Before I get started on my thoughts of the day, what do you think of the hero in my latest Ellora’s Cave release?  Last time I posted here I was mulling the disconnect between Beast Master’s story and the cover, but this time I’m a beyond happy camper.  Wow.  Talk about intense, just like my hero.  Why can’t I bring him home?

Last week I turned in my latest contracted manuscript for Kensington’s Aphrodisia, a sucker that held at 85,000 words before I tightened it a bit.  I don’t often write long so that surprised me.  His Slave is an erotica, specifically a capture theme with touches of BDSM and some dark and dasterdly minor characters.  Part of my tightening intailed taming those characters so I could better live with them.  Hopefully readers will understand.

Once His Slave was out of my mind so to speak, I went back to a romantic suspense proposal I’ve been working on for too long trying to get it to be what my agent needs to take to the marketplace.  Hopefully I’m there now but I’m first running it past a writer friend whose opinion I truly value.  If I recall, I’ve gone back to Denali Danger three times focusing and deepening each time.  I have a villainess who initially was rather mysterious because I didn’t know her.  It took longer than I care to admit but I understand her now.  She’s multi-facited human being with a disadvantaged background and a hunger for a sense of belonging that leads to–well, a lot of nasty stuff.  My heroine has gone through her own changes, not deepening so much as changing focus.  In the beginning I tried to force her into a box but Laura saw right through the ill fit and called me on it.  Now my heroine’s growth and change throughout the story is a natural outgrowth of her personality.  If she walked in the door, I’d hug her and pour her a glass of white wine because she’s a deer friend.

What I’m saying here is that for me at least, creating a character isn’t a simple matter of popping them out.   At first they’re in essence newborns, cute and fascinating but without fully realized personalities.  That takes time.  And what an exciting journey that is for the writer.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!  How many of you have made resolutions?  I have every year but this one because I never seem to follow through with them–so, instead, I’ve decide to make lifestyle changes.  Nothing dramatic, just subtle changes that I can implement slowly rather than a major change that will be instantaneous and may create a bit of shock to the system (especially if it includes eating healthier/dieting and/or exercising).  I’d like to think that I’m learning as I go along, but I’ll keep you updated. *wink

Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?  I hope your holidays were filled with love and laughter.

So, I’ve been reading Lisa Kleypas’ book Sugar Daddy and it’s really quite fantastic.  I was hesitant –why I’m not sure because I absolutely adore her historicals and her voice… maybe because it’s first person and I tend to shy away from first person.  Whatever the reason, it was foolish of me to wait so long to read this story.  I’m enjoying it tremendously.   What are you reading?  What books are you looking forward to coming out soon?  Any recommendations?

Be well and best wishes for the New Year!

Marshall's Law available now from Samhain Publishing

How was everyone’s New Year’s celebrations? Hope you had a great time. New Year’s Day was special for me. I had a book come out that day. MARSHALL’S LAW is a reprint, but I’m so glad it’s out again. I really, really like this book.

How often do you read a romance novel where humor, paranormal and suspense are mixed? For some editors, that could be a problem. Often readers want a similar experience in their reading. A suspense is a suspense. A humorous novel is a humorous novel. What if you just want a good story and it happens to have more than one element in it? In the case of my latest release, MARSHALL’S LAW (Samhain Publishing www.samhainpublishing.com), I started the novel like I do all my others. A kernel of an idea. A crazy notion. A plot idea. A character idea. Then I run with it. As a true by the seat of the pants author, this means things can creep into my novel by surprise. When I write a novel it’s an organic process, not a preperpared or outlined thing. My brain simply hates the linear, logic motion required for outlines. I wrote MARSHALL’S LAW a long time ago, yet when I read it now, I feel very satisfied with the story. I was on the mark with this one. This book has more humor than any of my other books, I think, but the suspense is hard core and the sexual tension between the hero and heroine is thick.

I’ve never found writing humor easy, and I can’t do it on demand. But something about the hero and heroine in this story made it easier. Here’s a scene I particularly like. It’s got the heat and the humor mixed.

If Dana Cummings was inclined to list the best ways to meet men, having one arrest her for burglary—during a tornado, no less—wouldn’t be in the top ten. Dating isn’t high on her agenda, period. She’s sworn to never again fall for know-it-all men with fiery gazes and devastating smiles. Besides, she’s only in Wyoming to help her eccentric aunt find out if horny ghosts really do haunt the family bed. And hopefully bust a hellacious case of writer’s block. Extracurricular activity with a gruff, hunky lawman is off limits, even if he does fire her libido. Witnessing too much of life’s seedy side led Brennan Marshall to live by three simple rules: work hard, play hard, and never fall for a sweet-faced female with a witty tongue and snappy comebacks. Especially the ones with a dollop of vulnerability—like Dana. But their razor-sharp sexual tension cuts right through his defenses and leads them on a dangerous journey. One that will test the limits of their beliefs—and could cost their lives.

**

“What did Lucille tell you about these strange occurrences plaguing her?” he asked, leaning his arms on the desk.

“She called my mother a few weeks back. Mom said Aunt Lucille had this trembling voice, like she was scared. That’s not normal for Aunt Lucille. She bends under pressure but never gives in. She’s one tough lady. Anyway, Aunt Lucille said that she’d heard noises in the attic and in the basement. Especially the basement.”

“What kind of noises?”

Dana wished she hadn’t opened her mouth and mentioned the basement. “Uh…well…” She glanced up and saw he waited, twiddling his thumbs like he had all day. “You’re not going to believe this but—”

“Trust me, I’ve heard just about everything at least once.”

“Not this you haven’t.”

He tossed her a smile. “Humor me.”

“Okay. You asked for it. You know that big…uh…heart-shaped bed downstairs?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, she started hearing people having…” She squirmed in her chair and made a face.

“Go ahead. People what?”

“People having sex. She heard people having sex on the bed. But when she went downstairs there was no one there.”

Marshall never twitched. Yet Dana saw the suspicious twinkle in his eyes before he managed to smother it. Instead, he did something much more disturbing.

Rising from his chair, he came around the side of the desk and paced the broad area behind her chair. She craned around to watch him.

“What kind of sounds exactly?” he asked.

Her chair made an obnoxious protest as she turned it so she could observe his purposeful stride. Eight big steps one way, eight big steps back. Eight big steps one way, eight big steps back.

“I’m going to get hypnotized watching you do that. Would you mind taking a seat?”

He increased his pace. “I think better this way.” He came to an abrupt halt, leaned against the wall, cocked one booted foot across his ankle and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops.

She gulped. Good thing he wore that flannel shirt. If he’d stood there in that tight T-shirt—

“What kinds of sounds?” he asked, jerking her back to the real world.

She couldn’t say it. Come on, Dana. You aren’t a blushing teen talking to a boy in high school. Spit it out.

When she didn’t answer fast enough, he walked toward her and rested his hands on the arms of her chair. She leaned back, inhaling a quick, startled breath.

“What are you trying to hide from me? Maybe you know something about the sounds?” The query came filled with subtle, sensual nuances that caused his voice to vibrate in his chest and made her tingle in places that shouldn’t be tingling.

In defense she crossed her arms. “Of course I’m not hiding anything.” When he glared, she took the plunge and elaborated. “You have heard people having sex before, haven’t you, Marshall? Gasps. Sighs.” She shrugged. “Grunts. Moans. She said it’s like people having sex, and they never get to…you know.”

A thunderstorm seemed to build in his eyes, but not the kind that promised rage. The type that guaranteed sinful, daring pleasures. She’d never seen a man look at her this way. Predatory and intense all at once, ready to eat her alive. No mistaking that look.

His lips parted and she stared at his mouth.

“No, I don’t know,” he said. “Why don’t you tell me?”

A tiny, rebellious corner of her almost refused to speak. What could he do to her anyway? Spank her?

A hot blush swept into her face. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Marshall’s devouring gaze cruised over her face. His attention landed on her lips.

Crazy arousal spiraled through her, and she leaned forward until they almost touched noses. Dana couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so out of control and so turned on all at once. Hell, she’d never felt this way before. “These…these horny ghosts or whoever they are never get to finish—”

“Coming?”

Her entire body felt like it might go up in flames. Oh man! Why couldn’t he have said something like climaxing? Did he have to use a word that described the nitty gritty?

“Yeah. That’s it,” she said, licking her lips and swallowing hard. She slumped in the chair.

**

In the next scene I layered on the heat because this couple demanded it.

Marshall stepped forward and without preliminaries tugged her close. Dana’s hands found purchase at his powerful shoulders. His arms slid around her waist, and before she knew it he had her plastered closer to him than peel on a banana. Taking a chance, she gazed into his eyes. Warm, sinful flutters entered her stomach and made her want to shift closer to him.

She licked her lips. “I thought you had to work.”

“Just got off.”

“Did you really send Logan to keep an eye on me?” She wanted to feel indignation, but couldn’t.

“Not exactly. He said he’d be here, and because of your case, he’s keeping a close watch for strange activity. You qualify as strange activity.”

“Thanks, Marshall. Remind me to write you out of my will.”

He nodded toward Aunt Lucille, who did a slow waltz with an older man. “I really want him to keep tabs on Lucille, but he’ll also keep a watch on you.”

He tugged her against him, and it forced her arms to slip around his neck. Moments ago she’d appreciated Logan keeping his distance. Now she allowed Marshall to press tight against her from chest, to groin, to thighs, to knees. Dana shivered, but not with cold or distaste. She stifled a groan of pleasure. Maybe she could give in, for a while, to the overwhelming physical attraction churning in her gut. Perhaps one night of—

No!

Her excruciating relationship with Frank Bevans all those years ago had served to spoil her on men for the last several years. Besides, a one-time bed session wouldn’t solve the intermittent craving she had for male companionship. She hadn’t known a man’s lovemaking in almost ten years, but her body hadn’t forgotten what it felt like. Something deep inside always reminded her of her sexuality and that she hadn’t lost her human needs along with her broken heart. Dana eased away from old memories. Her broken heart mixed with the shame and guilt she experienced when she thought of Frank.

Not a good time to reminisce.

Marshall’s gaze slid down to her low neckline and warmth filled her face. He swept a heated glance over her that almost melted her knees. Her feelings jumped from amazed to excited. Inhaling deeply, she caught his warm, spicy scent. How can I think about a man’s crazy-making sensuality at a time like this? But she did. His eyes held a thousand mysteries and made her want his protective embrace. Brennan Marshall inspired fantasies of satin and velvet pillows piled high by a roaring fireplace, popcorn and hot cider. She didn’t dare go further than that. Venturing deeper into fantasy meant visions of him naked in bed. With her.

No. That went way over the top.

He nodded toward her neckline. “That’s an interesting piece of jewelry. I haven’t seen too many women wear a ring on a necklace.”

She almost touched her Dad’s ring. “Thanks.”

“Old boyfriend’s college ring?”

Dana let out a tiny laugh. “No. Not hardly.”

She half expected him to probe for answers like a good cop would. Instead, he kept his mouth clamped shut.

When Clint Black and Lisa Hartman sang about love forever more, Marshall moved her a little faster, drawing her into a sinuous, sensual tempo. The man danced with a sexual rhythm that sent her libido into trip-hammer overdrive. Continual heat washed through her as his body slid against her in ways that made her want him.

Stop, Dana. Don’t give in to some odd hormone rush. It doesn’t make any sense.

“Are you going to stare at me like that all night?” she asked in defense. “Or do I have to drag that information out of you too?”

“Don’t try driving a hard bargain with me, Dana. Logan’s here as a consultant. That’s all you need to know.”

“What is he? A psychic?”

Marshall closed his eyes for a moment as if he might lose patience. When he opened his eyes, he slipped his right hand a little lower on the material covering her hips. Any lower and he’d cup her butt.

She doubted he’d do that in public, but the hint of the forbidden made her want to squirm. She made a tiny, uncontrollable shimmy with her hips.

His hand moved back to her waist. Damn! Damn!

“I don’t think he’s got a psychic bone in his body,” Marshall said.

“A sex therapist?”

He jerked his head back almost as if she’d slapped him. “What?”

Dana’s hands slid down to his shoulders. “A sex therapist. You know, they—”

“I know what a sex therapist is.” His eyes narrowed, his brows lowered. “Why would you think Logan is a sex therapist, for God’s sake?”

She shrugged. “Well, maybe we need someone to decipher the noises coming from the heart-shaped bed.” She dragged her gaze back to his and observed his heightened color. “Are you embarrassed, Marshall?”

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

“You never know. A man your age might find the topic—”

“My age? How old do you think I am?”

“Forty?”

He cursed softly. “Thirty-six.”

“Keep your voice down. Someone will hear you.”

Marshall tightened his grip around her waist and she felt nothing but a powerful chest and the unmistakable hint of his…arousal. Oh, my lord. This time her face flamed.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Uh, nothing.”

“Huh.”

“You know, I think ‘huh’ is universal man language. Guess we haven’t progressed that far from the cave.”

“Huh.”

“See what I mean?” Once on a roll, though, she found she couldn’t stop baiting him. She shifted gears. “Logan is a striking man.”

He grunted. “I’ll let him know you said that.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“How are you going to stop me?”

“I…” She didn’t have a clue, and she almost whacked his shoulder with her fist. “Don’t tell him.”

“All right.” Something challenging, angry, and yet excited flew through his gaze. She saw it all and it made her stomach tingle with equal urgency. “But it’s going to cost you.”

***

I hope you enjoyed a small look into MARSHALL’S LAW. Stop by my website at www.deniseagnew.com and be sure to enter my monthly contest.

Happy New Year everyone!

One thing I’ve learned from all my writer friends is that many of us angst over the same things in our writing.

It seems many of us start writing a book thinking it is the most brilliant idea ever, full of energy and excitement and some time (often around page 100, for some reason) we become convinced the work is total crap and we should just give up.

Other common sources of discouragement are rejections, reviews and sales. You’ve persevered through that “this is dreck” stage and finished your manuscript, polished it all shiny and bright and sent it off to editor or agent and then you get that big R. Or, you get a review that isn’t everything you’d hoped for. I’ve never had a bad review, but I’ve had a “meh” one and even that got me down for a while. You watch that “bestseller list” and don’t see your name there. You get the royalty statement and are disappointed at how few people have bought your book.

Writing is an emotional roller coaster for sure. I love the adrenaline rush I get when I figure out a plot problem or when I get an idea I know is going to be fantastic! I also love the thrill of getting a great review from someone who really got my book, or getting an email from a reader who loved it, or hitting that bestseller list.

But I’ve been in those dark craters of depression, too, sometimes for the smallest of reasons, like nobody commented on my blog post, even though I can see many people visited my blog that day, or like not being on that bestseller list, even though I know in my head that doesn’t really mean much. It shouldn’t be that big a deal but it gets to me and I know it gets to other writers, too.

Even the editing process can be discouraging – because let’s face it, editing is inherently negative. Even though it’s been deemed good enough for publication, the editor is pointing out everything that is wrong with that manuscript we bled, sweated and cried over.

And many of us angst about our own abilities, our confidence fragile. After my first sale, I dreamed that it was a mistake and in the morning I had to rush to my computer to check my emails to make sure they hadn’t rescinded that contract offer! After the first sale, we fear never making another sale. We fear we won’t make enough sales to get another contract offer. Or we fear we’ll never even be able to write another book. Recently, I had the experience of my editor leaving the publisher we worked with. She and I had connected so well. She seemed to genuinely love my stories and my writing, and had so much positive feedback along with the negative. My reaction to her leaving: I will never get another contract with this publisher again. And you know what? I wasn’t the only one of her authors who felt that way!

Sometimes that black cloud of depression settles over us for nothing, really – that feeling when you’re in the middle of writing that all you’ve sweated over so far is no good. Why do we feel like that? Do we need the constant reinforcement that we get from critique partners, reader fan mail, reviews, acceptance by our editor or agent? When we’re in the middle of that lonely journey from Chapter One to The End, it’s hard to be objective and it’s hard not to wonder, why I am doing this again?

For me, that feeling usually goes away pretty quickly, and I can keep going because deep down, the reason I’m doing this is simply because I love writing. I love telling stories, I love living in my characters’ worlds, learning new things, being someone else for a while, and falling in love with a hot hero (even though I have my own real life hot hero). Also, knowing we’re not alone in these experiences is a huge help, which is why I so much value the relationships I’ve developed with other writers.

As writers, I think we are people who feel things a lot – the highs and lows and everything in between. To be a really good writer, we want to make our readers feel those things too. How can we make them experience those emotions if we don’t feel them ourselves?

Do writers more experienced than I ever get to the point where they believe everything they write is brilliant, they don’t care about sales or lists or reviews because they’re so successful, and they never angst about their ability to write or sell another book? Or are we all neurotic and obsessed  with no confidence in our own abilities?

Update:  Sorry! I should have been in a few hours ago to post the winner’s name.  (The Bama game distracted me!) So, to make up for my tardiness, I’m going to give away 2 copies of ETERNAL HUNTER. The winners are…Teresa W. and Susan Leech. Congratulations, ladies!! Please email me at cynthia@cynthiaeden.com to claim your prize. And, again, sorry for posting late!

***

Book

Wow–so many Bradford ladies have books out in January! Congrats on all the new releases!!  :-)  And thanks for giving me more books to read!

I am currently still celebrating my latest release–ETERNAL HUNTER, the first book in my new paranormal bounty hunter series, released last Tuesday.

I absolutely love that cover. Definitely one of my faves!

Here’s the blurb for the book:

Cynthia Eden delves into the dark realms of the Others, where desires and dangerous games await the unsuspecting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Assistant DA Erin Jerome has a secret. Make that two. One: She’s not entirely human–she’s Other, desperately trying to keep her supernatural strength under wraps. Two: she’s got a killer stalking her–an Other rogue set on “gifting” her bloody corpses, not to mention nights lying awake in terror. Small wonder she’s been having bad luck with men.

But the bounty hunter on her new case isn’t worried about any of that. Jude Donovan is a shapeshifter himself, and the new DA’s midnight hair and addictive scent tell him all he thinks he needs to know:  She’s gorgeous, she’s definitely not human, and she’s bringing out the animal in him in a really good way. He might have to track a psychotic Other stalker through half of Louisiana. But he might also get the chance to watch Erin’s wild side come out and play.

***

And you can read an excerpt here.

Now, if you want to win an autographed copy of ETERNAL HUNTER…well, you’ll have to leave me a comment to do that.  Tell me about your resolutions for 2010–and I’ll be back to pick one commenter on Thursday and that person will win!

***

Beach

In other news…I’m the conference chair for the 2010 Silken Sands Writers’ Conference.  That means I’m busy planning for the writing conference at the beach!  Since the temperature is currently 19 degrees (seriously–19 in the Deep South), I am so looking forward to the warmer weather and my good time at the beach.  Here are some details about the conference…

When:  March 19-21, 2010

Where: Pensacola Beach, FL

Why: To write! If you’re a writer or if you’ve ever thought about *being* a writer, then come and give the conference a try!!  Get inspired on the beach, watch the dolphins play, then get busy in those writing workshops!

Who will be there: Me!!  Okay, um…Karen Rose, Dianna Love, Laura Bradford, Elaine Spencer (the Knight Agency), Megan Records (Kensington Publishing), Patience Smith (Silhouette), Lindsey Faber (Samhain), Barbara Vey (Publishers Weekly) and a ton of other super cool, friendly folks.  That means you should be there, too!

***

Best Wishes

I hope everyone has a fantastic year.  May 2010 be great for everyone!!  I hope you stick to all of your resolutions. I hope you meet new friends. I hope you read great books. I hope you live your life to the fullest. Happy New Year!

I’m so thrilled to announce that COMING UNDONE is now available in trade paperback or digital format!

COMING UNDONE
Berkley Heat
ISBN: 978-0425232705
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance: Related to Laid Bare
Length: Novel

Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Books A Million
Also available in digital formats (from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the sony ebook store) and Books on Board!

Brody Brown has always been responsible for others. After his parents’ death, he gave up a promising artistic career to care for his younger brother and sister. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, has a nice house, makes a nice living, and for the first time in years he’s on his own.

Elise Sorenson has come to Seattle with her young daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina—(and just as many years in a marriage-gone-bad)—she’s looking for neither love nor attention. But she finds both in the handsome, honest man who befriends her with no strings attached.

More than friends, Brody and Elise discover in each other what they need—wild, physical passion without commitment. But it’ll take a shadow from Elise’s past to make them look beyond what they need—to what they truly desire.

I’m in a few places today if you should like to pop in and say hello (and just perhaps win a book):

BRODY is interviewed at Leontine’s place

Fatin has me talking about series

I’m over at Seductive Musings as well, guest blogging and I’m part of a week filled with great authors and book giveaways:

Hi all! I’m very pleased that the first full length novel of my new series is releasing tomorrow. I’m excited about this new series and can’t wait to see where it goes. I hope you enjoy it too.

I’m in excellent company this month, as far as new releases go. There are quite a few of the Bradford Bunch with new novels coming out. Ann has done a great job featuring those in her contest here on this blog. Congrats to all the other all the Bradford babes with books hitting the shelves this month! What a great way to start off the year.

Gabriel Mac Braire is a half-incubus residing in the Unseelie Court, a place filled with fae who can use their magick to draw blood. Gabriel’s specific power is the capacity to enthrall women to the point of enslavement. His king has asked him to use this skill on a particular woman who resides in the shining Seelie Court—a place that is light to the Unseelie Court’s dark—in order to lure her over.

However Aislinn Finvarra is everything most women are not, and that makes her resistant to him. In fact, she despises him for the charm that other women find so fascinating. Gorgeous, charismatic men haven’t exactly been good men in her experience.

That does not make the errand Gabriel’s been given an easy thing to accomplish since it means he must be himself in order to tempt Aislinn over to the Unseelie Court. That takes time he doesn’t have. Not to mention that it forces him to actually get to know her. In turn, he must allow Aislinn into his heart to get to know him as well.

A funny thing happens when Gabriel finally does win Aislinn over; she wins him over too. For the first time in his life, he comes to care about someone other than himself.

That’s when things take a very dark turn and both their lives change forever. Because nothing is what it seems, and the dangers are far greater than he or Aislinn could ever have imagined. Aislinn has a secret that threatens the Unseelie Court and soon she is fighting a war she could never have predicted for stakes she never wanted.

Welcome to the world of the Piefferburg fae. Wicked Enchantment is the first novel of my new Dark Magick series. I’m very excited to share this new world I’ve created with you.

Those who have read my Elemental Witches series know I put my characters through the wringer in my novels—both emotionally and physically. The Dark Magick series will be no different. I love to write dark, sensual fantasy packed with action and emotion. For me, the more perilous and dangerous the journey is for the hero and the heroine, the greater the payoff at the end and the stronger the bond of love.

Piefferburg is an intriguing place where the unique and the magickal abound. I hope you will be as swept away by this world as I have been. Let go of your cares for a little while and allow yourself to be seduced into the lives of the fae.

If you’re interested in knowing more, you can find an excerpt, book video, and an interactive map of Piefferburg on my web site.

Wow, lot’s of contest goodiness here on The Bradford Bunch Blog and I’m about to add to the craziness! Today is the start of the new year and 2010 certainly promises to be a year of many firsts for me. March 30th sees the release of my first book…my baby, HIS DARKEST HUNGER. Here’s the blurb and sexy cover!

BLURB:

Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he’s finally found her. The hunt is over…

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair; of her treachery; of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.

But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine…

Squeeeeeeeeeeeee! I totally can’t believe this book is coming out! So let’s get to it! The rules are simple:

1. You must blog about my book somewhere in internet land. You may copy and paste the cover…this will get you bonus points (as in more chances to win). Link the blog post back here! Simple no?

2. I will also give you a way to double your chances by cross promoting this contest on my very own Blog HERE. But, to enter on my home blog you must promote this book on a different site than the one entered here. Again, copy the link and post it there.

3. I will run this contest for Two weeks and announce a winner for the ARC’s (I have 2) on January 16th!

4. I also have some copy flats to give away and will choose winners for those randomly!

Okay, I will admit this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this so if something doesn’t make sense please let me know!

Happy New Year all and lets hope that 2010 brings much happines, health and success to us all!

To drive off the chill for some of y’all I’m going to run a contest. Here are the books that are up for grabs.

Don’t they all look amazing? The Bradford Bunch has a ton of releases in January! So I’m celebrating these books right here. RULES: I’m not pulling a single winner, either. I’m doing random winners over the next week. There will be “hot” times to comment, but you must comment often because you never know when you might get lucky. This contest runs until I have announced nine winners, at least one a day. No spamming, no random links. Your comment must contain content and pertain to the books or something a prior commenter has already said.

Everyone understand how we play? I’ll start us off with a question, but feel free to let the conversation evolve. However, if you’re coming in later, and you can’t think of anything to say on your first comment, you can always answer this for your comment. (Do not answer it repeatedly; that will not win you anything.)

Which of these books are you most excited to read and why?

So that’s it. There are some lovely, lovely books up for grabs, and nine winners to be found. Go for it, people!

ETA:
First winner! Cathy M claims a copy of STOLEN SEDUCTION!
Second winner! Raelena wins a copy of CRUX!
Third winner! Joder snags a copy of THE STRANGER’S SECRETS!
Fourth winner! Booklover1335 runs off with SWITCH!
Fifth winner! Amy Kathryn snares a copy of COMING UNDONE!
Sixth Winner! Michelle K bags ETERNAL HUNTER!
Seventh winner! Jane steals a SCOUNDREL’S KISS!
Eighth winner! Miranda makes off with KING OF THE UNBLESSED!
Final winner! Bella walks off with WICKED ENCHANTMENT!

And that’s all, folks. Email me your name & address at ann.aguirre at gmail dot com.

Today marks the release of my Kensington Brava historical western, The Stranger’s Secrets. It’s not just the third book in a series (with a kickin’ hot cowboy on the cover), it’s a book that brings to life a different kind of heroine.

One of the things I like to do as a writer is to write unusual characters. Many of my heroes and heroines have shall we say, unusual features, out of the ordinary for something they’ve done, or perhaps odd because of how they choose to live.

As a reader and as a writer, I can identify with people who aren’t perfect, who have flaws (real or imagined), and who struggle for triumphs. Not knocking those perfect, beautiful or handsome folks out there because hey, it takes all kinds, right?

But as someone with flaws, imperfections and downright issues (I may have to capitalize the word issues), I feel closer to my heroine if she’s more real to me. I’ve had heroines who are scarred, scared, fearless, and even a homeless heroine. It’s not about what they are, but who they are.

This brings me to my Sarah Spalding, my heroine in The Stranger’s Secrets. Sarah is my first disabled heroine–she walks with a cane because her leg was disfigured (you’ll have to read the book to find out why, lol).

She’s a bit of a ball-buster too. The fantastic Lori reviewed The Stranger’s Secrets on her blog I Just Finished Reading… and I think she hit it on the head when she said Sarah is “brash, bold, and sassy, yet extremely vulnerable and fragile at the same time.”

Sarah is not afraid to tell it like it is, give it back as good as she gets, and take what she wants. Yet all of that hides what is beneath the surface, a woman who needs love so badly even the reader can taste it.

I love the fact that Sarah stood up, knocked me on the head with her cane, and told me to get my ass in gear and write her like she really was. Strong, outspoken, sarcastic and intelligent.

Yeah, a different kind of heroine…

Below is an excerpt for your reading pleasure! Enjoy!

***

Sarah eyed the cursed shoe with a sneer. Damn thing was deliberately being difficult and she was having a hell of a time getting it on her foot, much less laced. The gray light of dawn coated the room as she tried to hurry and get ready.

Whitman would be there any minute and there’s no way she wanted him to see her helpless to the point of being unable to get her shoes on. Her clothes were made specifically for her so she didn’t have a problem getting those on. However the boots were an extravagance she bought two days before the trip.

She regretted that impulse now.

When the knock at the door came, she dropped the shoe with a thunk. Damn.

“Sarah, are you ready?” Whit at least didn’t sound chipper. She was not a morning person herself, and God forbid she got trapped with someone who was.

“Not quite.” She bent down and picked up the shoe again. “I need five minutes.”

“We don’t have five minutes. You were supposed to be downstairs half an hour ago. The train leaves in fifteen minutes.” He paused. “Do you need help?”

The dreaded question dropped on her pride like a rock. As Sarah wrestled with whether or not missing the train was more important than her stubbornness, Whit grew impatient.

“Look I don’t care what you need, what you’re doing or anything like that, but if you make me miss the train, I…”

When he didn’t continue, Sarah got the shoe on. Finally.

“What will you do?” she egged him on.

He opened the door and charged in, which made her wonder what he would’ve done if she was nude. The thought made her entire body clench, not what she wanted of course, since she refused to be attracted to him.

“What are you waiting for?” He looked her up and down, noting the packed bags. “Were you hoping to challenge your walking skills this morning or my patience?”

She raised one brow. “Neither. I was hoping to actually walk in shoes this morning.”

He glanced down and grimaced. Before she could stop him, he’d dropped to his knees and started lacing the boots.

Instead of resenting his interference, Sarah simply gazed at the top of his head, noting the still damp waves of his chocolate hair, and the lovely clean smell from his skin. Having him at her feet was the most unique, delicious experience.

The urge to feel his hair made her fingers twitch. The fact he was lacing her shoes up sent a tingle up her legs straight to her pussy. If it had been another situation, another man, she might have followed her instincts and take him into her bed.

Yet, it wasn’t the right man or the right time. When she got to Denver, Sarah must focus on finding someone who was the right person to play with. For certain, she wouldn’t have a husband in her bed permanently. She’d made that decision long ago.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t have someone in her bed occasionally though. She had needs and even if her body was damaged, parts of her worked perfectly.

One part was humming right then for a man she should never have in her bed.

He glanced up and met her gaze. Those green orbs were unreadable. The moment stretched on for so long, Sarah started to learn toward him. What she would do when she reached him, she had no idea.

“Let’s get moving. We’re going to miss the train.” He rose and held out his hand. “If I’m going to be your traveling companion, you and I are going to have to set some ground rules.”

Sarah’s arousal ended as abruptly as it began. With Whit.

She accepted his help and stood. “Don’t think I will simply accept your rules without argument.” She hobbled toward the door, the stiffness in her legs almost excruciating that morning. Even after she’d massaged in the liniment Vickie had found for her. Damn it, she hated being crippled.

“We’ll see about that.” Whitman picked up her bags as they headed towards the door. “I can be just as pigheaded as you.”

Of that, Sarah had no doubt. One thing was certain, their trip would never be boring.

***