Countdown to 20

I failed to mention in my last post, (about my 3rd Avon Romance, One Night of Passion) that one of my favorite heroes of all time came to life while writing Colin and Georgie’s story. And if you’ve read these books you know I am talking about Temple. Or as he is formally known, the Marquis of Templeton.

I’ll never forget that moment. I had written the scene with Colin Danvers being tossed out on his ear by his betrothed, Lady Diana (who has just called off their wedding) and Colin is joined by his cousin, Temple. This rakish, knavish, droll Corinthian stepped off the page and directly into my heart. I literally sat back, sucked in a deep breath and went, “OMG, he’s perfect.” Even authors fall in love. And with Temple, I fell hard.

And then as Colin glances over his shoulder for one last look at his former betrothed, he realizes she never loved him, rather she is passionately in love with Temple.

Diana loves Temple?

Oh, that was a tangle–the sort I love mulling over and coming up with some wild plot to make them both mad–at each other and for each other.

Thus was born, STEALING THE BRIDE. And I’ve never been able to let Temple go. He’s appeared in so many of my books, I’ve lost track.

Find out how the Marquis of Templeton fits into the Danvers’ Family Tree. Take a sneak peak and read the Excerpt or order your own Templeton, ur, I mean, your own copy of STEALING THE BRIDE.

Don’t miss my posts for my 2nd (Once Tempted) and 3rd (One Night of Passion) Avon romances.

Countdown to 20

For my third Avon Romance in this countdown, I came up with Three Fun Facts You Might Not Know About ONE NIGHT OF PASSION.

Fun Fact #1

ONE NIGHT OF PASSION is my outlandish Regency take on Cinderella, so when Avon asked me to come up with a tag line for the book, I couldn’t resist being a bit wicked, coming back with:

“Sometimes Cinderella loses more than just her shoe …”

Honestly, I never thought they would ever use it. I was just being snarky. But they did, and it is still to this day, one of my favorite tag lines.

Fun Fact #2

Being a Cinderella story, ONE NIGHT OF PASSION has the lost slipper on the cover. What you might not know is that shoe is the same one worn by my long time editor, Lyssa Keusch, at her wedding. So it is a very lucky shoe indeed.

Fun Fact #3

Ironically, I spent 3 months pacing the floor and banging my head against the wall when I got to the scene on the deck of Captain Danver’s ship where he is reunited with the heroine, Georgiana Escott, nearly a year after their fairy tale one night stand. Oh, did I mention that Georgie is holding a baby? Yeah, sort of one of those awkward moments that befuddles even the author who put them there. You’ll have to read the story to see how I resolved that impasse.

And the Extras

Find out where Colin and Georgie fit into the Danvers’ Family Tree. Read the Excerpt from ONE NIGHT OF PASSION or just quit dying of curiosity about that one night stand and Order the book. LOL.

Read the posts for my 1st (No Marriage of Convenience) and 2nd (Once Tempted) Avon romances.

Countdown to 20

I had no intention of sitting down to write a series when I started ONCE TEMPTED. Yet, as stories often do, the characters blossomed before me and it was the beginning of my love affair with the Danvers family that continues today.

ONCE TEMPTED opens with the death of Orlando Danvers, the youngest of the Danvers brothers. Never have I regretted killing off a character more than shooting Orlando through the heart. Truly, don’t write me, there is no precedent-setting three day Regency operation that will bring him back. And believe me, a lot of you have asked. I have read and reread that opening more times than I can count to see what spark it is that makes so many readers just fall in love with him. Not even writing the story of his twin brother, Rafe Danvers (IT TAKES A HERO) satisfied the Orlando fans. They just wanted him back.

So there it is. Orlando is dead, but I think you will find his older brother, Robert, the taciturn, hard-nosed spy determined to avenge his brother’s death and save King and country, just as heroic.

Once Tempted also introduces several reoccurring characters who prodded me over the years to let them come back and have yet another moment on the pages. The delightful Jemmy Finch (IT TAKES A HERO, HERO, COME BACK). His gossipy mother, Lady Finch, who appears in nearly every Danvers’ story and even finds her way into The Bachelor Chronicles. She’s a persistent one, Lady Finch.

While Once Tempted is listed as the 3rd book in the Danvers series, it is actually the first one I wrote. I then filled in the series with the other titles, all out of sequence. Confused? You aren’t alone. That’s why there is a Danvers Family Tree and Series information so you don’t miss a single story.

Order your copy of ONCE TEMPTED, or read the Excerpt.

Next up: ONE NIGHT OF PASSION

Countdown to 20

I can’t believe my 20th Avon Romance, THE KNAVE OF HEARTS, is about to arrive! To celebrate this amazing run, I thought it would be fun to countdown all 20 books, starting with my first Avon Romance, NO MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.

This book is unique in that it started out as an idea for a follow up book to Brazen trilogy which I had written for Dell Books. But when I was offered the chance to write for Avon (which had been my dream all along) I jumped to write for the house that published Woodiwiss and so many others that I had loved reading.

So I refashioned the idea to make it a standalone story about an entirely new set of characters. Riley Fontaine, who had originally been slated to be the long lost love child of Emma Langston, from BRAZEN ANGEL, gained a new mother and heritage, but kept her sassy, unconventional flair. She upends the life of Mason St. Clair, the Earl of Ashlin and in the process helps marry off all three of his spinster nieces.

No Marriage of Convenience is also unique in that it is my only standalone story–so if you are looking for a read that won’t entangle or commit you to a long series–here is your story.

Order your copy of No Marriage of Convenience, or read the Excerpt.

Next up: Once Tempted

And to all of you as well. The latest winner is:

Julie G. of Alhambra, CA.

Thank you to everyone who entered. Julie, your box is on its way.

Just in case you missed the news, (and when I last checked)
THE VISCOUNT WHO LIVED DOWN THE LANE is still .99! Order your copy quick or send it to a friend as a fun virtual stocking stuffer.

And if you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter, what are you waiting for? Get all my latest news, exclusive giveaways and the first look at all my new books. Subscribe at the top right hand corner of my website.

And the winner of my latest newsletter contest is:

Heather H. of Kewadin, MI

Congratulations to Heather, and thank you to everyone who entered.

If you aren’t subscribed, just enter your email into the box at the top right hand corner. Then you’ll be in the know when I post excerpts, have exciting news, or just want to giveaway a box of books and goodies!

Thanks to everyone who entered my most recent Newsletter contest. So let’s get the suspense over. The winner of the box of goodies is:

Jackie O. of Phoenix, AZ.

Your prize box is on its way!

I also wanted to say a huge Thank YOU! to all of you who wrote me so quickly and enthusiastically about the news that Mad About the Major is now in print. I’m just so pleased that everyone can enjoy this fun story about Arabella Tremont.

If you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter, make sure you are–I offer news, contests and all kinds of exclusive prizes to the best fans ever! Just enter your email in the box at the top of this page. Easy Peasy.

Good reason to subscribe to my newsletter: these awesome people get access to exclusive contests for just being, well, awesome.

And the winners to my latest newsletter contest are:

Mary C. of Seattle, WA
Molly L. of Rogersville, MO
Heather H. of Myrtle Beach, SC

Each of them will receive of box stuffed with books and goodies.

Thank you to everyone who entered and to everyone who isn’t subscribed to my newsletter: What are you waiting for?
(Pssst. Scroll to the top of the page and the box is right there waiting for you.)

This book, Mad About the Duke, is the story inspired my upcoming Bachelor Chronicles spin-off, Mad about the Major. Here is where the Duke of Parkerton finally meets his match.

But the wait for Parkerton’s story took some time. He first appeared at the end of This Rake of Mine, chastising his younger brother, Mad Jack Tremont, to get out of jail and go marry Miranda. I sort of fell in love with him the moment he stepped on the page. He is so stuffy and ducal and proper. He just needed his life turned upside down.

Does anyone else sense a theme here? I just love taking a perfectly happy bachelor hero and turn his life inside out with the introduction of one of my madcap heroines. Elinor, Lady Standon isn’t exactly madcap (she’s actually a lot like Parkerton) but she is desperate to marry and she wants nothing less than a duke.

Mistaking Parkerton for a solicitor, she hires him on the spot to find her a likely candidate. And thus, Parkerton finds himself in the role of unwitting matchmaker. I loved putting Parkerton through the paces of falling in love and then actually admitting it.

Dukes just hate that!

Comment below and tell me what you are currently “mad” about (and by mad, I mean in a good way!) and one lucky commenter will win an autographed book from the Bachelor Chronicles series. Check back next Monday to see if you’ve won.

If you go on a complete reading binge this weekend, you might be able to finish the Bachelor Chronicles series by next Tuesday, when Arabella Tremont, escapes her ducal father and sets out to discover London on her own. You’ll learn why, like father like daughter, Arabella finds herself,  Mad About the Major.

But even if you can’t get them all finished, pre-order your copy of Mad About the Major before the release date of June 2nd to get the special price of $1.99. Otherwise you’ll just be mad at yourself for missing out. And not the good kind of mad. LOL.

I totally missed posting a winner last week for the Black Gown v. Red Dress post. I blame being on double-death deadline for letting this slip past me. My sincere apologies. But I am here to set this to rights. The winner for that week’s post is:

Stephanie M:

And for last week’s #TBT post on nicknames in How I Met My Countess, the winner is:

Rosalie Otto:

Each of them will receive an autographed book.

And watch for this Thursday’s Throwback into the Bachelor Chronicles when I take a look at Mad about the Duke, the book that inspired my June 2nd short novel, Mad About the Major. And of course, there will be a giveaway.