Kristina Cook: Tall Tales in Timelines

TO LOVE A SCOUNDREL is the fourth and final book in the Ashton/Rosemoor (historical) series (yes, historical–I know, you’d never know it from my covers), but it’s also a great place to start reading the series, because it’s actually a prequel to the other books.

Actually, the entire (historical–I’m sending subliminal messages here!) series is written out of chronological order, and readers often ask me why I wrote them this way (UNLACED is set in 1817, UNVEILED in 1824, UNDRESSED in 1819, and TO LOVE A SCOUNDREL in 1806). The truth is, the series is what I call an ‘accidental series.’ When I wrote my debut book, UNLACED, it was actually my first attempt at writing a (historical) romance–or any kind of novel, for that matter. I had a lot of fun creating the cast of characters–peopling the book, so to speak–but I wasn’t really thinking past that first book. Heck, I had no idea if I could actually write an *entire* book, and actually getting it published seemed more like a pipe-dream than an attainable goal.

But then I actually finished the book and, wonder of wonders, snagged an agent. While she began shopping the book around, I figured it was time to start writing a second book. But I’d already created this world with UNLACED, this entire community of characters that I really liked, that really intrigued me as a writer. What happened to Colin Rosemoor, I wondered? Did he really have a serious gambling problem? And what about Jane Rosemoor? Why was she still single, despite her popularity? I suddenly had to find out, and the only way was to write their stories. I started with Colin, because I pretty much adored him. So, I created a heroine for him, came up with the premise, and set to work. But a hundred pages into the manuscript, it just wasn’t ‘working’ for me–somehow the heroine never felt right, never felt ‘worthy’ of Colin, this imaginary guy that I liked so much. My critique partner agreed, and that was that. I scrapped the manuscript and decided to write Jane Rosemoor’s story next. Still, I knew that her happiness would come many years later–even after Colin would find his happy ending–so, fast forward seven years, to 1824. That was UNVEILED.

Once that was finished, I finally went back to Colin. Out of the blue, a new heroine (Brenna, a Scottish lass kinda-sorta named after a beloved family dog–a feisty, loyal little Yorkie!) popped into my mind, and before I knew it I had an entirely new story for Colin, taking place just two years after the events in UNLACED. Yet somehow, the series still didn’t feel quite ‘done’ to me. Something was missing, and I finally realized it was a lingering curiosity about UNLACED’s hero’s twin sister, Lady Eleanor Ashton. Eleanor was a matchmaker–she wanted her brother to find the same happiness in love and marriage as she had found, even though her own marriage had been an arranged one. And *that* was what really set the entire series in motion–Eleanor’s own happiness with Frederick led to her matchmaking efforts with her brother Henry, whose marriage to Lucy perhaps inspired Colin’s romantic notions, resulting in his marriage to Brenna–and those two happy unions led to Jane’s desperate and ill-fated longings for love which resulted in her marriage to Hayden. Whew!

I think the best thing about an accidental series like this is that each book really does stand on its own—-that a reader’s experience won’t be lessened if they haven’t read the other books in the series, but that if they have, their experience will be enhanced. There’s not that ‘sequel-itis’ as I call it, when you read the first book in a series and immediately know that there will be stories in the future for, say, the hero’s two boyhood friends, or the heroine’s three sisters.

The downside, of course, is that readers might be confused (“Hey, how is it that Jane is single in the third book; I thought she got married in the second?!”). But hey, they’re already confused enough by those contemporary, romantic-comedy-looking covers; what’s one more confusion, right?! The cover for TO LOVE A SCOUNDRELfits the series so much better, even if it *still* doesn’t exactly scream ‘historical.’ And I, for one, am perfectly happy to stare at Nathan Kamp’s shirtless torso all day. If only the author got invited to the photo shoot….

Anticipation…

Like most authors, I’m also an avid reader. Unfortunately, I can’t read as much as I used to–I just don’t have the time–so you should see my TBR pile! Actually, it’s more like a TBR room, as my office is overflowing with books. They’re spilling off my bookshelves, piled on the floor, on the desk–pretty much on every available surface. There’s so much I’d like to read, if only I could find the time. I read all my critique partner’s books (Charlotte Featherstone), and I try to read everything by my fellow “Romance Unleashed” authors (we’re a big, fun group of authors who all got our start with the Zebra Debut program, though many have already moved on to other publishers). All great stuff!

And, even after four books, I still have those ‘squee’ fangirl moments, when I come across one of my favorite authors–Julia Quinn, Mary Jo Putney, Mary Balogh, Jill Barnett, to name a few– at a conference. Some of my all-time favorite romances are Julia Quinn’s THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME and THE DUKE AND I, Jill Barnett’s BEWITCHING and WICKED, Mary Jo Putney’s THE RAKE, Mary Balogh’s MORE THAN A MISTRESS, Judith McNaught’s WHITNEY, MY LOVE and KINGDOM OF DREAMS, Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ AIN’T SHE SWEET (yes, I read contemporaries, too–and Colin Byrne is probably one of my all-time favorite romance heroes!), and Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT (I also love to read YA!).

And there are three books in particular that I simply cannot wait to read–my most anticipated reads of the year, and they all come out this summer!! Julia Quinn’s THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS MIRANDA CHEEVER, which comes out in June–I can hardly wait–a new Quinn series! Stephenie Meyer’s ECLIPSE (this is the third book in the TWILIGHT series) in August. I know I will stay up all night, reading it one sitting. And, of course, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS in July. I’m not sure I’ve ever been as excited about an upcoming release as I am about the final Harry Potter. Any predictions?!

Review: Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch

Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch

Sebastian Griffin, Duke of Melbourne, has alot of duty in is life. Duty to his family, raising his daughter, his fellow (if poor and common) Englishmen, and the Prince Regent himself. He’s been asked to perform a new duty for Prinny: the liason between England and a new Central American country named Costa Habichuela. Sebastian takes it in stride until he meets the princess of Costa Habichuela.

Josefina Embry is hiding something and Sebastian makes it a point to find it out. Fast. Or else he’s subject to falling to her charm like the rest of London has. Whatever she’s hiding, Sebastian is determined to learn the truth. . .or seduce Josefina into telling it to him.

Josefina doesn’t understand why the Duke doesn’t cower to her like everyone else. She’s a princess and that’s what she expects from everyone. When Sebastian kisses her though, how he treats her goes out the window and she wants more of his “interrogation”.

Josefina takes some warming up to. She’s imperious, regal, and basically a snob. Until she does some serious thinking about what’s going on around her and realizes that her path is not the best one. It’s hard for me to get into her character without giving major spoilers, but she does earn respect by the end, even if she’s not entirely likeable.

Sebastian is the star of this one. He’s appeared in the other books in this series about the Griffin siblings (Sin and Sensibility, An Invitation to Sin, and Something Sinful) and readers have been waiting for his story. Or at least I have.

Sebastian is autocratic, arrogant, and wonderfully sexy. He’s an alpha male at his finest and this book wouldn’t work without him. It’s because of Sebastian that Josefina thinks about what’s going on around her and decides to change things. Sebastian’s desire steams off the page and his sense of duty (though not fair play) gives everyone a happily ever after in the end.

For those that have read the series the rest of the Griffin clan appear, especially Sebastian’s precocious daughter Penelope, or Peep. Even as the story wouldn’t work without Sebastian, there was a bit too much interaction with the secondary characters rather than with Sebastian and Josefina.

I’ve got to say that I’m an Enoch fangirl. She’s excellent at writing flawed characters and making them human, believable and redeemable. Enoch also gives a believable romance and a good story. I just wish that I could have respected Josefina for the whole book, rather than the last half.

Grade: B-

Kidnapping an Author…

I am thinking I may just keep Kristina, think I can force her to do reviews? What? It could happen. I think we may just make it a guest author week. Just with one author. Or we could have zebra posts. ohhh I think I have one by Caroline somewhere. Or there is always this one.

We do have a contest I just need to finish posting it. Really I was putting it up yesterday but Jane got tired of me whining and upgraded the blog and I lost it. It was sad. I cried. And then I was gonna do it today after work cuz I am suppose to be getting a nifty box from a publisher that starts with the letter K. But I am not sure how many…

So I am thinking I will post it in the morning. We shall have a nifty contest from Kristina but not near as nifty as what is on her site. And I will be giving away a few books (unsigned, unless Kristina is gonna be in Dallas and you REALLY want a signed book and I could get it signed then). You have had it too easy.

No my blog is like deadsville, you people coming and clicking over to Romantic Advances, happily making lists of books to lust over. I hear crickets here man! Don’t make me have gwen pull out the sound effects cuz I will!

Tags: Caroline Linden, Kristina Cook

Review: Alien Overnight by Robin L. Rotham

Alien Overnight by Robin L. Rotham
Sci-Fi erotic romance eBook published 9 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave Presents

This ebook is a sci-fi erotic romance set in the near-future, in a US where aliens have landed and they are friendly.  VERY friendly.  The main characters are an M.D. named Monica and an alien commander named Kellen.  There is a large cast of secondary characters, chief among them is Lieutenant Shauss (kinky thing - me likie).

Here’s the book blurb:

Commander Kellen is on Earth recruiting women for his planet’s sex-starved males. Not particularly excited by human anatomy, he seeks nothing more for himself than the occasional slaking of his needs with some anonymous female — which shouldn’t be a problem, since she’ll have to face the other way to accommodate his special anatomical needs.

Dr. Monica Teague is thrilled with her ten-year assignment caring for Garathan’s sexual recruits. Her quirky looks and childish excuse for a body guarantee she’ll never be expected to put out — which is kind of a bummer, now that she’s up to her armpits in horny alien beefcake.

But, when an overdose of alien pheromones makes Monica drunk off her ass, Kellen quickly claims the odd little doctor before another Garathani realizes what she is. The overdose sparks a violent chain reaction in her, and when Monica finally wakes, she’s got the body of a porn star — and two sexy alien mates who are determined to tame her.

If only she were as determined not to let them…

Read an excerpt.

This book is based on the premise that friendly aliens, the Garathani,  have landed on Earth and we Earthlings, friendly and open-minded beings that we are, as well as genetically compatible, agree to mate with them to help repopulate their race.  All in return for technology, and presumably other benefits.  Surprisingly, these plot devices work rather well in this interesting and entertaining read - so much so, I was surprised to read this was this author’s first book.

While reading, I found myself guffawing out loud several times, particularly during scenes with the heroine, Monica.  The dialogue and character thoughts are very clever and often just out and out funny.  Monica is a hoot.  She’s a 32-year old, prepubscent-looking “gothchild” in the beginning.  The title references her transformation into an “alien” practically overnight - all triggered by her (previously unknown alien) father’s genetics and exposure to alien male pheromones.  The reason the pheromones are released makes for a rather shocking, but tremendously fun, first scene in the book.

To be honest, I read the first chapter with some skepticism.  Okay, okay.  I admit it.  I started to read the book simply because I thought the cover was HAWT   (I know you’re shocked, Sybil ).  So, I wasn’t sure if it would turn into something interesting enough to hold my attention.  As the story rolled on, though, I was more and more sucked into this alternate reality.  The author weaves a complex and fascinating world, one with some seriously steamy scenes.  I very much want to see more of this world and hope there will be another book soon.

If you’re a sci-fi romance fan, and like a bit of erotic writing, then this is the ebook for you.

Grade: B

Review: Hothouse Orchid by Vashti Valant

Hothouse Orchid by Vashti Valant
Sci-Fi erotic romance ebook published 1 May 07 by Ellora’s Cave Presents

Isn’t this cover sinfully hot?  Very wicked, and yes, I LOVE it, though it doesn’t depict much about the book.  This ebook novel is a sci-fi erotic romance set very far into the future and mostly on other planets.  Its heroine is a genetically engineered “sex toy” and a hero is a human the likes of which I wanted to run away with myself.  The premise that brings the two characters together is seemingly simple, but actually becomes rather complex and isn’t resolved until late in the book.

Here’s the book blurb:

 The most sought after love slaves in the Anarchion are the Hothouse Flowers, genetically designed women with the attributes of living flowers. When rogue-for-hire Vance is commissioned to deliver an orchid-petaled beauty to her Owner, he assumes his greatest challenge will be resisting her pheromone-drenched scent of sexuality. He has to give her to her Owner still a virgin…but that doesn’t mean he can’t make her orgasm under his caresses. After all, passion is woven into her DNA.

Cattleya may have lilac skin as soft as orchid petals and she may find Vance’s touch irresistible, but she refuses to believe that she is destined to be no more than a sex toy. She has a refined education in the arts and sciences, and has been reared to believe that her Owner will love her and marry her. What would a common mercenary like Vance understand about love?

Reader Advisory: This story contains some capture and forced sex scenes for those who like a little more kink.

Read an excerpt.

To begin with, there is some kink in this book, but nothing that will make your hair stand on end (other body parts, perhaps). 

Ms Valant has created a complex and, for us sci-fi fans, believable alternate reality.  This is a universe with genetically engineered male and female sex toys (think cat-human, dog-human, or rabbit-human hybrids with animal cerebral cortexes), cyborgs, and other bizarre creatures.  There are even plant-human hybrids that are trained like geisha.  The details provided by the author fleshing out this odd world make it very interesting and does a bang-up job of suspending disbelief.  I never had the eye-rolling, “Oh puh-leez” moment that I have had in other books using fantastical elements.

The lead characters, Cattleya and Vance, meet, fall in love, have some great sex, and eventually get their HEA.  There are quite a few challenges in between, as well as some very good villians.  There’s even a surprising twist on the hero’s history - of which the author does an admirable job camouflaging; it almost surprised even me.  The way he sighs her name is most yummy.

I didn’t bother my head with the larger issues of the morality behind genetically engineering sentient beings.  I just let the book take me away and I really enjoyed the trip.  You will too if you’re up for some hot sci-fi romance.  Another excellent summer read.

Grade: B-

Excerpt: To Love a Scoundrel by Kristina Cook

To Love a Scoundrel

HE’S NOTORIOUS FOR HIS WICKED WAYS…
Frederick Stoneham thoroughly enjoys the life he leads as one of London’s most disreputable rogues. When his father arranges for him to wed Lady Eleanor Ashton, he believes his decadent lifestyle can carry on uninterrupted. After all, he remembers Eleanor to be plain and timid–not the kind of wife who will demand attention or insist he leave his mistress. But Frederick has a change of heart when he sees the striking beauty Eleanor has become…

CAN SHE REFORM HIM?
Eleanor is stunned to discover she is to wed Frederick Stoneham–the man she has secretly pined after for years, despite his reputation. When Frederick’s former mistress tells her a horrible lie, Eleanor feels betrayed. But Frederick’s persistence–and a passion that refuses to be ignored–are slowly melting Eleanor’s resolve. Now Frederick must prove to Eleanor that his days as a rake are in the past and that she is the only woman he will ever love…

OUT JUNE 5, 2007!!!!!!!!!!

EXCERPT

Read more

Kristina does a Q & A

Why do your covers look so contemporary?

Good question! I wish I knew the answer myself. Rest assured that I had *nothing* to do with the covers, and if I had, they would be gorgeous, lush-looking historical covers!

Is Jane Rosemoor’s cousin Emily Tolland ever going to get her own book– I’d love to see her get a ‘happy ending’?

Unfortunately, no. I’d like to write her story–get rid of that weaselly husband of hers and give her a better man, but alas, TO LOVE A SCOUNDREL is the final book in the Ashton/Rosemoor series.

I see that you’re a huge NASCAR fan–any plans to write a NASCAR-themed romance?

Actually, I’d love to write a NASCAR romance, and have been tinkering with a couple different opening scenarios. The hard part is trying to come up with a hero who doesn’t seem so obviously based on my favorite driver, Tony Stewart!

Any plans to write in any other romance subgenre besides historical?

I’ve just started writing some YA paranormal fiction under the name Kristi Cook. Nothing contracted yet, but soon, I hope!

Where do you get your ideas?

Another good question! I have NO idea–but they usually come to me when I’m either in the shower, or walking the dog. I do think I’m sometimes inspired by movies or television shows, at least in a general sense. Like I really enjoy the ‘unrequited love’ scenario that played out in the first two seasons of my favorite TV show, The Office. In the historical manuscript I’m working on now, I’m using that theme–a hero who’s been secretly pining after the (older!) heroine for years.

What are you working on now?

A new historical trilogy–this time a planned series, rather than another ‘accidental’ series–focusing on three sisters. A sort-of romance will also play out involving their widowed mother over the course of the series. I’m really excited about the premise of the first book–tentatively titled FOREVER VIOLET–because I love the younger man/older, more experienced woman set-up.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Hey, that’s like asking which of my children I love best! Generally, my favorite book is the one I’m currently working on, because I have to sort of get ‘obsessed’ with my story/characters for it to work for me. That said, I think my skills as a writer have greatly improved since my first book, and I think SCOUNDREL is probably my best book to date. I think I’ve finally ‘come into’ my voice–and it’s a little more emotional/sensual than my previous books.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Most definitely a pantster! I can’t plot to save my life–my books just sort of evolve as I’m writing them. I know the set-up when I begin, and I generally know how it’s going to end, but the writing, for me, is all about that journey. When I’m forced to plot a book before I write it, it pretty much takes the fun out of it for me.

What’s the best part about being an author?

Definitely the friends I’ve made, both fellow authors and readers!

Now tis your turn… Have a Question for Kristina, ask away. She will be checking in tomorrow on and off to answer ;).

It Takes a Village

You may have wondered why it has been so quiet around here lately. Well lawson is busy with work and so is gwen… and well me? I have been working on a project! A grand project, a romantic one, dare I say it - an advanced one. A little history if you like…

It all started out on a cold, wet January night. A meeting of the minds, two everyday people working to uncover truth, justice and the American Way!

Well not really… unless a google chat can be called a meeting of the minds and it was a day in January but hey you guys are readers and writers. Don’t you think night brings up such a better image in your mind? And I am not really sure if you can count trying to figure out ways to take over publishing to bring back the Romance Historical as uncovering Truth and all that rot.

But really this is my story and I get to tell it. I never ever said I was a writer. Oh, fine damn it, you want the truth? You can’t handle the truth! Readers, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by people with internet connection and TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS. Who’s gonna do it? You?

oops sorry… see this is why I don’t watch much tv anymore…

Honestly, though that is what Jane and I had hoped for as we were chatting over a couple of days in January, in February, and March (when she got real, got tough and bought urls). We searched for the things we wanted and pretty much we found them but we wanted everything in one place.

Tidy, nifty, easy for us to use… it would be grand… there would be light and music and sound and glitter with thoughts on just how much glitter was too much… ohhhhhh shiny

Then life got in the way, work (hers), kids (hers), family (hers) [jesus I suck] tis so sad. And our grand idea that arose out of the lol’s and omg’s of chat, was put aside… sadly maybe even put to rest. It brought tears to my eyes to see the words being typed out. But alas I carried on.

And then it happened after yet again sqqquuueeeing over books I had found that were coming out in fifty years. Jane called a halt! She called for focus! I think she even had some odd thing about why don’t we read the 2000 books we just got. I know she crazy because how could we focus! when there were all these nifty books we you needed to know we you needed!

How could we quietly stand down and go on our merry way when I YOU needed to know what romance novels were coming soon (soon being you know, uh loose term). And she agree! Ok really, I think she decided to go alone with the plan just to shut me up. She is sneaky like that. By the glory of OCD she coded her fingers to the bone, along with a merry band of reader blogger volunteer, we bring youRomantic Advances.

It isn’t even the GRAND PLAN but a small piece of it. Basically it puts the books we want to want, books you want to want, along with other books you may want that we have no idea why you would want them - in one place.

And that is how Romantic Advances came to be… See simple!

Would you like to know more? For that I direct you to Jane. Dude I am just an idea man, she is the brains of the outfit. But I will tell you this, we are so going to help you build your to be read mountains.

One. Book. At. A. Time.

Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

Though the title is Desperate Duchesses, neither lead in this novel is a Duke or a Duchess, though the desperate Duchesses in question do make an appearance. This, the first in a new series by James, is the story of Lady Roberta St. Giles and Damon Reeve, Earl of Gryffyn.

Roberta is the victim of a melodramatic, poet father and his mistress, an actress named Mrs. Grope. Though she is well cared for, she has no martial prospects due to father’s unorthodox behavior, and thus at one of the few balls she attends falls in love with the Duke of Villiers because she knows he’s a cold, unemotional chess master and will never embarrass her in public.

Roberta flees her home for London to stay with her (very distant) cousin Jemma, the Duchess of Beaumont and meets Damon, who falls for her, nearly at first sight, even though Roberta is sure she is in love with Villiers. Damon then spends the rest of the book convincing Roberta that she is wrong and she should marry him. In very subtle moves, much like a chess master himself.

The writing style is excellent. James knows her way around a story and how to flesh out the right parts. The characters are also vivid and well drawn, especially Villiers and Roberta. Damon is somewhat a mystery as a character, besides his motives and caring for Roberta, up until the last part of the book.

Desperate Duchesses had too many characters and sub-plots going on they seemed to overshadow the main story. Chess and various chess matches are focused on throughout the novel, especially those between Jemma and Villiers and Jemma and her husband, the Duke of Beaumont.

There is also Roberta’s father and his mistress Mrs. Grope, Harriet, the Duchess of Barrow, one of the other desperate Duchesses, Teddy, Damon’s illegitimate son, Miss Charlotte Tatlock, Bridgette Jemma’s French maid . . . The list can go on. Each of these characters is so richly drawn it takes away from the whole story of Roberta and Damon.

Jemma is a hoot though, and it makes me wonder if she will get a story, or if her and Beaumont’s story will be told throughout the series. The other Duchesses are not given much attention, in fact only Jemma and Harriet show up during the course of the book.

It is explained why the Duchesses are desperate, though perhaps it should not have been the title for this book.

Grade: B-

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