My First Cowboy Romance

I met Sandy Sullivan at a chat for XOXO Publishing, where she said to me "Most of my books tend to deviate toward western or cowboys. Gotta love a man in tight Wranglers." I confessed to her that I had never read a cowboy romance, and a couple days later she generously offered to send me one of hers. I was a little hesitant because I've read mostly paranormal romance, but I had promised myself to broaden my horizons. Now, Sandy is a prolific author, and I had a really hard time choosing a book. I finally decided to go with Texas Lady, which sounded like a sweet and sexy historical romance. A gal has to go slowly into the world of horse riding, sexy cowboys.

I really enjoyed Texas Lady. It was a sweet story with a little mystery and adventure mixed in with the romance. I also found out after reading it, that it was Sandy's first novel. I must say from looking at her book page she seems to have gotten more bold and steamy in her other books:) I think Texas Lady is a wonderful romance for any age past 16 or so, and of course those of us who passed that age awhile ago.

I asked Sandy some questions about cowboy romance, figuring she wouldn't mind me picking her brain about one of her favorite topics.

Brenda: Why cowboys, Sandy? I know there are the tight Wranglers and all, but what else drew you to writing about cowboys?

Sandy: I've always been a lover of horses and westerns. I loved watching the old westerns on TV and men like John Wayne and others, seemed so sexy to me. The smells of horses, hay and barns are some of my favorite scents, too, so cowboys just kind of come along with those. The other thing about cowboys is they always seem so gentlemanly. You know, holding the door for you, pulling out your chair -- that kind of thing and I just think that's sexy as hell.

Brenda: Texas Lady had an old fashioned feel to it, but I noticed your Wilder Series looks pretty steamy and maybe not quite so old fashioned. Do you think a novice cowboy romance reader like myself could handle it?

Sandy: If you like erotic, then you could handle the Wilder family. It's very hot, but also has the sexy cowboys and a good old fashioned love story in there, too. Even my erotic romances are based around the love of two people, they just have really hot sex!

Brenda: I know you are working on a cowboy shapeshifter short story for a Halloween anthology. I must tell you I am bursting with excitement to read your take on shifters. How did it go? Do you like working with the paranormal aspect? Will we be seeing more supernatural goodness in boots and spurs?

Sandy: It was funny how this cowboy shifter came about from the chat on XOXO. The story is called Cat On The Prowl and the hero is a shifter, a mountain lion shifter, but he's also a cowboy and the first time the heroine sees him, he's in chaps. His name is Gabriel and her name is Suzanne or Suzi. I love paranormal and I may have to start a longer piece with a shifter. I've got so many irons in the fire right now, I don't really have time. Wild Wyoming Nights has quite a bit of paranormal in it though it's not shifters, it's ghosts.

Brenda: Do you remember the first cowboy romance you read yourself?

Sandy: I read several Louie Lamour stories, but I don't remember one specifically.

Brenda: I have to tell you that when I think of cowboys and romance I think of the musical Oklahoma. I've always loved it. What are some of your favorite Western movies?

Sandy: Anything John Wayne.

Brenda: Thank you so much for introducing me to cowboys in romance. I'm really looking forward to your shifter short story, so I don't have to keep having thoughts of Jeff from Texas Lady turning into a large, sexy wolf.

Sandy: I'll keep that in mind the next time I write a cowboy story. LOL I might just have to make my hero a wolf shifter. I do have two more cowboy pieces coming out in the next couple of months. Gotta Love A Cowboy is due out with Passion In Print in October and Hot Summer Love - Cowboy Style is due out with Whiskey Creek Press in November. Keep your eyes peeled to my website at http://www.romancestorytime.com/.

You can find Sandy's books, including Texas Lady, on her website at:http://www.romancestorytime.com/Books.html

Readers' First Romance Novels & Winner

For our The Devil Wears Plaid contest I asked readers:

What is the first romance you remember reading?

I was surprised we didn't get a few more comments on this, but the ones we did get were great. If the person has an active blog I've linked to it from their name. I've also linked to the book if it's not out of print. Thanks to everyone for the great comments! (Scroll, or read, down to the bottom for the random winner of the contest.)

Sullivan McPig said...
Hmm... I think that would be The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. It was recommended to me by my grandmother and I've nver looked at her the same way after reading it.

Robin K said...
I think those would be the V.C. Andrews books I read as a tween.

Nancy said...
I would say Sense And Sensibility by Jane Austen.

Emily said...
The earliest title I can recall is Lion's Lady by Suzanne Barclay, although I'm sure there were titles before then.

Scorpio M. said...
My first romance was probably a YA romance from the Sweet Dreams line but I can't recall the title. My first adult romance was called Wild Wyoming Nights by Sylvie Sommerfield. It was an old-school bodice ripper, lol!

Martha Lawson said...
Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers!! Fell in love with romances and have been hooked ever since!

Giada M said...
I believe mi first was The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons, a really amazing book.

throuthehaze said...
The first romance I read was The Paper Marriage (Harlequin Historical, 524) by Bronwyn Williams.

k_sunshine1977 said...
it was A Ghostly Affair by Charlotte Maclay. I was looking for some good ghost stories at the library and saw the word "ghost" in the title, so iIchecked it out....and I haven't been the same since!

strange_candy_reviews said...
The first actual romance novel I read was a Mills & Boon, but I don't remember the title. My nana has always had them and I 'borrowed' one when I was about 12 I think.

SusiSunshine said...
The first romance I can remember...does YA count? If yes it was Ben Liebt Anna by Peter Härtling. we read it for school and it was super cute. Otherwise I would say Trudi Canavan's Age of the Five series.

Lu said...
Mmmm i think it was "Kringe in die Bos". Its in Afrikaans, but there is a English version as well. Beautiful story and one of my favourites! Here is more on it: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1174043.Kringe_in_n_bos

THE WINNER
The winner of The Devil Wears Plaid is Scorpio! I have emailed her and will forward her address to the publisher. Thanks for entering everyone:)

~Brenda

Review: Jane True is Back & Kicking Butt

Tracking the Tempest
Jane True #2
Author: Nicole Peeler
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: July 1, 2010
Available from Amazon

Summary: Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend - can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course.

Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise...

I bought Tracking the Tempest because I loved the first book in the series, and I knew Jane True was going to kick ass in the second installment. Nicole Peeler has created a character that is endearing, quirky, compassionate, and courageous. As I was reading about Jane's adventures, this quote came to mind:

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon

In many ways, Jane is not the typical heroine. She loves her small town and the roots she's put down there. Her friends and family mean everything to her. She doesn't feel trapped or as if she's missing something by living where she does...it's her comfort zone. In this book Jane finds out more about herself, her friends and her abilities. The author has a wonderful writing style that makes me feel like I'm being told a tale by a girlfriend as we sit over drinks and good food. I sit at the table with her and express my emotions at each turn of the plot:

"OMG she did NOT just do that!"
*snicker* "Oh, Jane...that minx"
"Wait, stop right there...I need another drink..."
"Oh my, he's wearing what?"
"Damn, I hate that obnoxious pervert!"
*sniff, sniff* "Umm..do you have a Kleenex?"

I think you get my meaning. I also love the author's choice of words in her writing. She has this incredible way of choosing the correct word for the situation, whether it's a cuss word, or something silly like "willy-nilly". Her choice of words made me smile throughout the entire book.
Tracking the Tempest is a fast paced book with ample sexiness, heart stopping action and a mystery to boot. One of my favorite parts of the book is a fun scene in a salon with Grizzie and Jane. Grizzie has a heart to heart with Jane about Ryu:

"If the person in his eyes is the person you want to be..then don't be scared."

It's a small scene that could easily be missed since it's in between the action and the romance, but it's amazing. Tracking the Tempest is full of subtle moments hidden between the kick ass ones. This is why the Jane True books will be keepers that will be read again and again.

TEASER WORDS

Valentine's Day
scorched hair
masses of chest hair
panic room
cooking barghest
naked satyr
trussed pig training
running away

You can find out more about Nicole Peeler and Jane at her website: http://www.nicolepeeler.com/

Nicole also blogs at The League of Reluctant Adults with a bunch of other cool authors, so check them out here: http://reluctantadults.blogspot.com/

The Jane True Series
One: Tempest Rising
Two: Tracking the Tempest
Three: Tempest’s Legacy (2011)
Four: Eye of the Tempest (2011)

Review & Interview with Dee Tenorio

Tempting the Enemy
Author: Dee Tenorio
Kindle Edition
File Size: 400 KB
Publisher: Carina Press
Realease: June 14, 2010
Available for the Kindle here.

Summary: Detective Pale Rysen, an Alpha, is determined to secretly rebuild the Wolf packs from the ashes of genocide. When a killer starts picking off young females looking for sanctuary, it's his job to protect them. Forced to work with a hated enemy, he fears his cover will be blown.

Jade-Scarlet's membership in the powerful Order of the Sibile has always been controversial. A half-wolf, Jade's unstable psychic powers are a disappointment to her mercenary handlers. So when the Oracle commands her to work with Pale, Jade must prove herself...even if it means challenging the enigmatic shifter.

I asked to review Tempting the Enemy and received a digital copy from the publisher. Dee Tenorio has created a world where shifters were hunted and murdered at one time, and still hide to protect their families. The Order of the Sibile are magic mercenaries with no mercy. Betrayal on any level usually means death. The society as a whole is full of political unrest and fear, which can only lead to rebellion and death. Pale and Jade must work together within the confines of her order and the law. This would be tough enough without shifter hormones wreaking havoc on both of them.

The author has given us a brooding, alpha shifter with the heart of a protector. He's an intelligent, strong leader that only held a slim hope of meeting a mate who could also be his partner. Jade is everything he doesn't want in a mate, yet he can't seem to stop following his instincts. Jade is a fascinating character that I loved from the beginning. She's been living a sheltered life with her order and has no experience in the real world. Her roommate Sage has been her only source of information when it comes to men, and life. I loved how her character had to learn about the world around her and her own strengths at the same time. While a part of her is withdrawn and shy, another part of her is driven to do what is right, regardless of pressure to do what she is told to do. Jade gives the reader some fun, light moments as she discovers things for the first time, such as hot chocolate and desire.

Tempting the Enemy is a fast paced paranormal romance with elements of urban fantasy and suspense. I loved the complex plot that kept me guessing the entire time. The romance between Jade and Pale starts out passionate but reluctant. As the book goes on, the author reaches into the reader's chest and rips their heart out. Thank goodness she gives us closure, or I would have been forced to smash my Kindle. Tempting the Enemy seriously has one of the most emotional, kick butt endings I have ever encountered.

If you enjoy paranormal romance, thrillers or urban fantasy you will want to read Tempting the Enemy.


INTERVIEW WITH DEE TENORIO

I emailed Dee with my questions as soon as I finished her book. I was hoping she'd have time allow me to pick her brain. She graciously returned her answers immediately, so I could share them with you.

Since I loved the book and the world so much, my first question has to be about its continuation. Do you think there will be more books to continue the story?

I'm really hoping so. I have several more stories to tell in the world of Resurrection and I'm currently working on what I hope to be the next installment. :) So keep your fingers crossed!

I noticed that you have written many other books, but none seem to be in this genre. What made you create such a unique world with such complex characters in the paranormal realm?
Well, I'm a mad fan of paranormal romances and I so wished I could write one. LOL, wishes really can come true. But the other truth is simply that the story came along and I couldn't say no. Really, I tried. I was afraid I'd get started and not be able to stop or that people would think it was dumb...but I simply couldn't stop. And I'm so happy I didn't.

Do you enjoy surprising your readers with twists and turns in the plot? How do you keep track of the details without letting too many hints slip before you want them to?

LOL, well, every author loves finding out that a reader is intrigued by the plot. I have to admit, my own process is like writing down the movie I see in my head. But I can't see the movie until I figure out the next step. So, for the plot, the details just stay in my head. For the little things, like who is who and what their eye colors are, lol, I make notes, to keep for reference. It's getting REALLY big now, though.

I read your bio and noticed you are a mom. How long have you been writing, and how the heck do you manage to do it with kids?

I'm totally a mom. :) I pretty much steal every word I can while babies climb on me or play at my feet or poke me in the eye. I play music to tune out "Blues Clues" and "Fresh Beats" and listen with one ear to it. :) And on those really special days, my awesome husband takes the kids out to buy me a few hours. If I get really desperate, I bribe my sister to visit for a few days to keep an eye on the troops while I go on a marathon. :) It's not easy, but it's totally worth it when a story comes together.

What the craziest thing you've done to a character (or made them do) in one of your books?

Hmmm, well that's a hard one. I've done some pretty crazy things to my characters. But I have to say, the craziest thing I've tried is a scene from the next book where in which Pale and Jade from "Tempting The Enemy" are sparring, lol. It's been cut, alas, but let's put it this way. Pale and Jade, sweaty and grappling. You can probably guess which one of them ends up thrown into a tree... LOL! (I'm really going to have to find a way to get that scene back into a story!)

For this current book, well, the crazy part is going to be getting the rough and tumble Tate through his story alive. :)

I loved Tempting the Enemy, and look forward to reading your other books. Thank you for taking the time to chat:)

Thanks much, Brenda, I had a great time with your questions!

To find out more about Dee's books visit her at her website: http://www.deetenorio.com/

~Brenda

Kate Douglas Release & Contest Winners!

Today is the release day for Nocturnal, the anthology Kate told us about in her interview last week. Below is a summary of each story. It's actually a really good deal on the Kindle ($4.47). It's a lovely big book at 532 pages! Congrats to Kate on her story:)

"The Phoenix Project" by Jacquelyn Frank. Held captive, Amara is subjected to bizarre experiments that test the limits of her sanity. But nothing prepares her for being locked away - naked - with a sexy ex-cop...after they've been pumped full of drugs that increase their sexual appetites to animalistic intensity...

"Crystal Dreams" by Kate Douglas - When Lemurian Guard Darius chases a demon spirit to Earth, he faces a lethal battle between good and evil. His ally is Mari, a breathtakingly beautiful human who unknowingly holds the key to victory. But before the war is over, Darius' desire for his mortal companion threatens to erupt - and could cost Mari her life...

"Spark of Temptation" by Jess Haines - Blackmailed into taking a treacherous case, P.I. Sara Halloway is thrust into a demon war. Sara seeks guidance from a charismatic mage, but their hunger for one another soon becomes a deadly distraction...and the danger surrounding them only makes their urges more powerful...

"My Soul to Take" by Clare Willis - New Orleans native Dr. Maggie Dillon thought she left her past behind her - until she's enraptured by a handsome patient who has been possessed by a malevolent spirit. To find a cure, Colby revisits her magical roots - and unleashes a primal lust too vital to ignore...

KATE'S CONTEST WINNERSI used the handy random number generator to pick two visitors that commented on the Interview and Contest with Kate. I have emailed Moridin, but Kristina did not leave her email. I'm hoping she will check here and see her name. If not, I will pick a new winner on Monday. Thanks to Kate and all of our visitors!

#10 Moridin said...
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd like to win Demonfire.

#24 Kristina said...
Kate, I love all your books. This new series is great. Demonfire was awesome and I would love to win Hellfire. Thanks for the giveaway. ~kris

Blog Tour, Contest & Interview With Kelly Gay

The Darkest Edge of Dawn
Charlie Madigan, #2
Author: Kelly Gay
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket
Available on Amazon

Summary: For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.


I asked to participate in the blog tour for The Darkest Edge of Dawn because the author, Kelly Gay, was the first author I had interviewed on Wayfaring Writer. I was reviewing and interviewing her about her first book, The Better Part of Darkness, and we were both nervous and excited. I've followed her blog since then, and I am so pleased to help promote her second book.

I'm writing this review minutes after finishing The Darkest Edge of Dawn. Kelly made me cry. I hate when that happens. However, when an author can make you cheer, laugh, hold your breath AND cry during the reading of their book, it's a sign of talent. Kelly has it in spades. Her main character, Charlie Madigan, kicks ass in this second book of the series. One of the things I love about Charlie is that beneath the toughness she is just like other moms. There are some things that most of us share-- mom guilt, mom worry and mom control issues. I admit it, and I know most moms would agree with me. Letting our children take those first steps towards independence sucks. Our instinct is to protect at all costs. Kelly doesn't ignore this side of Charlie, she incorporates it into the story. It's brilliant.

The Darkest Edge of Dawn is a fast paced, complex story with intrigue, mystery, suspense, action and emotion. There is also some very cool sexual tension that developed some interesting possibilities for Charlie. Without giving spoilers, I can't say much about the plot, except to say the twists and turns continue to dismay Charlie and bring on kick ass confrontations.

Kelly Gay takes the stuff our normal reality is made of and plays with it much like Play-Doh, rolling it, forming some creepy shapes, but also taking pieces and sculpting them into interesting and beautiful things. Then she grabs a hunk of Play-Doh and makes something that just blows the readers mind.

If you haven't read the first book, The Better Part of Darkness, go out and buy it. Read it, and then run out and buy The Darkest Edge of Dawn. After you read that, then turn around and read them both again. You will enjoy the details so much more the second time because you won't be holding your breath while you try to read faster to get to the end.

Readers new to Kelly Gay will love her books if you enjoy Vicki Pettersson, Lori Handeland, Dakota Banks or Jennifer Estep.

TEASER WORDS
Licking Hellhounds
Druid King
Jinn
falling fast
Bath House
toe

KELLY LETS ME PICK HER BRAIN

Kelly graciously allowed me to interview her on her new release, life in general and fangirl moments. I hope you enjoy her answers as much as I did!

Charlie’s seriously kicks ass in The Darkest Edge of Dawn. Did you feel more comfortable with her as a character in the second book? I hate to say it, but you really put her through the ringer. I won't say how since I don't want to give spoilers:)

I did put her through a lot, didn’t I? Oddly enough, it felt very natural. So maybe I’m just an evil, evil playmaker. LOL. Seriously, though, writing this second book was tough. This was my first foray into continuing a series and, in the beginning I fought a lot with Charlie. Neither one of us knew what to do or how to proceed! It was a struggle to find the right path, but once I finished the book, and went through this process, I feel very comfortable with Charlie and who she is and where she’s headed:)

I don't want to jinx anything or make you tell us insider stuff, but will you know soon if there will be more Charlie books? I know you have been contracted for two YA books, which I can't wait to read.

Thanks! I’m super excited about the YA books. And I do have info on the future of Charlie, but I can’t share it yet until I get the green light – but it should be very, very soon.

How has the last year changed for you since your first book did so well? Did you feel more confident in your writing, or did it make you a little nervous writing the second book, since people loved the first one so much? ( I never had any doubts, by the way.)

((hugs)) Thanks for believing in me! Being my own worst critic, it’s hard sometimes to believe I can do it. But, I do feel more confident in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to understanding the business, settling into my relationship with my editor and agent, and having a good support system – those things give me confidence. I did get very nervous writing the second book. I’d read all the reviews on the first one, and took the critical ones to heart. I wanted to please everyone. I learned a lot from this book. The biggest, that I can’t please everyone. I just have to write what makes me happy, what inspires me, or gets me going. That’s how I wrote the first book, and that’s how I ended up writing the second book. I had to put all the outside stuff out of my mind and write the kind of story I wanted to tell, the kind of story I would like to read. And that story ended up being The Darkest Edge of Dawn.

You just attended the RWA National Convention in Florida, and I loved reading your blog with all the details of who you met, what you did, and how you felt. (Read about it here.) Was there an author at the convention that turned you into a total fangirl when you met them?

Sherrilyn Kenyon. Every time I saw her, I had a little internal EEP! I didn’t get a chance to talk to her this time, but at past conventions I’d go to her panels and signings and get my fangirl fix. The first time I met her was the 2004 RWA conference. My friends will tell you that I stalked her – but that’s TOTALLY untrue.

Last question, I know you have a daughter about the same age as mine, so I have to ask, what is the oddest thing you've done with your daughter that gave you that "Man, I can't believe I just did that." moment? We all know kids make us do some pretty silly things:)

Oh, we have a lot of those moments. Like the time she dared me to go to the mall in my pajamas and slippers. Of course I had to! But then, so did she, LOL. We have a great time together. She’s a great kid, so open and funny. I tend to be quiet and introverted, so she kind of balances me out. We make a good team.

CONTEST TIME!
The publisher is allowing me to give away one copy of The Darkest Edge of Dawn. To enter the contest please leave a comment on something you found funny or fascinating in the review or interview. I will pick the winner with the handy random number generator on September 19th, 2010. The contest is open to US mailing addresses.

~Brenda

Much Ado About Marriage Blog Tour & Contest

Much Ado About Marriage
Author: Karen Hawkins
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins’s first historical romance, originally titled ONE LUCKY LORD and written as Kim Bennett, has been rewritten to tie into both her "MacLeans" series and her new "Hurst Amulet" series.

Fearless English earl Thomas Wentworth scoffs at failure, trusting in the legendary Wentworth luck to safeguard his spy mission to Scotland. But a single encounter with saucy Scotswoman Fia Maclean turns Thomas's mission topsy-turvy. All-too-innocently entangling him in his enemy's trap, the beautiful Fia gives Thomas no escape but to marry her.

I asked to participate in the Much Ado About Marriage blog tour because it would be my first read of an Elizabethan set historical romance. I was also intrigued that this is actually the first book the author wrote. It's been reworked, and actually ties into two of the author's other series. I love that years later she still loved the heroine enough to rework the book so it could be released again.

I loved the heroine, Fia, and can understand why the author is so fond of her. For me, she made the entire book, with her quirky personality and her stubborn dedication to her dreams. I thought Thomas was a tad stuffy and rather brooding, but he finally comes around and becomes the man Fia needs. I especially loved the side characters. Duncan, Fia's uncle, is protective, smart and sly. Robert is the comic relief of the book, with his flirting, obnoxious but yet charming personality. Fia also has an odd grouping of pets that made me love her even more.

If you love historical romance you'll adore this book. It's a fun, fast paced read with a heroine that will make you laugh and cry.

The following books are the titles Much Ado About Marriage ties into:

MacLean Curse
1. How to Abduct a Highland Lord (2007)
2. To Scotland, With Love (2007)
3. To Catch a Highlander (2008)
4. Sleepless in Scotland (2009)
5. The Laird Who Loved Me (2009)

Hurst Amulet
One Night in Scotland (Nov. 2010)

Learn more about Karen Hawkins at http://www.karenhawkins.com/. She also blogs at http://thegoddessblogs.com/.

Much Ado About Marriage Contest

The publisher has kindly allowed me to give away a copy of Much Ado About Marriage. I will pick a random winner from the comments on September 19, 2010. Please answer the following question:

Do you have a favorite period in history or location that you enjoy reading about?

If you don't have an email associated with a Google profile please leave your email in the comment. Thank you!

~Brenda