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?

Special Guest: Genella DeGrey

Today The Cozy Page welcomes Genella DeGrey, author of erotic historical romance Love Divine:

In the Highlands of Britannia, 420 A.D., Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother. Now Rome has returned, but in place of a legion of solders, a single man peddles a new Roman god.

Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction whom his Bishop finds equally delectable.

Ryus must choose between the salvation of his soul and the woman he loves. Aslyn must escape before she becomes the Bishop’s newest sacrificial lamb.

Love Divine has some very religious themes, many of which conflict. What inspired you to tell a story rooted in religion?

I didn't really set out to do a religious story, so to speak. It was the thought of how difficult it would be to have someone come in and disrupt what you and your kinsmen have practiced for so long—the worship of mother earth, the moon, the goddess, et cetera.

How do you balance the religious elements with the erotic aspect of the story?

Bono once said, "We are both spirit and flesh. How can we be just one or the other?" This quote has always stuck with me for years because of it's depth of truth.

The Pagan's didn't have restrictions on regular (or celebratory for that matter) sexual practices as later religions. The celebration of Beltane (May Day) for instance originated as the Germanic paganism celebration of Spring's renewal. And let's face it, the May pole is a very phallic symbol. ;) I know that's a mere generalization of this very old holiday, but I don't want to bore everyone with everything I dug up in my research. :)

Love Divine takes place in the Highlands of Britannia. What about both this time period and this setting compelled you to write about them?

420 was just about the time the Church of Rome would have started sending missionaries out into the wide world beyond their realm. When the idea of Aslyn, my Druid heroine, came to me, it just made sense to set the book in this time period.

The hero, Ryus, is a described as a "rogue-turned-missionary." In Love Divine, do these conflicting sides of his character cause unrest?

Oh, yes. On one hand, he really does want to change his old ways. You see, before we meet Ryus, he lived as a care-free bachelor, drinking and whoring as if tomorrow would never come. Then his view changed when someone from the Church tells him there is a tomorrow. But once he sees Aslyn, he is terribly conflicted. His conscious wars with his flesh and he knows it will be this way until he can speak with his Bishop regarding Aslyn in hopes of some sort of encouragement one way or the other.

Would you describe Ryus as an alpha or a beta hero? Why?

Ryus is a repressed alpha whose flesh seems overwhelmingly stronger than his spirit after he meets Aslyn. Now, is this because he's new to the faith and the idea of celibacy, or is it because he truly falls in love with Aslyn? ;)

The heroine, Aslyn, is a woman caught between two worlds - that of the Druids and that of a new Roman god. How would you say this impacts her character most?

Honestly, I don't think the difference between the Roman God and the goddess impacts Aslyn as much as it piques her ire that someone thinks they can tell other people whom and how to worship. The way she was raised allowed her to follow her heart when it came to her personal faith, so she feels that what and how other people wish to worship really is their own business.

What will readers identify with most about Aslyn's character?

Aslyn's mother was the high priestess of her village. She was a healer, among other things, as well as the person everyone came to for advice. When Aslyn's mother passed on, everyone expected her to take her mother's place. I don't think there is a single person who will read this story who doesn't have a parent, teacher or other relative who pushes them to be something or someone they don't feel they're called to be. From the beginning, Aslyn's main concern is that the people will be disappointed in her abilities or lack thereof. Nearly two-thousand years later, most of us experience this fear, as well.

According to your website, you have a passion for historical romance. Which authors of the genre have inspired you most?

My first historical romance reading consisted of Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsay and Heather Graham. It was Jude Deveraux's book, Remembrance, that really acted as the catalyst for my desire for a writing career.

You also have a fascination for spiritual places - "the older, the better." What are some of your favorite spiritual/haunted destinations?

As you know I'm crazy about history. And what's not historical about Tombstone, AZ and New Orleans, LA? :)

I've been to Tombstone many times, and I tend to believe it is because of the countless violent murders that the place is just crawling with spirits. Now did all these murders cause a rift in the veil between this earthly plane and the afterlife? Who could say? And I don't know if these spirits are stuck or staying because the want to – all I know is that in many buildings about town, I can feel a presence whether it's curious, angry, negative or whatever. It's so fascinating to me.

What more do readers have to look forward to from Genella deGrey in 2010?

I have another historical erotic romance coming out on June 8th from Resplendencepublishing.com which takes place during Carnival in Venice, Italy in 1795. I'm very excited about this story as it features two heroes and two heroines. Two HEA's – what more can you ask for? :)

Would you mind sharing a short excerpt from Love Divine?

Reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck, Aslyn’s heart raced when his mouth softly coaxed her lips part. She nearly toppled over when he groaned as her tongue touched his. The wood post which bordered the stable separated their bodies, and Aslyn longed to be rid of the thing.

Suddenly remembering that anyone who had a view of the stable could see them, she broke out of the kiss.

“We shouldn’t be—”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Aslyn glanced over her shoulder and back up to Ryus. No one was about, but that could change at any moment. Her breath came out in a huff that may have been part laughter. “Let me finish. We shouldn’t be doing this here.”

She saw his eyes light up like flames. “Then where?”

“Come to me after sundown,” she whispered, unable to believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Oh, she was thinking them, but once they passed over her lips, the bones were cast. He would be leaving soon, and it would be good for her to take a few more memories with her to her grave.

Without another word, Aslyn pushed away from the stable fence and headed straight for her lodging.

She paced in her room and wrung her hands, the same way in she did just before she met Ryus in the ancient grove of Ardwinna.

Aslyn almost yelped when he came bursting through her front door.

“You have more faith in me than I do if you think I can wait until sundown.”

Thank you so much for having me — Namaste!

During Genella's virtual book tour, she will be giving away a digital edition of Love Divine to one lucky commenter! Readers, sound off with questions for our special guest today for a chance to win!

Cowboy Lovin' Day 10: Marie-Nicole Ryan

We're kicking off Week 2 of Cowboy Lovin' here at The Cozy Page with author Marie-Nicole Ryan, author of Seducing the Sheriff! And she brought both a giveaway and an amazing excerpt! Take it away, Marie....

I’m thrilled Amber is celebrating that great iconic character, the American cowboy. To celebrate my recent historical western release, I’m offering a $10 gift certificate from Amazon or Samhain Publishing to one lucky commenter who comments to this post. You’ll need to watch Amber’s blog in order to see if your name is picked, and then e-mail me at marie AT marienicoleryan DOT com with your real name and details so that I can award you the prize.

Seducing the Sheriff is my first historical western and while we’re at it, I’ll warn you it’s an erotic romance as well. So if you like your cowboys hot, this one’s for you. My interest in the cowboy dates back (and dates me as well) to watching Roy Rogers movies at the drive-in. I can’t name the number of cowboys, but they were many and all admired by this impressionable young girl.

Now fast-forward to today. I live in Middle Tennessee and I couldn’t ride a horse if my life depended on it. I tried it once, when I was eighteen, and it was NOT a successful encounter. More like stressful. However, I did live in Arizona the year I was five and that’s when my love affair with the cowboy started. Today I like my cowboys a little on the dirty side and more realistic. I plead guilty to being a rabid Deadwood fan. In fact, I cancelled my HBO subscription when they canceled Deadwood. I loved the bad language and the less-than-squeaky-clean characters. It was gritty and real—to me anyway—and it served as a major incentive to try my hand at writing some shorter pieces set in the Old West.

Two things I learned in the editing process from my wonderful editor, Linda Ingmanson: horses don’t have thighs, they have haunches, and you can’t just leave a horse with reins running loose while the hero goes and has some illicit fun with the heroine. Thank goodness she’s a horse person.

If things, meaning the writing, goes well, there’ll be two more stories in my Loving Lawmen series. Pleasuring the Pinkerton is next, and I hope to follow that one with something like Marrying (or Mastering) the Marshall.

So without further meandering, here are a blurb and an excerpt from my recent release.

“Seducing the Sheriff” by Marie-Nicole Ryan
Buy from MBaM!
Available at Amazon
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Historical Romance, Red Hots!
ISBN: 978-1-60504-846-8
Length: Category
Price: 4.50
Publication Date: December 15, 2009
Cover art by Angela Waters

Blurb:

Half dressed and going for naked…

Starlight Tyler needs to lose her virginity, as in yesterday. With her mother, a Pinkerton, and a wealthy man she doesn’t love on her tail, there’s only one place to cut their cruel intentions off at the pass—get herself back into the arms of long-lost love Cordero Tate. Pronto.
She never expected to be tripped up by someone else’s past.

Sheriff Cordero Tate is a haunted man on a mission. Come hell or high water, he’ll round up every member of the gang responsible for the deaths of his wife and unborn child…and make damned sure he never puts his heart on the line again. As in never impregnating another woman. One look at Star, though, and all the old feelings come back in a rush. Worse, she’s just as determined to brand him as hers as he is to keep her chaste.

Their exploration of ways around that impasse leads to three nights of unbearable sensual pleasure. Until her past catches up to her…

EXCERPT: PG-13 © 2009 Marie-Nicole Ryan, All rights reserved, Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

Star’s hands shook, but she kept them in front of her so Cord couldn’t tell how much seeing him after four long—damn long—years affected her. He was a man grown all right, in every sense of the word. Four years older than she, he was a good head taller. His craggy face was darkened by the sun, but the warmth of his dark eyes hadn’t changed since the time he teased her at the age of six and dropped a mess of earthworms in her lap in the town’s one-room schoolhouse. And sadly enough at one time, he and her half-brother had been the best of friends.

Now they were on the opposite sides of the law.

More important, this Cord Tate with his double six-shooters was nothing like the lecherous lawyer with sweaty hands and unyielding mouth her mother tried to marry her off to back East. Her mama’s re-entry into polite society and Star was the price. It’d taken Mama four years to find a man with the right setup—respectability, money, social position—who was willing to take an old maid daughter off her hands.

No indeed.

An unfamiliar stirring of emotions hit her from the moment Cord identified himself. While she might’ve had a schoolgirl’s crush before her mother dragged her along to Boston, what she felt now didn’t feel very girlish. Her feminine core clenched at the sight of his long legs and muscular thighs while he cared for his horse before filling his canteen. A man who took good care of his horse would treat his woman with respect, too. But was it respect she wanted?

Never mind what she wanted. She needed a husband and needed one fast before they dispatched someone else to bring her back. And Cordero Tate fit the bill on both accounts.

“I’m glad you came home. Never dreamed you would.” His tone was deep and soft. The richness of it resonated deep within her, turning her into a warm pool of…need? Was there even a word that described how she felt at seeing him again? More than anything she wanted to surrender to impulse and throw her arms around his neck.

Anything to erase her lingering revulsion of Teddy Darwin. She shook her head in an attempt to erase the memories. But none of that emotional stuff mattered. What mattered was keeping to her plan of seducing and marrying Cord as soon as possible. She’d only been home three days. His showing up uninvited and unexpected was an omen. And every minute counted.

She fluttered her lashes. “My mother—”“

How come she let you come back? I would’ve thought with her family’s connections, she’d marry you off to some rich fellow.”

“She tried.” She averted her gaze, remembering how the oh-so-upright Theodore Darwin’s clammy hands felt on her thighs when he tried to force them into her underwear. She shivered again. Barely an hour after her mother informed her she was engaged to the middle-aged lawyer, he’d tried to force himself on her. Randy old goat—had to be forty if he was a day. Still, she bet it’d be the last time he tried to force a woman without her say-so.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she met his gaze. “I ran away.” Twice. “And I’m not going back. You can’t make me.”

His dark gaze softened. “Darlin’, nobody’s gonna make you go back there. You’re home now.”

If only it were that easy.

His strong arms surrounded her. She gave in to his warmth and relaxed in his embrace. Her entire body twitched, and all she cared about was the sandpapery touch of his warm, callused hands caressing her. Quite a contrast to the way old Teddy made her feel. By damn, she’d never let another man make her feel like a cheap whore again.

Cord was her answer. Better than she could’ve ever hoped. And why shouldn’t he marry her? They were in love before she left. Nothing had changed. She could see heat in his gaze. And she’d make him a good wife.

She gazed into his warm brown eyes. “I’m yours, Cord. Why do you think I came back? We were always meant for each other. Make me your woman.”

He dropped his hands and stepped back. His eyes widened, and shock scrawled in uneasy lines across his handsome face. He ran his fingers through his hair, blue-black as a crow’s wing, a gift from his Mexican mother.

“God-amighty, woman. Have you no shame? Is this how decent women in the city talk?”

The heat of embarrassment flushed her entire body and flooded her cheeks until they were so hot they must’ve been fiery red. What was it her mama said? Desperate times called for desperate measures.

She stiffened, scowled and dared him to interrupt. “Seems like making me your woman was exactly what you had in mind the night before my mama jerked me onto that eastbound train. Guess you’ve changed your mind.” She whirled and ran for the house.

“Hold on!”

She reached the door first, but he clapped a hand on her shoulder and whipped her around to face him. “Lot of water under that bridge. You got no idea.”

Tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, she glared at him. A burst of fury and a mixture of fear drew her innards into knots. Her heart thundered loud as cattle stampeding headlong toward a sheer cliff. “No idea? You’re the one with no idea. You could’ve claimed me then. Stopped mama from taking me away. If you’d just stepped up and said the word, I’d have been yours these last four years.”

“What and let you pass up the great life you were supposed to have back East? Your ma said—”

“What’d she say?” Star clenched her fists, but at the same time a curl of hope flickered in her belly. “Did she actually stop you…?”

“Yeah, she did. Said I was selfish to keep you here in this backwater. Said I didn’t really love you ’cause I was too young and stupid to know the difference between a lady and the half-Mex son of a rancher.”

“My mama?” Star straightened her spine and hissed, “In spite of her family connections, we were treated like poor relations. So she tried to barter me off to the highest bidder like a prize heifer. It was her big plan to regain entrance into polite society. I was supposed to marry this despicable man…a lawyer…and he was old.” In spite of her best efforts to remain in control, the last came out as a wail.

She rested her head on his chest and sniffed. Against her ear, his heart pounded almost as loud as hers. “I didn’t know she talked to you. All I did know was that you didn’t so much as come to the train station to say good-bye.” She paused and gazed into his eyes. “I cried all the way to North Carolina until she threatened to slap me silly if I didn’t stop.”

Gently Cord nudged up her chin until her gaze met his. “Darlin’, I didn’t think I deserved someone as sweet as you.” He dipped his head and kissed her full on the lips. His mouth was warm and tender, nothing like the lawyer’s.

Cord’s every touch felt so right. Her body grew heavy with desire. Her knees weakened until she thought she might faint. His tongue swept inside her mouth, and his hands splayed down her back until he cupped her bottom and pulled her close to his hard c**k.

Her body grew rigid. She tried to pull away. So, he wanted her, too. But she needed more than a quick roll in the hay…although turning down his overtures didn’t have a lot of appeal at the moment. After all, she’d come home to trap him into marriage. It was the only way to keep her mother and old Teddy Darwin at bay.

If she were safely married, this time whoever Darwin sent after her would have no choice but to return to Boston empty-handed.

“So…you want to be my woman?” His tone was raspy and breathless, his breath hot on her neck. “I can’t marry you.”

“You can’t? But you have to. I-I need more.” What the Hades was the matter with him? What had she done wrong? Dammit. His hard member was pressing into her belly. She hadn’t done anything wrong…yet.

He scowled down at her and adjusted his crotch. “You need more than this, darlin’?”

She scowled up at him. “Yes, dang it. I’m talking something more serious than the size of your…your Johnson.”

Happy New Year to everyone!

Marie-Nicole Ryan
http://marienicoleryan.com/
http://facebook.com/marienicole.ryan
http://twitter.com/marienicoleryan
http://lovinthelawman.blogspot.com/

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm making a special trip to Samhain today to purchase Seducing the Sheriff! Thank you, Marie-Nicole, for sharing! Readers, you have until Thursday, January 14th to enter her contest. I will announce the randomly-drawn winner next Tuesday, the 18th so please check back in to see if you have won! Chances of winning depends on the number of entries. You must be 18 years or older to enter.

Tomorrow I welcome a special guest to Cozy, a western romance editor who's bringing her love of cowboys to the party'! Be sure to drop by for the scoop from an industry insider of the genre....