Sunday Salon: Call Me Wild by Robin Kaye

Photo source: Wikipedia

It’s that time of the week once again when we sit back, relax, make sure our cups are filled to the brim with our favorite beverage and discuss the wonderful books we’ve discovered. 

I'm talking about Sunday Salon. This week I have a tantalizing, fun book to share from an author whose books I enjoy reading again and again.

CALL ME WILD by Robin Kaye

New York sportswriter Jessie James is thrown for a loop when she receives a pink slip, but quickly recovers and decides it’s time to write a bestselling novel.

Borrowing a friend’s cabin in Boise, Idaho, Jessie sets out to write a romance novel. Despite the face she’s never read a romance novel and doesn’t much believe in love, Jessie undertakes the task thinking it will be quick and easy. She soon realizes just how wrong she is.

Meanwhile, Jessie has caught the eye of sports doctor Fisher Kincaid. He keeps running into her all over town making her wonder if she’s being stalked. When Fisher learns what Jessie’s doing, he offers his services as a test subject. When the two get-together, sparks and fun make for an interesting combination.

CALL ME WILD revisit’s the zany Kincaid family featuring Fisher and his brothers, Trapper and Hunter, and sister, Karma. Their interaction is contagious drawing readers into their fun-loving, mad-cap follies. Add in the spunky Jessie and you have a light-hearted romance sprinkled with humor, sense of family, loyalty - an out-and-out great read.

Author Robin Kaye creates characters that are well-developed, realistic and easy for readers to relate to. They each have their strengths, but also a vulnerable side with doubts and flaws. Readers become invested in Kaye’s characters and want to learn more and more about them. Kaye delivers this and much more as she explores each family member and those they come to love.

CALL ME WILD flows at a steady pace giving you laugh out-loud moments while leaving you breathless other times. The chemistry sizzles as the couple discovers what true romance is all about. This is one summer read you’ll want to keep the AC on high for as you visit with this steamy duo.

This is the second installment in Kaye’s Wild Thing series, but can be read alone.

Author Robin Kaye’s website is www.robinkaye.com

Call Me Wild by Robin Kaye, A Wild Thing Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402257339, Paperback, 352 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
What books have you discovered this past week? What’s on your list to read this week? Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful Sunday. Be sure to stop back by later this week when author Robin Kaye drops in for a visit. 

Year End Thanks And Reviews

As the year draws to a close, I reflect on all the wonderful people I’ve ‘meet’ these past 12 months thanks to blogging.

I’d like to say thanks to everyone who has dropped by Thoughts. Your continued support is appreciated more than mere words can express. I’m thankful as well to all the talented authors who have guest blogged sharing thoughts on writing, their books, and life in general. A thanks also goes out to all the publishers and those who work for them, the publicists and promoters, and the authors themselves who have graciously offered books for giveaways during the year and provided review copies for me to enjoy.

That brings me to a number of reviews I’d like to share today. As usual these are from very different genres. But hopefully you’ll find something that catches your attention among these reads.

WILD THING by Robin Kaye
 

I know every time I pick up a book by author Robin Kaye I’m going to experience an entertaining and passionate love story.

WILD THING is a fine example of her work. The story sizzles with the pulse-pounding sexual tension. It also gives you laugh out loud moments like how the Kincaid children were named. It’s a story that moves along quickly, but is filled with lots of details.

Toni Russo is the manager of Action Models and loves living in New York. She dresses in goth but tends to blend into the background wherever she is. That is until she has to oversee a photo shoot in the rugged wilderness of Idaho.

To make matters worse, Toni has a fear of the wilderness. She was lost in the woods for 3 days when she was young.

Hunter Kincaid is the whitewater rafting guide that owns River Runners. It’s his responsibility to take Toni and the 10 models out into the wilderness for a week-long photo shoot. Thankfully he has the help of his 2 brothers, Fisher and Trapper, to guide this zany group.

Sparks fly when the city girl and the outdoorsman collide. Hunter is immediately drawn to Toni, while she battles her attraction to him.  Their path to each other is filled with twists, turns, humor, tender moments, and heart-pounding romance.

Kaye creates characters rich in personality. They are realistic with flaws and quirks, dreams, hopes, and fears. She ties the story in with her previous release, YOURS FOR THE TAKING, and leads the way to future stories about Hunter’s siblings.

WILD THING is a great book to relax and enjoy quite time with. Escape to the wilderness and immerse yourself in Hunter and Toni’s fun and passionate journey to love.

Author Robin Kaye’s website is www.robinkaye.com

Wild Thing by Robin Kaye, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2011, ISBN: 978-1402257279, Paperback, 384 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. 

LOVE, GOD, AND THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING 

by James F. Twyman

I was intrigued by the title of this book, LOVE, GOD, AND THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING. I thought it might contain some wonderful French recipes.

There were recipes of a sort, but not for food. It was recipe-related advice for living. It also gave an alternative look at how and why we prepare food as we do.

This book is based on a true story of author James Twyman’s chance meeting with a French chef who helped change his life. Twyman tells of befriending Roger Dufau, owner of a bed and breakfast outside Toronto, and how it lead to transformations in his own life.

While Dufau creates delectable dishes, he also imparts thoughts on love, God and relationships. He explains how love and caring can be shared through food and the way it is prepared. Dufau noted that sometimes the best things are often the simplest.

This is an inspiring story that teaches one to look closer at what they really want in life. It shares thoughts on how letting go of certain things can sometimes make room for greater growth.

Twyman has written an easy conversational story that will pull you in until you can almost smell Dufau’s delicious cooking.

Author James Twyman’s website is www.jamestwyman.com. 

To read an excerpt of the book, click here. This book can be purchased at

 
Love, God, And the Art of French Cooking by James F. Twyman, Hay House, @2011, ISBN: 978-1401935238, Paperback, 169 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

RAINWATER by Sandra Brown

As much of the nation (and the world) faces economic hardships and drought, the audio release of author Sandra Brown’s RAINWATER is a reminder of earlier hard times.

The story is set in 1934 when drought and economic depression gripped the country. Ella Barron runs a boardinghouse in Gilead, Texas, and cares for her 10-year-old son, Solly, who has behavior problems.

Ella runs a strict house with focus and balance. She fears unrest when she takes in a new boarder, David Rainwater. A relative of the local doctor, David is dying.

Meanwhile, there is growing racial tension and social unrest in the town. Problems arise due to a government program designed to help farmers and local residents down on their luck. A group of hoodlums misuse the program to their own advantage.

During this time David shows interest in Solly and it leads them to discover he is autistic. The feelings between Ella and David are also changing. She finally allows herself to give in to his calming presence.

In the end a sacrifice is made that changes everyone’s life and leads to new beginnings. RAINWATER is a tender love story filled with great emotions. It captures a turbulent time and is filled with suspense with a bit of mystery. 

Victor Sleak does a terrific job narrating the story. His voice conveys the calming effect of David, while his mannerisms gives depth to Ella’s emotions. He brings the supporting characters to life, each in their own unique way.

Author Sandra Brown’s website is www.sandrabrown.com

 
Rainwater by Sandra Brown, Read by Victor Slezak, Simon & Schuster Audio, @2011, ISBN: 978-1442345027, Unabridged, 6 Discs, Listening Time: 7 Hours (Book Format @2010)

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

Thanks again for your support and for stopping by today. Wishing everyone a safe, happy and joyous New Year! 

Author Robin Kaye, Guest Blogger

It’s my great pleasure to welcome award-winning author Robin Kaye as the special guest blogger here at Thoughts in Progress today as she makes a stop on her virtual book tour.

Robin’s latest release is YOURS FOR THE TAKING. Here’s a brief blurb on it: He might be too good to be true…

Ben Walsh shouldn’t be single. Handsome and wealthy, Ben is equally at home in Idaho where he grew up and in Manhattan where he’s now an art dealer. Suave and successful with impeccable taste, he normally has women beating down his door. But the one woman he wants can’t be convinced that he’s for real…

She isn’t sure if she has time for fairy tales…

Gina Reyez has fought for every bit of her success, and it’s about time for things to start going her way. So when Ben makes a proposal that will allow her to take care of her family the way she wants to, she agrees. Besides, a guy this perfect would never be interested in her...right? By the time Gina figures out that she’s read Ben all wrong, the arrangements are made, the papers are signed…but what exactly are they getting themselves into?
Thanks to Robin and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of YOURS FOR THE TAKING to giveaway to 2 lucky visitors that comment on this post between now and 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Be sure to include your e-mail with your comment if it’s not included in your profile.

Robin stopped by today to answer a few questions for me.

Mason: Could you describe your writing process from the first idea of what the book will be until the last revision is returned? Do you plan, outline, write on the go, have certain times and places you write, etc.

Robin: I was sitting at my favorite Starbucks trying to come up with a proposal. I had potential heroes from YOURS FOR THE TAKINGON THE WILD SIDE, set for release in Fall 2011): Trapper, Hunter, and Fisher. I tried to think of conflicts. Hunter is a whitewater rafting and fly fishing guide in the summer, for my next book (in the winter he runs the local ski resort. He’s always out doors. So who would be the person most opposite from him? A woman with a phobia of the outdoors. Then what would throw them together? Well, a guide trip she couldn’t get out of. Why? Because it’s her job. The next thing I know I have Toni Russo who is a manager for Action Models and has a terrible phobia of the outdoors since she was lost in the Pine Barrens in NJ for three days and nights when she was a Brownie. She’s a New Yorker, so as long as she avoids Central Park, she’s good to go. Unfortunately, she can’t avoid this job.

I wrote a synopsis, using as much information as I could but still keeping it relatively vague. From there I used Michael Hauge’s Six-Stage Plot Structure which gave me 5 turning points—just enough to give me a platform to build on but not so much that I feel as if I’ve written the book before I’ve even begun. It intersects the hero and heroine’s character arcs with the plot. And unlike every other plotting method, I get it. I’ve written four books using Michael Hauge’s method and it works every time. He’s my hero.

As for where or when I write...my absolute favorite place to write is the Carlisle Crossing Starbucks. For two years, I was home schooling my daughter so that she’d be able to dance 40 hours a week at the best ballet school in the country. I’d work with her for five hours, drive her to dance, and then go to Starbucks and write until she was done. I walk in there and it’s like walking into my office. I know all the baristas, heck, I’m friends with everyone, even the District Manager. I’ve written 3 ½ books at that Starbucks. Unfortunately it’s an hour and a half away from my house. A little over a year ago, right after her 14th birthday, Twinkle Toes decided she wanted to go to real school so she moved up to Carlisle and lives with a host family. Not only did I lose my ballerina, I lost my office. To be fair, we see Twinkle Toes on Sundays but it’s not the same. I had such high hopes, I had an extra 8 hours a day I could devote to my work, but then I wasn’t going to Starbucks any more. I actually had to write in my office at home. It’s not easy. I even tried the Starbucks a mile away; it wasn’t the same. I wish I could take my Carlisle Crossing Starbucks and move it and everyone in it (including the customers) to Maryland.  Now I try to write at home, I don’t get half as much done as I should, and when I get desperate, I drive to Carlisle and hang with my peeps, write a ton, and love life.

Mason: Since you write romance with a bit of comedy and strong feisty heroines, who are some of the authors that have influenced you and your writing over the years?

Robin: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Donovan, Rachel Gibson, Donna Kauffman, Jennifer Crusie, Maureen Child, and Christie Craig.

Mason: If you could invite any five famous people (living or dead) to dinner, who would you invite, why and what would you serve?

Robin: Will Rogers, Jane Austen, Louis Nizer, George Washington, and J.R. Simplot. They are fascinating and have all said or done things that have greatly impacted my life in a positive way. I had the great pleasure to meet J.R. Simplot a few times and really wished I could have gotten to know him better. I adored him and he was so brilliant and so down-to-earth. I think they all were. What would I serve? Hmm…a standing rib roast with all the fixings and a case of really nice red wine.

Mason: What do you feel are two of the most un-truths the general population thinks about writers?

Robin: That we make a so much money that we don’t care and aren’t hurt when our copyrighted work gets pirated. I know more than one published mid-list author who quit writing because it cost them more to be a writer than they made. They’d have to work a second job to fund their conferences and were depressed to see the work they slaved over stolen thousands of times. It’s heartbreaking.

Mason: What’s next for you? Will you continue this series or move on to something different?

Robin: I’m beginning a new series, although it’s connected to the Domestic Gods series, it’s called Domestic Gods Gone Wild it’s about men who are as good in the kitchen or around the campfire as they are in the bedroom or the tent. The first book is titled ON THE WILD SIDE and will be out in Fall 2011.

Mason: Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions for this year?

Robin: Write more, eat less, work out more, and find balance in all things.

Mason: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring 5 books with you, which 5 would they be and why?

Robin: 1.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen  - I love it and never tire of reading it. It’s my comfort read.
2.  Reflections Without Mirrors, An Autobiography of the Mind by Louis Nizer – He fascinates me and every time I read it, I learn something new.
3.  The Bible – Every time I read it, I learn something new.
4.  See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson because it makes me laugh.
5. Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips because it makes me laugh.

Mason: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us today?

Robin: I’d just like to thank you for having me here. I enjoyed the interview. I’ll be checking the comments regularly so if anyone has any questions, ask away.

Robin, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. Glad to know you still return to your favorite Starbucks from time to time. I enjoyed the various posts you did about writing from there, as well as Twinkle Toes and her dancing dreams.

Now for a bit more on Robin. She is a professional writer and winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her first novel, ROMEO, ROMEO. Her romantic comedies feature sexy, nurturing heroes and feisty, independent heroines. She lives with her husband and three children in Mt. Airy, Maryland, where she is working on a brand new series for release 2011 and 2012. For more information, visit her website at www.robinkayewrites.com/.

Any questions for Robin? Do you have a favorite place to write or maybe a favorite time of day?

Sunday Salon: Reviews

It’s time to reach for a cup of your favorite brew, settled back and sharing thoughts on books.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING is a book I’ve been looking forward to reading for sometime. You see I followed the author’s writing progress through her blog posts. It wasn’t that she shared excerpts from the book, but told stories of events going on around her while she was writing (mostly at a Starbucks). Through those stories I had a feeling this was going to be an interesting read and I wasn’t wrong.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING 
by Robin Kaye

  

You know right from the start that this is going to be a rocky relationship, but you don’t want to miss a minute of it. 

 

Ben Walsh is single, handsome, wealthy and charming. Gina Reyez is a beautiful, feisty, a self-made woman who has worked hard to get where she is in life. Each have their misgivings and misunderstandings about the other. Neither stop long enough to really find out about the other.

It all starts with a guy’s love of a ranch in Idaho. Ben’s grandfather has given him an ultimatum - get married or lose the ranch he loves forever. Gina has set a goals for herself - buy a house for her sister and brother-in-law, buy a small house for herself, and find her brother that was sold just weeks after he was born. She just has to save enough money to accomplish these things.

Ben comes up with a business proposal that he thinks will benefit him and Gina. The only problem with the plan, they didn’t count on falling in love.

Author Robin Kaye keeps readers on their toes with twists and turns in this romantic adventure sprinkled with bits of humor in all the right places. Just when things are looking smooth for the couple, you never know who is going to cause the next problem - Gramps, Kate, Trav or even Jasmine.

YOURS FOR THE TAKING has moments of suspense, with a hint of a mystery woven in, and lots of romance that will have your blood pumping and your heart racing.

Ben and Gina’s story is one as old as time, but with modern new twists that will renew your faith that love conquers all.

Author Robin Kaye's website is http://www.robinkayewrites.com/

Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye, Sourcebooks Landmark, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-4010-2, Paperback, 384 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

I also want to share my thoughts on several great products I got from the CSNstores prior to Christmas.

In looking over the vast selection of items CSNstores has, I had never really taken a close look at the variety of the items. I have been needing a new briefcase for work. With my old one, if it wasn’t completely zipped up when I picked it up - everything would fall out.

I found just what I needed. The briefcase is described as a leather, zip-around three-ring binder/laptop case. It works great for holding all of my paperwork, just enough slots and pockets, and I don’t have to worry if I don’t zip it up completely. In addition, it has a leather strap that can be easily attached and carried over the shoulder.

With my love of coffee, I have a bad habit of collecting mugs. Normally I wind up with only one or maybe two of the same style. I found a great set of four Holly Bird assorted mugs at CSNstores. They were perfect for the holidays and drew compliments.

I also found a spa four-tier rack in teak that works great in any room of the house. It is extremely sturdy and easy to put together. All of the necessary items need to assemble the rack are included with it.

No matter what you’re looking for, CSNstores probably has it. Just check them out.

What have you been reading lately? We are suppose to get five inches of snow or more plus freezing rain starting tonight so I’m making sure I have plenty of candles handy (in case the power goes out) and lots of wonderful books to read. Happy reading.