March 5th, 2010 — Author Interviews, P-R
I’d like us to extend a warm welcome to a Kensington Zebra debut author. Her name is Erica Ridley. Welcome Erica, to Love Romance Passion! We respect every author’s privacy and try our best not to intrude in their private lives. That being said, when did you have your first romantic kiss? I’m kidding, of course! Actually, here’s what I’d really like to know:
Susan: You became a reader at a fairly early age, age three to be exact; what do you like to read?
Erica: In those days, fairy tales. These days, romance! (The more things change, the more they stay the same... LOL.) Actually, I'm a huge fan of genre fiction in general, including mysteries and thrillers and just about anything that packs a punch. But my very favorite is definitely romance, primarily historicals, paranormal, romantic suspense, and contemporary romantic comedies.
Susan: What is it about Regency-set historical romances that appeals to you?
Erica: Oooh, everything! I love the clearly defined roles, the equally defined rules, and the characters who do their best to bend and break them. I love the fashion, the witty banter, the glamorous lives of the ton, and the not-so-glamorous lives of everyone else. In fact, some of my favorite stories involve just such class differences. I also really like the complete lack of modern technology--it opens up the door to so many plot twists that simply wouldn't work in a contemporary story!
Susan: What states and countries have you visited?
Erica: So far (because it's my goal to explore as many as possible!) I've been lucky enough to visit Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands (Holland), Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. I've visited exactly half of the continental US (namely: AZ, CA, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WI) and I hope to some day have visited all 50 of our states!
Susan: Do your travels inspire you to write?
Erica: Well... on the one hand, my travels inspire me to procrastinate. I absolutely adore exploring new places, particularly when if the language and/or culture is different from my own. On the other hand, I've stumbled across the best surprises while traveling. Tours of historical houses, museums with period furniture or costumes, libraries of old texts. And every time I do, my head overflows with story ideas, and I definitely long to sit down and write!
Susan: In your novel Too Wicked To Kiss, you introduce us to one H-O-T hero named Gavin Lioncroft. Does Gavin know the effect he has on women?
Erica: Mmmm, Gavin Lioncroft...! When he was younger, it's safe to say he was pretty arrogant about his effect on women. But after being away from Society for so long, he no longer takes that for granted. If anything, he's now suspicious that those who try to engage him are concealing ulterior motives... and he's almost always right.
Susan: (Blushing) Does he know the effect he had on me?
Erica: He may not, but Evangeline sure does, and she's giving you the hairy eyeball right now... 
Susan: The sequel for Too Wicked To Kiss is Too Sinful To Deny. Will it be another whodunit mystery romance?
Erica: There's definitely a murder to be solved (the hero's primary goal is avenging his brother's death) but it's less of a whodunit-style mystery. It is definitely full of Gothic romance goodness, however!
Susan: Shameless self-promotion here. What would you like to say to readers who haven’t read your novels?
Erica: I would like to say... it's release week! What are you waiting for? LOL. Actually, I'd like to say that I try to write sensual, suspenseful, atmospheric love stories, and I hope you enjoy Too Wicked To Kiss!
Thank you Erica, for spending the day with us here at Love Romance Passion. Please feel free to visit us anytime!
Buy: Too Wicked To Kiss
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February 20th, 2010 — 2 Stars, 5 Stars, ARC, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, J-L, Suspense/Thriller
By Susan S., Guest Reviewer
Almost Home is a beautifully, captivating read, with plot twists galore and a who done it feel until the very end!
Jordan Weiss (heroine) is an intelligence officer from Washington, D.C. She’s about to embark on a journey, which terrifies her, more than any covert operation she’s ever had. One where she must travel to London and confront a painful past.
Her new assignment is to find the person(s) responsible for a money laundering scheme. Money which is being funneled for illegal activities. But, when her main lead goes missing and people start turning up dead, it’s a race against time to find answers. After all, the Albanian mobsters aren’t known for their kindness. They’ll shoot to kill if anyone stands in their way.
When an old rowing buddy from Cambridge (Chris Bannister) rips open old wounds, Jordan will have to uncover dark secrets, before she can begin to heal. Her ex-boyfriend’s drowning 10 years ago hasn’t been easy on either of them. Jared’s death left grief and unanswered questions in its wake. Chris’s re-emergence has brought along a slew of dangerous potholes. Will Jordan complete her assignment, and maneuver them like a professional operative? Or, will she find herself on the wrong side of a gun wielding mobster.
Recommendations:
You “should” read this novel, if you enjoy Harlequin Intrigue and romantic suspense. Almost Home intermingles elements from the movies Clear and Present Danger
and Oxford Blues
. Jenoff’s novel “may not” be for you, if you like short reads like categories. Or, if you’re hoping to read erotica scenes, or are eager for that happily ever after.
Pam Jenoff is a new-to-me author. Can she write? Oh, absolutely! In fact, her writing is almost poetic. While reading, she had me so engrossed in the story; I’d lose all track of time. Be forewarned though, there is “no” happily ever after. The author leaves us with an unanswered question in the end. Leaving a door open for a sequel, maybe? I’d like to read it, if she does write one.
POV: Heroine’s, first person.
My favorite scene: Jordan has a flash back of an intimate moment spent with Jared. It’s raining; they’re in the ruins of a chapel, making love. The author does a beautiful job of setting that scene up for us.
Almost Home does not have a “developing relationship” between a hero and a heroine. As a contemporary fiction with suspense elements it garners a 5 star rating. As a romance novel, it earns a 2 star rating.
2 Stars, 5 Stars, Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense, ATRIA Books, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., Copyright 2009, Print Pages, 376. ISBN-10: 1-4165-9069-2 ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-9069-9
Buy: Almost Home: A Novel
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February 15th, 2010 — Guest Blogger, J-L, Suspense/Thriller
by Cym Lowell, guest blogger and author of Riddle of Berlin.
When a writer crafts a thriller, is there a role that romance should play in the plot? This would be a great question for a creative writing class, along with other plot elements. Why? I can think of at least two reasons. First, there is no formula or stock answer so the question should generate plenty of lively discussion. Second, the lively discussion would be fascinating, reflecting the individual tastes of the participants.
As a practical matter, the thriller genre has enough sub-genres to absorb any level of romance that a reader could want. We have books that are described and promoted as romantic suspense or romantic mystery. There are probably books promoted as romantic thrillers, though none come to mind immediately. There are several that I think are romantic, as will be noted below, but I do not think they are promoted as such.
The place to begin this inquiry is to ask “what is romance?” Is it the subtle intrigue in the evolution of a relationship that seems too bizarre to be possible (this was the case in the now best seller The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova). Or is it the sensuality of James Bond and his “Bond girls?” There are plenty of books that seem to surf on swells of voyeurism as the plots center around sex.
Which of these areas is romantic to you? To me, “romance” is a critical element of the humanity of characters. For me to find kinship and interest in characters, I want to know that they have needs, hopes, and dreams. As a story progresses, I will identify with and be concerned about a character who is brave enough to address the danger in the story that is always on the horizon (after all, we are talking about thrillers). As empathy grows for the character, I am hopeful that he or she will find that dream at the end of the chase. If such elements of humanity are taken out of the character, it generally becomes more one dimensional and my interest is likely to wane.
For every successful thriller writer, there is a different formula that works for that author and the style of story that he or she likes to tell. If the style resonates with a large enough group of readers, then the author will find at least creative success, and maybe financial as well. At the end of the day, fiction writers address what they know, with their own insecurities, hopes, or desires in full bloom for readers to enjoy as they will. Some of us are romantics. Others of us are, no doubt, so insecure in our own lives concerning romance that it is hard to imagine how characters would experience the romance that can only be dreamed of.
What do you want in a thriller in terms of romance? Do you enjoy the intellectual stimulation of genuinely intriguing action story line (First Blood by David Morrell, the classic beginning of the Rambo saga. The only romance in that wonderful book was understanding what made that interesting young man home from war tick. What about the chase to determine the famous Jason Bourne’s identity as the bad guys seek to shut him up forever (The Bourne Legacy by Eric Von Lustbader and Robert Ludlum)? The romance here is often in the nature of liaisons that are consumed in the fire of the action. Do you want to understand the psyche of Jason and the sensuality that be hidden beneath the exterior that is painted vividly? Or the romance could be a bit of prop to establish the humanity of a thriller character, which is a common way in which romance seems to be embraced in thrillers?
I read a lot of books and I am constantly amazed at the prop nature of romance. In this sense, I think of a “prop” as being something that is necessary for the story but really has no role in it. How about romance being the real story and the action parts being the background (Terms of Attraction by Kylie Brant). I loved this book because it was so easy to attach to the characters and wonder what possibility there was between. The needs of both male and female protagonists were plainly established from the first moment. She is a professional killer (a police sniper), who is needful. Can she find it? Don’t you want your protagonists, male or female, to find excitement in their romantic lives? Don’t you want to read of them experiencing what you dream of for yourself? Do you want to see how the protagonists deal with emotions that you have felt in your life, reading the story amazed that fictional characters could experience what you have, then become hooked to see if they handle it better or worse that you did in your life?
For me? I love to combine an exciting thriller story-line with situations in which real people, like you or me, could find themselves ensnared. In my novel, Riddle of Berlin
, the female protagonist sees a likely dead body in the waters of the Seine River in Paris. She strips naked, jumps in, hauls the inert carcass aboard, nurtures it back to health, as her boat traverses the waterways of Europe. She falls in love, as does he with her. Initially, he thinks he died and awoke in Heaven in the arms of angel. “Angels are soft,” he said, “and delicious.”
My conclusion about the role of romance in thrillers is that a fiction writer puts his or her own feelings on paper, whether it is conscious or not. A few months ago, I was honored to be asked to address an African-American reading club. One of the ladies had read Riddle of Berlin and wanted me to address its Christian themes. Frankly, I was delighted to accept but mystified about the suggestion that there were Christian or even religious themes in the book. Upon reflection and preparation, I was surprised to find a wide range of such themes. When I then thought through why they were so apparent when I was looking for them, but not when the words were getting on the page, I had an interesting self-revelation. Religion is an important part of my life, so as I write it is inevitable that such themes find their way into the storyline.
Similarly, romance is a driving force in my life so it is not surprising that it is front and center in what I write.
Buy: Riddle of Berlin
Author Bio:
Cym is a thriller writer who lives on a lake in East Texas. A romantic, he enjoys weaving romance, spirituality, and experience from the world into his international thriller stories. He also enjoys reviewing a wide range of books, including romance stories, especially if the stories expose the souls of their characters.
You can find more information about Cym on his blog, www.cymlowell.blogspot.com and connect with him on Twitter, www.twitter.com/cymlowell.
Giveaway: Cym Lowell is offering two versions of his bookRiddle of Berlin to two readers today. One will get a a signed copy and the other will get an ebook version. Both are open to international readers. If you have a preference, please indicate in your comment. To enter leave a comment or ask Cym a question! One entry per relevant comment/question; multiple entries allowed. Ends: February 28, 2010. Good luck!
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January 26th, 2010 — 4.5 Stars, ARC, Contemporary, Detective, Guest Reviews, Paranormal, Police, S-U, Science, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America, Werewolf
by Susan S., guest reviewer
Spear’s latest novel is bursting with romance, suspense, and heart-pounding excitement!
Legend of the White Wolf is the fourth book in Terry Spear’s werewolf series.
Does it stand alone? Yes.
Recommendations: This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy both paranormal romance, and romantic suspense.
The heroine (Faith O’Malley) is a forensic scientist working with the police dept. in Portland, Oregon. She’s also a woman on a mission. Faith is traveling from Oregon to Maine, in search of her soon-to-be, ex-boyfriend Hilson. Apparently, he just stole her father’s research.
Meet Cameron MacPherson, a sandy haired, blue-eyed gorgeous hero. He’s a physically fit private investigator, and former police officer. Cameron has a mission of his own, to find his missing partners, Owen and David.
But, when Faith and Cameron stumble onto a murder scene, their plans are not only sidetracked, but they are now persons of interest in a murder-mystery.
Will they find the person(s) responsible, or will they become the next targets?
More importantly, can two jilted people learn to love and trust their hearts again? Read Legend of the White Wolf to find out.
Here are some things I enjoyed: There’s a scene, where Cameron runs a towel over Faith’s wet hair. I thought it was both simple and utterly romantic. The author’s description of an Aurora Borealis was also beautifully written.
What will you enjoy? Hunky- wolfish men shedding their clothes, wolf bites, hotel clerk’s key mix-ups, and the reference to the Sleeping Beauty trio.
Legend of the White Wolf will leave you howling for more! Don’t worry, Terry Spear promises to feed our wolf addiction with books five and six, set to release by fall of 2010. Both novels will be published by Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca-titled Seduced by the Wolf and Wolf Fever.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: Legend of the White Wolf
Paranormal Romance, ARC, Series, Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca, February 2010, Mass Market Paperback, Print Pages, 367. ISBN-13# 978-1-4022-1905-4.
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January 5th, 2010 — 5 Stars, A-C, ARC, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Guest Reviews, Revenge, Science, Soldier, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America
by Karin of Savvy Thinker, guest reviewer.
No spoiler.
The Cost of Love, Drue Allen’s first book, is terrific! I hope she has more up her sleeve.
Genre: romantic suspense
Format: hardback
Length: 311 pages
ISBN 13: 9781594148675
ISBN 10: 1594148678
Publisher: Five Star
Author name: Drue Allen
Pub Date: March, 2010
In the interests of transparency: I was given a pdf to read by LRP who received it from Drue. I put it on my Kindle, and unfortunately it didn’t format perfectly, which was super annoying, but the book was so good, I could overlook all that.
National security comes with a price.
My take:
It has been a long time since I read a book that held my interest to such a level. I didn’t want to put it down. Besides that, it is very well written. If you like romantic suspense, you will love this one.
I rate it 8* out of 5, that’s how good it is. Seriously.
And it is contemporary, in that what it posits is something that is truly fearful.
The characters:
The characters are very well drawn. They are interesting, from the youngest to the oldest.
Dean Dreiser is a hard bitten operative, sent undercover to flush out terrorists who are bent on using biological weapons in an escalating situation. Its capabilities are gruesome. He is given a new partner, one too young for him, one hardly out of school, Dr. Lucinda Brown. She has no field expertise, but she is the leading expert in molecular biology. It’s up to her to find out what the weapon is and how it works. It’s up to both of them to stop it, if they can.
Undercover
Together they are working undercover in a bar. Dean is the bartender. She is one of the waitresses. It is thought that something is going down in the bar. And, as you’d expect, the bar offers many opportunities for odd characters, any of which could be one of the baddies.
Dean expected her cover to be that she is interested in UFO’s. The cover that she felt was believable is: he is interesting enough to spend her summer vacation getting to know him. That doesn’t thrill the bar owner who is a character herself – quick to pick up her shotgun to stop a fight; chain smoking, though supposedly stopping; questionable enough to be a suspect.
The place
Roswell, home of the extraterrestrial sightings. So you have UFO groupies that forward the story.
Suspense:
Yes, every page. I completely missed who the baddie is.
Trust no one
Someone on base is feeding the terrorists the news as to what is happening. Dean is smart enough to have figured out how to meet with his superior, but even his superior is suspect.
Only Aiden (who has a back story with Dean – and hopefully this story will be written in book form too!) is free and clear. Good thing Dean has him to rely on!
Murder and gore
Yes. And yes. Gruesome, made all the more so because it is so believable. Murders upon murders. Shoot to kill to protect oneself. Be prepared for anything. Trust no one. Hope to make it out alive.
Romance
Yes, and believable.
Peripheral characters:
I’d read stories about them too. I can’t tell you which one(s) because then you would know they weren’t a baddie, but trust me, they are interesting enough to become part of the next main stories or for back stories, and each has enough info that they would easily become part of a new team.
Buy: The Cost of Love
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January 1st, 2010 — 2 Stars, 5 Stars, ARC, Children, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Estranged, Guest Reviews, J-L, Kidnapping, Police, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America
by Karin of Savvy Thinker, guest reviewer.
LRP gave me an arc copy to review.
The genre
Romantic Suspense
Shattered has plenty of suspense.
The sex
Hot, hot, hot, but not crude.
There is one scene of angry sex, but they are both equally angry, it is not one-sided.
Lots of twists and turns
This includes intertwined relationships which might seem contrived (and they are) but they don't read as contrived. In the context of marital separation, there is a hint of another romance, but it is never consummated.
Violence
Yes. Torture (off page but strongly hinted at.) Murders. Kidnapping. Children witnessing murder.
Heads up
Negatives to me
One of the children in the book is diagnosed with Leukemia. I'd rather have had this left out of the book. Is it a romance book or reality book?
There are a number of treatments discussed in the book.
The child survives and likely goes into remission in a relatively short time, which might not happen in RL.
All's well that ends well.
The ending is satisfying. Everything is settled in 423 pages and a pretty fast read, one you won't want to put down. If only life would follow suit!
Part of the Bitter Creek novel series
This book is part of the Bitter Creek series, one of seven other books. There is enough information given within the book that someone who has never read any of the other books, can get a sense of who is who and have a pretty good guess at what the other books contain.
My take
I liked this book a lot, but then romantic suspense is a genre I particularly like to read.
Rating: I'd rate it a 5 Stars for romantic suspense, and a 2 Stars because of the Leukemia thread.
Buy: Shattered (Bitter Creek Novels)
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December 31st, 2009 — A-C, Crime and Protection, Detective, Guest Blogger, Mystery, Suspense/Thriller
by Mary Burton, guest blogger and author of Dying Scream.
The average daily chase for me doesn’t have a whole lot of thrill attached to it. I’m usually chasing my miniature dachshunds, Buddy and Bella, through the woods because they’ve gotten onto the scent of something. I’m chasing a deadline or I’m chasing down a recipe for another kind of cookie or bread. All good stuff, but not so thrilling.
However, when I pick up a book, especially a romantic suspense, I can really sink into a thrilling chase. Not only is there a sense of the romantic chase (the chemistry, the tension, the energy that hooks the hero and heroine together) but there is the added layer of a very literal chase—the race to catch a killer. It’s this double pursuit for love and justice that drew me first as a reader and then as a writer to romantic suspense.
In DYING SCREAM, the hero and heroine don’t seem to be in any kind of chase when the story opens. If anything, they are running in opposite directions. Adrianna Barrington and Gage Hudson are not only former lovers with far too many unresolved emotions, but they quickly find themselves on opposite sides of a murder investigation. There are so many reasons why these two would never make it and yet the Pull between them, which they thought was long dead, is so strong that the race toward true love quickly begins.
And if the emotional struggle is not enough for these two, they also have a serial killer that is quite literally chasing Adrianna. If Gage can’t out guess this dangerous killer, he will lose the woman he has finally come so far to find.
So, if you’d like to escape the mundane and sink into a book that feeds your need for a thrilling chase, consider DYING SCREAM. It was great fun for me chasing after these two characters as their story unfolded and I hope you’ll find their journey as thrilling as I did.
Mary Burton
www.maryburton.com
Buy: Dying Scream
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December 13th, 2009 — 4 Stars, A-C, Book Review, Children, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Estranged, Kidnapping, Mistaken Identity, Poor Eyesight, Secret Agent, Secret Baby, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America, Widow or Widower
Remember when I ran into Roxanne St. Claire at the bookstore? I asked her what her favorite books were that she wrote and Hunt Her Down was one of them. I was not disappointed in fact my socks were knocked off! I think I may just have to get back into reading lots and lots of romantic suspense because of this novel.
There’s this sexy shed scene where Dan masturbates that really did it. The scene is so hot you boil reading the pages. See, Dan has bad night vision and thought the heroine couldn’t see him. They were locked inside the shed (were they used to make love a lot when they knew each other years ago) by the bad guys and while they were waiting to be rescued they had a little trip down memory lane.
As Roxanne St. Claire said on twitter:
You know, every hero has to have a flaw.
To which I said:
I'd take that flaw in a few more heroes haha
I so would! Whew!
Maggie Varcek believes in signs from the universe or at least her Baba (grandmother). When a fortune cookie fortune accurately acknowledges her pregnancy, Maggie is ecstatic and determined to go to the baby’s father to tell him the news. She knew he’d take care of her and they’d figure out what to do (e.g. how to get away and stay safe.) On that fateful night however, Maggie does not get the chance because Michael Scott dies when the FBI and DEA rush in to haul Ramon and Alonso Jimenez off to prison.
Flash forward a decade later. Ramon is released and back on the streets. Dan Gallagher, formerly Michael Scott, undercover Bullet Catcher, knows his ex-lover Maggie might be in danger if Ramon figured out she was the leak. His plans to protect her go awry when he finds out they had a kid. Now he’s racing to solve a case of missing millions, 100 million to be precise, and the mysteries of the heart, specifically his own.
Sizzling, suspenseful, and superb. As I said before, I think I may just have to get back into reading lots and lots of romantic suspense because of this novel. Can’t wait to read Make Her Pay
!
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Hunt Her Down (Bullet Catchers)
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December 10th, 2009 — Author Interviews, Bodyguard, S-U, Suspense/Thriller
Keira: Good morning everyone! Today we have a very special guest and a giveaway. Please join me in welcoming Roxanne St. Claire to the blog!
Roxanne: First of all, thank you SO much for inviting me to do this interview! I love the blog and how much you clearly love our genre.
Susan: For readers who are unfamiliar with your Bullet Catcher series, who are the Bullet Catchers?
Roxanne: The Bullet Catchers series consists of eight novels and two novellas. Each one stands alone as an individual romantic suspense adventure, but many of the characters reoccur over the books and each has their own story. The Bullet Catchers organization is an elite group of bodyguards, investigators, security specialists and all around brilliant, hot crime fighters run by a former CIA operative named Lucy Sharpe.
Keira: Bodyguard romance – be still my heart. What do you think is most appealing about bodyguard romance
Roxanne: Who doesn’t want to be protected by a fearless, sexy, smart, resourceful, gorgeous (did I mention sexy?) guy who is willing to die for you? I’ve no doubt that’s the timeless and universal appeal of the bodyguard romance.
Keira: What qualities must every Bullet Catcher have? What makes them unique heroes?
Roxanne: In every story, a Bullet Catcher is given an assignment that will test them physically and emotionally, so the hero (it is usually the hero, although there have been two stories with female Bullet Catchers as the heroine) has to strong on the outside and the inside. He (or she) has to make split second decisions, face ruthless villains, and solve complex crimes…and he (or she) has to navigate the treacherous seas of love that they think they don’t want or need…but can’t live without.
Keira: You’ve written and published 25 books so far, of which 8 (+2 novellas) are Bullet Catcher stories. How do you come up with all the plots? Is it hard for you to keep it fresh?
Roxanne: Ideas are easy – execution is a bear! The concept of the Bullet Catchers has a built-in “danger and romance” element that is at the heart of every book I write. The challenge is to keep it fresh, of course, give each character memorable and appealing traits (and some flaws, yes, they must have those) and craft a non-stop story that continually ups the stakes and increases the passion. It’s not easy, but usually it is fun. Sometimes, it is harrowing and I want to weep until I get the story just write.
Keira: What do you like best about writing romantic suspense?
Roxanne: I like the mix of sensuality and danger, and how things are constantly “at the edge” for the characters. But it does complicate a love story, and usually the plots have to unfold over a very short period of time, so it’s difficult to make the romance believable.
Keira: How do you define love?
Roxanne: Complete and utter trust combined with toe-curling attraction and a willingness to do anything – absolutely anything – to protect and save the relationship and the other person.
Keira: What do you think makes a great sex scene?
Roxanne: Conflict and plenty of it. I try to end every sex/love scene with a twist of precisely the thing that makes what they just did a HUGE mistake. Then they have to work through that.
Keira: Do you read what you write? Is suspense romance your favorite genre to read?
Roxanne: I do read, but I read very little romantic suspense. I should read more and I try to, but I also like to read YA, straight romance, some thrillers, and nonfiction. When I’m deep into a book, it’s hard to read anything at all because, frankly, I’m too tired and when I’m done writing, I just want to hang with my family and watch TV.
Jane: Will there be more Bullet Catcher books?
Roxanne: I honestly don’t know. Right now, they are on hiatus as I write a spin off series for a new publisher. Called The Guardian Angelinos, this series is about an extended family of renegade crimefighters based in Boston. It will be similar to the Bullet Catchers (and may have some overlapping Bullet Catcher characters as the Angelinos are distant cousins of Johnny Christiano, the hero of Take Me Tonight) but I think the new series will be a little bit grittier, and the stories will have higher “save the world” kind of stakes. I’ve turned in the first one and am currently writing the second. The series will launch next fall, and I’m really excited to see what my new publisher, Grand Central, does with the packaging and promotion. I expect great things!
Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Roxanne: Just that I’d love to introduce your readers to a Bullet Catcher! I’ll give one commenter the Bullet Catcher book of her choice! To see the complete list and read excerpts (and bios/pics of the hotties) go to my website: www.roxannestclaire.com. Leave a comment (or question – I’ll answer anything!) at the end of this interview and we’ll pick a winner!!!
And thank you!
Giveaway Ends: December 17th, 2009 and is open to all readers worldwide.
Author Bio:
Roxanne St. Claire is a bestselling, RITA-award winning author of twenty-four novels of suspense and romance. She currently writes a popular romantic suspense series called “The Bullet Catchers” that features the adventures of an elite cadre of bodyguards and security professionals, published by Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books. In addition to being a four-time RITA nominee, her books have won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense for two consecutive years, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, several Awards of Excellence, the Aspen Gold and multiple Gayle Wilson Awards of Excellence. In 2011, she will launch a new romantic suspense series, featuring a renegade family of street smart crime fighters known as the Guardian Angelinos, published by Grand Central Publishing.
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December 5th, 2009 — Alien, Demon, Dragon, Fey / Fae, Ghost, Lycanthrope, Magic Users, Merman/Mermaid, Necromancer, Paranormal, Super Hero, Supernatural, Vampire, Werewolf
Truth or another whiny complaint from males about our reading material? Does paranormal romance hopelessly increase our expectations in a man? Let’s examine the paranormal hero to find out:
- He isn’t human. The paranormal hero is vampire, lycanthrope, demon, shapeshifter, angel, or other. Can a normal man get that irresistible dangerous edge? Yes, and he needn't even have a romantic suspense hero occupation. Role play and grab that Halloween cop uniform! Practice your growl. We love it when men growl their excitement!
- He has otherworldly powers. The paranormal hero is powerful in many aspects from his body to his personality, from his wealth to his influence and even to the impossible. Just because the paranormal hero can enter our minds, doesn't mean a real man can't guess what's in ours. Hint: A glass of wine, and a backrub will give any man superhuman powers.
- He’s ridiculously good looking. It’s our fantasy! Besides have you never heard of a gym? You expect us to be perfectly coiffed, made up with shaved legs, I think a few hours in a gym is not asking too much. Quit complaining and give me twenty! Or two hundred as twenty a six pack does not make.
- He’s an out of this world lover. The paranormal hero is a skilled lover. He’s sex walking and a giver of multiple orgasms. Nervous? Don’t worry. Real men can be phenomenal lovers too. It’s all about the E^E equation: Experimentation ^ Experience = Amazing in Bed.
- He’s too perfect. Not all the time! If the paranormal hero didn’t screw up sometime he wouldn’t be so perfect now would he? Flaws create the perfect character. Real men have flaws too.
Conclusion: Paranormal men sparkle. Real men can sparkle too.
Photo Credits: http://weheartit.com/
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November 3rd, 2009 — 4 Stars, A-C, ARC, Contemporary, Cooking, Cowboy, Guest Reviews, Ranching, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America, Western
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
Brown delivers another great cowboy romance! With devil-may-care characters, exciting plot twists, and outrageously silly sayings.
One Lucky Cowboy is book two from Brown’s Lucky Trilogy. This book stands alone, but if you read book one Lucky in Love, you’ll appreciate Milli and Beau’s cameo appearances all the more. You’ll also see the Yak-52 (Milli’s plane) take flight once again. This story takes place approximately one year after the first one, as evidenced by the amount of time Milli and Beau have been together.
Book two tells the story of another handsome Luckadeau cousin. We meet the hero Lester (Slade) Luckadeau. Slade’s a tall blonde, blue-eyed cowboy. He’s hell bent and determined to get the heroine (Jane) off the Double L Ranch. Slade’s grandma (Nellie) hired Jane as cook and driver and Jane has no intention of leaving. At least not until she turns 25. Staying alive for another six weeks will be a challenge, but dealing with an infuriating piece of cowboy eye candy will be downright impossible.
In typical Brown style, we have more outrageous sayings such as: burr in his britches, cow chips for brains, and one legged chicken at a coyote convention.
What will you find within the pages? Four fool hardy old women, who gamble, dance, drink, meddle, and have a grand ole’ time. There’s lots of eating, hangovers, and death threats.
I’ll be honest, I enjoyed this book more than the first, a lot more! Why? It has romantic suspense elements, and I love romantic suspense. The bantering between Slade and Jane was fun to read, while the drunken seven flights of stairs scene was cute and sexy. Oh yeah…it was also gross. (LOL)
The fundamental theme was the importance of family loyalty.
Will Slade run Jane off the ranch? Or will they simply drive each other mad?
I’ll be happier than a monkey in a Chiquita banana factory when Getting Lucky
releases in January of 2010.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: One Lucky Cowboy
Contemporary Romance, ARC, Trilogy, Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca, November 2009, Print Pages 331.
ISBN# 978-1-4022-2437-9
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October 10th, 2009 — 5 Stars, ARC, Australia/New Zealand, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Guest Reviews, P-R, Police, Suspense/Thriller
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
Ningaloo Nights is a smooth, well-executed, hot steamy read. So hot in fact, I’d attach the following warning. Tracy’s novella may cause:
Glasses to fog, an increase in blindfold sales, addictions to chocolate biscuits, a greater demand for hot Aussie men, increased sales of Ute trucks by single men, and stores will have to work diligently day and night to keep up with the demands of pink panties.
Changes in behavior to watch out for: clothes ripping behavior. If the Earth shakes again; its Tracy’s sex scenes causing an 8.0 on the Richter scale.
Sherry Abandonato is a guarded, tough, foul-mouthed New York Cop who travels to Ningaloo, Australia with a heavy heart; hoping to find her missing sister. She's referred to the only man who can help her, a former guide named Mason Hayward. He’s a blue eyed, delicious looking Aussie; who also happens to be well tanned, and well endowed.
Sherry doesn’t have enough money for the trip to Derremawan; where her sister (Pepper) and boyfriend (Ryan) are thought to have been. In lieu of the rest of the money; Mason devises other ways she can make up the difference. Their journey is filled with hot sexual encounters, and a sex scene against a Ute truck that puts the ecstasy in erotica.
Tracy’s novella is comparable to the movie 9 1/2 Weeks
. There are new explorations at every turn, with blindfolds, melting chocolate, and sex toys.
I recommend Ningaloo Nights for erotica lovers, those who enjoyed 9 ½ weeks, and romantic suspense readers.
Mason’s character is every woman’s fantasy. He’s compassionate, caring, concerned, strong, endowed, and sexually dominating.
There are no distractions from secondary characters, only brief appearances by (Bruce) Mason’s employee & police officials. Tracy focuses solely on the developing relationship between Mason and Sherry.
Ningaloo Nights contains loads of sex, some heartbreak, and a beautifully written happily ever after.
A hot read, indeed!
5 Star Rating.
Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc., Breathless, Contemporary Erotic Romantic Suspense, E-book, Novella, 81 pages. Copyright October, 2009. ISBN# 978 141 992 395 1
Link to Book at EC.
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September 11th, 2009 — Contemporary, Guest Blogger, Italy, Librarian, M-O, Paranormal, Renaissance, Suspense/Thriller
by Loucinda McGary guest blogger and author of The Treasures of Venice
Thank you for inviting me to blog with you today. I’m excited to be promoting my newest release from Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Treasures of Venice.
This book is a romantic suspense with paranormal elements and a dual storyline set in both contemporary and Renaissance Venice.
American librarian, Samantha Lewis is in Venice on what should have been her honeymoon, but she called off the wedding after learning that her fiancé cheated on her. Sitting in an outdoor café in St. Mark’s Square, she is feeling a bit sorry for herself when a handsome stranger approaches her and asked her to play along with him. On an impulse, she does and goes with him into the Doge’s Palace.
Charming Irish rogue, Keirnan Fitzgerald never met a lock he couldn’t pick. But he finds himself in Venice on a dangerous mission. His sister, a Renaissance scholar has been ruthlessly kidnapped. The ransom is the legendary Jewels of the Madonna, stolen and missing for over 500 years. Keirnan’s plans do not include becoming involved with a beautiful American tourist, but he and Samantha seem drawn to each other in an almost other-worldly way.
As the story behind the jewels original disappearance in 1485 unfolds, Samantha and Keirnan question if they are soul mates from a previous life. Or are they merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasure?
Now that you know a little about the book, I thought you might enjoy an interview with the hero, Keirnan Fitzgerald. My critique partners, friends, and thus far the readers and reviewers have been very enthusiastic about this charming Irish rogue. They’ve all expressed interest in learning a bit more about him and I thought the readers here at Love Romance Passion might like to know too. (Special thanks to my critique partners Cathy D. and Jo-Mama who helped with some of the questions.)
Loucinda McGary: Hello Keirnan, you have a somewhat unusual name. Is it a family name?
Keirnan Fitzgerald: As a matter of fact, it is. I was named for both my grandfathers, Keirnan Fitzgerald and Sean Farley. My sister was also named for our grandmothers, Kathleen Mary, so I guess you could say it’s a family tradition.
LM: In the story The Treasures of Venice, you mention being kicked by a horse as a child. Did you grow up around horses?
KF: Most everyone in County Kildare does. All the finest Irish thoroughbreds are born and raised there. My father was a trainer on one of the smaller farms.
LM: But you didn’t want to follow in his footsteps?
KF: Ah, no. I saw too much of the more unpleasant aspects of the job growing up to want to spend my life doing it.
LM: How in the world did you go from a horse farm to Venice?
KF: That would be my sister’s doing. She studied there for a semester during her early days at university, and she couldn’t get enough of the place – became a bit obsessed actually. When she moved there to do her graduate studies, I used to visit her on school holidays. Unlike her, I never wanted to live there. America was the place for me, the land of opportunity and pretty girls. First chance I got to go there, I jumped at it and I’ve lived there ever since.
LM: What is it about American women you find so appealing?
KF: Most of them have a fresh-scrubbed look about them that makes them appear to be both innocent and sexy at the same time. And most of them are incredibly direct. No doubt about where you stand. Oh, and most of them also find an Irish accent irresistible. (He gives a knowing smile.)
LM: Back to the storyline of The Treasures of Venice, what would you have done if Samantha hadn’t gone along with you? Did you have a Plan B?
KF: (chuckles) Darlin’ I didn’t even have a Plan A! I had that funny feeling on the back of my neck that I get when I’m being watched or followed. I saw a pretty girl sitting alone at a table in Piazza San Marco. I could tell by the way she was dressed that she was American. She looked familiar somehow, so I just walked up to her and took a chance.
LM: It never once occurred to you that she might say no, did it?
KF: (shuffles his feet and looks a bit sheepish) I adore the ladies, and most of ‘em adore me, so honestly, no. I didn’t think what I’d do if she refused. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about it, did I? (His blue eyes gleam and he winks.)
LM: You do have quite an adventurous streak, don’t you? So how many times have you wound up naked in some strange woman’s hotel room?
KF: Don’t ya know a gentleman never kisses and tells? And I am a gentleman.
LM: All right then, what is the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
KF: Why fall in love, of course. Nothing’s more dangerous than risking your heart.
LM: One last question, certain people in The Treasures of Venice believe you and Samantha were soul-mates from a previous life. Do you believe you that?
KF: If you had asked me that before I met Samantha, I’d have told you it was all a pile of rubbish. I still think perhaps it might be. But I do believe in true love, and when you meet the one for you, you will know it.
LM: On that lovely note, we’ll end our interview. But if you have any questions for Keirnan, please ask away! Oh, and if you have any questions for me, his creator, I’ll be happy to answer those too.
About the Author
Loucinda McGary took early retirement from her managerial career to pursue her twin passions of travel and writing, and sets her novels of romantic suspense in the fascinating places she has visited. She was a finalist in the 2006 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest in Romantic Suspense. She lives in Sacramento, CA. For more information, please visit http://loucindamcgary.com/.
Buy: The Treasures of Venice
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August 17th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Detective, Erotica, Guest Reviews, Paranormal, S-U, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
Mind Games lead me on a roller coaster, tempting me with erotic pleasures, suspenseful turns and stopped only after I was screaming, “Uncle!”
I recommend this book to anyone who reads romantic suspense or erotica. As a reader with a fondness for romantic suspense; I couldn’t control the urge to finish the book.
Tan introduces us to the heroine, Wren Delacourt, a book transcriber with a rather dull existence. It isn’t until she discovers her sister Abby has disappeared; that her life is transformed. She begins to have erotic dreams that seem to be premonitions, but she can’t decipher if it’s past or future. Flowers begin to arrive at her job from an unknown sender, and her attraction to a P.I. named Derek; begins to reach new heights. Together they’ll unlock hidden desires, cast off inhibitions, and explore their growing needs.
In order to find her sister, Wren will have to uncover her telepathic abilities and learn to use them, but can she do it in time to find Abby?
My favorite character turned out to be Lawrence; Wren’s gay neighbor. He’s kind, witty, a good listener, and has all the qualities you’d expect from a friend. Lawrence is such a great sport; even when she drags him into Victoria’s Secret.
This book is not without its flaws. Tan fails to express the desperation and anguish you’d expect to feel; if your loved one has vanished. Abby’s disappearance takes a back seat; while Wren’s sexual needs take precedence. I also found Wren’s self gratification excessive and felt it robbed the story of some of its magic.
Regardless, I found it was a good read that had me anticipating; what was to come. Tan also caught me off guard; I was shocked when Wren breaches Derek’s hidden thoughts. The author’s larger theme appears to be, that we should find the courage to confront our fears and embrace our sexuality.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy Print: Mind Games
Buy ebook: Mind Games
Publisher: Ravenous Romance, Breathless
ISBN-13# 978-1-60777-079-4
Copyright 2009
Genre: erotic science-fiction/paranormal romance
Format Read: e-book
Page count: 150
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August 13th, 2009 — A-C, About, Guest Blogger, Writing Tips
by Clare Austin, guest blogger
Hello out there is cyber world…I’m Clare. Happy to be here.
I was asked to share what I think are the indispensible points to consider when writing a story…specifically a romance.
I’ll be shooting from the hip on this one. I’ve never thought about it before. I’m sure I’ll miss some important things, but here goes.
- Think about this little fact: If your characters are interesting, engaging, tantalizing and you like hanging out with them for hours at a time, you have the biggest part of your book tackled. Your characters tell your story. Sometimes they even take you where you didn’t want to go, but if you listen to them, they rarely will lead you completely astray. Fabulous characters make your job easier and more fun. They also make your book a seller.
- Give the reader a setting that is hard to leave. I’m not a fan of “drawing room” romance, but if you make it so compelling that I have to stay in that room to find out where the old aunt has the bodies buried, you might be able to keep my attention. Whatever setting you choose, make sure you can keep your reader there because even the best and hottest hero needs a stage.
- Conflict. Ah...yes. Why conflict? Because humans like to solve problems and puzzles. We like to see others solving them too. Your conflict can’t be simply a difference of opinion and it must not be something that your characters could resolve by looking up the facts on the internet. The conflicts have to be gut level. Read up on Internal and External Conflict…it will force you to focus your characters and plot. I had a hard time with this when writing Angel’s Share. I’d not written this type of romantic suspense and I constantly had to go back to my basic conflicts and keep my characters actions consistent with those points.
- Other writers will probably disagree on this one but when I write I have to have both humor and pathos. I want comic relief in my very serious books and I need to have some heart wrenching moments in my comedies. There needs to be a balance. I sometimes categorize Butterfly
as a romantic comedy. When I wrote it I hoped I would make someone crack a smile…maybe even a belly laugh. But, a couple of the scenes made me tear up and they might have that effect on you too.
- Finish what you write and write often. Simple but oh so important. I know too many writers who have been working on the first couple of chapters of their only book for years. It has to be perfect and it’s their only story. NOT. Just write it! Get it down dirty and fix it later. If you are hopelessly stuck, write something else, switch your genre, do a short story or novella. If you are writing a Regency family saga, put it aside for a while and let your mind fly away with an alien invasion of an unknown planet full of time traveling, brain sucking, zombies. Let yourself have a success and then go back to the “troubled child.”
- When you submit to an agent/editor or enter a contest be professional. Submit only the best you can do. Punctuate and spell without an error. If you are not good at grammar, have someone else take a look at your work and fix the problems. Get yourself a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style
and use it. Always submit in a format that is easy to read… double space everything. Your editor will love you if you send her/him a clean piece of work. If they love you, they will want more.
- Finally, this may be the most important…have fun! Remember, even in the hard times, when you think you will soon have enough rejection letters to wallpaper your bathroom, when the words on your page only make sense to your three year old or the hermit crab and Windows Vista keeps asking your permission to open the next document…remember, you are doing this because you are a writer and you love it.
Thanks for hosting me on your blog today. Please go to my website www.clareaustin.com for more of my books. Butterfly is now available in trade paperback and e-book formats from www.thewildrosepress.com and other booksellers.
Buy: Butterfly
Excerpt of Butterfly:
He lost sight of the fiddler in the mobs of tourists enjoying the April sunshine.
No sooner had he decided to give up on his quest than he heard hands clapping in rhythm with the beat of the now familiar Irish drum.
Then he saw her.
She lifted her instrument and, with the surety of a bird’s wing slipping through the air, bow was laid to strings and life was breathed into melody.
He moved to the edge of the gathering where he could have an unobstructed view of the musicians. She looked up, and he thought she recognized him for an instant. Then her eyes turned and followed another. She smiled and nodded.
Cade had never thought of himself as the jealous type, but he did feel cheated out of that smile.
As soon as the last vibration of strings quieted, a man Cade recognized from O’Fallon’s came up behind the fiddler and, with disturbing familiarity, spoke in her ear. She responded with a hug and an adoring look in her eyes.
Cade had been raised to be competitive, in sports as well as in business, and the appearance of a rival on the field made him want to draw blood. He wanted the fiddler in his studio, and if she ended up in his bed, that might be as nice.
He stood and listened until the sun set and the air held a chill that thinned the throng. The musicians were packing it in.
He hadn’t realized he was staring, until she walked up to him and stood so
close he could smell the scent of her warm skin in the cool evening air. Her approach to introduction took Cade completely by surprise.
“Are you lookin’ at me or waitin’ for a bus?” she said, one hand on her hip and a sassy smile on her lips.
Buy: Butterfly
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