February 5th, 2010 — Australia/New Zealand, Guest Blogger, Lycanthrope, M-O, Paranormal
by Shelley Munro, guest blogger and author of Scarlet Woman.
Hi, my name is Shelley Munro, and I write paranormal and contemporary romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. Thanks for having me to visit today to talk about my feline shapeshifter book Scarlet Woman.
Middlemarch is a small town in the South Island of New Zealand. A few years ago, there was a special interest item on our news. The town of Middlemarch had a shortage of marriageable females, and in an effort to combat the problem, the locals decided to organize a dance to bring women into the area. A special train traveled from Dunedin. Dubbed the “Love Train”, it arrived packed with single women to attend the dance.
The first dance was a great success, and the next singles ball will take place at Easter 2011. For those who are interested, there’s a contact address on the Middlemarch website. www.middlemarch.co.nz Who knows who you’ll meet during the journey on the Love Train from Dunedin or at the actual dance???
The story of the dance and history behind it fascinated me. When I was looking for a place to set my feline shifter series, I decided Middlemarch would be perfect. In my Middlemarch world, both feline shifters and humans occupy the town. They face a similar problem, having a shortage of females. Saber is the oldest Mitchell brother, and his younger brothers are out of control. The feline council decides to arrange a dance, and Saber hopes to marry off his brothers to keep them out of trouble. Unfortunately, Saber is the one caught in the romance trap, much to the amusement of his brothers.
What do you think of the town’s plan to entice women to Middlemarch? Can you think of any other ways to entice women of a marriageable age to a small country town?
Author Bio:
Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and loves to write about feline shapeshifters. To learn more about Scarlet Woman and the other stories in Shelley’s Middlemarch Mates series, read excerpts, see family trees and other background information visit her website at www.shelleymunro.com
Excerpt: Scarlet Woman
“Oh, man. Look at the tits on her.” Felix made kissing noises deep in his throat. “I’ve died and gone to heaven. Oh, man. She winked. Yep, heaven.”
Sly thumped his brother on the back. “Don’t think it’s heaven, bro. Can’t be with all that sinful lust shining on your face.”
“Cut it out, the pair of you,” Saber said, trying to scowl his boisterous younger brothers into obedience. Despite laying down the law this afternoon, the four were out of control. He had to get them settled before one of their harmless pranks boiled over into something that threatened them all.
“Yeah, gotta remember, this is punishment,” Leo chided, humor dancing in his dark eyes.
Joe let out a low whistle. “I vote the lady in red administers my punishment.”
Saber relaxed a fraction. Good. His plan was working already. If he managed to get each of his brothers mated, they’d cut out the mischievous shenanigans and settle down to raise a litter or two. And he wouldn’t have to worry about articles in the paper like the one he’d seen last month.
Black panther sighted again.
At least the article had lit a match under the council elders. Finally. Agreement that they needed to do something to help the younger males settle. Saber’s mouth firmed in introspection as he recalled the heated meeting. The council had discussed the lack of females of marriageable age. They knew the causes—the feline families tended to have male offspring while the human females seemed to enjoy the lifestyle offered in the city of Dunedin or farther afield. They attended high school and university in the city and never returned to their birthplace. The human males left too, but they tended to return after exploring a little of the world outside Middlemarch. Until the reporter’s story had appeared, no one had tried to solve the problem of a lopsided gender ratio. The article in the paper had been the catalyst. They’d all swung into action to organize a dance they hoped would benefit both the young shifter and human males living in Middlemarch. The task they’d called impossible suddenly became imperative.
Saber eyed Felix and Leo, the brothers standing closest to him, feeling the tension brought about by responsibility coalesce into a solid lump in his chest. They both strenuously denied taking part in the prank, but Saber wasn’t so sure. He knew his brothers—where there was fun to be had, they were in the thick of it.
Felix nudged Sly. “Big bro’s looking serious. He’s got Mission Mate on his mind again.”
Joe leaned closer and whispered, “Can’t have shape shifters roaming around Middlemarch for the humans to see.”
“Enough,” Saber snapped. His brothers sobered, knowing they’d pushed him far enough tonight. Dammit, he had to find them mates. It was too late for him. But not for them. None of his brothers remembered how it had been between their parents. They’d been too young when they died, but Saber remembered how they’d laughed and played together, how they’d made everything seem like a game, even the work on the farm. Yes, he remembered the intimacy between his parents, and that’s what he wanted for his four brothers.
http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-5674-127-scarlet-woman.aspx
Giveaway: Shelley has kindly offered one winner a chance to choose any one ebook download from her Middlemarch Mates series. There are eight books to choose from. Here's a link to the entire series beginning with Scarlet Woman. http://www.shelleymunro.com/series-guide/. To enter, answer her question. Ends February 28, 2010.
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January 19th, 2010 — Book Intro, Guest Blogger, M-O
A few weeks ago I asked some of my friends at Romance Divas where they met their partners. The answers ranged from online dating sites to college to in the workplace. It was a fun conversation, bringing happy memories for many of us.
The truth is that it’s not always easy to meet a partner. Many of us are busy with work commitments that leave very little time for romance. In the book world, cute meets abound. I’ve read stories where the heroine and hero literally bang into each other and of course, there are plenty of work romances.
In Tea For Two Sam Norville and Hayley Williams meet at a work function. They aren’t formally introduced, but they end up meeting anyway.
Here’s a short excerpt:
Not tonight. No, tonight he didn’t want to play the mating game. All he wanted was pleasant company with no commitments. No promises or obligations. A third woman stopped the two who had waved at him. As one, they turned to scrutinize him, clear speculation written across their faces. Determination. Sam knew what a wild animal felt like, trapped with nowhere to hide. His gaze darted back to the dark-haired woman sitting on her own, and he came to a quick decision.
His savior—although she might not appreciate the fact.
A soft smile played across sensual lips while she watched both the dancers and the people at the bar. There was an intriguing stillness about her, as if she were content with her own company, but that didn’t stop Sam from striding away from the bar, navigating the dancers on the floor, to reach her side. Up close, she had a quiet beauty with creamy soft skin and sapphire blue eyes surrounded by a mass of dark lashes. She wasn’t a woman who screamed, “look at me,” but her full curves appealed to him. Nothing worse than a string-bean woman with jutting hipbones and stick arms. No, he preferred someone healthy and robust, who didn’t look as if she’d break when he held her.
“Hello, darling,” he said and he lifted her off the chair, hauling her into his arms. Before she had a chance to react, he lowered his head and kissed her. To anyone else, to the three women stalking him, it would appear like a quick peck between friends, but with this woman, something changed. Shock roared through him and he froze. He pulled back enough so he could stare down at her, trying to fathom the sense of possessiveness that had blindsided him without warning. Yes, her eyes were beautiful. Stunning. The freckles across the bridge of her nose were cute. She smelled of wildflowers, a light, natural scent that didn’t make his eyes water or bring on a sneeze.
This woman was…
No way. No how! Not possible. He wasn’t going to act on the instinct screaming through him. He’d traveled that road before. No, all he intended to do was chat, maybe dance and reassure himself that this love at first sight stuff really was a load of crap. And of course, avoid the three stooges stalking him at the same time.
He released the woman and offered her a grin, the charming type his mother and sisters accused him of using whenever he wanted something.
“Hello, I’m Sam. You don’t know it yet, but you’ve just saved my life. I can’t thank you enough.”
“If you wanted an original pickup line, you’ve found it,” she said dryly, cocking her head slightly to the side to look up at him. Her voice was low and throaty. Seductive. And her mouth. Oh, yeah. Her bottom lip glistened, the plump pink curve highlighted with a gloss of some kind. Sam wanted to touch, but curled his hands to fists to halt the impulse.
“You haven’t heard my best ones yet.” Sam held out his hand and waited for her to acknowledge his greeting.
“Oh?” The beginnings of a grin twitched at the corner of her sexy lips, but didn’t go any farther. Slowly, she stepped back to put a more respectable distance between them. Sam’s heart thudded violently without warning, and he found himself wanting to make her smile. He could imagine her face lighting up and wanted to see if his imagination matched the truth.
“How much will you charge me for a smile?”
http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/shelley-munro
~ * ~
Thanks for having me to visit today.
Where did you meet your partner? When it comes to romances in books, what is your favorite meet set-up?
Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and met her husband in a bank. Tea For Two, her debut book for Samhain Publishing, is now available for purchase in both e-format and print. You can visit Shelley at www.shelleymunro.com
Giveaway: Shelley is happy to give away a print copy of TEA FOR TWO to a commentor here at LRP. To enter please answer Shelley's questions about special someones. If you don't have a special someone, you can enter by just answering the second question. Ends January 26, 2010.
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November 27th, 2009 — Arabia/Middle East, Australia/New Zealand, Contemporary, Guest Blogger, M-O, Soldier
by Shelley Munro, guest blogger
Thanks so much for having me to visit today. My name is Shelley Munro, and I write both contemporary and paranormal romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing.
I come wearing my contemporary author hat today. Like many other readers and authors, some of the earliest romances I read were Harlequin Mills & Boon. They were contemporary stories set in exotic locations, both in the country and in cities. The stories I read actually fueled my desire to travel. I wanted to see the Greek Islands, the Italian cities and French vineyards. I wanted to see London. Yes, I definitely started my love of contemporary romance at an early age.
So why do I like contemporary romances so much?
- The stories are set in this world in recognizable settings.
- The heroine is often someone who is just like me. It’s easy to step into her shoes and experience the ride.
- The problems the hero and heroine face during the story are ones the reader can empathize with because often they have experience with the same problems or know of someone who has. This can make the story more meaningful.
- The reader can armchair travel to exotic locations.
- The stories are often more light-hearted and less dark than in other genres.
- The stories are often set in small, close-knit communities.
- The stories have happy endings.
Luckily for me, after a bit of a drought in the contemporary genre, there are some great ones around this year. Some of my favorites include Lorelei James with her hot cowboy series, Robyn Carr with her Virgin River series and Victoria Dahl. All three authors have set their stories in small country towns. Everyone knows their neighbors and often their neighbors’ business, which can add to the story conflict. Some of the stories have a slight suspense element to them, but mostly the stories are character driven.
Authors Natalie Anderson and Sarah Mayberry are both Down Under authors. Natalie writes for Presents and Sarah writes for Blaze and Superromance. Both write wonderful contemporaries, often with quirky characters and a little humor. I snap up their books as soon as they come out.
Erin McCarthy is personally responsible for me losing sleep because I couldn’t stop reading her Flat-Out Sexy
, a contemporary set in the race car world. Maya Banks and Beth Kery write hot, hot, hot stories that leave the reader needing a cold shower or better yet, their favorite man.
My recent contemporary release Soldier of Fortune is set in both Iraq and New Zealand. My hero Louie Lithgow and heroine Joanna “Mac” McGregor are both soldiers who face danger every day while working for a private security company. Both have taken the job to earn big money. Louie intends this tour to be his last one while Mac needs to sign up again to support her father. I did lots of research while writing this story and hopefully I’ve managed to blend the danger and romance in a way that readers enjoy.
Here’s the blurb:
Joanna “Mac” McGregor loves her father, and she’ll do anything to keep him safe after Alzheimer’s starts to steal his mind. That takes money, and Mac uses her only skills—those of soldiering—when she takes up a security contract in Iraq. She doesn’t have time for men, her last vacation fling in Fiji relegated as one perfect moment to hold close during the grim reality of war.
Soldier Louie Lithgow is tired of fighting, the constant danger, and has decided this is his last contract. He wants to retire, sink his savings into a place on the beach, and find the sexy Joanna, his holiday lover.
Mac’s arrival in Iraq causes consternation. They’ve both been economical with the truth, but the attraction sizzling between them flares hot and bright. They embark on a clandestine affair—professional and confident during their high-danger day, passionate with the release of emotional stress during their torrid nights. One thing is clear—they have different goals and the future is both murky and dangerous. If they survive their contracts.
Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7810-127-soldier-of-fortune.aspx
Website: http://www.shelleymunro.com
Blog: http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog
Do you enjoy reading contemporary romances? Why or why not? Do you have any favorite contemporary romances you’ve read this year that you’d like to recommend?
Giveaway: One commenter will win a download of Shelley Munro's e-book Summer in the City of Sails
, which is the book where readers first meet Louie Lithgow, the hero of Soldier of Fortune. Enter by answering Shelley's questions about contemporary romances. One entry per relevant comment; multiple entries allowed. Ends: December 4, 2009.
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