18 March 2024

Behind the Scenes: Loving a Wild Stranger (A Historical Romance) By Kelli A. Wilkins!

 

www.KelliWilkins.com   

This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.

Hi everyone, 


Loving a Wild Stranger is one of my favorite romance novels… it’s also the first romance novel I ever wrote. A long time ago when I was taking writing classes, I told my instructor that an idea for a story had popped into my head, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I was writing short horror fiction at the time, and the idea wasn’t a horror story. 


The premise seemed simple: a young woman runs away from home and impersonates a stranger’s mail order bride. My writing teacher said, “That’s a romance. Write it and see what happens.”


So I wrote the book… and discovered I liked writing romances (and I was pretty good at it). From there, other romance ideas came to me, and I wrote those books, too. That’s how my romance-writing career began. All from one idea.


One of the things that inspired me to write Loving a Wild Stranger was the interaction between the characters, Luther and Michelle. They come from very different backgrounds and at first don’t get along at all. Michelle is an independent, outspoken young woman used to getting her way in the “civilized” world, and Luther is a lonely “mountain man” looking for love. 


As you can imagine, they clash over the course of the story and have several major blowups. When Michelle agrees to the “marriage” arrangement for a month, it raises a lot of questions: Does she truly care for Luther? Can she live in the wilderness? Will she stay after the month is over? How long can she keep up her charade?


Deception and trust are two main themes in the book. Michelle is lying to Luther about her past, her true identity, why she’s on the run… and Luther is keeping his own secrets from Michelle. When these bombshells are revealed, it nearly tears them apart. Can they ever trust each other completely?


When I wrote the book, I did a lot of research on the setting and what life was like back then (how people lived, what they ate, how they dressed) to contrast Michelle’s “city” way of life with Luther’s rugged existence. 


I also researched trappers, fur traders, and Native American culture of the time and region to build authentic details into Luther’s lifestyle. I wanted to pull readers into Luther’s world, so they could experience the story and events as Michelle sees them.


And I’m proud to say that I succeeded! One reviewer had this to say:


This book has the potential to be made into a movie. It took over my life. I ignored everyone and everything. Nothing was going to interrupt my time with Luther. Sigh…Luther, what a dreamy hero. I envied the heroine, Michelle. Loving a Wild Stranger reminded me of the 1970s T.V. show, Grizzly Adams – one of my favorite childhood television shows. 


I recommend this book and will be keeping it on my keeper shelf. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the story. I would love to switch places with Michele and spend the rest of my days with Luther if I could. I would recommend reading Loving a Wild Stranger while relaxing by a lake!"


That “Grizzly Adams” feel was exactly what I was going for! 


I love Luther and Michelle. They’re my “first couple” and no matter how many romances I write, their love story will always have a special place in my heart.


I hope you’ll fall in love with them and their story as much as I did. Loving a Wild Stranger is a fun blend of love and adventure in the wilderness.



Here’s the summary:


Loving a Wild Stranger


A woman running from her past… straight into the arms of an untamed man


In a moment of desperation, Kathleen Stanton flees her pampered life in Kingston, New York and ends up stranded in a small town in the Michigan Territory. Out of money and forced to rely on her instincts, she impersonates a handsome stranger’s mail-order bride. 


Committed to her deception, Kathleen calls herself Michelle and starts her new life with Luther in an isolated cabin in the wilderness. Luther can’t believe his luck when his beautiful bride arrives, but something doesn’t feel right about his new wife. Michelle has terrifying nightmares involving a man named Roger and is reluctant to talk about where she came from. 


Luther’s friend, Redfeather visits and tries to convince Luther to send Michelle back east. Distrusting Michelle, he warns Luther that his bride is not what she seems. But Luther is in love with Michelle, and he is harboring a secret of his own—one that might force Michelle to reject him when she learns the truth.

Michelle falls in love with Luther and adapts to her new way of life. Together, they face off against brutal townspeople and overcome harsh living conditions. When they finally give in to their desires and agree to become a proper man and wife, a dark figure from Michelle’s past resurfaces and threatens to destroy everything. 


***

Order Loving a Wild Stranger here:

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6M551H

All other platforms

https://books2read.com/u/4N1DGN 

I made a Facebook page for my historical romances. Check it out here

https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/

Read reviews here

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/loving-a-wild-stranger 


I hope you enjoyed this look at the making of Loving a Wild Stranger. I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media!

Happy Reading,

Kelli A. Wilkins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, and 6 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories. 

She released The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in early 2023. 

Her paranormal/mystery romance, In Another World, was published in 2022. 

Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.


16 March 2024

Belega The Karthagans, Dianne Hartsock Book Tour! @diannehartsock @ninestarpress

 

Title:  Belega

Series: The Karthagans, Book One

Author: Dianne Hartsock

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 03/12/2024

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 99600

Genre: Fantasy, fantasy, magic, sorcerers, mage, psychic powers

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The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature, but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they've destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace, but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.

Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.

Belega
Dianne Hartsock © 2024
All Rights Reserved

“I have you.”

Natan rose into a low crouch from the scrub brush, careful not to scrape his cloak against the foliage, and searched his memory for the trick Kavi had taught him. Oh, yes. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing all worries. His expectations. Letting go. The clip of the horse’s hooves echoed in his mind, and he concentrated on that, the smell of the horse, the feel of its hide, the oats on its breath. He became aware of a vague fear in the animal’s mind.

But the tenuous connection broke without time to try again as the soldier leading the roan brought him to a stop, his gaze sweeping the path ahead, alert. Gathering his scattered wits as best he could, Natan lunged to his feet and dove for the soldier’s legs. They went down hard, Natan gasping at the whoosh of air against his cheek as the horse reared, hooves barely missing him. Knowing he was no match for the soldier physically, he scrambled to jab a knee into the man’s back, then drew his thin knife and pressed it against the pulse at his throat, feeling him stiffen.

“Hold very still,” he warned. The soldier didn’t move as the keen blade inadvertently nicked his skin. Recalling Kavi’s imprisonment in an Amara prison, Natan gritted his teeth and swung his arm back, then brought the hilt of the knife down sharply on his vulnerable skull. With a grunt, the man went limp. Natan climbed to his feet, cursing under his breath as the horse disappeared up the trail. He rolled the man over so his face wouldn’t be in the dirt, making sure he could breathe without difficulty.

Frowning at the thick trees crowding them, he left his captive a moment to scout the vicinity, at last coming upon a small clearing off the trail. It took some effort to drag the unconscious soldier to the spot, and a relief to roll the heavy body down the last few feet. He retrieved leather strips from his pack, bound the man’s hands and feet to a small sapling, then examined the soldier’s head once again. Although the purplish welt had swollen, the bleeding had stopped.

Natan watched the soldier a moment and shook his head in disgust when he didn’t waken. “Hit him too hard,” he muttered, angry with himself. He built a small fire as the air grew chilly and sat with his back to a tree while he waited for the soldier to regain consciousness. Darkness descended on the forest, and he chewed his lips in growing anxiety. His dear friend, Captain Bryon of Amara, along with Lieutenant Jaden, had gone to Nagal to petition the Mage to help them recover Kavi. Had they reached the city yet? If so, Natan would need to be at the Lake of Glass to meet with them in a few short days. A lifetime, as long as Kavi remained captive.

He sharpened his knife on a whetstone to pass the time while the soldier remained unconscious. As the stars came out, an ache crept into his chest as he thought of Kavi and how they used to lie awake, watching for falling stars. Natan would make them tea in a little pot over the fire; then they’d wrap in warm blankets and talk quietly while the sky wheeled overhead. Sometimes they made love, Kavi’s warm sleek body pliant as Natan searched out new ways to draw those sweet breathy moans from his lips.

And then it had all ended. Natan closed his eyes at the jab of pain in his heart. The Nagal soldiers had come to their camp and dragged Kavi away, laughing when Natan struggled, and methodically beat him senseless. That had been two weeks ago, and every attempt he’d made to find his lover had failed. The last time he’d been in Amara he’d been threatened with imprisonment himself.

He would do Kavi no good behind iron bars, he reminded himself.

Natan opened his eyes to find the captive staring at him from where he’d slumped against the tree. Natan went over and helped him to a sitting position.

“What’s your name?” he asked with ice in his voice. The man continued to stare at him, insolent.

Natan looked him over carefully. “Let me guess. You’re dressed as a Nagal soldier, though you’re obviously not one. Maybe a deserter? Maybe a Barkuit spy?” He watched the soldier’s face as he named the rival country, then leaned closer to whisper, “What of Kavi?”

“That trash?” the man asked in surprise, then yelped when Natan lunged at him, knife slipping into his hand.

“Say that again and I’ll slit your throat. Now, what is your name?”

“Captain Syros Reed.”

Natan sat back on his heels, fury hot in his chest. “Speak.”

“I could tell you where they mean to bury him,” Syros drawled, holding Natan’s gaze, and smiled slightly at his sharply indrawn breath. “That is, once Landlan has drawn the secret to the Karthagans’ power over nature out of him. The power the Barkuit army would kill to use in our coming conflict. Kavi was alive the last time I saw him, but I heard they mean to bury him soon. If you hurry, he may still be breathing. I don’t know.”

“And you didn’t help him?” With a sudden enraged cry Natan drove his knife into the sapling inches from Syros’s face. “He’d better be alive, for your sake.”

He left his water skin for Syros, should the man succeed in freeing himself, then gave the soldier no more thought as he snatched up his pack and settled into the long run ahead, determined to be at the Lake of Glass on time.
Purchase

NineStar Press | Books2Read


Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination. 

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

#bookaddiction #bookshelf #mustread #instabook #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #newbook #readersofinsta #tbrpile #whattoread #newbook #weekendreads #romance #fantasy

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One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code! 



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Dying to Go (Nothing to Gush About): A Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery by Marcy Blesy Book Tour

  

 

Dying to Go (Nothing to Gush About): A Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting - Arizona 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently 

Published (November 9, 2023) 

Paperback ‏ ‎ 281 pages

ISBN-13 ‏  ‎ 979-8865863427 

Digital ASIN ‏  B0CLL1LHK6

Thirty-nine-year-old Rosi Laruee—named Rosisophia Doroche after her mother’s beloved Golden Girls—decides that the end of her twenty-year marriage and her dad’s impending knee replacement surgery are all the excuses she needs to visit Tucson Valley Retirement Community. But the drama follows Rosi when she finds the body of local tart and business owner, Salem Mansfield. 

The information she discovers using her newspaper reporter sleuthing skills coupled with the clues she picks up from lackluster Police Officer Dan Daniel lead to a surprise discovery when the murderer is revealed. Along the way, she meets a cast of characters in her parents' social circle who leave her questioning her parents' choices in friends while simultaneously befriending many of the residents, including a handsome landscaper and a brand-new Golden Retriever puppy she names Barley. Rosi’s visit to Tucson Valley proves more than she’d bargained for, but maybe, she realizes, it’s just the kind of change she needs.

Laugh out loud with Rosi, and be prepared to get the happy feels along the way! Book 2 Dying For Wine (Seeing Red) Book 3 Dying For Dirt (All Soaped Up) Book 4 Dying to Build (Nailed It) Book 5 Coming Soon

Marcy Blesy is the author of over thirty books including the popular cozy mystery series: The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series. Her adult romance mystery series includes The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach, set in Michigan. 

Her children's books include the best-selling Be the Vet series along with the following early chapter book series: Evie and the Volunteers, Niles and Bradford, Third Grade Outsider, and Hazel, the Clinic Cat. Her picture book, Am I Like My Daddy?, helps children who experienced the loss of a parent when they were young.

Marcy enjoys searching for treasures along the shores of Lake Michigan. She's still waiting for the day when she finds a piece of red beach glass. By day she teaches creative writing virtually to amazing students around the world.

Marcy is a believer in love and enjoys nothing more than making her readers feel a book more than simply reading it.

  Website 
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  Purchase Link 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 13 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

March 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 14 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

March 15 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 15 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

March 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

March 17 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

March 18 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST  

March 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

March 22 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

March 23 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW



3 Paperback Copies of Book #1, Dying to Go (Nothing to Gush About) by Marcy Blesy  (US only)

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Kilned at the Ceramic Shop: A Braddock Mystery by Donna Clancy Book Tour!

 

 

 

Kilned at the Ceramic Shop: A Braddock Mystery 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting 

 Maine 

Publisher ‏  

 Level Best Books (March 12, 2024)

Print length ‏ 

 234 pages 

Digital ASIN ‏ 

 B0CV7J53PQ

Tammy Wright, a bestselling mystery author returns to her hometown to give her Aunt Clara a hand with running her ceramic shop during tourist season. She discovers that two vindictive realtors have been bullying her aunt and others into selling their properties to make room for new housing developments. Those who don’t comply pay the consequences.

Tammy stumbles upon a body, and when her aunt refuses to give in to either realtor she disappears without a trace. With the help of an old schoolmate turned policeman, the writer must step out from behind her computer screen and her fictional mysteries to confront real life crime. If she doesn’t, she may never see her aunt again.

About Donna Clancy

Donna Clancy lives on Cape Cod. She has three grown children and one rescue Papillion named Zumiez. She has a seven-book deal with Level Best Books for The Braddock Mysteries, writes The Trash to Treasure and Paint and Sip cozy series’ for Summer Prescott Books Publishing as well as self-publishing The Shipwreck Cafe and Jelly Shop Mysteries. She loves to write in various genres including suspense, thriller, romance, and YA.

Website 
  Facebook
  BookBub

  Purchase Link 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 12 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

March 12 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

March 13 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 14 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 15 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

March 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 17 – Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW

March 18 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

March 18 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

March 19 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

March 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

March 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

March 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 21 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 22 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

March 22 – Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT

March 23 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW  

March 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST



$25 Amazon Gift Card

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Want to Book a Tour?

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15 March 2024

My Fair Lord by Elisabeth Hobbes Blog Tour!

 



My Fair Lord

A Gilded Age Retelling of My Fair Lady


Arriving into English society from the drawing rooms of New York, Miss Florence Wakechild desires nothing less than the marriage her father is so desperately seeking for her. Clayton Wakechild desires nothing more than finding a suitable husband for his daughter – a husband of noble birth and title no less. No ‘new money’ here.

Frustrated with her father’s obsession with the British aristocracy, Florence comes up with a plan. If she can train an ordinary working man to behave like a viscount and fool her father, she can prove to him a title is meaningless.

It’s a straightforward plan, but the man Florence chooses is Ned Blake, a man who will open her eyes in a way she couldn’t have imagined. As Ned’s hands gently guide her across the ballroom floor, the last thing Florence expects to feel is something… real.

With his past catching up with him, Ned seizes the opportunity to lie low, if only briefly, but will the secrets he’s keeping destroy the chance of happiness he’d never imagined?


https://mybook.to/MyFairLord


Elisabeth writes romantic Historical fiction as Elisabeth Hobbes and Historical folklore/fantasy romance as Elisabeth J. Hobbes.

She teaches Primary school but would love to write full time because unlike five-year-olds her characters generally do what she tells them. She spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book.

Elisabeth hails from York but lives in Cheshire because the car broke down there in 1999 and she never left. Elisabeth has two almost grown kids, two cats, two dogs and a husband. The whole family are on the autistic spectrum and that probably includes the pets! She dreams of having a tidy house one day.

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