Guest Post and Giveaway: Why I Write Historical Romance by Collette Cameron, Author of The Viscount's Vow

Today, I have a Guest Post from author Collette Cameron as a part of the VBT, where she explains why she writes Historical Romance. I hope you enjoy the post just as much as I did (being an avid romance reader I agree with the points she made). Also find the information on The Viscount's Vow and the author, alongside an excerpt. Please comment to be entered in the giveaway.

Collette Cameron will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC and an ecopy of Highlander's Hope, the first book in the series, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  
 

Why I Write Historical Romance

Just last week I had someone ask me...again, why I write romance novels. In this case, the question was followed by a nervous giggle and a whispered, “Do you write about your own... experiences?”

Seriously?

Umm, no!

It’s called imagination and research...okay, and maybe a teensy weensy bit of my personal experiences, but not the...ahem...intimate ones. Hubby would disown me.

I mean, I’ve never ridden sidesaddle or in a carriage, or worn stays, or drunk laudanum, or fought a duel, but I’ve written about all those. I also have heroines that shoot and throw knives at villains. I’ve never done that either, though I do know how to shoot a gun—comes with being the daughter of a cop and married to a hunter.

Before I go on, I should probably mention that I’ve been ridiculed for writing “smut” and even had some of my Christian friends raise their eyebrows and give me “that” look. But here’s the deal, I write romance, not porn. Yes, there is a difference.

Romance novels, especially historicals, allow readers a chance to escape from reality, which, let’s be honest, at times really sucks. I believe romance, at least the kind I write, shows healthy, loving relationships between two people dedicated (and eventually married) to each other. Romance novels depict commitment, trust, (albeit sometimes hard won trust) forgiveness, self-sacrifice, and yes, passion.

I love reading happy-ever-afters, and I love writing them even more. I’ve heard the argument, “That’s not real life.” Okay, so let’s only write reality? Really? I don’t think so. Too dark, depressing...hopeless. And we need hope, don’t we?

I started reading romance very young, and it gave me a vision for the kind of man I wanted to marry. It also helped me with my moral compass, because I didn’t want to be promiscuous; I wanted to save myself for the man who would someday be my husband.

So, back to why I write romance...

There’s something magical and fulfilling about bring together a couple who despite conflict and struggles, overcome the odds and find love together. Call it fantasy or dreaming, but that’s what everyone wants; their own happily-ever-after. If I can give readers a bit of hope, help them cling to their dream, then I’ve done what I set out to do.

And that’s why I write romance.

 

Her Lord and Master by Aileen McNaughton

Her Lord and Master (novella)

Aileen McNaughton
Medieval Romance/Erotica
Published in 2013

H/h - Ragnor of Lejre/Elizabeth of Alnwick
Setting: Medieval era. 

Read in Oct, 2013.

My rating:

                                          [spoiler alert]

So, I caved in and also got Her Lord and Master by Aileen McNaughton. This one was another story set in the medieval ages; almost good for the most part but there were still those ridiculous types of dialogues that bugged me in Her Lord's Pleasure. Also this ends in a freakin’ big cliffhanger!! Ugh.

I was mainly interested in this was because the H, Ragnor was a Viking. Love me some Vikings was all in my mind. But the story opens up with our h, Elizabeth, who is kept in a convent because... because her family ‘donated’ her to the convent so that all her other family members can go to heaven. Really? OMG! I couldn’t keep my head straight when I read about what they did. Elizabeth is the youngest of 13 children of a Lord and a Lady. She was ‘donated’ to the convent at the age of 13, making her life as bleak and dark as it was narrated at the beginning of the story. She was kept in rags, fed crappy food and would have nothing but to pray all day long. It pained me that parents would be so disgusting to their kids, mainly if it’s a daughter, also the fact that Elizabeth never chose this life in the first place but she’s forced to live it nonetheless. It was clear as daylight that all the coins her family donated (yep they did) was never used for her or on her comfort. Sadly that’s the general story of all the women who are kept here.

Ghosts of the Falls by Sarah Gilman

Ghosts of the Falls (novella)

Sarah Gilman
Contemporary/Paranormal
Publication date: Oct 28, 2013 (ARC review)

H/h - Derrick 'Dutch' Hutchinson/Jade Clarence
Setting: Present time.

Read in Oct, 2013.

My rating:

                                         [spoiler alert]

Ghosts of the Falls by Sarah Gilman was a nice and short ghost story where an exorcist and a ghost fall in love with each-other. Although the concept of the story seemed so very intriguing, I did have the moments where I thought this could’ve been much more, especially when I consider how soon Jade and Dutch fell for each-other. It was contrived a little too rushed IMO.

Jade is an exorcist with special abilities to detect ghosts. She can hear them or feel their energies around. Exorcism is a family business and Jade has been working with her two brothers, the elder Aaron and the younger, Jeremy. But a recent disaster on a job and the following death of a woman has left Jade shaky and depressed. A stern Aaron has warned her that she might even lose her job if she can’t prove herself in this line of work, and Jade is not about to give up.

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: Twilight Over Moldavia by Stephanie Burkhart

Today, I'm featuring a Blurb Blitz post of Stephanie Burkhart's Twilight Over Moldavia. This is book 2 in her Moldavian Moon series. In the following, find the information on the book and the author alongside an excerpt.

 Stephanie Burkhart will be awarding a Coffee & Chocolate bag: a coffee mug, Starbucks gift Card, Andes Chocolates, magnets, and a Lori Powell original book bag (US Only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Twilight Over Moldavia

(Moldavian Moon #2)

Stephanie Burkhart

Romanian unification is on the horizon. Prince Stefan Sigmaringen travels to Ploiesti, Carpathia. He's to be promised in marriage to the Crown Princes Caroline, a spirited young lady who prefers riding horses and archery to embroidery and dancing.

Despite Stefan's initial apprehension, he discovers that his intended is a pleasant surprise with a caring heart. He also learns a strange man named Timon has an unnatural interest in him.

Two years later, Stefan and Caroline are officially engaged. To Stefan's horror he overhears his mother confessing to a dangerous secret – she cursed him in order to conceive him and Stefan owes his body to Timon. There is a condition to overcome the curse, but Stefan will have to draw on all his courage and inner strength to confront the werewolf who desires to posses his soul. Stefan feels it isn't fair to fall in love with Caroline with a foul enchantment hanging over his head. Dare Caroline break the blood bonds of the curse with her love?

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Desert Breeze Publising

Her Lord's Pleasure by Aileen McNaughton

Her Lord's Pleasure (novella)

Aileen McNaughton
Medieval Romance/Erotica
Published in 2013

H/h - Lord Trent Donovan/Lady Rowena Morrigan
Setting: Medieval England.

Read in Oct, 2013.

My rating:

                                              [might be spoilerish]

I was looking for a quick read and Aileen McNaughton’s Her Lord's Pleasure seemed to fit the bill. It’s an Erotic Historical novella set in the medieval times.

Lord Trent Donovan just caught something, a good catch if we’re to believe by his musings; Rowena, the daughter of his mortal enemy, Lord Morrigan. His and Morrigan’s people have been at war since... no one knows when. All it’s known that this has been going on too long. Morrigan has killed his brother and Trent will make sure his daughter pays for his transgressions because ultimately, Rowena is his possession now, to do whatever he want to do with her. Trent has ‘plans’ for her (and you can imagine what those plans were). But when, at one point before going to his bedchamber where Rowena was kept in chain, Trent stops to think what kinda father sends his daughter through the enemy land without many armed soldiers to escort her to her betrothed’s land?

Lady Nora's Education by Meta Mathews

Lady Nora's Education (novella)
Riotous Revelers #3

Meta Mathews
Historical Romance/Erotica
Published in 2013

H/h - Frederic Greene/Lady Nora Anderson
Setting: London, 1816.

Read in Oct, 2013.

My rating:

                                            [spolier alert] 

Lady Nora's Education is book 3 in Riotous Revelers series by Meta Mathews. When I read the other two books, 1, Lady Chamberly's Choices and 2, Bad Lady Baronton, this wasn’t yet a series per say. But I knew they were connected through the characters.

Riotous Revelers, indeed, used to be a mythical group that was created by some of these characters in these books while they were fighting against France. I don’t know exactly how many men there were but Chamberly and Garett or Baronton were a part of it. There was also Jerome aka Windsford, who was seen in book 1 but was not present in book 2 due to some estate matters. In this book we meet another member of that group; Viscount Parry.

The Palace Guard by Alison Shaw

The Palace Guard (novella)

Alison Shaw
Fantasy/Erotica
Published in 2012

H/h - The Guard/Princess Elena
Setting: In a fantasy kingdom.

Read in 2013.

My rating:

                                   

                                                      [spoiler alert]

The Palace Guard by Alison Shaw was a fantasy erotic novella. I liked it for the most part, but some things did bug me. Funny, because I’ve previously read more explicit stuff from this author that had things that I generally can’t stand, i.e. the H with OW etc. but didn’t mind those very much.

Let me just start the review. The story is set on a fantasy kingdom where Princess Elena is being groomed for a very prosperous match. She’s taught and trained to be the perfect wife from her childhood. Elena is a bit spoiled being the only daughter of the King and the Queen. And she’s a naïve virgin, kept that way exclusively for her future husband. Soon Elena grows up to be an 18 yrs. old girl, catching the eyes of one of the guards who have been her bodyguard for a couple of years now. He had seen her as a kid and now that she has finally grown, the Guard can’t keep his eyes off of her. But he also knows that lusting after the Princess could get him into big trouble... the offense would probably see him hanged, so the Guard, whose name is never mentioned, keeps his distance.