All About the Writing

Crowned Heart Review!

Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone? received a wonderful review from InD'Tale magazine. It was given 4.5 stars, which earned it a Crowned Heart. Here's a sneak peek:

You can read the entire review here (and find lots of other books to add to the TBR pile!)

 

Take A Peek at Chapter 1

I didn't think it was possible to see a preview of a book when it was on pre-order, but I just discovered one place where you can.

Click here and you'll get to see the first part of Chapter 1 before it releases on Tuesday!

Almost Here!

Only 8 more days before you can read the romance between Tess and Tony. If you're in freezing cold temperatures (like me!), this might help heat you up. Here's the blurb, and I'll post an excerpt soon-ish.

~~~~~

All of London knows Lord Travender’s heart is a prize that cannot be won. An inveterate gambler, he’s willing to risk everything on the turn of a card or prime racing stock, yet never on the unpredictability of love. Until a bit of quick wit and risqué banter sends his heart galloping…

One minute he’s warning Miss Arrington he’ll break her heart, and the next, he’s agreeing to a wager: Who will fall in love first?

The game seems simple. Tess Arrington wishes to regain a beloved painting her scapegrace brother lost to Lord Travender. For her part, she gambles her renowned French chef. But the stakes are continually raised as each employ ever more delightful, inventive, and…intimate methods of persuasion.

If love is the ultimate gamble, will they dare to risk it all?

Pre-order now! Releases January 9, 2018

Amazon ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ B&N

Available For Pre-order!

All of London knows Lord Travender’s heart is a prize that cannot be won. An inveterate gambler, he’s willing to risk everything on the turn of a card or prime racing stock, yet never on the unpredictability of love. Until a bit of quick wit and risqué banter sends his heart galloping…

One minute he’s warning Miss Arrington he’ll break her heart, and the next, he’s agreeing to a wager: Who will fall in love first?

The game seems simple. Tess Arrington wishes to regain a beloved painting her scapegrace brother lost to Lord Travender. For her part, she gambles her renowned French chef. But the stakes are continually raised as each employ ever more delightful, inventive, and…intimate methods of persuasion.

If love is the ultimate gamble, will they dare to risk it all?

Pre-order now! Releases January 9, 2018

Amazon ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ B&N

 

The Debutante's Wager

While I'm finishing a few little tweaks to this book, I thought I'd post the cover so you can see what's coming soon. It was tricky finding just the right cover pic but as soon as I saw this, I knew it was the perfect depiction of Tony and Tess.

The book will be releasing in January 2018, with a pre-order in mid-December. I'll keep you posted so you won't miss out on any news! You an also subscribe to my newsletter and be the first to know all the scoop.

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Sneak Peek: The Debutante's Wager

Here's a little peak at what is coming out next. Right now I'm doing a few tweaks and edits, and finalizing the cover with Carrie of Cheeky Covers. It should be up for pre-order soon-ish, so make sure you're signed up for the newsletter and you'll be the first to know when it's available.

Oh, and this was supposed to be the last book in the series. Turns out there will be at least one more. . .

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Salted Caramel Love Affair

I bought a new salted caramel candy bar today, and it reminded me of this guest post I did a long time ago, and I thought I'd share. Uh, I meant the post, not the candy bar!

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How did I exist before salted caramel was invented? And why wasn't it invented sooner? I could have begun my obsessive love affair long before now if it had come into my world years ago.

I also want to know how somebody thought to put salt and caramel together. I'm guessing it was an oopsie, but one with a built-in HEA. Maybe somebody was whistling a happy tune while stirring up some caramel at the stove, and they reached over for a dishcloth to wipe their sweaty brow. . .

Yecch. Delete, delete, delete. Let's try that scenario again.

So somebody was lovingly swirling butter and sugar into a creamy caramelly concoction, and they realized their life was going so smoothly, it made them feel a tad superstitious. So they decided to throw some salt over their shoulder. Only they missed, by a mile.

Well, however it came about, I can't imagine my feelings of lust, er, love, for this combo will ever die. It's the perfect ménage. I mean, mélange. See, I can't even think straight when salted caramel is involved.

If I'm in a store and see "salted caramel" anything, it goes straight into the grocery cart. It makes it tough to use the "12 Items or Fewer" lanes some days. I don't even read anything past those two sweet words, so hopefully they haven't started making salted caramel dog food, or I'm going to be in for a big surprise when I unpack the groceries. I'm pretty sure the Whole Foods profits shot up as soon as I discovered their Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels. And I don't even like dark chocolate!

If I see "salted caramel" on any picture on Pinterest, I automatically like it or pin it. I would say at least 75% of the pins on my "Food I Would Make If I Could Cook" board are "salted caramel" something. Let's take a look at a few:

Salted Triple Caramel Cupcakes

Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles

Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes with Sea Salt Caramel Frosting

Salted Caramel Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Cake Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Butter Sauce

Wow, talk about creative! I should probably start a new board titled "Salted Caramel", but I'm mesmerized by the endless variations of sumptuously seductive salt and caramel. It actually might be a better use of my time to start a support group for fellow addicts. Of course, we'd meet at Starbucks, and drink Salted Caramel Mochas. . .

Starting A Book

Every book I write starts with a seemingly random scene, which piques my curiosity, and then I have to figure out what happens next, and what happened before. I knew Where Have All The Scoundrels Gone? would have three heroes and three stories, but I wasn't sure of much more than that.

This was the first scene that "appeared", and it's from the first story in the book. As it turns out, it's when Miles meets Gemma, who will be the one who steals his heart—not that he knows it here.

 

"Oh you blasted thing!"

Miles halted. That was not the language he expected to hear coming from the numerous rows of yellow rose bushes. Nor did he usually hear such heated words in a soft, melodious voice.

His gaze was instantly caught by a froth of white muslin, near the ground, wedged between two closely-planted rose bushes. He moved closer and saw the sheer fabric was draped over a woman's shapely bottom. It was the only thing visible, since it appeared she had been captured headfirst by the ferocious plants.

He grinned. "Allow me to assist, madam."

"Could you? I would be so grateful." She began to wriggle, which was not what he had anticipated, but he could not deny it was a delightful sight. "Drat! I should never have come through here."

Before he could question why she had chosen such a route, he heard a distressed mewling sound.

"There now," he rushed to reassure her, "no need to succumb to tears. We shall have you out of there in no time at all."

An enchanting round of giggles followed his words. "That was not me. That was Snowball, the reason I am caught in this predicament. Such a naughty kitten."

The young miss attempted once more to back away, but there was a distinct sound of tearing. He did not have to imagine the calamity that would ensue if they were caught together, her clothes in shreds.

"Madam, please." He approached her quickly. The thorns had managed to catch her from both sides, which made it impossible for her to retreat. "If you will permit me to remove the thorns from your ensemble, we can get you upright once more." He knelt to one side of her and began working on a large thorn embedded in the delicate muslin. "What possessed Snowball to choose this particular hiding place?"

"I have no idea. We were simply out for a walk—"

He could not contain his laughter. "I had no idea kittens enjoyed going for a stroll."

"This one is a bit unusual." Her laugh was as delightful as her voice. "Not to mention completely wicked. I can see the wretch reclining right in front of me, but can't quite reach…"

There was another determined wiggle, as she obviously tried to grab the instigator of this situation.

"I fear you will rend your dress if you continue—" Miles could not help but imagine such a sight, but it was so craven, he pushed it aside immediately. "Hold still while I disentangle you, and then I shall see about luring Snowball from her lair. Or his lair."

She giggled. "Her lair."

"Snowball is rather clever, for it appears she has lured you into the precise spot with the biggest thorns." He carefully extracted the barbs from the fabric on the left side, and then moved to the other side. "This one appears to be a bit more difficult."

"Why is that?"

"I cannot see where it has caught you. No, do not move about or you shall catch yourself on the one I have just removed."

"Can you attempt to reach it?"

"It would require some—" He swallowed with a bit of difficulty. "Uh, exploration."

"Oh."

"Yes. Precisely."

~~~~~

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FREE Copy of Lord Rakehell's Love

I'm working on the last book in The Curse of True Love series, titled The Debutante's Wager, which is scheduled to release before the end of the year. Well, it's meant to be the last, but with Aphrodite playing matchmaker, who really knows for sure.

This book's hero is Tony, an inveterate gambler, who has seen his cousins Felicia and Julian fall instantly in love, but he is not willing to bet it will happen to him. A debutante named Tess wagers that he will fall in love with her first, and he is so intrigued with the notion, and with her, that he agrees to the bet. How can he possibly lose? If he does, it means not only his heart, but a prized painting he won from Tess's scapegrace brother. He's intent on winning her heart as well as her world-renown French chef.

If you haven't already started this series, you can get a FREE copy of the first book, Lord Rakehell's Love, just by signing up for my newsletter. You'll also be the first to know when The Debutante's Wager releases.

Now I'm off to finish up this story – it's filled with laughter, and sexy times, and witty banter. This is such a fun couple, and I love how Tess definitely keeps Tony on his toes. Who will be the one to fall in love first?

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The Curse of True Love series

 

 

Coming this fall -- Book 4, The Debutante's Wager

 

The Matchmaking Earl

Did you know I have a series called The Matchmaking Earl? You may not, since both stories are currently part of the Desire After Dark anthologies. As with most things, this series was not planned. It evolved after an ironic comment from the hero in the first story, Lord Misrule, a Christmas romance. The earl continued his matchmaking efforts in Truly, My Love, in the Fool for Love Valentine anthology.

And one day—not exactly sure when—he will have his own romance. But who knows? Maybe there will be other stories before he finally finds his own true love. After all, there are lots of other holidays that could be perfect for helping people find a perfect match.

Until then, you can enjoy Lord Hartstone's matchmaking efforts and/or advice right here: