Hi friends! Today we have one of my most favorite people visiting with us! Fabulous author Jennifer Haymore! She’s super sweet and totally awesome. She’s also our inaugural Crazy Fan Letter Author! Whee! Obviously she’s a great sport, and she chose an Author Interview for her GA&AG spot. đ
What five dead authors would you invite to a dinner party if you could?
Stephen King (Iâd like to hear his comments about the food), Anne Rice (to talk about vampires in literature) , JR Tolkien (to discuss the LOR and Hobbit trilogy), JD Salinger (love it if he actually said something), and Diana Gabaldon (to discuss historical Scotland. And Jamie Frasier).
If you could be a super hero, what would your nemesis be named?And what would your super hero power be?
My power would be astral projectionâŠor life. I could infuse life into anything. My enemy, of course, would be death. LOL
Tell us two truths and a lie about yourself.
(1) I was secretly engaged to my husband when I was seventeen.
(2) Iâm terrified of spiders.
(3) I enjoy watching my favorite movies over and over again.
What’s your favorite tv show? Now your favorite guilty pleasure secret shame show. I’m talking Real Housewives, The Kardashians, Bridalplasty, Jersey Shore, etc. *shudders*
Downton Abbey is my favorite right now (although they killed off a main character last week so Iâm none too pleased at the moment!).
Secret shame show would either be Storage Wars or American Idol!
If you have to listen to a song 24/7 for four days, which one would you choose?
Kill me first.
What’s the best book you read as a school assignment?
I loved a lot of the books everyone else hated in school. đ My favoriteâŠhmmmâŠprobably Jane Eyre.
Are you an early bird or night owl? What made you so?
A night owl, thanks to genes and coffee!
What kind of toothbrush and toothpaste is on your bathroom counter right now?
Oral B electric toothbrush and some fancy kind of whitening Crest.
What is your writing process?
I write mostly when I have big chunks of time in which to do so. It usually ends up being from when my husband gets home at night to the wee hours of the morning.
I used to be a pantser (wrote all my stories by the seat of my pants) but now that I write under contract, I always write a pretty detailed synopsis first. After my editor discusses the story with me, and we work out the kinks, I begin. After I start a book, lately, Iâve been writing hard, every day, until itâs done. I find that I feel closer to the characters and situations when I donât take days or weeks off from the story.
What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you at school? And what about at a conference?
At school:  Having my college boyfriendâs dorm-mate come home early one Saturday nightâŠ
At conference: Walking into a room of a group of people Iâd met before, and after recognizing and greeting all of them, realizing none of them knew who I was!
Do you collect anything? If yes, what?
Most anything related to my children (their favorite toys, school projects, etc.). Â They grow up too fast, and when the last one leaves for college, Iâm sure I can spend years scrapbooking and organizing.
As a child which character/book(s) would you most want to be [or be in] a Laura Ingalls Wilder book, Madeline L’Engle, Lloyd Alexander, L.M. Montgomery, or Gail Carson Levine? Or if none of those, which book?
Close call, but I think Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have always loved historical places and situations and ever since I was a kid, I have always dreamed about/envisioned living in a different time.
What would you put in your ideal candy bar?
A bunch of magically delicious and healthy ingredients that contained no carbs or fat.
Walk in pantry, walk in closet, or extra garage space?
Extra garage space. We have more junk than can fit in a pantry or closet. đ
What is your secret plan for world domination?
Work harder than everyone else (so fair Iâm a total fail at this hard-work ethic, so it looks like Iâm not headed for world domination!).
Bio:Â Jennifer holds a bachelorâs degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and a masterâs degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.
You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.
One lucky commenter will win a copy of Pleasures of a Tempted Lady, and the winner of the crazy fan letter contest for this month will win a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble. đ Isn’t Jennifer lovely and generous?! (I’ll be adding more information to the “Crazy Fan Letter” contest today, so keep an eye out. Thanks!)
Hi friends! I … well, I had played with posting this in early January, but then life was OMGWTF. And then I wanted to post it at the end of January. Because that’s what somehow made sense to me. So here we are. Anyway, I’m going with the post date and sticking to it!
This is a “tradition” I started way back in 2009. When everyone else was posting their “best books of the previous year” lists… I wanted to do something different. So I did. Now, we see more such lists as this one. I’m going to take credit. Because I can. And I’m feeling grouchy. [No seriously though – when I googled it in 2009 and wrote my first one I found not a thing. So you’re welcome, okay?!]
It’s also a bit flawed because some books, there simply is no information out there, other than the title and author, and I’m not willing to make it a top 10 want/recommended book based only on that. Um, this system works, you know, cuz it’s a bit quirky, a bit flawed, and yet exciting. Like me! >.> … yeah.
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This year… I’m also making a tentative pledge to not only read but also review all ten books on this list. You’ll notice then there are no extras. Because… I want to set a goal I can actually accomplish. And now you guys can keep me accountable. (I’m already starting to think I might’ve made a mistake…)
Listed in nothing but chronological order… the books!
Evelyn Hadley-Attwater has it allâa genteel Victoria life replete with loving husband, ball gowns and elegant parties. No one, including the man she married, suspects that she was once âEveâ, a spy for Englandâs most enigmatic intelligence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss âSirâ prove too tempting . . .
Adrian Hadley Attwater is a respectable, dignified gentleman. But even the most proper gentlemen have secrets of their own. Secrets from the rest of the world, from their families, from their wives. Secrets that have a price. Now, as the veil of secrecy frays, a tantalizing game of cat and mouse will test the bounds of unfailing love . . .
What really won me over was the book excerpt. I also bought the book. Especially because the kindle cost wasn’t the same as the print!
With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confessâŠ
It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldnât resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined heâd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.
I mean… a duchess! And then how Olivia “surprises” them all and… yeah. Much want. I mean, read the excerpt. I dare you to finish it and not have some sort of “!!!” reaction. Mine was “Oh. My. God!” and a giggle. <3
If you want to score, you have to get in the game…
The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she’s stuck running the family’s sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she’s vowed to never fall for a jockâeven one as hot as Ty.
Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty’s insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too…
But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it allâincluding Ty…
You can also read an excerpt here. Which is what won me over over the football book. You have to love a hero who just is a good guy, right? Especially when he’s a sports star. I don’t know why we give famous people so much more leeway (we can discuss that later) – but it’s still refreshing, especially in romances – to see them as “the good guy.”
It’s just… we all have read the “bad boy” hero, yes? And even sometimes the “bad girl” heroine – but here, she appears to be something of a bad girl, yet… not. I like that interesting premise. And you know, it’s always nice to see a rake brought to his knees through love. I also enjoyed how the guys talked to each other based on what I read.
Grey Sommers, Lord Wyndham, never met a predicament he couldnât charm his way out of. Then a tryst with a government officialâs wife during a bit of casual espionage in France condemns him a decade in a dungeon, leaving him a shadow of his former self. Yet his greatest challenge may be the enigmatic spy sent to free his bodyâthe only woman who might heal his soul.
Half English and half French, Cassie Fox lost everything in the chaos of revolution, leaving only a determination to help destroy Napoleonâs empire through her perilous calling. Rescuing Grey is merely one more mission. She hadnât counted on a man with the stark beauty of a ravaged angel, whose desperate courage and vulnerability touch her frozen heart as no one ever has. With Grey, she can become the passionate woman she has long denied. But a spy and a lord are divided by an impassable gulf even if they manage to survive one last, terrifying missionâŠ.
I found this excerpt here, and it’s nice to see even damaged, the hero is still kind. Even in the beginning. Not to mention the fascinating premise! For me it was a pdf that opened in my browser, just an fyi.
They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.
Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted-a family.
The blurb, the start of the excerpt, I mean this isn’t even normally my thing. But come on here. And even the cover! I guess it appeals to my teenage self, because you know it’ll be Angsty McAngst-town. And sometimes? You just want a little of that. In fiction.
A MASKED MAN . . .
Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day heâs the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Gilesâprotector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.
A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .
Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when sheâs asked to tutor the Homeâs dour manager in the ways of societyâflirtation, double entendres, and scandalous liaisonsâIsabel canât help wondering why his eyes seem so familiarâand his lips so tempting.
A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY
During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everythingâthe Home, Isabel . . . and his life.
I mean even the blurb just makes you [or at least me!] think “scandalous!” in a good way, of course. And I like how things just jump right in at the beginning. Always nice to find a half dead man on your doorstep… right?!
Millicent understands the terms of her arranged marriage all too well. She gets to be a Countess by marrying an impoverished Earl. And in return, the Earl
Fitzhugh receives the benefit of her vast wealth, saving his family from bankruptcy. Because of her youth, they have agreed to wait eight years before consummating the marriageâand then, only to beget an heir. After which, they will lead separate lives.
It is a most sensible arrangement. Except for one little thing. Somehow Millie has fallen head over heels in love with her husband. Her husband, who has become her very best friend, but nothing more⊠Her husband, who plans to reunite with his childhood sweetheart, the beautiful and newly widowed Isabelle, as soon as he has honored the pact with his wifeâŠ
As the hour they truly become husband-and-wife draws near, both Millie and Fitzhugh must face the truth in their hearts. Has their pact bred only a great friendshipâor has it, without either of them quite noticing, given rise to a great love?
This one was hard. Like. Really. I was so torn between this and Beguiling the Beauty but… the premise of this one intrigued me more. Just watch me love the non-listed one more. It happened last year… But the whole “love at first sight” line at the beginning gets me. When they’re kids it’s just so aaaaawwwweeeee. In books.
Juliet Lamprey is having the time of her life running her successful bakery, TART, when Gideon Carter comes back into her life. Returning home to help his grandfather run the family on the farm, Gideon is back for good. When they meet again, the spark between them is immediate, and it isnât long before the former childhood friends play catch up in bed.
Thatâs not good news for local lawyer Cal Whaley. Though the sexually open but strictly monogamous Cal has loved Jules for a long time, heâs hardly ever taken it further than friendship. When he sees her start to fall for Gideon, he knows he has to make his move or risk losing her forever.
Who would have anticipated that all three of them would connect on such an intimate level? The trioâs scalding liaisons take them places theyâve never dreamed. But such an intensely passionate and unusual relationship comes with equally as complicated emotions, and when Jules must suddenly leave town, she wonders if sheâll have a choice to make when she returns
HOLD UP. I know, you’re all thinking “Lime! That cover isn’t Exposed to You … that’s Addicted to You! Your citrus brain has… fermented!” Well, no, it hasn’t actually. That’s a place holder, because Exposed to You isn’t even up on Amazon yet. There’s no cover of course. (For the previous two I had to snatch and grab from author websites, so … thank you, Picasa!)
Itâs not often youâre hired to paint a body tattooâand what a bodyâon a total stranger at a Hollywood film set. A reserved and careful art teacher, Joy would never forget it. In a rare fit of raw desire she gave herself completely, knowing sheâd never see him again, or ever repeat such a shameless, naked impulse.
Little did she know, the man with whom she shared that lightning bolt of lust was star Everett Hughes. For Everett, women and sex came as easily as fame. But how could he hope to convince the guarded Joy that beneath the hard body and sexy façade of celebrity was a real man who wanted only one, real woman?
In the heat of an intoxicating affair, Everett endeavors to break down her barriers, gain her trust, and expose himself as the real deal. But can Joy do the same, and reveal to him the vulnerable woman who longs to be loved, wanted, and desired forever?
I loved Addicted to You. And guess what? It’s only six dollars right now. I also loved Everett. And/so, if his book is anything like Rill and Katie’s? Yeah. I know it’ll be on my “favorites of the year” list.
There was a short list of about 16 books… with Sophia Nash, Manda Collins, Vicky Dreiling, Samantha Grace, Sarah MacLean, Jill Shalvis, Lisa Klyepas, Eloisa James and you know, others. Some didn’t make the list because they didn’t have book information up, so I couldn’t in good conscience put up a book I didn’t know enough about. Those authors I didn’t mention. Because, well, I’m not trying to call anyone out here.
There was a longer list of books to consider – about 30 or 40 of them. And… the way I did this? I did an advanced search at amazon looking at each month’s romance listings for 2012. I scrolled through about 5,000 titles. Yeah – that’s dedication. I also found some eye-bleachingly traumatic titles and covers, that in no way belonged in romance. I suffered for you.
So – what’s not here that is on your list? Generally I do an “honorable mentions” and all, but gotta keep it strictly to ten so I can reach my goal. đ
Today we have the lovely author Jennifer Haymore visiting with us! She is one of the nicest and sweetest people you’ll ever come across. She’s so sweet in fact, I’m going to let this eensy ĂŒber short post go by without a comment. :X I mean… (hey, I never said that I’m the nice person…) đ Anyway, without further ado, Jennifer is going to talk about her newest series and upcoming books! Yay!
Hey, everyone! Much thanks to Limecello for having me here!
Iâm going to talk about my Donovan series today, because I have two books releasing from that series on February 1–so exciting! The Donovans are five sisters that have been a big part of my life for the past two years. Their stories are covered in three novels (available in print and digital formats) and one short story (available in ebook only).
Here are the sisters:
Serena–the oldest and the biggest troublemaker, who learned the error of her ways when she was caught in a VERY compromising position when she was eighteen years old and has spent the past several years paying for that mistake.
Meg–Serenaâs twin, lost at sea (miles off the coast of Antigua) when she was eighteen.
Olivia–The sweetest Donovan sister–suffers from reoccurring bouts of malaria.
Phoebe–The most independent Donovan–makes up her mind quickly and goes after what she wants with no regrets!
Jessica–the youngest and most beautiful Donovan sister. At 18 years old, she is loyal to a fault and takes great risks for those she loves.
I love writing about sisters. I always wanted a sister growing up, and finally got my wish–but I was already fourteen years old! So in a way, the Donovan sisters were my way of learning about what being a sister really means.
What about you? Do you have a sister? Do you recall a time in your life when she was your best friend or your worst enemy?
For more information on the Donovan Series including book blurbs and excerpts: go here.
You can also find Jennifer on Twitter as well as Facebook.
Aren’t all those covers gorgeous?! Anyway, I’m very curious about all the sister responses too. Or brothers. Siblings. You know. And! Jennifer has agreed to come by and answer questions – so ask her anything! Really! Book related or not. *angelface* (Seriously though – please come up with something!) To sweeten the deal, Ms. Haymore is giving away three prizes to lucky commenters! Up for grabs are one copy of Confessions of an Improper Bride, and two copies of Secrets of an Accidental Duchess. Because three is a pretty amazing number, yes?Â