Sinful Scots Tour and Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Kim C. Congratulations, Kim and thanks to everyone who entered.

There are two fantastic historical romances coming to bookshelves near you next week.

Today I have the pleasure of sharing excerpts from those books, telling you a bit about the authors and hosting a giveaway for a copy of each. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

Author Amanda Scott is back with her third installment in her Lairds of the Loch series, THE WARRIOR’S BRIDE, and author Cara Elliot is back with her second book in the Hellions of Half Moon Street series, SINFULLY YOURS!

Here’s a synopsis of THE WARRIOR’S BRIDE:

      Robert MacAulay, heir to a powerful Baron, is known for being a skilled warrior with a strong sense of duty. His respectable reputation, along with his devotion to the king, is why Andrew MacFarlan hoped he'd agree to marry his youngest daughter, Lady Muriella. But for reasons Rob refuses to share, he turns down Andrew's request and vows never to wed.
      Lady Muriella never wanted to take a husband, but after seeing her two older sisters happily settled, she's beginning to think marriage may have its merits. When she learns that Rob has refused her without even knowing her, she becomes determined to seduce him into changing his mind. Then she will be the one to say no to him. But when she's captured by her father sworn enemy Dougal, both land in more trouble than either had anticipated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amanda Scott is the author of over 60 romance novels and the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award. She lives in Folsom, California, outside of Sacramento. She is a fourth-generation Californian. 

For more on Amanda and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.

THE WARRIOR’S BRIDE is available at the following sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.

Excerpt from THE WARRIOR’S BRIDE ……….

     Swallowing hard, she entered her bedchamber to find a half- dozen candles lit, the shutters closed, and the bedclothes invitingly turned down.
     Turning to Rob, she said, “Did my father say we should leave the table?”
     “Aye, because he knows I want to get an early start tomorrow,” Rob said. “Also, he would like us to consummate our marriage tonight. But as I told you earlier, we can delay that for a short time at least.”
     She cocked her head. “But we will sleep in the same bed, aye?”
     Even by candlelight, she saw his cheeks redden.
     “I’m not sure I should sleep with you, lass,” he said softly. “I do mean well, but you are gey enticing to me.”
    “If I am to be your wife,” she said, relieved and warily delighted to hear him say again that she attracted him, “I want to be your wife in every way. Also, as I told you earlier, my sisters will ask me how it went, and they always know if I lie. So, if you are delaying because you fear I’ll dislike it, then I reject your notion of consequences, sir. Consummation is one of the consequences of marriage, is it not? I begin to think that you are the one who fears it, but surely that cannot be so.”
     A twinkle lit his eyes, and her wariness fled.
     Shaking his head, he patted the bed and said, “Sit, lass. I can think better and will likely explain my thoughts more clearly if we sit and do not touch each other.”
     “It makes me feel strange all over when you touch me,” she said, climbing onto the high bed and sitting with her lower legs over the side. “Does it make you feel the same way if I touch you?”
     “Not being female, I cannot tell you if it is the same,” he replied, sitting beside her. “But if the strangeness you feel is pleasant, then it is similar.”
     “It is more than pleasant,” she said. “When are you going to kiss me again?”
     “Lassie, do you want to hear what I have to say to you or not?”
     Cocking her head a little as she turned and drew her knees up so she could face him, she considered the question.
     Unabashedly looking at her breasts, the tops of which rose plumply above her low- cut bodice, he said gruffly, “Sakes, lass, do not tempt me further.”
     “I want to know what you are thinking,” she said as solemnly as she could, wondering how he could look so serious one moment and then surprise her with a twinkle in his eyes the next. “You did say that if you were wooing me, you would tell me why you had decided not to inflict yourself on any woman. Although you have not wooed me, Robert, we are married. So, will you tell me now?”
     Rob had expected the question, albeit not at just that moment. He was reluctant to tell her, but he knew she had a right to know. Moreover, he knew she would not hide what she was thinking as he told her. Her animated face revealed her thoughts as clearly as if she said each one aloud.
     Remembering his first impression of her— that she was childish— he nearly chuckled. She was not a child but a most enticing young woman…

Here’s a synopsis of SINFULLY YOURS:

     After an eventful Season, Anna Sloane longs for some peace and quiet to pursue her writing. Though her plots might be full of harrowing adventure and heated passion, she'd much prefer to leave such exploits on the page rather than experience them in real life. Or so she thinks until she encounters the darkly dissolute-and gorgeously charming-Marquess of Davenport.
     Davenport has a reputation as a notorious rake whose only forte is wanton seduction. However the real reason he's a guest at the same remote Scottish castle has nothing to do with Anna . . . until a series of mysterious threats leave him no choice but to turn to her for help in stopping a dangerous conspiracy. As desire erupts between them, Davenport soon learns he's not the only one using a carefully crafted image to hide his true talents. And he's more than ready to show Anna that sometimes reality can be even better than her wildest imaginings . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cara Elliott started writing Western novels at the age of five. Later she changed her genre to Regency romance after reading Pride and Prejudice. She graduated from Yale University, and she now lives and works in New York City.

For more on Cara and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

SINFULLY YOURS is available at the following sites: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.

Excerpt from SINFULLY YOURS ……….

     The tiny throb of her pulse beneath his fingertips had signaled her time was up. Devlin leaned in and felt their bodies graze, their lips touch.
     A mere touch, and yet it sent a jolt of fire through him.
     He froze. The distant laughter, the faint trilling of the violins, the rustling leaves all gave way to a strange thrumming sound in his ears.
     Anna shifted and Devlin shook off the sensation. It must be the brandy, he decided. He had just come from his club, where he had been sampling a potent vintage brought up from the wine cellar. Women had no such effect on him.
     A kiss was a distraction, nothing more. A way to keep boredom at bay.
     “Go to Hell.” Anna’s whisper teased against his mouth as she jerked back.
     “Eventually,” growled Devlin. “But first . . .” He kissed her again. A harder, deeper, possessive embrace.
     Her lips tremored uncertainly.
     Seizing the moment, he slipped his tongue through the tiny gap and tasted a beguiling mix of warmth and spice. Impossible to describe.
     He needed to taste more.
     More.
     Clasping his arms around her waist, Devlin pushed her back a little roughly, pinning her body to the unyielding stone. She tensed and twisted . . .
     I am Satan’s spawn.
     . . . and then went still.
     Time seemed to stop, hang suspended within the shifting shadows of the fluttering leaves. A myriad sensations seemed to skate over his skin. Fire. Ice. The slow softening of her resistance.
     Anna made another sound. No words, just a soft feline purr that drifted off into the darkness. She moved, tilting forward in a tentative tasting of her own. Entwined, they swayed, weightless in the cool caress of the night.
     Somewhere close by, a door opened and shut.
     The echo broke the strange spell. With a shudder, Anna wrenched free of his hold, a gasp fluttering through her gloved fingertips as she touched her lips.
     Disgust? Disbelief?
     Devlin blinked, not quite certain of his own feelings.
     For a fleeting moment it looked as though she was going to speak, but instead, she shoved him aside and walked off without a word.
     Walked with her head held high, her spine ramrod straight, he noted, rather than pelter off in a torrent of tears and sobs.
     Hard and soft—no question Anna Sloane was a contradiction.
     Which made her a conundrum.
     But Devlin liked puzzles. They kept his own inner demons at bay.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of THE WARRIOR’S BRIDE and one digital NetGalley copy of SINFULLY YOURS. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.

To enter this giveaway, just answer the question below in the comments. Be sure to include a valid email address with your comment, if one is not available in your profile.

If you wish not to be entered in the contest, just say ‘Not entering’ and then comment all you’d like. I don’t want to discourage someone from commenting just because they don’t want to enter the contest.

The deadline for entering the contest will be 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, March 1. The winner will be selected by Random.Org and I will notify the winner by email with the subject line ‘Thoughts in Progress Sinful Scots.’ The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their mailing information or to notify me they’ve already won the book elsewhere. If there isn’t a response in 72 hours, a new winner will be selected.

BTW if you’d like extra entries in the giveaway, tweet about the giveaway (return and share the link), share it on Facebook (return and share the link) and pin it on Pinterest (return and share the link). 

Thanks so much for dropping by and spending a bit of time with us. Remember, answer the following question for a chance to win the awesome book package: “What is it about historical romances that draws you in?”

Turning Up The Heat Blog Tour And Giveaway

The Turning Up The Heat Blog Tour, featuring lovely authors Cara Elliott and Lilli Feisty, makes a stop here today to answer some questions and offer giveaways.

Cara’s latest release is TOO WICKED TO WED. Here’s a brief synopsis: Outspoken Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake, the Earl of Killingworth, and is drawn into a passionate romance that has serious consequences. When a reckless wager forces the Earl, the owner of a gambling den and brothel, to take on a new business partner, the lovers begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception. If they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them. 

Lilli’s current release is DELICIOUSLY SINFUL. Here’s a brief synopsis of it: Things are heating up in the kitchen...and the bedroom. Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control.  Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation --and a chiseled body to match-- but she's positive she can whip him into shape. But will their hunger for each other be a recipe for love that lasts? 

Thanks to the ladies, Alana and the good folks at Grand Central Publishing, I have 3 sets of books to giveaway. Each set will include 1 copy of each book per winner. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

Now for the ladies’ Q & A session.

Mason - In what order does your characters come to life - name, physical description, personality?
 
Cara - That’s exactly the order! The name is a huge part of conjuring up the look of a person, and from there I start to delve beneath the surface . . . 

Lilli - Personality. I always start with a general idea of a story, but my characters truly come to life as I write them. Sometimes they surprise me. Actually, they are constantly surprising me because I actually never know what they’re going to do until they do it! 

Mason - Of these three elements (name, physical description, personality), which is the easiest to develop and which is the hardest?
 
Cara - Though it seems really easy, picking a name is important. The sound and texture—hard, soft, exotic—helps to define the individual taking shape. Once I’ve chosen that, I look at a lot of images, from old paintings to current movie stills, in order to get a picture in my mind. Then the real fun begins—I love the process of delving beneath the surface and finding out what makes my characters tick. Trust me, there are days I sit back after writing a scene and say, “Whoa, I had no idea they were going to do THAT!”
 
Just like real people, some characters are really laid-back and easy to deal with, Others can be difficult—sometimes it takes a lot of arguing to make them do what you want! 

Lilli - Well, naming them is easy. And fun! I use an old-trick-of-the-trade and I watch movie credits and copy interesting names. I also write names down in the same notebook when I hear a name that strikes me. Then when I’m naming a character I just go to my book and see if there’s anything fitting. There usually is. 

Physical description is always hard for me write. A lot of writers clip images from magazines or use pictures as inspiration, but my characters are always just visualized in my own head as I write them. So it’s always difficult for me to fully describe all their little quirks that make them unique, and I want to make sure and get it right. 

Mason - How would you encourage someone who has never read your genre to give it a try?
 
Cara - No matter what the genre, a compelling story has to have the same core elements to resonate with readers. Engaging characters, sharp writing, gripping emotion and heartfelt humor—Regency historical romances have all that . . . and hey, who can resist fancy ballgowns and dashing Men in Boots!  

Lilli - I ask people what movies they like, or if they like certain movies. Inevitably, they usually pick a movie that could be considered my genre. For example, if a person likes romantic comedies, there’s a lot of great contemporary romantic comedies she’d probably like as well. 

Cara and Lilli, thank you both so much for stopping here on your tour. I always enjoy learning how an author’s characters come to life. Thanks also for providing the giveaway.

Here’s the details of how to enter this giveaway. Send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) and your subject line should read, “Win TURNING UP THE HEAT.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. Just so you know, I don’t share the mailing information or use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance at one of the 3 sets from the Turning Up The Heat tour -- 384-page TOO WICKED TO WED (ISBN: 9780446584579) and 352-page DELICIOUSLY SINFUL (ISBN: 9780446574105) -- is 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Nov. 25.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. How do you get friends to read books in the genres you enjoy if they’ve never tried it? 

Cara Elliott, Guest Blogging

I’d like to welcome author Cara Elliott who is touring the blogsphere this week and makes a stop here today at Thoughts in Progress as the special guest blogger.

Cara’s latest book is SURRENDER TO A ROGUE, the second in the Circle of Sin trilogy. Thanks to Cara, Anna and the folks at Hachette Book Group I have 5 copies of her book to giveaway. Please see the giveaway guidelines at the end of this post.

Here’s a brief synopsis of SURRENDER TO A ROGUE: “An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins-only to find herself caught in a web of evil intrigue by a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James "Black Jack" Pierson, a fellow member of the expedition and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different sort of danger.

Jack has clashed with Alessandra in the past, so when she suddenly surrenders her body he can't help being suspicious. Is she a scheming temptress? Or is she truly a lady in trouble? As desire and deceptions swirl around them, Alessandra and Jack must find a way to win each other's trust. For if they don't work together to uncover a shocking truth, their enemy-and their own simmering passions-may destroy them and everything they cherish.”

I’ve asked Cara to explain why she decided to write about antiquities as Lady Alessandra’s line of work, to talk about her research and why she chose Bath.

I’ve been a history geek since I was little—it must have been all those great PBS specials on The Tudors and the secrets of the ancient Pyramids! And after seeing a show on the discovery of a Viking treasure trove in northern England, I became enamored with archeology. (My parents were not amused at the large holes that began appearing in the backyard, and I was told that Norse warriors had never, ever lived in suburban Connecticut.)

Alas, I was hopeless in science and math, so decided to pursue a different career path. However I’ve always remained fascinated by the subject. So when I conceived of my circle of scholarly ladies (The Circle of Sin) I knew right away that one of them would specialize in antiquities. And hey, I got to write an Indiana Jones-type hero! (Jack is a pretty dashing rogue! He doesn’t have a fedora but he does wear skin tight leather breeches.)

The city of Bath made a perfect setting for the book, because it’s been a “spa” town since ancient times. The Roman established a magnificent temple and underground thermal baths over two thousand years ago, which can still be visited today. It was really fun to research the history of the city and discover all the interesting people who spent time there. In the Regency era, it was a very popular watering hole. Jane Austen lived there for a bit, and it as the setting for Northanger Abbey (though she thought the city “a place of vapor, shadow, smoke and confusion.”) It also features prominently in Georgette Heyer’s romances.
 
In my book, I use the marvelous Roman ruins as part of the plot. Alessandra comes to Bath to help with an excavation, only to find that someone is threatening to dig up a dark secret from her past. She is not sure whether to trust Jack, and so . . .
 
Oh, but that would spoiling all the fun! I hope you’ll read their story and let me know what you think!

Cara, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. Now I understand why antiquities had to be Lady Alessandra’s line of work and Bath is an exciting setting.

For a little background on Cara, she started creating books at the age of five, or so her mother tells her. And she has the proof — a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses and bound with staples — to back up her claim. She has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the covers of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. 
 
Cara has a BA and an MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University and now work as the creative director of a lifestyle sporting magazine, a job which lets her combine her love of the printed word with her love of art. Cara said, “I’m very fortunate in that my work allows me to travel to interesting destinations around the world — however, my favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for my stories.” For more information, check out her website at www.caraelliott.com and she blogs at WordWenches.com

Now for the giveaway guidelines. I have 5 copies of SURRENDER TO A ROGUE to giveaway. To enter the giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the “Win Surrender” in the subject line and be sure to include your name and mailing address in the body of the e-mail. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The giveaway ends at 8 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, June 30.  


To listen to an interview with Cara, click here.

Guest Blogger, Cara Elliott

Please join me in welcoming author Cara Elliott as the guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

“The Circle of Sin” is Cara’s seductively sexy new trilogy. The first installment in the series is “To Sin With a Scoundrel” which was released on March 1. The trilogy is about three unconventional female scholars who formed a bond of friendship through the weekly meetings of their Scientific Society. Each has an expertise in a certain field of science - and each has a slightly shady past that comes back to haunt them.

Here’s a brief synopsis of “To Sin With a Scoundrel:”

A reclusive widow known for her scientific scholarship, Lady Ciara Sheffield is shadowed by rumors that she poisoned her husband . . . A rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, Lucas Bingham--the Earl of Hadley--is not accused of murdering anything--save for the rules of Polite Society. The only thing they have in common is seeing their names featured in the lurid gossip columns of London's newspapers. Until an ancient manuscript draws them together.

Ciara needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations which may send her to the gallows. Lucas needs brilliant scholar to help his elderly uncle decipher the secrets of the mysterious manuscript. So when her friends urge her to accept the earl's proposal of a temporary alliance, Ciara decides that she has no choice but to make a deal with the Devil. And so begins a seductive dance of sinful pleasures and hidden desires as the two of them waltz through the mansions of Mayfair. Lies, intrigue, treachery, sex. They find themselves facing slanderous whispers, unscrupulous relatives-not to speak of their own simmering passions, which quickly ignite into dangerous flames. It's a potent mix and the result may be explosive-and perhaps deadly-if they don't watch their step.

I have five copies of “To Sin With a Scoundrel” to giveaway. More details at the end of the post.

Cara is join us today to talk about what draws her to write historical romance as opposed to modern romance.

I fell in love with Jane Austen and her era at an early age. Ladies in ball gowns! Men in knee breeches! Dancing in the soft glow of candlelight! The romance of Regency England simply swept me off my feet . . .

And it still does. I love the Regency because it was a fabulously interesting time and place—a world a-swirl in silks, seduction and the intrigue of the

Napoleonic Wars. Radical new ideas were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past. People were questioning the fundamentals of society, and as a result they were fomenting changes in every aspect of life.

For example, you had Beethoven composing emotional symphonies, Byron composing wildly romantic poetry about individual angst, J.M.W. Turner dabbling in impressionistic watercolors and Mary Wollstonecraft writing the first feminist manifestos.

So trust me, London was a pretty swinging city in the early 1800s. You had drugs, you had sex, you had bad boy—and bad girl—celebrities partying hard and flaunting their wealth. And you had women rebelling against their traditional roles. Gossip and scandal were a big part of everyday life.

If you look at the satirical prints by Rowlandson and Gillray, you’ll see that they were as cutting as the paparazzi of today—and society just ate them up! As for sex, the lords and ladies of the Regency were pretty wild. (Why do you think their children rebelled and became the Victorians?) So as an author, I can’t help feeling, oh, what a perfect setting for the unconventional heroines of my new “Circle of Sin” trilogy.

But no matter what era we romance authors choose for our books, we all deal with the same elemental human emotions. How our heroes and heroines grapple with doubts, fears, and conflicts—and ultimately come to celebrate the redemptive power of love is at the core of our stories.

All of which is to say that I believe historical romances can be every bit as exciting, sexy, and relevant to modern readers as contemporary stories. I hope those of you who haven’t read historicals lately will give them a try!

Cara, I never thought of Regency England in those terms. It does make a difference. And the cover of "To Sin With a Scoundrel" makes me think romance with the soft colors and the subjects (of course). Cara, thanks so much for guest blogging here today.

I have five copies of “To Sin With a Scoundrel” to giveaway, thanks to Cara, Anna and the Hachette Book Group. To enter the giveaway send an e-mail with “Win To Sin” in the subject line and be sure to include your name and address in the body of the e-mail. The giveaway is open to residents of U.S. and and Canada only and no post office box addresses. The giveaway ends March 20. 

Cara has an BA and an MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University and now work as the creative director of a lifestyle sporting magazine, a job which lets her combine her love of the printed word with her love of art. According to Cara, she is very fortunate in that her work allows her to travel to interesting destinations around the world. She said her favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for her stories. For more on Cara check out her website at http://caraelliott.com/ and her blog at Word Wenches