Artsy gift ideas with a romantic theme

I’ll post more of these later on, but here’s the first batch. Romances that are heart-warming, fun, kicky, and non-graphic:

A Knight’s Vow by Lindsay Townsend

I picked this one up in paperback for only $3.99 at my local bookstore. I happen to know the author, but even so, I’m not exaggerating to say how much I enjoyed the story. This Medieval Historical romance is well written, well researched (without throwing in a bunch of extra stuff to show the author did her research), and very believable. The sensual scenes are done nicely without overdoing it. The hero and heroine are both very likeable and easy to root for. The villain is complex enough not to be cliche and we’re not always sure whether or not he’ll remain a villain. Nice read! I have the next of the series sitting here waiting for me and look forward finding time to get to it.

A Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing by Deborah McGillivray

I also found this in paperback for under $10 - $8, I think. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one although I’d seen plenty of good reviews for it. The title and description made me think it might be paranormal, which I don’t read much, but it wasn’t. This contemporary romance was very fairy tale based, and at times there were too many repetitions on the theme for my own taste, but it was a fun read overall and the hero is not all hero – he has a touch of a villain in him, which makes him fun. The heroine is easy to sympathize with and believable. It also has nice sensual scenes that don’t go too far. A good gift for a reader who likes quirky romance.

Next is a list of three books I have waiting and haven’t yet read, so I can’t give them a review other than to say I’ve read a lot of excerpts and this is an author who pushes the romance bounds as I do. It’s artsy and intelligent and also non graphic. I very much look forward to reading all three and at least one of these historical romances will be on my holiday reading agenda:
Anam Cara; The Art of Love; & Ties That Bind by Keena Kincaid 

I also have a couple of books by Maggie Toussaint waiting for me. Another author of my acquaintance, Maggie has a fun, unique style and writes cozy mysteries. She loves golf so look for that in her books, and the profits to one of them goes to help fund horse rescue projects.

I was fortunate enough to win another fun novel – novella, as it’s a short read – from author Linda Banche. The title is Pumpkinnapper and I haven’t finished it yet (I’m in the middle of 5-6 books at the moment so reviews will be coming!) but I was completely pulled in by the beginning. I love the writing style and the humor. Linda writes Regencies, but I can guarantee they aren’t stuffy Regencies!

Speaking of Regencies, I reviewed Joanna Waugh’s Blind Fortune a while back and still highly recommend that one!

If you’re a western fan, along with Cheryl’s books (check interview below), a review of Celia Yeary’s All My Hopes and Dreams is here in my blog from a couple of months back, and she has a new one I’ve not read yet, Showdown In Southfork. Look her up!

All of the above can be found in electronic format (not sure about Wolf) for under $10.00 which makes them a nice gift! 

Please remember, if you buy an ebook to gift, you cannot keep a copy for yourself as well. Piracy is rampant in ebook world and hurts authors.

Oh, mine are available in ebook format for under $10, also! Find them all here: www.smashwords.com   Or, for a special gift, buy my newest from Elucidate Publishing with the email address to send it to your receiver directly, and I’ll also send a personally signed bookmark and bookplate in the mail to him/her.

Happy gifting!
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Author Interview: Celia Yeary

(Be sure to read my review of her book below!)

 

Celia, thank you for taking the time to be here, especially on such short notice!  First, let me give you a chance to respond to my review. Is there anything you would like to add, argue, or comment on?

CY: Loraine, I appreciate your nice comments. They somewhat mimic comments I've heard in person from friends in town and acquaintainces all over. "Fast-paced" is one I heard repeatedly. Bop Cynthia on the head? Oh, yes, she surely did need her 'comeuppance,' didn't she? I love to redeem characters, and she did need that. I wanted her to grow and my editor said this all through the edits--how Cynthia changes and grows and transforms into a lovely lady.

You mentioned the POV issue. You're the first reviewer or reader who has mentioned this. I will explain: the Mother-in-law drives the story. Without her, the story would be full of holes. I could not explain through the hero or heroine her POV. For The Wild Rose Press, an author is allowed only two POV's-H/H. At first, my editor deleted everything she said. It took away a fourth of the book and I was upset. So, I explained it to her. Yes, she saw that, so she had the head editor read it, and they agreed that if a villain is a very bad one, she can stay in. And Felicitas was a very good--bad?-villain. You don't know how many comments I've had about the mother-in-law!!

Yes, the author's needs for the story should always be supported, since no one "gets" it quite the way we do. I'm glad you stood up and were able to keep what mattered to you. The mother-in-law was indeed key and a memorable villain! 

What was your inspiration for this story?

Cynthia and Ricardo appeared in my second novel for TWRP--TEXAS BLUE. They stayed in my head until I wrote their story. Odd, though, I wanted ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS published first.

Interesting that they demanded not only their right to a story but the first one published! Tell us a bit about your process of getting it contracted and how you celebrated.

The process took four years. I am not a life-long author. I wrote fifteen novels, long and short in four years. That's all I did--write. Then came the learning process, and my learning curve was--still is--steep. I celebrated by crying first, then my dh broke out a bottle of wine--it was two o'clock in the afternoon. He still cannot believe the things I do, now, on the computer.

Fifteen in four years is incredible. Talk about stepping up and running with it! From our personal chats, I know that racial themes are a highlight in your life from many perspectives. Did you purposely set out with this book to address that or did it just happen to develop within your characters?

Racial themes are natural, I guess. I never really thought about it. Maybe it comes from being a Native Texan. Hispanics and Spaniards--there is a difference--are a big part of our state--then and now. I never have an agenda when I create a person other than Anglo. I'm not trying to make a statement. It just seems natural. In other stories, I have Blacks (African-Americans), Hispanics, Spaniards, Apache, and Comanche. All part of our state, even in the 1880's.

What do you like to do in your play time (I won't say free time since writers don't tend to have actual free time)?

Movies, but we don't see many. Traveling, even though we slowed down in recent years. We've been to many countries, and really became tired of the hassle. We like day trips in Texas to find something historical, take a lot of photos. Friends, certainly, are a necessity for play-time.

Is there anyone you would like to mention as inspirational or supportive of your work? Authors, readers, family, groups, etc.

I had no inspiration in my life to begin writing. No one knew I wrote--it was my little secret life. It was a form of entertainment, never thinking I'd have anything published. A writer friend here in town gave me confidence to submit. She's been a wonderful support system.

Ah, I kept that secret for a long time, also. Good for your friend! So, tell us a bit about what you're working on now.

"A Life Worth Living"--a romance set in North Texas just as the first World War ended and the Spanish flu took more lives than the war did. "Reunion"--a contemporary women's fiction novel. It's complete--but something is wrong with it. My mind is cluttered with that story. Right now, I have nothing contracted and I'm finished with all edits. In September, Showdown in Southfork (a Wayback, Texas series) will be released. and Texas Blue sometime in 2010.

Celia, thank you so much for being here and best of luck with all of your current and future projects!

And thank you, Loraine. I do appreciate your support.

Find more about Celia and her work on her website: http://www.celiayeary.com

Book Review: All My Hopes And Dreams - Celia Yeary

All My Hopes And Dreams
Celia Yeary
Wild Rose Press
Western Historical Romance

http://www.celiayeary.com

Trailer:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYKdg0HNhAk

 

 

 

Celia and I met on a writer's list some time ago and made a connection in that we both write romance that is non-erotic and focuses on the relationship and the issues surrounding the relationship. We chat often now on a list Celia helps to moderate only for non-erotic romance writers and readers. So when her first novel came out, I had to pick it up. Since I bought it on Ebook (although it is now in print, also), it sat waiting for when I found a better way to read them than on my desktop. A Netbook was my answer.

A disclaimer: I rarely read westerns. In fact this may be my first. Oh, I grew up watching John Wayne movies since Dad is such of fan and there are a few western movies I actually enjoy, but I've never been taken to pick up a western novel.

Be that as it may, I enjoyed following the Texas-set story of Cynthia Harrington, a typical wealthy daughter of a controlling father growing up with everything done for her, and Ricardo Romero, a hard-working rancher of Mexican and Comanche descent who rescues her from an arranged marriage. Ricardo is attracted to Cynthia's stubborn spirit but also seems somewhat intimidated by her. The interplay between the two, with a lot of back and forth "will it work" confrontations, is the basis of the story.

Behind that, there is beautiful western scenery, complete with horses and inside knowledge of ranching that was interesting for this town girl to learn. There's Texas history and conflict between the Mexicans and the Whites as they both work to build their ranches and lives sharing the Texas territory. It's handled well, showing the conflict on both sides as well as understanding and willingness to get along on both sides.

I was a bit iffy about the POV jumping from one character to another, but that's largely personal preference and it was easy to follow who was in charge at each moment so it didn't throw me. There were also a few POV segments from minor characters I wasn't sure was necessary, in particular Ricardo's mother. We get right away that Mrs. Romero does NOT want her son married to a "spoiled" white girl from East Texas and is overtly hostile. It's shown very well from Cynthia's POV so having the short scenes from the mother-in-law's view, also, felt somewhat repetitious. However, they were short and didn't bother anything to be there.

At times I wanted to bop Cynthia upside the head and tell her to stop being so distrustful and stop and SEE Ricardo as he was. Ricardo is a widely appealing hero, handsome and romantic, but also flawed enough to be human. Every character was well defined and I could almost see myself there getting to know the ranch employee wives along with Cynthia.

Anyone who enjoys western historical romance will enjoy this fun, quick-paced read. And be sure to check Celia's website for her soon-to-come "Showdown in Southfork" and her free reads at The Wild Rose Press. Don't skip over the photos of her native Texas while you're there!