tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28178970472260788962024-03-14T09:40:31.424-07:00Anna Small, Romance AuthorLose Your Heart in a Bookannasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-14445186349748044552017-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:002017-08-20T06:00:21.964-07:00Forbidden Love<div>
I’m going to serial blog on various themes so popular in romance and fiction. The themes that tug at our hearts and keep the pages turning are what good books are made of.</div>
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When you hear forbidden love, do you think of Father Ralph and Meggie from Colleen McCullough’s <i>The Thorn Birds</i>? Or two lovers separated by family, faith, social status, or ethnicity? Romeo and Juliet come to mind. Jane Eyre had her fill of an unsuitable suitor pursuing her when he was already married (granted, Mrs. R was insane, but still – Jane’s conscience would not allow her to be with Mr. Rochester until he was free). Even Mr. Darcy had some apprehension about aligning himself with Elizabeth due to her crazy family and lower social status. Anna Karenina was unable to break away from her husband due to his threat of keeping her from her children.</div>
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In books we can have shapeshifters fall in love with humans against their group’s rules, or otherworldly characters who must change forever in order to be with the one they love. Think of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, or even the Beast in the timeless classic. Twilight’s angst-ridden vampires and werewolves risked everything for normal teen love. Forbidden love, in all its forms, is exciting, heartbreaking, romantic, and often a key theme in books and movies. Whether the would-be lovers finally reach their happy ending or the reader is dragged to the depths of emotional hell with them is what makes the journey all that more special. The bittersweet separation, the heartfelt goodbyes and ultimate reconciliation are what make this theme so intriguing and timeless.</div>
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What are your favorite tales dealing with forbidden love?</div>
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annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-23955530535013642442017-08-06T22:35:00.000-07:002017-08-06T22:35:40.213-07:00Swept Away By LoveDo you ever look at your significant other, child, or dear friend and get swept up in a great feeling of love? There’s no feeling like it. I get overcome now and then when I least expect it: on a cruise with my husband of 20 years, while talking with my lovely, intelligent daughter and my pre-high school-just-about-to-become-a-man son, or when browsing a quilt shop with my mom. It happens during the most mundane, taken-for-granted times, but the feeling makes me cherish my family all the more.<br />
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Romance authors strive to put that "swept away" emotion into every page. We want you, our readers, to laugh and cry along with our characters (in the appropriate places, of course, or we haven’t done our job!) and to close the book at the end with a sigh and a smile as you place it on your keeper shelf. How do we write with that deep emotion? I think of my own situations, past and present. Broken hearts, redeemable love, forgiveness, sorrow, joy and ecstasy are all part of our lives. You’ve experienced them and so have I. Touching upon that common thread is what brings stories to life. You may never dance at a royal ball or feel the hot desert sun of the old west on your face, but your emotions can soar along with the characters as they find their happily ever after.<br />
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What books have swept you away?<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-47572273351610214862016-07-28T11:54:00.000-07:002016-07-28T11:54:25.175-07:00Shh...Writer At Work!I have been remiss in updating my blog on a regular basis, but I have a darn good reason for my absence. I've been finishing up my latest Regency historical romance, which will be the first of three books in a series called The Reckless Heiresses.<br />
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Do you like long, emotionally-satisfying, in-depth and sexy romances? Like your rogues redeemable? Your heroines independent and fiercely willful? Then this will be your series. Since I have neglected my dear readers for so long, I will tease you with a sample of my work-in-progress.<br />
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The set-up: scientifically-minded Devlina Howard is an heiress on a mission. She must capture the heart of Lord Clayton, the season's most eligible bachelor or be doomed to marrying (in her words), "a milky-eyed viscount."<br />
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Her problem? She is far too innocent in the ways of the bedchamber, and has overheard her intended comment that he wants an experienced bride.<br />
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Her solution? Ask the season's least eligible and most notorious rake for lessons in seduction.<br />
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Jared Vickers has a reputation he is quite happy to nurture, if it keeps spoiled, grasping heiresses out of his purse and heart. He agrees to Devlina's absurd proposal but makes one of his own: she must come to his family's home for two weeks and pose as his fiancee, so his grandmother won't cut him out of her will.<br />
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Devlina agrees. After all, her heart is securely devoted to Lord Clayton, and Jared has sworn off love forever. But two weeks should surely be enough to meet both their goals, and then they can go their separate ways.<br />
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Right?<br />
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Here is a scene for your enjoyment. Jared and Devlina have stopped at an inn, and begin their first lesson.<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We can skip
the embracing and kissing and go onto something else.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh, dear</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. “Yes?” She tried to act as if he were talking about a
chess lesson. He stood close and took her wine glass from her. A tremor ran
through her and she gave a soft gasp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ah, that’s
exactly what I was talking about. You startle and then sort of tremble when I’m
too close to you. Not in the coach, but like this. When we’re alone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Believe me,
sir, it is your manners, or lack thereof, that elicit such a reaction, and not
your legendary prowess.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Legendary?
Hmm…well, I was discussing the trembling in relation to Lord Clayton and how
you may react when he is near you. Such reactions smack highly of immaturity
and inexperience. Your ideal is a confident Frenchwoman, is it not? You’d want
to rid yourself of it right away.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She nodded
in relief. “I understand. How do I do it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“By constant
contact with me.” When she stared at him in stunned silence, he shook his head.
“I mean during our lesson times. Throughout the rest of the day, you can keep
as far from me as you please.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When I’m
not playing the adoring fiancée, you mean.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Obviously.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He crooked
his finger at her and indicated she should come nearer. She took one step and
then another, inching toward him until he held up his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“This is
nothing. I stood closer to you at the ball, and closer still in your carriage.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We were
surrounded by many people at the ball, and Mrs. Kendrick was in the carriage.
Now, we are alone, as you will be with the dapper Clayton one glorious night in
the future.” He reached for her hands and she took his reluctantly. A small
gasp popped from between her closed lips. His hands were warm and big and
broad. His fingers covered hers completely. A shiver tickled through her. He
sighed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No
trembling, Miss Howard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I didn’t
mean to.” She drew a deep breath and gave her head a shake. “I’ll do better.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Good. Now,
as your trembling ceases, move closer to me until you feel as comfortable with
me as your village parson.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I didn’t
grow up in a village.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Use your
imagination, you confounded creature.” He gave her hands a little tug, and she
moved closer one step. “Now, look into my eyes. No, don’t allow your eyes to
flit all over my face, or that annoying scar above my brow, which mars my
otherwise spotless visage. My eyes, Miss Howard.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I like that
little scar. It makes you look rather….dangerous.” She’d been about to say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dashing</i>, but changed her mind at the
last minute.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I received
it during a very unadventurous moment. I was climbing out of my bath and
slipped on the wet floor.” His eyebrow arched. “Before you assume something
risqué, I may add that I was still in the nursery, and not escaping from a
paramour’s boudoir.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It still
makes you look dangerous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“My eyes,
Miss Howard.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">She
gulped and feared he heard it. She slowly raised her gaze to lock onto his.
“I’m looking, Mr. Vickers.”</span><br />
<br />
To be continued....<br />
<br />
My anticipated completion date will be September 1st. I hope you enjoyed reading this sample as greatly as I am enjoying writing it. For readers of my other books, Jared is less a rogue than Jack Waverley ever was, but has a broken heart he struggles to hide. Devlina is not as worldly as Georgiana Lockewood is, but fans of Georgie will appreciate Devlina's self-assured air and intelligence.<br />
<br />
More to come later! Hope you enjoy my other books in the meantime.<br />
<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-14988509029951922272015-12-23T20:34:00.001-08:002015-12-23T20:36:46.639-08:00RETURN TO ME: A New Western Historical Romance!Just in time for the holidays, I have published a new western historical romance set in Colorado. Mail-order brides have always appealed to me - maybe it's the idea of heading off into the unknown to face a future filled with possible romance and excitement that makes the subject so appealing. I was inspired to write RETURN TO ME when I visited Boulder last December and saw the Flat Iron mountains in all their cold, wintry glory. How did pioneers, especially women, face the hardships of this rugged land, so far from their families and homes? It's difficult to imagine life in the old west, but I hope my novella will get you thinking of women who make the hard decision to set off to a new land.<br />
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<img class="yiv2754947937" height="640" id="yiv27549479376247CF34-2F3D-4257-871A-3CCFD17F8210" src="https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f1%5fAALnjkQAAAMiVnQeDgpkKL9VXvk&m=YaDownload&pid=2.3&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=yahoomail" width="425" /> <br />
<br />
As a special bonus, I have attached a smaller novella, AN UNEXPECTED BRIDE, at the end of Return to Me. BRIDE is an extended version of a short mini-read I wrote a few years ago, and remarkably, the reviews I received said the readers wanted a longer story! So I made it longer and threw in a sweet kiss for good measure. I hope my readers enjoy these new stories, published on Amazon for the very first time.<br />
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What do you think of shorter reads in e-books? Like 'em or prefer to have a longer book? Or does it depend on the author, theme, or genre? Please share what you like to spend your money on and we can have a great discussion.<br />
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I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday time regardless of the festivities you celebrate. This is the season for closing up the old year and preparing for the new, and I hope to contribute to your stolen moments when you lose your heart in a book!<br />
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<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-47216968749799436112015-09-15T15:54:00.000-07:002015-09-15T15:54:04.366-07:00In The Arms of An Earl second chance!<br />
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<br />
I am excited to announce that my first Regency historical romance, In The Arms of An Earl, is an Amazon "Encore" release! They picked 100 romance novels out of 1,000s of The Wild Rose Press's catalog. It is being offered for free to Kindle Select readers for a set time frame. As of this writing, the Amazon ranking went from the high 700ks to about 39k! Thank you to everyone who read my book the first time it came out, and for those of you willing to give it a try now.<br />
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I got the idea for this story from my longtime favorite character, Mary Bennet of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. Specifically, from the actress, <b>Talulah Riley (pictured on the right),</b> who played Mary in the Focus Features film a decade ago. I was thinking of writing a spin-off P&P series of the younger Bennet sisters, Kitty and Mary. I couldn't think of how to make Mary a romantic heroine until I saw a photo of the actress who played Mary in the film. Seeing how lovely Talulah is in real life made me think that this is what our plain little Mary would look like if she were in love and cared for by a wonderful man.<br />
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Enter composer and hand amputee, Frederick Blakeney. This hero is probably the closest to my ideal man whom I've ever written. Tall, dark and handsome, with a musical genius cut short by a wound suffered in the war, Frederick is considerate, passionate, and ready and willing to sweep our plain little spinster off her feet and into the glittering world of London. Mary can hardly believe that her idol loves her as much as she loves him, and because of her own insecurities and being overshadowed by two newly married beautiful sisters, the plot of the book came quite easily.<br />
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But my heroine is named Jane, you may argue. What's all this about Mary? The original title of <b>In the Arms of An Earl </b>was <b>MISS BENNET IN LOVE</b>. I couldn't find a publisher willing to take on a story about Mary, so the new title and certain elements of P&P remain.<br />
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So, if you're like me, and always wanted to see Mary Bennet in her own happily ever after, please feel free to indulge yourself and imagine my heroine, Jane Brooke, is the hapless, hopeless, Mary Bennet. Perhaps you'll be cheering for her and Frederick by the time you reach The End.<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-3972426059151043872015-08-29T23:02:00.000-07:002015-08-29T23:02:47.658-07:00NY Times Best-Selling Author Lexi Post Is Here!I am happy to have Lexi Post with us today! She is a NY Times and USA Today best-selling author of erotic romance based on classic works. Join us and learn what Lexi is up to, and even try for a chance to win one of her e-books! So, sit back, kick your boots off and pour a cup or glass of whatever suits your fancy, and let's talk books!<br />
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ANNA: Hi, Lexi! Thank you for stopping by today. Your new series sounds intriguing. Tell us about it!<br />
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LEXI POST: Hi, Anna, thank you for having me for a visit. I'm very excited to be included in a new boxed set coming out Thursday. It's called HOT WESTERN NIGHTS, and it includes my book, Cowboys Never Fold, which is the first in the Poker Flat series. In fact, all the stories in this boxed set are the first in a series! It's available now for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Never-Fold-Lexi-Post-ebook/dp/B00QO04786/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440910747&sr=8-1&keywords=cowboys+never+fold" target="_blank">pre-order</a> on Amazon. This set is full of cowboys and one Native American, along with a little mystery and paranormal thrown in for good measure. Some stories are HOT while others are sweeter.<br />
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ANNA: So there's something for every reader! Cowboys always make a good read. But is there a different genre you would like to try someday?<br />
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LEXI: Right now, I'm writing erotic romance inspired by the classics and I'm loving it. Classic literature just makes my mind take off in all kinds of directions.<br />
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ANNA: I know what you mean. I am inspired by so many different things, and a lot of them come from other books or movies. Are all your books erotic romance?<br />
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LEXI: I have three completed manuscripts that are the first in their series, and they are simply romance without the "erotic." So I hope to be writing and selling those some day as well.<br />
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ANNA: It's fun to try new story lines and genres. I find that switching back and forth between westerns, Regency era, and contemporary romances keeps me from getting bored. How would you characterize your writing style?<br />
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LEXI: According to my agent, I write "erotic romance with a whole lotta story!" Because I'm inspired by classic literature, the background of my characters is already deep, which gives me so much to work with when it comes to story. For example, in COWBOYS NEVER FOLD, I used Bret Harte's 1869 short story called "The Outcasts of Poker Flat." In that story, Harte threw together a gambler, a prostitute, a madam, a drunk, and two innocents. As one of my reviewers said, it sounds like the beginning of a joke! I switched the original story up with Kendra, my heroine, as the former professional gambler who hires a cowboy, Wade (the innocent), to set up and manage the new stables of her soon-to-open nudist resort. I filled the resort with the other characters from the original story, added a hacker, and - TA DA! I had so much to work with I had to make it a series!<br />
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ANNA: That sounds like a great adaptation! I especially like that the "bad boy" character is actually your heroine. Taking a fresh twist on a classic is exciting and new. Many authors take favorite themes from their favorite authors. Speaking of which, who are your favorites?<br />
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LEXI: From my childhood, it would be Louisa May Alcott. From my days as a romance reader, it would be Johanna Lindsey and Julie Garwood. Now, as a writer, I read Jennifer Ashley and all my other writer friends that I can.<br />
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ANNA: Louisa May Alcott was one of my first favorites. I even turned a corner of our freezing cold garage into a "writing garrett" like Jo March had! I wonder, how many romance authors were inspired by Alcott's chaste love scenes, when Laurie kissed Jo and Mr. Brooke proposed to Meg? What should new readers know about you, Lexi?<br />
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LEXI: I love hearing from readers! Chatting about the characters in the stories is so much fun, and no one understands that except for my readers. I had a chance to have dinner with some of them at Romantic Times convention this year and that was so fun!<br />
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ANNA: That would be exciting for you to meet with your readers, as well as for them to meet you! It sounds like you take care of your readers.<br />
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LEXI: I send monthly Lexi Post Updates to keep my readers abreast of what's next. I also offer prizes, cover reveals, and sneak peeks as well as other opportunities just for them. To receive my update coming out on Sept. 2, <a href="http://lexipostbooks.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6f7c868d4280c7676461d50c4&id=bc07523abf" target="_blank">join here.</a><br />
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ANNA: Thank you again for stopping by, Lexi, and for the wonderful excerpt. We wish you luck in your writing career and with the new POKER FLAT series!<br />
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LEXI: Thank you so much for having me, Anna. It's been so great to chat with you.<br />
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ANNA: Readers, please enjoy the PG-rated excerpt below! And remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a fabulous, free e-book!<br />
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EXCERPT: <br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Striding
toward the front desk, she noticed Wade and Lacey getting into a golf cart. Now
why did Lacey have to show him where the stables were? Couldn’t he see them for
himself?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Irritation
had her taking another swallow. Pushing open one of the tall tinted doors that
welcomed visitors to the resort, she stepped out into the heat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Lacey was
explaining. “Don’t worry, it’s actually a rule that we keep our clothes on
during our shift. Just be forewarned, Adriana does like men, so you may want to
be on your guard with her.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Wade
smiled. “Good to know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Kendra
gritted her teeth. The cowboy didn’t need a personal escort to the stables. Her
bookkeeper/receptionist had a lot of work to do. “Lacey, did you show Wade his
casita?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> The pretty
girl started as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. “Oh, I
didn’t know you were here. Yes, I did. I was going to explain the stables to
Wade, but I need to reconcile the bedding shipment with what we received.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Kendra’s
muscles relaxed. “Go ahead and do the shipment. I’ll point out the way. We’re
shorthanded as it is and your abilities are critical to Poker Flat.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Lacey
blushed. “Okay. Thanks.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Lacey walked into the building, Kendra
studied the cowboy. He considered her with equal interest, but it wasn’t admiration.
He appeared puzzled and that gave her a certain amount of satisfaction. She
never revealed her hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Strolling
over to the cart, she took one more swallow of her shake. “Have you ever driven
a golf cart?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> The brim
of his hat shaded his face, but his expression was easily read. “Yes, actually.
I helped my little sister with a few of her golf tournament fundraisers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Oh boy,
this cowboy was far too good for the likes of Poker Flat. One more reason for
her to stay away. “Good. Then take the path marked with the horse’s head. We
made all the signs easy for guests to follow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> He looked
at the sign, putting his face in profile again. Shit, he was as handsome from
the side as from the front. She had the unusual urge to nip at his jawline.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s smart. I wish all vacation spots did
that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> His
compliment surprised her, and she shifted her weight to her right leg, jutting
out her hip. “I had to do that because our employee base isn’t large and I
didn’t want to waste staff positions on golf cart drivers.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> He turned
back to her and smiled. “Another smart idea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Completely uncomfortable with his praise and
inviting smile, she ignored his comment. “In your office you should find enough
to get started. Make a list of anything there you need as well as anything else
for marking trails and suggestions for horses. I plan on having guests
chauffeured from the garage to the resort in a wagon and I want to offer trail
rides for those who are more adventurous. Remember, all guests will be nude, so
if there are any special supplies we need in order to make sitting a horse
comfortable, write them down too.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> His smile
disappeared. “Wait, you want people to ride horses while naked?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “Of
course. This is a nudist resort.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “I’m
sorry, but you can’t do that.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She opened her mouth to tell him she could do
whatever she wanted, but he kept talking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If a person rides naked, they will have burns
not only on their legs where they brush the saddle, but also in other areas
that I guarantee you they will not be happy about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> She
pondered that for a moment. Maybe that was why no other resort offered nude
horseback riding, why Buddy and Ginger had longed for that experience so much.
So if she could figure it out, it would make her place even more unique than it
was. “I’m sure we can come up with a way around that. We’ll go over it
tonight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> He frowned
and her stomach tensed. “Dinner is at six. Don’t be late. You don’t want to
miss Selma’s cooking and you don’t want to make her mad at you either.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “Why Ms.
Lowe?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “Trust me.
I was late one night and I found my quesadilla riddled with hot pepper sauce so
fiery it burned my mouth for two days. You’re better off not showing up at
all.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> He grinned
and her stomach relaxed. “Okay, I’ll be on time.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “Good, and
Wade…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “Yes.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> “I’m not high
society and I’m not married anymore, so as I said before, we can drop the Ms.
Lowe.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He bowed
his head and she could have sworn he was hiding a smile, but when he looked at
her, he was dead serious. “I’ll remember that, Kendra.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> Her throat
closed as he spoke her name, a strong rush of heat invading her body. Nodding
once, she turned around and strode back to the building, throwing her empty
shake can in the trash outside before stepping into the coolness of the resort.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn, she liked the sound of her name on his
lips. Staying away from that cowboy was going to be very, very hard.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A5SH5DNtTeQ7l0J2I3PKmkggj5h3PSunjbd-prKngrAAY8xLkTJi8up1YEF2oF9H1hYX5adWESf0zhJFa4uvrhVfzcOnOzH7FzpVaNz895-4gSz4NYSpXZEVXOAHTAS_931scyx-3m8/s1600/Lexi+Post+author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A5SH5DNtTeQ7l0J2I3PKmkggj5h3PSunjbd-prKngrAAY8xLkTJi8up1YEF2oF9H1hYX5adWESf0zhJFa4uvrhVfzcOnOzH7FzpVaNz895-4gSz4NYSpXZEVXOAHTAS_931scyx-3m8/s320/Lexi+Post+author.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span>
Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of erotic
romance. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about
the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The
Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">War
and Peace</i>, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.<br />
<br />
But Lexi's first love is romance novels. In an effort to marry her two first
loves, she started writing erotic romance inspired by the classics and found
she loved it. Lexi believes there is no end to the romantic inspiration she can
find in great literature. Her books are known as "erotic romance with a
whole lot of story."<br />
<br />
Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in
Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and
you will never see her without a hat.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="4db5027a51" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4db5027a51/" id="rcwidget_xpa7243v" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-15429418091871246562015-06-11T20:11:00.000-07:002015-06-11T20:11:37.718-07:00Marriage - Arranged and Otherwise<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2671">
One
of the romance novel’s best-loved themes is a marriage of convenience.
Of course, in a romance novel, the marriage plays a part in bringing an
unlikely couple together and the reader can be assured of the happily
ever after. I have played with this theme twice now, in my western
historical, TAME THE WILD WIND (currently out of print but
soon-to-be-re-released!) and my Regency historical, HOW TO MARRY A
ROGUE. In both stories, the heroine needs the marriage to save her from a
sticky situation, and the obliging hero is always a confirmed bachelor
who doesn’t think it’s a good idea.</div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2671">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33VX0D_Xgm4aaTGZopI6crPjAKoOG7UO11Sbyx_SwrSzfgdLXvRBVltdnVWrkgVRNIO7e22eU-TxKHBEQ4HW58iCqqNzQXUGC3WGSrDyVT35lS0jVGVEv05BYTX4_0owv8tdlnJSJkYE/s1600/bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33VX0D_Xgm4aaTGZopI6crPjAKoOG7UO11Sbyx_SwrSzfgdLXvRBVltdnVWrkgVRNIO7e22eU-TxKHBEQ4HW58iCqqNzQXUGC3WGSrDyVT35lS0jVGVEv05BYTX4_0owv8tdlnJSJkYE/s320/bouquet.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2671">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2671">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2689">
MARRIED
AT FIRST SIGHT, the new FYI channel’s show, just finished its second
season with three couples who met at the altar. I was fascinated with
the premise of this show, and watched every episode of season one,
delighting when Jamie fell in love with Doug and cheering when Jason and
Courtney realized they were meant to be. In the second season, two out
of the three couples barely seemed to make it past their six weeks’
“experiment.” The third couple was doomed from the start.</div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2690">
While
MAFS deals with not marriages of convenience but arranged ones, I
realize the reason I love this show is because we get to watch the
couples get to know each other, for better or for worse, and watch a
relationship grow from strangers to (hopefully) a couple who truly loves
each other. I like this particular trope because, just like the TV
couples, the fictional hero and heroine also have to find a common
ground and decide to stay together or not. Of course, being a romance
novel, the answer is always to seek that happy ending.</div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2690">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal">
There’s
something about a wedding that makes two individuals grow into one
unit. I was surprised on my own wedding day how much I felt that my
husband and I were now a “real” family, even though we lived together
for two years, owned a house, made a big move across the country, and
shared finances already. Before our wedding, it felt like there was
nothing “holding” us together. The wedding seemed to do that.</div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3034069960MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434078428513_2691">
So,
here’s to more weddings, marriages of convenience or not. And marriage,
especially, for any couple who wants it. Weddings make individuals into
families, and that should be the happily ever after for everyone.</div>
annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-39333316964277132362015-03-10T16:46:00.001-07:002015-03-10T16:46:29.559-07:00Spring Is In the Air!Well, here in Florida it is! I can't wait for the winter doldrums to be over, although I do find it easier to write on gloomy, dark winter days than in the hot spring and summer when outdoor activities call to me!<br />
<br />
I have been busy getting back into the writing thing I do - I just submitted a short romance novella, a western historical, to the national romance writers organization for a new anthology that will come out next year. At 20 pages, it took me a quick two weeks to write, edit, seek corrections/advice from two fellow author friends, and submit it. If it isn't accepted (I will find out in May), I plan to extend it by another 20 pages and put it out there to you, my readers.<br />
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Mixing genres seems all the rage lately, and I've been thinking of combining a foreign character into a Regency historical romance. A good friend of mine is Indian, and she laments the lack of strong Indian heroines in traditional romances. An idea has been forming in my adventurous brain and I see a wealthy girl hoping to escape an arranged marriage and seeking the help of a confirmed bachelor who is an English sea captain working for her fiance.Some of my first attempts at romance novels involved international locations and non-English characters, and I'd like to revisit that. Maybe readers are over the tortured duke and kilt-challenged Highlander!<br />
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I hope your winter is almost over for you, and you are looking forward to new books and travels in the spring. Please enjoy the following excerpt from my new novella, RETURN TO ME, set in the American west:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’d
heard you were back.” The lump of tears swelling in the back of her throat threatened
to spill over. She inhaled a sharp breath and tasted the dust of the street.
“Good for you, Garrett Kincaid. You finally made something of yourself. Goodbye.”
She led Johnny by the hand and walked past him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Laurel, wait.” His boots
scuffed the ground behind her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
small crowd had gathered outside the dry goods store and saloon across the
street to stare at the living proof of a man who’d struck it rich in gold
country. She continued toward the boarding house without looking back. Her
behavior would cause speculation, but she was beyond caring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
have plenty to say to you, Laurel.” He strode beside her and kept pace as she
broke into a slightly panicked jog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
stopped in her tracks to confront him, not caring if she made a scene. “Get
away from me, Garrett! I never want to speak to you again. What you did….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
shivered as if she stood in the shade and the blazing sun wasn’t searing the
tops of her shoulders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
wasn’t the only one down by the river, as I recall.” He pulled off his hat and
held it to his chest. Everything around her faded. All she could see were his
sharp eyes gazing steadily into hers. “We may have made a mistake back then, Laurel, but you and I both
know it came out of something.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Came
from what? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love</i>?” She closed her eyes
against the image of his face, which had been etched into her brain. “Don’t
talk to me about love, Garrett. I hope that’s not why you came back here, to
try and….”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
came to make my peace with Emmett,” he interrupted. He shoved his hat upon his
head again. “I’ll accept whatever punishment he wants to give me. Hell, if he
wants to shoot my knees out, he can. God knows, I deserve it.” His frown
deepened. “I’m not that kid I used to be, Laurel.
I want to prove it to him. And to you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
can’t. Prove it to him, at any rate.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why
not?” He glanced around the busy street–at the saloon on the corner and all the
way down the dusty road to the church at the end, as if he expected Emmett to
walk out of either building; two places his brother had never been. “I went to
the ranch first, when I got in this morning. Some fella I never met told me Emmett
had let the place. Where is he, anyway?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“In
Texas. Or Kansas.” She allowed a
bitter smile to reach her lips, wallowing in the burden of misery she was about
to thrust upon his broad shoulders. He could take it. He’d always been strong.
Strong enough to break her heart and destroy his brother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“When’s
he coming back?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He’s
not. Not in this life, anyway.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What
are you saying?” His bronzed cheeks paled. The narrow creases at the corners of
his eyes–brought on from years of hunting for gold–deepened. He no longer
looked like the rowdy cowboy who’d stolen her heart right from under his
brother. Something in his eyes changed, and, for the first time in his life, he
looked strikingly like Emmett.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He
died. I don’t know how.” The words blurted from her in a torrent. “I received a
letter from a doctor. I can’t recall now where he was. He’s buried there, in
whatever little town he ran off to.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
Adam’s apple bobbed and he blinked rapidly before clearing his throat. “What
happened?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
shrugged. The memories flooded her in all their familiar violence, hurling her
back to the cool spring morning when she’d awakened to find every trace of Emmett
gone. His horse, clothes…even his Sunday suit were missing. He’d even taken
their wagon but left her with the orneriest mule that ever kicked out the back wall
out of a barn. A rancher and his cowboys showed up a few days later with a
lease written in Emmett’s hand, hastily scribbled on a scrap of paper, granting
them permission to work the land. The rancher gave Laurel enough money to put
her and Johnny up at the boarding house in town. She had enough to get her back
to Boston, but she had nothing there anymore. Numb, she’d found a job as the
schoolmistress when old Mrs. Henley up and died that winter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He
left us. I don’t know if it was to find his fortune elsewhere…” Her voice
dwindled off. Emmett had abandoned her just as Garrett had done. Except Emmett caught
a fever in some little town somewhere and was buried in a town whose name she
couldn’t remember.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Garrett
shook his head slowly. “I can hardly believe it, Laurel. That doesn’t sound
like Emmett.” His gaze pierced hers. “Leaving his wife and child like that. I
thought if I left, he would…you’d both….” His face flushed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
didn’t know him the past few years, Garrett. He changed.” She bit her lip. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Changed</i> was too mild a word. In
Garrett’s absence, Emmett’s pleasant moods had vanished overnight. He took to a
whiskey bottle and spent less time on the ranch and more time riding the range,
arriving home late at night when he thought she was asleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
should have been there.” His eyes glistened. “I should never have gone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No
one stopped you from leaving.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
broke her stare by focusing his attention on the shiny toes of his new
rattlesnake skin boots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We
both know why I had to go. I wasn’t doing anybody any favors sticking around.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
straightened her shoulders and tried to remember how brave she’d been the last
few years, when all she wanted to do was crawl into a hole somewhere and forget
the world. But she had Johnny to care for. Sometimes, she wondered what might
have happened to her had it not been for her little boy’s trusting smile.
Johnny fidgeted, anxious to get out of the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
nodded toward the boarding house across the street. “I can’t stay out here
talking to you like this. I’m taking Johnny to our rooms. I’m glad you survived
the gold fields.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Garrett
remained immobile, but his jaw clenched and unclenched a few times. He glanced
down at Johnny, as if noticing the child for the first time. He dropped to one
knee and held out his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Hey,
there, Johnny. I’m your…your Uncle Garrett.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Johnny
stuck out his hand before Laurel could stop him. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”
His little baby voice quavered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
want to take you and your mama to have dinner with me.” Garrett spoke solemnly
to Johnny. He ignored Laurel’s shake of her head and mouthed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Can
we have candy, too?” Johnny bounced on his heels. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sure,
son, we can have all the candy you want.” His face went scarlet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Son</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. Although any
other man could have used the term innocently enough, Garrett’s use of it
jarred her. She would have held onto her stomach if she’d had a free hand. She
suddenly feared she would lose her breakfast all over the street.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Garrett
straightened to his full height.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“That
is, if you’re willing, Laurel. I’d like to go over the situation at the ranch
with you. I want to buy that rancher out of his lease.” He stuck his hands into
his pockets, ruining the line of his expensively tailored coat. “I’ll take over
the place. Make it the kind of ranch Emmett always wanted.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
women by the store huddled in a group, darting disapproving glances at their
usually proper schoolmarm who was now chatting away in the middle of the street
with her dead husband’s handsome brother.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Fine.
You can fetch us at six. Johnny goes to bed at eight.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
tipped his hat and gave Johnny a brief salute. He smiled at last when the
little boy saluted back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Six
it is.” He held his hat in both of his hands as they walked away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
steeled herself not to turn and take a final look at him. Her heart thudded
like a hammer in her chest, but she busied herself with balancing her packages
in one arm and holding tightly to her son’s hand in the other, all the while
telling herself it was good that Garrett Kincaid was ready to take on
responsibilities. He might become an upstanding citizen. Maybe run for mayor,
should the town fathers ever agree on the sort of governing body they wanted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
stepped onto the shaded porch of the boarding house and steered Johnny past the
men smoking their pipes and crowding the entrance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Garrett
was welcome to start all over in Broken Junction. She would just have to find a
way to avoid him for the rest of her natural life.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-27235785420615874522015-01-20T19:38:00.000-08:002015-01-20T19:38:19.613-08:00The New Year, So Far!I haven't been writing as much as I promised myself I would. Mostly it's because my characters are going off onto paths I didn't know were there! The typical bad boy hero is revealing more layers every day, and my heroine is not the bluestocking, unaware-of-life-around-her type I first saw. A real friendship is developing between Jared and Devlina, making it harder for me to part them! Here is a peek at what they're up to:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
was deliberately taunting her. She would be well justified for slapping him
across his smug face, but Lord Clayton’s emerald green eyes appeared in her mind as if the man himself stood in the perfumed garden.
Mr. Vickers might be her last chance for happiness, so she would swallow her
pride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
wish to take lessons from you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He
cocked a thick black eyebrow, resembling a gypsy she had once seen at a fair
when she was a child. He’d swallowed a sword before her very eyes. Mr. Vickers
looked as if he, too, possessed strange and fascinating skills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Lessons
in what subject? Fencing? Riding? Not Latin, surely. I spent my university days
involved in everything but schoolwork.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not
any of those.” She frowned. “I do not know how to ask this delicately, but you
are not a man for whom delicacy could be a factor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You
know so much about me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Your
reputation precedes you, sir.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Couples
strolled by, out of sight from the protection of the rose bower, but their
controlled laughter and easy conversations reached Devlina. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Imagine. This time next year, it could be
Neville…Lord Clayton…walking beside me.</i> She had to go through with her
plan, regardless how reckless it seemed now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
have heard many stories of your exploits. I do not wish to be one of your conquests, but seek your..." She cleared her throat delicately. "Expertise. I gathered you would be the right man for what I
need.” His eyebrows rose so high upon his forehead she feared she'd shocked him. <i>Him</i>. She twisted her hands in the
folds of her silk gown. “That did not come out the way I meant.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
think it’s exactly what you meant to say, Miss Carrow. And, while I am greatly - no, flattered is not the word....”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
spoke hastily.” She interrupted him before he could continue on his appalling
train of thought. It would serve her right if Miranda found her now, debasing
herself in front of a man who was known for ruining the reputations of countless females this season and the last.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Lessons.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.
I…” She drew a breath louder than she’d intended. The man was positively
irritating. Heaven only knew what so many women apparently saw in him to have
ruined their prospects by even the smallest acquaintance. “I would like you to teach
me how to seduce a man.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Her
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a gong.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope you enjoy this peek at my work in progress! It is book one of an exciting new Regency-set series I hope to complete this year. I hope all of you are reaching your own goals for the New Year! </span></div>
annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-72303602296156151912014-12-29T15:52:00.000-08:002014-12-29T15:53:55.741-08:00Resolutions? How About Solutions!This is going to be my writing year. Not the "start another new diet" or "try to exercise more" year, but a "stick to a writing plan and go for it!" kind of year. I have been making a list of ways to self-promote that don't make readers roll their eyes or switch off their computers. I've been seeking new reviewers and new advertising routes that don't cost an arm or a leg. I've even entered the famed RITA contest, which is a prestigious contest for published romance authors, sponsored by Romance Writers of America. But mostly, I have ambitiously outlined a 3-book series set in the Regency era which I hope to complete this year. I'm off to a good start, and mean to put my pen to the grindstone in 2015.<br />
<br />
No more excuses. What are your dreams you've been putting off? What is stopping you? Work? Family? Other obligations? We hear it all the time - life is too short - and it is sadly so true. But it's time to move past the roadblocks we or others put in our paths and carve out the space in our busy lives to reach our goals.<br />
<br />
Make a list of what you'd like to accomplish this year. Redecorate the house. Finish your degree. Learn to knit. Read War and Peace! Whatever it is, write down your plan and let 2015 be the year you finally do something about it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrNXO4k6bo97nnkWCSJeLG6bnCcTNxutvOq3X5G7kpzfO5RZcRuqciEec33gTy9QuAQrPMt3EifUnRQ-KhBtegh9WO7klbc6IBIpcgFwtnOPSg7pwOoTEHgUTHqvbUibt7-j7vAufMGw/s1600/10171258_10152133588548558_868804077918477890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrNXO4k6bo97nnkWCSJeLG6bnCcTNxutvOq3X5G7kpzfO5RZcRuqciEec33gTy9QuAQrPMt3EifUnRQ-KhBtegh9WO7klbc6IBIpcgFwtnOPSg7pwOoTEHgUTHqvbUibt7-j7vAufMGw/s1600/10171258_10152133588548558_868804077918477890_n.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-72371676255838668632014-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:002014-12-01T12:18:35.430-08:00STORM OF THE HEART New Release and Giveaway!I'm so pleased to share my new book with you! Set in the wilds of northern Maine in 1814, <a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_176_135&products_id=5952" target="_blank">Storm of the Heart</a> features a beautiful young widow who saves a half-drowned stranger. Is he a spy or a traitor?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V3MqchZnEjZ8pbg2ylatw8FGYLxyoJ-PZkzP5Ps_2XeOhXZuZozoJbSlHrjjIbKZs4KnrS5r3sTDuspSuJWYCKOlxkMNjNJPBVmiMcpTluwmq00CmL8xVR6BntsrBKAbDCJ6jVIfgcU/s1600/StormoftheHeart_w9265_med.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></div>
<br />
Leave a comment below and be signed up for a free giveaway of an autographed manuscript (paper) and an e-book! Manuscript for US-based readers only, please, but the e-book is for anyone in any country!<br />
<br />
Here's another scene you can enjoy in the meantime:<br />
<br />
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The moonlight
only emphasized her loveliness. He brushed a tangled strand of hair from her
wet cheek, and her eyelids fluttered. Her lips parted with a gasp, and he
wondered if she kissed her ghostly husband in her sleep. Before he could stop
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lips quivered against his. Her arms tightened around him, sliding up to grip
his shoulders. The pads of her fingers dug into his back. He couldn’t help
himself. He deepened the kiss, aware of his rising ardor, but unable to contain
it. She twined her fingers in his hair, pulling her to him with an urgency he
didn’t want to fight. Every fiber of his being vibrated with sparks ignited by
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He broke the
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to the pillow and pulled the quilt up to her chin. He kept watch by her side to
ensure she didn’t have another nightmare, but she slept heavily. She resembled
an angel in sleep, with her golden hair tumbled across the pillowcase. In
sleep, she was more the young woman he sensed dwelled beneath her daily sorrow
and mournful burden. It was a shame, truly a shame, that she could not cast the
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Just before
dawn, he staggered from her room and unpacked the flour sack of Caleb Quinn’s
belongings before falling into a dead sleep on his pallet.</div>
<br />
<br />
Dear readers, do you prefer one historical setting over another? Looking for more dukes and fewer cowboys, or are you ready for some good, old-fashioned American heroes? Leave your comments and I will draw a name out of the hat in 2 weeks! Stay tuned for more excerpts and surprises! annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-25993461031509118352014-11-03T17:41:00.001-08:002014-11-03T17:41:57.479-08:00National Novel Writing Month is up and running!Did you ever wish you could just sit down and write that book you've been keeping locked away in your head and heart for years? Not sure how to start or who to ask? Don't think you have enough time in the day to compose your masterpiece?<br />
<br />
Then <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NANOWRIMO </a>is for you. This is a free site that anyone can join. It's easy - you simply write as much as you can, every day for the entire month of November, and keep track of your word count as you go. You can make writing buddies who are either on the same journey as you or further along. Knowledge is shared, writers meet at local writing hot spots, and much support is given.<br />
<br />
Come join me and thousands of other authors, new and established, as we write our butts off for the month! Good luck, and please share your thoughts on my blog. We can support each other every step of the way.annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-78760300507999028122014-09-23T18:06:00.001-07:002014-09-23T18:09:14.199-07:00ROM CON READER RATING 9.31!HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE (release date 2014) received a 9.31 rating from the readers at ROM CON! I am so excited beyond belief. This means my book will be featured on their site as a highly rated book by readers just like you!<br />
<br />
Wow - let me catch my breath! I needed a little pick me up just like this to get me going on my new project - a new 3-book series about headstrong, intrepid heiresses looking for a little bit of wicked in their lives. Think they can find the right kind of hero to make their happy ever after come true? Wait and see!<br />
<br />
I'm also gearing up for next year's Romance Writers of America conference in New York. It's got something for readers, too - about 500 well known (and some famous!) authors will be on hand to sign their books and it's free to the public for this signing part of the conference. So, if you're going to be in New York next July, let me know and we'll meet up for some great dishing and a cup of tea!<br />
<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-43678765956420890242014-08-11T19:51:00.002-07:002014-08-11T19:51:59.203-07:00Sneak Peek At My New Book Cover!I'm excited to be part of The Wild Rose Press's new Lobster Cove series that released the first book last week! My fellow author, Carol Henry's new book, <a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_133&products_id=5774" target="_blank">JUELLE'S LEGACY</a> is out now. A new book will come out every few weeks in all of your favorite genres: suspense, contemporary, paranormal, erotica, YA, and my personal favorite, historical! Enjoy the cover!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Te2WBwSzvoiM8JcpcYTcs5n0r7DrwTCoK74g6or5B16lbaZ3ItfRGo35HYdVNC6AefKpyPZ_cjeWbinK0v9ZWIdCyG2YuNzDkixjPc4johy4sZRZ1YtTM8B37eNB5m20Q54Bb16iMSU/s1600/StormoftheHeart_w9265_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Te2WBwSzvoiM8JcpcYTcs5n0r7DrwTCoK74g6or5B16lbaZ3ItfRGo35HYdVNC6AefKpyPZ_cjeWbinK0v9ZWIdCyG2YuNzDkixjPc4johy4sZRZ1YtTM8B37eNB5m20Q54Bb16iMSU/s1600/StormoftheHeart_w9265_med.jpg" height="640" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for the final release date, character interviews, plot insight, and maybe a missing scene or two! This is a shorter novel at under 100 pages, so it is just right for a quick escape.<br />
<br />
As always, I wish to thank my family, friends, and beloved readers around the world for supporting me in achieving the greatest dream in the world!annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-58733953514381622172014-07-26T15:15:00.000-07:002014-07-26T15:15:18.727-07:00Would You Marry A Stranger?Has anyone seen the new FYI Channel's new series, <b>Married At First Sight</b>? Three couples who have never met are matched up and legally married. At first, I thought it was a hokey concept designed for ratings (naturally!) but it is actually an addicting, enjoyable show. I couldn't understand what made it so appealing to me until I realized that 4 of my novels involve marriages of convenience. Granted, the show is about arranged marriage, but the idea that two people who wouldn't normally consider marrying the other is the story behind a marriage of convenience.<br />
<br />
In <i>TAME THE WILD WIND</i>, Jed proposes to Cassie as a business deal: marrying him will let her stay at the ranch without her uncle's interference. Their attraction to each other grows daily, made stronger with the fact they are legally married and can give in to their desires, but Jed's past prevents him from fully committing to his new bride.<br />
<br />
The central plot in my newest book, <i>HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE</i>, is another marriage of convenience story, but the plot twist has the heroine proposing to the hero. The obstacle to their happiness is Georgiana's desire to remain independent while Jack believes he can keep his bachelor's existence. Neither of them expect true love to thwart their plans.<br />
<br />
Lastly, my "free read" at www.thewildrosepress.com, <i>SPECIAL DELIVERY: A BRIDE </i>centers on an unsuspecting widower going to the prairie post office and picking up the bride his daughters arranged for him.<br />
<br />
I'm currently writing another historical romance where the hero needs to marry a woman with a son because he is unable to father a child. Fortunately, the intelligent, beautiful bookworm down the road is in a family way!<br />
<br />
What is your take on an arranged marriage? Would it work for certain people or is the whole idea out-of-date in a modern world? Leave a comment and receive a FREE e-book of How To Marry A Rogue! <br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-79037412821496537812014-06-25T20:42:00.001-07:002014-06-25T20:42:32.088-07:00<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer972966424"><span id="freeText17367957785484161410">I would like to share a wonderful review with you of HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE. I'm so proud of this story and am happy the reviewer, My Book Addiction and More, liked it as well! She gave it 4.5 stars (out of 5!). Here's the gist of it....<br /><br />This book is simply a delight to
read. It’s comical, serious, and sensual all rolled into one. There
is just so much depth in the plot, the characters, and the situations
they find themselves in, that it will keep you entertained from start to
finish. I really enjoyed the way that both characters learn to change
and adapt in order to make their marriage work, and in the end, find the
happiness they both have secretly longed for, despite harsh and tragic
childhoods. I loved how sweet and loving Georgiana was, especially to
Jack’s grandfather. I thought her interactions with him were very
special and enjoyed that added relationship bond. Overall, this is a
book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves historical
fiction set in the Regency Era!</span></span>annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-87983834429193996982014-05-27T12:20:00.003-07:002014-05-27T12:29:38.499-07:00Win a FREE Paperback of How to Marry A Rogue!I'm back from a well-deserved and much appreciated cruise with the family, and am ready to jump back into the writing world again! My new book is being promoted on Goodreads.com, so go over there if you haven't signed up already (it's free) and you may win a free, signed copy of my new book.<br />
<br />
Here's the giveaway link: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/93006-how-to-marry-a-rogue" target="_blank">Goodreads contest</a><br />
<br />
I'm currently working on a brand new historical romance for my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. It's for their new, upcoming series called Lobster Cove! Be prepared for hot contemporaries, sweet inspirationals, scary paranormals and thrillers, as well as historicals by yours truly! My story is set during the original British invasion of America's shores during the War of 1812. With shorter novellas, you will be able to read a variety of books by my fellow "Roses" in a shorter time.<br />
<br />
My story involves a young widow living in the past who finds a half-drowned man on the beach who may or may not be the enemy. Set against the backdrop of war and suffering, can Abigail and William find a future together?<br />
<br />
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<br />
Want a sneak peak? I thought you would....<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If only she could go
to someone for help. Her sister-in-law was a respected healer, and Mrs. Cross knew some remedies, but she couldn’t risk
exposing him. His plight was in her hands.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">More to come later! </span>annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-36109439940140177872014-05-11T19:14:00.001-07:002014-05-11T19:15:16.302-07:00Got Fangs? My Interview With Paranormal Romance Author, Dylan Newton<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m thrilled to have a
fellow </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wild
Rose Press</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> author
with us today. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dylannewton.com/despitethefangs.html#video"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dylan
Newton</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> writes
sexy paranormal romance with alpha heroines! Not only is Dylan the mother of
two, she is also the new president of our RWA chapter, the Sunshine State
Romance Authors. Her new release, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
the Fangs</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, tells
the story of </span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">a
foul-mouthed, werewolf heroine with overactive follicles!</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Be sure to read the excerpt below,
and leave a comment to win a free e-book.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-GkikqQ0l0J9QXwS91QZlHJSg-QV1_yGtqfeGTPDpwyPxWDQz01Uz3_2aW-2n6E52B8nuA75BmtBCIwlKB4GJGIzebOVVXxbvA69bxoeMb48W1NIInOQFZsGWLwkOpOGWY6RhSF5BnI/s1600/DespitetheFangs_webcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-GkikqQ0l0J9QXwS91QZlHJSg-QV1_yGtqfeGTPDpwyPxWDQz01Uz3_2aW-2n6E52B8nuA75BmtBCIwlKB4GJGIzebOVVXxbvA69bxoeMb48W1NIInOQFZsGWLwkOpOGWY6RhSF5BnI/s1600/DespitetheFangs_webcopy.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Anna: Dylan, thank you so
much for joining us. I’ve enjoyed the workshops you’ve given at writers’ groups
and your ideas and suggestions have inspired me. You haven’t been
writing toward publication for very long, yet your success feels like it was overnight.
With three books now in print, what do you consider the most important writing
strategy that helps you?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
A kitchen timer! Seriously, I can only sit if I have a definitive length of
time (mine is usually 45 minutes at a stretch), so I use a kitchen timer app on
my phone and I literally do NOT move from my chair until that time is up. Oh,
and make sure you close out of social media during that time, too!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: Your books
feature strong, sexy heroines who are equal to any hero you throw their way. From
where do you draw your inspiration?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
I was raised largely by a single mother and taught from an early age that a
woman does not need a man to survive. We can hold our own, thank you very much!
But I think that’s why my heroines always strive for independence, even in a
relationship. And Aribella Lupari, the werewolf heroine of my new book, DESPITE
THE FANGS, is by far the strongest heroine I’ve written to date. And she’s my
favorite! </span><span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: What do you love
about this book?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
Typically, when you read a paranormal romance, it involves an Alpha wolf that’s
male. In </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">DESPITE THE FANGS</span></a></span><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">, my Alpha is female,
and I love her bad *ss, take-no-prisoners attitude…and I love the man I wrote
for her—one that is so confident of his masculinity that he can be with a
female Alpha and not be threatened by her strength. I think Aribella and Mason
are my hottest couple yet!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: Do you identify with
any of your characters? Which ones?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
As writers, I think we put a little of ourselves into ALL of our characters,
and I find a little of me in each of my heroines. My first book is about a
psychic, and while I’m no spirit medium, I often have the same gullibility (and
clumsiness) of Nola from </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=762"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">DESPITE THE GHOSTS</span></a></span><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">. In my New Adult
novella, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=762"><span style="color: #8064a2; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">ANY WITCH WAY</span></a></span><span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">, my heroine, Lily,
struggles with what she should do in her life, and finds herself at an
early-life crisis—very similar to one I went through in college! And sometimes
my attitude (and my language!) can be markedly similar to my tough heroine,
Aribella, in </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DESPITE
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: I know you just
returned from a fabulous trip to Ireland. Did you glean any new stories from
your experiences there?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
I did! I am contracted to write a story for the 12 Days of Christmas for my
publisher, The Wild Rose Press, and I chose to set the piece in Ireland. One of
the pivotal scenes takes place on the beautiful Cliffs of Moher.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: Wow! So that new book
will keep you busy. Have you considered writing in other genres, or is
paranormal your thing?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #8064a2; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent4;">Dylan:
I’d like to branch out to other genres…eventually! But for now, I love writing
paranormals and those spooky themes are what comes to me when I sit down to
write every day.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: Thank you for sharing
with us. Here’s a peek at Dylan’s new book!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excerpt from </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
the Fangs</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Aren’t you curious to know what I’ve decided to do with
you?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mason turned his
bronze gaze on her, and Ari’s pulse doubled even as she scoffed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Let’s see…either
more dart gun practice with me as your target, or you’ve got some misguided
fantasy that if I bite you, you’ll become a werewolf like me—” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ari stopped speaking,
but it was too late. Now her plan to protect Mason from knowing too much was
shot to hell. She might as well parade around shouting, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘I’m here. I’m were’. Get used to it!’</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mason grinned. “Two
options I hadn’t considered. I don’t need target practice. However, a little
biting might be nice.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His words rolled over
her like a pheromone-scented wave. Ari opened her mouth to reply, yet produced
only an airy squeak. Mason’s eyes were doing that intense, dark glittering
thing again—the look that made it difficult to concentrate. Or breathe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With a gasp and a
shudder, Ari managed a shaky laugh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Watch out. I’m not
up to date on my shots.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mason voice danced
along her spine as he leaned in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I like to live
dangerously.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anna: Great chemistry with
those two! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks again, Dylan, for stopping by. As
for you, dear readers, do yourselves a favor and stop by </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dylannewton.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dylan’s
website</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, where
you can join her Newton Nation for free giveaways, sneak peeks, and other
goodies!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Comment below for a chance
to win an e-book version of Dylan’s latest book, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5668"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DESPITE
THE FANGS</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The lovely Dylan:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhBoYSZAK3FtAOm7FUwM_M5_RHSiEs8EP_YZ4YUwY387H3eC3oxQ0B549mjddjAeFG-kCCyKdT0Yr3ty4aoDAoUmssAyxNykw9RUOYROH3ru5dmaT9KMQwuNeWMGqXntgSraMb-e-TVA/s1600/Publicity+Photo+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhBoYSZAK3FtAOm7FUwM_M5_RHSiEs8EP_YZ4YUwY387H3eC3oxQ0B549mjddjAeFG-kCCyKdT0Yr3ty4aoDAoUmssAyxNykw9RUOYROH3ru5dmaT9KMQwuNeWMGqXntgSraMb-e-TVA/s1600/Publicity+Photo+2013.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Get your book now!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visit <a href="http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=762" target="_blank">The Wild Rose Press</a> for Dylan's page with links to buy all her books. Or, you can stop by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Despite-Fangs-Dylan-Newton/dp/1628303522/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399860156&sr=1-1&keywords=despite+the+fangs" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and get your copy today! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About Dylan: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21148">
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21150">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21149" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Dylan
Newton was born and raised in a small town in Upstate New York where
the local library was her favorite hang-out. Despite earning a degree in
English Literature, Dylan spent more than a decade sidetracked by an
executive position in corporate America where she swears she contracted
testosterone poisoning. After leaving, she dedicated herself to more
estrogen-rich passions, like motherhood, writing romance novels and her
never-ending quest for the perfect date night. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21147">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21154">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21153" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Dylan
married her high-school sweetheart and they are busy living out their
own happily ever after in sunny Florida with their two incredible
daughters and a snoring Shih Tzu. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21261">
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21263">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21262" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Visit Dylan at <a href="http://www.dylannewton.com/" target="_blank">www.DylanNewton.com</a> or on </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21262" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for her author's page.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21263">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21262" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21262" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"> </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21263">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21262" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_23823" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1399845557714_21264" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">
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annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-22576892147379783912014-05-07T08:35:00.000-07:002014-05-07T08:35:48.603-07:00HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE has arrived!Take out your dancing cards, brush off your silken slippers and call for your barouche - my new Regency-set historical romance is here!<br />
<br />
Amazon has it now available in paperback and e-book and it's still on pre-order with Wild Rose Press until Friday, when it will be for sale. It's going for a special price of $2.99 for a month.<br />
<br />
As a special celebration, I will send an AUTOGRAPHED PAPERBACK of the book to a random commenter - USA and Canada only, please. So, if you've always wanted to leave a response, but were too shy, now's your chance. <br />
<br />
Here's one of my favorite excerpts from the book, with a little hook at the end to further entice you! The scene is at Jack's French chateau, where he has brought Georgiana after a mishap at the ball earlier that evening. She sneaked into his room like she used to when she was little, and cried on him while he was asleep. Her sniffling awakens him, and then....<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“To
what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?” He patted his shirt.
“And why is my shirt wet?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“I
couldn’t sleep. This house is so big and empty.” She never realized before what
true quiet was, having lived at Fairwood Hall with more than fifty servants
always present.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“It
does feel like one rattles around the walls a bit.” He rose from the bed and
replaced the bottle on the table. “But you cannot sleep in here, much as I
don’t mind the company.” He winked. “It will be just my luck you’ll inform your
brother I compromised you, and he’ll lure me into the marriage trap. Perhaps
that was his idea all along, and you’re part of his conniving, scheming mind.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
His
teasing tone stirred something in her. She drew the quilt up to her neck and
backed further against the headboard. “Oh, please, let me stay. I’ll sleep on
the settee, or the floor. I don’t want to be alone.” She purposely swiped a
stray tear from her cheek and sniffled loudly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
He
heaved a sigh. “If you were not so tall, I would throw you over my shoulder and
carry you back to your own chamber.” He indicated the settee. “Throw me a
pillow, will you? I suppose I’ve had worse beds than this.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s only for one night.” She tossed him a pillow.
He blew out the candle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“It
had better be. I did not sign up for this journey as a nursemaid, much as I
would love taking you across my knee and giving you a well-deserved spanking
for all the trouble you cost me this evening.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“Nursemaid
Jack,” she sang softly. He snorted, and she laughed quietly. “Was she very
beautiful?” She’d spoken before she’d given it a thought. His personal life was
none of her business.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“Who?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“The
paramour you had to leave tonight on my account.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
He
snorted. “There is no paramour.” He punched his pillow in the darkness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“You
came to the ball alone?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“Yes.
I often attend balls unaccompanied. One has a damnably difficult time meeting
strange ladies if one is attached to another. Why the interest in my
activities, she who ventures to balls in a foreign country with no chaperone?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“I
assumed there must be some reason to have kept you from visiting Aunt Adele and
me.” She bit her lip, scolding herself for sounding petulant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“I
apologize for not coming to see you. My grandfather will accept nothing but
absolute perfection. And if there was a paramour, Miss Lockewood, this is less
than suitable talk from one as young and innocent as you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“When
I am one and eighty, will you still consider me a little girl, I wonder?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“You
will always be my friend’s little sister, dear Pudding Face.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
His
voice held a barely perceptible warning. She lay back on the pillows and
snuggled beneath the quilt. “I should tell Jonathan you compromised me. That
will be fine revenge for all the times you called me Pudding Face. He would be
forced to call you out, and you will feel so guilty you’ll allow him to kill
you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
He
harrumphed loudly. “I can imagine that duel. He would talk me to death before I
could get in the first blow.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“If
you promise to take me somewhere tomorrow, I promise not to mention what
happened tonight to my brother.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“That’s
called blackmail.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
She
echoed his snort. “Call it what you will. I want to enjoy myself while I’m away
from home. It’s my last chance.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“You’ve
seen what trouble you’ve found in having so much fun, haven’t you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 4.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .3in;">
“I
will not be in trouble as long as you’re with me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Ready to find out what happens? Then buy the book! Or, leave a comment to win your own autographed copy. I will send a free e-book to the second random commenter.<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by! Your support is what keeps me going.<br />
<br />
<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-72909494406696326292014-05-03T10:03:00.003-07:002014-05-03T10:03:56.866-07:00Never-Before-Seen Excerpt From My New Historical Romance!I hope you enjoyed the two interviews with the lead characters of How To Marry A Rogue. Journey with Jack and Georgiana as they venture abroad to France's beautiful wine country and find out that what they've always run from is what they truly want. Along the way, you'll meet a colorful cast of locals, including a saucy maid and her lover, two fuddy-duddy matrons who want nothing more than to sip a quiet cup of tea in the countryside while dreaming of more exciting adventures, and several more people who will surprise, delight, and - gasp! - astound you.<br />
<br />
Here's a never-before released excerpt of Jack and Georgiana once they are in France and she has started causing all sorts of trouble for him. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Have you been shut up in here all day with
the ghosts of old composers?” Jack announced from the drawing room door. He
crossed the room to where she sat, and leafed through the music on top of the
case. She snatched the papers from him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Some of us are not carousing all day
and night.” She played blindly, not caring what tune emerged from her fingers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Some of us are not doing that, either.”
He picked up a stray sheet and held it to her. “What is this? Doesn’t look like
Mozart to me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She glanced carelessly at the paper and
gasped in dismay. At the bottom, she’d drawn their entwined initials, complete
with tiny hearts and an attempt at a rosebud. She snatched the paper from him
and crumpled it up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I was bored.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hmm.” He went to the cabinet against
the wall and removed a violin case. “I’ll wager you don’t know this about me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Which of the myriad fascinating things
about you do I not know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She bit her lip in feigned
concentration, picking out the tune almost effortlessly. Normally, her
excellent playing was a source of pride, but since coming to France, she took
no pleasure in it. All she’d done since his absence was daydream and draw silly
pictures. She was grateful she’d burned the last one before he came home–a
little sketch of his lips she’d spent an hour drawing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He unlatched the case and carefully
removed a violin and bow. He held it up to her, almost reverently. “This.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Was it left behind by one of your
grandfather’s guests? The one with the smelly gowns, perhaps?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He frowned comically, but she sensed a
touch of bashfulness. “It was my father’s, if you must know. I did learn other
accomplishments besides drinking and chasing skirts while at university.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As she watched in semi-amused silence,
he placed the violin under his chin, took a breath, and closed his eyes as he
drew the bow across the strings. The familiar strains of Boccherini’s Violin
Sonata poured forth from the instrument, as effortless as her own playing had
been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She snapped out of her dazed confusion
and accompanied him on the pianoforte. As he played, he walked slowly toward
her, his gaze locked with hers. Their playing was harmonious. Neither of them
missed a note, and he increased his speed, but she kept up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> With a flicker of his gaze, he indicated
she should move over on the bench, and she did, without losing her place on the
keyboard. He sat on the edge, his back against her shoulder as they continued
to play. His hair brushed her face a few times, and she inhaled deeply, her breath
catching as her pulse sped up. Sensual memories of the night before threatened
to disrupt her concentration, and she had to will her hands to hit the right
keys. When the piece ended, he rested the violin and bow on top of the
pianoforte and faced her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I had no idea you could play! Why did
you not say something before? We could have played duets when you and Jonathan
were home at Christmas.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He grinned. “That is precisely why I did
not say anything. Besides–I would much rather sit in the audience and listen to
you. You always played for me, Georgie.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She turned toward the keyboard again,
fiddling with a loose d sharp key. “How you will flatter yourself.” Her heart pounded
so hard she feared he could hear it. Perspiration broke out under her arms and
she shifted on the bench, wishing he would get up and move away from her so he
wouldn’t detect the effect he had on her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He chuckled. “I am speaking the truth.
The last time I was home with Lockewood, you were–what, fifteen? You found out
my favorite piece and learned it for a week. At the Christmas party, you played
it, and stared at me the entire time. I still remember you wore a white dress
with a pink bow tied in the back.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She sniffed. “I was probably watching
you in the corner, drinking wine punch and fawning over Lady Ellenton’s
daughter.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Ah, yes. I’d forgotten all about Clementine
Ellenton, until you mentioned her. I wonder whatever happened to her?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> His hand rested on the keys. She dropped
the lid, banging his fingers. He drew them back with a sharp yelp, and looked
into her eyes. She tried to return his grin but failed. Surely, he could see
the helpless jealousy and naked emotion on her face. It was useless to pretend
anymore. The feelings she’d had as a lovesick girl–unsated by even Edward’s
flattering attention–were unabated where Jack was concerned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She started to rise from the bench, but
he caught her wrist, turning her body as he placed her hand around his neck.
Her fingers curled into his hair of their own accord. The desire she’d
experienced the night before–the yearning ache as she’d clasped him in her
arms–rushed back in a torrent. She pushed at his shoulders but it was more for
show.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “If you want to find out about Miss
Ellenton, perhaps you should write her. I’m sure she would love to hear from
you. You should visit her and let her nibble on your neck with her little
rabbit teeth.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He shook his head. “I have no wish
to see her. It’s your teeth I want nibbling on me.” He pulled her into his
arms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You ignored me the last time you saw
me. You refused to dance with me, leaving me to…to Edward’s devious plans.” The
accusations tumbled from her and she thumped his chest, but he caught her hand
in a strong grip. “You always used to spend time with me, but that Christmas
you avoided me as if I were leprous.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The teasing grin faded rapidly. His gaze
burned into hers and she forgot to struggle. After an interminable moment when
she’d nearly given up on him saying anything, he spoke.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I didn’t want to see you all grown up.
You were so…uncomplicated then.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She gulped to moisten her dry throat.
“Am I so complicated now?”</span></div>
annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-49171604831825286912014-04-17T04:00:00.000-07:002014-04-18T11:51:37.067-07:00How to Interview A Rogue - Jack Waverley Is Here!If you recall, I interviewed Miss Georgiana Lockewood last week as she was preparing for her journey abroad to France. I caught up with Jack Waverley at his boxing club as he was preparing for a match.<br />
Anna: I hope I am not disturbing you, sir.<br />
Jack: Not at all! I'm used to having besotted females following me around all hours of the day or night.<br />
Anna: (trying not to blush) I am here on strictly literary terms, Mr. Waverley.<br />
Jack: (grins in a most roguish sort of way) Of course, you are. How may I help you? As you can see, I'm quite busy. I have a fight with an old opponent of mine. Perhaps you'd care to watch?<br />
Anna: (shuddering) I regret I must decline. I wanted to ask about your upcoming trip to France. You are escorting Miss Lockewood, are you not?<br />
Jack: Ah, you've met with Miss Pudding Face, have you?<br />
Anna: I beg your pardon?<br />
Jack: That's what I used to call her when she was little. She followed me around all the time. It would have been annoying, except she's so damnably adorable. How is the child?<br />
Anna: Um, she's not a child anymore. She's all grown up and very beautiful. I fear you will have your hands full once you're in France.<br />
Jack: (takes off his shirt to reveal a broad chest with too many muscles to count) I can handle her - an innocent maiden who wants a bit of fun! We'll have a jolly time. I'll take her to some balls and garden parties. That will make my nights free to do as I wish.<br />
Anna: About that...<br />
Jack: Yes?<br />
Anna: You know that Miss Pudding....I mean, Miss Lockewood is a spirited girl. You will have to keep your eye on her, especially in the evenings. She may get herself into trouble.<br />
Jack: I'll be there to catch her, should she fall. I always was, you know.<br />
Anna: So I've heard.<br />
Jack: You doubt me?<br />
Anna: (averting my eyes because he is standing so close) I would not doubt you, Mr. Waverley. I think you are a man of your word.<br />
Jack: (Plays with a lock of my hair) Why not come with me?<br />
Anna: (rising to leave) Sir, I am a married woman!<br />
Jack: (heads for the door and I hear the roar of the waiting crowd beyond) Well, if you change your mind...<br />
Anna: (catching my breath and fanning my hot face) You'll be the first to know!<br />
But he has already left the room. What an impossible man! I pity poor Miss Lockewood. She will have a terrible time controlling the man who is supposed to protect her. Perhaps she will be a good influence on him, and make him want to settle down.<br />
Stranger things have happened.annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-27064841893423693032014-04-13T17:00:00.000-07:002014-04-14T09:35:48.123-07:00Interview With Miss Georgiana LockewoodI am pleased to share my interview with the lovely Miss Georgiana Lockewood. All of you will get to meet her personally on May 4, when her story is featured in HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE. I tracked her down while she was dressing for a ball tonight in town - that's London to the rest of us! Her dressing room is filled with trunks and boxes, and it looks like she's getting ready for a long journey.<br />
Her maid brings us both a cup of tea sweetened with honey. I fan myself with a lace fan she has graciously given me - I keep forgetting there's no such thing as air conditioning in the middle of the Regency!<br />
Anna: Thank you for meeting with me today, Miss Lockewood.<br />
Miss Lockewood: Oh, please, call me Georgiana!<br />
Anna: All right - Georgiana. Are you going away on a trip somewhere? I can't help but notice all these trunks and cases.<br />
Georgiana: Why, yes. I'm going abroad to France with my sweet old aunt and a male escort. He's my brother's friend, Jack Waverley. Perhaps you know him?<br />
Anna: I have not had the pleasure yet, but will be interviewing him next week. How fortunate your brother found a brave and strong escort for your aunt and you. Two helpless females, traveling across the Channel...<br />
Georgiana: (cutting me off) You sound just like my brother, Jonathan! Honestly, I am grown up enough to travel wherever I wish. And Jack is a well known boxer. I shall be very much protected.<br />
Anna: That's good news! The last time you were on your own, I recall you were heading north.<br />
Georgiana: (sets down her cup with a clattering of china) Are you referring to my so-called elopement to Gretna Green with Mr. Mitford?<br />
Anna: I did not mean to imply....<br />
Georgiana: (laughs nervously) Oh, nothing happened. It was just a childish whim. There is a good thing that came of it, however. I shall never give my heart away so easily again.<br />
Anna: I'm relieved to hear that. But isn't Mr. Waverley a handsome sort of scoundrel with a reputation?<br />
Georgiana: Not to worry! We are old friends. He was always my protector. I'm sure nothing will happen to me in France as long as he is there.<br />
Anna: I am sure you are right. (I get up to leave, and her servant brings me my bonnet) Thank you very much for seeing me. I hope you have a fine time abroad.<br />
Georgiana: I'm sure I will!<br />
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Well, dear reader, the rest, as they say, is history! Next week, I'll be interviewing the hero of this story, Mr. Jack Waverley - boxer, fighter, lover, gambler - heavens, the list does go on! I hope Georgiana is right about his protecting her. I would hate for anything to happen to that sweet girl.<br />
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<br />annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-52613733418913487532014-04-08T12:50:00.002-07:002014-04-08T12:53:12.774-07:00Release Date for ROGUE Announced! I am thrilled that The Wild Rose Press will be releasing HOW TO MARRY A ROGUE on May 4, instead of late summer. To celebrate, I will post about the Regency period until the big day. Look for sneak peeks, character interviews, fun facts, and the background to this story.<br />
Let's begin, shall we?<br />
The Regency period is specific to England, as it encompassed the "regency" of Prince George, later to become King George IV, from the years 1811-1820. This basically means he ruled on behalf of his father, the "mad" King George III, known to Americans for being the tyrant Thomas Jefferson railed about in the Declaration of Independence.<br />
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It's a popular time period for authors and movie makers, since Jane Austen was a central figure during this period. If you love a good novel or a classic movie, read or watch any of her stories. My favorite is Pride & Prejudice, which you probably already know if you've read my blog. I think of it as a classic "Beauty and the Beast" story, because Mr. Darcy is transformed by the end.<br />
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The way of life, clothes, manners, and customs are unique to this period. The "empire" waist gown (the bodice ended at the lower part of the bosom instead of the waist) changed the female form, although the disfiguring corset was years ahead into the future. Men also changed from fancy silk coats and pantaloons to breeches made of buckskin, and riding boots became the daytime height of fashion.<br />
The country life grew in popularity, with outdoor sports, hunting, picnics, etc., becoming the "in thing" for the rich folk. It's fun to write books during this period, because the characters have a variety of things to do. Country balls (called Assembly balls because they were in a common building called an Assembly Hall), garden parties, picnics, riding, archery, and other games and diversions were great entertainment. I can have a heroine be an accomplished rider or talented pianist. A hero can look dashing seated on his horse during a hunt (no foxes are ever harmed in my books!), or elegant in his cream-colored silk cravat and embroidered waistcoat at an elegant salon in London.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed this little peek at the Regency! Next blog will be an interview with the heroine of the story, Georgiana Lockewood. She's beautiful, smart, and a little too stubborn about getting what she wants. Lucky for her, our hero is in the right place at the right time!annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-39752475393971361512014-03-24T13:42:00.000-07:002014-03-24T13:42:23.712-07:00Read a New Excerpt at Romancing the Book and Win!!!!I'm a guest over at Romancing the Book, where I'll be giving away 3 FREE ebooks of my newest contemporary romance, BACK IN HIS ARMS AGAIN. All you have to do is stop in and leave a comment to win.<br />
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Go to: <a href="http://romancing-the-book.com/2014/03/top-5-list-contest-anna-small.html" target="_blank">Win Me A Free Ebook!</a> <br />
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I also have a new excerpt listed on that contest, as well as the first chapter listed on Book Daily, where you can read the first chapter and get to know a book and author before buying. Check it out at <a href="http://www.bookdaily.com/book/4439477/back-in-his-arms-again-kindle-edition" target="_blank">Read The First Chapter!</a><br />
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Are there any themes for a romance novel that you wish an author would write? Cinderella with a vengeful streak? Little Mermaid who turns the human into a merman? I have been working on a time travel story where the Jersey girl heroine goes back to medieval times and turns the place upside down with her sass. What do you think?annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817897047226078896.post-78267030924457862592014-03-20T15:41:00.002-07:002014-03-20T15:49:03.119-07:00Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!I'm not going to write about writing today, or tell you about my new book. Instead, I'd like to share the fun and excitement my family had today while SCUBA diving at <a href="http://www.divebluegrotto.com/" target="_blank">the Blue Grotto</a> in Williston, Florida. It's located less than 2 hours from home, but it was like traveling to a different world as we went deep into the verdant, lush farmland of the central Florida countryside. We passed so many cows I was looking for the Chick Fil-A sign.<br />
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Our daughter (15yo) has been SCUBA certified for 2 years now, so this was a nice refresher for her in advance of the Caribbean diving we plan to do this May. But the main thrill today was our 9yo son getting to dive in a deep, controlled environment. He just passed a PADI Bubblemakers course with flying colors and has been using our dive equipment in our pool for some time, and has been dying to dive like a real pro! With careful coaching by Mom and Dad, he made it to a steady 40 feet without kicking up the silt on the bottom. He even got a close up look at the friendly turtle, Virgil, and several little fish.<br />
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The reason I wanted to write about this event is to share the fresh excitement we all felt about diving today. Hubby and I have been diving for almost 15 years, but now that the kids are involved, it makes every vacation filled with possibilities. Because a 9yo has endless energy, we will all have an untiring, eager dive buddy in him (when he is fully certified, which will be in a few months), and our daughter now has another skill to rely on in life.<br />
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Diving isn't for everyone, although I have seen people who are missing a limb, in their upper 70s and older, and people so out of shape you wonder how they can even make a wetsuit that big. But the point is, divers are having fun. They are exploring a world few ever see. The thrill of having a sea turtle ignore you from a foot away or having tiny yellow fish surround you and poke at your mask is an experience most people will never know. I feel like a mermaid down in the deep blue, which refreshes my creative juices and opens my mind. It's hard to think of much of anything when you're floating on a cushion of water, gliding through the cold, crisp water of a millennia-old sinkhole.<br />
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Whatever your passion, do it often. Like to cook? Buy a cookbook you would normally never be interested in and have a dinner party. Crafting your hobby? Make bazaar gifts and donate them to your local church or women's group. Do what you like, and do it with all your heart. Writing is the big passion of my life, and I'm never happier until my fingers are tapping out the drama, lives, and loves of the people who live inside my head.<br />
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Well, there - I did mention writing! Why not write back, leave a comment about YOUR great passion?annasmallbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07848695275854068158noreply@blogger.com0