September 2014 - Heather Boyd | USAT Bestselling Author

New Release Spotlight: The Bridal Contract by Sandra Sookoo

December 21, 2023September 30, 2014

I am very pleased to spotlight Sandra Sookoo’s latest regency romance release. The Bridal Contract published September 16 and is the third book in the Darrington Family Series. Out now in digital and print editions.

THE BRIDAL CONTRACT

When a bridal contract is struck, either parental outrage will void the arrangement or the love of a child will sweeten the deal.

Oliver Darrington—Viscount Tralsburg—wants nothing more than to hide out at the family property in Brighton until he can secure a sea-worthy ship and return to adventuring the world. However, being handed his former mistress’ child isn’t part of that plan. Neither is the sudden longing for his pretty Italian neighbor.

Eloisa Hawthorne is in dire straits. Her older brother has gambled away her sister’s hand to a horrible man. In order to save her sister’s virtue and her future, Eloisa needs a fast fortune—or someone who can immediately cover the debt. When her handsome neighbor offers a temporary engagement contract, she accepts with alacrity. Too bad she fell in love with his dark-haired offspring. How scandalous!

When the two attend his mother’s London dinner party, Oliver wishes the union wasn’t merely a lark. Eloisa fears for the adorable child’s upbringing in heathen locales, but what can she do? The contract is only for a month, and love was never an option. Something must be done to throw over convention before the moment is lost and matters of the heart are sacrificed.

Where to Buy

About Sandra

[Official Website]

Sandra Sookoo is a bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in Victorian America or snarky humor in the contemporary world. Reading romance is a lot like eating fine chocolates—you can’t just have one. Good thing books don’t have calories!

When she’s not wearing out computer keyboards, Sandra spends time with her real life Prince Charming in central Indiana where she’s been known to goof off and make moments count because the key to life is laughter. A Disney fan since the age of ten, when her soul gets bogged down and her imagination flags, a trip to Walt Disney World is in order. Nothing fuels her dreams more than the land of eternal happy endings, hope and love stories.

Connect on Social Media:

All at Sea Onboard the Endeavor

January 2, 2024September 26, 2014

After a few hiccups this week, thanks largely to my web host, the kinks are mostly sorted out on my new website. I am still so amazed by how easy and connected everything on my website is now. I may gush for a year.

I recently had the very great pleasure of walking the decks HMS Endeavor. The replica of the vessel that sailed during the late 18th century under captain, First Lieutenant James Cook. Since it was visiting Newcastle for a short stay and I managed to squeeze a research trip into my day.

The Endeavor is fitted with 18 miles of rope, 10,000 sq feet of sail, a 127′ 11″ main mast and sailed with a crew of 94 men, leaving very little maneuvering room in certain parts of the ship–almost had to crawl on hands and knees at one point.

The captain had all the luxury in the Great Cabin. Sash windows at the stern, window seats to take in the view. Big table and fire of his own. The room was really light which surprised me. The captain slept on a sleeping platform while the rest of the crew beds where swinging cots. Officers had 18 inches of room, sailors had 14 inches.

I took a ton of photos (inside and out) and once I get them reduced in size a bit I’m hoping to add them to a new board on Pinterest.

Goodbye Smashwords

As of this week, my titles are no longer available through Smashwords. I’ve been wary of a few of their recent decisions and with much relief I have found an alternative that covers everything thing I need and hopefully my readers do too.

Choose Gumroad

You may notice the Gumroad icon on may of my book pages (and in Booksellers). All Gumroad listings are controlled by me directly. If you miss Smashwords but don’t like buying from Amazon, Kobo, B&N or Apple consider clicking on the icon. The process is very quick, payment can be through Paypal and both epub and kindle editions can be found there.

My Regency Romance Books

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New Release Spotlight: The Kidnapped Bride by Heather Hiestand

May 30, 2022September 23, 2014

Todays new release spotlight is for a late Victorian era historical romance by author Heather Hiestand. The Kidnapped Bride is Book 4 of The Redcakes series and released September 15.

THE KIDNAPPED BRIDE

Pursuing this elusive heiress will be the ultimate temptation…

Lady Elizabeth Shield is used to saving herself from trouble. And even if dashing private inquiry agent Dougal Alexander just rescued her from white slavers, she’s definitely not returning to her stifling aristocratic life and unsuitable suitors. Not when there are other women in danger—and a secret promise to keep in Edinburgh. But outwitting Dougal’s tactics to return her to London and her family will be easier than staying away from his intoxicating kisses…

He’s a baron’s second son accustomed to making his own way and uncovering the truth. Now Dougal must keep Lady Elizabeth close for her own protection, but her spirited wiles are proving scandalously irresistible. His most difficult case yet will be showing her that he’s everything she truly desires—and that love is the greatest of adventures…

“Before I realized it, the unusually strong and well-developed characters of The Kidnapped Bride had sneaked up on me and captured my full attention. This is one of the best shorter books I have ever read.” –Delle Jacobs, author of Lady Wicked

About Heather:

Heather Hiestand is the author of fifteen novels as well as many novellas and short stories. Her first sale was in the mystery genre and since then she has focused on romance, eventually splitting her identity and becoming Anh Leod for erotic romances. She co-writes historical fantasy novels as well.

She lives in Washington State with her husband and son.

Heather on Social Media:

Where to Buy:

Amazon | Apple | Barnes & Noble

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK AND THE AUTHOR VISIT

HeatherHeistand.com

The Website Revamp is here

December 21, 2023September 20, 2014

Lots of tricky things have been happening behind the scenes around here. Real often gets in the way of writing and next week I’ll have some great pictures to share of a recent research trip — ahoy matey’s!

Website Update

In August I began to reimagine my website with the help of Austinworks Design. Dawn Hickerson has created the most amazing site for me and I’m so proud to show it off for the first time today. It’s as sexy in the backend as it looks for you from the front. I’m in geek heaven right now. The new features and templates are making creating new posts and pages a breeze already. This site is author candyland and very very cool. If you need the best site, built with an authors particular needs in mind, definitely talk to her first.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone who continues to buy and review Keepsake. Your kind words have made me so keen to return to work on the next book in the Distinguished Rogues Series.

Thanks also to those who are picking up the Sweet Surrender Boxed Set I’m in with Sandra Sookoo, Donna Cummings, Wendy Vella, Tamara Gill and Suzi Love. Be sure to check us out at Apple iBooks as well as other retailers. Its a steal at 99c and for a limited time only. Offer ends New Years Eve then vanishes.

Coming Next

I’m hard at work on revisions for Never a Gentleman and Once a Husband. The events in both stories are tied fairly closely together so I’m working on them in tandem.

In writing Once a Husband, Angelo Marinari’s story, I’m faced with a situation I’m sure many people have dealt with before for one reason or another: Have you ever had to give up something you loved because it was bad for you?

With that, happy Saturday. I hope you like these first changes to my website.

New Release Spotlight: Eruption by J. Hughey

May 30, 2022September 16, 2014

Another new release spotlight today: Eruption by J. Hughey. J. Hughey chose the release date of her new New Adult contemporary romance to correspond with the date of the eruption of the Yellowstone volcano in her story, an event that will turn her lead character’s world on its head as the series progresses. The first book, Eruption, gives a glimpse of Violet Perch’s college life and the unavoidable changes she endures when things get seriously messed up for the North American continent.

Eruption

I’m in the middle of the perfect college semester, hundreds of miles from Mom, with an awesome roomie and my freshman crush finally becoming a sophomore reality—Hotness! I’m figuring out calculus, I’ve got both hands on the handlebars and the wind of freedom in my hair. What on earth could slow my roll?

How about if the Yellowstone volcano erupts for the first time in 630,000 years, spewing a continuous load of ash (crap) all over North America? Think that’ll put a kink in my bicycle chain?

Make that kinks, plural, because here’s a scientific fact I’ll bet you didn’t know. Nothing ruins the perfect semester like a super caldera. Now that I’ve made you smarter today, maybe you can tell me how to keep my life cruising in the right direction—no to Mom, yes to roomie, double yes to Hotness!—during a global disaster?

My lame name is Violet and, in the interest of full disclosure, I’m not hanging from the side of a cinder cone on the last page of this trauma, but there’s definitely more to come. Unless, of course, humans become extinct and then there’s not. Duh.

About author:

J. Hughey knows what a girl wants. Independence. One or two no-matter-what-happens friends. A smokin’ hot romance. A basic understanding of geological concepts. Huh? Okay, maybe not every girl is into geology, but J. Hughey is, and in the Yellowblown™ series she combines her passion for a timeless love story with her interest in geeky stuff to help Violet Perch get a life, despite an ongoing global catastrophe.

J. Hughey also writes historical romance as Jill Hughey.

Contest:

If you want a chance to win some Eruption swag—your choice of a necklace, bracelet or bookmark with cover and series charms—sign up for J. Hughey’s newsletter before September 27. http://www.jillhughey.com/contact

Author on Social Media:

Where to Buy:

Amazon

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BOOK VISIT
HER WEBSITE

Release Day Excitement for Keepsake

May 30, 2022September 8, 2014

It’s release day and I’ve been pacing the floor, waiting for all the vendors to switch Keepsake from pre-order to live since first light this morning. It took ALL day, but finally I’m sure my new book is available everywhere, worldwide. I’m a bit of a tired mess now. LOL Many thanks to everyone who took advantage of my first preorder at Amazon. Your interest has helped my book land on the Kindle Regency Bestsellers list today! At the moment, its number #60 on that list or #3670 overall kindle store ranking. #amazing

Now, just in case you’ve been absent from my website for a while and have no idea what I’m talking about, my new book, Keepsake, is the fifth in the Distinguished Rogues Series. I’m really quite proud of how my hero and heroine worked things out. Here’s the blurb:

A BATTLE OF WILLS…

When the Marquess of Taverham married at eighteen, he was certain his life would be smooth and well ordered—right up till the moment his exuberant bride ran away on their wedding night, never to be seen again. Ten years later, when Kit is finally prepared to set his rash marriage aside by having his wife declared dead, she makes a shocking return, still beautiful but distrustful, and once more throws his life off-balance by refusing to live with him and resume their marriage.

…A WAR OF PASSION

Despite some lingering attraction, Miranda Reed has no love left for the heartless rogue she married. Older and wiser, she refuses to be a convenient wife for a man who expects everything to be his way with no care for her feelings. Keeping her husband at arm’s length is essential; her secrets will bring him to his knees. But in a battle of wills where hope and trust are both the prize and the casualty of war, the victor isn’t always the winner. Sometimes it takes an act of rebellion to recapture a fragile love.

Where can you purchase Keepsake?

AMAZON: Australia | United States | United Kingdom | Canada

APPLE iBooks: Australia | United States | United Kingdom | Canada

All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Keepsake is available at the limited time price of 99c so don’t be slow to grab your copy

Release Day events:

I’m being interviewed today by Crystal at Reviews by Crystal. Drop by, leave a comment too, for a chance to win a digital copy.

My book is also being featured at eBookSoda, a new readers site where they’ll send you ebook recommendations tailored to your taste. www.ebooksoda.com.