14 Days of Romance: Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! We’ve come to the end of our 14 Days of Romance celebration and I wanted to do something special…. Two years ago on Valentine’s Day, I listed my top ten favorite romance novels of all time. Since much has changed in two years, I thought I would put together a comprehensive list of my current romance faves by author….  

Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart – This romance is in equal parts historical, western, and inspirational. I’ve always had a soft spot for a hero/heroine with some sort of physical handicap. In Homespun Bride, the heroine is blind. I love this book because it’s really one-of-a-kind. It tugs on the heartstrings and unfolds in a touching conclusion….

Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place-especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death. And yet this was no stranger.

Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.

The Enchantment by Betina Krahn – This is the one historical romance I’ve re-read at least a dozen times. Swashbuckling Vikings, a kick-ass heroine, and one of the most lovable heroes I've ever read. I love Jorund because he defies classic hero classifications like alpha or beta. Perhaps that’s why his character leaps off the page no matter how many times I’ve read his story….

A Woman’s Heart: Strong, stunning, and breathtakingly fierce…Aaren Serricksdotter is the eldest daughter of a Viking sword stealer and a beautiful Valkyr. But for the power of a long-ago enchantment, none shall know the true secrets of her heart–perhaps, not even herself.

A Man Beguiled: Heir to the Norse high-seat, Jorund Borgerson is torn between the ferocious legacy of his clan–and his secret vow to bring peace to his people. Until he meets a distant clansman’s daughter, a ravishing warrior who rouses Jorund like no other.

Bound together by a force as mysterious as it is powerful, Jorund and Aaren must discover the secret of their remarkable union. For in this time of violence and chaos, two great warriors must prepare for a final battle–a journey beyond the bloodshed...to a true enchantment that is the birthright of every man and woman who has ever loved.

Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory – Speaking of great historicals…I bought the first book in Mallory’s All the Kings Men series on a whim, mostly because the blurb grabbed me. I was not disappointed in the least. This series is filled with rich history. The hero and heroine spend the majority of the book as a married couple. But my favorite thing about Knight of Desire was the growth of the characters’ marriage over time and their struggle to trust one another completely. Their emotional journey is perfectly written….

Fearless in Battle: His surcoat still bloody from battle, William FitzAlan comes to claim the strategic borderlands granted to him by the king. One last prize awaits him at the castle gates: the lovely Lady Catherine Rayburn.

Tender in Bed: Catherine risked everything to spy for the crown. Her reward? Her lands are declared forfeit and she is given this choice: marry FitzAlan or be taken to the Tower. Catherine agrees to give her handsome new husband her body, but she's keeping secrets, and dare not give him her heart. As passion ignites and danger closes in, Catherine and William must learn to trust in each other to save their marriage, their land, and their very lives.

The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros – I haven’t read many Scottish historicals and when I finished reading this one at the end of last year, I really questioned why. I had a devilishly good time reading my first Teresa Medeiros romance and can’t wait for the next….

Emmaline Marlowe is about to wed the extremely powerful laird of the Hepburn clan to save her father from debtor’s prison when ruffian Jamie Sinclair bursts into the abbey on a magnificent black horse and abducts her in one strong swoop. Though he is Hepburn’s sworn enemy, Emma’s mysterious captor is everything her bridegroom is not—handsome, virile, dangerous . . . and a perilous temptation for her yearning heart.

Jamie expects Emma to be some milksop English miss, not a fiery, defiant beauty whose irresistible charms will tempt him at every turn. But he cannot allow either one of them to forget he is her enemy and she his pawn in the deadly Highland feud between the clans. So why does he still want her so badly for himself? Stealing his enemy’s bride was simple, but can he claim her innocence without losing his heart?

The In Death Series by J.D. Robb – I really can’t seem to choose a favorite. Every time I read one of these futuristic romances between Eve Dallas and Roarke, I fall in love with the characters, setting, and the unique rhythm of the prose all over again. If I had to make the painful choice between them all, an exemplary example is Creation in Death, still the best romantic suspense novel I’ve read in a really long time….

NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas keeps the streets of a near-future New York City safe in this extraordinary series. But even she makes mistakes, and is haunted by those she couldn't save-and the killers she couldn't capture. When the body of a young brunette is found in East River Park, artfully positioned and marked by signs of prolonged and painful torture, Eve is catapulted back to a case nine years earlier. The city was on edge from a killing spree that took the lives of four women in fifteen days, courtesy of a man the media tagged "The Groom"—because he put silver rings on the fingers of his victims.

When it turns out that the young brunette was employed by Eve's billionaire husband, Roarke, she brings him in on the case— move that proves fitting when it becomes chillingly clear that the killer has made his attack personal. The victim was washed in products from a store Roarke owns, and laid out on a sheet his company manufactures. With the Groom's monstrous return, Eve is determined to finish him once and for all. Familiar with his methods, Eve knows that he has already grabbed his next victim. Time is running out on another woman's life. And chances are he's working up to the biggest challenge of his illustrious career-abducting a woman who will test his skills and who promises to give him days and days of pleasure before she dies: Eve.

Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts – I discovered romance through the eyes of Nora Roberts so it’s only fitting she makes the list twice (well, thrice if you count her J.D. Robb alias). Honest Illusions is my favorite Nora Roberts novel because it does what so few other romances dare to do – it follows the protagonists from childhood to adulthood in such color and detail, it’s hard to put away even for a few hours….

The daughter of a world-renowned magician, Roxy Nouvelle has inherited her father's talents-and his penchant for jewel thievery. Into this colorful world comes Luke Callahan, an escape artist who captures her heart-and keeps secrets that could shatter all her illusions...

The daughter of a world-renowned magician, Roxy has inherited her father's talents--and his penchant for jewel thievery. Escape artist Luke Callahan comes into Roxy's world and captures her heart, but he keeps secrets that could send her house of cards tumbling.

Public Secrets by Nora Roberts – This romantic suspense follows the life of its heroine through the world of her father, that of rock and roll. A lot can be said for Nora’s heroes, but in this case it’s the heroine who brings this one home for me...and makes me want to listen to every Beatles and Rolling Stones record I can get my hands on….

Emma. Beautiful, intelligent, and radiantly talented, she lives in a star-studded world of wealth and privilege. But she is about to discover that fame is no protection at all when someone wants you dead. All Emma has to do is close her eyes and she remembers the day Brian McAvoy swept into her life. A frightened toddler, she didn’t know then that she was his illegitimate daughter or that he was pop music’s rising new star. All she knew was that with Brian, his band mates, and his new wife, she felt safe. And when her baby brother arrived, Emma thought she was the luckiest girl in the world—until the night a botched kidnapping attempt shattered all their lives . . . and destroyed Emma’s happiness.

Yet now, even though Emma is still haunted by flashes of memory from that fateful night, she has survived. She’s carved out a thrilling career and even dared to fall rapturously in love. But the man who will become her husband isn’t all that he seems. And Emma is about to awaken to the chilling knowledge that the darkest secret of all is the one buried in her mind—a secret that someone may kill to keep. Emma grew up a frightened, lonely child, the illegitimate result of a pop music star's secret union. When her famous father rescues her and leads her into a star-studded world of wealth and privilege, Emma realizes that she carries a frightening secret--one that someone might kill to have kept private.

Hard to Hold by Stephanie Tyler – Romantic suspense was my first great love so I was thrilled when this one landed on my doorstep along with the other two novels in Tyler’s SEALs trilogy. With this book, she set a fine standard for all the rest to follow. Still, of all the books I’ve read from her backlist, this one refuses to let me go….

The Special Ops hero featured nothing—until he met a woman too hot to hold…. Lieutenant Jake Hansen has survived some of the riskiest missions known to man. But now the wounded Navy SEAL faces his toughest job yet: smuggling Dr. Isabelle Markham out of Africa without triggering an international incident. Not easy to do when the gorgeous hostage happens to be a senator’s daughter—and about as easy to resist as an oasis in the desert.

If it weren’t for Jake, Isabelle would still be halfway across the world, where rebel forces left her for dead. The special ops warrior may have saved her life, but she doesn’t need him to protect her now. Tell that to the ruggedly handsome hunk in full battle fatigues who’s just been assigned as Isabelle’s personal bodyguard. Close quarters aside, Isabelle won’t let Jake anywhere near her heart—until danger throws them together again. And nothing in the jungles of wildest Africa could prepare them for a passion this wild. This crazy. This hot…

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward – If you’ve been to The Cozy Page before, you’ve heard me brag nonstop about how much I love J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood paranormals. For me, there are two standout books in the romance series. The first is the story of anti-hero, Zsadist. I loved this book because Z was the least likely of his Brothers to fall in love…and when he does, he falls hard. The healing theme and Z and Bella’s journey are both beautiful and unforgettable….

Even within the vampire brotherhood, Zsadist is feared. Still bearing the scars from a tortured past, he is renowned for his unquenchable fury. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion-until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward – Back to my love affair with handicapped heroes/heroines….this one involves a mute protagonist, John Matthew. I waited for J.M.’s book for what felt like forever and it lived up to all the anticipation and then some. A standout paranormal romance….

Darius, a fallen Brother, has returned to the fold with a new identity and a very different destiny. Now, John Matthew, plunged into the heart of war, must face off against evil incarnate-and rescue his one true love.

Wicked Little Game by Christine Wells – I came by this Regency by chance one day in the bookstore where I worked. I’m so glad I did! Regencies have a hard time standing out from one another, but this one stood out to me. The risk Wells took while crafting the situation between the hero and heroine was well worth it. I recommend this story of forbidden love for its originality alone…

The Marquis of Vane hungers for Lady Sarah from afar as she braves a disastrous marriage. That is until Sarah’s husband makes him an indecent offer: one night with Sarah for ten thousand pounds. Passions explode and lead to a deadly twist of fate that could spell a lifetime of regret—or love.

Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – Ah, saved the best for last! Woodiwiss is classic romance exemplified. I had the pleasure of reading Ashes in the Wind at the recommendation of my sister-in-law. The best Civil War love story since Gone with the Wind itself – and that’s no exaggeration….

A woman burdened by war...A doctor torn between passion and duty... Alaina MacGaren is forced to flee the devastation of her homeland in the guise of a young boy, only to find sanctuary in the arms of an enemy. Cole Latimer is a dashing Yankee surgeon who has served the Union faithfully, and his tender heart compels him to help a ragged, innocent "lad" in need—never suspecting the rags conceal a bewitching belle suspected of being a rebel spy.

But Alaina's masquerade does not fool Cole for long. And the strength, courage, and breathtaking sensuality of this woman whom it would be treasonous to love sets duty and desire at war within him. Yet Destiny has joined them for good or ill—and they both must follow where their hearts would lead them, if they are to build a glorious new life together out of the ashes of the old.

This marks the end of my list of all-time favorite romance novels! Now it’s time for you to tell me all about yours, Cozies! Do we share some favorites? And since I seem to stick mostly to romantic suspense and historical romance, I’d love to hear your contemporary romance recommendations or any favorites from other sub-genres!

Here’s wishing everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget to spread the love, peace, and joy today more than any other to loved ones and friends….

***For a free Valentine's-Day-themed read, visit the EXTRAS page of my website and scroll down to the Bonus Materials section where cowboy Casey and his heroine Josie are cooking up some flirty fun!!!

14 Days of Romance: Caroline Clemmons

We’re coming to the end of our 14 Days of Romance Valentine’s Day celebration and we’ve saved the best for last! Readers, please welcome fellow Sweetheart of the West, author CarolineClemmons! Take it away, Caroline….

Happy (Almost) Valentine’s Day! Thanks to Amber Leigh for inviting me to share the Cozy Page with you today.

She asked me to share my favorite romances. Wow, is that ever a difficult question! As authors, Amber Leigh and I know literally hundreds of people who write and whose books we read. I believe she means books that I hold as sterling examples of the craft I love. There are five books I reread - to study and for pure pleasure - at least once a year.

The first is THE PROMISE OF JENNY JONES by Maggie Osborne. It’s out of print now, but is probably the most unusual romance I’ve ever read. For starters, the heroine is almost six feet tall, cusses, smokes cigars, and works as a muleskinner. (For you contemporary readers, that means she drives a freight wagon pulled by mules). Early in the book we learn what makes Jenny tick. She is stuck in a Mexican jail for killing a soldier who tried to rape her. She explains why she wouldn’t lie to save herself from a firing squad. “Honesty is all I’ve got . . .I don’t have family. I don’t have beauty, or a man. I don’t have money, and I sure as hell don’t have a future. All I’ve got to prop up my pride is my word . . . When Jenny Jones says something, you can bet your last peso it’s true.” But she does have a future because a dying woman trades places with her, and so begins her eventful journey. All of Maggie Osborne’s heroines are unusual women.

LORD PERFECT and MR. IMPOSSIBLE are by Loretta Chase. Choosing between these books would be difficult, but I lean toward the former. What is better than watching a perfect man’s world crumble because of a strong yet unsuitable woman? I love all of Loretta Chase’s books for her wonderful descriptions and unusual characters. And what lovely names she uses! I love the way Loretta Chase introduces the hero in LORD PERFECT. The artist heroine, Bathsheba Wingate, watches the hero in the book’s opening. The setting is a London museum and the hero is Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne, heir to the Earl of Hargate (and Lord Perfect).

He leant against the window frame, offering those within the exhibition hall a fine rear view of a long, well-proportioned frame, expensively garbed. He seemed to have his arms folded and his attention upon the window, though the thick glass could show him no more than a blurred image of Picadilly.

It was clear in any case that the exhibition within—of the marvels Giovanni Belzoni had discovered in Egypt—had failed to hold his interest.

The woman surreptitiously studying him decided he would make the perfect model of the bored aristocrat

Supremely assured. Perfectly poised. Immaculately dressed. Tall. Dark.

He turned his head, presenting the expected patrician profile.

It wasn’t what she expected.

She couldn’t breathe.

From the same book, the author uses the hero’s POV to describe the heroine.

She was the sort of woman who made accidents happen, simply by crossing the street.

She was the sort of woman who ought to be preceded by warning signs.

From a distance, she was breathtaking.

Now she stood within easy reach.

And now . . .

Once, in the course of a youthful prank, Benedict had fallen off a roof, and briefly lost consciousness.

Now, as he fell off something and into eyes like an indigo sea, he lost consciousness. The world went away, his brain went away, and only the vision remained, of pearly skin and ripe plum lips, of the fathomless sea in which he was drowning . . . and then a pink like a sunrise glowing upon finely sculpted cheekbones.

A blush. She was blushing.

His brain staggered back.

Sigh, can you blame me for studying Loretta Chase’s writing?

PRINCE CHARMING and FOR THE ROSES are by Julie Garwood. These are her only forays into western historicals. PRINCE CHARMING begins in England, but moves through the U.S. to Montana. I love both the heroine Taylor Stapleton, and the hero Lucas Ross. FOR THE ROSES has a group of ragtag boy heroes who raise a young baby they find in a New York dustbin. Sounds impossible? Unfortunately, it still happens every day in America. These characters come alive for the reader. 

Rereading these books still brings me pleasure and helps me understand the structure that keeps me engaged. None is the first romance I read, but they continue to be my favorites.

And now Caroline gives us a glimpse into her latest romance novel, Home Sweet Texas Home....

Now please let me share one of my own books.  HOME, SWEET TEXAS HOME is a departure for me, because it is a sweet romance. Yep, no consummated sex, but - according to excellent reviews - it has plenty of sexual tension.

In HOME, SWEET TEXAS HOME Courtney Madison has battled poverty her entire twenty-five years but is determined to make a safe and happy home for her teenaged brother after the recent death of their mom. Her mom’s illness left Courtney with a mountain of hospital bills, her formerly sweet brother Jimmy is now cutting class and hanging with a rough crowd, and she’s just learned she’s being downsized in two weeks. Hanging on by the threads of a fraying rope, she learns she’s inherited two million dollars from a kind elderly man she befriended when he was in the hospital across the hall from her mom. She thinks her inheritance in West Texas is the answer to all her prayers--but Courtney learns that, while money improves her life, it doesn’t guarantee happiness. This modern Cinderella encounters problems even a fairy godmother couldn’t imagine.

Rancher/entrepeneur Derek Corrigan has incredible instincts for flourishing in the business world. With women, not so much. In fact, his friends bemoan he’s King Midas where money is concerned, but his judgment of women is pathetic--evidenced by his late wife and now the flamboyant woman he’s been escorting of late. As far as Derek is concerned, all he wants is to be a good dad to his children Warren, aged 8, and Meg, aged 5. Derek suspects the worst of his new neighbor and vows to fight his attraction for her. The only way he can protect his children and himself is to keep his private life very private. Besides, he knows what women do to him--they always leave and take chunks of his heart with them. He's been there, done that, had the vaccination and is cured. Isn't he?

Amber Leigh, thanks again for having me as your guest.

Thank you, Caroline, for sharing your favorite romances with us today! Readers, purchase Caroline Clemmon's Home Sweet Texas Home today at The Wild Rose Press. To learn more about her and her books, visit her website, blog, Sweethearts of the West as well as Facebook and Twitter!

Come back tomorrow for our final day of 14 Days of Romance!!!

14 Days of Romance: Jean Adams

14 Days of Romance is now in the home stretch to Valentine’s Day! Today we Cozies play host to author Jean Adams, whose favorite romance novel of all time is the Laura Kinsale title, Flowers from the Storm….

The Duke of Jervaulx was brilliant and dangerous. Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the ′D of J′ in scandal sheets, where he and his various exploits featured with frequency. But sometimes the most womanising rake can be irresistible, and even his most casual attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms, quiet daughter of a simple mathematician.

Here’s a peek into Jean’s latest release, The Fires of Passion, from her Patiki Bay Series…. 

Every woman should know a man like Blaize Hathaway.

When Kimberley Holland shrugs off her family and relocates to the other side of the world, never does she imagine meeting the drop-dead gorgeous stranger who threatens her newfound freedom. His touch leaves her questioning far more than her good breeding, and leaves her hungry. Her grandmother’s wise words encourage living life to the fullest -- but is one week long enough?

Blaize Hathaway despises wealthy women. They are predators who prey on ambitious young men, and the one he's been tasked to spy on is no different. Then he meets Kimberley, who challenges all his beliefs.

Before Blaize can surrender to the fires of passion, he must escape the torments of a darkened past. Will he find the peace and love he yearns for or will he be too late?

Thank you, Jean, for sharing with us today! And readers, to purchase The Fires of Passion, visit The WildRose Press. To learn more about Jean and her books, visit her website….

14 Days of Romance: L.M. Brown

Welcome to Day 11 of the 14 Days of Romance celebration! We’re counting down the final stretch to Valentine’s Day with author L.M. Brown! Welcome, L.M., and take it away…. 

First of all, thanks for Amber for letting me blog with her today.

To ask me to pick my all time favourite romance novel is pretty much an impossible task.   Thankfully Amber is allowing her guests to pick more than one.  Hopefully I can narrow it down to my favourite three romance novels and not write an epic post for her blog detailing dozens or more.  Hey, it isn’t out of the question for me – I used to run a book review site and have hundreds to choose from.

Despite being published in the male/male romance genre, I am actually pretty flexible when it comes to my reading habits and many of my favourites are male/female romances.

The first of my favourites, and if I had to pick just one this would be it, is Banishment by Dinah Lampitt.  I imagine most people reading this blog post will never have heard of this author or this particular book.  She is far more famous under her other name, Deryn Lake.  However, this is the first book of hers that I read and it probably the most re-read book I own.

There are many reasons why I love this book so much, though the biggest one is that it is a bloody good story.  This book is the one that convinced me that stories with romance in didn’t have to be predictable or run to a set formula. 

The book is also responsible for getting me into the paranormal romance genre as well as actually making me interested in history, something I had up until this point thought impossible. 

It is the story of a modern day actress who is a hedonist without remorse (certainly not your average romance heroine!) who undergoes and experiment in regression hypnosis for a joke.  The joke is on her though when she finds herself trapped in a past life, that of a young woman in the 17^th Century at the outbreak of the English Civil War. 

It is well worth a read if you want something a little different from your average damsel in distress romance novel.

For my second choice, I would have to go with The Wild Swans by Kate Holmes.  This one is a much more traditional romance novel than Banishment, and is marketed at such.  It also has one of my favourite book covers ever. 

It is re-told fairy tale of a princess who is cursed to be silent in order to save her brothers, who have been turned into swans by an ogre.  Unable to go home, she is taken in by the king of a neighbouring kingdom, who has mistaken her for a peasant and has vowed to marry the first woman he meets who does not talk his ear off. 

What I love most about this book is the humour.  It can make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I read it.

For my third and final choice I am going to move away from the male/female genre, despite having many more favourite books from the likes of Sherrilyn Kenyon, Sandra Hill and Lynn Kurland. Instead, I am going to pick my favourite male/male romance.   The choice here is just as difficult.  Even though I am relatively new to the genre, only a few years in I have already got many favourite authors on my ‘must buy’ list, S J Frost, Ethan Day, and A.K.M Miles, to name only a few. 

However, I am going to restrain myself and stick to just one book.  I have chosen one that has mystery as well as romance and is one of the few books that has actually made me cry in recent years.  Breathe by Sloan Parker.

It not only has two thoroughly engaging heroes, it has a mystery that kept me guessing, and that is something which rarely happens with romance novels.  I read far too many mysteries in my teenage years and can usually figure out mystery plots with very little effort.

So, those are the three romance novels I have managed to pick out of the hundreds I have read and loved over the years.  They are all well worth a read and if you do choose to read any or all of them, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

L.M. Brown

Now for a sneak peek into L.M. latest release in the Gift of Love anthology….

Can a wrong number lead to Mr Right? Nick Davis’s life takes an unexpected turn when a stranger starts leaving messages on his answer machine. Is there hope Nick can become more to Connor Hayes than just a wrong number?

Thank you for sharing your favorite romances with us today, L.M.! Readers, to purchase Gift of Love, visit Silver Publishing! Find out more about L.M. and her books at her website, blog, Facebook, and Goodreads….

14 Days of Romance: Cate Masters + Giveaway

After a short break, 14 Days of Romance continues today with fellow romance author, Cate Masters, who is celebrating release day ! Welcome, Cate, and take it away….

Thanks so much for having me at your 14 Days of Romance event, Amber! Such a fun idea. :)

I love stories of all kinds, but lately I’m focusing more on fantasy/paranormal. I have a terrible time selecting favorites of anything, but when I first started reading Gena Showalter’s Lord of the Underworld series, she had me hooked. I loved everything about it – the unusual settings in Budapest and around the world; her dark and mysterious Lords, each one as gorgeous and tortured as the last; and the complex but likable heroines. The story is rooted in Greek mythology, which is exactly what I love to research and write. Ms. Showalter’s writing style is amazing – she hooked me with her characterizations and kept pulling me through the story with twists and cliffhangers in every section.

I’m thrilled that Decadent released my fantasy, A Hard Day’s Knight, today….

Some days, it’s best to lay low. Lance Knight finds out the hard way – when he encounters his longtime foe, witch Morgan le Fay, at Medieval Merriment. Her curse kept him wandering the world for centuries. When he also meets Gwyn McCartney there through a 1NS date, he’s struck by her resemblance to his true love, Guinevere.  It gives him hope for the first time in centuries. First, he must face Morgan to break the curse, and he has only one hope: his sword, forged in the fires with Excalibur and imbued with magical powers by Merlin.

Gwyn McCartney’s had it with dating. Her friend’s setup through 1NS with Lance Knight irritates her, especially when Lance acts bored at Medieval Merriment – her employer and greatest fantasy. When a wench threatens Lance – a witch, he says – her fantasy world seems all too real. After Lance kisses her, she knows she has to battle Morgan le Fay. Can she free him, or will she lose him forever to the witch’s curse?

Cate, thank you so much for sharing your favorite romance series with us today! Readers, to purchase A Hard Day’s Knight, it’s available now at Decadent Publishing. Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at her blog and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web. Cate loves to hear from readers. Email her at: cate.masters@gmail.com.

***To celebrate today’s release, one lucky commenter will have his/her choice of any 1NS Series story. Visit Decadent Publishing to choose your favorite.  There are so many tempting goodies to choose from, it will be difficult to select just one. :) Be sure to leave your email address! May your Valentine’s Day be magical!

Contest will remain open until midnight EST tomorrow. Check back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.)

14 Days of Romance: Paty Jager

14 Days of Romance continues today with author Paty Jager, whose latest release, Logger in Petticoats, is available now from Amazon….

I have a toss-up between two of my favorite romance novels. They both had heroines that were at war with themselves and that was the emotional element that drew me in like a hog to a mud wallow.

LaVyrle Spencer’s historical western, Hummingbird, about a steadfast spinster who tries above all else to keep up appearances finds herself taking care of a man she believes is a train robber.  She finds herself doing inappropriate retaliations to the man’s teasing and tormenting. And she finds herself drawn to him in what she considers a most unladylike way.  Her inner turmoil with herself and her infatuation with a man she believes is bad made this book a standout story for me. Abigail and Jesse’s dance of seduction won me over to historical romance.

The other book that lured me in and gave me the nudge to write romance was Nora Robert’s Born of Fire.  I’ve read the whole trilogy several times over. But the first book, Maggie’s story was the one that drew me into the Irish country and held me there with Maggie’s stubbornness and intensity.  She and Rogan are like oil and water, yet when they come together it’s a combustible relationship that holds high regard for each others talents.

My latest release Logger in Petticoats is the fifth book in the Halsey Series. All my heroines are strong willed and stubborn. Kelda in Logger in Petticoats is no exception. She wants to work in the woods rather than in the cookhouse with her mother, but the new boss, Hank Halsey believes a woman in the woods would be a distraction.  While he sees her as a woman who should be respected she sees herself as a woman who can do anything a man can and quite often better.  But they find a kinship in their need to honor their families.

Here’s a sneak peek into Logger in Petticoats….

Hank Halsey believes he’s found the perfect logging crew—complete with cooks—until he discovers Kelda Nielson would rather swing an axe than flip eggs. As he sets out to prove women belong in the kitchen, he’s the one in danger of getting burned.

Strong and stubborn, Kelda Nielsen grew up falling trees, and resents any man who believes she’s not capable, until Hank. He treats her like a lady and has her questioning what that means.

As Kelda and Hank’s attraction builds, she hires a cook so she can sneak out and work in the woods. But will her deceit ruin her chance at love or will hardheaded Hank realize it’s more than his love that puts a sparkle in Kelda’s eye?

Thanks for sharing your favorite romances with us today, Paty! I love Nora’s Irish trilogy, too. Readers, you can find out more about Paty and her books at her website. Purchase Logger in Petticoats in Kindle, Smashwords, or Nook….

14 Days of Romance: Vonnie Davis + Giveaway

To continue our 14 Days of Romance celebration is romance author Vonnie Davis, whose latest release is Storm’s Interlude….

I’ve read romance since the mid-nineteen-sixties. My love of the genre began with gothic romances and has morphed to include all sub-genres including ménage and male/male. One can read a lot of books in nearly fifty years. As someone who devoured two to three books a week, well, the numbers added up. So when Amber asked for my favorite romance, my gaze swept my bookshelf of keepers and, after a quick scan, rested on Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard.

Even with all the head hopping allowed at the turn of the century, it is a terrific read. Why? The heroine is intelligent, determined, brave—and mousy looking. See, in a society focused on beauty, the author gives hope for all of us to find that special someone. I like that. The hero, while scarred by racial bigotry, a wrongful conviction and the war, loves his son and, God help him, this mousy woman who doesn’t scorn him like the test of the town. He will protect those he loves with every breath he breathes. This petite spitfire conquers him; and, by golly, I smile and cheer for Mary every time I read the book.

And now for a sneak peek into Vonnie’s latest romance, Storm’s Interlude….

Nurse Rachel Dennison comes to Texas determined to prepare her new patient for a second round of chemo. What she isn’t counting on is her patient’s twin brother, Storm Masterson. Despite her initial attraction, Storm has two things Rachel can’t abide: a domineering personality and a fiancée. Half Native American, with the ability to have "vision dreams," Storm dreams about Rachel for three nights before her arrival. Both are unprepared for the firestorm of emotions their first encounter ignites. Ultimately, it is Rachel’s past—an abusive, maniacal ex-boyfriend—that threatens to keep them apart…and Storm’s dreams that bring them together again.

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Thank you for sharing your favorite romance with us, Vonnie! Readers, to learn more about Vonnie and her books, visit her on the web at www.vonniedavis.com.

****Vonnie has kindly offered a giveaway today…. By commenting to today’s post between now and midnight EST tomorrow, you’ll be entered to win a free copy of Storm’s Interlude! Be sure to check back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.)

14 Days of Romance; Jannine Gallant

Welcome, readers, to Day 6 of 14 Days of Romance! Today we host author and friend, Jannine Gallant, whose latest romance, Bittersweet, is available now from Whiskey Creek Press. Take it away, Jannine… 

The Most Battered Books on my Keeper Shelf: Amber asked me to choose my all time favorite romance to talk about – wow, not an easy task! I went to my keeper shelf and stared at the rows of books. LaVyrle Spencer makes a good showing, as does Nora Roberts. But there were two books far more battered than the rest with taped spines and loose pages from reading them over and over again. Both were written years and years ago and are probably out of print, but maybe you could pick them up in a used book store—that’s where I found them.

The first is Don’t Forget To Smile by Kathleen Gilles Seidel. This is the story of Tory Duncan, a runner-up in the Miss America pageant from South Carolina, who ran away from a too perfect, plastic life to tend her own bar in Oregon. Joe Brigham is a logger from a long line of timbermen, trying to break out of his lower middle class life. These two unlikely characters share a common bond as they quietly struggle against everything that is expected of them. I love the flavor of this book; the working class families portrayed so accurately, the family dynamics that have such a profound hold on these characters. If you enjoy small towns and atypical heroes, you’ll love this book.

The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory is another book with an unusual hero. This one is a historical set on a farm in Texas. Luke Turner is a bad boy from a tarpaper shack who has spent time in jail. He’s younger than the heroine, Sarah McGowan, who was raised in a respectable family. The two are thrown together when Sarah’s parents are killed, but the whole town is against their union. The largest obstacle to their happiness, however, is Luke’s own lack of self-worth. Emotions run deep in this story.

My most recent release is Bittersweet, available now through Whiskey Creek Press. Of all my heroes, Daniel Moran is my favorite. His personal struggle between staying true to his values and the woman he loves makes him an unusual hero in a class with Joe and Luke.

Here’s a closer peek into Jannine’s latest novel, Bittersweet! Enjoy….

Eight months after her husband is killed in a train robbery, Tess Moran knows she must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and build a future for herself and her infant daughter. Daniel Moran’s love for Tess is bittersweet. Acting on his feelings for his sister-in-law will betray his dead brother’s memory. Watching her search for love elsewhere may very well destroy him.

In 1880, life in rural Colorado is filled with hard work and simple pleasures, but trouble looms on the horizon. Together Tess and Daniel battle drought and the outlaw who killed the man they both loved, but the greatest challenge of all is finding solace for their battered hearts.

 

Thank you so much, Amber, for having me on your blog. It was terrific fun, and I hope I’ve introduced your readers to two great new authors!

Thank you, Jannine, for taking the time to share your favorite romances with us today! Readers, you can find out more about Jannine and her books at her website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Bittersweet is available now at Whiskey Creek Press! (And join both Jannine and I at our group blog, The Roses of Prose!)

14 Days of Romance: Tanya Hanson

Today 14 Days of Romance continues with author Tanya Hanson whose latest release, Hearts Crossing Ranch, is available now from White Rose Publishing! Take it away, Tanya….

For me, the book that started it all was Little Women. When I was eight years old and read that book for the first of a billion times, I knew someday, somehow, I would be a writer. And I guess in its way, it’s a romance. It does have the HEA, with Jo March meeting her professor.

Or not. Louisa May Alcott didn’t want Jo to marry and matched up her feisty Miss March only because her publisher insisted. Not only did Louisa herself remain a staunchly independent unmarried woman, but her heart really wasn’t into the marriage idea. She’d seen her talented, intellectual mother Abba “kept down” by the drudgery of housework, tending four daughters as well as a helpless dreamer of a husband who felt it demeaned him to work for a living.

Anyway, my two favorite love stories, Romeo and Juliet and Gone with the Wind definitely don’t have HEA. Therefore, they don’t quality as romances. So what to do? What to pick? Out of the thousands of romance novels I’ve read over my lifetime, how do I find the favorite one? To me it’s as impossible as finding a perfect grain of sand on the shore.

One of the early standouts has got to be Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and The Dove. When I was a young mom some thirty years ago, I’d treat myself to a new romance novel whenever I did the grocery shopping. In those days, one whole wall of my local supermarket was lined with paperbacks of every subject and genre. I gravitated toward the thickest romance tomes, especially those with glorious heroes on the cover. And that’s how I first met Wulfgar, the Iron Wolf, and Aislinn of Darkenwald, the beautiful Saxon maiden who steals his heart long before he realizes it.

Of course, Aislinn herself burns both with malice toward him and a passion she can’t douse.

To this day I remember his anger at being a bastard and jealousy of Ragnor, his ambition rivaling that of William the Conquerer in whose time the story takes place. I remember Aislin’s purple eyes widening the first time the first time she, and he…Well, you get the picture.

I loved the darkness of the medieval history, the harsh yet somehow elegant British setting. A stormy passion settling into true love. I still love dashing medieval romances with beautiful princesses and daring knights and lords. Yet, I ended up writing about cowboys. Go figure. Then again there are plenty of folks who consider America’s cowboys the knights errant of the plains with their adventurous spirits, respect for womenfolk, and staunch code of honor.

You might enjoy the cowboys of Hearts Crossing Ranch, my eight book inspirational contemporary series from at White Rose Publishing. Book Five will be out soon, and the stories are all stand alone, but a good place to start is Book One, Hearts Crossing Ranch, when a rugged Colorado cowboy falls for a beautiful city slicker on one of his family’s modern-day wagon train trips.

Now for a sneak peek into Hearts Crossing Ranch….

Cowboy Kenn Martin bears the guilt for allowing a coach to ruin his younger brother’s bright athletic future. Feeling unworthy of any happiness, he’s lost his faith in relationships and in God. When he meets Christy Forrest, he begins to hope for redemption but soon learns his past mistakes aren't something she'll easily forgive. 

On the Colorado wagon train adventure planned by her late father, landscape designer Christy Forrest seeks to find peace in the nature she loves. However, she can't let go of her anger at the drunk driver who killed her dad—or the woman who did nothing to stop the man from driving.  Falling for Kenn Martin begins to lighten her heart…until she realizes the handsome cowboy carries heavy a burden all his own—a burden she’s not sure she can accept.

Thank you for sharing your favorite romances with us today, Tanya! Readers, you can find out more about Tanya and her books at her website and the western blog Petticoats & Pistols. Hearts Crossing Ranch is available now at Amazon. For a more in-depth look, watch the book trailer….

14 Days of Romance: Cassandre Dayne

Today’s 14 Days of Romance guest is author Cassandre Dayne, whose favorite romantic comedy was based off of a book! Take it away, Cassandre….

What’s romantic about Valentine’s Day? Well – everything to me. I love the holiday and the passion around it and I think it’s the time of year we all love reading something passionate. Now I’m not a traditionalist in any way as far as romance so I tend to read things of romance that really burn within my soul and might be considered a little out of the ordinary. So… my favorite love story is based on the movie The Holiday. I loved this one because it’s really about bridging not only cultures and classes but about the simpler things in life including sharing laughs at times when we’re not our best. I loved the interaction of the characters and when you read the book you even get a touch more of the fabulous developing relationships between them. I am not a sappy movie person but that has to be one I cry at every time. BTW – a little trivia – this is based off the book titled Life Swap.

In writing – I wrote a piece for Valentine’s Day that grapples with the aspect of extreme loss and couples it with learning to love again with the help of a beloved horse. I’m a total animal person and am lucky enough to have two dogs so they’ve been my joy.

Here’s a peek into Cassandre’s latest release, Hearts Forged by Fire….

For rancher Zeke Parker, every day was difficult. Not only was Rattlesnake Ranch falling on hard times but he couldn’t get over the horrible grief plaguing him for over a year. The death of his lover, David, had nearly stripped away his soul. As Valentine’s Day drew near his sister Sandi was determined to drag him out of his private hell. Agreeing to be a part of a charity auction for the humane society, Zeke figured one date with a wealthy woman wasn’t going to kill him. But during dinner at Sandi’s house, Zeke meets movie producer Drake Wilson, who's scouting locations for an upcoming movie, and sparks fly.

After an impetuous moment of heat, both men are skittish and each have their reasons for pulling back. But Cupid has other ideas in mind. When a rouse brings the two men together, passion roars between them but damning secrets are too much for either to deal with. Just as Zeke is determined to give up on love forever, Cupid intervenes again and this time, the arrow goes straight through Zeke's heart. 

Thank you so much for sharing, Cassandre! Readers, find out more about Cassandre and her books at her website. Hearts Forged by Fire is available now at All RomanceeBooks….

14 Days of Romance: Jerri Hines

We’re counting down to Valentine’s Day here at The Cozy Page! Continuing our 14 Days of Romance event is author and friend, Jerri Hines whose favorite romance novel happens to be one of mine, too. Take it away, Jerri….

For a romance author, February is the perfect month. Valentine’s Day…the day for lovers. Cold winter’s nights…snuggling close by a warm crackling fire. A great book…a wonderful love story to immerse one’s self while the snow falls. For me, nothing’s better than escaping into a Romance Novel.

I am an avid reader. I love to read. All different genres, depending on my mood, but I’m partial to romance. I’m such a sap when it comes to a touching love story. I cried reading The Notebook and Love Story. I’ll admit since I was a young girl the poem, “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes, has haunted me. Who can forget “And the highwayman came riding—Riding—riding—The highwayman came riding…”

But I confess I have a Cinderella complex. I love a happy ending. When I pick up a romance, happily ever after is what I’m looking for. I have an expectation no matter what obstacles are thrown my heroine’s way, love will conquer all. Taking all that in account, if I had to choose my favorite romance novel, it would be…Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. 

I have read Ashes in the Wind numerous times over the years. Still I’m drawn to the characters of the Civil War novel. I love the feisty heroine, Alaina. Once a Southern Belle she disguises herself as boy, fooling the Yankee doctor, Cole…for a while. From the book's blurb-   A woman burdened by war...A doctor torn between passion and duty...A sweeping tale of love in the face of dishonor from the incomparable storyteller--Kathleen Woodiwiss.

Forbidden love. A Southern Belle and a Yankee. What is it that draws us to a love that should never be? But it does though, doesn’t it?

Here is a glimpse into Jerri’s latest release, Daughter of Deceit, which is available now on Amazon and written under Jerri’s pen name, Carrie James Haynes….

Daughter of Deceit's premise is a forbidden love. For the first time, I venture across the ocean to Regency England writing about Lord Julian Casvelyn, who has long lived with the guilt brought on by the death of his brother, a brother killed by George Hythe, England’s most notorious spy. For years, Alyce Hythe, daughter of the infamous traitor, has been hidden away from the prying eyes of London Society, given a new identity and told to forget who she was. Thrown together by fate, the two search for answers long denied them and along the way discover a love that can free them both.

Romance…suspense…with a touch of paranormal. Irresistible to any romance lover!

Shunned from London society for being the daughter of England’s most notorious spy, Alyce Hythe desires only to clear her father’s name. But strange things have been happening causing old rumors to be whispered of mystic ghosts and demons. Only one thing is certain for Alyce...someone wants her dead.

For years Lord Julian Casvelyn has mourned for his dead brother, murdered in cold blood by England’s most infamous traitor. But one eventful night has changed everything Lord Julian believed about his brother’s death. Never did he suspect the woman he has just saved from certain harm is the daughter of that man. Now Julian is caught in midst of a conspiracy and desire for a woman...learning unearthing secrets has a price.

Thank you for sharing your favorite romance as well as your latest release, Jerri! Readers, you can find out more about Daughter of Deceit at her blog and on her Facebook page, Novel Works!