I’m happy to report the cover and excerpt are now up for Beauty and the Blacksmith!

Any Duchess Will Do has received a lovely review from Kirkus:

“Moments of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional intensity and sensual passion woven through an engaging plot and endearing characters make this a great read for romance fans.”

And it’s March Madness time! In Romanceland, this means it’s time for DABWAHA, a fun tourney for romance novels published in 2012. The tourney is all in good fun, and authors are encouraged to shill for votes in creative ways. This year, A Lady by Midnight is seeded in the historical category. I’ve come up with the following ploys for votes:

• If it makes the Sweet 16, I’ll post an excerpt from the infamously sexy chapter 21 of Any Duchess Will Do.

UPDATE: Your votes did it, thank you! Steamy excerpt posted here!

• If it makes the Elite 8, I’ll write a bonus scene from A Lady by Midnight – Colin teaching Thorne to waltz! (I really, really want to write this, guys. So vote!)

UPDATE: Your votes did it again, thank you! Bonus scene posted here!

• If it makes the Final 4, I’ll make another dareling room video to celebrate.

So if you’d like to see any of those things, go forth and vote! The first round is today, March 21! A full schedule is available on the site.… Read More »

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?

That name’s familiar… Haven’t we met this duke before?

Yes, it’s true. The Duke of Halford made a brief-yet-scandalous appearance in A Week to be Wicked as Colin’s debauched libertine friend. But more than a year has passed, and Halford’s life has changed.

As to whether the man himself has changed, you’ll have to read the book to find out. 😉… Read More »

Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that’s what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.

But Diana’s not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn’t be more wrong for each other…but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right.

Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?… Read More »

Dear readers, I have such exciting news. Many of you have written to me over the past few years, asking if there would be a Spindle Cove story for Diana Highwood.  At last, I am able and delighted to answer with a definitive yes! There will be a story for Diana, and you will be able to read it on April 30th.  The title of her novella is (spoiler alert!) Beauty and the Blacksmith.  (And if you are surprised by that pairing, just think how Mrs. Highwood will feel!)  I loved writing Aaron and Diana’s story, and I can’t wait until I can tell you more about it and post excerpts, the cover, and all that goodness.  But in the meantime, just know that it exists and is coming your way soon.

I have a few events coming up.  On Saturday March 9th, I’m speaking and signing at my local RWA chapter, OCC/RWA, and on March 15-17, I’m part of the California Dreamin’ conference in Santa Ana, CA.  As part of the conference, there will be a multi-author book signing open to the public on Sunday, March 17, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM.  Other authors signing include Julia Quinn, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Elizabeth Boyle, and many more–so if you’re in the area, don’t miss it!

 … Read More »

Happy New Year to all!

2013 is off to a great start on the website. At long last, I can reveal the beautiful cover for Any Duchess Will Do, releasing May 28th! Any Duchess is full-length book 4 in the Spindle Cove series.

Isn’t it sighworthy? I just love it. The tender, sexy pose…her coy smile…his exquisite chest..that gorgeous dress…

But what color is that dress? Click here to read the debate and see the stepback!… Read More »