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Friday, February 28, 2014

Eye of Orion: Laura D. Bastian's New Interplanetary YA Romance

What better way to end our month of romance than with Laura D. Bastian's new novel about a love that crosses time and space?

Book blurb   
Falling in love with your gorgeous new neighbor isn't a bad thing, but when he turns out to be the bodyguard of a princess from a planet nine billion light-years away, life gets complicated.

Seventeen-year-old stargazer Holly Adams never imagined she’d find herself trying to prevent the overthrow of an alien government. When Jai and his sister Amira move into the house down the street, Holly is immediately drawn to them. Jai acts suspicious of her from the start, making Holly more curious about their oddities. When Holly learns they are from a different planet, she does what she can to help protect Amira from Shander, a man who wants to marry her by force in order to take over the kingdom her father rules.

Mistaken identity, a botched kidnapping, and a first kiss that bonds Holly and Jai for life are hard enough, but when Shander believes Holly to be the princess, things get even more dangerous.

Excerpt 
“Do you think there could be life out there somewhere on other planets?” he asked quietly.
“I do.” I rolled onto my side, and propped myself up with my elbow to see him better.
“Intelligent?”
“Yes.”
“Green?” he asked.
“No.” I smiled.
“Really? What makes you think there are others out there?”
“Why not?” I shrugged with one shoulder. “Why would God stop here? Why not make more? What about you? Do you think there is life out there on other planets?”
“I do.”
“Green?” I asked.
“No. And I am sure they are intelligent,” he said with a small smile.
“And what makes you think so?” I asked, returning the smile.
He rolled onto his back and looked at the sky. “Because with so much space, there has to be something else like Earth somewhere. It is just so far away you would never find it unless you knew where to look.”
“I wish I knew where to look.” I lowered myself onto my side, resting my head on my arm extended straight on the blanket. “The discovery of other worlds out there would be fantastic.”
He turned to face me again. “It would be.” 



author bio  Laura grew up in a small town in central Utah and now lives in another small town in northern Utah. She always loved stargazing and imagining life outside her own little world. Though they grew up only thirty miles apart, she didn’t meet her husband until they went to college. A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, Laura has been using that training as she raises her children and writes make believe worlds. You can usually find her on her laptop either typing away, or on social media interacting with friends. 


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Friday, February 21, 2014

Top Romantic Novels

Romance Month Continues!
I'm pleased to welcome my guest host today, Elaine Cantrell, author of The Enchanted.
Elaine is sharing her list for Top Romantic Novels. See if it matches yours!

What are the most romantic books of all time? 

Well, that’s an interesting question with no set answers. Your list is probably different from mine, but here’s what I think.

1.Gone With the Wind. When Rhett grabbed Scarlett and ran up those stairs, it took my breath away. Clark Gable who played Rhett in the movie was the perfect actor for the job. His portrayal of Rhett was exactly right.

2.Wuthering Heights. Even death couldn’t separate Cathy and Heathcliff.

3.Pride and Prejudice. People all over the world like this one. You can get a good feel for English life in the 1800’s too.

4. The Sherwood Ring. This is a young adult book. I read it a long time ago and was totally enchanted by it. So much so, that my heroine in my WIP is named Aimee Sherwood.

5.The Bronze Horseman. It’s heart wrenching, wonderful, and at the end I vowed never to read another book by Paullina Simons. That was before I found out there was a sequel.

6. The Enchanted. Forced into a marriage neither wanted, the hero and heroine struggle against overwhelming odds to find true happiness.

What’s that? You don’t think I should include The Enchanted because I wrote it?  Well, what can I say? It has all the elements of a great romance including castles, damsels in distress, and life or death quests.  What are your favorite romances? Leave us a comment and tell us.



The Enchanted

Blurb
Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected.  Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either.  When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all of their people.  

Excerpt
"You heard me. Does my welfare concern you, my princess?" He held his breath as he waited for her answer.

Morgane bit her lip. With a hitch in her voice, she whispered, "You know that it does."

Blood sang in Alan's veins as fierce joy seized him. "I do not know how you feel, and that is the truth. Will you not tell me?"

Did he dare to touch her? He had no choice in the matter. Death would claim him unless he felt her silken skin under his hand. Morgane gasped when his hand came to rest against her shoulder. "Tell me," he breathed, his heart hammering in his chest.

Morgane rolled over and faced him. He felt surprised to see anger on her face. "Why do you torment me, Prince Alan?"

Alan pushed back from her. "I? I torment you?"

"Yes! You torment me night and day. Your face is never far from my thoughts. In the morning my eyes fall upon you, and my heart sings to have another day in your presence. We were not supposed to have a common life at all! I tried very hard to run away, and you angered your father so much he put you through a year of torment to bend you to his will." A little smile came to rest on her face. "But you did not bend, did you? Nor did you break. You remained the same man you always were. I know this in my heart."

With a suddenness that took his breath away, laughter and light fled from her face. Bleak resignation and hopelessness turned her eyes into two wells of horror. "If I were as beautiful now as I once was, then you would find it difficult to turn away from me." Her lip quivered. "I know that no man wants a scarred woman, but I had hoped"

"What had you hoped?"

"That you could love me."


About Elaine Cantrell

Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina.  She has a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators.  She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and EPIC authors.  She is married to her college sweetheart and has two sons and three grandchildren.  Besides writing she enjoys, quilting, gardening, and collecting vintage Christmas ornaments.  You can contact Elaine at her web site at http://www.elainecantrell.com.

Links for Elaine Cantrell

Twitter: @elainecantrell

Buy Links for The Enchanted