I saw a study once that said the three things that give people the most joy are:

1. Exercise
2. Sex
3. Live theater

And my new book A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S FLING has 2 out of the 3! What a deal!

Kidding…

But seriously, folks, live theater has an energizing quality to it because anything might happen. I've seen productions where props broke, skirts ripped, even one where a light bulb exploded over an audience member's head. I've been in productions where one of our actors fell asleep backstage and missed his cue, where the lead actress leaned against gum right before her cue and ruined her costume. (OK, that last one happened to me…seriously, who puts gum on something at shoulder height??)

But it's not just the bad stuff that makes theater magic, of course; a big part of the wonder is simply sharing the same space as the people performing. You aren't just watching dead performances on an electronic screen--you're breathing the same air as these people, feeling the same heat or chill. And that's what makes theater magic so contagious.  Read More

“That’s him. Over there.” Hunter Collins recognized her new left fielder by the body language, posture, and raw physical power of a professional athlete.

“The guy in the plaid shirt?” The limo driver shook his head in doubt. “Are you sure? He doesn’t look like no baseball player. He’s too tall.”

Marco Santiago was indeed tall. And dark. And—she hated to admit, even to herself—incredibly handsome. The expert tailoring of his shirt emphasized his broad shoulders, long, strong arms, and slender waist. Dark denim hugged slim hips, clung to muscular thighs, and she’d put good money on what they did to his taut backside.

His tattered duffel bag was slung carelessly over his left shoulder. A small leather case lay at his feet. The casual observer might interpret his relaxed pose as lazy, bored, or perhaps a little worse for the wear. But she’d watched him on the field enough to know he could spring into action with panther-like reflexes at the crack of the bat. Read More

Excerpt: From Novella 1 to avoid spoilers.

Getting sexually accosted in Starbucks wasn’t on my to-do list.

My stiletto heels were sharp, like the angles of my razor cut bob and one tapped on the floor as I stood in line, impatient to get my hands on a Latte. The intense aromas in the shop made me crave my morning drink even more. I’d not had time for one before I’d left my apartment this morning, anxious to be punctual for my appointment. I stared ahead at the menu board, careful to avoid catching anyone else’s eye. My lips with their natural pout, enhanced by rose gloss, smacked together as I anticipated my interview at Gregory & Sons, a firm of Solicitors in Westminster in just shy of an hour’s time. Every time I thought of it, butterflies tingled in my stomach.

Lost in the menu, I jump as a warm body brushes past my own, so close I can identify him as male. I turn around, a flash of fire in my cheeks, eyes narrowing.

‘I must apologise, I completely misjudged how to get past.’

I take in the businessman in front of me, holding his drink with a firm hand. His laptop bag hangs over a broad shoulder. Dark brown hair curls around the nape of his neck, like he’s so damn sexy even his hair wants to cop a feel, and his icy grey eyes indicate the casualness of his apology, echoed in his mocking tone.

I tuck my long fringe behind my ear and turn back to face the front. I’m better off just ignoring the creep, hot or not. Read More

Thank you RomCon for having me at your blog – I love talking romance, history and erotica to anyone who will listen.

I am watching FIFA World Cup soccer today and admiring the fit, beautiful men who seem to be part of every team. Historical writers also enjoy writing about fit, beautiful men of the time. Whether they boxed at Gentleman Jackson’s Pugilist Club, raced curricles in Brighton or hunted foxes in Derbyshire, our ton gentlemen were usually first rate sportsmen. We don’t always write about their pursuits but it is assumed that in addition to their ability to waltz perfectly, win big at the gaming tables and dazzle every woman of their acquaintance, our historical gents have it all. They could probably play soccer too, if necessary.

So let me tell you about my latest, Book Three in the Mad Duchesses series, titled Age of Innocence. My dear Ferdinand Ford is a ton gentleman and all around sportsman. But he has a secret.

I know we writers tend to portray our Regency men as rakes and scoundrels. Ferd has a small supporting role in the Wicked Affairs series and I knew at some point I was going to write about him – I just didn’t know his back-story until Lettie came to life as a widow looking for love after two unsuccessful marriages. Read More

Before reading an article about a woman who grew lavender to use in special dishes, I’d never considered the flower much. Oh, I knew lavender was supposed to soothe your nerves and help you sleep, and its purple blooms look very pretty swaying in the breeze. But then I began researching.

Surprisingly, lavender’s history stretches back to the Bible, and its mention in the Good Book led many to believe the flower acted as a safeguard against evil. A lavender cross over the door protected the home. In some countries, people believe fairies congregate around lavender, bringing healing and protection.

Lavender’s healing properties aren’t fantasy. Doctors used it as an antiseptic during World War I. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Read More

5 Hot Heroes / 4 Authors / 4 Worlds
Discover five sexy alpha heroes in four hot adventures. They were each taken, tortured and tormented. These powerful males were held against their will, prisoners of fate. What happens when they escape their captors...and fall in love? Vengeance. Desire. Destiny. Nothing can stop...Alphas Unleashed.

A Warrior’s Heart (Marastin Dow Book 1.1) by S.E. Smith
Sealed With A Kiss, A Djinn Novella by Mina Khan
Dead Drop, A My Immortals Novella by Carolyn Jewel
Chimera Born: The Beginning (Book 1 of the Chimera) by Michele Callahan
 Read More

EXCERPT FROM Beleaguered:

Geoffrey hurried on with a suggestion. “’Twould be the work of a few moments for me to teach it you, my lady.”

It would have to serve. She shot a look over her shoulder at her husband, who nodded and laughed with the princess though his eyes were trained on her. Best get on with it then. The sooner ’twas done, the better.

“Your skill at dancing is such that you would certainly learn the steps with but slight instruction from me.” Geoffrey leaned so close his voice, against her ear made her jump and recall herself. She stepped back and looked at him.

His practiced courtier’s smile flickered at her, and she caught something deeper shining in his eyes that she fought not to see. Her heart stuttered a beat.Her body flushed with the anticipation of dancing with him again even as misgivings swirled in her mind. No good would come of this dance, but Thomas watched closely to see that she acted cordially to Geoffrey. Would that it was an act.  Read More

THE ENGLISH THOROUGHBRED

I got the idea for Just Deserts from a signpost labelled Chiddingly Stud. But I knew very little about horse racing and even less about breeding. A friend’s son happened to be horse-mad and loaned me a stack of books on the subject. I rewarded this kindness by giving his name to my hero’s trainer Tidmarsh.

I discovered that the English thoroughbred, considered among the elite of race horses, was a product of 18th century breeding programs. The best champions were bred from mixed Arabian and English stock. Your canny breeder would import horses from the Arab lands and the Moorish countries of the North African Barbary coast.

Between the Arabian and the “Barb” there was not much difference. Both were compact horses, with short backs, arched necks and fine small heads. Other characteristics were large expressive eyes and full and flaring nostrils, as well as sensitivity and intelligence. The Arabian was a little faster, but the Barb had endurance. Either one, when mixed with the sturdy English horse, produced animals of stunning beauty.

You can see wonderful examples in the paintings of George Stubbs, a prolific animal artist of the time. There’s a fine painting of Letty Lade on horseback, a redoubtable woman who went from mistress to a highwayman to marriage with Sir John Lade. She was a notable “whip” and an enthusiastic racer on her own account. Read More

Thank you for joining me for a sneak peek of Her Master Diver, the next book in the popular Masters Men series.

Prologue

She leaned against the desk and smiled down at the professor. How he got a PhD in anything she couldn’t imagine. He was dense as a petrified rock. The comparison was fitting since he was an archaeologist, or at least that’s what his credentials said. She thought the female doctoral student he’d inherited after her advisor died had more on the ball than the man in front of her did. Still, he was the one who could get her what she wanted.

“This is perfect, darling,” she said, trailing a blood-red fingernail down the side of his face.

“I thought we were going to dive for the Santissima Concepcion,” he said as he licked his lips.

She noticed how, his eyes never made it to her face. He might be questioning her, but his arguments would be minimal. The man was such an easy mark it was almost criminal to take advantage. Then again, she was a criminal, so it didn’t really matter.

“We are, but this way we don’t have to worry about all the red tape. If you can talk the dean into getting us on the dive for La Trinité, we can piggy back and not worry about the rest,” she said moving behind him. She leaned closer, stroking her hands down his flabby chest. At least, this way she didn’t have to watch him salivate while she worked her magic. She had to stop herself from recoiling when he reached behind the chair and slid his hand up her thigh. Read More

Where are the bodies buried?

What do writers do when they have to hide a story?

This question really called to me because my kids love horror movies and the macabre is all the rage in our house right now.

Last summer I started a novel about an incubus who falls in love with a young veterinary technician. I got about 15,000 words in and I had to stop writing. I can’t say that I won’t ever finish it, more that I just had to write a different book before I could. I would start writing this paranormal love story and a mystery romance tale would just keep popping up. The two mystery protagonists would not leave me be and so their story got pushed to the front burner. Darling’s Desire was born.

Perhaps another reason the story wouldn’t leave me alone was the setting. The story takes place primarily on a secluded lake in Connecticut where some folks have gone missing. I live on just such a lake, although to my knowledge no one has turned up murdered around here. For a variety of reasons the hero and heroine will have to weather a couple of weeks together in a spooky lake house. Passion, drama and mystery ensue. I promise a happy ending but I refuse to make it easy for this couple!

I love including some suspense in all my love stories. My last release, Loving Link, involved discovering the identity of a narcissistic woman intent on destroying the hero and finding fame. The best part was writing about this really hateful creature who was just so dark and evil. I almost want to have her in one more book.  Read More