Historical romance fans, don’t you just love a good, juicy medieval romance? I do, which is why I’m particularly delighted to be featuring one of today’s best medieval romance authors on my blog. She’s Kris Kennedy, and she writes sweeping, adventurous and very sexy historical romance.
Kris burst onto the romance writing scene when she won the prestigious Golden Heart Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her first published book was The Conqueror, put out by Kensington Publishing, which received great reviews and was a Recommended Read from the influential romance blogger, Dear Author.
Her second book, The Irish Warrior, which was her Golden Heart manuscript, came out in 2010 to a whole boatload of acclaim.
And I do mean boatload! The Irish Warrior ended up on numerous top ten lists for the year – including The Romance Dish, Wendy the Super Librarian, and The Book Binge. It was a Desert Island Keeper from All About Romance and a Fresh Pick from Fresh Fiction. Whew! I’ve read every one of Kris’ books and I can tell you that the accolades are well deserved.
Luckily for her readers, Kris has a brand new book out. It’s called Deception, and it’s awesome (yep, I got to read this one early, too!). As expected, the reviews are great and the book has already earned a coveted 4-1/2 stars from RT Book Reviews and a Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews.
Now, Deception is not just the same old thing, and that’s one of it’s many strengths. Here’s how Kris explains her new book:
Deception isn’t your typical medieval romance. It’s less about knights and chases across the countryside, and more about cons. And dirty money. And the powerful men who want it, and what they’ll do to get it.
And of course, the person who will risk everything to stop them.
Oh, and Sexytimes. Lots of that.
I can vouch for the sexy times, folks! And I loved the fact that it was a medieval caper – one with a super cool and very hot hero. Here’s the blurb for Deception:
A dashing con man
Breaking and entering to reclaim her corrupt late father’s ledger comes surprisingly easily to Sophia Darnly. But is it mere coincidence that her misdeed unexpectedly reunites her with Kier, the outlaw lover who abandoned her years ago?
A lady skilled in trickery
Time has not erased Sophia from Kier’s heart, nor tamed her fiery spirit. She boldly insinuates herself into his plans. But Kier is on a mission of revenge, and can’t allow even the woman he once loved to stop him.
A game that could get them both killed
The danger mounts as they lure the leader of a powerful consortium who needs the fabled Darnly ledger—and all its damning details about the wealthiest merchants of England— to execute his nefarious plan. Their rekindled passion burns hot, but when they discover they too are the targets of a deadly deception, the fate of their love, and of England itself, lies in the balance.
Seriously, folks. If you love intrigue, adventure, and a smart heroine and a sexy hero, this is the book for you! No one writes medieval romance quite like Kris Kennedy.
For my readers today, Kris is giving away copies of her previous books, Defiant and The Irish Warrior. Let’s talk about thrillers and capers. What’s your favorite thriller or caper TV show, movie or book? Robin Hood? Mission Impossible? Let us know for a chance to win one of Kris’ fabulous books!
And don’t forget to visit Kris’ website to read excerpts from all her books and for samples of her many reviews!
“Ocean’s Eleven”? The old one with the Rat Pack, not the new one with Brad Pitt. A young Angie Dickinson versus Julia Roberts? No contest!
THE IRISH WARRIOR is the one with the Welsh dogs joke, right?
I totally agree – Angie Dickinson is way cooler the Julia Roberts!
Infinitieh~ You’re absolutely right! Irish Warrior is the one with the Welsh dog joke. 😉
I think I need to put the original Oceans’s Eleven in my queue.
I really enjoyed the Indian Jones movies! I also enjoyed the TV program with Cybal Shepard and Bruce WIllis as a private investigators in Moonlighting. Also, Remington Steel, another cute TV program about private investigators.
Moonlighting was great, Betty! One of my fave shows at the time.
Betty~
People keep mentioning Remington Steele in conversations, and I keep smiling. 🙂 I love that set-up, and Deception has a faint whiff of it, although done completely differently. But I’ve got a Remington Steele-inspired story in me…. 🙂
Oh yes, loved Remington Steele, but now my fave is Castle.
Castle definitely has that same kind of vibe, Sheila.
CASTLE has the same kind of vibe as Remington Steele?? I’ve never seen CASTLE, but methinks I need to rectify that….
I agree with Betty that Moonlighting was one of my favorites.
Fun show!
I don’t think I better start listing my fav thriller/adventure type stories, b/c I love so many, it’ll be terribly long. 🙂 But I’m loving talking with you all about them, and thanks SO MUCH to Vanessa for having me by. If you read Deception, you’ll notice a familiar name in the Acknowledgements. 🙂
*blushing*
I love watching Game of Thrones and I also love watching Bones. I love how Bones tries to understand stuff in her anthropological way.
I am a HUGE fan of GOT! Also enjoy Bones too, Melody.
I love Game of Thrones too! I haven’t seen Bones yet–I think the early commercials, when it was first starting, freaked me out too much. LOL Way too gross. But trustworthy sources tell me I should try it, so maybe I will.
Some of the episodes are gross, but overall the show is fabulous.
Congratulations on the book! I like the Mission Impossible movies.
Me too, bn!
bn ~
Me too!!
I liked Moonlighting but also the one with Angela Lansbury, watched both all the time. Hubby likes the Bourne movies and watches those a lot. Sherri christianbookreviewer at gmail dot com
Murder She Wrote, that’s the show! ugh, couldn’t remember it till after I hit send.
Sherri, that kind of thing happens to me all the time!
I did enjoy the new Russell Crowe ROBIN HOOD. I did not even care that the history was so muddled, because the love story was beautiful.
Agreed, Mary!
Mary~
I liked it too, but I have to say, my fav is still Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but I’m pretty sure that’s b/c I loved Alan Rickman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Morgan Freeman. 🙂
Hi Kris. I just finished your book and LOVED it and gave it 5 our of 5 roses. Now I need to get your other books. My favorite description of Kier is the one where Sophia walks in on him while he’s exercising:
‘Without turning his head, he said, “What is it, Sophia?” He lowered his body down again.
She yanked her jaw shut, “I was…I thought to inquire…”
His hair, untethered, fell across his cheek as he turned to look up at her, one palm still overturned at the small of his back. He was covered in a magnificent sheen of sweat.
The perspiration covering her was not magnificent. It was hot and uncomfortable, but he, he looked like a Greek statue in the rain. His arms and back were contours of sculpted muscle.’
Okay, I think the temperature just rose a bit over here. lol I loved the description and her reaction too.
I’m guessing this is a standalone book, but I was curious if ‘Defiant’ had any connection to ‘Deception’? This is the first book I’ve read by you.
Lisarenee~
Aww, yay! I’m so happy you loved it!
You’re completely correct, Defiant and Deception have nothing in common besides the confusingly-similar D at the start of their titles. 😉 (For what it’s worth, DEFIANT (book #3) *does* have a loose connection to my 1st book, The Conqueror, but not so anyone would necessarily notice, and the books are not at all the read-in-order kinds of books.
Thanks so much for letting me know how much you loved the story, Lisarenee!! It’s made my day. 🙂
I used to adore Remington Steele too. Pierce Brosnan was oh so suave & such a rogue & I really liked Stephanie Zimbalist’s character too.
Linda~
They were a great match, weren’t they? 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to say hi.