Love’s Portrait

Fabulous Monica Burns Special Deal!!

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One of my favorite romance writers is the multi-award winning Monica Burns.  Monica writes emotional and very spicy historical and paranormal romance, and for the next week or so she’s running a fabulous 99 cent box set special.  The set contains two steamy, full-length historical romance novels featuring two men skilled in the ways of seduction and two heroines strong enough to resist them. They’re both rated 4 & 5 stars from RTBOOKreviews, Amazon readers and other review sites.

The box set at 99cents for a limited time only at the following retailers.

Amazon | http://amzn.to/18vjfG8
B&N |  http://bit.ly/1bNZ9KA

Kobo | http://bit.ly/1fwemlV

Coming soon to iTunes and Sony.

Book 1: Love’s Revenge
Firmly on the shelf at forty-one. Sophie accepts her life of servitude until she impulsively uses her father’s criminal activities to escape. But she never expected the Devil of Devlyn to accept her rash proposal, and she certainly hadn’t planned on falling in love with a younger man.

When Sophie Hamilton, the eldest daughter of his worst enemy shows up on the Earl of Devlyn’s doorstep with an unexpected offer, Devlyn seizes the chance for vengeance. What he doesn’t bargain on is how revenge could cost him the one thing he wants the most. Sophie’s love.

Book 2: Love’s Portrait
When Julia Westgard commissions a nude portrait of herself, the painting is much more than a rebellious act. It’s an attempt to regain her self-worth after years of a loveless, repressive marriage to her late husband. But the private portrait puts her directly in the path of Morgan St. Claire. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer.

From the moment Morgan sees Julia’s portrait, he’s determined to have her. But the woman he meets is a far cry from the image on canvas. What starts out as a simple exercise in seduction quickly evolves into a quest to reveal the true Julia. With each sensual encounter, he employs every weapon at his disposal in hopes of making Julia see she really is the woman in Love’s Portrait.

Seriously, folks, these are two wonderful books so hop on over to Amazon or B & N and pick up the boxed set.  Oh, and Monica will also be running a facebook party all week to celebrate the special so drop by and visit her!

 

We Have Winners!!

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We have lots of winners from our Rock*It Reads mega-giveaway earlier in the week.  Here’s the list:

Love’s Portrait by Monica Burns: Landin

Skin Deep by Pamela Clare (Available May 2012): DeborahR

Carnal Gift by Pamela Clare: Fedora

Sweet Release by Pamela Clare: Betty Hamilton

Undone by Lila DiPasqua (Available May 2012): Savannah Miller

Hot Number by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly): Tonya

Fastball by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly): Mary Doherty

Hardball by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly): Mina DeCaro-Petril

His Wicked Revenge by Vanessa Kelly: bn100

Claiming Her by Kris Kennedy (Available May 2012): donna ann

Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton: Megan G

Fever by Joan Swan (print copy): Cate Sparks

Intimate Enemies by Joan Swan: Tina Rucci

And the winner of Kate Noble’s book is Shannon.  Congratulations to all the winners!  We’ll be in touch.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the blog this week – it was great fun!  Kate Noble will be back next week for an interview, and historical romance author Bronwen Evans will also be stopping by.  Please join us!

 

 

 

A New Era In Publishing & Lots Of Prizes, Too!

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I have a fabulous author guest blogging with  me today.  She’s Joan Swan, and she writes romantic suspense for Kensington Brava.  Her debut book, Fever, has gotten great reviews and received tons of attention.  Trust me – if you like gritty romantic suspense, you will love this book.

But like many authors, Joan is also branching out into self-publishing or, as it’s often called, indie publishing.  In fact, she’ll be releasing her first indie book in May.  You can check out all the details on her website.

Joan and I have something in common.  We’re both members of Rock*It Reads, a collective of print authors who are also indie publishing.  I blogged about it a few weeks ago, and Joan is here to give you the latest update, which includes a very exciting announcement.

Over to you, my friend!

The publishing industry has turned the corner into a fast and furious new era.  The changes are undeniably exciting…and daunting.

For authors a whole new area of choices await—how your cover will look, which editor you’ll choose, what story you’ll write next and in what genre.  But there are also more worrisome concerns, like how you can make your work stand out in this overflowing market.

For readers, this new era gives you an amazing body of work to choose from that would not have been available even just a year ago.  Many talented authors, both previously unpublished and traditionally published, have a new outlet for their work—both new and backlist titles.  The low prices associated with most epublished books certainly helps out in tough economic times as well.  Add to that the portability and flexibility of ereaders and you’ve got a near-heavenly situation.

Why just near-heavenly?  Because you, the reader, have to wade through the millions of books available to narrow down your choices.  Might sound easy, but it only takes a few duds to the tune of $3-$5 to make those “off” choices add up pretty quick.  And I have to admit that’s one of my pet peeves – taking a chance on a book — spending the money, investing my time, my hope…and being let down.  For a romance reader, there is not much less disappointing than this.

This is a conundrum that the authors at Rock*It Reads also found troubling.  Rock*It Reads is a group of NY traditionally publishing authors who are also venturing out into indie epublishing.  The coop we’ve created supports a group of authors who get not only goes into a quality read—editing, design, proofreading, etc., but what it takes to stand out in an ocean of unknown titles.

So when you see the RIR, Rock*It Reads logo on a book cover, you’ll know each book has been professionally handled from cover to cover, by authors who have done this many time before in the professional realm of New York publishers.

As authors who appreciate amazing writing and long for an awesome story as much as the next reader,  we have partnered with Barnes and Noble to bring outstanding self published titles to readers’ attention through a brand new review column: Love Rocks.  At Love Rocks, Rock*It Reads authors will showcase a fabulous Indie read they’ve discovered and review the book.  We’ll be focusing on the lesser known authors and titles whose brilliance has yet to be recognized, which I personally find thrilling.  What reader doesn’t love to find a talented new author to read?

Our very first column launches today!  So, swing by Barnes and Noble Review.com, catch Love Rocks and stay to chat!  We look forward to seeing you there.

Come back here and leave a comment on your thoughts about the Love Rocks column and you could win one of the following fantastic prizes – donated by many of the RIR authors.

Love’s Portrait by Monica Burns

Skin Deep by Pamela Clare (Available May 2012)

Carnal Gift by Pamela Clare

Sweet Release by Pamela Clare

Undone by Lila DiPasqua (Available May 2012)

Hot Number by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly)

Fastball by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly)

Hardball by VK Sykes (aka Vanessa Kelly)

His Wicked Revenge by Vanessa Kelly

Claiming Her by Kris Kennedy (Available May 2012)

Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton

Fever by Joan Swan (print copy)

Intimate Enemies by Joan Swan (Available May 2012)

Vanessa, here.  I have to tell you, I’m very excited about LOVE ROCKS.  So what do you think, readers?  Do you like this new world of indie publishing?  What do you think about this leap into the future?  Leave a comment for a chance to win one of these great books!

Guest Author: Monica Burns & Giveaway!

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I’m so thrilled to have my good friend Monica Burns featured on the blog today.  Monica is a fabulous, award-winning historical and erotic romance writer.  She’s also a hard-working woman and a real survivor of everything that life can throw in your way.  I have tons of admiration for her, both as a woman and as a writer.

One of Monica’s most popular books was Kismet, which won the 2010 CAPA Award for Best Erotic Historical Romance from The Romance Studio.  Monica is very thrilled that, come Feb. 7, Kismet will be available in mass market format.  If you never got a chance to read it, this is very good news!

Here are some of the many accolades that the book has received:

“… romance akin to a Johanna Lindsey classic. Relax and enjoy the sizzling show… 

— RTBOOKreviews

“I was hooked and spent the whole day reading this sizzling, sensual, engrossing tale.”

— Barbara Vey, Publisher’s Weekly – Beyond Her Book

And here’s the blurb for Kismet:

It was a gamble she was born to make…

Raised in a brothel at a young age, Allegra Synnford quickly learned that survival meant taking charge of her destiny. Now, a renowned courtesan skilled in the pleasures of the flesh, she chooses her lovers carefully—vowing never to be vulnerable to any one man. Until a mesmerizing Sheikh strips that control from her… 

With a man who wasn’t used to losing.

 Sheikh Shaheen of the Amazigh has been hiding from his past for a long time, but not enough to forget how another courtesan made him abandon his life as the Viscount Newcastle. It’s why the yearnings this dangerous temptress ignites within him are so troubling. Worse, thoughts of Allegra pervade every fantasy, threatening to undermine his cover. With old enemies circling, experience tells him he must resist her charms at all cost. In fact, he’s betting on it. That’s a risky wager when it comes to a woman of pleasure. But Allegra has her own reasons for playing games…with a man who can’t afford to lose. 

What happens between them is Kismet…

I read this book when it first came out, and I can tell you that it’s passionate, emotional, and very sexy.  I’m so thrilled that Monica now has the opportunity to reach new readers with her mass market release.  Be sure to stop by Monica’s website for all the details, including an excerpt, a book trailer, and the buy links.

Like many authors these days, Monica is also moving into the world of indie publishing.  She currently has a wonderful novella out called Love’s Portrait.

Gorgeous, eh?  Here’s the blurb for Love’s Portrait:

When Julia Westgard commissions a nude portrait of herself, the painting is much more than a rebellious act. It’s an attempt to regain her self-worth after years of a loveless, repressive marriage to her late husband. But the private portrait puts her directly in the path of Morgan St. Claire, one of the Marlborough Set’s most notorious seducers. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer.

 From the first moment Morgan sees Julia’s portrait, he’s determined to have her. But the woman he meets is a far cry from the image on canvas. What starts out as a simple exercise in seduction quickly evolves into a quest to reveal the true Julia. With each sensual encounter, he employs every erotic weapon at his disposal in hopes of making Julia see she really is the woman in Love’s Portrait.

So romantic!  Again, please visit Monica’s website for all the details.

For my readers today, Monica is graciously giving away a copy of Kismet.  Since I’m featuring a historical writer today, let’s stick with something close to that.  What’s your favorite historical movie or TV show?  Did you fall in love with Col. Brandon in Emma Thompson’s Sense & Sensibility, or do you prefer a series like Downton Abbey?  Tell all to have a chance to win a copy of Monica’s book!

 

 

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