Samhain Publishing – Page 3 – Vanessa Kelly, Author

I have a very interesting and accomplished writer featured on the blog today. She’s Phoebe Conn, and she writes contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance. Phoebe has 34 books to her name, having written for Kensington, Dorchester, Warner Books, and Silhouette. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, with more than seven million books in print under her own name as well as her pseudonym, Cinnamon Burke. On top of all that, she’s won several RT Reviewer’s Choice Awards and has been nominated as Storyteller of the Year.

Whew! Pretty impressive writing resume, wouldn’t you say?

Currently, Phoebe writes contemporary romance for Samhain Publishing, and Samain will also be releasing some of Phoebe’s previously published historical romances. In addition, she’s taken on the world of indie publishing, writing new contemporaries and re-releasing some of her backlist. To get all the details, stop by her website and check out her previous and upcoming releases. Make sure you have a look at some of her backlist books, with their wonderful old-school covers. They’re absolutely gorgeous!

And while visiting her website, check out the About Me page to find out how Phoebe got her start in the romance writing business. I’ll give you a tantalizing hint: it involves Ricardo Montalban!

Phoebe has a new book that’s just been released in print from Samhain. It’s the wonderfully titled Defy The World Tomatoes.

Here’s the blurb for Defy The World Tomatoes:

She knew he was trouble, but she’s no coward.

Darcy MacLeod’s Army brat childhood drives her to sink roots as deep as the plants with which she works. As part owner of a nursery/gift shop in Monarch Bay, she’s well on her way to her dream. Though she’s haunted by the lingering fear that her one chance for true love has come and gone.

When Griffin Moore asks her to landscape his sumptuous new estate, she’s entranced by the internationally renowned pianist’s air of mystery. Yet as she is inexorably drawn into his bed, her instincts tell her that secrets lurk behind his sophisticated mask.

With her carelessly styled hair, grubby overalls, and hands that see more dirt than an earthworm, Griffin finds Darcy a refreshing ray of light in his shadowy world. His globe-trotting concert schedule makes him the perfect Interpol informant-and makes a permanent relationship too dangerous to risk.

Their passion rivals the music of the great classical masters, but even as Darcy dips a toe into Griffin’s extravagant world, darkness reaches out to strike a dangerous chord. And Darcy must fight to keep her second chance at love-and her lover-alive.

Warning: Contains meddling friends, high adventure, down and dirty sex, and a couple who make beautiful music together-in bed and out.

Doesn’t that sound great? And I love the fact that the hero is a world-famous pianist. I can drool over Navy Seals and tough cop heroes as much as the next gal, but that’s a really cool twist to have a musician as the man to capture the heroine’s heart.

For my readers today, Phoebe has graciously donated a copy of Defy The World Tomatoes. Since the hero of Phoebe’s novel is a musician, let’s talk about that. What’s your favorite kind of music, and why? One person who comments will win a copy of the book.

Sometimes you just want to read something that makes you feel good, don’t you? You want to read a story that makes you laugh, a story that makes you smile and sigh with the satisfaction of a heart-warming love story. My featured author today writes exactly that kind of book. She’s Barb Meyers, and she specializes in making you feel good.

Barb’s first book was Hidden Assets, a romantic comedy published by Avalon Books in 2001. She followed that up with Training Tommy in 2002.

In 2008, Barb became a Samhain author, publishing the sexy romantic comedy, A Month From Miami.

Here’s what Jasmine Cresswell, USA Today bestselling author, had to say about A Month From Miami:

“Barbara Meyers has written a heart-warming story of love and new beginnings as her endearing, small town heroine searches for success and finds it in unexpected places.”

Here’s the blurb for A Month From Miami:

Hair stylist Kaylee escapes small town life and is on her way to big city glamour and sophistication when her car breaks down in a small Florida town. Broke and stranded she trades baby-sitting for car repairs with single dad mechanic Rick. She’s only a month away from Miami, but there’s thief after the secret stash hidden in her gas tank, the FBI not far behind, a little girl who wants a mommy and a special man who’s thrown a wrench into her carefully laid plans.

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Yes, it’s great to read about dukes and shapeshifters, Greek millionaires and ruthless princes, but every once in a while it’s really nice to read books about normal people, even if those normal people have to deal with FBI agents and jewel thieves! And with Barb, you can be guaranteed of a heart-warming, happy ending.

Fortunately for her fans, Barb has just released a new book with Samhain. It’s called A Forever Kind of Guy, and it sounds just wonderful:

Here’s the blurb for A Forever Kind of Guy:

First on Hayley Christopher’s list to get her train-wreck life back on track: stay away from men. Especially the ones who cause a ripple effect of bad decisions.

Still reeling from a high-profile divorce, the college dropout and former pro cheerleader is stumbling through yet another challenge—temporary custody of her nephew, Fletcher. No one knows better than Hayley that she’s not mother material. When she opens the door to her new landlord and old flame, she wonders just how many more past mistakes she is destined to pay for.

After the death of his wife, Ray Braddock is still putting the pieces back together. Hayley—and the silent little boy at her side—both bristle with emotional barriers so high, it appears no one but him can see that together, three broken people just might make a whole family.

As she watches Fletcher respond to Ray’s patient care, Hayley’s determination to hold on to her heart begins to soften. But just when she begins to think that Ray is one opportunity she shouldn’t let slip by, Fletcher’s gang-connected father threatens to make her pay for the one good choice she ever made…

Sounds exactly like the kind of contemporary romance I love to read! If you like your romance on the real side, with dashes of humor and a whole lot of heart, I think you’ll really like Barb’s books.

For my readers today, Barb is giving away a copy of A Month From Miami. Since Barb writes contemporary romance, let’s talk about that. What do you like in your contemporaries? Do you like stories about regular kinds of folks facing the challenges of life, or do you prefer more action-packed, high concept romances with lots of glamor, wealth, and adventure? Or both? One person who comments will win a copy of Barb’s book.

Guest Author: Phoebe Conn & Giveaway!

Guest Author: Barb Meyers & Giveaway!