26 September 2020

New Release from Carolyn LaRoche!

Title: Blue Ridge Murder
Series: Marshall Brothers Book #2
Author: Carolyn LaRoche
Genre: Romance Suspense
Release Date: September 26, 2020
Cover Design: BookSmith Design


Can they stay alive long enough to explore the spark?

A steadfast believer in "never again," the only relationship parole officer Alayna Baron wants is with her job. When her roommate surprises her with a long weekend in the mountains, she reluctantly agrees—completely unaware it’s a singles matchmaking event. 

Widowed at a young age, Detective Evan Marshall thought he'd had his one chance at love. When his brothers send him away for the weekend, the thought of romance never crosses his mind. At least, not until he finds the intriguing Alayna stranded on the side of the road.

When an intense snowstorm closes the roads and bodies start piling up at the inn where they are staying, Evan and Alayna join forces in an attempt to keep the other guests safe. But even with a murderer hidden amongst them, Evan and Alayna find a spark neither are looking for. If only they can stay alive long enough to explore it.







 




Science teacher by day, writer and baseball mom by night, Carolyn LaRoche lives near the ocean with her husband, two boys, rescue puppy, and four cats. She loves crocheting, books, food videos and trying new recipes. 




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24 September 2020

The Evernight Weekly Writing Challenge - Week 39

 


Favorite TV Show of All Time....Why?

"In time of ancient Gods, Warlords and Kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power. The passion.The danger. Her courage will change the world."




Hands down, IMHO, this was the best television show ever. The third season was the best of the whole show and the finale episodes can fuck off forever. I was so pissed that they chose to end this series by not just just killing Xena, but decapitating and burning her body. WTF??? Nope, Didn't happen. And I will forever know this series ends with the episode "When Fates Collide". 

Okay, now that my rant is over...why do I love this show? I watched this show in my 20s and it was the first time I really saw a female warrior not only being a badass, but also giving no fucks about her sexuality. I'm not a lesbian, but it gave me the courage to explore and embrace my own interests and kink. 


It was a fun show filled with sword fighting, impossible stunts, heart and love, and redemption. Xena was an awesome heroine to admire and I miss having a show like this one the air. 


23 September 2020

Q&A with the Awesome Arabella Sheen on her New Release!

Hello Arabella!  Thank you so much for visiting Written Butterfly with me today!  It’s such a pleasure to chat with you.  So tell me…


Can you tell us a little about your book?

Beth - It’s great to be on your blog and thanks for having me. I hope our readers and followers enjoy the Q&A’s and perhaps discover a few things about writing steamy romance novels along the way.

 So, about my latest #hot #steamy romance…

There were a couple of factors that inspired the writing of A Gentleman in Love.

One was a visit to the United Kingdom’s buzzing capital, London, where classical ‘old’ buildings such as the beautiful Palace of Westminster and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office are situated. Another creative trigger was a desire to write a Christmas romance.

 Domestic and foreign diplomatic scandals have hit the news headlines recently, and the urge to delve deeper and create a fictitious world involving an embassy, an ambassador, and a political protocol gone wrong intrigued me.

A Gentleman in Love follows the sizzling romance of Shelby and Sam as they come to terms with the problems they face and the unexpected passion they feel for one another. Shelby wishes to clear her father’s name of political blame and Sam needs a wife to secure the adoption of his ward - Nicola. The question is: can Sam and Shelby join forces and help one another achieve their goals?

 As for Christmas, well, who doesn’t love a steamy Christmas romance?

 Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Firstly, there has to be a solid inspiration for a story. If there is a ‘topic’ or an ‘idea’ or a ‘social problem’ I’d like to write about, I work on the story and then find characters to fit the brief.

 One of my books - Temporary Bride - is about a mother having to rank and prioritize the emotional and family needs of her child over her own desires. Amy has to deal with Max, her ex-partner. He’s a strong, dominant, alfa billionaire male – while she has a softer side to her. Of course there are clashes, but it’s a great love story.

In - A Gentleman in Love – the story is more about making compromises in a relationship. Shelby Chesterfield doesn’t take ‘NO’ for an answer and Sam Hardwick, an ambassador used to making all the decisions, has to bend to her will on occasions.

 My characters tend to develop their strengths and weaknesses as the story unfolds. This often leads me into trouble when writing what is supposed to be a basic love scene – all passion and sex (in the bedroom – or wherever!) when there is emotional ‘blow hot/cold’ conflict just around the corner.

 Do you have a favorite line or scene in your book?

There was a bit of a tug on my heart strings when Sam happened to follow Shelby and his goddaughter – Nicola – whilst walking and exercising the dogs in the woods.

 Unaware Sam was listening to their conversation; Shelby was busy explaining to Nicola that Sam was doing all in his power to adopt her – it was just red-tape and the slow pace of the authorities that was causing a delay. Not Sam’s reluctance to adopt.

At this moment, when Sam discovered Shelby had his back and was supporting him, I suddenly realized how supportive (and loving) I’d made Shelby. It was a sweet ‘aww’ moment that made me sigh and give a smile of contentment.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author/writer?

Apart from the fact I can escape into a contemporary or historical ‘fantasy’ world of my own making, and no matter what problems and conflicts I throw at my heroes and heroines, somehow, by the end of the novel their turbulent worlds are always made whole…and there’s a happy-ever-after.

If only I had a magic wand to sort out the real world!

Do you have anything you would like to say to your current readers or to those that haven't yet read your work(s)?

WARNING…  Read my novels at your own peril…I’ve been reviewed as writing soft porn!

My novels contain explicit, sensual love scenes which you will probably devour and want more of…(wink, wink).

On a more serious note, I’d like readers to have as much enjoyment reading my Contemporary and Historical novels as I’ve had when researching and writing them.

Also…I hope any X-rated websites I’ve visited with Google Search Engine during the mid-night research hours, remains top-secret!

What future projects are on the horizon for you?

I’m in the throes of writing a sensual/erotic Regency series. They are short, hot romance stories – just right for bedtime reading beneath the covers.

Two books are with my publisher and a third has been ‘paused’ on Chapter One whilst I tackle my side of marketing and promotion for A Gentleman in Love.




Beth, thanks so much for hosting me on your Written Butterfly blog and I hope your readers enjoyed discovering a bit more about my latest Beachwalk Press release – A Gentleman in Love.

 

 

Book Blurb   A Gentleman in Love   by  Arabella Sheen

A Christmas wedding and a growing passion. Will a political scandal destroy their love?

 Desperate to exonerate her family name of any wrongdoing, Shelby Chesterfield gate-crashes the Foreign Office Christmas party to ask her father’s accuser for help. When Ambassador Samuel Hardwick refuses to cooperate, Shelby is determined to ruin his diplomatic career any way she can, and a chance to do so arrives sooner than she expected.

Caught in a passionate embrace, Shelby puts Sam on the spot and tells journalists they’re engaged. But her plan backfires when Sam turns the tables on her.

Sam wants no commitment to anything or anyone except his career. But when his best friends are killed in a violent terrorist attack, leaving their daughter orphaned and in his care, he has the daunting task of finding a wife and substitute mother, or he will risk losing his newly acquired ward into the foster care system. With time running out, when Shelby asks for help to clear her father’s name in a political scandal, Sam offers support in exchange for a Christmas wedding.

 The trouble is…Shelby knows about his ongoing affair with Lady Donna Ruston.

 Can Shelby and Sam work together to achieve their goals, or is their winter romance fated to fail before it’s begun?

Content Warning: contains sensual love scenes

Buy Links

Website

Beachwalk Press

Amazon

Universal – Kobo, Nook, iTunes, etc.

 

 


 About   Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen is a British author of Contemporary and Regency sensual romance. Published with Beachwalk Press, she is also a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association.

One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read, and when she’s not reading or writing romance novels, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she can be found curled on the sofa pandering to the demands of her attention-seeking cat.

Having worked and lived in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the South West of England with her family.

 

Arabella keeps in touch with her readers on:

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Author Page   Newsletter 

17 September 2020

The Evernighties Weekly Writing Challenge - Week 38

 


M/M /books: Write Them? Read Them? Why or Why Not?


I have written MMF, which means the two heroes of the story are in a romantic/sexual relationship and they bring in the heroine to complete their family. 

I think there's something incredibly sexy about two men not afraid to show their sexual identity. Even the F/F genre, although I don't think they're as widely popular as manlove stories.

One of my favorite movies is called "Beautiful Thing". Here's the summery: Shy Jamie (Glen Berry) and athletic Ste (Scott Neal) are teen boys who live near each other in the London projects. Both boys think they could be gay, and finally explore their feelings when Ste is allowed to stay over at Jamie's place after an incident with his abusive father. There, the boys grow close and open themselves up to the idea of homosexuality, while Jamie's caring mother, Sandra (Linda Henry), and quirky teen neighbor, Leah (Tameka Empson), offer much needed emotional support.

This is such a great coming of age story and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend trying to find it. I also love Yaoi, which is a type of Japanese manga that features Boy Love, or relationships between males. One of my favorites is titled "What the Ring Finger Knows" and is in my personal library.





10 September 2020

The Evernighties Weekly Blog Challenge - Week 37

 


As a Reader, What Attracts you Most to a Character?

Even if you write an antihero, there should be at least one redeeming quality. A book takes the reader on a journey, which is a time investment, so they are looking for something to tug on their heart strings. The reader must be able to have either sympathy or hope for these characters they're devoting so much time into. 


Whatever flaw your hero or heroine has, it has to be something they recognize and overcome, otherwise the story arc falls flat. If it's pride, have the hero learn humility. If it's resentment, learn and overcome the anger. 


Does the flaw of the character lead to their behavior? For instance, if the heroine is scarred, does that make her shy? If the hero is missing a leg, does that give him simmering rage? Characters are so much more interesting when they aren't perfect, because none of us are.


Lastly, to make the story truly memorable, the character flaw must be recognized and overcome. NEVER leave the reader angry.