their trust to the test at every deadly turn..

Thanks for having me, Bronwen

The power of three – The Sin Trilogy

When I first thought of writing three historical romance novels about the Woolcott women, I wondered what I was letting myself in for.  You have to love your characters to complete a 90,000 word plus manuscript.  You have to be crazy about them, obsessed even, to keep it going for three manuscripts.  

Alright then, I was obsessed – with  Julia, Rowena and their aunt Meredith  whose intertwined stories fighting a madman brings them each a passionate romance with a compelling hero that, says the Romantic Times, “heats up the pages, even as the plot twists and turns.”   The Deepest Sin, the last book in the series, was published early January, following The Darkest Sin and The Deadliest Sin, although they don’t have to be read in any special order.  I hope my readers become obsessed with the characters as I have and so just to give you a taste of the experience, I will include here one of my favorite scenes from The Deepest Sin.  Please let me know what you think!

Above their heads, the moon had risen to its full height in the sky.  The silence of the ancient land surrounding them was all-encompassing save for Archer’s deep breath as he raised his head from hers and moved back a fraction.  Her eyes opened fully, her arms trailing reluctantly across his shoulders, down the hard wall of his chest.  It was her turn to take a breath, pulling herself back under control.

Dear Readers - The WINNER of my Reader Rally prize is Sarah Bibi Setar! I've emailed you Sarah. Thank you all for participating. I hope you  enjoyed the rally.

Now that the Holidays are behind us, and we’ve gained a pound… or ten, I think it’s time I offered more great prizes and fun reading challenges. I've joined the rally-READER RALLY I'm taking part in a rally that is hosted by  the folks at Romance At Random.

Reader Rally is a blog hop which will start on January 17th and end on January 31st (winners will be announced on February 1st)  that is composed of authors, bloggers and reviewers who are inviting all of you to join in this MAMMOTH sprint in which each site will be giving away a brand new release book (print or e-book) of their choice.

Today, my Regency Seductions blog will introduce you to the delights of my up and coming release, INVITATION TO SCANDAL,  and I hope you stop by and enter my giveaway to win a copy of my two Regency's - Invitation to Ruin ( RT reviewer's Choice Award Nominee - Best First Historical 2011), and of course a pre-order copy of INVITATION TO SCANDAL.

I'd like to introduce you to Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore's story and his hunt for redemption. Rufus's father died in mysterious circumstances, rumored to be a traitor. Rufus seeks the truth and hopes that by uncovering the identity of a notorious smuggler, he'll capture a French spy who can lead him to the truth about his father. He'll let nothing stop him uncovering the dark secrets of the past.

Enter my heroine, Miss Rheda Kerrick, a woman bent on independence. A gambling and whoring father has made her see that the only safety for a woman is if she has financial security and she'll do anything to get it.

How do their worlds collide - with massive fireworks. Read the book to find out. Here is an excerpt:

A frown stole over Rheda’s poignant heart-shaped face. Lord Strathmore felt himself harden further. God he wanted her. He resisted the urge to push her down into the long grass and forget his troubles by sinking deep within her hot, welcoming body.

He couldn’t help one further attempt at getting what he wanted—knowledge about the cask of brandy. He reached for her and pulled her back into his embrace. “Name your price. I am an extremely wealthy man, and I shall be very generous.” He paused and gently kissed her lips. “Especially if you tell me about the barrel.”

 Read more....