Wednesday 27 November 2013

Spotlight - Em Taylor




Hi everyone,

Today I would like to welcome all the way from Scotland, the fabulous Em Taylor.
 Em has just released her debut Regency novel, Saved by a Rake.

Welcome Em, thanks so much for visiting and answering a few questions about you and ‘Saved by a Rake’.
 

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

 I wanted a shocking start to my book and chose to start with every Regency lady’s worst fear—her ruination.
 
How do you develop your plot and characters?

 It tends to happen organically since I am a complete pantser.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

 Usually the broad plot, then the characters and then I allow the characters to develop their own story.

Are you working on anything at the present?

Book two which is the story of Rebecca’s brother—a subplot that was not developed in Saved by a Rake.

What has influenced your writing?

Reading other books in the genre. While not a great aficionado of the classics, I love books set around the time that stay relatively true to the language and world-view of the time.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

 Usually they just come to me as I’m writing. Or I do a bit of brainstorming with a friend over Facebook chat.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?

I really want to visit Dollywood in Tennessee… is that lame?

What inspires your writing?

Books, people watching, TV and conversations with good friends.

What made you want to be a writer?

 I have a vivid imagination and I think up stories in my head all the time. So why not put that to good use and give other people pleasure from it.

Any dreams and aspirations?

 I want to be able to write full time.

 

Blurb

When Lady Rebecca Eversley is left ravished by the Earl of Newthorpe and facing ruination, she has the choice to point her pretty little nose in the air and face the gossips of the Ton or scurry off to the country to live out her life as an old maid. When she meets Lord Daniel Ramsey, a notorious rake, she decides on the former course of action.

Daniel has been given an ultimatum, marry before his father dies or lose the majority of his inheritance money. Rebecca seems the perfect candidate, especially once rumours about her start to circulate in the drawing rooms of Mayfair.

When Newthorpe is found dead on the morning of their wedding, the people they care about find themselves suspects in the case. Who murdered Newthorpe and can Rebecca ever get over what he did to her?

 
Excerpt

As his lips briefly touched hers, the carriage jolted, pushing him closer to her. He caught her around the waist to ensure she did not bounce off the seat, then, without thinking, covered her mouth with his.

He noted a moment’s hesitation from her before she moved her lips and reached up to tangle her gloved fingers in his curls. Tentatively she touched her tongue against his, causing him to stifle a groan. He had been without a woman for over a month and now his pretty little wife had her arms around him, kissing him as if she had done it a thousand times. She was a quick learner as she explored his mouth with her tongue, pressing herself closer to him.

Devil take it. He had been struggling all day to stop himself becoming aroused. Her wedding gown had been low cut and her stays showed her breasts off perfectly. He had been distracted throughout the service and the wedding breakfast as images of disrobing her later had flitted through his mind. He wanted to see those breasts again.

He unfastened the three buttons on her pelisse, peeling the material away to her side, then pulled out of the kiss and began to pepper light kisses along her jawline. God, he wanted her, and he was most definitely aroused now.

He kissed her neck and was about to place his hand over that beautiful inviting orb, when he sensed her tensing. He pulled away slowly, tugging the material of her pelisse back over her. When he looked into her eyes, they were bright with confusion, passion and fear, all clearly warring within her. He cursed himself for being too impatient. Then he cursed Newthorpe for what he had done and could not help thinking that death was too good for the blaggard.

“No. That’s the only word you ever have to say and I will stop,” he said simply.

“I am sorry, my lord. I just expected some time before… well I expected to wait until we were in the coaching inn tonight.”

“Yes, of course. It was very impatient of me. I beg your forgiveness.”

Rebecca nodded and looked out the window.

The streets of London rushed by as they headed for the Great North Road. He studied the view out of the other window, and they sat in silence for a long time. Eventually Rebecca spoke in a small voice which sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.

“I fear I will not make you a very good wife if a mere kiss frightens me.”

He turned and took her hand in his. He wanted her to be comfortable and not think he was going to pounce on her and ravish her at any given opportunity.

“I have no doubt that you will make a wonderful wife, Rebecca. You just need time and patience and I have an abundance of both.”

She turned large, tear-filled eyes towards him. “You should take a mistress as soon as we reach Scotland.”

He could not possibly have heard correctly. She was giving him permission to have a mistress? Surely not. But her mouth was set in a firm line as if she had made up her mind. A stab of hurt hit him. She thought of him as a rake who would be unfaithful.

He pursed his lips and considered her. What should he do? He wanted to rail at her and tell her he had no intention of being unfaithful. He had taken vows only a few hours previously and yet now she was giving him permission to break them. But maybe the idea of him having a mistress brought her comfort. She was clearly terrified of intimacy between a husband and wife.

“We shall discuss it once we reach Scotland, my lady. I have no wish to think beyond our present journey.”

“Do you not see that I can only ever tolerate the marriage bed for the sake of giving you an heir,” she wailed, pulling her hand away from his. “He ruined me in more ways than you can ever know.”

“You are only ruined if you allow him that power. A skilful lover could make you feel very different about certain aspects of a marriage.”

“Well, I have heard enough tales to know that you are a skilful lover, Lord Ramsey. But I think you should save it for your mistresses.” Her tone was almost venomous but he ignored it, knowing that it was fear that drove her.

She turned her head to look out of the window again. He was at a complete loss. She thought him almost as bad as Newthorpe. Well, not quite but she did not think he would be faithful. A long silence stretched out between them as he considered what to say to her. Her back was rigid, and she swiped at her cheek with one gloved hand.

“What he did to you…”

“What he did has destroyed me, and I am not sorry that he is dead. I wish I had been the one to kill him.”

“Please, Rebecca…”

She burst into tears and fished in her reticule for a handkerchief, he presumed.  He held his out to her and with a large sob she accepted it. He untied her bonnet and threw it onto the seat opposite before gathering her in his arms.

She tried to move out of his grip but this time he held firm, knowing that she would accept his comfort, which she did, weeping as she buried her face in his coat.

As her sobs turned into sniffles, which turned into silence then light snuffles of sleep, he held her and wondered how he was going to help his beautiful young wife over her fear of physical love.

 

Thanks so much for sharing a little bit about you and Saved by a Rake.

Here’s Em’s bio and links –

Em was born and brought up in the Central Belt of Scotland and still lives there. She was told as a child she had an over active imagination—as if that is a bad thing. She’s traded her dreams of owning her own island, just like George in the Famous Five to hoping to meet her own Mr Darcy one day. But her imagination remains the same.


Unfortunately, Em was put off reading and writing by school and although she rediscovered her love of reading many years ago, she only tried her hand at writing again in 2011. After a year of writing fan fiction, she wrote an original short story for an anthology. This was followed up with two more shorts and 4 novella length books, all published under a pen name. Having fallen in love with a new sub-genre, courtesy of books by Mary Balogh and Lynsay Sands, she decided to try her hand at her new favourite genre for reading—Regency.

Having bitten the bullet, she feels she has found her home in the 19th century, and it does give her an excuse to watch Colin Firth in a pair of buff breeches and riding books ad infinitum.


As always thanks for stopping by.
Nicóle  xx


Tuesday 26 November 2013

Rain Trailer


Hi everyone,
Just finished the trailer for Rain.





Thanks for stopping by.

Nicole  xx

Bewitching Blurbs



Bewitching Blurbs

Hi everyone,

Here’s another edition of Bewitching Blurbs. Apologies for fewer entries this week but I’ve been a bit preoccupied with the release of my latest book.
I’ve had two new releases in one month and things have been a bit hectic.

If you have a new release you can add the title, buylink, website and blurb to the comment section.
Please just remember to keep it PG and it’s a blurb not an extract – thanks.

 

Em Taylor’s debut Regency romance, Save by a Rake is the first offering and I can’t wait to read it.

Saved by a Rake

By Em Taylor

When Lady Rebecca Eversley is left ravished by the Earl of Newthorpe and facing ruination, she has the choice to point her pretty little nose in the air and face the gossips of the Ton or scurry off to the country to live out her life as an old maid. When she meets Lord Daniel Ramsey, a notorious rake, she decides on the former course of action.
Daniel has been given an ultimatum, marry before his father dies or lose the majority of his inheritance money. Rebecca seems the perfect candidate, especially once rumours about her start to circulate in the drawing rooms of Mayfair.
When Newthorpe is found dead on the morning of their wedding, the people they care about find themselves suspects in the case. Who murdered Newthorpe and can Rebecca ever get over what he did to her?


Amazon -   



Ms Scott’s Warrior of the Nile was published in September but I‘ve added it because I enjoyed it so much. I thought for those of you who love historical as much as I do, it might be for you.

Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt)

By Veronica Scott

Egypt, 1500 BC

Lady Tiya is bound to the service of the goddess Nephthys, who plans to sacrifice Tiya's body to protect Egypt from an ancient terror. She embarks to meet her grim fate alone but for the hardened warrior Khenet, who is fated to die at her side. Tiya's dreams of love and family now seem impossible, and Khenet, who is the last of his line, knows his culture will die with him. Struggling with the high cost of Nephthys's demands, both resolve to remain loyal.

Neither expects the passion that flowers when Tiya's quiet courage and ethereal beauty meet Khenet's firm strength and resolve. On a boat down the Nile, their two lonely souls find in each other a reason to live. But time is short and trust elusive.

Without the willing sacrifice of Tiya and Khenet, a great evil will return to Egypt. How could the gods demand their deaths when they've only just begun to live?

Amazon –


 

For those of you that love a little magic, why not try Blind Devotion.

Blind Devotion

By Erin Grace

Love is blind…seriously.

Once upon a time, the powerful Lianhan Shee—the Celtic Love Fairy--could capture a mortal man’s heart with a mere glance, trapping him into a life of misery and unrequited love until his death.

Nowadays, it is all she can do to get noticed.

Bored and wanting to prove her powers aren’t weakening in the modern Irish world, she accepts a dangerous wager, one that could see her kneel at the bidding of a scheming leprechaun.

But, the mortal chosen as her target isn’t all he seems…

As the battle begins for magic gold, immortality and the soul of a man who sees what others can’t, will love prove to be the most powerful weapon of all?

 
Amazon -Show more


 

And lastly here is my offering. Rain is a medieval paranormal romance, actually I tend to think of it as a medieval fairytale. Anyway, it was just released on the 21st of November.

Rain

By Nicole Hurley-Moore

On the mountain, high above the village of Farran – Nuri is caught between heaven and hell. Two men fight for her love and her soul. The first is Maras, an elemental being that follows the storms. Nuri knows that he is not human, he’s something more. She believes he is her beautiful fallen angel. But he is transient and is bound to the elements and their love may be as fleeting as the storm itself. And Brother Erebus, a pious monk whose tortured soul is twisted by his desire for her, will do anything to protect her soul from the silver haired devil, even if he has to crush her body to do it.

Amazon -




Thanks for dropping by.

Nicóle  xxShow more

www.nicolehurley-moore.com

 


For those of you that love a little magic, why not try Blind Devotion.
Blind Devotion
By Erin Grace
 
Love is blind…seriously.

Once upon a time, the powerful Lianhan Shee—the Celtic Love Fairy--could capture a mortal man’s heart with a mere glance, trapping him into a life of misery and unrequited love until his death.

Nowadays, it is all she can do to get noticed.

Bored and wanting to prove her powers aren’t weakening in the modern Irish world, she accepts a dangerous wager, one that could see her kneel at the bidding of a scheming leprechaun.

But, the mortal chosen as her target isn’t all he seems…

As the battle begins for magic gold, immortality and the soul of a man who sees what others can’t, will love prove to be the most powerful weapon of all?
 
Amazon -Show more
 
 


 

Thursday 21 November 2013

Rain - Release Day



Hi everyone!

Rain is released today!!!  Woohoo!!! I’m so excited I might end every sentence with an exclamation mark!

In case you missed it (if that is even possible as I’ve been blabbing about it constantly) Rain is my medieval paranormal romance. It is set in the year 1216 AD in the fictitious village of Farran.
 It’s the story of Nuri, an artist who lives outside the village and Maras, an elemental being who is the embodiment of storms. Nuri is drawn to Maras but her growing attachment is threatened by Brother Erebus, who believes Maras is a demon.  
  Nuri must choose whether to follow her heart or be tied to the edict of the Church and village. Maras is transient and is bound to the elements and their love may be as fleeting as the storm itself. But Nuri may sacrifice more than her heart when the Church brands her angel a demon. As Brother Erebus will do anything to protect her soul from the silver haired devil, even if he has to crush her body to do it.

I loved blending a little medieval history with the paranormal. My aim was to create a moody story which was reminiscent of an old fairytale.

I hope you enjoy Rain!

As always, thanks for stopping by!!! (I thought I would carry on the ‘!!!’ theme)

Nicóle   xx!

At the moment Rain is available from...

Amazon shortened link -

http://goo.gl/JoD3Lo

Jupiter Gardens Press


Amazon. Au  (Yes, we finally have an Amazon too)


Smashwords


All Romance

 


I thought I would leave you with a snippet...
She watched in fascination his pale eyes warming as he filled her completely. As they moved together, the exquisite sensation of their bodies becoming one made her quiver. He took one breast into his hot mouth; as he sucked and twirled his tongue around her budding nipple, she felt her heart begin to race. Her head fell backwards, but she stared at the sky without seeing it as all her senses were centred on Maras, her angel who had the ability to fly her soul to heaven.
The first cold drip hit her cheek and ran down her face, the second her jaw, and a third struck her shoulder. Her head snapped back, and she stared at Maras. His eyes were now closed, and he was lost in their lovemaking. As she reached out her hand and caressed his cheek, three more stinging raindrops struck her arm. Nuri felt the tears gather in her eyes. Too soon, it was too soon to say farewell. Another dozen drops fell from the gray sky.
She opened her mouth but her voice faltered. An ache began to burn in her chest and her eyes brimmed with tears. “Maras, the rain has come,” she whispered.
He stilled, opened his eyes, and stared at Nuri. He reached out and his fingers caught her first falling tear before it had a chance to track down her face. The rain became heavier as it made its way down the mountain. She could hear it drumming against the still water of the pool, against the rocks and the pebbles. The rain was cold, but for Nuri, each drop seemed to scorch her skin.
“’Tis nothing but a summer shower. It will disappear long before it reaches the river and the far mountain.” He caught her chin with one hand, and gently turned her head. “See, the clouds already dissipate, and soon the wind will blow the rain away. I cannot leave you yet, my light.”
“But I thought...”
“I know.” He brushed the last tears from her eyes before he pulled her back into his arms and crushed her mouth with his own.
 


Tuesday 19 November 2013

Bewitching Blurbs



Hi everyone,

It’s time for another instalment of Bewitching Blurbs. This week we have a couple of historicals, a spicy contemporary and a little ro-magic (romance with a dash of magic). Hope you all enjoy this week’s offerings.
 

If you have a new release, feel free to add it (title, author, buy link & blurb) to the comments area.
 

So here we go...
 

Want your romance with an ancient twist? Then Dancer of the Nile may be for you. I’ve just finished Ms Scott’s Warrior of the Nile and I can’t wait to read this one.
 

Dancer of the Nile
By Veronica Scott

Egypt, 1500 BCE

Nima’s beauty and skill as a dancer leads an infatuated enemy to kidnap her after destroying an Egyptian border town. However, she’s not the only hostage in the enemy camp: Kamin, an Egyptian soldier on a secret mission for Pharaoh, has been taken as well. Working together to escape, the two of them embark on a desperate quest across the desert to carry word of the enemy’s invasion plans to Pharaoh’s people.

As they flee for their lives, these two strangers thrown together by misfortune have to trust in each other to survive. Nima suspects Kamin is more than the simple soldier he seems, but she finds it hard to resist the effect he has on her heart. Kamin has a duty to his Pharaoh to see his mission completed, but this clever and courageous dancer is claiming more of his loyalty and love by the moment. Kamin starts to worry, if it comes to a choice between saving Egypt or saving Nima’s life…what will he do?

Aided by the Egyptian god Horus and the Snake Goddess Renenutet, beset by the enemy’s black magic, can Nima and Kamin evade the enemy and reach the safety of the Nile in time to foil the planned attack?

Can there ever be a happy future together for the humble dancer and the brave Egyptian soldier who is so much more than he seems?




For those who like their reading matter sizzling hot, why not try Eden Summer’s Passionate Addiction.


Passionate Addiction

By Eden Summers

 
Book 2 in the Reckless Beat series (Erotic Romance)

He’s been her ultimate untouchable desire.

Nothing says happy birthday like a rock god flying thousands of miles to surprise a woman he's never met. But that's exactly what happens to Gabi Smith when she gives her long distance best friend a flippant invitation to her laid back girl’s night out. She never expected to turn on the dance floor and find Blake Kennedy’s gaze holding her body captive.

She’s his everything and he’s never laid eyes on her.

Gabi means more to Blake than life itself. She’s his strength, his savior, and the only person who helped to vanquish his demons. No one means more to him than his angel. So when things between them start to sizzle, he's ready to fight for the future he never thought he would deserve.

Skeletons from his past will threaten his only chance at love...

Blake has come a long way—with Gabi's help—to leave the hell of his youth behind him, but sometimes memories don’t want to stay buried. Determined to stand on his own for once, Blake is willing to stretch the truth to keep his troubles from burdening the woman he adores.

Little white lies can create black holes in any relationship. Only time will tell if an Aussie with a heart of gold will forgive her bad-boy boyfriend or if the deceit will end his passionate addiction.


 
 

Need a little magic in your life? Then maybe you should try Juliet Madison’s Starstruck in Seattle.


Starstruck In Seattle (novella)

By Juliet Madison


A sparkling story from the Queen of Ro-magic comedy!

Aspiring actress Anna Hilford might only have a small role in a leading television drama, but she longs to be dreamboat Karl Drake’s leading lady. Sick of being loveless and overlooked, Anna seeks the help of intuitive love coach, Lulu, from LuluTheLoveAngel.com to give her the courage and determination to follow her destiny.

But fate has different ideas, Lulu has undisclosed power, and Anna is about to realise that life happens while you’re busy making plans...

 
 

 
 
 
Okay, so this isn’t a new release but Misrule’s Mistress is my Christmas novella. I thought I would include it for those of you who like a touch of the medieval in your Christmas... and because I’m goddess of my own blog. *wink*
 

 
 
 Misrule’s Mistress
 
By Nicole Hurley-Moore
Lord Barric Cranley wants Lady Ellette for his wife but she has already refused once. He knows that Ellette loves him… it’s just she hasn’t realized it yet. With a little help, cunning and the Feast of Misrule, Barric plans to capture his bride and make it a Christmas she’ll never forget.
 
 
As always, thanks for stopping by.
 
Nicóle xx