Happy Book Birthday to Love’s Revenge and @TerriRochenski #Historical #Romance #MeansofMercy

I am super excited to be able to wish my good friend and fellow author, Terri Rochenski a very happy book birthday on the day of the release of her latest novel in the Means of Mercy series, LOVE’S REVENGE. If you read the first in the series, Love’s Sorrow, then you are just as jazzed for this new release as I am.

Here are all the juicy ( and important) details…

Love’s Revenge
Means of Mercy #2

by Terri Rochenski
Release Date: January 26, 2015 (TODAY!)
Genre: Historical Romance
Keywords: Romance, Series, Civil War, 19th Century, America, Western

Description: Embittered by betrayal, Anne MacKay flees London for America, where she learns she’s pregnant with her abusive husband’s longed-for heir. In a society that doesn’t protect, or afford a well-to-do wife’s desire for divorce, Anne decides there is one way to exact revenge: deny the father any knowledge of his child.

Sought after by her husband’s henchmen, Anne travels by rail and horseback, far from civilization where silk and stays are worn, let alone thought of. Lies and deceit protect her identity for a time, allowing her to birth—and grow to love—the child who was supposed to be her vengeance.

With the help of her loyal and protective business partner, Jude Connagher, and the ranch hands in their Montana Territory valley, Anne attempts to rebuild her life under the shadow of her husband’s wrath.

One unwise decision lands Anne in her pursuers’ clutches, tearing her from the ranch, her child, and her growing love for the one man who could redeem her from bitterness. She’s left with no choice but to finally face her husband, knowing her freedom and life hang in the balance.

 

BUY LINKS:

Roane Publishing

Print
Createspace
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Digital (eBook)
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Bookstrand
Smashwords
Apple (iBooks)

CALL OF THE SEA Gets an Update *happy dance* On Sale NOW #Romance #Pirate #Historical #Shifter

I am OVER THE MOON excited to publicly announce my debut novel, Call of the Sea, has just been updated. Not only does the novel have a new cover for both print and eBook, Inkspell Publishing has been kind enough to include my supplemental ending chapter (Fate’s Voyage) at the end of both versions. Now the story has the ending, I feel it really should have had.

And if that isn’t enough, it is also now on sale for $.99 on Amazon for Kindle. Say what?!?

Let me share all the goodies and info with you before I burst!

CALL OF THE SEA
by Rebecca Hart

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance
Keywords: Romance, Pirate, Selkie, Shifter, Historical, Sea Story

Blurb: Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.

Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O’Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren’s Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter.

Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other in order to quell the raging storm between them or have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer.

 

To celebrate the “re-release”, I thought I would share a little teaser from the new ending with you all. Get you in the mood for more Ellie and her sweet hunk of a hero, Daniel.

Excerpt: 

A frazzled and exhausted Daniel paced the deck and cast anxious glances at the companionway with each pass. When he’d returned to the cabin with Amelia, his mother-in-law ushered him from the room and told to go make himself useful elsewhere. Easier said than accomplished.

He spent the first two hours at the helm trying not to think about what was happening to his wife below. Another hour worrying over the possibility his child would be born cursed, like him, and how Ellie might handle learning her child wasn’t human. When the stress of his wandering thoughts became overwhelming, Daniel spent a few hours in the company of his men, a deck of cards, and a keg of rum. By hour thirteen, no amount of rum could drown out the moans of agony echoing up to him from the captain’s quarters. With each muffled groan that filters up to assault his ears, tiny needles of guilt stabbed him in the chest. If it weren’t for his weakness when she’d shown up on his doorstep dripping wet and vulnerable, she wouldn’t be in pain. She’d be safe, smiling, not screaming in agony.

How much longer could it be? Ellie might be the strongest woman he’d ever known, but even she had limits. Surely, she couldn’t take much more. He knew he couldn’t. Daniel performed a quick about face and stalked back toward the ship’s stern. As he reached the mainmast, a strangled, weak cry reached his ears. His steps halted. He tilted his head and listened.

The cries continued, grew louder, more insistent.

The babe!

He sprang into action, darting for the companionway, his feet barely touching the wide plank decking. Rounding the corner, he leapt down the stairway and traversed the length of the lower hall in three long strides. His pace didn’t slow as he crashed through the door to the cabin he shared with Ellie, and skidded to a stop in the center of the room.

His pale but smiling wife lay in the bed, knees up, a sheet covering her lower half. Exhaustion painted her features, but her sea blue eyes danced with joy.

* * * *

Get yourself a copy of CALL OF THE SEA today!

Amazon  |  Createspace  |  Barnes and Noble (Coming Soon)

#SexySnippets: A taste of the first time. #CalloftheSea #NA #Shifters #Romance #Pirates

 

Happy Sunday, everyone! Welcome back to the blog. I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend, and if you are visiting from other countries, I hope the weekend is treating you well.

I’ve decided to share a sexy snippet from my New Adult Pirate/Shifter romance, Call of the Sea with you all today as my Sexy Snippet. If you aren’t familiar, a sexy snippet is 7 sentences from a WIP or published work. In this case, CALL OF THE SEA is a published work, my debut novel, and a story that holds a special place in my heart.  This snippet comes from Ellie and Daniel’s wedding night.

Hope you enjoy 🙂

Candlelight played off the smooth lines of his chest, casting him in a golden glow. He unfastened his breeches, sliding them down his flanks, pulled his feet from the legs, and kicked the pants aside. Straightening, Daniel stood before her in naked splendor.

Her hungry gaze raked over him, appreciating every contour of his magnificent physique.

Mine. My husband.

She reached out to him, beckoning him back to her side.

If you are interested in reading more, and I certainly hope you are, you can pick up a copy of CALL OF THE SEA in Print or eBook at Amazon (link below for your ultimate convenience).

CALL OF THE SEA on AMAZON

Make sure you click the banner at the top of the post, or just hit the below link, and stop by to visit with all the other authors offering up SEXY SNIPPETS this week. You never know what sort of steamy tales or fantastic new authors you may find.

Sexy Snippets List

Love’s Sorrow Blog Tour and Exclusive Excerpt! Oh, and a #giveaway. #HistoricalRomance #NewRelease #MeansofMercy @TerriRochenski

Welcome to my stop on the Love’s Sorrow blog tour. Always glad to have visitors. *grins* Today, not only do I have an exclusive excerpt for you from the first chapter of Love’s Sorrow, I also have a great giveaway to tell you about when I’m done, so make sure to stay tuned for that.

For the moment, let’s get you acquainted with the first story in Terri Rochenski’s historical romance “Means of Mercy” series.

Title:  Love’s Sorrow (Means of Mercy #1)

Author:  Terri Rochenski

Publisher:  Roane Publishing

Release Date:  April 21, 2014

Keywords:  Sweet, Historical Romance

Blurb: Hired as a nanny for her cousin’s children, Anne Tearle finds security and a loving family. The children are a dream, but London society is a world of its own, one where a displaced farm girl has no business being. But, wealthy rake, Gavin MacKay, helps her to see associating with the upper class might not be as horrid as she first assumed.

Like all things worthwhile, love comes at a price, and the cost soon bestows more anguish than joy. Lost, but not undone, Anne must find the courage to begin life anew, or succumb to sorrow’s unrelenting waves of grief.

BUY LINKS

Print
Roane Publishing  |  Createspace  |  Amazon

eBook
Roane Publishing  |  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble
Kobo  |  Bookstrand  |  Smashwords
Apple (iTunes/iBooks)

Now, I believe I promise you all an excerpt. I think I’ve teased you long enough.

 

Excerpt #5 – Love’ Sorrow

Joanna poured the steaming liquid into fragile teacups. “So Anne—” she passed me one of the cups “—Uncle Edward told me a little about you, but I would be delighted to hear your story from your own lips, if you don’t mind indulging my curiosity.”

I hesitated before taking a sip of the hot tea. The delicate china felt foreign in my ungainly and hardened grip. “Where shall I begin?”

“Wherever you like.” Joanna sat back in her chair, her smooth, white hands holding the cup and saucer with dainty ease.

“Would you care to know about how I came to live with Uncle?”

She nodded and swallowed a sip of tea. “Yes, please.”

I was thankful the story I began with was not a memory of my own, but one shared with me when I was old enough to understand. Both my parents perished in the fire that destroyed their bakery near Wolverhampton. My mother dropped me from the first floor window to a man below moments before the burning floor fell from beneath her. It was her brother, Uncle Edward, who caught me.

I accounted for sixteen of the eighteen years I lived on Uncle Edward’s farm in the Black Country—of my small pallet in the loft above the pantry, the kitchen I spent most of my time in, and the various chores expected of me. For love of Uncle, I made sure to keep my degrading thoughts of Aunt Martha to myself.

I described my studies and the tuition I had with Mrs. Littleton for eight years. I finished my story with the arrival of Joanna’s letter which brought so much joy to my life.

Uncle Edward had handed the parchment to me saying his wife didn’t know of the correspondence and instructed me to keep the contents a secret as well. I couldn’t imagine the misery I would have experienced if Aunt Martha hadknown I was leaving for London two weeks later.

She always reminded me I was an unwanted, bloody useless orphan—she should have been happy to see me gone, but I could hoe more rows of potatoes and cabbage in a day than either Mary or her two lazy brothers could in a week. I expected poor Uncle Edward heard a fair share of profanity when his wife woke and found me absent from their home.

“It really is a shame that I am just now making your acquaintance.” Joanna poured herself another cup. “I’m not sure if you knew, but my late father and Aunt Martha had a falling out of sorts while they were still children, and stopped speaking to each other not long after.”

I swallowed a sip of tepid tea. “I hadn’t known.”

“Well, their story is lengthy and sad, but if you’d like to hear it?”

“Please.”

“I’ll see if I can shorten it a bit.” She pursed her lips and frowned before launching into the tale explaining how Aunt Martha obtained such an offensive disposition.

 

Good, right? I honestly loved this novel and can’t wait for November and the release of the next novel in the series, Love’s revenge *wiggle*

As I mentioned at the top of the post, Terri Rochenski and Roane Publishing are offering a sweet giveaway as part of the blog tour – a signed paperback copy of Love’s Sorrow, a swag pack, and a $10 Amazon gift card. Since this is a WordPress blog, I can’t host the rafflecopter code here, so instead, I’ve provided a link to the giveaway below.

Love’s Sorrow Rafflecopter Giveaway

Bio: Terri started writing stories in the 8^th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.

 

Ms. Rochenski’s Links:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

 

Cover Reveal: Love’s Sorrow by Terri Rochenski (@TerriRochenski) #HistoricalRomance

Love’s Sorrow
Means of Mercy #1

by Terri Rochenski
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: April 21, 2014
Keywords: Sweet, Historical, Romance

Back of the Book:
Hired as a nanny for her cousin’s children, Anne Tearle finds security and a loving family. The children are a dream, but London society is a world of its own, one where a displaced farm girl has no business being. But, wealthy rake, Gavin MacKay, helps her to see associating with the upper class might not be as horrid as she first assumed.

Like all things worthwhile, love comes at a price, and the cost soon bestows more anguish than joy. Lost, but not undone, Anne must find the courage to begin life anew, or succumb to sorrow’s unrelenting waves of grief.

* * * *

About Terri Rochenski:
Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.

Website: http://terrirochenski.com

Winter’s Sweet Kiss Blog Tour: The WSK Authors Kiss and Tell #Giveaway #Romance @roanepublishing

Hello again readers, and thanks, as always, for stopping in to the blog today.

As part of the ongoing Winter’s Sweet Kiss blog tour, I have managed to score a short interview with each of the participating authors. I asked each of them one question… a good one, of course.

Tell us about your first kiss.

Here’s what they had to say 🙂

Michelle Ziegler:

Hmm – will my husband be reading this? Let’s put it this way. It wasn’t good. It was awkward, he bit me, and I was left trying to figure out if I’d been kissed or mauled.

Shaya Roy:

Well, this is embarrassing 😉 My first kiss was like first kisses usually are. Quick, awkward and bewildering, because neither of us quite knew what we were doing. I still felt so wonderful after, and roamed around in a proud daze the whole day!

Lily Carlyle:

To be perfectly honest, I wish I had a better story to tell—more romance, genuine affection, true love. My first kiss was unfortunately tinged by revenge.

I’d had a crush on a boy for years. My best friend liked him and asked me to convey that information to him, which I gleefully did. He had no interest in her and my friendship with her ended for other reasons, but he and I became friends.

And we were friends for years. He must have realized I had a crush on him, but he never acted on it. Silly boy.

Through him, I got to know his best friend—a cocky, good-looking soccer player who had a way with the girls. I realized he was dumb as a box of rocks, but he was cute. One afternoon, after school, when no parents were around, he kissed me. It never really led to a relationship, though we had an off and on thing that went on for years.

As for Boy #1? He married his high school sweetheart and they divorced a few years later. 

Terri Rochenski:

Does kissing my kindergarten boyfriend in the back of the bus count??

I was 15, playing Monopoly with my then-boyfriend and he just leaned across the board and stole my ‘first’ kiss – along with a handful of $100s from the bank. Jerk.

Annabelle Blume:

 The details of my first kiss are boring. Instead, I will tell you about my almost-first kiss. In my early teen years, I was pretty lame; A scrawny thirteen year old who happened to hang out with kids that were reasonably well liked. We were an eclectic group of popular and not-so-popular eighth graders who forged some kind of strange connection in the horribly mixed up hormonal world of middle school. 

The cutest guy in school, Joe, happened to be part of our group. Blond, tan, surfer guy with a brilliant smile and charm to boot. Not my type, but undeniably good looking. One day we were goofing off in the cafeteria, and as he lounged across a bench I leaned over him to ask a question. His response was not an answer me, but to look directly in my eyes and whisper, “I could have kissed you just then.” I giggled and pulled away, unsure of how the geeky, skinny girl is supposed to respond when a guy of his social standing says such a thing. Four years later, after being separated by different high schools and a variety of young love affairs, we reunited, and you can bet I didn’t make that mistake a second time *wink*! 

Love it!

Let’s hope the some of the kissing in Winter’s Sweet Kiss turns out better *chuckles*

Speaking of which, here are the juicy details on their release from Roane Publishing.

Winter’s Sweet Kiss
by Annabelle Blume, Lily Carlyle, Shaya Roy, Michelle Ziegler, and Terri Rochenski

Genre: Romance (Sweet)

Publisher: Roane Publishing

Release Date: December 15, 2013

Keywords: Adult, Romance, Sweet, Contemporary, Historical, Anthology

Description: Fight the winter chill with these heartwarming romantic tales.

What better time than winter to find someone to cuddle up with? These sweet tales of winter romance are sure to warm your heart.

Stories:

AN UNEXPECTED WREATH  By Annabelle Blume

Blurb: Stella’s got everything she needs in life: a great job, a beautiful house, and her independence. But on last minute trip to the local Christmas tree lot she finds something, or rather someone, she desperately wants – Grayson. An emergency trip to Target, an unexpected wreath, and a little Christmas magic make the season much brighter.

SANTA BEBE  By Lily Carlyle

Blurb: Disillusioned by men and her belief that they see her only as an object, Bebe is determined to find a man with money. Her geeky, but unfailingly kind, next-door neighbor James tries to convince her of the possibility of real love, even as she reveals to him the troubled childhood that made her so cynical about relationships. When her mother dashes her hopes for a perfect Christmas, Bebe finds herself turning to James once again, and in the process, learning a lot about herself and the promise their relationship holds.

MELT  By Shaya Roy

Blurb: Newlyweds in an arranged marriage, Naina and Dev go to the mountains of Shimla, India in search of snow. Unfortunately, they find fifteen inches more than they expected.

Being snowed in with her husband is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives Naina an excellent excuse to snuggle up to her deep, quiet man, but every time Dev spurns her, a little more of her heart drips away. Melting the ice around her husband’s heart before the snow outside does might take more pride than Naina’s ready to surrender.

ONE IN A MILLION SNOWFLAKES  By Michelle Ziegler

Blurb: Angela is in love with someone she can never have–her best friend, Rebecca’s older brother.

Stranded in the bitter cold after a disastrous blind date with yet another company Christmas party looming, a standing offer from the boss’ nephew gets a little more appealing. Desperation. Not a good sign. Surely when Rebecca rescues her from the blinding snow, she can also convince Angela to just go to the party alone. She can always count on her best friend.

That is, as long as she never finds out about Angela’s secret crush.

BEGINNING OF FOREVER  By Terri Rochenski

Blurb: When Wayne Edwards moves to town, Lillian Douglas experiences stirrings she thought were long dead. Guilt ridden over betraying her deceased husband and the feelings Wayne inspires, Lillian reluctantly lets him in. Secrets of the past – an old promise emerges, but will it threaten their forever?

Goodreads Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18844487-winter-s-sweet-kiss

BUY LINKS:

Print Copies
Createspace (Print – Best Option)
Amazon (Print)

eBook Copies
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks

Group Giveaway:  $10 Amazon Gift Card & paperback copy of Winter’s Sweet Kiss 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alone No More Blog Tour: Terri Rochenski’s Top Ten Romance Movies Plus a #Giveaway!

Things are really popping on the blog lately, which I love, and today is no exception. Actually, today is special in that one of my close friends and fellow authors, Terri Rochenski has stopped in today to share a bit about her newest release, ALONE NO MORE, as well as sharing her Top Ten Favorite Romance Movies with us.

I am a romantic movie junkie, so I am very curious to see what romances made Ms. Rochenski’s list and how many of them match up with my own. So, here is Terri with her list:

My top ten favorite romance movies of all time in no particular order

1. Pride & Prejudice. While I enjoy any of the versions, the 2005 with Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen is by far the best.
2. The Notebook. I always think of my grandparents and the love they shared. This one always brings a tear or two.
3. Sense & Sensibility, the 1995 version. Love love love.
4. Cold Mountain. JUDE LAW on that roof top. Le sigh. Need I say more?
5. The New World. Colin Farrell. Mmmmmm Seriously, though, even as a child I was intrigued by Pocahontas and her story. Even got to be her once in a middle school play.
6. 17 Again – the only romantic comedy on this list! I always thought Zach Efron was a punk, but he did such a believable job in this film, and Leslie Mann was a riot. They had great chemistry and their quirky expressions just made this a great one for me.
7. Legends of the Fall. No, it’s not really a romance movie, but it’s one of those haunting movies that sticks in the brain LONG afterwards. Longing, lost love … ugh. Hurts just thinking about it!
8. Last of the Mohicans. Like #7, this movie is heart wrenching. That cliff scene – I cry every. Single. Time.
9. Princess Bride. No explanation necessary IMO.
10. Far and Away. One of the few times I’ve enjoyed Tom Cruise on the big screen.

Wow… I am shocked to see we only have two in common, but one if the two is my all time favorite, so I was glad to see LAST OF THE MOHICANS on the list. If you are wondering, the other one I would also have on my top 10 romance list is Legends of the Fall (as a matter of fact, Brad Pitt in that movie was the inspiration for my historical romance hero, Daniel O’Rourke).

What are your top 10 romance movies? Feel free to share your picks in the comments section. Love hearing from you. 🙂

Now that I have put you all off long enough and heightened anticipation, here are the details on Terri Rochenski’s release:

ALONE NO MORE
by Terri Rochenski

Genre: Romance / Historical

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: December 18, 2013

Book Blurb:

Dismissed from her job as a scullery maid and cast aside by her lover, pregnant Cara Morland has no choice but to return to her father’s farm. While lies of widowhood keep her from disgrace, Cara is faced with a local landowner’s unwanted attentions. Without the social status to do much more than avoid the vile man, she loses hope of ever finding happiness.

A friendship based on mutual loneliness blossoms between Cara and James Elliot, a young farm hand hired by her father. He offers his protection, and one shared kiss reveals his heart, but propriety and her feigned grieving period hinders what they both desire.

When Cara’s stalker learns the truth of her circumstances, he gives her an ultimatum—submit to his possession or he’ll ruin her second chance at love with James.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR Pile today:

Buy Links:

Will be added as soon as possible

I bet you are wondering where the giveaway is, aren’t you?  Terri is giving away a FREE ecCopy of ALONE NO MORE to a luck winner.

As promised, here is the link to the Rafflecopter giveaway

Bio: Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.

Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.

Her Links:

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads