Merry Christmas, Friends

Merry Christmas, Friends and Readers

and thank you for reading my books this year!

 

The Royal Pavilion Menu

Stumbled upon this today while doing research. A state dinner with the Grand Duke of Russia with an out of this world menu.

What's new?

 

Some updates:

Wicked Affairs – I am disappointed to tell you another year has gone by, and I didn’t get a WA book completed. They are in the works, but I can’t seem to get to THE END. Plus, I had a very interesting ‘idea’ session (meaning I just took a lot of notes) about the children of the WA couples and what a fun series that would be as they move into the Victorian era. Oh, the possibilities.

Infamous Forresters – Books Four and Five are moving right along. I was working hard on Oliver and Lavinia’s story since they had just walked off the boat in England as Love Me Once (Shelene and Roman’s story) wrapped up but Nick and Virginia’s story has been more compelling. Normally, romance is hard times than joy at the end… This is in reverse. They are experiencing a great amount of joy at the beginning of their story but their worlds are about to come crashing down. Nick and Virginia’s story is also set in several different (non-London) settings. That always means more research which I love.

Shot in the dark – Just today I submitted a story to a publisher! I haven’t done that in over six years since Ellora’s Cave closed. This is part of a series, so if the publisher doesn’t accept it, I’ll have to do some rewriting before I can publish independently. I’m trying to reach more readers. Hope this works out.

The Curse of the Weatherby Ball – I’ve got some ideas I am fleshing out here. I do like the idea of this series and want to keep it going.

Maggie Sloane – Another series idea here. Maggie was introduced in An Occasion to Sin. The idea is to have her hoping across Europe with two young men chasing her and she ignoring them while she solves mysteries. Still roughing this out.

That’s it for now!

New Project

It's been several years since I submitted a work to a publisher. However, I found one that is right up my alley. Right now, I'm preparing the submission which includes the first 50-pages or about 25,000 words so I've been cranking that out. My editor will need to do a pass before I turn it in.

I feel really excited about this. Before when I published with EC, it seemed like I could crank out the book because I had real deadlines. Four books a year was very doable. I would love to return to that kind of word production.

And my hero will be a character the likes of which I have never written!!

Wish me luck.

The Infamous Forresters Book 4 and 5 - Coming soon-ish

I just posted a new update on the Infamous Forrester's book pages, but thought I'd put it upfront so you can see what is coming...

Book Five - Oliver and Lavinia - who may or may not be lying about who she is. You met her in Love Me Once as Oliver's nurse while he recuperates from the wounds received at the mutiny aboard the HMS Victorious.

Book Four - Nicolas and Virginia Sinclair - who may or may not be about to ruin her reputation just so she can have a grand, passionate affair before she marries. Oh, and Nicolas may or may not already be married...

Nick and Ginny - free spirits of the Regency world

 "When life is easy and carefree, nothing seems impossible. Not the grand, passionate affair. Not the halcyon days of pleasure. Not the love that cannot be.

Nicolas Forrester and Virginia Sinclair had their glorious moment. Their sunburst. Their stars. Now they have ashes."

The fourth installment in the Infamous Forresters is getting close. I'm at 40,000 words and the chapters are tumbling out. I can barely keep up.

There are no secrets to be revealed, only tragic hurt that may be too difficult to overcome.

Regency Era Calling Card Cases

Sometimes research leads down a rabbit hole that makes you wonder, "why did I not know this?"

This snippet is from the Historical Hussies blog about calling cards, but I was intrigued because I'd never read anything about the actual carrying cases for those cards. And I am clueless why I never thought to look it up before.

Quality calling cards were made from a high-quality paper, often plain as ornamentation on a card was considered to be poor taste until later in the 19th century and they were engraved. They were kept in beautiful cases, which during the Regency era, were primarily of filigree, leather and tortoiseshell, but later in the century became more elaborate—ivory, tortoiseshell and woodwork.

Late in the Victorian era, they were sometimes painted with views of castles or scenery. A gentleman’s card case was slightly smaller than a lady’s since he had to carry it in his pocket.

Observation

 I'm writing Book Four and Book Five of The Infamous Forresters. Oliver's book (hopefully you are familiar with him if you've read Love Me Once) along with Nicolas's Book, who you've barely heard of...

So what is my observation? I've written these books thinking they were going to be about these alpha males (which they are) who conquered their worlds (which they have) but I have been pleasantly surprised by the women I have been writing.

As a whole, they are dynamic, independent women, toeing the line between propriety and their more than slight desires to be something other than what society wants them to be. And I love that the Forresters have been willing and are attracted to women who aren't the typical ton debutantes.

Nicolas and Oliver have been especially smitten. The words are just falling on the page!

Pics of Salisbury, England

Pre-Order for Love Me Once

 Good evening, readers!

I've got Love Me Once (Book Three in the Infamous Forresters' series) up for pre-order at Amazon. Well, I am doing Kindle Unlimited with this release - the first time ever. I thought I should try to see if I gain some additional readers.

Here's the new blurb:

His mistress is England. His love is Shelene Hightower. 

To have one is to lose the other.

Roman Forrester knows he must change, or he will lose Shelene forever. Learning that her father, Commodore Hightower, has been lost at sea makes their reunion awkward and heartbreaking. Roman’s brother, Oliver, Hightower’s second in command was also lost.

To have him is to have a half-life.

Shelene has already given up hope they will ever find happiness. When he returns to her once again, it is not in joy, but with the news of her father's death and that he is leaving to find out what happened to her father and his brother. She can’t fault him, but she can’t forgive him for leaving her again.

Roman can keep England, she is going home to Spain to reclaim her mother’s family estate and learn to live again. Without him.

I've moved my release date to August 3rd. As always I look forward to your reviews!

E

The Infamous Forresters series and New Covers!

 Hi All!

It's been a busy week: finished a manuscript and turned it into my editor; revealed a new cover for this book called Love Me Once AND even more cover fun, I've had the Infamous Forresters covers revamped using #Romancelandia's favorite cover trope "The Clinch". It's always nice to see the Hero and Heroine locked in a passionate embrace!

Here they are!

Does Adam really love his mistress, Eloise? Or is she doomed to love a man who loves another?

Joshua has always had a soft spot for his neighbor's daughter, but Char has more than she can handle keeping her sisters from trouble. She doesn't need to be caught in Joshua's Forrester's web.

Roman Forrester is devoted to his country. But he is held captive by his long-time love Shelene Hightower. When will their stars finally align?

Cover Reveal: Love Me Once

 I love BOOK COVERS! I love book covers that are prepared by Dar Albert of Wicked Smart Design. And I love stock photos from Killion Group Images/Hot Damn Design. Combined, they are my own little masterpieces.

I don't doubt that making a cover is a fun, interesting and, at times, a frustrating profession, but what sets Dar apart is her ability to read between the lines of an author design request. I swear I can give her ten words of description and she comes up with the picture/cover that was in my mind's eye - or very close!!

Some of you have heard Book Three in The Infamous Forrester series is coming out soon - hopefully end of July, but possibly the first couple weeks of August. The title: Love Me Once. It's kind of a riff on "Fool Me Once" because while my hero and heroine deeply love each other, the stars never seem to align for them.

Earlier, I was preparing this blog post and I was going to say "And look at me - doing a Spanish heroine", thinking, aren't I being unique. I totally forgot about my Spanish hero in one of my romantic suspense contemporaries, Play It Cool. Ah, well...

So, here it is: Love Me Once

Coming Soon: Love Me Once

 Book Three in the Infamous Forresters series!

An Inadvisable Wager Release Day

The most wonderful time of the year...you know it's either a release day or cover reveal day, right!!!

An Inadvisable Wager is up

 for pre-order and releases on February 23rd!

 

An Inadvisable Wager Release Date!

 I'm still on track for 4, count'em FOUR, releases this year. All historical romances - heat level may vary.

You may already know but the next book in The Curse of the Weatherby Ball will be released on February 23rd! This book is titled An Inadvisable Wager. (And I do apologize, I goofed on my cover/story order. I had the cover for Book 2 done first, but I finished Book 3 first. Hope it's not too distracting!!!)

Here's the updated blurb. It happens once in a while, but rarely, do I change a protagonist's name during the writing process but I did for this one. Hero was going to be Graham, but I renamed him Gabriel (he is rather angelic in the end. LOL)

Nora Blasington is cursed, born to the notorious George Blasington, renowned thief and traitor. Avenging her father is her lot in life and she is determined to prove that three ton gentlemen illegitimately benefited from his death, stealing her father’s properties. Properties that rightfully belonged to her brother, the 4th Earl of Wargrove.

Only the Wicked Three are dead and can no longer reveal their secrets. No bother! She will wreak vengeance on the sons of those wicked ones since they have what she wants: Henbury Hall, the Cornish tin mines and the Henbury stallions.

The Weatherby Ball may be cursed, but Nora ably catches the eye of Gabriel Sutter, Earl of Carlow, the current owner of Henbury Hall. Just the man she needs. He unwittingly falls into her trap.

What she doesn’t know is that Gabriel is quite taken with the mysterious and oddly dramatic masked beauty. Though, he might have been more cautious had he known Nora Blasington was hiding behind the mask. Oh hell, he had to marry at some point. It might as well be tonight, and it might as well be to the woman who’d just tried to blackmail him.

I'm very hopeful that this book makes a few lists. Please help me make that happen!!!

I'm working on the next book - another in the Infamous Forrester's series. I'm usually right on top of titles but this one has eluded me. Right now it is just called "Roman" - the hero's name.

Happy New Year

We made it! 2021 will surely be a wonderful year. What do you have planned?

I'd like to say I have some new and great plans, but I will be writing, as usual. I have four books I'm trying to release this year - all historical romances. I think I've posted about this earlier, but here's the plan.

In February, An Inadvisable Wager will be released. I'm just finishing edits on this one. I really like this story. A laid-back hero who is enchanted by the drama and emotion of the heroine.

After that, it will be another story in the Infamous Forresters and two more books in the Wicked Affairs series.

Hopefully I'll hear from you throughout the year. Leave me some reviews, or contact me on FB or Twitter. All the best. E.