The Winner of a copy of Alix's latest release, Heir of Danger is Karen H in NC. I've emailed Karen.

Give a warm Kiwi welcome to my favorite Regency-Paranormal and fellow Kensington author, Alix Rickloff. Alix has been storytelling since her first completed manuscript, Meet the Fuzzy Family, was penned in the fourth grade. Four manuscripts, an agent, a Marlene award for best Historical, and a Golden Heart Final in Short Historical later, the dream became reality with the sale of Lost In You—a Regency-Set Paranormal—to Kensington Books.

If you love Regency and Paranormal romance, Alix’s stories are not to be missed.

Welcome Alix – guilty pleasure for me is curling up with one of your books when I should be finishing my latest WIP…

Hi Bron, thanks for having me over.

Guilty pleasure…Just saying it sounds yummy and slightly risqué, doesn’t it?

Merriam Webster defines it as something enjoyable that usually induces a minor feeling of guilt.

Romance novels have long fallen into this category. After all, they’re not “high classic literature”. They’re full of shameful things like love and romance, discovering inner strengths, overcoming obstacles, finding a soul mate, conquering demons (in some cases literally)—all horrid, disgusting stuff we should keep hidden away lest people look down on us for our reading choice.

Years ago I decided I didn’t give a damn what people think about the books I read. I proudly pull out my latest paperback from my purse during doctors’ appointments or sports practices—anywhere I’m stuck with time on my hands. Take that, you judgmental people, you! [CLUE TWENTY-FOUR:MEANS]

But while I’ve never felt guilty about reading romance, there was a time not so long ago I felt guilty writing it.

Oh, not for the reasons you might assume, but because writing was my private bliss. It was something I did for me—and when you’re the mother of two small children and a baby, you know how scarce and precious me-time is.

During those years, I had no thoughts about publication. I didn’t write for the market. I had no deadlines or word count restrictions. I knew nothing about publishers, agents, sell-throughs or social platforms. I wrote romance because I loved romance.

I wrote when I should have been cleaning my house or making dinner or doing dishes. I wrote late at night instead of curling on the couch and watching TV with my husband. I carried a notebook to the park and wrote as my children played. I wrote when they napped and sometimes (bad mom alert!) I would even plunk them in front of the television to finish a scene or write a snappy piece of dialogue or just to escape into my book for a few treasured minutes.

Did I feel guilty? Definitely! Was it pleasurable? You better believe it!

And did that first book sell?

Not a chance, and I cringe just thinking about how bad it was.

Now, ten books written and six books published later, I like to think I’m a bit more savvy about the business side of publishing and a lot more talented when it comes to craft. But when I shut my office door, turn on the computer, and sit down with the cast of characters peopling my latest story, I still get that illicit thrill as if I’m doing something a little wicked. As if I’ve gamed the system in getting to do what I love for a living.

My own perfect yummy guilty pleasure.

So what’s yours? Chocolate? Reality TV? Afternoon naps? Or (gasp) Romance novels? Write and let me know! One lucky commenter will win a copy of Alix's latest romance, HEIR of DANGER.

A man too dangerous to live. . .

After seven years outrunning enemies, friends, and his own soul-crushing memories, Brendan Douglas is risking everything on a desperate mission. He has vowed to thwart the evil mage Máelodor’s plans to unlock the past and reshape the future . . . unfortunately the precious treasure that is the key to success lies with a woman he jilted seven years before.

A woman determined to find a life of her own. . .

When her golden-eyed childhood hero abandoned her at the altar—disappearing in a storm of magic and mayhem, destruction, betrayal, and disaster—Elisabeth Fitzgerald struggled to overcome her humiliation and loss. Finally, she has found a new fiancé and a comfortable future. Then, the one man she thought she would never see again appears—among her wedding guests. Brendan Douglas has returned.

An inescapable destiny. . .

It’s not just that Elisabeth is promised to another; Brendan knows he is drawing her into terrible danger. But he cannot resist the bewitching, brave, wholly unexpected woman his youthful nemesis has become. He promised to sacrifice everything, but is he willing to sacrifice Elisabeth?

A writer of historical-paranormal romance, Alix Rickloff creates a compelling world of magic and enchantment set during the British Regency period. Her books have been described as “sexy and intense”, “exciting and spellbinding” and “a universe you won’t ever wish to leave”. Her latest, HEIR OF DANGER the final book in the Heirs Of Kilronan trilogy released in January 2012 from Pocket. You can visit Alix at www.AlixRickloff.com,

www.facebook.com/pages/Alix-Rickloff/101434889914147

or www.blameitonthemuse.com.

Bron here.... I've read all Alix's Heirs Of Kilronan trilogy and LOVE them. I thoroughly recommend her books.