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Stressing the Heroine – Masquerade with a Marquess a #Regencyromance by @cerisedeland #RLFblog
Stressing the Heroine from Masquerade with a Marquess a regency romance by Cerise Deland.Author BioCerise DeLand loves to cook, hates to dust, lives to travel—and write! She is the author of #1 bestselling Regencies starring fab.u.lous lords and the sassy ladies they adore.About the BookTitle Masquerade with a MarquessGenre Regency romanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): RSophia di Contini risks her life to sail to England alone and slip into the homes of those she suspects stole priceless treasures from her family during the wars. Discovered by Victor Cameron, she agrees to search for her art his way even though she’ll live in his house, yearn for his touch, pine for his kisses….Five years ago, Victor had to give up Sophia. Now he vows to keep her near him and to protect her from men who would destroy her. He’ll help her find her precious art even if he risks the chance she’ll steal his heart away…again.Stressing The HeroineEvery heroine has a story. She has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a heroine and get to know her better, by focusing on how she handles being relaxed, or how she handles stress.The Heroine’s Relaxed SideThis heroine is at a party. Considering her story, describe the party.Once Sophia was a spy working with a network of Italian patriots who wanted their country rid of the tyrant Napoleon Bonaparte. At a party years later in England, she understands exactly why each person has decided to attend. She understands their body language, what they say without words. She knows who is there to snare whom in their trap. She zeroes in on who she herself wants to engage…or lure…or trap. And why.How does the heroine feel about being this particular party, and what body language is she displaying that gives it away?Sophia goes to a masquerade ball, attired in a seductive costume resembling a Greek goddess. Although she’s not interested in conquering any man, she’s devoted to her own purpose, her own goal. She’s quick to assess who’s there, her eyes darting about the crowd, noting those who may have clues to the treasure she really seeks. She quick, silent, intent upon finding only one item.Is she more likely to mingle or remain aloof?To appear as if she has truly been invited, she knows she’ll have to speak to a few ladies and gentlemen. After all, because she wears a masque, no one will really know her identity nor learn it. But accomplishing her goal will mean she must remain aloof, gay but blithely unattached to anyone.If she drinks, what is her drink of choice at this party?While she adores a good red vino like those from her native Tuscany, she sips a bit of champagne. She’s careful, you see, to keep her mind as clear as her purpose.How much drink is her usual?Ah, but it is true that Sophia can drink many a man under the table. She’s done it often. To great success. In fact, during the wars, she learned many an elusive fact about Napoleon’s troop movements from his inebriated officers.The heroine figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?She snatches the right moment to disappear and search the mansion for the treasures she seeks. Off to the lord of the manor’s library and study, she quickly discovers precisely what she suspected he’d hidden. The very piece she seeks. She sighs, claps her hands, delighted at finding her prize.But another man has followed her. Entered the room. Sneering at her, he has nothing good on his mind. In fact, she remembers him well, the cad. And when he advances on her and threatens her, she’s surprised but ready to defend herself. And then…Is she likely to latch onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is she the friend that others latch onto?She is shocked when another man emerges from the shadows. This time, it is the very man she has wished to ignore. The one man who has always made her heart pound and her girlish hopes of love and peace and family revive.But she has consistently learned for more than five long years, that such redemption is not in the cards for her. Not now. Not ever. Not even if Victor helps her escape this other terrible man. Not even if Victor is the only man she’s ever hoped to see again.If someone picked a fight at this party, how is the heroine going to handle it?As Victor Cameron comes forward to threaten her nemesis, she takes comfort in his actions but knows she will have to escape him, too.Is the heroine the one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?And so, before any more people enter the library, before anyone attempts to throw her out because after all, she is uninvited, she tries to escapes Victor too. Without her prize, the very item she sought.But Victor who has searched London for her for so many weeks refuses to let her go. She’ll come home with him, he declares. There he will protect her and even save her from herself. And after he hears her explanation of what she really seeks, he declares he will help her.His way.Buy This BookAmazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01COO8MM2ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-masqueradewithamarquess-1996734-160.htmlBarnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/masquerade-with-a-marquess-cerise-deland/1123498199Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/masquerade-with-a-marquessiBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/masquerade-wwith-a-marquess/id1091949971?ls=1&mt=11Author Social MediaWebsite http://cerisedeland.comAmazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Cerise-DeLand/e/B0089DS2N2/ -
Stressing the Heroine: Heartbreak Homestead #suspense @SusanneBellamy #RLFblog
Stressing the Heroine from Heartbreak Homestead (Hearts of the
Outback bk 2) a rural suspense romance by Susanne Bellamy.Author Bio
Born and raised in Toowoomba, Susanne is an Australian author
of contemporary, rural, and suspense romances set in exciting and often exotic locations,
and in Australia. She adores travel with her husband, both at home and overseas,
and weaves stories around the settings and people she encounters.Her heroes have to be pretty special to live up to her real life
hero. He saved her life then married her.Susanne is a member of the RWA and was a finalist in their 2011
Emerald Award. She placed third in the 2015 Pan Macmillan short story competition
with ‘Chez Romeo’. Mentoring aspiring writers, and working as a freelance editor
keeps her off the street! She loves connecting with readers and fellow writers.
Feed her a good single malt whisky and you’re a friend for life.About the Book
Title Heartbreak Homestead (Hearts of the Outback bk 2)Genre Rural romanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13After her brother’s death, the last thing Lizzy Wilmot wants
to do is to return to her family’s property but Alex Carter, his former business
partner, needs her help to locate some missing files. Alex doesn’t trust Lizzy and
the feeling is mutual but when they find themselves back at the homestead in the
midst of a bitter custody battle for Lizzy’s baby nephew, sparks begin to fly.Who is trying to harm Lizzy?Can they both learn that trust will overcome heartbreak?Every heroine has a story. She has a background, a history, and
a past. This interview allows us to meet a heroine and get to know her better, by
focusing on how she handles being relaxed, as well as how she handles stress.The Heroine’s Relaxed Side
This heroine is at a
party. Considering her story, describe the party.Lizzy Wilmot-Carter loves barbecues and casual get-togethers
with friends. Having taken on the care of her orphaned baby nephew, she now chooses
functions that are child-friendly. There will be wine and beer and impromptu dancing,
especially if Alex Carter is near.How does the heroine feel about being this particular party,
and what body language is she displaying that gives it away?Amongst friends, Lizzy leaves aside her social mask, although
she feels a powerful need to temper the attraction she feels to her ‘husband for
six months’. Their sexual chemistry sizzles and she turns towards Alex, standing
close but gripping her wine glass to stop herself grabbing him.Is she more likely to
mingle or remain aloof?Lizzy mingles and enjoys both light-hearted banter and deep and
meaningful discussions. She has many acquaintances but just a few close friends
from work, and she prefers small parties with the latter.If she drinks, what is
her drink of choice at this party?White wine in hot weather, red in the winter.How much drink is her
usual?While Lizzy is an extrovert and a queen bee, she is also a team
leader in the SES (State Emergency Service) and has a strong sense of responsibility.
She doesn’t drink to excess in case she is called out to an emergency.The heroine figures out
where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone,
or to go drag a friend back to the party?Before the death of her brother and taking on the care of her
baby nephew, Lizzy would have sussed out assignation spots. Now, she is more likely
to rescue a friend who has had too much to drink, or play hide-and-seek with friends’
young children.Is she likely to latch
onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is she the friend that
others latch onto?Lizzy draws others to her. Pre-Alex, she would be the one others
latched onto. Now, she and Alex are drawn to one another, but Lizzy is also very
good at getting a party going.If someone picked a
fight at this party, how is the heroine going to handle it?She would throw a jug of cold water over them before using her
sharp wit and getting the party back on track. But it would be a brave or foolhardy
person to start anything when Lizzy is around!Is the heroine the
one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the
tossing?Control is important to Lizzy, essential given her childhood,
so if anyone is going to be tossed out, Lizzy will be doing the tossing.Will she know when to
leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of herself?Lizzy will know when to leave. If she stays on, it will be to
help clear up and have a one to one chat.The Heroine’s Stressed Out Side
How does the heroine
handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls her aside when she
was blameless in a situation?She will calmly explain in a factual way, and maybe pull out
her SES badge to show what she was doing there.How does the heroine
react to hearing a scream?Level-headed and capable, a scream would galvanize Lizzy into
action. She belongs to that (approx) 5% of people who are able to assess and act.
This is why she’s a team leader with the SES.If she sees someone
being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses her mind?“Pile of sh*t” attacking someone weaker or more vulnerable.If she sees someone
being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing she does?She will call for help on her phone, which is always accessible,
as she goes to assist.This heroine attempts
to rescue someone and realizes that she is in over her head. The odds are
against her and there is no way out. She is going to get her butt handed to
her. What does she do?Lizzy will help anyway, but she will lessen the odds against
her any way she can. Even if it means playing ‘dirty’.The heroine runs into
the one person from her past she wanted to avoid. She can’t get out of the
situation and must interact with him/her in some way. What does she do?Inconvenient emotions will be hidden behind an indifferent facade
and she’ll employ her wit and sarcasm, if necessary, to show the world she can’t
be touched or hurt in any way.Someone younger than
the heroine is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly,
perhaps bungling things. How does the heroine deal with it?Unless it’s life-threatening, Lizzy will offer ‘suggestions’
in a way that allows the younger one to fix the situation while saving face. Afterwards,
she’ll have a quiet chat with them so they learn from their experiences. Unless
the person is a total dropkick, in which case Lizzy will flay them and put them
in their place. Suffering fools is not one of Lizzy’s methods.The heroine is in
physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does she tell
herself in order to get through the situation?“Just five more minutes and I can…(whatever is needed).”
She understands mental toughness and, knowing pain is finite, she reminds herself
that she has the will and the mental strength to get through anything. After all,
nothing can be as bad as some moments in her childhood.What mentor’s words
come to mind in a bad situation?Johnno, her SES leader: “Assess danger before acting.”What lesson from her
past gets her through a stressful situation?Don’t show anyone how much they can hurt you, physically or mentally.
Hide emotion and always keep control.Buy This Book
Publisher Self published seriesAmazon: http://amzn.to/1nqc9hcAuthor Social Media
Website http://www.susannebellamy.comAmazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Bellamy/e/B00AYRGVRAWebsite -
Stressing the Heroine from Tempted By A Kiss a #romance by @TheAnnaDurand #RLFblog
Every heroine has a story. She has a background, a history, and
a past. This interview allows us to meet a heroine and get to know her better,
by focusing on how she handles being relaxed, as well as how she handles
stress.Author Bio
Anna Durand is an award-winning writer, a freelance
librarian, and an audiobook addict. She specializes in steamy romances
featuring spunky heroines and hunky heroes. As a member of Romance Writers of
America, she volunteers for its chapters to give back to the romance community.
In her previous life as a librarian, she haunted the stacks of public libraries
but never met any hot vampires hunting for magical books.About the Book
Title Tempted by a KissGenre Erotic romanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RMel Thompson just dumped her cheating ex after two years
together. Now she’s determined to understand the allure of casual sex by having
a steamy fling of her own at a notoriously raunchy underground club. When her
best friend, Adam Caras, catches on to her plan, he makes a surprising offer to
derail her. If she wants a hot fling, he’ll give it to her.Who better than Adam, renowned lady-killer, to demonstrate
the erotic pleasures of a one night stand? Sex could ruin their friendship, but
after a soul-searing kiss, Mel fears one night may never be enough.Stressing The Heroine
Every heroine has a story. She has a background, a history, and
a past. This interview allows us to meet a heroine and get to know her better,
by focusing on how she handles being relaxed, as well as how she handles
stress.The Heroine’s Relaxed Side
This heroine is at a
party. Considering her story, describe the party.Mel Thompson has been dragged to a party at the cramped
apartment of her best friend, Adam Caras. The place is filled to capacity with
family and friends, including Adam’s rowdy firefighter buddies.How does the heroine
feel about being at this particular party, and what body language is she
displaying that gives it away?Mel lingers behind the bar, arms wrapped around herself,
gaze scanning the room for Adam. She used to love parties, but now they make
her nervous. Though she’s still confident at work, in her personal life she’s
lost her self-assurance.Is she more likely to
mingle or remain aloof?She’ll stick close to Adam, even avoiding his brothers and
father, whom she’s known her whole life.If she drinks, what is
her drink of choice at this party?Beer. She grew up next door to the Caras boys, and though
beer isn’t her first choice, at a Caras party she’s not averse to tossing back
a lager.How much drink is her
usual?She drinks in moderation, never getting drunk. Well, maybe
not never…The heroine figures out
where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid
someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?Mel longs to escape the party — especially when Adam’s
buddies start referring to him as the Arsonist, a renowned ladykiller.Is she likely to latch
onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is she the friend
that others latch onto?She wants nothing more than to cling to Adam, or hide behind
him, but he keeps dragging her into conversations with everybody else.If someone picked a fight
at this party, how is the heroine going to handle it?Anyone who attacks Adam, or harasses a woman, will meet Mel
the Terminator.Is the heroine the one
most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?Don’t mess with Mel. She may be nervous at a party, but
she’ll boot out the troublemakers.Will she know when to
leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of herself?She’ll try to sneak out early, but Adam will convince her to
stay until everyone else is gone. He’s got an ulterior motive, but she’s
oblivious to it.The Heroine’s Stressed Out Side
How does the heroine handle
it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls her aside when she was
blameless in a situation?She’ll give them a tongue lashing, for sure.How does the heroine react
to hearing a scream?Mel flinches, but then rushes to see if someone’s in
trouble.If she sees someone being
assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses her mind?A man attacking another man: Too dangerous, run away.A man attacking a woman: Won’t let another woman become a
victim.If she sees someone
being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing she does?A man attacking another man: Call the cops.A man attacking a woman: Jump in with her stun gun to stop
the assault.This heroine attempts
to rescue someone and realizes that she is in over her head. The odds are against
her and there is no way out. She is going to get her butt handed to her. What does
she do?Call Adam on her cell phone.The heroine runs into
the one person from her past she wanted to avoid. She can’t get out of the
situation and must interact with him/her in some way. What does she do?When Mel runs into her cheating ex, Devon McCallister, she puts
up a tough front to hide her fear while searching for a way out, one that won’t
alert Devon to how scared she is.Someone younger than
the heroine is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly,
perhaps bungling things. How does the heroine deal with it?Mel started her own business from the ground up, so she
excels at finding a diplomatic way to step in when someone else is screwing up.The heroine is in
physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does she tell herself
in order to get through the situation?She remembers how resilient her late father was and takes
strength from those memories.What mentor’s words
come to mind in a bad situation?She remembers her dad’s corny advice, like “Crying
doesn’t make you weak, Melly. Even a tough cookie can have a soft center.”What lesson from her
past gets her through a stressful situation?Getting through her father’s death proved to her she can
handle even the worst moments.Buy This Book
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1122930086?ean=2940156677351ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-temptedbyakiss-1935885-149.htmlKobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tempted-by-a-kissiBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tempted-by-a-kiss/id1061465692?mt=11Author Social Media
Website http://annadurand.com/Blog http://www.annadurand.com/blog/Twitter http://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurandPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/Anna_Durand/Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/annadurandAmazon Author Page http://amzn.com/author/annadurand