New Book Publication Spotlight with an Author Guest Post: Reunited with her Blue-Eyed Billionaire by Barbara Wallace

Reunited with Her Blue-Eyed Billionaire by Barbara Wallace

It began with a conversation about Prince William. Or more specifically, William’s receding hairline. A group of us were chatting online when someone remarked that they thought William was better looking when he had a full head of hair. (Sorry, your highness.)

“He’s still got that ‘going to be king’ thing going,” someone replied. “That’s kind of hot.”^* The conversation then shifted to how power and confidence in a man can be a very attractive quality.

The exchange got me thinking. Very often, in romance novels, the hero has impossibly board shoulders and/or strong, chiseled features. I know, because I have written those heroes. (Hey, I don’t have Matt Bomer and Jensen Ackles photos saved to my hard drive for nothing.)

Granted, authors do this because romance novels are supposed to be a fantasy. Readers want to be swept away in the rush of falling in love with someone who is sexy and romantic.

But, as you and I know, sex appeal isn’t all about looks. Moreover, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I mean, most of us aren’t in committed relationships with cover models. (If you are, I give you a slow round of applause.) And yet, we all (hopefully) find our partners attractive.

That’s because, while we may have looked at a pair of beautiful blue eyes, we fell for the whole package, including what was on the inside.

So, I decided to create a hero who wasn’t romance-novel handsome. Whit Martin, the hero of Reunited with Her Blue-Eyed Billionaire has a receding hairline, wears glasses and has a dodgy back, courtesy of a polo accident. He’s also rich as sin, smart, charismatic, competent, confident and extremely comfortable with his appearance. Oh, and he runs a charity for the underprivileged.

If a man with those qualities walked into the room, people would notice. Even if he stood next to Matt Bomer, people would notice.

Why? Because, like I said, confidence is sexy. A man who knows what he wants is sexy. (Of course, poor Whit comes with a little baggage, but he wouldn’t be a romance hero if he didn’t brood a little bit.)

Still not convinced? Well then, let me offer a real-world example.

Consider if you will, Daniel Craig. James Bond himself. Have you ever taken a good look at his face? He’s not really handsome. Rugged and dangerous? Sure. But handsome? Not really. Certainly not in the way Pierce Brosnan is. In fact, his hairline is receding slightly, too. Yet how many of you saw him wearing a tuxedo in Casino Royal and said “Damn!”? I know I did.

For that matter, I wouldn’t necessarily call his oft-touted successor, Idris Elba, traditionally handsome either. (Elba-ites, don’t go throwing rotten fruit at me. I said he wasn’t traditionally handsome, I never said he wasn’t sexy.) Like Craig, he has an intensity about him that’s magnetic, only instead of ice blue eyes, you have hot brown ones. They are both the kind of men who can melt a woman with just one look. Trust me, that kind of intensity is way hotter than any set of cheekbones.

The past few years, there’s been a push for normal looking heroines. Heroines who aren’t model thin or have legs for miles. It’s a trend I applaud. I prefer reading about women with whom I can identify. Why not, then, push for more normal looking heroes as well. Maybe it’s because I’m the mother of a balding, near-sighted man but I say let’s make our romance characters accessible on both ends. Bring on the normal looking people!

Forget my opinion though. What say you? Do you need your hero to be perfect looking? Or can you handle a Prince William/Jude Law mash up? (Which, by the way, describes Whit Martin perfectly.) Let me know.

*^* Paraphrased. I don’t remember the exact words.

For billionaire Whit Martin, Jamie Rutkowski is the one who got away. Now his college girlfriend is back to celebrate their best’s friend’s marriage. As their chemistry reignites into an even greater passion, Whit’s determined that this time their relationship will work. But are they ready to unlock the secrets of their past…if it means a chance at forever?

Amazon UK : https://amzn.to/36LZwrw

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3nrXFxH

Mills & Boon: https://bit.ly/36IolnV

Harlequin: https://bit.ly/2GBGhGg

Barbara Wallace is the best selling author of over two dozen romance and cozy mystery novels. Her books can be found world-wide, including the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Australia.

A native New Englander, Barb lives in the suburbs with her husband of thirty-one years. Their only son is married and lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere. When she's not writing, you'll find her hard at work at her other job, that of an unappreciated caretaker to two demanding rescue cats. For some reason they seem to think laps are for petting, not laptop computers.

Website: www.barbara wallace.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbwallacewriter/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbarawallaceauthor/

Blog Blitz Spotlight and Review: Trust Me by Candace Hutton

Trust Me by Candace Hutton

Brooke Anderson never pictured herself as a divorcee at twenty-eight. But when she mentions getting a post-nup to her husband Garrett after one deliciously sex-filled year, he promptly serves her with divorce papers. Admittedly, she could’ve told him about how her father left her and her mother homeless when she was young, and how she’s never been wired to trust anyone. Especially those closest to her. Now, all she wants to do is avoid anywhere he might be so she won’t have to face him again.

But she’s not the only one who can’t seem to trust.

Garrett Call grew up with parents who married for money and wants no part of a life that puts material possessions above love. He reinvented himself in college, complete with a new last name so he couldn’t be tied to his family’s lucrative business. He never even told Brooke the truth. Admittedly, he could’ve handled the issue of a post-nup better with his ex-wife. Maybe he didn’t count on how much he was going to miss having her in his life. 

When their best friends’ wedding forces the exes to see each other again, a dangerous man from Garrett’s world threatens Brooke’s life. And they realize the only way to save themselves is to finally learn to trust each other.

Amazon US                Amazon UK 

A misunderstanding leads to a divorce… what happens next when both are parties are scheduled to attend their friends' wedding?

Brook Anderson is reeling after a personal request to her husband backfired and the fallout resulted in a divorce. Now, she's single and settled in her new apartment… happy? That's what she's telling herself, but is it true?

Newly divorced, Garrett Call's convinced he made the right decision by ending his marriage. After all, the last thing he needed was his ex-wife finding out his real identity. Only, her presence left a void in his life he can't shake off...

Two people with conflicting issues neither had bothered to share with each other. Both had valid reasons, only they omitted to tell each other the truth for their reasoning. However, the divorce didn't get rid of the feelings they still have for each other!

This is a sizzling and sexy novella about two people who realise the chemistry they once shared, never burned out. It is, however, more potent than before. Ms Hutton has written a smouldering second chance romance where both protagonists' struggle with trust issues and finally overcome their differences.

I enjoyed the twist which added a little intrigue and suspense to the narrative but disappointed it didn't have a conclusion...yet!! Time will tell if it's resolved in any of of the subsequent Manhattan Marriage novellas.

Overall a fun and sexy novella with a storyline which kept me entertained.

***arc received courtesy of the publisher***

Candace Hutton was born and raised on books. She spent a great deal of her teenage years in libraries and bookstores and still tries to sneak off to them as often as possible. Some of her other favorite things are coffee, puppies, and the smell of rain. You can connect with her on Twitter @authorcandace

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/authorcandace

Giveaway to Win a $30 Amazon Gift Card (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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New Book Publication Spotlight: The Lakehouse by Christie Barlow

The Lakehouse by Christie Barlow

There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend. Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…

Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Christie Barlow is the author of ten bestselling romantic comedies including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.

When Christie isn’t writing she enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.

Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.

Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_barlow/?hl=en

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow 

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Author Guest Post and Spotlight: His Unlikely Duchess by Amanda McCabe

   I hope you've enjoyed reading Lily and Aidan's tale as much as I enjoyed writing it! I've always loved reading about the “dollar princesses,” and how they fared in a life very different from the ones they knew in America. Some flourished, and some failed miserably, but sadly not many found true love as Lily did!

A definition of “dollar princess” I found says—“A Dollar Princess referred to an American heiress, often from newly wealthy families, who married a title-rich but cash-poor British nobleman” (ancestry.com). These girls and their ambitious mothers, often cut off from New York high society (even more strict and exclusive than in Europe!) often used the help of well-connected but poor English ladies such as Lady Heath (who is based on real-life Lady Paget) to make their way in London Society. There were also books like Titled Americans: The Real Heiress's Guide to Marrying an Aristocrat (1890) to assist. In 1895 alone, nine British noblemen (including a duke, an earl, and several barons) married Americans.

Some of the most famous were Jennie Jerome, Lady Randolph Churchill (mother of Winston); Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough; Frances Woke, Lady Fermoy (ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales); Mary Leiter, Lady Curzon; Consuelo Yznaga, Duchess of Manchester; Nancy, Lady Astor; and Kathleen Kennedy, Marchioness of Hartington.

Be sure and look for Violet's story next! She is a very reluctant noblewomen indeed. And visit me anytime at http://ammandamccabe.com

Some sources I enjoyed if you'd like to know more about the lives of these extraordinary women:

--Julie Ferry, The Million Dollar Duchesses: How American Heiresses Seduced the Aristocracy (2017)

The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau (2017)

--Cecilia Tichi, What Would Mrs. Astor Do? The Essential Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age (2018)

--Anne de Courcy, The Husband Hunters: American Heiresses Who Married Into the British Aristocracy (2017)

--Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, The Glitter and the Gold (1953)

--Ruth Brandon, The Dollar Princesses (1980)

--The House of Worth: Portrait of an Archive (2014)

--Jane Gabin, American Women in Gilded Age London (2006)

--Pamela Horn, High Society: The English Social Elite 1880-1914 (1992)

--Amelia Stuart Mackenzie, Consuelo and Alva (2005)

--Gail McColl, To Marry an English Lord (2012_

--Jane Ridley, The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII (2013)

--Anne Sebba, American Jennie: The Remarkable Life of Lady Randolph Churchill (2010)

His Unlikely Duchess by Amanda McCabe

Money can buy her marriage

But will it lead to love?

Miss Lily Wilkins hopes her American money will compensate for her lack of etiquette, as she needs a prestigious marriage to save her sisters’ prospects. Raised to believe wealth was her greatest attribute, she’s stunned when her unconventional ways catch the eye of the notorious Duke of Lennox. He’s far from the safe, sensible match she’d planned on—but Lily might just discover he’s the one she needs!

Amazon UK                Amazon US 

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

 She's never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections. 

 When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook. 

http://ammandamccabe.com

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https://www.instagram.com/amandamccabeauthor/

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https://twitter.com/AmandaMcCabe01

New Book Publication Spotlight with an Exclusive Extract: The Heiress's Pregnancy Surprise by Donna Alward

The Heiress’s Pregnancy Surprise by Donna Alward

A VIP assignment…
an unexpected consequence!

Ex-SAS officer Jacob Wolfe’s latest job, as aristocrat Charlotte Pemberton’s bodyguard, is pushing him to his limits. Never one to step over the line, he’s determined to ignore their intense connection. Until a single dance leads to a forbidden kiss… and Jacob is tempted to break all his rules. But their resulting night together has an unexpected consequence…

 Exclusive Excerpt

Here’s an exclusive excerpt of THE HEIRESS’S PREGNANCY SURPRISE! In this scene, Charlotte has received another threatening email, but rather than hide away, she refuses to be intimidated and insists she attend that evening’s event – with bodyguard Jacob at her side.

Charlotte emerged twenty minutes later, and when Jacob turned around, he forgot about the file open on his laptop, forgot about his lopsided bow tie, forgot about everything.

Charlotte Pemberton was stunning.

Her dress was black, but looked like it had something underneath that was light beige, so the “feathers” of black fabric appeared to be over skin. The neckline plunged nearly to her waist, a deep V of creamy skin and shadows of cleavage that turned his mouth dry and his body hard. The “skirt” was more feathers of black, but then others that were iridescent, green and blue, like a peacock’s feathers. It was daring and beautiful and unique. Just like her.

“Wow,” he said, feeling like he should have been able to come up with a better word. “You weren’t joking when you said you had a killer dress.”

“You like it?” She turned in a circle, and the iridescent feathers shimmered. To his surprise, the back dipped nearly as low as the front.

He wanted to say he liked the woman inside it better, but held back. “It’s beautiful.”

She blushed a little. “Thank you. I hope you have your party shoes on, Jacob. I know I said I was tired, but the email fired me up. Now I want to dance out of spite.”

“The best revenge is living well,” he replied, “though I’m not sure you want me to dance.”

“Hmm. We’ll see.”

She grabbed a soft wrap and their driver headed through the darkness toward Brooklyn and the A-list party. Jacob considered it a bad thing when he realized he felt like he was on a date rather than an assignment. He’d have to watch that through the night, but it was hard when the assignment was keeping his eyes on her and remaining glued to her side.

One thing he knew for sure… No one was going to hurt her. Not on his watch.

Amazon UK           Amazon US 

While bestselling author Donna Alward was busy studying Austen, Eliot and Shakespeare, she was also losing herself in the breathtaking stories created by romance novelists like LaVyrle Spencer and Judith McNaught.  Several years after completing her degree she decided to write a romance of her own and it was true love! Five years and ten manuscripts later she sold her first book and launched a new career. While her heartwarming stories of love, hope, and homecoming have been translated into several languages, hit bestseller lists and won awards, her very favorite thing is when she hears from happy readers.

Donna lives on Canada’s east coast. When she’s not writing she enjoys reading (of course!), knitting, gardening, cooking…and is a Masterpiece Theater addict.  You can visit her on the web at www.DonnaAlward.com and join her mailing list at www.DonnaAlward.com/newsletter .

Photo attached – copyright Marti Corn Photography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonnaAlwardAuthor 

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IG: donnaalward

New Book Release Spotlight: One Summer in Monte Carlo by Jennifer Bohnet

One Summer in Monte Carlo by Jennifer Bohnet

Monte Carlo means different things to different people; a billionaires playground, overflowing with glitz and glamour but also where dangerous secrets hide.

For Nanette Weston, and her then fiancé, F1 racing driver Zac Ewart, their dream life came to an abrupt halt 3 years ago following a car accident which Zac walked away from, but left Nanette being airlifted back to the UK, never to return and never to see her fiancé again.

Monte Carlo was a place she wanted to forget, not revisit. But when her friend and employer, Vanessa asks Nanette to look after her children in the Principality for a few months, Nanette knew she had no choice but to return.

As the F1 circus once again comes to town, with Zac in pole position, mistakes of the past, leave legacies for the future...

This book was previously published as Follow Your Star by Jennifer Bohnet.

https://amzn.to/3cqDnQh

I've been lucky to have visited Monaco numerous times and I'm also a fan of Formula One Motor Racing. Therefore Jennifer Bohnet's new romance set against a backdrop I love was a "no-brainer" to pick up and read. 

Nanette Weston's not happy when her friend and employer, Vanessa asks her to travel to a place which holds painful memories. Three years earlier, Nanette's life fell apart while living in the Principality of Monaco. Now as the nanny to Vanessa's twins, she needs to take the children to their father's home and stay with them while Vanessa accompanies her new husband overseas. It's a challenge she doesn't want to embrace. However, she decides it's an opportunity to revisit a place she loves and to finally find closure…for the event which changed her life. 

The names of the corners and landmarks along the street circuit of Monte Carlo and the glamour of the backdrop made it easy for me to devour this novel and reminisce about the historical landmarks. Although there's a link to F1, this isn't a motor racing themed novel, although a secondary character is a driver. Yes, the famous Grand Prix features, but it's in the background and doesn't take precedence or detract from the drama. 

A surprise is a secondary plot-line, although it ties in at the end in a predictable way. Unfortunately, it didn't add anything worthwhile to the narrative for me. I would have preferred the focus to have concentrated more with Nanette and less so with Vanessa. Other secondary characters are charming… and rich and I envied how Nanette blended into a world most of us can only dream about. 

The overall "feel" of this book is fun, entertaining and my personal favourite by Ms Bohnet so far. It captures the essence of Monte Carlo and definitely makes me want to visit this small area of Southern Europe again. Upbeat, with several highs, the author did make me shed a tear or two during one poignant scene, so be prepared to experience an emotional journey to a more than satisfying happy ending.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley***

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women's fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

http://www.jenniferbohnet.com/

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