New interview with author Rachel Brimble

Romance author Rachel Brimble joins me today. We’re chatting about her new romantic suspense, If I Want You.

During her virtual book tour, Rachel will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. Since 2013, she has had seven books published by Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and an eighth coming in Feb 2018. She also has four Victorian romances with eKensington/Lyrical Press.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Welcome, Rachel. Please share a little bit about your current release.

If I Want You is the first single title romantic suspense I have written for a while and I’m so excited for its release! It’s a little darker than I’ve written before but the sexual tension and mutual respect that simmers between the hero and heroine meant I had to ‘beef up’ the suspense to level things out. It revolves around a child abduction that provokes memories the heroine would rather forget about her own childhood kidnapping. She is on a mission to save the abducted little girl and has the perfect hero on hand to help her.

What inspired you to write this book?
I am a huge fan of crime novels as well as TV dramas where there is some kind of suspense or mystery interwoven into the plot. I have wanted to write something more crime-related for a while, but I also wanted to write a relationship running through the main plot. The idea for If I Want You came from me tapping into the worst thing that could happen to my family and all the emotions that come with it.

Excerpt from If I Want You:
Sensing her discomfort, he stopped and leaned against the bureau. God, did he frighten her? Surely not, or she wouldn’t be here. Or did she sense his attraction toward her and would do all she could to deflect it? He didn’t doubt for one minute his eyes gave away his appreciation whenever he looked at her.

He lifted the can to his lips. “So, what have you been thinking about?”

She tapped a peach-painted nail on the bureau. “This.”

“The bureau?”

“Principal White’s bureau.”

He frowned. “How did you know it was hers?”

“She mentioned you were working on a bureau for her when I was in the school office. I assumed this is it.”

“It is.”

“Good, because that makes it all the easier for me to give you your first assignment.”

“You want me to talk to her.”

She smiled, took a few tentative steps closer to him. “Got it in one, Watson.”

He smiled, pleased to see genuine mischief shining in her eyes. “I’m Watson?”

“Yep.”

“So that makes you Holmes. Not sure I like being anyone’s sidekick.”

Another couple of steps closer until no more than a couple of feet separated them. She met his eyes and his heart kicked. Her V-neck shirt was just the right side of professional. Yet, the way it revealed her collarbones and hugged her full breasts made him want to reach out and pull her into his arms, kiss her, taste her…

“You’re staring, Watson.”

He blinked and snapped his gaze from her breasts, rare heat hitting his face. “Sorry. You look nice.”

“Thanks.” She raised her eyebrows and nodded toward his chest. “So do you.”

He smiled. “Why don’t we go inside? It’s way too hot out here.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am currently revising another romantic suspense which I hope will be the start of a brand new series as well as working on the first draft of a new Edward romance which I am absolutely loving right now. I think it might even my best work so far, but we’ll see how it turns out!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When my first book was published back in 2007 – I think it’s very hard to for a writer or novelist to accept that’s what they are until they hold a published body of work in their hands. Of course, you’re a writer as soon as you put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I’m lucky enough to write full-time and never take that luxury for granted. I work as hard as I would in any other job. During the week, I work from 8.30am to 5.30pm with two dog walks and a short lunch break in between. At the weekend, I try not to work at all but find that impossible when I have deadline looming.

Things were a lot harder when my daughters were young, but they’re now 18 and 16 and don’t really pay a lot of attention to what mum is doing, lol!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t think I have any writing quirks as such – although you might say it’s a quirk that I turn into a savage animal when I CAN’T write!

 
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Write – I always wrote stories for myself and my friends and then around the age of 11, I decided the only ‘real’ writing was journalism. Unfortunately, life took an unexpected turn and I had to go out to work at 16. I worked in a bank for 10 years before staying home to raise my daughters. When the youngest started school full-time, I had a ‘now or never’ moment and sat down to start my first novel. Searching for Sophie was published 18 months later.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I am a social media nut so if you want to know what I’m up to work wise and personally, but sure to follow me on Twitter, Instagram etc.

Links:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

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Special excerpt for romantic suspense Myth and Magic by Mae Clair

Today I’m featuring a special excerpt from Mae Clair’s romantic suspense novel Myth and Magic.

As Mae does her virtual book tour, she will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn person. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Author bio:

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.net.

A little bit about Myth and Magic:

Love and danger intertwine

AS CHILDREN THEY PLAYED GAMES OF MYTH AND MAGIC…

Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith's past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmares—and his feelings for the woman he’s always loved.

THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL.

After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isn’t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isn’t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future?

Excerpt from Myth and Magic:

The day had brought other changes, too—the faintest hint of stubble along his jaw, a smudge of ghost-gray shadow beneath his eyes. He looked exhausted, rumpled, and as sexy as hell. It took every effort to resist when he tried to pull her forward.

“You had your chance, Caith. All those years ago. Why can’t you accept Merlin and I are together?”

“You’re not. I know you’re not.” He tilted his head and the light struck his eyes, turning arctic blue to moon-silvered smoke. Cupping her cheek, he traced his thumb slowly to the peak of her upper lip. “You love him the way you’ve loved him since we were kids. There’s no fire with him, Ronnie. He’s comfortable and familiar.”

She wanted to deny it, but his gaze was mesmerizing, the murmur of his voice hypnotic. His thumb dipped lower, rested on her lips, then feathered across the bottom one. Unconsciously, her mouth parted. He tipped her chin up to his, drawing closer. “I want to kiss you.”

The pronouncement sent a shiver through her.

Feather-light, his touch played across her lips. Lowering his head, he dropped his voice to a silky whisper. “I want to go on kissing you.” His mouth hovered over hers. “Until you don’t know night from day, and all you want to do is kiss me back.”

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Kensington Publishing 

Social links: 

Website | Blog | Twitter | Google+ | Facebook Author Page | Amazon Author Page | 

Kensington Books Author Page | Goodreads | Pinterest 

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Interview with Victorian romance author Rachel Brimble

Author Rachel Brimble is here today to chat about her new Victorian romance novel, What a Woman Desires.

During her virtual book tour, Rachel will be awarding a signed paperback copy of What a Woman Desires and a tote bag to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win these prizes, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Welcome, Rachel. Please tell us about your current release.
What a Woman Desires is the third book in my Victorian series with eKensington/Lyrical Press––although all the books can be read stand alone. Set in Bath and the Wiltshire village of Biddestone, What a Woman Desires is a reunion story between upper-middle class heiress turned actress, Monica Danes and her family’s groom, Thomas Ashby. Not happy at home, Monica fled to Bath to pursue her dream of becoming an actress five years before the book opens - a family tragedy means she has to return home…whether she wants to or not…

What inspired you to write this book?
During the writing of the previous book, The Temptation of Laura, Monica pushed herself forward even though I only ever meant for her to remain a secondary character. I heard her voice so strongly and knew her history and story were worth telling. I plotted most of What a Woman Desires while writing the preceding book, it was most inconvenient!

Excerpt from What a Woman Desires:

Thomas clenched his jaw as Monica tightened her arms around his waist. He longed to feel the weight of her head on his back, too, but knew well enough she would not lean on him considering the dark cloud under which he left Marksville the night before. He purposely kept Jake at a slow walk, wanting this closeness between him and Monica to last as long as possible. He’d been foolish enough to wake this morning, thinking the night apart had strengthened his resolve and he would be strong enough to accept her as his employer and nothing else.

Now he was with her, the notion was laughable—but one he must adhere to.

He needed to play nice and convince her staying at Marksville wouldn’t mean the future she dreaded. If he could do that, he would keep his father’s legacy intact and maybe, one day, his son would take the reins and become a groom to the Danes family as two generations had before him. She had to understand positions like his and Mrs. Seton’s weren’t just jobs, they were a livelihood, a lifestyle, and treasured way of life.

He’d come out of the stable yard astride Jake, and as soon as he had seen Monica standing alone, her head back and her breasts thrust forward, nothing of his job entered his mind. Only pure, unadulterated attraction had surged through him. The sun glowed on her dark hair like a million dancing lights and, with her hands on her hips, her delicate figure taunted him with forbidden possibility that had lingered in his subconscious forever. Even in mourning, the woman was beautiful.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have just finished the fourth and final book in the series and sent it to my agent. Once she has read it, I will send to my editor and pray he likes it! This story is Jane’s story (younger sister of Monica) and focuses on her need to sever the bonds of the unrequited love of Biddestone’s squire, Matthew Cleaves…things don’t go quite as she planned.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I would like to say it was when the Wild Rose Press published by first book, Searching for Sophie in 2007, but I still couldn’t tell people confidently that I was an author. It wasn’t until I signed with Harlequin Superromance in 2011, that I truly believed in myself and started to imagine a life doing what I love. Since then, I have gone on to sign five books with Harlequin and four with eKensington. I am a very happy lady!

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am lucky enough to be a stay at home mum to two teenage girls – I pretty much write from 8.30 to 5.30pm (with an enforced lunch hour) during the week and then as much as possible on the weekend. Writing is my oxygen, I can’t function without working.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’m not sure that I have one! I need silence to create but can edit with background noise. As for where I write, I can write anywhere – at my desk, the garden, cafes, coffee shops…

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t know it for many years, but in retrospect, I always wanted to be an author. I was avid reader as a child and used to write stories where I would bind the pages together with ribbon. As I got older, I decided I wanted to be a journalist but personal circumstance at home meant I left school and got a ‘proper job’ as an insurance broker. It wasn’t until my youngest daughter started school that I had my ‘now or never’ moment. I haven’t looked back since.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Yes! Look out for my next Harlequin Superromance, Her Hometown Redemption, coming in September. LOVED writing this book!

Links:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers 

Thank you for being here today, Rachel!

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Book blast for contemporary romance novel A Taste of Merlot by Heather Heyford

I’m featuring contemporary romance author Heather Heyford today as she does a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her new novel, A Taste of Merlot.

During the tour, Heather will be awarding an e-copy of A Taste of Merlot to a lucky winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Blurb:

Raise your glass and join Heather Heyford as she pours a second serving in her series following these headstrong wine heiresses in their quest to strike out on their own…

Merlot St. Pierre is struggling to break free from her family name. Her college classmates whisper behind her back that her passion for jewelry design is little more than a hobby, since she’ll always have her father’s fortune. But Meri is determined to prove them wrong, and with the help of a handsome jewelry buyer, she just may taste her first sip of success—as long as she can hide who she really is…

Mark Newman’s family owns a chain of high-end jewelry stores, and he’s working hard to get out from under his aunt’s thumb and prove he has a good eye and a head for business. He’s certain Meri’s designs could be the next big thing, but he’ll have to convince her that she can use her famous last name to her advantage. As their business partnership takes root, an attraction begins to flourish—but they’ll both find that love, like wine, takes time to perfect…

Excerpt:

Mark held the ring under the dangling ceiling bulb. “You’re right, this light doesn’t do much good at all. Here, let’s see how it looks on.” He lifted the fingers of her right hand and slipped the slender coil over her knuckle. “The vine motif is brilliant, and you did a kick-ass job setting the agate. It’s contemporary, but timeless. It’ll look right on any woman, from your age on up to great-grandmothers.”

            But instead of dropping her hand, he surprised her by turning it over, bringing the center of her palm to his lips to kiss it as his eyes burned into hers through the gloom of the shabby studio.

            Mesmerized, she watched him plant more slow, lazy kisses all over her palm, trailing down each of her fingers to their very tips, bringing a shiver to her spine. She waited for the inevitable scowl when he noticed how rough they were.

            “That’s what years of manipulating metal on a daily basis will do to your hands. No matter how much I moisturize, it’s never enough.”

            “Hands that work are way more interesting than those that don’t.”

            When there were no more fingers left to kiss, he took both her hands in his. “You smell great,” he murmured. “Like roses.” The shop on the Champs-Élysées still shipped bottles of Maman’s bespoke fragrance to her daughters every year on the anniversary of her death.

             He bent his head to bury his nose in the lock of hair that fell near her jawline. She shivered and arched her neck to give him access. His breath on her skin made her tremble with anticipation. For what seemed like forever, all he did was gently nuzzle her neck and toy with her hair, twisting a chunky lock around his fist to kiss, then drop, only to pick up another handful on the other side, raising and dropping it, watching it fan out in the dim light of the studio.      

            “Where’d you get such beautiful hair?” he whispered. He wrapped one arm around her waist to ease her closer—but not close enough—and slowly, slowly drew his fingers through her hair from the top of her crown to the middle of her back in long, brush-like strokes. Tantalizing her. Provoking her imagination. She wished he’d do more with those hands soon, because she was about to melt. And then, when she couldn’t have waited one more second, he closed his eyes and angled his head, barely brushing her lips with his, only to withdraw and peer into her eyes with half-closed lids. Those eyes. They were indescribable. Sexy. Kind. All-knowing. The eyes of a hot young man with a wise old soul.

            He turned his head the other way and lightly kissed her a second time . . . and to her ever-building frustration, pulled back yet again. She gave him a desperate, searching look. What was he doing, torturing her like this? He smiled. He was enjoying teasing her.

            Enough. Merlot tore her hands from his, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him squarely on the mouth. In response, he took possession of her, enveloping her tightly in his arms. Their bodies came together perfectly, hip to hip, breast to breast, mouth to mouth—thanks to those four-inch pink wedges. She felt empowered, up there at his height. She leaned in with her chin, expertly—if she said so herself—sucking his lower lip into her mouth.

            Again, he pulled away—but then surprised her by taking her chin firmly. “Is that how you like it?” But she could no longer speak. He delved into her mouth with his tongue and explored her until she was panting. “Like that?” Then he did it again.

            When she was dizzy, her lips swelling from the friction, he broke off and half-opened his eyes, pressing his forehead to hers, his warm breath fanning her face, his heart pounding hard against her chest.

            He raised his head to gaze at her yet again, and his eyes had changed. The green was gone, replaced by jet-black disks of desire. “You okay?” he asked, his voice hoarse with passion.

            “No.”

            Concern washed over his face.

            Meri had experience with the opposite sex. Way more than she cared to remember. She knew what came next.

Author bio and links:

Born in the Northeast, Heather Heyford learned to walk and talk in Texas, and then moved to England. (“Ya’ll want some scones?”) While in Europe, Heather was forced by her cruel parents to spend Saturdays in the leopard vinyl back seat of their Peugeot, motoring from one medieval pile to the next for the lame purpose of ‘learning something.’ What she soon learned was how to allay the boredom by stashing a Cosmo under the seat. Now a recovering teacher, Heather writes love stories, feeds hardboiled eggs to suburban foxes, and makes art in the Mid-Atlantic. See more at HeatherHeyford.com, or visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Book excerpt for paranormal romance Silver Wolf Clan by Tera Shanley

Today’s special feature is for the romantic suspense novel Silver Wolf Clan by Tera Shanley.

As part of her virtual book tour, Tera will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to THREE lucky winners! To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Blurb about Silver Wolf Clan:

What happens when monsters turn out to be real? One summer night while camping in the woods, Morgan Carter finds out in a big way. A tall mysterious stranger, Greyson Crawford, risks his life to try and save her sister from the vicious wolf attacking their camp. When he’s bitten and disappears into the night, Morgan can only assume the worst.

Greyson shows up a year later, and he’s a different animal altogether. His eye color shifts constantly and the rumble in his throat sounds more animal than human. She hasn’t any idea where he’s been all this time, but a good guess as to what he’s become.

Grey is determined not to let the darkness of his new existence affect Morgan and the little girl in her care. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Morgan but knows he should stay away and let her live a normal life. That’s easier said than done, though. A new danger pulls him from the shadows to keep her safe, and he’s no wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Can she accept what lurks just below his surface? More importantly, can she survive him?

Excerpt:

Old buildings of differing shades of gray jutted up from cracked sidewalks against the overcast sky. Pungent garbage bins dotted dirty alleys, and the homeless huddled under sheets of cardboard and tattered blankets as they caught afternoon naps. A stumbling woman in a much too short skirt tried to get his attention, and Grey crossed the street to avoid her. He emptied the change from his pocket into the cup a scruffy looking youth held out, and made a clucking sound against his teeth at the woman who screamed profanities from a second floor window at her apparently unfaithful boyfriend begging forgiveness below. He’d seen this little show before. It seemed to be a weekly thing for that couple. A mangy tabby cat hissed from the shattered window of an abandoned building and he threw it a withering look just to feel the satisfaction of hearing it scream and bolt away.

He smelled it again—faintly, but it was there—and skidded to a stop. There one second and gone the next, as wind warning of an upcoming storm whipped around him. There it was again. He tried to follow the familiar scent but got turned around and lost it once more in the confusion of the alleyway scents. Then turned back the way he’d come and found it. Pulling his hands from his pockets, he jogged after it. Another six blocks, and it got stronger and more concentrated. People threw him concerned glances as he sniffed the air every few seconds, but he didn’t care. He rounded a corner and buckled his legs against the forward motion.

There she was.

Morgan.

Author bio:

Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love. A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book. Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, friend hugging, and the great outdoors. For more information about Tera and her work, visit www.terashanley.com.

Social links:

Facebook | Blog | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo 

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Interview with historical romance author Allison Merritt

Today’s guest is historical romance author Allison Merritt. Our feature is her new novel The Wrong Brother’s Bride.

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Bio:

A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.

Welcome, Allison. Please tell us about your current release.

The Wrong Brother's Bride is about a man and a woman who always believed they were too different to be a couple. August O'Dell's brother fell in love with Loyal Redfearn when they were children and vowed to marry her. It wasn't until sometime later that August himself developed feelings for Loyal, but his drunken and often absentee father influenced his life for the worse and eventually August realized if he was ever going to make something out of himself, he had to leave Wilson township. Years later, he receives a letter from Loyal, stating his brother died in a farming accident and if he can come, Loyal needs his help running the farm. No matter where he went or how he tried to move on, he never forgot her, so he doesn't hesitate to go to her. When he arrives, she drops a bombshell on him—they weren't married yet, but she's carrying his brother's baby. He proposes to help her save face and she reluctantly agrees. Years away from Wilson township has changed August for the better and he only hopes he can prove to Loyal that he's a better man than the boy who left. Just when he's won her love, an incident from the past comes back to haunt him and it might destroy everything he's worked for since returning.

What inspired you to write this book?

The Wilson's Creek area in southwestern Missouri is near my home. Wilson's Creek National Battlefield has long been a fascinating place for me. It was the first major battle of the Civil War across the Mississippi River and it interrupted the lives of many families living in the area. One of the original houses stands on the property and it was the inspiration for the house where my hero and heroine get married and make their family. I love visiting the house and thinking about what life would have been like in the 19^th century (hot and hard mostly). The setting had been in my mind for a while, and I found the perfect characters to fit into a story there. They're both wounded by the past, but they'll find happiness in being together.

Excerpt:

She hugged Jeremiah’s pillow, breathing his lingering scent. The aching wound left by his loss gaped wide.

In the kitchen, she heard a floorboard squeak. Loyal choked back another sob, holding her breath as she waited for August to return to his room or come to hers. The curtains fell against the window as the breeze died.

“Loyal?”

August’s soft call made her tense. She could ignore him, pretend she hadn’t heard, but too many nights she’d been alone. Grief brought with it some puzzling emotions. It had been a relief when their friends left her alone at the farm after the funeral. And so lonely she thought she’d go mad if she didn’t hear another human voice. Trying to sort through what she felt now made her long for the sleep she’d missed the last week.

“I know you’re awake. I heard you crying.”

She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. “I thought you were asleep. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No. May I come in?” His voice was muffled through the door. “I’d like a word with you.”

“Just a moment.” One of Jeremiah’s flannel shirts draped across the foot of the bed where she’d left it this morning. She drew it over her shoulders and slipped her arms through the sleeves, pulling the loose ends around herself. Striking a match, she lit the lamp on the bedside table. “Come in.”

The door opened and August filled the frame. In the lamplight, his eyes seemed bluer than she remembered, like the sky after rain. Both O’Dell brothers had gotten their looks from their father, but August stood straighter than his old man ever had. His wide shoulders strained against his tan shirt. He scratched the scruff shadowing his jaw.

“I can’t sleep.”

She frowned. There must be something she could do to make him more comfortable. “Is it the bed? Do you need different blankets? Or maybe it’s because you didn’t eat.”

He shook his head. “Wandering mind. It’s partly because we got off on a bad foot. It isn’t easy to admit I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have acted like you don’t belong here. Seeing you brought back memories about the way your daddy treated us. And how Jeremiah stopped having time for me when he met you.”

August swallowed. His Adam’s apple jumped in his throat. “Even if you don’t think marriage is right, there’s a place for you here. I’d like to help raise your son or daughter the way he would have wanted. That’s all.”

Loyal couldn’t speak. Surely the world was ending if August was apologizing for his actions. His father had never admitted his wrongs in his life. Her worry that August would follow his father’s path faded.

“That’s all,” he repeated and backed into the hall.

“Wait.” She swung her feet to the floor and padded across the room, craning her neck to look at him.

“Thank you, August.”

“I heard you crying and I thought…”

He must have been sitting in the kitchen before he knocked on her door. She waved her hand, dismissing his reasoning. “I wasn’t crying because of you. Lately I can’t help it.”

He seemed a little more at ease, though he would probably grow sick of her tears before a week had passed. She had.

She reached out, slipping her hands beneath his arms. He didn’t move for a moment, even when she clasped her hands behind his back. Her cheek pressed against the soft material of his shirt and she closed her eyes. August wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders, and his breath stirred her hair.

She clung to him as though she was a leaf and he was the root, an anchor in the storm.

For a moment, everything was alright. She had the farm, a child growing beneath her heart, and a strong partner to care for her. She stepped back, knowing what she had to do now.

August’s arms fell at his sides. His face changed and she was sure she saw the briefest flash of disappointment.

“Good night, Loyal.”

A knot formed in her throat. Jeremiah was gone, but his brother was offering to take his place. She inhaled, catching a faint whiff of leather that clung after his long ride and a scent that was all his own.

“Wait.”

He stood unmoving, watching her with a bemused gaze.

“August, I’ll marry you. For the baby. As long as we’re clear that Jeremiah is the father and we’re just friends.” Her throat scratched as she forced the words out.

“In name only.” His face was guarded.

“Yes.”

“Alright. Is your daddy—”

She dug her fingernails into her palm. “He won’t perform the ceremony, much less come.”

He nodded. “I’ll ask someone else.” For a moment he was quiet. “It’ll be alright, Loyal. I’m here.”

When he turned, she didn’t stop him. Tears rolled down her face. He couldn’t know Jeremiah had said almost the same words when she told him she was pregnant.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm currently working on two books. One is a contemporary western romance that takes places in Oklahoma and focuses around a makeup artist and a cowboy who is the star of a reality show kind of like The Bachelor. Of course, he falls in love with the makeup artist instead of the girls he's supposed to be wooing. The other is a historical romance that's also set in the Wilson's Creek area about a woman who finds a ticket and boards a train to Springfield, Missouri. She pretends to be the hero's proxy bride after a tragedy strikes.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I made up a lot of stories when I was young, but think it really struck me that I wanted to write and keep writing in junior high school. I have a slew of really bad writings from back then. I stopped writing for about 5 years after my dad died and it wasn't until late 2008 that I decided to get back on the writing pony. I started writing romances in a couple of different genres and haven't looked back.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I wish I could call myself a full-time writer. I have a day job that eats up 8 and ½ hours Monday through Friday, but it's in a cozy office, heat in winter, air in the summer, so I can't complain too much. I've never been a morning person, so I usually writing in the evenings after work or on weekends. I try to get 1,000 words minimum per day and often go over, but sometimes I just can't hit the mark.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I always said I was never a plotter, always a pantser, but the more I look back on what happens when I finish a first draft, the more I think I'm just a really detailed plotter who has to write a 60,000 word plot first.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A ballerina, a doctor, an oil baron, a ranch owner, a jockey, a paleontologist, and a writer.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I'm really happy to announce that a follow-up book to The Wrong Brother's Bride will be coming out next year. I just signed the contract at the end of March, and I'm excited to say that Loyal and August make a little appearance in it as well.

Oooh, congrats! Thanks for being here today, too!

Buy links:

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New interview with contemporary romance author Liza O'Connor

I have a return guest today, author Liza O’Connor, to tell us a bit about her new novel, a contemporary romance titled Ghost Lover. 

You can read her first interview, about her YA novel Saving Casey, here.

Liza will be awarding a digital copy of "Worst Week Ever" to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a grand prize of one $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her review-only Virtual Book Tour. To enter, use the form below. And if you’d like to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and enter there, too.

Welcome back, Liza. What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m tired of my Liza behaves bio. I’m an adventurous nut with a bizarre sense of humor that a surprisingly large quantity of people actually gets. The others don’t think I’m funny at all. That hurts my feelings by the way. No matter, it does not stop my muse from writing more silliness. In fact, it only encourages her to be sillier.

Please tell us about your newest release, Ghost Lover.

Two sexy English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover? (I know, that’s not telling, that’s asking. Okay, here’s telling:

Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever, have sex with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.

As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let his brother marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him--beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…

The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.

CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.  

What inspired you to write this book?

I had a dream where a ghost made love to me. I sort of fell in love with him.

Excerpt:

Brendon moved to the window and stared out. “I don’t think you realized how bad things became for me when Nan died. I’d lost the only person who cared for me. I had no one left. The million dollars I lost on a roulette wheel wasn’t done just to get rid of the cook. I did it to get your attention. While you didn’t give a shit about me, you’ve always loved money. And it worked. You finally noticed me.”

“And sent you away,” Gar said with remorse.

“Yeah.” Brendon turned and gave him a faint smile. “Not exactly the response I’d hoped for, but it turned out all right. I met Senna and since then life keeps getting easier with each day. Now I find I even like you most of the time.”

“Well, the feeling is mutual. You’re still eccentric, but you’ve a good heart and good intent, and I’m proud you’re my brother.”

Suddenly the door opened and Senna walked in looking at both men with concern. “Are you two having a fight?”

“Not at all.” Brendon smiled. “In fact, Gar told me he’s proud I’m his brother.”

Senna’s eyes filled with appreciation as she grinned at Gar.

Her smile almost broke Gar’s heart. God help him, but Brendon had nailed the truth. He did love Senna, and more than anything, he wanted her to be his wife.

What’s the next writing project?

The next book to be published is the last of the A Long Road to Love series, in which things get serious and Carrie finds her true love. Coming in Feb 2014. Then comes a delightfully funny Late Victorian Mystery series. It’s rather a comic version of Sherlock Holmes meets Victor/Victoria.

But if you really meant ‘writing’ and not ‘publishing’ then the next book I’ll write will occur in Iowa where one of the characters will be a blind man who acts upon the law they recently passed allowing blind people to carry and discharge firearms in public. I’m going to have so much fun with that real law. Thank you Iowa!

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

Names are my biggest challenge. If I had my way all heroes would be named Xavier and all women would be named Senna. But alas, that would confused the dickens out of my readers. So I have a First published rule. Whichever book is first published gets dibs on the names and all the other books waiting to be published have to give them up.

I also have a problem with not keeping track of minor character’s names. Once I named three characters in the book Davy. Fortunately, I noticed before I sent the book off for submission.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

I do research on the spot. My characters are happily going along when I question something. Sometimes a google will resolve the issue, but sometimes I have to send questions to lawyers and doctors. (I’ve used 5 different lawyers in one book—my characters get into a great deal of legal trouble.) Then during editing, sometimes an editor will question something that I hadn’t and I’ll research further. In one case, I was right, but the editor insisted I change it anyway because it sounded wrong to her. I removed the whole topic instead. I didn’t like the idea of knowingly stating something wrong.

However, my biggest problem lies with legal issues. Different states have different laws, thus I need lawyers for the state in which the situation takes place, which means I need to start searching for a lawyer in Iowa now.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

I have a home office, but the chair hurts my butt, so I moved to the living room where I sit in a giant recliner with my feet up and type on a laptop all day. There’s a huge TV screen on the wall I face, but it’s on only when I’m eating lunch or when I’m thanking Tweeters late at night. Which means I watch mostly recorded shows.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

For Contemporaries, Kary Rader’s A Taylor Made Life is one of the best love stories you’ll ever read. (Buy an economy size of tissues, because you’ll cry your eyes out.)

My favorite Werewolf/Shifters novels are Rebecca Royce’s.

My fav vampire novels go to Annie Nicholas’ Angler series, starting with Bait.

For Regencies, it’s Ella Quinn’s Marriage Mart series.

Westerns go to D’Ann Lindun.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

Just that the book I’ll be giving away today, Worst Week Ever, is my best seller and the funniest book I’ve ever written. It is the first book of three book series, so you may feel compelled to read to the end. Book 2 is available, and Book 3 will release in mid February.

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!

And thank you for having me.

Liza's Blog and Website | Facebook | Twitter

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