Posted in Romance on September 3rd, 2009 by Cynthia Eden
I know why I read them–I love the story-telling, the characters, and, in general, I’m addicted to happy endings. 🙂 I love picking up a book and knowing that when I get to the end of the story, the heroine won’t be killed off. Instead, she’d get everything she wants out of life. I love being able to read about vampires, demons, medieval knights, and futuristic super-soldiers. Hey–they’re fun! I love reading romantic comedies and dark suspenses. Yes, I love ’em all.
I’ve been addicted to romance novels for over 20 years now. And I don’t see me giving up my addiction any time soon.
And I took this fun blurb from the submission site: “I’m looking for your super-hot take on the fairy tales we grew up with and… there must be a Happily Ever After.”
Personally, I loved Sleeping Beauty and I’d sure like to see a new take on that story. Hmmm…wait, I think I’m feeling inspired! Better go write down some notes in my idea file!
Posted in Romance on September 1st, 2009 by Cynthia Eden
I’m starting to sing Christmas songs at my house. I know, I KNOW–way too early, right? (Even if the local hobby store does already have aisles and aisles of holiday decorations up. Christmas Creep dead ahead!) But, see, I’ve got a reason for my holiday cheer. I’ve recently been asked to write a holiday novella for an upcoming Kensington Brava Christmas anthology. Fun!
This is my first Christmas story. I did a New Year’s story for A RED HOT NEW YEAR, and a I had a blast with that holiday. And Christmas–well, come on, that’s just a great time of the year!
But…for those of you who have read my other Kensington novellas, there’s going to be a bit of a change with this one. You see, it will be Christmas and contemporary (no vampires or demons, oh my!). This is a contemporary romance anthology so I’ll stretch my wings a bit and try something new. I’m looking forward to writing this one. (Thus the Christmas singing in September.) And my awesome editor, the Magnificient M sent me a package full of Christmas Brava books to help get me in the holiday mood. Thank you, M!
So, as soon as I finish my current WIP (paranormal all the way), I’ll jump into my Christmas story. By the way, I should hit page 300 on this WIP by Sunday. Score!
Now, if anyone out there would like to get in the holiday mood, too–my friend Lauren Dane has a sexy holiday anthology that just released.
Sweet Charity by Lauren Dane: Eight years after a horrible one night stand,Charity and Gabriel finally find themselves in bed again. Trouble is, he thinks she’s too nice a girl to accept his darker sexual urges, so he’ll only agree to a short term fling. Gabriel’s about to find out that even sweet girls have their limits.
Unraveled by Jaci Burton: Entrepreneur Mitch Magruder wants to buy old friend Greta Mason’s rundown motel. Greta loves the motel and intends to hang tight, despite the feelings between her and Mitch. Can a man afraid to commit and a woman bruised by the past find a love worth building a future on?
Posted in Romance on August 28th, 2009 by Cynthia Eden
Today it is my pleasure to have mega talented author Leanna Renee Hieber at my blog. Leanna is the author of the must-read book (and I sincerely mean that, I LOVE this story), THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER. One lucky commenter will win a copy of this fabulous book. (So lucky!) Leanna, welcome! Thanks for making my blog part of your haunted tour!
***
What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death….
The Strangely Beautiful Haunted London Blog Tour Day 6!
Thank you Cynthia for hosting me, not only do I love your books, but you’re just a wonderful person and I so appreciate this opportunity to be here!
For those of you just joining us, the purpose of this Haunted tour is to celebrate the release of my Gothic Victorian fantasy debut, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, this Tour will introduce you to some of the real, documented London haunts who “ghost-star” in my book. When Professor Alexi Rychman and his Guard of spectral police make their rounds, it is to any number of London phantasms. Since these characters are familiar to The Guard, I don’t get to tell their full story in the book, here I can give them their due. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of the novel, first in the Strangely Beautiful series!
Day 6. Today we meet a most tragic ghost, that of Catherine Eddowes, who died in Mitre Square EC3 – September 30th 1888, a victim of “Jack the Ripper”
The original Victorian square known as Mitre Square no longer exists save for the stones. But those stones have a tale to tell. A tale of one of the most infamous and terrible sprees of crime ever reported. At 1:45 in the morning on September 30th, 1888, Catherine Eddowes was the fourth canonical victim of Jack the Ripper. Even though the square is today surrounded my modern buildings and a school, local folklore insists that on the anniversary of her murder, Catherine’s ghostly corpse is seen lying on the very spot where she came to such a terrible death. Not only these real ghosts, but the Ripper crimes continue to haunt us to this day.
Here is how Mitre Square and Ms. Eddowes grim demise factor into The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker:
Alexi loosed a string of curses and spurred his horse down another dark street.
As he rounded the corner of Mitre Square, an incantation died on his lips at the same moment the beast’s next victim did. Surrounded by brick, the small square was now her open, bloody mausoleum. A wispy ghost, a weary young woman confused and wide-eyed peeled upward and into the night sky. There was no sign of her killer.
Alexi murmured a benediction in the spirit’s direction, watching her ascend. He prayed that she would continue upward into what was now a calm haze of silver moonlight, rather than return and be tethered to the unspeakable reality of her mortal remains below. Ruffled skirts and pooling blood from a torn abdomen and something that was now hardly a face remained turned toward him on the ground, and Alexi wondered if the sight would ever leave his mind. He choked back a wail and darted back out the walled block, well aware that there were officers on patrol who would soon find her. Everyone was vigilant these nights, but no one was of any use. Not even him.
But Alexi no longer doubted that he had found the source of Whitechapel’s recent woe.
— (End of Excerpt)
I’m indebted to Richard Jones, founder of the fabulous Discovery Walks of London and author of the fantastic compendium “Haunted London” and “Walking Haunted London” published by Barnes & Noble Books, a main resource for my research. Visit him at www.haunted-london.com. Come visit me at www.leannareneehieber.com to find out more about The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and follow along on the rest of the Haunted London Blog tour! While you’re at my website, if you’ve bought a copy of Miss Percy Parker already you can answer the pop quiz and enter my CONTEST! If not I sincerely hope you’ll pick up the book and love it as much as I loved writing it! Be sure to comment here to be entered to win a signed copy!
Thanks, Leanna!!! Want to win a copy of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER? Leave Leanna a comment. One commenter (the lucky winner) will be picked after 6 p.m. EST on Sunday. Good luck!!
Posted in Romance on August 25th, 2009 by Cynthia Eden
It’s release day!!!
BELONG TO THE NIGHT is available now! That means you can buy this book at your favorite bookstore or online book retailer. Yay!
Here is the back cover blurb for this anthology:
“The Wolf, The Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe” by Shelly Laurenston:
Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There’s no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes. But Tully’s grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory-including a certain sassy witch-from vicious rivals.
“In the Dark” by Cynthia Eden:
FBI agent and leopard shifter Sadie James’ undead ex, Liam, still arouses her deepest desires, distracting her from tracking the brutal rogue shifter who is terrorizing Miami. By teaming up with Liam, Sadie has a better chance of solving the case, but as passion consumes them, she stands to lose more than just her heart.
“City of the Dead” by Sherrill Quinn:
Dori Falcon is a witch with a plan: get to New Orleans, locate her missing brother, and recover the Eye of Bastet, a mysterious and powerful amulet. Her plan never included falling for sexy Cajun copy Jake Boudreau; but without his help, she may never find the demon who has her brother, and the key to her family’s survival.
I had a great time writing this novella. My hero was a vamp, the heroine was his very pissed off (and extremely powerful) ex-lover. Oh, just fun. I sure hope readers enjoy the story, too! I hope readers enjoy all of the stories in this anthology. Shelly and Sherrill are fabulous authors, and I was thrilled to be included in the anthology with them.
