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Author Under the Radar ~ Claudia Dain

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

The first time I ever saw the name Claudia Dain was when I happened upon the cover of How to Dazzle a Duke. The seductive look on the heroine’s face intrigued me. Then I noted that it was a trade. I don’t generally buy trades so I pushed my curiosity aside and moved on.

Several weeks ago I discovered that How to Dazzle a Duke was part of the Courtesan Chronicles series. Have I ever told you how much I love series? Generally, I’m not a huge fan of the heroine being a courtesan and initially, I balked at even looking further into the series because of that. Then I decided to give it a little peek, and lo and behold, the heroines were not in fact courtesans. And yet even better news, the books also came in mass market paper back. That, of course, was music to my ears. So this weekend, I ordered the first book in the series, The Courtesan’s Daughter.

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Book #1

The Courtesan’s Daughter
Author: Claudia Dain
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: October 7, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0425224229
320 pages

Young Lady Caroline’s prospects for a suitable match are severely limited by her mother’s infamous past. Before Lady Sophia Dalby entered London society, she was a highly desired courtesan. What man of title, position, and wealth would marry a courtesan’s daughter?

Sophia’s solution is to purchase a husband for Caroline-the Earl of Ashdon-agreeing to settle his gambling debts if he will take her daughter’s hand. Insulted, Caroline refuses to have a husband who was bought for her.

But after meeting the fiery Lord Ashdon, she wonders if it wouldn’t be satisfying to have him pay for her, perhaps with a priceless pearl necklace? With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashdon may get more than he bargained for and Caroline may get just what she wants.

~~~

After The Courtesan’s Daughter found her happily ever after, Claudia gave us The Courtesan’s Secret and The Courtesan’s Wager.

Book #2


Lady Louisa fell in love with Lord Dutton exactly three years ago and never fell out. It was past time for him to fall in love with her. Long past time. What was wrong with Dutton? Couldn’t he see that she was the very ideal sort of wife for him? The picture of ginger haired beauty and sparkling wit? And her bosom was quite nice, too.

After watching the speed with which Caroline, Sophia’s daughter, managed to snag a husband, Louisa has come to the logical conclusion that if she could only have Sophia help her then Louisa and Dutton would find themselves quickly married. With Dutton as her goal, Louisa swallows her pride and asks Sophia for help in acquiring the man of her dreams.

Sophia is more than happy to help a woman get the man of her dreams, but is Dutton that man? Lord Henry Blakesley seems a much better match for the fiery Louisa. And Sophia, an ex-courtesan, has no qualms at all in arranging things so that Louisa sees Blakesley in a new light. But it’s a secret…no one can know that Louisa sought help in snaring a man from a former courtesan.

But in London, secrets are as rare as hen’s teeth.

~~~

Book #3


Lady Amelia is the daughter of a duke and, unlike her cousin Louisa, is not at all distracted by a rakish wit or a pair of seductive blue eyes. She is going to be a duchess, which means that she must marry a duke. In the three years that she’s been out in Society, she has, to her complete dismay, not found a single duke who appears even slightly interested in her. Being a sharp girl of a very determined nature, Amelia cannot ignore that both Caroline and Louisa made very quick and very happy marriages. It was beyond obvious that Sophia Dalby had a firm hand in each match. Swallowing her considerable anxiety about approaching a former courtesan, Amelia asks Sophia for help in snagging a duke.

Sophia is delighted to help. But, as is becoming obvious to even the most casual observer, Amelia gets more than she anticipated from her alliance with Sophia. Will Amelia marry a duke, after all?

~~~

And finally, we come full circle to the most recent installment in the Courtesan Chronicles, How to Dazzle a Duke, whose mass market paperback edition will be released in June 1, 2010.

Book #4

Miss Penelope Prestwick wants a duke for a husband and clearly the dashing Duke of Edenham is the best choice. Just as Lady Dalby is clearly the best person to arrange the match. But how exactly should Penelope go about dazzling a duke? Surely a show of cleavage never hurt anyone. Perhaps a kiss or two, just to make a lasting impression. And a bit of competition usually helps move things along.

To that end, Penelope approaches the Marquis of Iveston with a request. Would he kindly appear interested in her so that the Duke of Edenham will take note of it? Alternately amused and annoyed, Lord Iveston agrees; he even places a wager on White’s betting book to draw attention to the fact that he is pursuing Penelope.

Soon, it’s wagers and counter wagers as all of Society tries to determine who will actually marry Penelope. Edenham she’s been hotly pursuing or Iveston she’s been hotly kissing? Who will claim the lady’s heart…all in all it’s the most entertaining—and most contested–dance to the altar Sophia has yet choreographed.

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I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to immerse myself in this series and ‘discover’ Claudia Dain. If you’d like to read excerpts from the respective books, I’ve linked the covers to the excerpt page on Claudia’s website. Okay, so who else is ready to join me? Comment and you’ll be entered to win the first book in the series, The Courtesan’s Daughter.

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Posted in Giveaways | 35 Comments »

Giveaway: Gems of Historicals

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

I’ve had to delay my post on Authors Under the Radar: Claudia Dain. But have no fear, I will be posting it on March 2nd.

In the meanwhile, I have 3 (three) wonderful historicals to giveaway. Just comment to enter to win.

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The Elusive Bride
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061795152
436 pages

A second battle-hardened, completely unstoppable, all-male hero, an ex-officer of the Crown, confronts the deadly enemy known only as the Black Cobra.

He’s focused on his mission, then sees a lady he never dreamed he’d see again—with an assassin on her heels.

She secretly followed him, unaware her path is deadly—or that she’ll join him to battle a treacherous foe.

Through ever-present peril, through passion, desire, and ecstasy, they race to reach England—and their destiny.

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Countess of Scandal
Author: Laurel McKee
Publisher: Grand Central
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0446544788
368 pages

Eliza Blacknall and Will Denton were childhood sweethearts, growing up on neighboring estates in beautiful County Kildare. But adulthood finds them on opposite sides of the monumental and violent struggle of 1798, as Eliza supports the United Irish in their quest for independence, and Will is a major in the British Army, sworn to uphold the Crown. The passion for each other burns hotter than ever—but can it survive as their world crumbles around them?

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The Marriage Ring
Author: Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061771927
368 pages

The woman who will one day wear Richard Lynsted’s ring will be genteel, dainty, and well-bred.

This eliminates Grace MacEachin on all three counts. A hellion of the first order, the alluring, infuriating woman would be nothing more than a passing temptation to an upstanding gentleman like Richard—if it weren’t for the fact that she’s trying to blackmail his father!

Or, as Grace sees it, trying to get justice—and maybe just the slightest hint of revenge on the family that tore her life asunder when she was just a girl. And as for Lynsted, well, the stuffy, humorless man wouldn’t suffer for time spent in company more exciting than that of his company ledgers. Only when Richard gets Grace alone, she discovers he may know a thing or two about excitement after all . . .

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Posted in Giveaways | 58 Comments »

Rose Lerner ~ In For A Penny

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

It’s always so nice to happen upon new authors, which is why it’s so lovely to have Rose Lerner–author of IN FOR A PENNY–here with us today. Please extend an ultra-warm welcome to Rose as she chats about the new phenom, costume drama monster movies. :)

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Image from The Inquistr

So I don’t know how many of you have heard about the possible upcoming production, Pride and Predator.

Personally, I’m excited.  Because I love the idea of costume drama monster movies.  And the only one I’ve ever seen is Ginger Snaps Back: the Beginning. Which I enjoyed because my very favorite musician Hugh Dillon played the fire-and-brimstone preacher, but which could definitely have had a more authentic period feel.  Why are monster movies all set in the present day?  There’s just no need for that!  So my friend Sonia and I sat down and came up with some concepts:

1. The Unholy Sepulchre. This one is about vampire Crusaders.  Think of how difficult it would be for them to wear those cloaks with the crosses on them!

2.  Vanguard Party.  This one is about a small unit of revolutionary Communist werewolves during the Russian Revolution.  Possibly they would liberate a labor camp in Siberia.  Werewolves look really dramatic in the snow.  (Important note: these would be people who turned into wolves.  Not people who turned into weird CGI hunched-over giant hairy people.  I have Strong Opinions about werewolf special effects!)

3.  Lieutenant Hornblower and the Kraken. Enough said.

4.  Cowboys vs. the Blob.  I don’t know how cowboys would come up with enough cold to freeze the Blob, but I’m excited to find out!

5.  Running Scared. This is a World War Two movie in which submarines fight the Giant Squid.  Is the Giant Squid a Nazi? you may ask.  I’ll leave that creative decision up to you.

6.  Sacagawea fights Bigfoot!  It would be hard to make this movie not turn out racist.  But I think if you put some thought into it and did it right, it could be awesome.

7.  You know how there’s a type of B-movie where there’s an ancient monster sleeping under the earth, and then it’s disturbed by oil drilling or modern construction of some sort?  I think there should be a movie like this with Industrial Revolution coal miners.

~~~

In For A Penny
Author: Rose Lerner
Publisher: Dorchester/Leisure
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0373774395
336 pages

IN FOR A PENNY

No more drinking. No more gambling. And definitely no more mistress. Now that he’s inherited a mountain of debts and responsibility, Lord Nevinstoke has no choice but to start acting respectable. Especially if he wants to find a wife-better yet, a rich wife. Penelope Brown, a manufacturing heiress, seems the perfect choice. She’s pretty, rational, ladylike, and looking for a marriage based on companionship and mutual esteem.

IN FOR A POUND

But when they actually get to Nev’s family estate, all the respectability and reason in the world won’t be enough to deal with tenants on the edge of revolt, a menacing neighbor, and Nev’s family’s propensity for scandal. Overwhelmed but determined to set things right, Nev and Penelope have no one to turn to but each other. And to their surprise, that just might be enough.

~~~

8.  Bonnie Prince Charlie vs. the Loch Ness monster!

9.  Dust monsters in the Great Depression!

10.  St. George and the Dragon.  Need I say more?  If you wanted, the dragon could be an alien, but it’s not necessary.

11.  Aliens land in medieval Japan and Samurai must defeat them–or learn that even though they look different, we can share the galaxy in peace, depending on what kind of alien movie this is.  I’m envisioning this as War of the Worlds-style aliens, but you could really take this in a lot of directions visually.

12.  Suffragettes vs. giant robots!  I’m a little surprised this hasn’t been done yet, what with the rise of steampunk and all.

13.  The Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), but with monsters from Greek mythology.  Byron would be a character, and possibly instead of dying of dysentery he would be eaten by a Cyclops.

14.  An alchemist accidentally creates a monster in his lab, and must defeat it before it destroys his entire city, and then–the world!

15.  In 19th century Cornwall, wreckers (who would loot ships that wrecked close to shore and sell the cargo, in extreme cases leaving the crew to drown or even killing them to cover up their illegal activities) are looting a ship–only to discover that it wrecked because the crew was eaten by monsters!  Possibly vampires because they’re fond of killing the crews of ships as their coffins are transported from Transylvania (which seems really impractical, as don’t you need the crews to, you know, run the ship?), but not necessarily.

My friend and I were also really excited about The Severed Hand of Franklin, in which Lord Franklin’s expedition looking for the Northwest Passage is murdered by the Abominable Snowman, and then it turned out there already was a horror novel about the Franklin expedition: The Terror

Suggest your own costume drama monster movies in the comments!  My favorite suggestion gets a signed copy of IN FOR A PENNY.

Thanks for having me on The Season!

~*~*~

For an additional opportunity to win IN FOR A PENNY plus a package of 10 (ten) of Rose’s favourite Regency-set novels, visit Rose at www.roselerner.com/contest.html

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Posted in Authors, Giveaways | 20 Comments »

Giveaway: The Hellion and the Highlander

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

I’m getting the March/April issue of The Season ready for launch tomorrow, so I’m super busy. In the meanwhile, how about a devilishly sexy highlander to hold you over? An advanced copy of  New York Times bestselling author, Lynsay Sands’ The Hellion and the Highlander.  Just comment to enter to win. ;)

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The  Hellion and the Highlander
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061344794
416 pages

Only one man could set her heart ablaze . . .

Lady Averill Mortagne learned to control her fierce temper as a young girl. But if her father insists on parading her before one more English lord who looks askance at her flame-colored hair, she’ll simply scream! Her only respite is the time she spends with Kade Stewart, the wounded Scot her brother brought home from the Crusades. Who could have imagined a Highland warrior would be the only gentleman around?

Lady Averill helped save his life, and for that Kade is truly grateful. She is also almost unbearably beautiful, but he could never subject such a sweet and gentle lady to the rough life of a Stewart laird’s bride . . . or could he? When she braves an unexpected danger by his side, Averill will prove to Kade that her heart is as fiery as her hair . . . and that submitting to their scorching passion would be heaven indeed.

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Posted in Avon Books, Giveaways, Publishing Companies | 64 Comments »

And the winners are…

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Congrats ladies! Please email your contact information to me at historicals at historicalromancereleases dot com.

But that’s not all. I did a surprise drawing for the Anticipation post and the winner for that is…

Emmanuelle

Congrats Emmanuelle! You get to choose one book from the books I listed on that post (you may have to wait a bit if the one you’ve picked doesn’t come out until April or May).

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Posted in Giveaways | 11 Comments »

And the winners are…and other news

Monday, February 1st, 2010

The winner of The Season’s Best Historical of 2009 is Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Stay tuned for a wonderful book giveaway for all those who haven’t had a chance to read this fabulous book!

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Congrats ladies! Sourcebooks will be sending you a copy of your book.

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In other news, the Valentine’s Day Basket Giveaway is in full swing. Books, chocolate, You’ve Got Mail DVD, and 2 (two) tickets to see the romantic comedy Valentine’s Day–this can all be yours for Valentine’s Day. Entry details here.

Polls are up! Yes, we’re voting again over on The Season. Make sure you cast yours for the Best Historical Debut of 2009 and Readers’ Top Pick for January releases.

Finally, I know I’ve been remiss in my duties. I promised you Authors Under the Radar last week and didn’t post. Look out for that post tomorrow. :)

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Posted in Giveaways, Polls | 5 Comments »

Day 4 – Countdown to SINFUL SURRENDER

Friday, January 1st, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I’m going to make this post very brief, it is, after all, a holiday.

I wanted to take a moment to talk about some of the friends I’ve made along the way–this road to publication. After the Avon Fanlit ended, Chris Jacobs invited  everyone to join a forum she created called Fanlit Forever. :) Many ex-Avon Fanlitters joined. Many dropped off shortly afterward, but there were a dedicated number of us who remained and were very active on board. I was one of the ones that stayed active for awhile. This group consisted of some of the bottom 503 of Avon Fanlit. None of us had ever finaled in the contest, none of us were even close to publication. What we all wanted to do was write.

What I really loved about this group of women was they accepted everyone, regardless of accomplishments, regardless of writing skill. I was so happy to find a group that literally opened their arms to me. At that time I didn’t have a contract, I didn’t have an agent, I hadn’t won anything, and they liked me anyway. And the feeling was very mutual. Anastasia, Christina, Laurie, Kellye, Alice and Kelly, thank you for being exactly who you are. If I never, ever told you before what that meant to find a ‘writing home’ after Avon Fanlit, I’m telling you now. It meant A LOT. Writing can be a very lonely existence and it would have been even more so for me in that year that followed Avon Fanlit if I hadn’t had Fanlit Forever to go to. THANK YOU.
Huge Hugs

So, now that I’ve finished blubbering, who wants my favourite Jane Austen movie, the Pride and Prejudice DVD?

Come back on Monday, January 4th, when the Bonus Gift will be Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower Series.


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Posted in Authors, Blog events, Contests, Giveaways | 63 Comments »

Day 5 – The Countdown to SINFUL SURRENDER

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

We are now officially on the  3rd business day before the release of my debut romance, SINFUL SURRENDER. For me, this is a dream come true. Sometimes I want to pinch myself. It’s finally happening, I’m going to be a published author.

SINFUL SURRENDER is my first attempt at writing a historical novel. Oh, I’d been reading them since my teens, but I just knew I couldn’t actually write one. Too much research, and there was that thing about having a ‘historical voice’–did I even have one? But in June 2006 after not having written in over a decade, I remembered my dream of being a writer. I WANTED TO WRITE again. I started with what I knew the best, short category. I wanted to write for Harlequin. But I’d tried to write several short category novels at the age of 19 when I was in college. I almost completed  one and the others didn’t rack up page counts of more than 40. This time, I promised myself, would be different. I was going to actually FINISH.

I started 2 stories and didn’t make it past the first chapter. Then I remembered my LOVE of historicals; Johanna Lindsey, Catherine Coulter, Virginia Henley, and Karen Robards. That was just about the time I stumbled across the Avon Fanlit Contest. Oooeeeewwww, I could vote for several sub-genres, Regency included. I voted for Regency and it won. For the next 6 weeks, I threw myself into writing chapters (1500 words each) for this contest. Oh, I never finaled or anything like that, but it showed me I had a half decent ‘historical voice’ and more importantly, I LOVED writing historicals. When the contest ended, I bought tens of historical research books and threw myself into research for a solid month, determined to conquer the Victorian-era. On November 1st I started the first draft of SINFUL SURRENDER (initially titled An Honorable Rogue) for NANO. I completed the first draft January 5th 2007. It was the first manuscript I’d ever completed. I was overjoyed! On September 4th of 2008, after having sent Hilary Sares the manuscript February 2008, I sold SINFUL SURRENDER to Kensington.

But I didn’t get there alone. I had some really wonderful friends who contributed to critiques and who constantly encouraged me. To my friends from Fanlit Forever, Alice, Christina and Kelly, I will be forever grateful for your critiques and support. To the Manuscript Mavens who put my first query through the wringer, thank you for an eye-opening and learning experience. To Barb who not only helped me with my query but who was the first person to ever mention the term GMC to me, thank you for filling me in, and the large revision task that nugget of information provided!

Last but certainly not least my heartfelt thanks, love, and friendship goes out to my two CPs, Anastasia and Mary, and my family, who always told me I could do it, and whose faith in me and my abilities NEVER EVER wavered.  I can never thank you all enough.

So to celebrate my coming release, every business day from now until, the release date, January 5th, I will be giving away a copy of SINFUL SURRENDER and some other wonderful gift I know you will enjoy. Today, a random commenter will also receive a copy of Courtney Milan’s much anticipated and highly praised debut, PROOF BY SEDUCTION.

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Proof By Seduction
Author: Courtney Milan
Publisher: HQN
Pub. Date: January 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0373774395
345 pages

She is his last chance for a future of happiness . . .

Jenny Keeble has never let her humble upbringing stop her. She’s made her way in the world as a fortune teller, one who convinces her clients her predictions are correct by telling them what they most want to hear. Business is good… until she meets her match in the form of Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely, a scientist and sworn bachelor.

He just doesn’t know it yet.

Broodingly handsome, Gareth is appalled to discover his cousin has fallen under the spell of “Madame Esmerelda,” and he vows to prove her a fraud. But his unexpected attraction to the fiery enchantress defies logic. Jenny disrupts every facet of Gareth’s calculated plan— until he can’t decide whether to ruin her or claim her for his own. Now, as they engage in a passionate battle of wills, two lonely souls must choose between everything they know . . . and the boundless possibilities of love.

Comment to win a copy of SINFUL SURRENDER and PROOF BY SEDUCTION, 2 January Debuts!!! Winners will be announced January 5th.

Come back tomorrow when the Bonus Gift will be a DVD of Pride and Prejudice.

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Posted in Authors, Contests, Giveaways, Harlequin, Kensington | 114 Comments »

And the winners are…

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Okay, we have a WHOLE LOT of winners today, and I love delivering the news.:) That’s the big perk of doing this post.

I’m going to start off with the winners of the Pitch Contest. And when I say winners, I mean more than just two. Peter and Kevan didn’t just stop at giving out the one page 25 page critique, they requested partials and one full. YAY!!! Let’s start with Kevan.

The winner of Kevan Lyon’s (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency) 25 page critique AND a request for a partial and synopsis is…

Timeless – Brynna James
Listen To Your Heart – Miranda Liasson (partial and synopsis requested).

The winner of Peter Senftleben (Kensington Publishing) 25 page critique AND a request of the FULL manuscript is…

A Most Unusual Lady – Kathleen Bittner Roth
A Pocketful of Ashes - Kat Sheridan (request for a partial and synopsis)
Courting Scandal – Sarah Tormey (request for a partial and synopsis)
Listen to Your Heart – Miranda Liasson (request for a partial and synopsis)

I want to congratulate these talented women and thank everyone who participated in the Pitch Contest. I truly hope a contract comes out of this. :)

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Now for the 10 winners who will all receive an advanced copy of my debut, SINFUL SURRENDER…

Laurel McGohon
Ezrah Marisse Lasola
Vikki Wright
Margay Roberge
Danielle Yockman
Elaine Carlini-Davis
Theresa Norris
Therese Boyd
Lily Woo
Sandra Polojac

Congrats ladies, I hope you enjoy my first book!! I’ll have the books in the mail to you next week. For those who didn’t win, I still have another contest running until January 19th. If you have pre-ordered or already bought the book–as you see from photo below, there are have been early sightings at Walmart–( it’s my first book, I’m very excited *big grin*) , you can enter to win a $25 Visa Gift Card (I’m giving away 2). Entry information is posted here.

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The winners of Tracy Anne Warren’s TEMPTED BY HIS KISS and SEDUCED BY HIS TOUCH are…

Phyllis Campbell
Chris Mead

The winner of Lori Brighton’s WILD HEART is…

Sarah Louise Keery

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And last but certainly, not least, the winner of the Christmas Basket (of which there were TONS of entrants) is…

Jennifer Zwagerman

Congratulations Jennifer!!! I will have this HUGE prize out to you as soon as I can. I’d like to thank everyone who entered to win.

I hope this post has started the winners’ day and this Christmas Eve off to a good start. :)

The Season wishes you the best of Holidays and a Blessed 2010.

Bev

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Posted in Blog events, Contests, Giveaways | 30 Comments »

Oh, the Giveaways!!!

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

I have to say, one of the best things about having THE SEASON sites are all the giveaways. I LOVE winning stuff. Hey, I think that’s pretty normal, right? Then it’s not surprising that I love making winners out of people. Since I LOVE books, both reading and writing them, this is the perfect venue for me. That said, the Christmas Basket Giveaway has launched. The entries are pouring in. I have to say that out of all the giveaways I’ve held, this is the one I wish I could enter. I mean seriously, 38 books and chocolate!  That’s like pure heaven to a reader. If you haven’t entered yet, click here to go to the entry page. All it takes is a simple email.

Oh, I should have mentioned this first, the January/February issue of the Season is now available online. It was touch and go if I’d be able to launch it in time. I had a proposal that took absolute precedence. But I did, and I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. If you haven’t had a chance to browse the issue, here’s the link.  You’ll notice I added a Calendar of Events page, which is as much to help me as to inform visitors what’s going on where and when. I also gave the Free Reads a page of its own. I think a book cover will attract more readers into sampling the stories. I guess I’ll see whether I’m right or not.

Another note, I will be announcing the winners of the Pitch Contest December 24th.

Lastly, but not least, I’m giving away 10 advanced autographed copies of my debut, SINFUL SURRENDER. You might have noticed it on the site and the blog a time or two (grins broadly). Apart from that giveaway, I’m holding another one as a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the people who have already ordered the book. Those pre-orders can make a big difference on how well a book does. So for all you readers who are so willing to take a chance on my book, I wanted to do something special for you. In this contest 2 (two) winners will win a $25 Visa Card, and since you’re already getting a copy of my book, you will also win a December or January release of your choice. You can find entry details for both contests here.

Before I go, I thought it would be fun to post the query that sold SINFUL SURRENDER. As a writer, that sort of stuff always interested me when other writers sold. I, personally think, it tells a slightly different story than the back blurb, but then again, I’m completely biased, so what do I know. In any case, it caught Hilary Sares eye and that’s what counted because she requested the full literally twenty minutes after I emailed the query to her. Then on September 4, 2008 she called me and told she wanted to buy the book. THANK YOU HILARY and thank you Barb for always helping me polish up my queries. :)

sinfulsurrender_blogSINFUL SURRENDER QUERY

Lord James Rutherford fights the inexorable demise of his bachelorhood with every sane bone in his body. But the single-minded pursuit of the delectable Missy Armstrong entering her fourth London Season proves his undoing. Just as he’s decided to risk the wrath of her brother—his friend—and right the wrong of their indiscretion, James discovers the consequences of a forgotten night of drunken passion has left yet another lady of ton compromised.

For Millicent ‘Missy’ Armstrong, being ruined by the man of her dreams is nothing to wring her hands and bury her face in her hands about.  But when an offer of marriage isn’t immediately forthcoming, and whispers of James’s betrothal to another—and pending fatherhood—reaches her ears, there isn’t an acre of land on the Continent far enough on which to escape. Then, in an abrupt reversal, James is back on her doorstep with the offer she’d yearned to receive…two weeks and one woman too late.

In the face of her unwavering refusal, James launches a war to win back her passion, her trust, and her love. A war as ruthless as it is seductive. With the wounds of her heartbreak still fresh and raw, can he convince her that far from the second choice, she has always been the only choice for him?

And that is James and Missy’s story in a nutshell. :)

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Posted in Contests, Giveaways, Kensington | 21 Comments »

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