Murphy's Law - Sandy James

Posted by Diana Coyle in

10 comments

Welcome NOR readers to my weekly reviewer showcase. I picked another fabulous read that I'd like to tell you about. So, grab something delicious to drink, make yourself comfortable and let me introduce you to Murphy's Law by Sandy James. This is the first book in the Damaged Heroes series and I'm thrilled to tell you that the next few books in this series are already available for purchase. As an added bonus to all those animal lovers out there, you'll be happy to know that the storyline to this book is wrapped around horses. Since you all know from my previous blog entries that I'm a big animal lover, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to review this book for Ms. James.

If you would like to find out more about this talented author or see what she already has available for purchase, please visit her at: http://www.sandy-james.com/.

Thanks for stopping by again this week and please feel free to leave a comment for Ms. James. See you all next week!

Murphy’s Law (Damaged Heroes- Book One)

Author: Sandy James (Author Website)

Genre(s): Contemporary
Review Date: 3/24/2009
E-Book Price: $5.99
Book Strand -(Website)
Street Date: Out Now

Murphy’s Law - Book Excerpt

SCORE: 5/ 5

Twenty-nine year old Seth Remington has the world at his feet thanks to the success and wealth of his father, Sterling. Remington Computers is owned and operated by his father’s own blood, sweat and tears and because of this wealth, Seth is a playboy in every sense of the word. He never held a job or even supported himself in anyway because dear old dad always took care of his son. Things are going to change though.

Since Sterling is now ill and dying, Seth needs to be taught a lesson once and for all on what it’s like to stand on his own two feet, with no financial assistance whatsoever, since he didn’t want to take over the reins of Remington Computers. So his father has his attorney rewrite the will and in it states that the inheritance will be completely tied up until Seth meets all the criteria his father has set out for him. One guideline is that Seth must labor as a groom for horse trainer, Katie Murphy, for one whole season and not break any of the criteria his father has set forth in the will. This includes no romantic relations with Katie at all. While working so closely together, Seth and Katie are forced to struggle with their growing attraction to one another.

Can Seth keep his end of the bargain and meet all the criteria his father has set forth in the will? Does Seth actually learn to work and stand on his own two feet? What becomes of Seth and Katie’s attraction they have for each other?

Ms. James wrote a thoroughly entertaining story within these pages. I have to admit that it took me quite some time to warm up to Seth. Even though he was extremely sexy and good looking, his flippant playboy attitude turned me completely off to him. I instantly fell in love with pretty, hard working Katie though. She clearly was no match for carefree, irresponsible Seth. I had every doubt in the world that Seth wasn’t going to make it to the end of one racing season as stipulated by his father’s will. I noticed this to be the first book in a series and I look forward to seeing what else can come about in other Damaged Heroes stories. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and I’d love to read more work done by Ms. James in the near future.



Book Blurb & Info for Murphy’s Law (Damaged Heroes- Book One)

Seth Remington had a fortune at his fingertips, but something was missing in his life. Purpose. Knowing he has one last chance to redeem his son, terminally ill Sterling Remington rewrites his will. To earn his inheritance, his son Seth must labor as a groom for a horse trainer. Katie Murphy’s orderly existence is turned upside down by Sterling Remington’s will. Raised on hard work and dedicated to her harness racing stable, Katie agrees to take Seth on as a groom. How can she ever fulfill the challenge of instilling a work ethic in Seth and still keep her faltering stable running? Kept at arm’s length by the strict terms of Sterling’s will, Seth and Katie are forced to struggle with their growing attraction until a devastating racing accident forces them to take a hard look at their relationship. How much is he willing to risk for her love?

Word Count: 116,784

Heat Level: STEAMY

Author's Note:"This book is straight from my heart. Until my husband and I jumped into owning racehorses, I had no idea that world even existed. I fell in love with the animals and the wonderful, generous people who work with them every day, and I wanted to share that experience with readers. I offer this story to all my friends in harness racing in hopes they'll know how much I love being a part of their world." ~Sandy~

Review available at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=3399

Second Chances By Tracy Cooper-Posey

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

18 comments

Second Chances
April 29, 2009 Guest Blog Post for Night Owl Romance
By Tracy Cooper-Posey

Twenty-three years ago today, there was a fire at the central library of the City of Los Angeles Public Library. 400,000 books were burned and destroyed. Some of them were gone forever because the authors have died, their original manuscripts with them.

I have the odd out-of-print title of my own for which I no longer have any print copies, and if I ever lost the original files, that book would be totally gone, and I would be devastated. The Los Angeles Public Library fire took 400,000 of them.

Think about that.

If you stacked your average romances one on top of the other, until you had 400,000 of them, you could build over thirteen piles as high as the Empire State Building!

That’s a lot of romances to lose in a fire – romances that you might never get back again. These days, though, thanks to the slowly building popularity of electronic reading, the chance of a story being irrevocably lost for all time are dwindling. If, say, today’s equivalent of Gone With the Wind was lost in a fire, then someone, somewhere, would have an electronic copy they would be able to donate to a publisher, who could swiftly set about producing new copies, giving that book a second chance at life.

(Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page was created in 1971 for exactly this reason – it was intended to preserve all classic public domain books in electronic format, so they would never be lost.)

Today, Night Owl Romance are kindly allowing me to celebrate the launch of Eyes of a Stranger by hosting me as a guest blogger. Eyes of a Stranger is published by Cerridwen Press, and is enjoyed a second chance of its own, for it was first published in 2000 when most romance readers weren’t even sure what an e-book was – I remember sitting at the book fair at the Romantic Time convention with my e-books and being ignored by everyone. I didn’t sell a single book. Big surprise!

Now, almost ten years on, everyone has heard of e-books even if they’re not raving fans of them (yet). And Cerridwen Press are giving Eyes of A Stranger a second chance to reach romance readers. The reworked, polished and updated Eyes is a contemporary romance, and won the inaugural Emma Darcy Award...perhaps you might consider giving it a second chance, yourself.

Links:

Eyes Of a Stranger

Tracy’s Website

Tracy’s Newsletter (get a free book)

Tracy’s blog for writers, Anchored Authors

Prizes for Commentors:

Two lucky posters will get an electronic copy of Eyes of a Stranger, in the prize winner’s preferred format.

You must be a member of the Night Owl Romance newsletter to enter. Provide a meaningful comment and leave the first part of your email address on the post - email address to be the one used for the newsletter sign-up.

His Captive by Diana Cosby

Posted by Diana Coyle in

21 comments

Hello NOR readers and welcome to another week of Night Owl's reviewer showcase. I am eager to tell you about the book I chose today because I just couldn't put it down. I found myself reading it every chance I got and I fell deeper in love with the characters as I turned each page. So, without further ado, I would like to tell you about His Captive by Diana Cosby. This is a Historical romance that will just warm your heart as soon as you start reading it. I immediately loved Nichola and wished for her safety, but I had such a hard time not falling in love with Alexander. Although he took Nichola captive, he was a man of his word. He continually showed her that he would keep to the promise he made to her even though she was his captive. This is a book that you shouldn't pass up. I am happy to tell you that Ms. Cosby has made this a series and she already has the second book, His Woman, available for purchase.

If you would like to find out more about this wonderfully talented author and see what other stories she might be working on or currently has available for you to pick up, please visit her at: http://www.dianacosby.com/.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit me next Thursday for another fresh and exciting read you may be interested in reading. Have a wonderful week everyone!

His Captive

Author: Diana Cosby (Author Website)

Genre(s): Historical
Review Date: 4/15/2009
ISBN: 9781420101089
Print Book Price: $3.99
Kensington Publishing -(Website)
Zebra Historical Romance
Street Date: Out Now

His Captive - Book Excerpt

SCORE: 5 / 5

Lady Nichola Westcott of England is not having the best of luck lately. Her older brother, Griffin, Baron of Monceaux is causing her much stress because it seems he is intent on continuing on his path of self-destruction. With his uncontrolled drinking, womanizing and questionable men he keeps company with, Nichola worries for her brother’s well-being. During one of his many unexplained absences, she reviews the household ledgers and finds out their financial state. She has no other choice but to sell some of the family heirlooms to help pay off the creditors coming to collect their money. Grateful that her brother has made it home alive, she decides that now is the time to discuss some household issues with him and tell him of the merchants who are showing up demanding to be paid. Without further thought, Griffin informs Nichola that he is going away for a few days and they will talk when he returns from his trip. He opens the secret door from the solar and disappears into the secret passage without another word exchanged with his sister. Nichola is shocked by his actions. They both had knowledge of this secret passage, but never used it until he did today.

While pondering her brother’s actions, she takes notice that a stranger is standing near the far wall. Looking into his eyes she sees a man who has seen too much devastation. She makes small talk with him, trying to get a feel for who he might be, but is overcome with fear. He tells her that he has business to attend to with her brother. Trying to be as assertive as possible she tells the stranger that her brother is away and asks him to leave. He lunges forward and grabs her. Panic pulses throughout her body and she fears for her life because she realizes now this man is a Scot, a known enemy to the English.

Is Lady Nichola able to free herself from the clutches of Alexander MacGruder, this barbaric Scotsman? Why did he kidnap her in the first place? What happens when Lord Griffin returns and he can’t find his sister anywhere within the castle walls?

I thoroughly enjoyed this Historical tale that Ms. Cosby has penned for her readers. The storyline was riveting and her characters were quite intriguing. I was immediately pulled into the story because of the intense action scenes playing out before me. When Nichola was being kidnapped, the feelings of the scene were so powerful I felt as if I was the one Alexander was really kidnapping. Ms. Cosby is an eloquent writer and she knows how to entertain her readers from the very first page. Her storyline was flawless and her characters were likeable even though some were more rough and tough than others. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Nichola because I feared for her life and I felt bad that she was dealt such a hard hand with losing her family and now with her self-destructive brother not too far behind. But, I shamefully have to admit, I fell in love with Alexander too even though he kidnapped her and was a Scot, a true enemy of England. Not to mention that his devilishly handsome looks definitely helped seal the deal with me. Ms. Cosby is a new author that I have come across and I am truly a fan after finishing this first book in the series. It’s a keeper in my library and I highly recommend you add it to yours. You won’t be disappointed with this author!

Book Blurb & Info for His Captive:

STRANGERS
With a wastrel brother and a treacherous former fiance, Lady Nichola Westcott hardly expects the dangerously seductive Scot who kidnaps her to be a man of his word. Though Sir Alexander MacGruder promises not to hurt her, Nichola's only value is as a pawn to be ransomed.

ENEMIES
Alexander's goal is to avenge his father's murder, not to become entangled with the enemy. But his desire to keep Nichola with him, in his home-- in his bed--unwittingly makes her a target for those who have no qualms about shedding English blood.

LOVERS
Now Nichola is trapped--by her powerful attraction to a man whose touch shakes her to the core. Unwilling and unable to resist each other, can Nichola and Alexander save a love that has enslaved them both?


Review available at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=3517

Where Story Ideas Come From

Posted by Kimber Chin in Contemporary Romance, Kimber Chin, writing romances

51 comments

Every story starts with an idea. The source of that idea is often as interesting and varied as the stories themselves.

I got the idea for Invisible, my contemporary treasure hunt romance, when I was helping a good friend clean up after identity theft. She wanted to make herself more 'invisible' financially. We spend weeks going over the basics. One day, she turned to me and said "You should write a book about this."

"No." I shook my head. "I'm an amateur. There are experts who specialize in making people disappear."

She wrinkled up her forehead. "What type of person would specialize in THAT?"

Exactly. What type of person. And that's how I 'met' Maeve, my heroine in Invisible.

Where do your ideas come from?

*

Back in 2007, I visited Texas and stayed at my critique partner's home on the shores of Lake Arlington. As I stood on Dani’s dock one hot July night, I stared at her neighbor’s houses and, like any good author, wondered “what if …” What if someone tried to break into one of those estates? What type of security would they have?

Part of that is because I used to work for a security firm - I was the only woman amongst 74 men. And part of it is because my home has been burgled so I guess I'm a little paranoid and automatically look for how safe a place is. But the writer-side of me also asked ... What type of person would answer the call? What would they be thinking? Doing? Looking for? I also asked What type of person lives in that house, and who would be breaking into it?

I may have been influenced a bit by Charlize Theron's character in the Italian Job - where she breaks into safes for a living. And the heroine in Private Property was born. The person breaking into it worked for the security company - was trying to prove the security was inadequate. But since I write romance, I needed a hero. The owner? Maybe. How about her boss? Possibly. And since I write erotic romance, that part of my brain answered ... Why not both?

With true Texas hospitality, two larger-than-life heroes started telling me their stories. Now what author in her right mind can resist listening to those sweet-talking southern gentlemen when they so graciously talk about the kick-ass heroines who tame them? And so the beginnings of Private Property was born.


Leah Braemel
www.LeahBraemel.com
PRIVATE PROPERTY
PERSONAL PROTECTION (May 12, 2009)

*

Well, a lot of time my answer is along the lines of "...uh...I dunno..."

But for My Lady, I do have a definitive answer. It came from the 80's movie Labyrinth, with David Bowie. I was watching it one night with my oldest daughter and one of the scenes at the end caught my interest. I've seen that movie dozens of time, and I always liked this particular scene, but for some reason, it really stuck in my head that time.

It was one of the end scenes between Jareth (the goblin king) and Sarah. He said, "I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave."

And I started thinking about a book where the goblin king wasn't the bad guy. The idea evolved from there.

Of course, my goblins don't look anything like the goblins in the movie...

As to my fascination with elves, I guess it probably started with that movie, too. I'm pretty sure my mom took me to see it when I was about 9 or 10, the same age as my daughter. I started enjoying fantasy type stories then, although I didn't start reading fantasy until I was in eighth or ninth grade-it was Mercedes Lackey, her Oath series. From there, I went on to reading more fantasy stories and started writing them, too.

Shiloh Walker
www.shilohwalker.com/
THE HUNTERS
MY LADY

*

My husband and I own a Harley, so my Wild Riders series was born of our love
for riding. Riding On Instinct, the third book in this series, is about a
biker and a federal agent who go undercover as a stripper and her bodyguard
at a club in New Orleans. I've been to New Orleans several times, both
before and after Katrina. Touring New Orleans after Katrina touched my heart
and I wanted to bring that to this book. I also wanted to show, especially
in a particular scene in that book, that some parts of New Orleans will
never be the same again after Katrina. It's a very emotional and pivotal
scene between Spence and Shadoe and changes the way they relate to each
other.

Jaci Burton
www.jaciburton.com/
WILD RIDERS
RIDING ON INSTINCT

*

The idea for Golden Enchantment came about over the span of several decades living in southwestern New Mexico. There is a wealth of history in the state dating back to the days of Coronado and various expeditions financed and led by the Spaniards. The conquistadores left behind not only their ancient footsteps, but various items, and it was not at all farfetched to imagine that at least one of them carried gold, became greedy, and was threatened by native peoples - so much so that he buried his treasure with the intent of later retrieving it. Personally, I have found many items of great worth just by hiking the hills and deserts and keeping my eyes peeled - anything from arrowheads to old buttons to complete Mogollon pottery and even documents.

Because I so deeply love the old west, I decided to place my plucky heroine with old treasure map in hand, on a ranch where she could search for buried gold left behind centuries ago by the first explorers. If I had lived in the wild west, I would have wanted to be Andrea Alexander. I modeled her as a strong and independent woman who not only learned to live in a harsh land, but came to love it.

Candace Morehouse
www.candacemorehouse.com/
GOLDEN ENCHANTMENT
SUSPICION OF LOVE

*


Kimber Chin finds story starters everywhere. Every month, she shares an original short story and gives away her favorite Romance eBook on http://businessromance.com/

One Month Anniversary of Soul Stealer’s Debut

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

37 comments

I am so excited to be here at Night Owl Romance nearly one month to the day of the release of Soul Stealer, from Samhain Publishing. And to find out it is a Reviewer Top Pick? I'm throwing confetti and giving you all a slice of virtual chocolate cake.

One of the questions I've heard recently is—was getting published all you thought it would be. My answer? No, yes, sort of.

Let me explain. I've been writing stories for over twenty years and working my tailend off to get them published for the past five. When I first started dreaming this published author's dream it went something like this:

I sit down at the computer and lovely, thought-provoking, intelligent, heart-touching words effortlessly flow onto the page. The number one agent in the world reads my first draft and begs to represent me and my undeniable greatness. The next day I sign the publishing contract and deposit my six-figure check while the Publishing House sets up a round-the-world book signing tour with stops in Greece, Rome, and Barcelona.

Yeah right. Sorry, folks, it doesn’t work that way, and never will.

To my utter surprise, I found out that getting published is…what’s the word?…HARD. After being smacked upside the head with the gruesome truth I put away my notions of over-night success. Such a beast, like Big Foot, might exist, but is too hard to pin down and probably stinks in person.

Let me tell you what worked for me. I stopped dreaming about success and started fighting for it.

To be a contender, I knew I had to put my butt in the chair every day except Sunday. That’s six days a week, even during holidays. Writing two pages a day, I can generate an entire manuscript in four months. Four months, people! Writing mostly is pure joy for me, but many days I grappled with the words and wrestled them onto the page. Every step was a badge of honor, a demon slayed.

Any true fighter will tell you, they practice, workout, sweat. Writing is no different. I needed to hone my talents, sharpen my skills and get educated. I took classes, went to conferences and joined writer’s forums and associations. And I read lots and lots of books, studying how authors grab me by the scruff of my neck and yank me into their stories. I appointed myself an apprentice and learned.

The one key weapon writing warriors told me I needed in my arsenal was determination. Every rejection was a slap, kick to the gut, knock to the ground. I had to learn how to get up, dust myself off and head back into the battle. You can't win the war if you quit. I was determined to succeed.

And I did. Soul Stealer, Night Owl Romance's Reviewer Top Pick, is available from Samhain Publishing. My second novel from Samhain, Catch Me in Castile, is coming August 2009.

So was getting published what I expected? Not exactly, but I tell you the wait and the struggles have made it oh so very sweet.

I'd be happy to answer any questions about my debut novel or writing in general.

http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/kimberley-troutte

http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/soul-stealer

Going Commando by Catherine Chernow

Posted by Diana Coyle in

6 comments

I'd like to welcome all our NOR readers and extend a warm thank you for stopping by my reviewer's showcase this week. I just can't believe we're in mid-April already. Talk about time flying by. Although we have officially begun spring a few weeks ago, I can assure you, here in New Jersey, the weather is far from being springlike. I'm beginning to forget what the sun feels like on my skin.

Having said that, I knew that this week I had to pick a review to showcase to everyone that would be hot and sexy, along with having it warm my heart and body at the same time - something that the sun hasn't been doing for me lately. So knowing what I was looking for, I knew immediately what story would hit the spot perfectly. Without further ado, I'd like to showcase to you this week: Going Commando by Catherine Chernow. I've had the pleasure of reading many of Ms. Chernow's stories and I'm thrilled to tell our NOR readers that she writes stories that could satisfy anyone's palate, along with fitting into everyone's budget just the same. This story is on the shorter side so you can easily fit it into your busy schedule without a problem. If you are new to Ms. Chernow's writing style, this one is a perfect story to start with. She is an extremely talented author and once you read this story, I know you'll be just as hooked as I am!

If you would like to find out more about this author and see what she has available for her readers to buy, please visit her at: http://www.catherinechernow.com/.

Thanks to all who stopped by today and please feel free to come visit me next Thursday to see what else I have to offer in my reviewer's showcase. Have a great week everyone!

Going Commando

Author: Catherine Chernow (Author Website)

Genre(s): Contemporary - Erotic Romance
Review Date: 4/7/2009
E-Book Price: $3.00
Resplendence -(Website)
Street Date: Out Now

Going Commando - Book Excerpt


SCORE: 5 / 5

Shyra Lawrence, a bounty hunter in the Derek Grayson Bounty Hunter agency, is listening to her favorite radio station one particular morning and the DJ’s topic is, “going commando” – a.k.a. wearing no undies. Something about the idea intrigues her and she decides she is going to jump at the opportunity of wearing no panties today. She wants to see if it’s as liberating as everyone says it is.

Being so enthusiastic about the whole idea, she emails her best friend Donna and shares what she is going to do. She’s so wrapped up in this liberating movement that she hits the send key and never realizes that instead of emailing Donna, she had already clicked on Derek Grayson’s name instead, which just so happens to be her boss, and sent this personal email to him.

When Derek opens up the email from Shyra he doesn’t believe his eyes when he reads that she will be going commando today. His hormones kick into overdrive and he finds it extremely erotic that Shyra is going panty free and that she let him know about it too. Derek has always been polite and professional with her and he is going crazy now because he’s so attracted to Shyra’s voluptuous body and everything she stands for.

Does Derek ever confront Shyra about the erotic email or does he keep quiet about it with her? Could this be his breaking point in which he tells Shyra how he feels about her?

Ms. Chernow knows how to write hot, sexy stories for her readers to lose themselves in. This is a short story that can be fit into anyone’s hectic schedule and it will definitely make you want to turn the pages as quickly as you can. I loved this fun and exciting storyline the author created and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Shyra and Derek. Deep down I was hoping the whole time that Derek would get the nerve up to confront Shyra about her provocative email and he would use it as a stepping stone to tell her just how he was feeling about her after all this time that they’ve worked together. Ms. Chernow is an author you shouldn’t pass up and she writes stories that will fit everyone’s tastes. Don’t just take my word for it though, pick up one of her stories and find out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!


Book Blurb & Info for Going Commando

Inhibitions fade as the body is unclothed, lust spawns danger when she decides she's …going commando.

Bounty hunter Shyra Lawrence listens to her favorite radio station one morning - where the DJ's are discussing 'going commando' - a.k.a, wearing no undies. She's captivated by their conversation, and decides to shed her panties in favor of 'going commando' and the freedom that wearing no underwear brings. Enthusiastic Shyra sends an email to her best friend, Donna, detailing the delights of panty-freedom, but unbeknownst to Shyra, she's hit the 'send' key...to the wrong email addy!

Derek Grayson, a.k.a, Wolf, the Bounty Hunter, is New York City 's hottest celebrity. He's got his own reality show about bounty hunting...and he's Shyra's boss. When he opens his emails that morning, he discovers that his #1 employee and top bounty hunter, Shyra Lawrence, has sent him an erotic, enticing message about 'going commando.' Derek has always been polite, professional and so damned attracted to Shyra that it's almost painful! Working day in and day out with the voluptuous Shyra has sent Derek's hormones into overdrive on more than one occasion.

Now, Shyra's shed her panties and Derek's got all he can do to contain his lust when she announces that she's...

GOING COMMANDO.

Review available at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=3481

Ravenous Romance Ornery Eleven Blog Tour

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

2 comments

Eleven of Ravenous Romance’s authors will be cruising the net, stopping to chat at blogs along the way about writing, their work, and life as an erotic author.

The RR Orney Eleven will be giving away three $5.00 gift certificates for Ravenous on three random stops. You won’t know which ones until the tour is over, so visit as many as you can!

And if you leave a comment on every stop in the RR Ornery Eleven BBT, you’re eligible to win a $25 gift certificate from Ravenous Romance!

Winners will be contacted by email (so make sure to leave your email addresses in your comments!) and the official announcement will be made on May 9th, here at Night Owl Romance and at Zhadi's Den!

Schedule:

04/18 - Zhadi's Den - Intro Stop –

04/19 - Jennifer's Random Musings - Elle Amery

04/20 - Unbound - Lisa Lane

04/21 - Talk About My Favorite Authors - Angela Cameron

04/22 - Kissa Starling - EM Lynley

04/23 - The Countess - Jamaica Layne

04/24 - PNR Inklings Blog at ParaNormal Romance - Sephera Giron

04/25 - Wicked Thorn and Roses - Isabel Roman

04/27 - Sia's Thoughts on... - Neve Black0

4/29 - Bryn Greenwood - C. Margery Kempe

04/30 - Bookwenches - Savannah Chase

05/01 - Neve Black - Inara LaVey

05/02 - Night Owl Romance - Final Stop

Blog Stop Urls

Zhadi’s Den – http://www.danafredsti.com/blog
Jennifer's Random Musings http://jennifersrandommusings.wordpress.com/
Unbound - http://hagelrat.blogspot.com/
Talk about My Favorite Authors - http://talkaboutmyfavoriteauthors.blogspot.com/
Kissa Starling - http://kissastarling.com/blog/
The Countess: http://trishwilson.typepad.com/blog/
PNR Inklings Blog at ParaNormal Romance: http://pnrinklings.com/
Wicked Thorn and Roses: http://wickedthornandroses.blogspot.com/
Sia McKaye's Thoughts On... : http://siamckye.blogspot.com/

Bryn Greenwood: http://bryngreenwood.wordpress.com/
Bookwenches: http://www.bookwenches.com/
Neve Black : http://www.neveblack.com/blog
Night Owl Romance http://www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/

Author Website Urls

Inara LaVey – http://www.danafredsti.com/
Jamaica Layne – http://www.jamaicalayne.com/
C. Margery Kempe – http://www.cmkempe.com/
Lisa Lane - http://www.cerebralwriter.weebly.com/
Elle Amery – http://www.elleamery.com/
Isabel Roman - http://www.isabelroman.com/
Savannah Chase – http://www.savannahchase.com/
Neve Black – http://www.neveblack.com/
Sèphera Girón – http://www.sepheragiron.com/
Angela Cameron - http://www.angela-cameron.com/
EM Lynley - http://www.emlynley.com/
New Ravenous Author blog – http://www.rrauthors.blogspot.com/

Ravenous Romance – http://www.ravenousromance.com/

Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark by Donna Lea Simpson

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

33 comments

The Geography of Romance

Research is the bane of some authors’ existence, but not mine. I love researching the times and places in which I set my books and sometimes I wonder if I set out to place a book in some new time or area just so I can spend lovely hours staring at photos of England or Germany, or reading weird and wonderful history of Yorkshire England, Belgium, The Dark Forest region of Germany. I adore researching artists of the time and study old paintings for clothing details, landscape, houses.

But as much as I thoroughly enjoyed researching Germany and despite setting the first two books of my paranormal Awaiting series there, I then moved Book 3 to England. I had wanted to take the series to Russia, but after some prodding from my editor, I caved. After all, I know the truth: North Americans are much more likely to buy a historical romance if it is set in England.

Why is that, do you think? Why do we have this connection to all things British (and in many cases, Scottish). Is it those aristocratic titles? Lord Handsome-DeVille, Lady Lovely? Or is it those beautiful, stately houses: castles, manors, halls, lodges, parks, mansions?

I think that for many of us it is the sense of the exotic, but still recognizable. We may know next to nothing about English history, but it feels familiar, perhaps soaked into our DNA from years of BBC and PBS teleplays, movies and documentaries. I set Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark (Sourcebooks Casablanca – April 2009) in Yorkshire, but also I set it in 1786, the late Georgian era, which, given that most of my knowledge is about the Regency period, altered the amount I knew about both the area and the settings, giving me lots and lots of lovely research to do!

So… why Yorkshire? Well, that particular county is big and rugged (kind of like the hero, Lord Darkefell) and moody and mysterious (again, Lord Darkefell) and a little wild, with the sense that anything can happen there, and—you got it—that echoes my sense of Lord Darkefell’s personality. There is murder and mayhem in ‘Howl’, and dark secrets, and the people of Yorkshire have historically been viewed (fairly or not) as close-mouthed and secretive. Even his title, ‘Marquess of Darkefell’, held the sense of mystery and referred to the faintly ominous Yorkshire ‘fells’, the rocky highlands.

In essence, I was using Yorkshire as kind of a shorthand for certain moods and feelings I wanted to convey. It is no surprise that the prototypical Gothic romance (or anti-romance) novel of all time, Wuthering Heights, makes use of that same sense of menace and danger.

It seems to me that different parts of England come with notions attached, as realistic or unrealistic as they may be. When I was working on the overall idea for the Lady Anne series, I knew it was going to be set in England. The book starts with a murder and a meeting between Lady Anne Addison, a stubborn nosey spinster, and Lord Anthony Darkefell, a powerful, moody marquess. So to get that kind of mood of menace and darkness, there was only one place in England right for the first book; Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark would take place in Yorkshire.

I do want to stress here, though, that this has everything to do with perception and legend and nothing with reality. It is the world I am imagining for my series, and I’m making use of fictional archetypes, which are just that, fictional. I would imagine most Yorkish folk are quite cheery, and not all that mysterious. I have a close relation who is originally from Yorkshire, and she is vivacious and talkative.

The second book, Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge, (Sourcebooks Casablanca – August 2009) has Anne scurrying away from Yorkshire and heading south, kind of like a modern day woman would escape south to somewhere tropical, warm and sunny. So where would that be in England, I wondered? Well, Cornwall, of course. Did you know that palm trees grow in Cornwall? Not naturally, of course, and not in the Georgian time, in which Lady Anne is set, but it is that warm and sheltered, the perfect place for a gal to get away from it all.

But Cornwall is also known for its smugglers and the standoffish nature of those who have been trying to protect their native language—Cornish—for quite a long time now. That insular attitude, and a sense that the people close in against ‘outsiders’ made Cornwall the perfect place to set the second book, because it echoed the claustrophobic sense in the novel that something is going on, but people aren’t talking about it, especially to an outsider like Lady Anne.

But for the third book, Lady Anne and the Gypsy Curse, (Sourcebooks Casablanca – November 2009) where Anne is really thinking things over, (including the memorable Lord Darkefell) I sent her home to Harecross Hall, in the eastern part of Kent. My sense of Kent is that it is often lovely and serene, warm in summer, an agricultural paradise for the hops growing industry of the Georgian period. It represents, for Anne, peace and harmony, family, home. And yet, she can’t stop thinking of the wild and rugged Yorkshire. And wild and rugged Lord Darkefell.

If other writers are like I am, then their settings are not arbitrary, but mean something to the plot and characters. For those of us readers and writers of fiction set in England, the various parts of the country become symbols, in a way, or motifs to use as background fodder, or even as part of the characterization. Bath, England equals genteel and valetudinarian. Bristol? A bustling shipping port, active and industrious, busy. The Cotswolds… a bucolic and gentle place of rolling hills, quaint villages and stone cottages.

How do those who reside in England feel about this, I wonder? It’s flattering, I suppose, to their country that so many of us write about it, read about it, dream about it, and make up itineraries of places we’d like to go, things we’d like to see. I’d like to visit Steventon, of course, and see the Pennines, walk the Dales, visit Bath. I’ve been to London, taken a boat along the Thames, and had my photo taken in front of Buckingham Palace. The England of fiction is probably a different country than the real thing, but it’s a place we all happily visit. I don’t see that changing any time soon. As long as people read Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, modern writers will set their romances there, in that fictional England.

To visit my fictional world, and learn more about Lady Anne Addison and Lord Anthony Darkefell, come see me at http://www.donnaleasimpson.com/!

Weaving quirks into a story by Mark Alders

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

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Hi there. My name is Mark Alders. I feel so honoured to be here guest blogging at Night Owl Romance. Before I get on about my debut novel, let me talk about one of my quirks (and how I weave it into my writing).

I don’t know about you, but when I watch/read the news I’m fascinated by the quirky minor stories. You know, the ones that are tucked away before the sports section and placed well after all the relevant ‘doom and gloom’ stuff that is fed to us on a daily basis. They are usually weird human interest stories, and sometimes, just sometimes, they are a great inspiration for things in my writing. Nothing weirder than humanity…well, ‘in-law’s aside, that is (‘cause we all know ‘in-laws’ are from Titan or some other distant place like that).

Yesterday, what was I more interested in? Nope, not the G20 summit or whether or not there is going to be an interest rate cut. Not at all. I was interested in a story that featured a skeleton up a tree. And not just any skeleton, mind you. This one was 30 years old. Yep. That’s right. In Germany 30 years ago an elderly man climbed a tree and shot himself.

Which begs the question…

If you’re going to kill yourself, surely you could think up of a better place to do it than up a spruce tree where you won’t be found for 30 years! It was only found because a young hiker stumbled across a bone while walking through the forest. Said hiker then took the bone to the police, who then, naturally, searched the area. Low and behold, 11 metres (20 feet or so) off the ground there was a skeleton tangled in the branches. Next to the skeleton was a pistol dangling from a rope (I want to know which hardware store he bought that rope from ‘cause for it to last 30 years in all weather it must be damn good stuff)

Then again, 30 years ago was there a tree there? Perhaps he shot himself in the forest and a tree grew around him? Why did he go into the forest to do it anyway? Did he have any relatives that cared? (He was reported missing) Nothing better than a mystery, is there?

Then there’s the ultimate question, the one that has plagued me since I first heard this story. If a man shoots himself in a forest and no one hears, did it really happen?

So with this skeleton story in mind, I think writing, too, should hold some mystery for readers.

To know everything, to be force-fed and made to digest every detail can actually have the reverse effect to what the author intended. Sure we all like to write about lovely sunsets and rolling country sides, but it can become tiresome and boring really fast if not done right.

When I read a book I like to have some things left to my own imagination, especially when it comes to scene setting and descriptive details. There’s nothing worse than having to wade through pages and pages of exposition or information dump that has really nothing to do with the plot. As a writer we want to hold the reader right until the very last sentence. If, for example, that skeleton story started yabbering on about the variety of spruce or the describing the forest and the effects of climate change upon it, then it would have taken the focus away from what really mattered: why was the skeleton there.

There…that’s my quirk out the way—well one of them anyway. As for my reason for blogging here, it’s all about me letting you know about my book the “Call of the Hunted”. Available now from eXtasy books.

Here is the extract to help entice you.

The widdershins, an ancient creature that has walked the Earth for an eternity, calls out in the night for a companion. He has been alone for so long and yearns for another. When he comes to a small farming community, he calls out again, desperate to find the one that will love him and accept him for who and what he is, a being of great power hunted for an eternity by those that fear him.

This time someone unexpected answers his call.

A young man named Kayvan who has the exuberance and innocence of youth as well as being filled with everything that is pure and good comes to the widdershins. Will the widdershins accept Kayvan? And more importantly, what will happen if he does?

So there you have it. Also, one lucky person will win a free copy of the eBook “Call of the Hunted”. All you have to do is comment. Simple, hey?

Oh, I have a new ‘announcement’ only blog. Go here http://markalders.tumblr.com/ and check it out. It’s the place where I will place my writing news and up-coming releases, including stuff I submit to publishers and/or agents.

I also blog at the Wicked Thorn and Roses Blog http://wickedthornandroses.blogspot.com/

every Thursday and I have my own website here http://markalders.livejournal.com/

Mark Alders.

Rules of Fire by Tia Fanning

Posted by Diana Coyle in

6 comments

Welcome NOR readers to my Thursday showcase of reviews. I had the pleasure of reading a wonderful story recently that I just have to tell you about. So without further ado, let me showcase for you: Rules of Fire by Tia Fanning. This is the second story in her "Rules" series and it thoroughly entertained me from start to finish. Ms. Fanning knows how to pull you into her stories and keep you sitting on the edge of your seat the entire time you're reading. I love the idea of each "Rules" book being part of a series, but each book is completely different from one another. Ms. Fanning writes under many genres and this will appeal to many readers because she is so diverse in her writing. Her characters are so creatively written and the backdrop she picks for each storyline is original with each book she writes. If you haven't read one of Ms. Fanning's stories already, you must pick one up to see what I'm talking about. Once you start reading one of her stories, you will see just how creative and talented she really is.



For those readers who would like to start off with the first book in the series, you can click on this link: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=05-201-107-411-1 for Rules of Darkness (Book 1).

If you would like to find out more about Ms. Fanning, please visit her at either: http://www.tiafanning.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/tiafanning.

Rules of Fire (Book 2)

Author: Tia Fanning (Author Website)

Genre(s): Paranormal
Review Date: 4/7/2009
E-Book Price: $5.50
Resplendence -(Website)
Street Date: Out Now

Rules of Fire - Book Excerpt

SCORE: 5 / 5

Angel is not your average twenty-one year old. She holds a deep, dark secret from her family and friends and for the last seven years of her life she has secretly followed the seven Rules of Fire. If she doesn’t obey these rules, something as simple as fire could change her life forever.

Living these Rules of Fire has caused Angel to live a very burdened and hindered life. In fear of being anywhere near an open flame, she has altered her life drastically and has impacted her family’s life beyond her control. Her life depends on not being near an open flame or smoke and she will do anything she has to in order to save herself and everyone she holds near and dear to her heart.

If this isn’t complicated enough for her already, she is being summoned by a handsome prince from a far away land. Although this sounds like a fairytale in the making, it is truly a nightmare in every aspect of the word.

Does Angel ever finally tell her family and friends what happened to her seven years ago that made her change her life forever? Does Angel remain faithful to the Rules of Fire that she must obey? Where does the handsome prince fit into this puzzle and what does he want from Angel?

Ms. Fanning outdid herself yet again with this second story in the series and I found myself glued to the book. The author created a unique storyline and developed colorfully entertaining characters that just jumped off the pages at me. I loved the idea of Angel having to follow the Rules of Fire, but I felt terrible that she had kept her secret from her family and friends for so long. She carried the burden on her shoulders alone and didn’t want to have anyone near and dear to her injured or killed because of this secret. Ms. Fanning had me so engrossed in this wonderful story that I lost track of time and place while I was reading it. I felt as if I was transported right into the storyline with the characters and that I was seeing everything firsthand the entire time. There were quite a few times I found my pulse racing and my heart beating fast as I turned the pages and became more involved within the story. This is definitely a must read and I know you will enjoy it as much as I did. I highly recommend this story and anxiously wait to see what Ms. Fanning will release next.

Book Blurb & Info for Rules of Fire

Once upon time, a long time ago, in a far away land, a young girl journeyed to a magical desert temple and met a handsome prince.

To most, this sounds like the start of a beautiful fairytale. To me, it’s the start of a horrible nightmare.

My name is Angel, and I am that young girl all grown up. You might have noticed me around. I am that “strange chick” everyone talks about— the one who enters a room and somehow causes all illuminated candles to extinguish. The one who has an irrational fear of salamanders. The one who freaks out and runs away every time she sees a large bird with crimson and gold feathers.

But if you knew the rest of the tale, you would understand.

I have spent the last seven years of my life secretly following the Rules of Fire. My family and friends have no idea of the danger I’m in, nor can they fathom how something as simple and elemental as fire can be my undoing. They don’t know that, just beyond the flickering flames, he beckons me...

And I yearn to go to him.


Review available at: http://nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=3482

Inspiration - the Glory and Bane of the Writer by Elaine Lowe

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

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We've all had our moments of revelation, that great idea that comes to us in the shower with shampoo in our eyes or creeps in while we sit on a mountaintop contemplating a glorious view. These are the moments when an idea hits with such force that you have to act upon it. For a romance writer, these moments are precious gifts that make the craft so much fun.

Most often, inspiration surprises me in the shower or just before falling asleep - when my defenses are down and I'm relaxed. Consciousness can step aside and let imagination play. Sometimes I've been so energized by a great idea that I have to run out of the shower or climb out of bed and run for my notebook to jot down that idea! Recently, sick of dripping water all over the floor - I've learned to develop mnemonics to let me remember those flashes of inspiration without running naked through the house (I'll save that for research!)

But sometimes I go through a dry spell when inspiration and motivation seem to be hiding and my muse has dashed off to Vegas to play the slots. So, I have to make my own inspiration. It's not all "eureka" moments. I walk around all the time with a notebook full of notes and observations about the world. It could be the guy with the amazing 70's ensemble, complete with sparkly belt buckle, pumping gas next to me, the sexy accent I hear from a customer service agent over the phone, the smile on a guy on an ad on TV, the unique nose on a checker in the grocery store. All of these might be the inspiration for a scene, a character or even a whole book.

All of life is inspiration and writing makes me appreciate the mundane wonder of the everyday all the more.

My latest book, Command the Wind, came to me in a flash. I finally made the time to watch a great movie, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age". I adore history, and Elizabeth I is one of my favorite historical persons. In the movie, there is a fabulous line, "I too can Command the Wind!" This sent a chill through me (and so it should, Cate Blanchett gives a scintillating performance), and immediately the plot for my latest Passion Magic story began to unfold. Together, my hero and heroine find their powers together, and working in concert use their magic and their love to help defeat the Spanish Armada. Elizabethan England is a fascinating time, and I think this flash of inspiration gave me the beginnings of a truly hot and memorable romance! I hope you enjoy Command the Wind, coming out on April 10th at Ellora's Cave!

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Night Owl Romance Note

Elaine Lowe Website: http://elainelowe.livejournal.com/

Darcy and Elizabeth, for better or for worse…

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

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By Kathryn Nelson - Author of Pemberley Manor

There’s only one thing worse than a story of a honeymoon gone wrong, and that’s when the honeymoon of the first couple in romance goes wrong! After the excruciatingly difficult path that Jane Austen led Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy down to reach their “happily ever after,” could their wedding night be a disaster?

I have to say that I saw it coming. Two characters who were so sure of themselves and yet so prone to say the wrong thing at the wrong time were bound to have some trouble adjusting to being married. The fact that Lizzy and Darcy reach the end of Pride and Prejudice in a state of bliss doesn’t clear them of all the missteps they took during the course of their romance. I found myself scratching my head as I read for the umpteenth time how one angry rejection from Elizabeth reshaped Darcy’s entire temperament. Miss Austen informs us of his true (former) character:

I have been a selfish being all my life in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit…I was spoiled by my parents, who…allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world …Such I was from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth!

Now, really. Is he not likely to have a slight reversion to type after he secures her affections? And Elizabeth was schooled by her father to think herself beyond reproach, the most sensible of his daughters. Scant praise coming from the man who failed to keep his little daughter Lydia from running headlong into scandal. As Elizabeth herself admits to her sister Jane upon hearing of Jane’s engagement to Bingley:

“If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness.”

It only remains to be seen which one of the happy couple makes the first blunder. My money was on Darcy, as only the most extraordinarily mindless passion would cause a man to attempt to revise his entire character in the space of a few weeks. Mindless passion is always going to create a little friction.

“The scent of her perfume, the blush that spread along her cheeks, and her nervous smile drove from him every sense but that of his passion, so long repressed. He lifted her to her feet and began to kiss her with such abandon that she could not prevent her body from stiffening in his embrace.

This is more than Elizabeth had bargained for, and when the groom realizes he has terrified the bride, he races from the room and, in typical Darcy style, goes off alone to think. Elizabeth struggles valiantly for some time with the confusion, but as she is wont to do, she soon leaps to a conclusion without reference to facts.

“Pity him! Why should I? If he suffers it is by his choice, not mine.” In the flush of her anger, she began to recite a litany of every previous example of his incivility…Her anger towards him was soon supplanted by reproach for herself, that his recent attentiveness should have so easily persuaded her to forget the indignity of those early meetings. “I was such a fool to believe that on the strength of my disapprobation alone his very nature could be overthrown!” she railed.

The reunion is, of course, deliciously, if discretely, passionate, but it is only the beginning of a litany of confusions that are to follow as the two work through the obstacles to their ultimate happiness. In Pemberley Manor, I conjured up a past that might explain the difficulty of Darcy’s temperament, and tested the strength of Elizabeth’s optimism and humor in dealing with his attempts to put that past to rest.

Laurel Ann has just written a lovely review in Austenprose: “The story is compelling, with a haunting mystery suggestive of du Maurier’s Rebecca, and the extended tensions and anguish of Bronte’s Jane Eyre, all combined with a historical romantic fiction.” I was pleased that she also found the humor: “Their conversations run hot and cold to downright hilarious.”

I’ve always longed for hilarious in my writing. My own take on Pemberley Manor is “Wuthering Heights meets Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man.”

Thanks for inviting me to the Night Owl. I hope you enjoy reading Pemberley Manor half as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know…

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Night Owl Romance Note

Purchase: Pemberley Manor

Kathryn Nelson's Website: http://www.klnelson.net/

Shadow Magic - Sisters of Magic trilogy (Book 1) by Donna Grant

Posted by Diana Coyle in

7 comments

Hi NOR readers! Are you looking for a fresh and new Historical Fantasy to read, but haven't found one yet that tickles your fancy? Well, do I have one for you that's a must have in every library. This week I want to tell you about Shadow Magic: Sisters of Magic trilogy Book 1 by Donna Grant. This story had me glued to my chair as I was reading it. I wanted Drogan and Serena to work through all the obstacles that were being tossed their way while on their journey together to his castle. This journey was being made ultimately to protect and hide his best friend, Gerard and his family, from the evil darkness that was lurking around waiting to consume Drogan and Gerard's soul.

This is a story that pulls you into the storyline and keeps you entertained while you're turning the pages. I am so happy to hear that this is only the first in a three book series. The author is new to me and I am grateful that I stumbled upon her work. I can't wait to read the other two books in the series. I'm sure you will enjoy this story as much as I did. This is definitely one you shouldn't pass up.

If you would like to find out more about this talented author and other stories she has published or may be working on, please feel free to browse her website at: http://www.donnagrant.com/.


Shadow Magic
(Sisters of Magic trilogy Book 1)

Author: Donna Grant (Author Website)

Genre(s): Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Futuristic - Historical
Review Date: 3/24/2009
ISBN: 978-1-60088-348-4
E-Book Price: $6.99
Cobblestone Press -(Website)
Street Date: Out Now

Shadow Magic - Book Excerpt


SCORE: 5 / 5

Drogan, a wise and strong knight who has done years of service to the king and has partaken in numerous deeds directed by the king, has only come away from his loyal service with horrendous nightmares and insurmountable guilt that outweighs more than any one person should have to bear to suffer from. Dealing with the evil that follows him now because he has done his knightly duties to the king, Drogan decides that he must live his life in solitude, not subjecting anyone else with the darkness that consumes him daily. Fearful that the darkness will eventually claim his soul, he sets out to protect his best friend, Gerard and his family, ensuring that Gerard will be spared of his life even though they fought side by side together in many heinous acts.

In protecting Gerard and his family, Drogan is introduced to a close friend of theirs, Serena, who happens to be a witch. She has the ability to see into a person’s future and see how their life will play out for them. She too is burdened with a curse, though hers has been passed down from generation to generation and she suffers the ramifications from it daily. But when Drogan and her meet for the first time, sparks fly and there is an immediate attraction. This attraction puts both Serena and Drogan on edge, for they both know they can’t allow themselves to get close to anyone because of the endless burdens they carry upon their shoulders.

Even though both are fighting off their own demons, do they make an attempt to get to know each other? What could be the consequences of their actions toward one another? Do they live to see both their futures play out before them?

I fell instantly in love with this story from Ms. Grant. The storyline was quite intriguing and held my attention until the very last page. I couldn’t wait to find out just who the evil person was that was preying more so on Drogan’s life and I wanted to find out why Serena’s poor family was cursed for endless generations. The story was very well written and the character development was perfect. I was transported in the story and saw first-hand everything playing out before me. I fell in love with Drogan because of his loyalty to the king and his friends and I fell equally in love with Serena because of her quiet and loving nature she displayed toward Gerard, his family and everyone she deeply cared about. I wanted to see both Drogan and Serena get past the burdens they carried and possibly embark on a new road together free from any hang-ups that plagued them for years. Ms. Grant did a wonderful job telling this story and I eagerly look forward to reading the other stories in this trilogy. I highly recommend this story to others and have made it a keeper in my library. Ms. Grant is a talented writer that you shouldn’t pass up.

Book Blurb & Info for Shadow Magic: Sisters of Magic trilogy (Book 1)
Sisters of Magic 1

With a past soaked in sin and darkness slowly closing in around him to claim his soul, Drogan only wants to live his life in solitude. Years in the king’s service and his numerous deeds directed by the crown have left Drogan with horrendous nightmares and immeasurable guilt.

Serena is a witch, cursed and forever alone. She accepts her future. Until she meets Drogan. With Drogan a passion deep and unyielding awakens inside her. She is willing to sacrifice herself for his love, but can he put his past to rest and embrace the future?


Review available at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=3398

Anniversary of a Debut, or How Readers Kept Me Sane by Nancy Haddock

Posted by Night Owl Reviews in

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Cowabunga! One year and two days ago, my debut book with Berkley Publishing was released, and what a ride it was! I was kindly invited to do a blitz of blogs, and participated in my first booksignings, and the pure high of having La Vida Vampire hit the shelves was exhilarating.

Was it all smooth surfing? Matter of fact, no.

A writer is in control of only a few aspects of the publishing business. (1) Writing the best book possible in the moment. (2) Turning the book, copy edits, etc. in on time. Yes, we promote our books – and our names – but being a brand new author with zip name recognition and newbie swimming the promotion ocean was a challenge all by itself, and a whole ‘nother level of putting myself on the line.

Am I complaining? Heaven’s no!

I was stoked that La Vida Vampire received wonderful reviews, and if I’m not world-class at self-promotion, I became more comfortable with the process. Still, as La Vida Vampire was released and as I wrote and polished my second book, doubts pummeled me now and then with one burning question: With all the choices in books, in paranormal books, and in vampire books specifically, would readers buy mine and enjoy it?

Through those moments of doubt, readers came through and kept me sane.

Some readers let me know that reading my book turned the bummer day they were having into a good day. Others told me how much fun they had visiting – or revisiting – the city of St. Augustine in the pages of my book. Still others said they enjoyed my different take on vampires. I’ve experienced the joy of meeting readers at booksignings, but have also met readers visiting in town to have ice cream or coffee together. I’ll continue to answer each reader letter and to keep each one as a treasure – not to bolster my ego, but because each one has touched my writer heart. Each affirmed that my book, my work, held value.

A few kind words sing with power.

Now Last Vampire Standing is to be released May 5th. Am I amped? Oh, yes! The second book in the series is getting lovely reviews, and that’s a thrill. It’s also a comfort to know that, if doubts threaten to dump me in churning surf, readers will be on shore with their kind support.

The same kind of support I’ve always given to the authors whose books feed my need to read.

I see writers and readers as partners, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! How about you? Whether you’re strictly a reader or a writer-reader, do you let authors know when you enjoy their books? Why or why not? Inquiring minds want your take on the question!


Visit Nancy at http://www.nancyhaddock.com/ and participate in her Where’s Cesca contests on the Beach Party page.

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Bio

Nancy Haddock’s debut book, La Vida Vampire, launched a new series from Berkley, and made her a national bestselling author. Her second book, Last Vampire Standing is slated for release on May 5, 2009 and is garnering high marks from reviewers.

In writing paranormal romantic mystery, Nancy drew on her long experience with things-that-go-bump, and on the historic wealth of St. Augustine, Florida. She writes full-time, and is a dedicated resident-tourist who never gets tired of exploring the sights of her new hometown.

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Note From Night Owl Romance

Both La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing received outstanding 5/5 heart review scores from Zollyanna.

Purchase La Vida Vampire

Purchase Last Vampire Standing