Quick Update....

Just a quick update…. I’m happy to announce that my Harlequin editor and I have finished edits on His Rebel Heart, Adrian’s story! I haven’t yet seen a cover, but I’m hoping to before my Superromance debut’s birthday next month. Fingers crossed! The book is due on shelves in July 2015 – but you can go ahead and put it on your To-Read list on Goodreads. To see the new inspiration board for the book on Pinterest, click here….

Also, to those of you who are waiting for prize packages from last month’s Valentine’s Day Book Bundle Giveaway, your bundles should be in the mail soon. I’m currently waiting for shipping boxes after a couple of weeks off due to cold and flu season finally hitting our house. I'll post a note here when they do ship so you can be on the look-out....

Tune in tomorrow for Throwback Thursday Book Club! Friday, I’ll be blogging at Roses of Prose!

Throwback Thursday Book Club Pick....

Welcome to our second Throwback Thursday Book Club! Today’s selection is for those who love historical romance, particularly those of the Regency variety….

 

Title: Wicked Little Game

Author: Christine Wells

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Originally Published: 2009 (from Berkley Sensation)

Back Cover Blurb: 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.

Why I Recommend It: While this title is unfortunately hard to find these days, I must admit that I came across it years ago by accident. It also led to my obsession with Regency romance. In fact, all I read for a period of almost two years was Regency romance. Also…this book desperately made me want to write a Regency romance novel, a feat I’m still trying to conjure to this day…. If you’re looking for a bit of an unconventional or a modern Regency, this book’s for you!

Amazon Average Rating: 4 Stars (It’s on my keeper shelf; definitely 5/5 in my book!)

 

This wintry weather is making me long for spring…and, I’ll admit it, even summer—because summer reminds me of lake days like these. Last month, my husband, son, sister, and I met my father at our family lake house. The water was down about fifty feet from the seawall. My husband had the wonderful idea of encapsulating some of the sandy/grainy lake bottom in glass jars so that we could seal them and keep them forever. We wound up taking two bottles home to the coast to have with us even on days like today when summer and lake vacations seem very far away. It also serves to remind me of days like the one on which this photo was taken at a place fondly referred to by our family as “Three Pines,” a teensy weensy island in the middle of the lake where we picnicked as kids. It no longer has three pine trees, as the name would entail. I think most of the island has been lost to erosion. There's hardly room to tie up your boat and camp anymore. But two summers ago, we returned to Three Pines by boat to take a host of nostalgic pictures. My sister and I even went so far as to recreate a sentimental pose from our early childhood. Whenever I need a little dose of sunshine to brighten my winter days, I go back to this album. Mm, yes. I can just feel the lake sand squishing between my toes….

 

Warm thoughts to you and yours, Cozies -- and, as always, happy reading!

 

 

Winner Announcement....

Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Valentine’s Day Book Bundle Giveaway! Now it’s time to announce the winners….

The following names were chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org….

 

Grand Prize Winner: Mindy

1st Runner Up: Julie

2nd Runner Up: Mary Preston

 

Congratulations, ladies! Please send a confirmation email with your name and shipping address to amber@amberleighwilliams.com. Also, if you are the grand prize winner please specify which book bundle you would like to receive….

I hope everyone has a special holiday weekend! Happy President’s Day to my American followers and a Happy Family Day to my Canadian friends! Thanks again for a great Valentine’s Day contest this year!

Throwback Thursday....

I’ve been saying for a week or two now that Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday of the year. There’s a reason for this beyond the fact that I write romance novels for a living. I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day. Nothing was better growing up than decorating my own little white paper bag so classmates could drop their valentines inside. Even as I matured into adolescence, the awkwardness of youth couldn’t thwart my enthusiasm whenever Valentine’s Day rolled around. You never knew when a secret admirer would reveal himself. In the latter years of high school, I looked forward to the first class of the day when carnations would be delivered to those who had real valentines, hoping it would be my year….

It wasn’t until I graduated that I found my true valentine. He was well worth waiting for. And when our first Valentine’s Day together rolled around eight months into our relationship and he got down on one knee and proposed, it’s safe to say that he redeemed my lifelong love of February 14th and everything that comes with it…

So here’s to St. Valentine, Cupid, my beloved husband, and everybody else who makes Valentine’s Day worth waiting for every year!

 

(The Valentine's Day Book Bundle Giveaway is still open for entries, but only until midnight EST tomorrow. Get your entry in, if you haven't already by scrolling down to the giveaway post for rules and more details....)

Valentine's Day Book Bundle Giveaway....

Laissez les bon temps rouler to everybody celebrating Mardi Gras along the coast! We missed our favorite parade last night. Our minion’s back teeth are cutting through and it makes for some difficult evenings. However, the Mardi Gras spirit is very much alive everywhere we go around these parts. Here’s to Fat Tuesday….

I promised the year’s first book bundle giveaway this month and I’m here to deliver! In honor of my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day, I’ve got some exciting prize packages lined up. PLEASE READ ALL THE RULES AND OTHER DETAILS THAT FOLLOW SO YOU DON'T MISS OUT ON ANYTHING....

On Valentine’s Day next Saturday, I will be drawing three names – a grand prize winner, the first runner-up and a second runner-up. The grand prize winner will have their choice of one of three great book bundles—one contemporary, one paranormal, and one historical (pictured and listed by title and author below). The first runner-up will then be able to choose one of the remaining two bundles and the second runner-up will receive the final bundle. Each bundle contains eight books. Here they are broken down by title and author….  

 

 

CONTEMPORARY BUNDLE

Quentins by Maeve Binchy (mass market paperback)

Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels (large print hardcover)

Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts (hardcover)

Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts (mass market paperback)

High Noon by Nora Roberts (hardcover)

Winner Takes All by Nora Roberts (mass market paperback)

H.R.H. by Danielle Steel (mass market paperback)

Fireworks by Elizabeth White (trade paperback)

 

HISTORICAL BUNDLE

The Viscount’s Scandalous Return by Anne Ashley (mass market paperback)Castles by Julie Garwood (mass market paperback)

Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange (trade paperback)

The Substitute Bride by Elizabeth Lane (mass market paperback)

Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig (hardcover)

Poison by Sara Poole (trade paperback)

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn (mass market paperback)

The Border Vixen by Bertrice Small (trade paperback)

 

PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY BUNDLE

Witch Fire by Anya Bast (mass market paperback)

Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day (mass market paperback)

Immortal Danger by Cynthia Eden (trade paperback)

Game Over by Taylor Keating (mass market paperback)

Phantom in the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon with Dianna Love (mass market paperback)

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (hardcover)

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (mass market paperback)

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward (hardcover)

 

Okay, now for the RULES! Remember to read all the following very carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to ask....

1.     To enter, you must comment to this blog post before the end of Friday, February 13th (midnight EST), naming your favorite romance novel or love-themed book and why you love it. (This is your chance to recommend Valentine’s-Day-themed reads to fellow readers!)

2.   For additional entries, you have the option of adding any or all of the following. PLEASE NOTE IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO USE ANY OF THESE THREE OPTIONS WHILE COMMENTING TO THIS POST:

          +2 entries counted for tweeting this contest (must link back to @ALeighWilliams)

          +2 entries counted for posting this contest to Facebook (must link back to @amberleighwilliams)

          +5 entries counted for joining my official mailing list using the pink button on the sidebar of this blog

Some additional rules….

1.     By entering this contest and commenting to this blog, you automatically verify that you are 18 years or older.

2.   If entering, be sure to check back on Saturday morning, February 14th to see if your name is drawn.

3.   The grand prize winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up will all be chosen by the Random Number Generator at Random.org.

That’s all for now, folks! Remember, it’s important to check back in on Valentine’s Day to see if you are one of the three lucky winners. Bonne chance!

Blog Hoppin'....

Just a quick note on my whereabouts on this busy Friday! Today I’m in two places at once. First, I’m at the official blog of the Harlequin Superromance imprint, Super Authors, talking about wild and crazy cooking disasters and how they’re influencing my next novel....

Second, I’m having a grand ol’ time at my monthly stop by Roses of Prose. This one’s really special – I’m revealing a “slice of life” from some characters who might be familiar to you. It’s Cole and Briar’s wedding day (from A Place With Briar). Come by for a peek at the festivities and read up on this “after-HEA” snippet….

Oh, and sneak back to The Cozy Page on Sunday for that Mardi Gras recap (if the weather holds for the parades; here’s hoping!) and details on my first book bundle giveaway of the year!

Throwback Thrusday Book Club Picks....

Howdy, readers! Welcome to the first Throwback Thursday Book Club. In case you missed my explanation last week, here’s how it works: every other Thursday, I’ll be recommending a “throwback” read—and by “throwback” I mean something published more than five years ago. There are all kinds of great titles out there waiting for readers to discover them and they aren’t all new. Some of my favorite reads definitely qualify for “throwback” status. I hope you find something you like, Cozies! Because today is the first Thursday book club post, I’ve chosen three “oldies.” Trust me, they’re goodies ;)

Title: The Heart of Devin MacKade

Author: Nora Roberts

Genre: Contemporary Romance (from Silhouette Intimate Moments)

Originally Published: 1996

Back Cover Blurb: Devin MacKade knew it was his destiny to serve and protect the small town of Antietam, Maryland. And he always suspected his future should have little Cassie Connor in it. After Cassie married the wrong man, Devin tried to convince himself there would be other women, other loves. Now, after Cassie's divorce, Devin can finally follow his heart. But can Cassie follow hers?

Why I Recommend It: I love the MacKade brothers. This book is third in a series of four, but it’s classic Nora. A great romance and, although not a novella, a quick read. I always love going back and cracking this one back open for a quick, satisfying fix. Devin is a memorable hero and his and Cassie’s story is both sweet and sexy!

Amazon Average Rating: 4.7 Stars (I personally give it a solid 5!)

 

Title: Tall, Dark & Cajun

Author: Sandra Hill

Genre: Contemporary Romance (from Grand Central Publishing’s Forever line)

Originally Published: 2003

Back Cover Blurb: Rachel Fortier, a thirty-something home design consultant, has had it with her fiancé. It's bad enough that he gave her a Thighmaster for Valentine's Day and a Butt Buster for her birthday, and that their seven-year engagement has no end in sight. But she just learned that he's had a vasectomy! Rachel packs up and heads south to meet her great-aunt Gizelle for the first time and take a few days to regroup. She imagines a Grandma Walton living in a picturesque house surrounded by wondrous nature. What she finds is a cabin on stilts deep in the bayous, with alligators and snakes the size of telephone poles. As for Aunt Gizelle, she's a former taxidermist who can outcreep Hannibal Lechter any day of the week.

And if that isn't enough to make a girl turn around and head right back to her ex, Gizelle is feuding with a Cajun bad boy -Remy LeDeux, a helicopter pilot and Air Force vet whose face is scarred from battle. Rene wants to buy a piece of property from Gizelle, but the feisty senior makes it clear she wants nothing to do with any LeDeux. But the moment Remy sees Rachel getting out of a red truck, it's love at first sight for the long-time bachelor, despite all the turmoil she brings into his life, with her ideas of Feng Shui-ing his houseboat and her ex chasing after her, not to mention her great-aunt threatening to shoot his heinie. But getting Rachel to say "I do" is worth it. After all, he's never met a woman before who looks at him like he's a Whitmans Sampler box and she's a chocoholic.

Why I Recommend It: I recently discovered Sandra Hill and her rip-roarin’ Cajun series. I’m sorry it took me this long. This happens to be the second book in Hill's Cajun set. The downhome, Louisiana bayou backdrop and Cajun culture is one of my favorite things about the story. However, it’s Hill’s voice and seam-splitting humor as well as the pace of the story that won me over. I was little more than midway through the book before I went out and bought the first book in the series and ear-marked other Sandra Hill titles on my auto-buy list. If you need a pick-me-up, this book’s for you!

Amazon Average Rating: 4.5 Stars (I give it 4)

 

Title: Homespun Bride

Author: Jillian Hart

Genre: Historical Inspirational Romance (from Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historicals)

Originally Published: 2008

Back Cover Blurb: 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.

Why I Recommend It: I don’t read a lot of inspirationals and, even you aren’t a fan, trust me, this one is a memorable read. I’ve always been a sucker for a handicapped protagonist. Add in the western setting and, needless to say, a rancher hero.... It’s no wonder I bought this one in the first place. However, this is a stand-out title is a treat for those who enjoy the occasional sweet romance as well as those who love inspirational romance against the historical backdrop of the American West.  

Amazon Average Rating: 4 Stars (I give it 5)

 

So that’s it for this week’s Throwback Thursday Book Club picks! Come back two weeks from now for another great throwback recommendation. Oh, and don’t forget to tune in on Sunday to get a Mardi Gras recap as well as details for the first book bundle giveaway of the year to celebrate Valentine’s week!

I’d like to extend an invitation to readers who have throwback recommendations of their own. If you have a “throwback” book in mind that you would like others to know about, feel free to message me via email at amber@amberleighwilliams.com and I’ll be happy to include it and your name in the next Throwback Thursday post!

I'll leave you with one last treat in honor of Throwback Thursday. This one's from the '80's. Without a doubt, an oldie. This was long before my family moved to the Gulf Coast or the Mobile Bay, but here I am on a visit to the hometown of my heart as well as quite a few of my characters, Fairhope....

 

MARRIED ONE NIGHT First Look....

Last Friday, I had the privilege of blogging at SuperAuthors for the first time as a new member of the Superromance group blog. I took that opportunity to debut the gorgeous cover art of my second Harlequin Superromance novel, Married One Night (October 2014). And here for you now, Cozies, is your first look at the cover and blurb….

What happened in Vegas…followed her home!  

Olivia Lewis is not the marrying type. So when a wild weekend in Vegas leaves her with a surprise husband, she’s happy to sign anything to erase her mistake—even if that mistake is handsome, charming and comes with an English accent. Fortunately, her groom has other plans.

Bestselling author Gerald Leighton knows he can make his new bride fall in love with him—he just needs time. In exchange for a quickie divorce, Olivia grudgingly gives him a few weeks to attempt to woo her. And whether Olivia likes it or not, Gerald plans on using every second to win her heart!

I had a lot of fun writing this one. Though it stands alone as a novel, it features one of the colorful secondary characters from my April Superromance, A Place With Briar. Olivia was a departure for me as a heroine. It’s always interesting, as an introvert, to step into the shoes as someone who is as extroverted as this heroine. But the fun really kicked in when I introduced her to her British hero, Gerald Leighton, who was inspired in large part by none other than the lovely and charming English actor, Tom Hiddleston. You can see more about how I was inspired by Tom, his sword-fighting skills, and his ability to wear to a tailored suit to purrrfection on my Pinterest board for Married One Night!

Stay tuned for my September newsletter, which will include details about my virtual book tour for Married One Night as well as a very special Goodreads giveaway! (If you haven’t yet subscribed to my mailing list, find the link to do so on the right sidebar….) Also stay tuned for excerpts and more exciting behind-the-scenes extras involving Married One Night!

Preorder Married One Night at Amazon!

Book Tour Update + Contests & Winners....

Just an update on A Place With Briar’s virtual book tour stops, contests and prize winners….

Sunday, I revealed the title of my October Superromance novel, Married One Night, at Roses of Prose. Writers, for my 5 Keys to Surviving a Successful Revision, visit the group blog here….

Monday, I was at author Carol A. Spradling’s blog talking about fiction vs. reality. Have you ever wondered how much of a writer’s real life winds up in his/her novels? (I also talk about how the British hero of Married One Night winds up wearing a kilt!) Find the answers here at Carol’s blog….

Yesterday, the hero of A Place With Briar, Cole, was at Rogue’s Angels filling out a customer survey for the heroine’s bed-and-breakfast. Find out what Cole really thought the inn sheets and Briar’s hospitality. There’s still time to enter to win the Ridges of Wayback, TX novella of your choice as well! See Rogue’s Angels for more details….

Tomorrow I will be interviewed by the Plotting Princesses. Friday, I will journey to Susana’s Morning Room. And Saturday will be my all-day Facebook chatting event at Coffee Time Romance’s Mocha Milieu where there will be yet another gift card giveaway. Stay tuned for all this and more….

Now for a round-up of contest winners. Good news: all three of the Fool for Romance Contest book bundle winners have contacted me to receive their prizes – thank you! If you see your name below and have already contacted me regarding your prize, please disregard this posting. If you are a winner and you have not yet contacted me to claim your prize, please do so at amber@amberleighwilliams.com

 

Just Contemporary Romance Giveaway for a trade paperback edition of Forever Amore

Winner: Julie O.

 

RR&H Novel Thoughts & Book Chat Giveaway for $15 Books-a-Million Gift Card

Winner: Tabitha Jones

 

A very special thank you to all those who participated in these tour stops and others. At this time, I do not know the winner for the Harlequin Junkie Rafflecopter giveaway for a $15 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Please check back within the next few days. I’m sure I’ll have a winner announcement soon. I would like to say thank you so much to those who joined the discussion there about wounded/damaged heroes in romance! It was a wonderful debate and I added many of your recommendations to my own TBR list!

One last bit of good news - In the next week or so, I will be joining a new group blog, the Superromance Authors blog at SuperAuthors.com! I'm thrilled to be a part of this new group of distinguished authors and can't wait to get started. Stay tuned for my first post there....

Tink's Hump Day Heroes: Judd Black....

It’s that time of week again: “Hump day!” Sorry. I’ve never actually done that before. Never again. Anyway, my muse Tink has traveled to West Texas for the next few weeks to interview my three cowboy heroes from the Ridges of Wayback, TX trilogy (an opportunity she leapt on with a great amount of enthusiasm, I'll add). First up is the hero of Blackest Heart, silent cowboy Judd Black. (It should be noted that Judd submitted his answers in writing and only under enormous pressure…. In fact, his heroine Stella may or may not have filled out parts of the interview for him after he refused, LOL)

 
Tink: Name?
Judd Black
 

Tink: Hair color?

Dark Brown, almost black
 

Tink: Eye color?

Hazel
[Tink: On closer inspection, they are brown shot through with green. Good God, are they gorgeous!] 
 

Tink: Occupation?
I'm a ranch hand at Ridge Range. Sometimes I bull ride at the local rodeo arena.

[Tink: This hero is extremely modest. Everyone in Wayback says he's the best bull rider in town. He has the gold buckles to prove it. Not that they are anywhere to be found in his cabin. I checked.]

 

Tink: Hometown?
Wayback, Texas. Raised by the Ridge family but born in a neighboring town. Not that I talk about life before the Ridges and Wayback. Ever.

 

Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?

I don’t dance
[Tink: He's not lying here. I tried to get him to boot-scoot with me Friday night at The Blue Bug Saloon. No go.]

 

Tink: What is your preferred mode of transportation?

Anything big enough to haul my horse’s trailer and tough enough to get out of the mud come raining season.

Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?
Show it.

[Tink: I'll say! It's more in the way he looks at Stella, every damn time. Lucky gal.]

Tink: Who is the person you look up to most in life?
Jim Black, my adoptive father.

Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?
Future. The past wasn’t all that great.

 

Tink: What would you give your heroine if you needed forgiveness?

There’s not much I can give a woman like Stella that she doesn’t already have other than a quiet home away from the city and fame she’s came back to Wayback to escape. Here with me, of course, at the cabin.
[Tink: Ladies, he built this cabin and the barn with his own two hands. And he has a blind dog, Elwood. I think I'm a goner.]

 

Tink: Would you describe yourself as more alpha or beta?
If you’re referring to that fistfight with Stella’s brother, Keefe, he had it coming.

[Tink: He seems to be an alpha in wait. Like a wolf ready to spring into action....]

 

Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?.

Stella will tell you I like to sit back and wait.
[Tink: I've been watching these two pretty closely. Technically, it was Judd who made the first move. Just sayin'.]

 

Tink: Do you have a favorite song?
Anything by Johnny Cash.

 

Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?

Quiet night here at the cabin. Steaks on the grill. Some of the Wayback home brew.

 

Tink: Karaoke: yes or no?

Never.

 

Tink: And – most importantly – do you wear boxers, briefs, or commando?

That’s none of your damn business.

Stella: Hi, Tink! I’m happy to report after a night at the cabin with a bottle of Wayback’s best home brew that there’s nothing but Judd underneath those Wranglers J Cheers!

Tink: Yes, yes! Exactly as I suspected. Thank you for delivering the news, Stella! And may I just say, I'm insanely jealous.  

 

 

Dear Judd, please allow me to apologize for my muse, Tink's, behavior in Wayback so far. Apparently, she has been stalking you relentlessly. If it makes you feel any better, I'll be unleashing her on Stella's big brother, Keefe, soon enough....


Readers, I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my silent cowboy from Blackest Heart. The western romance novella is on sale now at Amazon for just $2.99! See more about it here. Tune in next week for more fun with the Ridge Range cowboys. You can listen to the audio book on sale now. Blackest Heart is also featured in the trade paperback anthology The Way Back Home....

(Today is the last day to enter to win a Ridges of Wayback, TX book of your choice. Head on over to Rogue’s Angels now to find out how….)

October Superromance Title Reveal Today at Roses of Prose....

There’s something special going on today at Roses of Prose today.... I’m unveiling my 5 Keys to Surviving a Successful Revision and announcing the official title of my Harlequin Superromance novel. See it here!

Weekend Book Tour & Giveaway Round-Up....

Here’s a weekend round-up of virtual book tour stops as well as where to find giveaways….

First of all, there’s only a few hours left to enter the Harlequin Junkie giveaway for a $15 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. I’m spotlighted with an interview there as well as excerpts from A Place With Briar. Plus, there has been an amazing discussion in the comments about wounded/damaged heroes….

All weekend I’ll be at Just Contemporary Romance where I’m talking about small towns and the most romantic small town in America! Enter to win a trade paperback copy of my historical romance, Forever Amore….

At RR&H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk, I’m talking about hurricanes, unveiling a never-before-seen snippet from A Place With Briar and giving away a $15 Books-a-Million Gift Card….

I have also been interviewed by Riverina Romantics. This was a fun one! Find out how Pride and Prejudice would have ended differently if I had written it versus Jane Austen's version….

Tomorrow, I’ll be doing my monthly post at Roses of Prose. There I will be revealing the official title of my October Superromance novel, the sequel to A Place With Briar!

Don’t miss out on any of these great stops A Place With Briar’s virtual book tour. Check back in on Monday to see a list of winners for all giveaways mentioned above and next week’s schedule, where to win more prizes as well as the next fun Wednesday feature of Tink’s Hump Day Heroes….

Oh, and one more note – there are unclaimed book bundles from March’s Fool for Romance Contest. If you entered the contest, be sure to check in here to see if you have won.

Tink's Hump Day Heroes: Cole Savitt....

Welcome to my new Wednesday blog feature here at The Cozy Page: Tink’s Hump Day Heroes! A little backstory on Tink, for those of you who don’t know her. Back when I hosted guest authors here at the ol’ blog, Tink was the one to interview them. I’ll warn you: she has no filter and asks the most outlandish questions so be prepared. Or, I should say, heroes, you be prepared! Tink is actually my fickle muse who spends most of the year on a desert island visited frequently by Captain Jack Sparrow and other sexy, dashing heroes of the high seas….

In May, I’ll be opening up Tink’s Hump Day Heroes feature to guest authors and their heroes. Authors, I’ll be releasing more details about this closer to the end of April so stay tuned for that….

Today’s victim…*ahem* hero is a familiar face. To keep the release week party going for my Harlequin Superromance debut, A Place With Briar, the hero Cole has bravely volunteered to be Tink’s first interviewee. Good luck, sweet cheeks – and I should say welcome back, Tink!  

 

Tink: Name?
Cole Savitt
 

Tink: Hair color?

Dark Brown
 

Tink: Eye color?

Brown

 

Tink: Occupation?

Right now, I’m between jobs. Unless you count this under-the-table undercover work I’m doing for my ex at Hanna’s Inn. I’m a retired narcotics detective.

 

Tink: Hometown?

Huntsville, Alabama

 

Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?

Cole: I can’t claim to be much of a dancer so not so much.

Tink: What is your preferred mode of transportation?

Cole: A black Harley Davidson cruiser


Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?

Cole: Show it, definitely.


Tink: Who is the person you look up to most in life?

Cole: Up until his passing, it was my father. Lately, I think it's been more my older brother, Tad, and the life he lives with his family.

 

Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?

Cole: Into the future, just so I know if my ex-wife is telling the truth and if I do her dirty work at Hanna’s Inn then I can have my son in my life again - and hurting Briar will be worth it all. My gut tells me it won't be....

 

Tink: What would you give your heroine if you needed forgiveness?

Cole: Do you know something I don’t about that future we were just talking about? Well, if that woman were anything like Briar Browning, groveling. Lots of it. She deserves it.  

 

Tink: Would you describe yourself as more alpha or beta?

Cole: From an instinctual standpoint, I’m alpha. Sometimes I feel those tendencies edging toward the forefront despite the fact that I’m no longer a cop. But so long as I don’t feel threatened, I’m working on being a bit more beta. Helps me fade into the wordwork better, which is what I need to get into Briar’s finances and finish my ex-wife’s wicked errand.

 

Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?

Cole: It depends on the situation. Usually, I’m much more sure of myself. When it comes to Briar, not so much. I don’t want to hurt her.

 

Tink: Do you have a favorite song?

Cole: Briar was humming something by Ray Charles the other day. It’s been stuck in my head ever since. Funny, I never claimed to be a fan of soul.

 

Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?

Cole: A quiet inn. Summer sunlight shining through the windows. A couple of Briar’s BLTs and maybe some of her homemade lemonade and potato salad, too. We could make a picnic of it on the sun porch. She can cook so long as she lets me do the washing up.  

Tink: Karaoke: yes or no?

Cole: Hell no.

Tink: And – most importantly – do you wear boxers, briefs, or commando?

Cole: Er…I’d much rather let Briar find that out for herself, thank you very much. But, if you must know…commando.

 

Thank you, Cole, for answering Tink’s prying questions! Readers, to find out more about Cole and his heroine, Briar, as of yesterday you can purchase their story, A Place With Briar, in store or online at the following retailers….


Amazon
Harlequin
B&N
Kobo
Google Play

Oh, and get a peek at that sleek Harley Davidson cruiser Cole was talking about at my inspiration board for A Place With Briar on Pinterest....

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed the first of Tink’s Hump Day Heroes! Check back in next Wednesday for more. Tomorrow’s Throwback Thursday and the weekend scoop on some big stops on my virtual book tours + two big giveaways!