Thank you for having me today. I’m happy to be here to talk about my new book The Rogue Steals A Bride and answer any questions you might have. 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I’m a girly-girl from the word go. I want my hair styled, my fingernails polished, and to be wearing pearls, bows, or lace. BUT I’m a big sports fan, too. I love to watch football, baseball, and basketball on TV or when possible go to the games. I love to travel and sit out on the patio in the late afternoon after writing all day and have a glass of wine and relax. Romance books have always been my favorite books to read and I’ve never wanted to write any other kind of book. The Rogue Steals A Bride is my 25th published book.

2. What does a typical writing day look for you? 

I’m usually up at 6:30. My coffee pot is on a timer so coffee is ready when the clock alarms. I do stretching exercises and get on the treadmill every other day. My main place to work is my husband’s office building. I have an office there. But I also have the same computer in my home so I can stay home to work as well. I download whatever I’m working on to a thumb drive when I finish each day so I’ll have it with me no matter where I decide to work. I usually get to my office between 9 and 9:30 if I have no errands to run, but there is always something to do once or twice a week. I answer e-mails, look at the loops I’m on and any other office chore that needs to be done. I usually start writing by 11:00. I have lunch at my desk and it’s usually a salad, cup of soup or sandwich. I head home about 5:00 and start unwinding and thinking about dinner.

3. Tell us a little bit about The Rogue Steals a Bride and why readers should check it out? 

The Rogue Steals A Bride is the sixth and final book in the Rogues’ Dynasty Series. The 5 previous books do not have to be read in any order and you can read this one without knowing anything about the previous books. Some of the characters are in all the books but each book has a different hero and heroine and their story and plot do not relate to the other books.

In The Rogue Steals A Bride, Matson and Sophia both have darn good reasons why they shouldn’t be together. Feeling she had good reason to do it, Sophia, a shipping heiress, promised her father on his deathbed she would marry a titled gentleman. Matson, the man who has captured her heart, isn’t titled. And for Matson, the bold and lovely Sophia is the lady of his dreams, but her guardian is a man he’s sworn to hate so their conflict runs deep. I like light-hearted humorous stories so I added a boy-thief that Matson and Sophia are trying to find. And Sophia’s twin spinster aunts make for some very funny and heart-warming moments in the book.

Here’s a short synopsis of the book.

Matson Brentwood has finally met the woman of his dreams. The lovely, red-haired Sophia Hart heats his blood like no other lady. Her alluring countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to her, he can’t give into his desire to possess her in every way because she is the ward of the man he’s sworn to hate. 
Newly arrived in London, Miss Sophia Hart is looking for a husband—for herself and for one of her twin spinster aunts who has decided she wants a man. Sophia agrees to help her aunt by allowing older gentlemen to call on her and then come up with ways to make sure her aunt spends more time with the gentleman than Sophia does. 
But there’s more than just an unwanted guardian and a long list of beaus standing between Sophia and Matson. Sophia can’t give into the maddening charms of the darkly handsome and intriguing Matson. She must deny her love for him and pay her debt to her father for costing him the love of his life. 

4. What inspired you to write The Rogue's Dynasty novels? 

I love to read connecting book. When I get to know characters I like to see them in other stories—especially when I like the characters. The heroes are cousins in the first three books and the heroes are brothers in the last three books.

5. What was the easiest and hardest scene to write in The Rogue Steals a Bride? 

The love scenes are always the hardest to write. The hardest by far. It’s every author’s dream to make each story, each character and each love scene fresh, tantalizing, and satisfying. The easiest scenes for me are always the first meeting of the hero and heroine. Once I know how I want them to meet the scenes almost write themselves.

6. What makes Matson Brentwood so desirable? 

He’s a reluctant hero. I always love it when the hero is not looking for love, not wanting to get married and then suddenly the woman of his dreams walks into his life. I like to watch him squirm like a worm in hot ashes trying to keep from falling in love with her. And then once he does, he will move Heaven and earth to make her his.

7. Who designs the beautiful covers of The Rogue's Dynasty novels? 

My publisher, Sourcebooks gets all the credit for my fabulous covers.

8. Fun question: If you could travel back in time, which era would you travel back to and why?

Regency England. Oh, I’ve written blogs about why I love the Regency. Let me see if I can make it short. To me there’s just something very sexy about a powerful, titled gentleman dressed in buckskin trousers, shiny Hessian knee boots, with his neckcloth casually tied. During the Regency men were gentlemen. They wanted to make ladies feel beautiful, tempting and cared for. A Regency gentleman was expected to open the door for a lady, pull out her chair, and he watched his language and his manners around her, too.
I love thoughts of brocaded silk gowns, white cotton chemises, satin slippers, and three strands of pearls lying delicately against skin the color of warm alabaster. I like to think that all the grand ladies of quality of the Regency were as strong and spirited as the heroines I write in my books. Innocence during the Regency intrigues me, too.
I enjoy writing about that first blush of true love that simmers and sizzles until the hero and heroine know the moment they have to be together. I enjoy writing about ballrooms glittering with candlelight and cooled by a night wind, while beautifully gowned ladies and handsomely dressed gentlemen dance a quadrille. I love to imagine young ladies smiling behind fans, winking at a rogue, or dropping a lace handkerchief as a dashing gent walks by.

9. What is up next for Amelia Gray? 

I am already writing the first book for my new Regency trilogy. I don’t have a pub-date for it yet, but I hope you’ll invite me back when it comes out.

10. Do you have anything specific your want to tell your readers? 

Yes, I want them to know that I write books that I love. If I’m not falling in love with the hero, I throw him out and start over with a new man. If I don’t love him, I can’t make anyone else love him and to me, what makes a romance work is having a hero I can fall in love with.

I love to hear from readers! Please email me at ameliagrey@comcast.net, follow me at Facebook.com/ameliagreybooks, or visit my website at ameliagrey.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to our virtual tour stop of Connie Mason's and Mia Marlowe's One Night with a Rake Blog Tour brought to you by Sourcebooks.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

MM: I’m married to my college sweetheart. We have two daughters who make us proud and two little dogs who keep us going back to obedience school. I always say if I was a reality show, I’d be canceled for lack of drama. All the angst and catastrophe and scary excitement in my life takes place between the pages of my books.

2. What does a typical writing day look for you?

MM: I rise early and noodle a bit on Twitter & Facebook. If I have a blog post to do, that’s when I knock it out. After I chauffeur the DH to work, I hit the writing chair to work on my current novel, which is a Scottish Christmas story. I know it seems odd to have my head in 16th century Scotland with characters celebrating Yule while the flowers are just now starting to bloom here in New England. But my imaginary world has to be just as real to me as what’s going on in real life. This book will come out in October 2014. (Watch my Coming Next page for more info! http://miamarlowe.com/next.php) I break from time to time to take the dogs out for “squirrel patrol” in the park around our building. When I pick the DH from work, I’m done for the day too. I try not to write on weekends. If I don’t have a life, I won’t have anything to write about. 

3. Tell us a little bit about One Night with a Rake and why readers should check it out? 

MM: The premise of One Night with a Rake is that Lord Nathaniel has been blackmailed into ruining Lady Georgette so that she won’t be eligible to marry the Duke of Cambridge. Ordinarily, I’d detest someone who’d set out to destroy someone else. What saves Nate is that he’s so very conflicted about what he’s supposed to do. Plus, he discovers that Georgette is no longer the mousy little girl he remembers. She’s become a fire-breathing crusader, determined to help the women trapped in a life of prostitution in Covent Garden. She’s shocked to learn she’s as susceptible to a man’s charm as any light-skirt in London. 

4. What was the easiest/hardest scene to write in One Night with a Rake? 

MM: Nathaniel lost his fiancée to scarlet fever several years before the story begins. The scene where he visits her grave to explain what he has to do in order to protect his family was gut-wrenching. Here are his parting words to his first love: 
        “I won’t be back for a while, dearest. Maybe never. I doubt you’d want me here in any case,” he told Anne. “You see, I have to seduce your sister.” 

5. What are some qualities of Nathaniel Colton that would make any woman sworn over him?
(Although, Lady Georgette made it quite difficult for him) 

MM: I was going through my young Nathan Fillion phase while I was writing One Night with a Rake. It was his roguish face I saw, his voice I heard speaking Nate’s dialogue. Even though he’s a bad boy, there’s a vulnerability about him that’s very appealing. 

6. Who would you choose to play the characters in One Night with a Rake if it was made into a movie/tv show? 

MM: Well, looks like I already answered this for Nathaniel! He’d have to be Nathan Fillion. I’d love to see Kate Winslet as Georgette. She’s pretty enough, but doesn’t seem to know she is. 

7. What inspired you to write the Royal Rakes Trilogy? 

MM: These three stories are based on the very real “Hymen Race Terrific.” Yes, that’s what the London tabloids of the day called it. In 1817, Princess Charlotte died along with her stillborn son. She was the only legitimate grandchild of King George III and “Prinny” wasn’t likely to sire another. He and his wife were estranged and she was past bearing besides. The 3 unmarried sons of the king realized they had a chance to wed, bed & breed in order to put their progeny on the throne. So the Dukes of Sussex, Cambridge & Kent went a-courting. 

That’s the actual history. In my fictional world, a Member of Parliament is trying to thwart the dukes by sending rakes to ruin the young ladies in contention for the honor of becoming royal. 

8. Fun Question: If you could meet one famous person (dead/alive), who would it be and what would you say to them? 

MM: This isn’t a famous person, but I’d like to speak to my Great-grandmother Mina. She died when I was about 12, so I do remember her, but now I’d like to pick her brain for stories of her parents, her childhood and the courtship with my rough-and-tumble great-grandfather. I’m sure there’s a novel or two in their tempestuous 60+ years together. 

9. What is up next for Mia Marlowe? 

MM: Tons! I have 4 more releases scheduled for 2013. Here’s the run down: 

July 30—Silk Dreams, a novel set in 10th century Byzantium. RTBOOKReviews calls it “a lavish love story that's as entertaining as it is epic.” 
August 27th—Plaid to the Bone, an enovella that’s the prequel to my Spirit of the Highlands series. The incomparable Hannah Howell gave me a cover quote for it and called it “a wonderful tale!” 
October 1st—Plaid Tidings, Christmas in the Highlands with the added fun of a mysterious castle, a few ghosts and a curse. 
November 5th—Dragonsong, the long awaited final book in the Songs of the North trilogy. If you loved the History Channel’s VIKINGS, you’ll want to read Maidensong, Erinsong and Dragonsong for more of those indomitable barbarians! 

Then in January 2014, the third book in the Royal Rakes will be out—Between a Rake and a Hard Place! Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll never miss a moment! http://miamarlowe.com/contact.php 

10. Do you have anything specific you want to tell your readers? 

MM: Just that a writer’s life is pretty solitary. My online friends are very important to me. I’d love to connect with YOU through my blog, Twitter or Facebook!
http://www.miamarlowe.com 
http://twitter.com/Mia_Marlowe 
http://facebook.com/MiaMarloweFanPage 
Hope to see you in cyber-space! 

Question for discussion: What do you wish authors realized about their readers? Is there something you’d like us to bear in mind while we’re crafting our stories?

She shook her head, not wanting to cause a fuss. Besides, the best medicine for her right now was being with him. He’d been right about her not wanting to admit her feelings, but it was a difficult thing to confess.

It hurt to feel this much again and know she was about to lose him. Of their own volition, her fingers slipped up to his cheek and swept a lock of hair from his temple, her need to touch him overpowering everything else.

He stilled at the contact, concern and growing heat battling in his eyes.

Something about the quiet way he watched her allowed her to keep talking. “I’m so tired of this war,” she admitted in a whisper. “I hate all the butchering and the suffering and the death…I’m so tired of it all.” He was a soldier. He must understand what she meant.

He hesitated a moment then lifted his hand and stroked a thumb across her cheek. The tenderness of the gesture zinged through her like lightning, speared her heart. In a different time and place, she might have leaned forward into that touch and kissed him.

Instead she stared at their joined hands resting on his chest. “I became a nurse to care for our soldiers, but instead I help patch them up so they can charge right back into battle.” Like you will when you recover. Regardless of her efforts to stay calm, her eyes stung. “So they can go and get shot to pieces all over again. I hate it…” Her voice caught, throat too tight to continue. The prospect of him returning to the battlefield terrified her, even more than watching him leave here when he was strong enough.

“Brianna.”

“What?” She drew a steadying breath.

He cupped her cheek in one large hand, eyes intent on hers. “I wish I could get out of this bed and hold you, but I can’t, so you'll have to come here.”

The air whooshed out of her lungs. She wanted that so badly she almost whimpered. Yet she didn’t dare give in.

Those deep blue eyes never wavered from hers as he eased his hand around to cradle her nape and tugged gently. “Come here,” he repeated in a low voice.

She sat paralyzed, fighting the compassion in his eyes, the longing his touch stirred within her. Her skin tingled all over. She held her breath as he cupped her jaw and trailed a thumb over her lips. His touch burned her.

Before she could protest, he made the decision for her and pulled her close with the hand on the back of her neck. She sucked in a breath and made a last-ditch effort to resist, but it was futile. She could hear his soft breathing and feel the heat of his skin, the rapid thrum of her blood as it rushed through her body.

Undeterred by her hesitation, he determinedly brought her closer and angled his face until his cheek grazed hers. His breath fanned her temple. Goose bumps raced over her body. Patient fingers moved through the back of her hair and around her neck to her jaw, up the sides of her face. With agonizing slowness he caressed her skin with his fingertips, nuzzled her hairline.

Hunger roared through her in a blast of need. Her lashes fluttered against his cheek like the beat of a trapped butterfly’s wings. Pressing her closer, he touched his lips to her eyelid, light as a sigh. She grabbed his hard shoulders and stiffened, but he didn’t release her. Her entire body hummed with awareness as his gossamer kisses moved across her cheek, slowly enough to make her tremble.

Brianna grasped fistfuls of his shirt to keep from taking his face in her hands. She wanted to turn her head and kiss him back. Wanted it until her heart slammed against her ribs.

“Closer,” he urged in a whisper. “Lay your head on me.”

She trembled, part fever, part longing. “I can’t. If someone sees—”

His grip on her nape tightened a fraction. The coolness of his hand felt so good against her hot skin. “I won’t let that happen.”

The protective tone melted her. She was aching for him. Weak.

That gentle grip turned firm, commanding. “

Angel, don’t fight me. Let me hold you.” His voice was a velvet whisper at her ear. Angel. His tenderness broke her heart. She didn’t want to fight it anymore. This time when he guided her head down to his shoulder, she went willingly, careful to stay away from his bandaged side so she wouldn’t hurt him. A soft groan of relief came from his throat, as though he’d wanted this as much as she had. His heavy arms encircled her, cradled her against the warmth of his body. He was strong and solid, even better than she’d imagined. The scent of soap and musk filled her nose, wrapping around her in another layer of comfort. She closed her eyes as he began to stroke a hand through her hair and a shudder rippled through her. Sweet God, she'd needed this.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Stops:

http://litconnect.com/virtual-book-tour-the-vacant-chair-by-kaylea-cross

Additional Information:

Kaylea is hosting a Twitter party to celebrate the release of her first historical romance, THE VACANT CHAIR!

When: June 4, 2013; 7–8pm EST

What: Twitter party to celebrate the release of THE VACANT CHAIR!

Hashtag: #thevacantchair

Host: @KayleaCross    | Moderated by:  @lit_connect

LOTS of pre-registration and door prizes are being given away!

1. Tell us three things about yourself that readers may not know about you.

First of all, thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest at Book Lovin’ Mamas today. I’m looking forward to chatting with readers!  

Hmm… This question is a tough one. I’m pretty open about a lot of things, so I’m not sure if there’s much left that readers don’t know, or would find interesting. But I’ll give it a shot. (1) I’m a little on the clumsy side, but I have great balance so it rarely ends with me getting hurt. My hubby says I can’t walk a straight line because I always end up bumping into him. I think he gets in my way! (2) I tend to embarrass myself in a grand fashion, like the time I walked out of the ladies’ room with the back of my skirt tucked into my hose just as a big conference was letting out at the hospital where I was working. (3) I went “swimming” with dolphins on our last vacation and it wasn’t very fun. Maybe because there was no swimming involved. Mainly it was just doing silly things like dancing with a dolphin (i.e. gently holding his flippers) while posing for pictures. But I guess it beats dining with sharks! 

2. What does a typical writing day look like for you? 

I’m not sure I have typical days anymore. Often something comes up that needs my immediate attention, so my plans have to be adjusted. I feel like I’m flying from the seat of my pants half the time. But on a slow day, I start out checking my email, FB, & Twitter. I comment on and promote the writers’ blog I manage, Lady Scribes. Then I start on my list for the day. I set goals for myself on what I need to get done, such as “Write a synopsis for next book”, “Critique two chapters”, “Finish chapter fifteen”. I have to take a break about every 20-30 minutes to stretch, so I use that time to throw laundry in the washer, pay a bill, etc. 

3. Tell us a little bit about "Lady Vivian Defies a Duke", and why readers should check it out? 

Here’s a short summary: 
THE NAKED TRUTH 
Lady Vivian Worth knows perfectly well how to behave like a lady. But observing proper manners when no one is around to impress is just silly. Why shouldn’t she strip down to her chemise for a swim? When her betrothed arrives to finally meet her, Vivi will act every inch the lady—demure, polite, compliant. Everything her brother has promised the man. But until then, she’s going to enjoy her freedom… 
A REVEALING DISCOVERY 
Luke Forest, the newly named Duke of Foxhaven, wants nothing to do with his inheritance—or the bride who comes with it. He wants adventure and excitement, like the enchanting water nymph he’s just stumbled across. When he discovers the skinny-dipping minx is his intended, he reconsiders his plan to find Lady Vivian another husband. Because the idea of this vivacious woman in the arms of another man might be enough to drive him insane—or to the altar. 

I love romantic comedies, and this book reminds me of a Goldie Hawn movie (Seems Like Old Times; Private Benjamin; Foul Play). You have the sweet, adorable girl-next-door who gets herself into hot water time and again only to come out victorious in the end. If you’re a reader who likes lighter romance novels with heart, this story was written with you in mind. 

4. What was the easiest and hardest scene to write in "Lady Vivian Defies a Duke"? 

The easiest scene had to be the opening when Luke comes across Vivian at the spring. I enjoyed the banter between them. The hardest scene had to be when Vivian and Luke were in church and then at the picnic later. I rewrote it seven times before I submitted it to my editor. I don’t know why I struggled with it, but something was just off for a time. 

5. Tell us some characteristics of Luke Forest and why readers will fall head over heels for him? 

Although he’s a duke, Luke is humble. He has a great sense of humor and doesn’t get upset easily. What I like most about him is how accepting he is of other people, maybe because he has empathy after going through his own ordeal. He knows what it’s like not to measure up to expectations, so he doesn’t impose strict expectations on others. I love how he not only accepts Vivian for who she is, but he encourages her sense of adventure. I think readers who like a passionate, romantic, and truly decent guy could easily fall in love with Luke. 

6. What kind of character is your favorite to write and your least favorite to write? 

I enjoy writing all kinds of characters. Just as each person is different, I love trying to create a distinct personality for each character in my books. 

I guess if I had to pick a least favorite character to write, it would be a very prim and proper one, unless I can take it over the top and make him or her funny. I like characters that go against stereotypes and traditional roles. They’re more interesting to me. 

7. What kind of research did you have to do for "Lady Vivian Defies a Duke?" 

Most of my research was on marriage contracts during this period, although I did a little research on the search for the Antarctic too. 

8. Fun Question: If you travel back in time, what era would you travel to and why? 

Not as far as one might think. I would love to see the twenties. I love the lively music and dance. The clothes were awesome! And it was a time when we began to see women bucking tradition. We were on the cusp of change and that seems exciting to me. 

9. What is up next for Samantha Grace? 

I’m working on a new series called Rival Rogues, and I’m having a blast writing it. It’s about a friendly rivalry between two gentlemen who’ve been competing against each other since they were boys at boarding school. When their attentions turn toward courting the same young woman, their rivalry ceases to be a game, however. One gentleman will take desperate measures to win her heart, and the other will have to face the aftermath of losing the lady and learn the true meaning of love. 

10. Do you have anything specific you want to tell your readers? 

I love to hear what readers have to say, so I’d like to ask what kind of characters are their favorite to read. And I’d like to give away a copy of Lady Vivian Defies a Duke to one reader today. (US and Canada only.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway