Congratulations to Mary Preston, winner of the Coffee With Heidi Rice giveaway.
You’ve won an e-book copy of Daring the Bad Boy by Heidi Rice.
Mary, you have 24 hours to comment or another winner will be selected.
Thank you to all who entered!
Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!
That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!
The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”
Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality?
What if all your nights were seductive?
What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?
Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.
A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is 99 cents to preorder across all retailers, but this price WILL GO UP to $2.99 on release day, June 14th!
So snap up this sexy novella on preorder everywhere now!
Amazon US ➜ https://amzn.to/1ZK4p7j
Amazon UK ➜ https://amzn.to/24OWBEB
Amazon AU ➜ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01FKU7FJS
iBooks ➜ https://tinyurl.com/AWildlySedNight
BN ➜ https://bit.ly/1XlwnaP
Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/1rGu9Xf
Google Play ➜ https://bit.ly/23OtVt2
Paperback➜ https://amzn.to/1sdYOMb
Amazon CA ➜ https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01FKU7FJS
And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…
If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.
ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:
Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than forty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter at laurenblakely.com/newsletter.
Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte with Coconut Milk and a drizzle of caramel:)
What would you order?
Being extremely boring I’d probably order a plain old latte – or maybe a peppermint tea if I’m feeling particularly virtuous (but TBH I’m very rarely virtuous).
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today.
Thanks for asking me.
Congratulations on your RITA nomination in the Contemporary Romance: Short category for Tempting the Knight. Super exciting and what an honor. Where were you when you got the call?
Thanks so much for the congratulations Rae, I’m absolutely thrilled to bits… As it was around 2pm in the UK when they did the calls from Houston, I was sitting at my kitchen table chomping on a cheese and pickle sandwich for my lunch… Which I very nearly choked on when I picked up the phone and Alyssa Day introduced herself!
For those who are not familiar with your work can you tell us a little bit your books, they take place in some pretty cool places! By the way – the covers are fab! What was the inspiration for Tempting the Knight? How many books can we expect from the Fairy Tales of New York series? What can we expect from your next release?
Tule covers are totally fab aren’t they… So my books, basically I write hot, funny contemporary romance mostly for Harlequin (originally in Kiss and Presents Extra), but I’ve also done stories for Tule and Entangled.
The inspiration for Tempting the Knight was two fold: First off, Amy Andrews contacted me about doing a continuity series together again. She came up with the idea of doing four contemporary riffs on classic fairy tales, we invited Kelly Hunter and Lucy King to join us and then – after over 2000 emails brainstorming ideas – I came up with the idea of a runaway supermodel Rapunzel with spectacular hair getting busted out of her ivory tower (metaphorically speaking) when she hides out on a legal aid attorney’s house barge in Brooklyn for the Labor Day Weekend… The inspiration for the house barge setting though came from an Air BnB road trip I did with my best mate in October 2013… We actually stayed on that house barge, moored in a marina off Knapp St, it was so cool and funky and unexpected I knew I would have to set a story there.
The Fairy Tales of New York are actually four hot new makeovers of The Ugly Duckling, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella which revolve around an Irish-American pub in Brooklyn. The four heroines are BFFs who were split up at convent school after an incident with some stolen altar wine and the stories cover the eventful year a decade later when they bond all over again and find love… Amy Andrews’ barmaid heroine Faith (our Cinders) also happens to have several hunky older brothers – one of whom came in handy as my hero! Here’s the run down:
Book 1: Pursued by the Rogue by Kelly Hunter
Book 2: Tempting the Knight by moi
Book 3: Taming the Beast by Lucy King
Book 4: Seduced by the Baron by Amy Andrews
The books all work as stand alone novels, but reading them together will enhance the pleasure (I promise).
Out next, I hope to have my first classic Harlequin Presents – about a tortured taciturn self-made New York billionaire and the ex-wife who gatecrashes his solo sailing holiday to the Caribbean when she discovers their divorce was never finalized – but I’ve only just finished it, so the release date/title etc is yet to be confirmed.
A quick little plug – readers should run to Amazon right now,
Tempting the Knight (The Fairy Tales of New York Series Book 2)
Cool!
I read on your blog that you went to the London Book Fair, for those of us here in the states can you tell us a little bit about that?
It’s this completely mental publishing event that takes place in a huge Victorian building in West London called Olympia. All the major International publishers and agents are there busy buying and pitching books over three days, but they also do some really interesting seminars for writers who want to know more about the business end of publishing… It’s the first time I’ve been even though I live in London and have been a published author for nearly ten years. Have to say it was fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Rather idiotically, I had no real concept of what an insanely HUGE and complex business publishing is until I went!
Can you tell us when and where you will be in the upcoming months?
Well, mostly I’m going to be at home in my study in London typing away like a lunatic as I’ve got so much work lined up. I’ve just sent off my first book for Harlequin Presents, so I’m working on an outline for the second book on the contract, while also working on a second longer book for Harlequin UK (my first ST book So Now You’re Back was released in February). And I’ve also got to find time in the next couple of months to create an online writing course on How to Write Hot Romance with the wonderful women at The Professional Writing Academy which we’re hoping to launch in September… On top of that I’m going to Italy in June with my DH and two sons for a week long holiday (while selflessly scouting out some great Presents locations) and then heading to the RWA conference in San Diego in July for the RITAs. Sheesh, I’m exhausted just typing all that stuff down… But also super excited.
***** 8 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why?
Outlander because… Jamie Fraser.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
Wow, there are so many amazing things to do and see in London which is where I was born and still live.. But if I was you I’d avoid the West End like the plague (which is usually heaving and very overpriced these days) and head to Borough Market on the south end of London Bridge. You can get food from all over the world there (all of it delicious) and have a pint in an authentic London pub or go to the top of the Shard (the tallest building in Europe) and get a vertigo-inducing view of the whole city. Okay, that’s three places to see but they’re all very close together, honest…
3. Castles or Beaches?
Beaches, especially on cold wintry days. Donegal in Ireland or The Pembroke Peninsula in Wales are particularly good for this as the beaches are beautiful and mostly deserted and even summer days can often be cold and wintry.
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Really? I can name only one? But I have so many. Guilty pleasures are my forte! Hmm, I guess yesterday it would be binge-watching episodes of Starz Outlander in bed while pretending not to hear my younger son ask when lunch was going to be ready. I believe the words ‘when you make it’ might have been said at some point. FYI he’s 18, so his guilty pleasure is obviously nagging his mum to do stuff he’s perfectly capable of doing himself.
5. What are you afraid of?
Getting to the bottom of our laundry pile… If this ever happens it will almost certainly be the end of the world as we know it.
6. Organized or Free Floating?
Free floating frequently off into the cosmos of social media (see what I mean about guilty pleasures??) with a desperate urge to be more organized.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which shows?
Binge watcher all the way. I so do not do deferred gratification. Shows-wise there are so many, but just for starters: Better Call Saul, The Night Manager, Poldark, Outlander (obviously), The Good Wife, Suits (Harvey Spector, I love you), Making of a Murderer (which made me shout at the TV, a lot), but there are many more..
8. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be, besides yours 🙂 ?
A good friend of mine called Iona Grey wrote an absolutely amazing novel called Letters to the Lost which won the UK’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award. It’s an incredibly moving love story, that spans two generations – a US airman and an unhappily married English woman during the Blitz and the runaway girl and the young heir hunter who find their letters in a derelict house in London in the modern day. I would love to see that movie, so much so I’ve already cast it in my head and Gabriel Macht is Dan Rosinsky, the US airman… BTW if this actually happens I will be expecting Iona to get me an invite onto the set. I hope you’re listening, Iona!
Thanks again for hanging out! Time for another Latte 🙂
Happy Reading Dear Readers.
Happy Writing Heidi
*****GIVEAWAY******
Heidi Rice has generously donated ONE e-book copy of Daring the Bad Boy by Heidi Rice.
Answer the following question in the comments to be eligible to win: What book you’d like to see made into a movie or TV show?
Contest ends on 5/13/16 at 11:59 PM
One winner will be randomly selected. Winner must comment within 24 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be randomly selected.
Contest open to US/International.
**********************************************************
To find out who wins the 2016 RITA in each category head over to Romance Writers of America on July 16 at 8PM PT. Winners will be announced and be sure to follow #RITAGH and #RWA16 for all the news that night!
Bio:
Author Heidi Rice’s first love was watching movies so, not surprisingly, her first proper job was as a film journalist. But after spending years sneaking off to read romantic fiction when she was being paid to watch some crappy B-movie or other, she decided to try writing a novel of her own.
Her first book was published by Harlequin in 2007. Nine years and 20something published novels, novellas and short stories later,and she has nabbed three RITA nominations, had her work translated into over twenty languages, become a USA Today bestseller and sold over two million copies of her books worldwide.
As you can probably tell, she loves her job, because it involves sitting down at her computer each day and getting swept up in a world of high emotions, sensual excitement, funny flawed women, sexy tortured men and glamourous locations where laundry doesn’t exist …
She lives in London with her husband and two sons, and lots of other gorgeous men who are entirely in her imagination (unlike the laundry, unfortunately).
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte with Coconut Milk and a drizzle of caramel and chocolate 🙂
What would you order?
Thank you so much for having me here today, Rae! And my drink of choice for our coffee shop chat would be a cappuccino with an extra shot 🙂 Or, if it was a really hot day, a large iced coffee. Yum.
Congratulations on your RITA nomination in the Romantic Suspense category for In the Waning Light- OMG super exciting and what an honor. Where were you when you got the call?
Thank you so much! I was at my desk working. I’d seen all the finalist names going up during the morning, and I’d assumed that was it. However, because I live in the Pacific Standard Time Zone, they delayed calling me until the end. And because I really did think it was all over, I let my husband pick up the phone. He came to my office door and said, uh, there’s someone called Courtney Milan on the phone. Naturally I was over the moon 🙂
For those who are not familiar with your work can you tell us a little bit your books, there are so many to choose from! By the way – the covers are fab!
My books tend to be dark romantic suspense, and I lean toward strong heroines who are also fractured in some way. The covers are the work of the awesome team at Amazon Publishing—they do a great job.
What was the inspiration for In the Waning Light?
IN THE WANING LIGHT was inspired by a trip my husband and I (and our Black Beast!) took down the Oregon coast. I loved the moodiness of the weather at the time, the sea, the mist, fog horns, the little towns, the people who inhabited them, and I wanted to set a story there.
What can we expect from your next release(s)?
Next up from me is IN THE BARREN GROUND, a dark, atmospheric romance and police procedural with gothic/horror overtones set in a remote fly-in community just south of the arctic circle. IN THE BARREN GROUND releases August 16.
Spring 2017 will see the launch of my new ‘Angie Pallorino series’– a gritty, atmospheric female-driven police procedural with a romantic arc over three books, starting with THE DROWNED GIRLS, which will be followed by THE GIRL IN THE PINK SHOE, and then THE GIRL IN THE MOSS. These are all being published with Montlake.
A quick little plug – readers should run to Amazon right now, many of your e-books published from Harlequin are $3.99 on Amazon. A few perfectly priced books to start your collection dear readers or add to it! 🙂
I love your website and enjoy reading your blog too! What is the best way to find out what your doing on social media?
Thank you! I love to connect with readers via Facebook. I also have a presence on Twitter, and a newsletter with news of upcoming releases, and giveaways. The links are below.
https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne.White/
https://twitter.com/Loreth
https://www.lorethannewhite.com/#!contact/c1kcz
***** 8 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why?
Ooh, this is a tough one. I think I’ll pick one of my more recent reads, because it’s a work that has stuck with me: JoJo Moyes’s ME BEFORE YOU. It’s a tragic love story that will wring your heart out, and make you laugh. It’s sad, compassionate, funny, endearing, and it plumbs morally complex depths. And Moyes’ voice is delightful. Bring tissues!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
In winter—Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley. It’s a slice of high elevation cross-country skiing and snowshoeing heaven, and it’s where I go daily with my Black Beast of a labradog while there is snow.
In summer—the peak to peak gondola that runs between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains is pretty damn spectacular. Come to think of it—it’s pretty awesome in winter as well J
3. Castles or Beaches?
Without a doubt, beaches! I’m an ocean girl. My passion is open water swimming in the sea. Sadly, I do not live near the ocean, but I do drive two hours south once a week in the summer to do a long distance ocean swim.
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Good dark chocolate 🙂
5. What are you afraid of?
Losing those I love.
6. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
No tats. I change my mind too often to be able to live with something so permanent on my body J
7. Organized or Free Floating?
I think I’m probably more of a free floater who tries in vain to be organized.
8. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)?
Both! I love to watch Masterpiece Theatre on Sundays. It’s like a bookend to my week and I really look forward to it. My Netflix binges at the moment tend toward the darker/moodier crime shows. Among my favorites are THE KILLING, THE FALL, THE BRIDGE, RIVER, TOP OF THE LAKE, BROADCHURCH, HAPPY VALLEY, WALLANDER, HINTERLAND.
Thanks again! Time for another Latte.
Happy Reading Dear Readers.
Happy Writing Loreth Anne!
Thanks again for having coffee with me, Rae!
To find out who wins head over to Romance Writers of America on July 16th at 8PM PT. Winners will be announced and be sure to follow #RITAGH and #RWA16 for all the news that night!
Good Luck to all!
BIO:
Loreth Anne White is an award-winning, best-selling author of romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries. She has won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Romantic Suspense, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall. In addition, she is a three-time RITA finalist, a Booksellers’ Best finalist, a multiple Daphne Du Maurier Award finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner. A former journalist and newspaper editor who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family.
When she’s not writing you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her Black Dog, and generally trying to avoid the bears – albeit unsuccessfully. She calls this work, because it’s when the best ideas come!
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte with Skim. 🙂 What would you order?
Hot chocolate, of course! Or an iced tea, truth be told as I need LOTS of caffeination and I don’t drink coffee.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today.
You have multiple series and a bookshelf of standalone reads. When you are writing, is it easy to keep characters from crossing over? What book presented the most challenges? What can we expect next?
No! It’s not easy! My characters are demanding, attention hogs!
They’re always trying to reappear in new books! But yes, some
characters are noisier than others. As for challenges, 21 STOLEN
KISSES took me several years, and that’s because it look me a while to truly understand the heart of the story and why I wanted to tell it.
As for what’s next, why, that’s the one and only MISTER O, my next
standalone rom-com releasing May 2!
Each book has fantastic covers – do you have a part in the design?
YES!!! I love designing my indie covers. Well, I don’t do the design
work, but I guide it and have complete cover approval! Sometimes, my designers come up with the concept, and sometimes I do. But one of my favorite parts of indie writing is picking and approving my covers.
The very first book I read by you was Big Rock and I’m now a huge 
fan. I loved reading the all male-POV and falling in love with Spencer.
THANK YOU! I love writing the guy POV. It’s fun and freeing, and I feel like Lauren unleashed!
I love how you connect with your readers via video. What inspired you to start this?
I’ve always been a bit of a ham. I also used to do an online video
report on the media business back when I was a reporter, so I spent
several years making news videos. Now, with the wild and crazy side of the books, I get to do something I like — be on camera — but do it
in a way that is more fun and allows me to just truly be my crazy
romance writing self!
Writing with a family and other commitments is a challenge, do you have a writing ritual or secret location to get the work done?
I wish I had one of those gorgeous writing cottages in the yard! I
don’t even have a separate office. My family is used to my writing and work needs now though. For the most part I write during the day, and after the kids are in bed.
Thank you so much for being here today.
***** 15 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why?
Harry Potter! best series ever.
In romance, I’d have to recommend Sustained by Emma Chase these days. I loved every word in it.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
If you’re talking about where I live now, I would suggest The Mission
district in San Francisco especially because it has some great
bakeries. Yum!
3. Castles or Beaches?
Beach!
4. One thing readers would be surprised to know about you.
I have ten pairs of blue shoes. I love taco shops. All my make-up is
cruelty-free.
5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist?
Show tunes of course! I love Les Mis, Evita and Anything Goes!
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for
research, where would you go?
London! I’ve never been and I desperately want to go.
7. What is your guilty pleasure?
Pleasure is never guilty! I don’t feel guilt about the things I enjoy.
8. What are you afraid of?
Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
9. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
None. But I have a belly button free.
10. What’s your favorite TV show and why?
I love Veep and Silicon Valley for the humor.
11. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )?
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. So romantic.
12. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
Raiders of the Lost Ark. I absolutely love the adventure in it!
13. Would you rather see a movie in the theatre or at home on DVD and why?
Theater! I love the chance to lose myself in a great story.
14. What is one thing you can’t live without.
Pets, family, green tea.
15. Do you love to cook or go out to eat?
Hate to cook. Love to go out.
Thanks again! Time for another Latte.
Happy Reading Dear Readers.
Happy Writing Lauren!
ICYMI: Lauren Blakely Blitz Day 1: Mister O
About Lauren Blakely:
Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With nine New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller List more than three dozen times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love and Fighting Fire. She recently released BIG ROCK, a sexy standalone romantic comedy that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. In the late spring, she’ll release MISTER O, another standalone romantic comedy.
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