Improper Gentlemen, Wednesday, May 25

Mistress by Marriage, Friday, May 27

For a chance to read my Brava August and September releases early, go bid! The money raised annually by author Brenda Novak goes to support diabetes research. If you scroll below to the blog post under the auction banner, you’ll see I’ve donated other prizes towards this worthy cause.

The response to this month’s website contest has been so overwhelming that I’m going to pick more than one winner. Someone will get the royal wedding swag and Improper Gentlemen, and two others will get prize packages, including a DVD of historic royal weddings. The rest of the entrants will receive bookmarks (see below). The newsletter announcing the winners will go out on June 1. (if I get around to writing it, LOL) If you don’t subscribe yet, please see the sidebar to sign up!

I’ve recently received ARCs for Mistress by Marriage, and am donating one plus an ARC of Improper Gentleman to the Brenda Novak auction. I’ll post a link back here when I get more info. They will go up for only one day, so if you want to be one of the first to read about Edward and Caroline and Simon and Lucy, get ready to bid!

I’m almost done with my travels. Just got back from a family vacation in Las Vegas. We had to fly around tornadoes on the way home, and my heart goes out to all those who found themselves in their destructive paths. I’ll be looking for ways to help, and am sure you will too.

Tomorrow is my critique partner Tiffany Clare’s release day! The Secret Desires of a Governess will hit the shelves. Tiff was picked by RT Book Reviews as a writer to watch. Congrats, Tiff!

I’ve ordered new bookmarks. Thank you Frauke from Croco Designs!

Get ready to bid on Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. I’m donating a heart-shaped box of books and goodies including Maggie Robinson’s Mistress by Mistake, Mistress by Midnight, Lords of Passion and Margaret Rowe’s Tempting Eden and Any Wicked Thing. In addition, my critique partner Tiffany Clare and I are offering to critique 55 pages of a historical romance and synopsis. Two writers for the price of one!

This yearly auction is a readers’ and writers’ dream. I was so honored to participate last year, and can’t see to wait how much gets raised for this worthy cause!

This month’s contest: an ARC of Improper Gentlemen, coverflats, bookmarks, magnets, romance trading cards AND royal wedding swag!!! What are you waiting for? Click the on the contest link!

I was thrilled with the recent 4 1/2 star Saucy & Sinful review of Margaret Rowe’s June 2010 releaseTempting Eden, the book of my heart and my first sale. “Lusciously richly erotic tale” indeed! Thank you, Christine!

In another latish review, here’s Mama Kitty’s for Mistress by Mistake. 4 Meows, LOL.

I’ve finally written almost 1/3 of my current Maggie Robinson WIP, working title Lady Anne’s Lover, which I am not at all crazy about. (the title, not the story, LOL.) I’ve set myself up for kind of a big challenge. The hero has one arm, but that’s enough for him to lift a glass or seven and bury his troubles in drink, and the heroine is the victim of inappropriate sexual attention from her own father. Oh, and did I mention he is suspected of killing his childhood sweetheart and she is the scandalous Lindsay Lohan of her time? How to get depressed Gareth out of the bottle and skittish Anne comfortably beneath (or on top of) him will require skill I hope I possess. Anne is also a younger heroine than I’ve written lately–just 19–and makes her appearance in the first London List book. I had not expected to turn her into the star of her own, but she just wouldn’t leave me alone.

The setting of the book is along the Welsh border, and our trip this month was enormously helpful to me to picture where Gareth and Anne live and love. Our vacation was everything I could have hoped for and more. My own hero surprised me by inviting our best friends to join us. Seeing them walk up at Logan Internation Airport left me absolutely gobsmacked. We laughed, we ate (too much), we explored Hay-on-Wye (the most wonderful little Welsh town), went to the St. George’s Day celebration at Royal Albert Hall and waved our English flags. I picked up fabulous research books in Hay and at the V&A in London which will keep me inspired for some time.

I also bought a few non-tacky royal wedding souvenirs which I’ll give away next month. My lovely Kensington editor Megan Records sent me a few ARCs of Improper Gentlemen, so expect a giveaway soon.

There’s still time to enter April’s contests, too. Click on the link above and on Margaret Rowe’s site.

Of the 300 bulbs I planted last fall, most seem to be peeking out under the mulch. The snow is mostly gone except for a few stubborn patches in the woods. Our thoughts are turning to docks and boats and deck furniture (none of which we can afford), but I don’t yet have the courage to store my winter sweaters.

So that’s my April news. What’s new with you?

Here’s the link to the Romance Junkies review for Any Wicked Thing! My favorite snippet: It is impossible to find a more perfect title for such a decadently erotic novel as ANY WICKED THING. Well-written, with a fine flare for flirtatious sarcasm, Ms. Rowe has penned a deliciously entertaining historical romance, blessed with insanely sexual love scenes that are equally raw and riveting.
Yowza.

Any Wicked Thing got a 5 star Top Pick review from Night Owl Reviews. Here’s a snippet: Any Wicked Thing by Margaret Rowe is an incredibly hot, addictive tale of love and passion set during the Regency era in England. I was drawn into the author’s world and completely captivated by the characters and her writing style. I read this in one sitting; I found it impossible to put the book down….tender and burning hot. For the complete review, click here.

In a few days I’ll be in Great Britain! My current book is set on the Welsh-English border, and I decided I needed to do some research and get out of mud season in Maine.

I’ve visited Wales several times before, but many years ago. We’re staying in Hay-on-Wye, a medieval market town with about 30 bookstores. Every year they have a huge book festival, but we’ll be there before then–which is good, because I don’t do well in giant crowds. (don’t ask about the Rolling Stones concert in Canada a few years ago, although Mick Jagger can still strut his stuff)

We’ll spend four days in London too. My husband has booked plays and concerts and if we wake up in time we plan to go to Sunday service at St. James’s in Piccadilly, a Christopher Wren-designed church . Feet willing, I hope to do one of the walks that’s featured in writer Louise Allen’s Regency Walks through London. We’ll be at Fleming’s in Mayfair. Want to have tea?

But the best part? I’m going to buy William & Kate wedding swag for future giveaways, LOL. Click here and here to see what the contest prizes are this month!

Here’s the link to the Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe book basket on offer at eBay for Operation Auction to benefit the Soufan family. Go bid!

4/1-The auction is now closed. Thanks to whoever bought my book bundle!

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The latest craze. My fabulous critique partner Elyssa Papa made these for me. Thanks so much, Ely!