Wild Roses Blog Tour: Catherine Bybee

Onward goes the Wild Roses Blog Tour, today with historical romance author Catherine Bybee, author of Silent Vows:

Catherine Bybee is a number one selling author of paranormal romance. Her latest release, Binding Vows has hit the top 100 list at Amazon's Time Travel Romance. Her book trailers have won top honors at You Gotta Read Reviews Best Book Trailer Awards.

A wife and a mother of two boys, one fourteen the other eleven, is busy with countless hours of volunteer work, writing and a career as an ER Nurse.

(Note: by commenting to today's post and any other Wild Roses Blog Tour post, you are automatically entered to win our giveaway basket. More on participating authors on yesterday's post....)

Hi Catherine! Lovely to have you here at The Cozy Page! What compelled you to write in your chosen sub-genre? What is your favorite aspect of this type of story?

I fell in love with historical romance long ago. I easily pictured myself in the shoes of those heroines and always wanted to write time travel romance. The romantic in me was born in the wrong time. My favorite aspect in a time travel is the differences between today’s woman, and the one of long ago. In a perfect time travel, that one person meshes into one wonderful character.

How did you come up with the premise of Silent Vows ? What do you like most about this story?

When I was writing the first book in this trilogy, Binding Vows, my hero’s sister, Myra , is forced to go forward in time. I knew the moment she ‘hit the time traveling road’ that I’d be writing the second book. What I love most about this story is how the whole family is thrust into the mix and the single story becomes a saga.

Tell us about the heroine. How do you think readers will identify most with her?

This is actually a difficult question for me. This heroine is from the past, but her zest for life is something that my reader will easily see and love. She is exactly what our hero needs to slap out of his comfortable life.

Tell us about the hero. Is he an alpha or a beta? What will readers like most about him?

Both… and how many can say that about their heroes? Todd is a 21st century cop and in this time, he is alpha all the way. But what happens when that same cop is stuck in a time of swords and in this case, magic? He’s out of his realm and is forced into a bit of a beta role, but not so much that you think less of him. It’s a fine line that I think everyone will simply love about him.

What kind of research did you have to do for this storyline?

Oh, my… how long do we have for this interview? Short answer… tons. I live in So. California and I’ve worked in the ER most of my adult life, so I’ve met my share of police officers. Working Myra ’s story in was the easy part…the rest of this story took some time. I’ve not been to Scotland and I don’t practice any sort of spells and such, so I did spend a lot of time online looking up some simple facts.

How does this book compare with other books on your backlist or that you have written?

This is a second book to a trilogy, so it is right in line with the other two. My werewolf stories are completely different. And needless to say, my erotic time travels in kilts are ‘erotic first’ romance a very close second.

Would you like to share reviews for this work?

This is a review from a Goodreads fan who I’ve recently met when she drove 2 hours to visit me at a book signing for Binding Vows. Tammy has since become someone I talk to quite often, and I value her opinion. And if you were to look at all her reviews of my work, you’ll find that she isn’t always free to praise. If she doesn’t like a book, she’ll tell me! LOL

It is seldom you will see me gush in a review, especially historical romance. Well, let the gushing begin! "Silent Vows" earns an unequivocal five stars because it is just that much fun to read!

The story is the second in a series and starts with the heroine, Myra , time traveling from medieval Scotland to present day L.A. escaping an evil that wants to destroy both her and her family. It incorporates contemporary and historical romance then adds suspense, with a touch of fantasy, flawlessly. Even the sex scenes didn't put me off, I skipped them, not because I was offended but because they just slowed me down, I was so anxious to see what happened next! The plot is believable, the characters deftly written, the nuances of both times perfectly on point and the suspense is page-turning. What more could one ask?

It is a light, fun, absorbing read that disappoints only because it ends. My one caution would be not to pick it up without an afternoon to finish, the result would be extreme frustration!

Now for the fun part of the Q&A! What is your zodiac and what is it telling you today?

*snort – Taurus and I’ve no idea what that is telling me. Grin – Do you know?

Actually, yes - I'm a Taurus, too: "New alliances will introduce you to a new way of socializing. Expect to be courted." New alliances and socializing... Hm, I'd look for the Gemini :)

If you could set a story in your real-life setting, what would it be? Heartfelt contemporary, high-flying fantasy, or steamy romantic suspense?

Housewives of… lol – A story about overcoming odds with a white knight.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be and why?

Lol – Raspberry Martini – Sweet with a lot of bite

What recent read would you recommend?

Oh, this is hard… I really like the Sentinel Wars series from Shannon K. Butcher

What is your favorite smell and what makes it significant?

Baked pumpkin pie – Home, family, love.

And last but not least, if you found the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what would you see in it? (Note: If you aren't an HP junkie like me, the Mirror of Erised is a magical object that is inscribed “I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.” Orphaned Harry sees his parents, his friend Ron sees himself distinguished as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, and Albus Dumbledore supposedly sees himself with a pair of socks.)

A warm blanket - *hard question and I’m not a fan. For shame, I know.

Nothing wrong with a warm blanket! Thank you so much for sharing with us Cozies today, Catherine! Would you like to share an excerpt from Silent Vows with readers today?

Of course:

“I want you,” he whispered in her hair, not willing to break their contact.

She stiffened when his words registered. “I don’t—”

“You want the same thing, Myra. Don’t try and deny it.”

"I don’t know what I want. I’ve not ever...” She didn’t finish her sentence.

"Not ever what?”

“No one has ever kissed me the way you do. Let alone anything more.”

A virgin? Was that even possible? “You mean you’ve never...?”

“Never.” She lowered her head and removed her hands from his shoulders.

“Hey.” He caught her gaze. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” He kissed her again, briefly, then placed a protective arm over her shoulders and walked her home. “So are the men in Scotland blind?”

She laughed. “Nay.”

"What then?”

"My father is very protective.”

“Does your father know you’re here?”

"Much to his dismay, but we had no choice.”

Interesting, a protective father who sent his daughter away to a different country without any money. Something wasn’t lining up.

They were within a block of his home when Myra stiffened, and all color washed from her face. She stopped and spun in a slow circle.

“What is it?”

“Someone is watching us.”

“Some of the neighbors are busybodies.”

“No, Todd. The one who watches wants more than to gossip.”

Now the hair on his neck stood on end.

You can pick up your copy of Silent Vows in print - or catch up by reading Binding Vows in digital or print at The Wild Rose Press:

Myra, a medieval virgin druidess, flees five hundred years into the future to escape death at the hands of a cursed witch and lands in the arms of a handsome but cynical twenty-first century cop.
Officer Todd Blakely knows Myra is hiding something , but can't resist her innocent charms. Destiny throws them both into a world of intrigue and mysticism. Can Todd be the true white knight she needs? Or will magic and the winds of time tear them apart?