I’ve been thinking about Soren Kierkegaard. I know, I know… why would anyone waste time thinking about Soren Kierkegaard. Anyway, he’s been on my mind, so I’m going to tell you his story. And brace yourself, because it’s possibly the worst love story ever.

Soren’s tale begins with his father, whose wife was dying a tragic, ugly, loooong, drawn-out death. Obviously, he couldn’t care for the kids and house alone, so he hired a maid. Fast forward a few months, the maid is pregnant, the wife is not yet dead, and here comes baby Soren, the newest and most hated member of the family. (I know. SOOOO Jerry Springer, right?)

Our hero passed a miserable childhood and adolescence, constantly wallowing in self-pity and religious turmoil. He never allowed himself to love – partly because he felt this would be cheating on his passionate love of God (groan), but also because he was uber-unattractive and had horrible posture. (Yes, your mother was right. Stand up straight and you won’t die a horrible, soul-crushing death.) The one comfort poor Soren took lay in the knowledge that his pain-riddled thoughts and observations were Pure and Important. In fact, he became so attached to his suffering he once noted that Depression was his most faithful mistress, thus, it was no wonder he returned her affection. (That quote TOTALLY reminds me of my college boyfriend, by the way.)

Pathetic? Yes.

Diagnosable? Absolutely.

(We’re still talking about Soren, here.)

Everything changed when our dear hero moved to a new city and encountered a girl (Get out! A girl? Soren likes a girl?!?!). Her name was Regine Olsen, and she captivated him. He’d not spoken to her, however, he found himself wanting to be close to her. So, poor Soren did what any desperate, socially stunted guy would do.

He stalked her.

He talked to her friends.

He figured out what she read, where she went to lunch, what kind of music she listened to, where she bought her undergarments.

Once he had all the deets sorted, it was time to make his move.

Soren: “Hello.”

Regine: “Hello.”

Soren: “That’s a lovely pink underfrock you’re wearing. May I buy you a cup of warm asses’ milk?”

Regine (laughing): “Oh, wait, you’re serious?”

Despite the rocky start, Soren had found love. And not just the kind of humdrum, run-of-the-mill love where the best part is when you file joint taxes. No, this was a passionate love. A love that defied reason and made people wonder whether Regine perhaps needed eyeglasses.

A happy ending, you say?

But no, that would be too easy for poor Soren. After a few months of bliss, he began to realize that his writing had lost its spark. No longer could he wallow in the doldrums, crucifying humanity for its many faults and exalting God’s impossible perfection. No longer could he wrestle with the dark plight of humanity. Regrettably, Soren was plagued with an illness more paralyzing than any plague.

He was… HAPPY.

Horribly, miserably, catastrophically happy!

He had to make a choice. Stay with Regine, and live his life in blissful mediocrity. Or leave her, and return to his lonely, anguished excellence and philosophical superiority.

Well, Soren being a man (and thus an idiot) made the only choice he could.

Soren: “I’m leaving you.”

Regine: “Excuse me?”

Soren: “I’m too happy. It’s not working out.”

Regine: “Is this because of the asses’ milk thing?”

Fast forward a few years, and Soren is living in an apartment (read: ManCave), writing book after book about why he left Regine and how true happiness without her is futile, etc, etc, wondering why she hasn’t come running back to him. Eventually, he goes to tell her he made a mistake, only to find that she’s married someone else, one of Soren’s fellow philosophers. (Awk-ward.)

At this point, Soren is so heartbroken, he can barely make it back to his dad’s house, let alone stop for a cup of asses’ milk. His father, of course, reminds him that if he would just stand up straight once in a while, maybe Regine would come back and it would all be okay. Soren shows his father what he thinks of this advice by promptly dying of a broken heart.

The moral of the story is summed up beautifully by some of the last words Soren Kierkegaard wrote in his private journal:

“To live without love is a mistake for which there is no reparation, either in this life or any other.”

So there you have it, my fellow romance writers and readers:

If Soren Kierkegaard were alive today, he would be the biggest romance junkie on the planet. He would be camped out with the Twi-hards, poring over Google, saying prayers for Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to rekindle. (Even though Justin is gay and Selena is clearly his beard… Don’t lie, you’ve all thought it.) So if you ever doubt that romance novels have substance, just think of Soren Kierkegaard. Writer. Philosopher. Lover. Because he knows what we all suspect and what the Fab Four sang so long ago: Love is all you need…

…and maybe a cup of warm asses’ milk.

Have you a more tragic story then our poor Soren & Regine? Tell us about it! GIVEAWAY: One eCopy to one commenter [US only]

Here is where you can find the book: Amazon / B-A-M / Barnes & Noble / GoodReads.com / IndieBound / Kobo / Powell’s Books
AUTHOR BIO: Cecily Cornelius-White, Psy.D. makes a habit of avoiding boredom whenever possible. She has enjoyed careers as a hand model, GAP salesgirl, movie projectionist, psychotherapist, yoga instructor, university professor, artist, dance choreographer, eating disorders specialist, psych diagnostician, book reviewer and copy editor. None of which are as much fun as writing novels.

She currently lives in Springfield, MO with two FABULOUS kids, and a schizophrenic yet well-mannered cat. She can swear in Klingon, take down an alien aggressor using only her mind (or a pair of chopsticks), and kill giant spiders without getting schmutz on her shirt. When not singing to herself, she spends time creating new worlds and thinking up ways to make this one better…

Where you can find her: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

BOOK BLURB: For Cameron McKenzie, Chloe Dawson has always just been his younger sister Jane’s best friend—a pesky annoyance who followed him around and acted like he hung the moon. It isn’t until Jane’s wedding to her firefighter beau Chris that Chloe reappears in his life…and she isn’t pesky or annoying anymore. In fact, the beautiful Chloe tempts him beyond reason. But Cam knows he’s damaged goods—not nearly good enough for Lone Pine Lake’s resident good girl.

Chloe’s always dreamed of a future with the dark, brooding Cam, and after they share an explosive kiss, she wonders if her dream could be coming true. Cam’s never stuck around his hometown for long, though, so she makes him an offer: one sweet summer romance with no strings attached. This good girl’s ready for an adventure…one that just might end up lasting a lifetime.

EXCERPT:

She started to walk away but he stopped her, curled his hand around the crook of her elbow. Her skin was soft, silky. His knuckles brushed against her chest, sent a shockwave through him that rendered him completely still.

“You’re not boring,” he murmured. “Everyone moves at a different pace. Everyone has a different purpose. I think you might’ve already found yours.”

She swallowed hard. He saw the delicate movement of her throat. Without thought, he drew his thumb across the inside of her upper arm, swore he felt her shiver from his touch. Electricity crackled and sparked between them, heady and fluid, and he drew her closer. Closer…

“I should go inside,” she repeated, her voice shaky. “I sound like such a baby, complaining when one of my dearest friends just got married. Your sister. God, you must think I’m completely selfish…”

He cut her off with his lips, rendering her completely silent. She did talk too much. Way too damn much…but she also seemed sad. A little lost.

And he could relate. Despite her thinking he had it together, he didn’t. He was as lost as she, maybe even more so.

MINI REVIEW: I love Karen Erickson’s steamy Historical novels, but lately I’ve been checking her Contemporary ones and I like them. A lot!

‘Tempting Cameron’ comes on the heels of ‘Jane’s Gift’ which I read and reviewed for Christmas, and is the second book in the Lone Pine Lake series. Don’t fret if you haven’t read the first as they’re stand alone, but you’ll be missing a great intro into McKenzie family and Lone Pine Lake residents.

Both characters are likable and just so very real and their happily ever after worth the read.

Karen Erickson has a knack for creating characters that are filled with humanity, for the lack of a better word. These people she populates her stories are just too real, and they just jump off the pages to grab you and pull you deep into their problems, their troubles that you can easily forget your own.

What may surprise you, as it did me, is that this author can write erotic, sensual, steamy and waaaay too hot romance as well as the sweet, touching and STILL sensual without that scorching hot factor, and you won’t even notice ‘till you’re at the end of the story. Oh and the endings of her stories will leave you with this feeling of utter awe and satisfaction…peace and contentment…and a wide smile!

Highly recommend and not to be missed if you’re into contemporary genre.

AUTHOR BIO: I’ve always loved the written word. From being one of the best readers in my kindergarten class to penning romantic stories that never ended about my favorite band members (Duran Duran!) in high school, I always had a feeling I wanted to write. It just took me a while to seriously pursue it.

With the birth of my third child came a realization – it’s one thing to talk about writing a book, another thing entirely to do so. So I decided to go for it and in 2005 I began my pursuit in writing toward publication. After completing a few clunkers that should never see the light of day, I was first published in 2006. I currently write for Samhain Publishing (sexy, glamorous contemporary romance), Entangled Publishing’s Bliss Imprint (sweet, small town contemporary romance), Avon Impulse/Harper Collins (historical romance) and Carina Press (historical romance).

On a personal note, I’m a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with my husband and three children, the dog and way too many cats.

I had to come up with a topic for this blog post and decided to talk about my partners in writing. I write contemporary short romance for Harlequin, Jeannie Lin writes historical set in the ancient China, and Shawntelle Madison writes urban fantasy/paranormal romance with a funny twist.

When we first met, we were all unpublished and looking for writing friends. We formed a critique group with some other friends, Kristi Lea and Dawn Blankenship. After a year or so of being together, I received a contract for my first Special Edition, Jeannie won the Golden Heart and received a contract for her first Harlequin Historical, and Shawntelle scored an agent and sold her Coveted series to Ballantine.

What makes our relationship work, even though we write in different genres, is that we respect each other’s work and read other books within those genres. The great thing is that every now and then our books release at about the same time. Like now.

My May release is Father by Choice. (Jeannie suggested the title should have been The Middle Manager’s Secret Baby) When workaholic Brady Ward finds out he has a seven-year-old daughter with Maggie Brown, he has to figure out what’s more important to him: His career in New York or his new found family in his small hometown in the Midwest.

Shawntelle’s May release is Bitter Disenchantment. This is a prequel to her Coveted series, Coveted and Kept. Werewolf Natalya Stravinsky’s outspoken sidekick, Aggie McClure, is featured in this prequel short novel. Before Agatha set foot in South Toms River, New Jersey, she had to fight for the one thing she’s never had: a choice.

Jeannie has two books coming out. In May she has The Sword Dancer. A romantic adventure tale about a relentless thief-catcher and the clever sword-dancer who keeps on evading him, set in Tang Dynasty China. And in August, her first single title release The Lotus Palace comes out. (BTW I think she always gets the most gorgeous covers) A notorious playboy and a lowly maidservant find themselves thrown together unexpectedly to solve a mystery in the infamous pleasure district of the imperial Chinese capital.

There’s a little something for everyone. If you are looking for werewolves with compulsions to eat or collect holiday ornaments, check out Shawntelle’s Coveted series and next month’s Bitter Disenchantment. If you want a quick read with family drama set in a small town, check out my Father by Choice. If you want to escape into a time of silk and political intrigue, check out Jeannie’s ancient China in Sword Dancer and The Lotus Palace.

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Father by Choice, Sword Dancer, and Bitter Disenchantment. Don’t know what to say? I’d love to know what your favorite type of book is to read?

AUTHOR BIO: After an exciting life as a CPA, Amanda Berry returned to writing when her husband swept the family off to England to live for a year. Now she’s hooked, and since returning to the states spends her writing days concocting spicy contemporary romances while her cats try in vain to pry her hands off the keyboard.

Her Marlene award-winning contemporary romance, L.A. Cinderella, debuted from Silhouette Special Edition in June 2010. One thing she requires of all her books is a happily ever after. Amanda grew up in the Midwest, but recently moved to the Southeast with her husband and two children. For more information, please visit http://www.amanda-berry.com.

And of course I had to meet these Harley riding dog lovers. I called up a few of the members of a Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club and the adventure began. They invited me into their homes, introduced me to their dogs and, like my heroine, the bikers hoisted me up on the back of a Harley, with a dog in tow.

Things I learned right off the bat:

• After an hour on a Harley, you’ll walk like John Wayne for a week
• Helmets hurt when they are worn backwards
• Dogs love riding motorcycles

Stone, the biker who spent the most time making sure I didn’t fall off his hog, showed me how to ride, invited me to some biker rallies (note to self: don’t wear pink next time), and helped make The Accidental Demon Slayer as real as it can be (for a book about a somewhat sheltered preschool teacher turned demon slayer).

So just when I thought I was writing fiction, it seemed my made-up characters from The Accidental Demon Slayer weren’t so imaginary after all. One of the bikers I met even has a wife who is a biker witch. I’m wondering if she, like my heroine’s biker witch grandma, wears a “kiss my asphalt” t-shirt and carries a carpet bag full of Smuckers jars filled with magic. Maybe I’ll find out on my next adventure.

*And if you want to read The Accidental Demon Slayer, it’s available free for e-readers.

Amazon / Nook / Kobo

AUTHORS BIO: Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of several books about vampires, werewolves and things that go bump in the night.

She claims that researching her stories can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it).

Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author. Angie enjoys making up fun quizzes and thinks you should take one right now.

What’s Your Biker Witch Name?

Well color me surprised times a thousand! Have you seen this coming GH fans?! I sure didn’t, and that might just be that it’s because I stopped watching GH some …oh, I don’t know…three or so years ago, around the time when Emily died.

“General Hospital” was celebrating its 50th Anniversary and I thought to ‘tune in’ and catch up with some of my favorite couples, like Sonny and Carly [no big surprise that she's not with him any more, though], Luke and Tracy [WHAT?! They're not together either?!], Patrick and Robin [OMG! Robin's dead?! How'd that happen?], Jason and Sam [WTF?! He's dead too?! HOW?!]. It looks like I’ve missed a lot and need to play catch-up.

I was surprised to find out Laura, Anna and Duke were back! I just wonder for how long. Those we favored keep coming back to whet our appetite and then they leave just as quickly, and I usually leave with them. But as much as I had fun watching the celebration, it was even more fun to play the game of ‘Who’s behind Lulu’s abduction?’. Helena was my numero uno suspect, but now she’s [and I hope for good this time] dead and that left me with… Stavros Cassadine?!

In the eighties, when I was hooked on GH, Stavros Cassadine, Helena’s spoiled brat of an heir, was obsessed with Laura. He couldn’t have her any other way, so he kidnapped her then made her to marry him. Oh, and he raped her, which is how Nikolas was conceived. Laura escaped him, leaving Nik behind in his Uncle Stefan’s care and we were sure he breathed his last as he tumbled down the stairs while fighting with Luke…No such luck!

Stavros came back to life [the first time!] after eighteen years ‘on ice’ [don’t ask, it’s a long story and my memory is fading about the whole thing, just trust me, k?]. He died again as he and Luke, once again, fought and he fell down the rabbit hole… [HA! Just checking to see if you’re paying attention] bottomless pit.

Well, it looks like he cheated death once more and I’m dying to know how does one stay alive after a fall to a ‘bottomless pit’…It looks like that pit had a bottom and Stavros didn’t hit it hard enough!

They decided to bring back the evil Dude, which meant either get Robert Kelker Kelly or cast someone else. Yesterday, I just jumped out of my seat when I saw him.

Just in case you’re not familiar with this guy, he just about played all the soap’s. I never saw him on ‘Another World‘ as Sam Fowler, but I got to see him as Bo Brady on ‘Days of our Lives‘ and he was better than the original Bo, Peter Reckell.

In 2001 he showed up as Stavros Cassadine on ‘General Hospital‘ playing Helena’s twisted son and Nikolas’ father and I thought he did a bang up job at playing ‘evil son’.

Holy shit but he changed! It took me a second to go WOW! He sure is as handsome as ever and I’m hoping he sticks around a bit longer this time…although I’m not sure if I’ll have the patience to watch it regularly. Let’s see if the writers can make this story interesting enough for me to come back to the show…

Are you a fan of GH? Do you have the patience to watch soaps and which one’s are your favorite? Do you remember RKK?

Here are some clips of 50th GH celebration. Enjoy!

BOOK BLURB: On one fateful wedding day at Marston Hall in 1818, four linked destinies hover in the balance.

Josiah Aston, Earl of Stansfield, wakes to discover he’s seventy years dead and he alone can free his beloved wife Isabella’s tormented soul. But first he must convince her to trust him against all the evidence…
Lady Isabella Verney, beautiful and tempestuous, married the man of her dreams, only to die violently on her wedding day. Every clue points to Josiah as the murderer…

Is true love strong enough to defeat ancient malevolence forever?
Miles Hartley, Viscount Kendall, is society’s ideal catch, but what does that matter if he can’t convince Calista Aston that he loves her? When an age-old curse strikes, only by proving himself worthy of her faith can he save their happiness…

Lady Calista Aston, noted bluestocking, fears she loves Miles Hartley not wisely, but too well. On her wedding day, her doubts place her at evil’s mercy. When death and disaster loom, is it courage or mad folly to believe that Miles loves her in spite of all her faults?

On one fateful wedding day at Marston Hall in 1818, will the lovers emerge triumphant or will darkness conquer all?

EXCERPT:

The Chinese Bedroom, Marston Hall, Norfolk, May 1818

Calista watched Miles at the window. The light limned him, turned him into a being from another world. The magnificent sight made the breath catch in her throat. He wore a loose white shirt and breeches. She’d never been so aware of his height or the lean strength of his body.

He turned and at last she saw the smile that tilted his mouth. His eyes focused on her and the smile faded, replaced by an expression that looked like awe. He tautened into stillness as he surveyed her from her loosened hair to her bare toes peeping beneath the white hem of her simple night rail.

The moonlight was so bright, she saw his Adam’s apple bob when he swallowed. She could almost imagine that he found her as breathtaking as she found him. His expression smoothed the sharpness from her uncertainty. The clamorous babble of thoughts in her head quietened to a low hum of need.

“You’re undressed,” he said huskily.

It seemed foolish to blush when they both knew she was in this room to offer herself to him, but heat flushed her cheeks. “I wasn’t sure what to wear.”

His joyous smile made her toes curl against the Turkish rug at her feet. “Or not, as the case may be.”

“Or not.”

She waited in an agony of pleasurable suspense for him to seize her, ravish her into delight so that she had no chance to remember the dictates of propriety. But he approached slowly, as though afraid if he moved too abruptly, she might vanish. By the time he stopped in front of her, she trembled with apprehension and desire. Her body felt too small a vessel to contain the storm of emotions raging inside her.

He reached out to smooth her hair away from her face. His touch always turned her knees to custard. Now, when the bed and all it portended filled the shadows behind him, the glance of his hand set her burning. If such a seemingly innocent touch had this effect, she’d most likely combust into ashes before they were done tonight.

Calista bit her lip and stood in shaking stillness as he trailed his hand across her neck and shoulders. His touch felt like a discovery rather than a seduction. Although of course she was seduced. Her heart thundered and her breasts tightened against the thin lawn of her nightdress.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, running his hand down her side then up again.

A tremulous sigh escaped her. This tender wooing lured her deeper and deeper into the turbulent waters of desire. She should move, speak, do something to encourage him. But his touch was so delicious, she found herself unable to do anything beyond accept this worship. His scent was spicy, clean. Familiar, yet with a musky tinge that awakened her senses.

Through the haze of pleasure enveloping her, she managed to send up a silent prayer. That the reverence she read in his face would last. That he’d still love her after he’d taken her to bed. That he’d look at her like this in the morning when she stepped inside the Marston parish church to pledge herself to him for the rest of her life.

REVIEW: This is a short but sweet and very suspenseful story of two couples fighting for their love.

I was spellbound by the suspense and read the story in one sitting. Its Gothic feel gave me goose bumps!

My heart went out to both couples as they were fighting this curse.

Josiah Aston, Earl of Stansfield can’t remember how he died, but one thing he does remember is how much he loves Lady Isabella Verney, his bride…

Lady Calista Aston is sure of her love for Miles Hartley, Viscount Kendall, her future husband, but she’s full of doubts about his feelings for her. She somehow feels unworthy of his love and believes he would be better off without her…

I highly recommend this tension and suspense filled gem. You’ll be hooked from the first page to the last. Promise!

*Book purchased from Amazon.

AUTHOR’S BIO: Anna Campbell has written six multi award-winning historical romances for Avon HarperCollins and her work is published in eleven languages. Always a voracious reader, Anna decided when she was a child that she wanted to be a writer. Once she discovered the wonderful world of romance novels, she knew exactly what she wanted to write. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set romances including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence (twice), the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association’s favorite historical romance (four times). Her books have twice been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award and three times for Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year. In 2012, Anna launches an exciting new publishing venture with Grand Central Publishing. She launches her first series, “Sons of Sin”, with SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED in October 2012.

Keep in touch with Anna at: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Romance Bandit / Harper Collins / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY: Tell us if you believe in ghosts and why. One lucky commenter will get an eCopy of this book.

The hero of ‘Secrets of a Runaway Bride‘, Jordan Holloway, the Earl of Ashbourne, is confounded by the heroine, Miss Annie Andrews, at every turn. She’s causing him trouble and all he wants to do his keep her reputation in tact while her sister and Jordan’s best friend are away on their honeymoon.

Annie proves to be a greater distraction than Jordan planned for and he finally takes matters into his own hands and carts her off to his country estate to keep her safe and keep an eye on her. It’s a good, old-fashioned abduction and to that end, today I’m offering up …

The 4 Steps to Planning the Perfect Abduction

1. Start with a saucy hoyden who won’t listen
   A true gentleman (and Jordan is definitely that) would never abduct a lady for no good reason. No. Jordan’s intent on saving the irrepressible Miss Andrews’ reputation and if it means dragging her away from London where she’s doing an admirable job of ruining it, so be it.
2. Take matters into your own hands
   When Annie takes off to Gretna Green with her would-be husband, Arthur Eggleston, Jordan’s through playing Mr. Nice Guy. He refuses to be a chaperone who fails at his job. And when he decides Annie’s safer in the country with him, to the country they shall go. No arguments.
3. Give her alternatives
   Jordan believes that Annie is a young woman in love with being in love. Mr. Eggleston is not the right chap for her. Everyone agrees. Everyone except Annie. So Jordan decides to give her alternatives in the forms of his strapping, single brothers. It’s not until he realizes that he’s jealous of his brothers that he understands how much trouble he’s really in.
4. Whatever you do, don’t fall in love.
   When Annie becomes aware that Jordan is the man who’s treated her well, had her best interests in mind, and been there for her, she’s determined to win him. And what Annie wants, Annie gets. Her attempts at seduction may not be experienced but they are very effective (wink).

And here’s a bit about Secrets of a Runaway Bride…

THE THRILL OF ESCAPE

Miss Annie Andrews is finally free to marry the man she loves. With her overprotective sister out of the country on her honeymoon, nothing can prevent her flight to Gretna Greene—nothing, that is, but an abduction by the wrong gentleman.

THE SWEETNESS OF SURRENDER

When Jordan Holloway, the Earl of Ashbourne, promised to look after his best friend’s sister-in-law, he didn’t realize she would prove so difficult. But when he spirits her away to his country house to prevent her elopement, he discovers that the tempting beauty knows how to put up a fight. To make matters worse, he’s stuck playing the role of honorable protector…when what he really wants is to run away with her himself.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | WalMart | IndieBound

For a chance to win one copy of a ‘Secrets Of A Runaway Bride’ [your choice of print or eBook] all you have to do is tell us if you have any favorite books that feature an abduction plot? Which one?

*Open to: US, Canada & Australia only.

AUTHOR BIO: Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes Regency-set historical romance novels aka Racy Regency Romps! Secrets of a Runaway Bride has been named a 4.5 star TOP PICK! by RT Book Reviews. It’s been called “Too Delightful Too Miss!” by New York Times bestselling author, Lisa Kleypas, and New York Times bestselling historical romance author Sarah MacLean says it’s, “Everything a romance should be—sexy, quirky, fun…once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop!” Valerie’s debut, SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT, the first in the Secret Brides series from St. Martin’s Press, was nominated by RT Book Reviews for Best Debut Historical for 2012!

Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in history from Smith College. By day, she is a technical editor at a computer software company. By night, she combines her love of writing, history, and romance to craft stories about people falling in love.

Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her rascally rescue dog, Roo. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or watching Downton Abbey and Hoarders.
You can find Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

STORY:

When Jordan Holloway, the Earl of Ashbourne, promised to look after his best friend’s sister-in-law, he didn’t realize she would prove so difficult. But when he spirits her away to his country house to prevent her elopement, he discovers that the tempting beauty knows how to put up a fight. To make matters worse, he’s stuck playing the role of honorable protector…when what he really wants is to run away with her himself.

REVIEW: In ‘Secrets of a Wedding Night’ Annie Andrews is Lily’s little sister who thinks she found her hero in Mr. Eggleston. Now that Lily’s wed her man, she is determined to nab this man for herself, however there’s another man in her way, Jordan Holloway, Earl of Ashbourne, who’s been tasked by her brand new brother-in-law, to keep an eye on her and that just won’t do.

Jordan Holloway, Earl of Ashbourne, is a rake and a confirmed bachelor, who after a woman broke his heart, vowed never to marry. And now he finds that accepting a task that should have been way too easy to handle, becoming something more than he’s ever expected. Keeping an eye on Annie, he never dreamed he would be attracted to her and that just won’t do.

I just loved these two! Ms. Bowman did such an excellent job in presenting her characters that they just jumped off the page. Everything in this story made you yearn for these guys to get together. I thought her début was well written, but she even surpassed my expectations with the second book and I highly recommend you pick it up. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud by the clever and witty dialogue; entertaining circumstances these two find themselves in and in the end you’ll revel in their happily ever after.

*Book provided by the author

STORY:

She enlists the help of Mr. Thaddeus Hammond, a mere mister who is riddled with scandal, but worse, he’s her dead brother’s closest friend. Thad has never told the story of what happened the night Amelia’s brother died, but he did make her a promise. She issues him a scandalous proposal: spend the night with her to show her the real secrets of a wedding night.

REVIEW: It is such a pleasure and a relief when an author decides to give one of her secondary characters a second chance at love. In this short and definitely sweet and sensual novella, Valerie Bowman does just that. She revisits Amelia Templeton, a naïve girl of only eighteen that was engaged to the hero of her début novel ‘Secrets of a Wedding Night’. I, for one, was very happy she did because despite her behavior in that novel, I liked her.

We finally get a better picture as to Amy’s character and that of the environment in which she grew up in and many things become revealed that make this story much enjoyable.

Ms. Bowman couldn’t have picked a better hero for her than Thaddeus. Thad was a rake of the best kind, one who only needed the right girl to see him as he really is and not what the gossips and tabloids make of him.

I adored this short story. It must have been such a pleasure to write it because I had a pleasure of reading it.

Even though it’s short, Ms. Bowman did a fantastic character development, made sure to pace it just right and the tension in those sensual scenes makes your heart pump just a bit faster.

This really was worth every [$1.99] penny and then some! Highly recommend as a quick but delightful short novella.

*Book bought from Amazon.

STORY:

Young, widowed, and penniless, Lily Andrews, the Countess of Merrill, has strong opinions on marriage. When she spots a certain engagement announcement in The Times, she decides to take action. She will not allow another hapless girl to fall prey to a man—particularly the scoundrel who broke her heart five years ago. Anonymously she writes and distributes a pamphlet entitled “Secrets of a Wedding Night,” knowing it will find its way into his intended’s innocent hands…

HOW TO SEDUCE A WIDOW

Devon Morgan, the Marquis of Colton, desires a good wife and mother to his son—someone completely unlike Lily Andrews, the heartless beauty who led him on a merry chase five years ago only to reject him. When Devon’s new fiancée cries off after reading a certain scandalous pamphlet, he vows to track down the author and make her pay. But when he learns it’s his former fiancée Lily, he issues a challenge: write a retraction or prepare to be seduced—to find out how wonderful a wedding night can be…

REVIEW: I must admit this is my first time reading Valerie Bowman, but won’t be the last. With this début book she managed to hook me real good to this series and make me care for her wonderfully created characters.

In this story she introduces us to a hero that is ‘all that’ and more. Devon Morgan, Marquis of Colton, is not happy with the pamphlet that is circulating all over London society and which he believes Lily, Countess of Merrill, a widow that ditched him on the night of their elopement, has written it to purposely dissuade his virginal fiancé to marry him. He is ready to face her and get his revenge on her.

Lily on the other hand is as strong-minded, stubborn and determined as he is.

It took awhile for her bruised heart to heal, and she isn’t happy to see him as he’s not what she needs at this time. She has many obligations that need taking care of and a man of his reputation is not what she wants. Neither can help the chemistry that sparks when they’re together, and God help those that find themselves in close proximity to them.

For a début this was well written and paced, so that it held my attention from the start. The chemistry between Lily and Devon had me spellbound with its tension and sensuality. Their love scenes were emotional and moving.

I also found their characterization and situations they found themselves in entertaining, funny and tension filled which kept me glued to the story.

Highly recommend it and hope you’ll give this author a try.

*Book provided by the author