Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Wacky Wednesday: A Halloween Visit with Maya Rodale, author of the Writing Girl Series

Happy Halloween Everyone!
I've got a wonderful treat, and no tricks, for you today! On Monday, I reviewed the newly released SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale. If you haven't read my review yet, please click on the title and do so but hurry back because Miss Maya is about to join us followed by a fabulous Giveaway! 

Maya Rodale is now the author of numerous “dazzlingly sexy and witty” historical romance novels. A champion of the romance genre and its readers, she is also the author of the non-fiction book Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation Of Romance Novels, Explained and a co-founder of Lady Jane’s Salon, a national reading series devoted to romantic fiction. Maya is also, what I affectionately call her, my muse for this blog. It was because of her being such a champion of the romance genre and its readers that I was inspired to write a rant that set me on the course of unwrapping romance, romance novels and their authors. I adore this lady and her books aren't half-bad either.  *wink*

Please join me in welcoming Maya Rodale to UNWRAPPING ROMANCE,

Amy:  Hi Maya, thank you so much for joining us today and taking time from your busy schedule.

Maya:  Hi there! Glad to be here!

Amy:  I have to admit this is a long overdue visit and I'm so thrilled to have you here today. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet.

Maya:  My name is Maya and I’m living the dream! I write smart and sassy historical romance novels. I married an actual Englishman, you know, for research (Just kidding! It’s a love match!). My constant companion is my darling dog, Penelope. We all live in New York City.

Amy:  I have to admit that your life certainly does sound like the dream, I know I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat - well, maybe not the domestic life part. I'll let you keep your rogue. *wink*
I've mentioned often that you were my muse, my inspiration for this blog. What first inspired you to write and why romance?

Maya:  Aww! I’m so humbled and happy to know my blogging has been so inspiring!

As for my entry into the world of romance: My mom made me do it! Actually, while she got me started reading them, I started writing them because I would read the books so fast and wanted to stay in that happy Regency romance world a little longer.

Amy:  I love that! I get a kick out of your mom making you do it but I love that you write because you want that imaginative world to continue. I know that feeling well, as I'm sure many of your readers do.
Do you have any favorite authors that you enjoy and do they ever influence your writing.

Maya:  I love Loretta Chase and Eloisa James (and many other historical authors). I also love contemporaries by Julie James or Jenny Crusie. I’m always inspired to write and revise an even better book after reading such fantastic, perfectly crafted novels.

Amy:  Well, you certainly can't lose with such awesome writing models as inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration - your Writing Girl series has been so much fun to read and to be honest, I'm a little sad to see it end. Those scribbling women are inspirational to us just as you were to me. How did they come about in the first place?

Maya:  Thank you! I love those girls. They came about when I was living in London doing research for my master’s degree. I was reading a lot of 19th century newspapers and walking around the city and searching for a new series idea. I think I started with the newspaper and thought, what kind of women would do such a scandalous thing? And then, who would their perfect heroes be?

Funny thing is, I found a scrap of paper with exactly the same idea to center a series around the newspaper The London Weekly but it was from, like, 3 years earlier and I had totally forgotten about it. In short, the Writing Girls were an idea so nice I thought it twice!

Amy:  Indeed it was and we are very glad you had that idea twice!
I have to admit that I found myself relating very intimately with Annabelle. I know that when is it going to be my time feeling. So which of the Writing Girls, do you relate to the most?

Maya:  That’s a great question and a lovely way to describe Annabelle! I relate to that aspect of her, too. There’s always something of me in my heroines and it provides a snapshot of my life when I was writing. Eliza’s ambition, for example. Or Annabelle learning to take risks and stand up for herself.

Amy:  That's wonderful and insightful. So now you're closing out the series with SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. Derek Knightly and Annabelle have been with us throughout. Was it planned from the beginning to pair up these two and save them for last or was this something that your muse whispered in your ear along the way?

Maya:  Oh, I had plans for them from the very beginning! J I knew from the initial pitch of the series that Annabelle would seek advice from her readers and try all those crazy suggestions on how to get a man’s attention. I knew from the start that her hero would be Knightly.

However, I hadn’t fully developed their characters until I sat down to write it and it was a lovely experience for me to really explore them and what kept them from getting together sooner. After all, Annabelle had been sighing over him for three books and everyone else knew. But with Knightly so focused on his business and Annabelle awkward about drawing attention to herself, they never got to know each other. That is, until Annabelle starts making it impossible for Knightly to not see her.

I’ve been so excited to write this book ever since A Groom Of One’s Own (don’t tell the other Writing Girls!) and it was such a pleasure to write it.

Amy:  That's so amazing and I think it's probably one of the reasons why this story was so wonderful and touching. And something tells me the other Writing Girls won't mind - they do so love Annabelle, as do we.
I know you love Regency but have you ever thought of wandering off into some other time or world, even?

Maya:  Yes! In fact—here’s some breaking news for you—I will be writing contemporaries in the future! But those stories will be inextricably linked to a new series of historical romance novels.

Amy:  Really! Well, can you tell us a bit more about this new direction in Maya's writing world?

Maya:  New series! In a word: wallflowers. In two words: wicked wallflowers. I’ll be posting news and sneak peeks on mywebsite and on Facebook.

Amy:  Awesome news and I'm sure everyone will anxious to learn more about these wicked wallflowers - I know I will.

Last question and the one I love asking most - IF you could be ANY character in ANY book, who would it be and why?

Maya:  Oh my goodness, I have been mulling over this question for days and I simply could not decide, which is probably why I’m author: I can be lots of characters in many books.

Amy:  Well, can't ask for a more sensible answer than that. Maya, you've been a wonderful inspiration to me, and I thank you so much for that.
Thank you again for joining us today. You're an absolute delight as always, and I hope everyone reads the entire Writing Girl series and especially SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY - it's by far your best.

Maya:  Thank you so much!!!!

Amy:  Maya has graciously provided a print copy of Charlotte's story - THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL - as well as 2 beautiful SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY coverflats and they're all signed! So Happy Halloween everyone - you have a chance to win one of these three (3) awesome prizes and Maya will provide a question for you to answer when you enter. Maya?

Maya:  Who are some of your favorite and most inspiring Writing Girls? They can be real, fictional, or even unpublished.

Amy:  Great question, Maya, thank you. Well, you heard the lady, so what's your answer?
Comment and be sure to leave an email address so that you may be entered in the Giveaway!

Giveaway Prizes: 
Grand Prize:  1 print copy of THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL by Maya Rodale
Blurb: 
Enter the Regency world of the Writing Girls series in Maya Rodale's charming tale of a scheming lady, a handsome second son, and the trouble they get into when the perfect scandal becomes an even more perfect match.

Scheme: A folly, a swan, a little lie . . . a compromising position

Lady Charlotte Brandon is always up to something . . . but somehow her best schemes for matchmaking often end in disaster.

Scheme: A family feud, outrageously false rumors, a shattered priceless vase . . . an even more compromising position
It's no wonder she's considered by at least one devastatingly handsome man to be devious, destructive, and dangerously appealing.

Scheme: A fox, a rabbit, a childhood foe, and a dashing rogue . . . the proposal to end all proposals

It's high time someone turned the tables on the lovely Lady Charlotte, and James Beauchamp is just the man to do it. Even if it means beating Charlotte at her devious game with a scandalous scheme of his own.


Second Prizes:
2 signed coverflats for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY  (they are gorgeous!!)

Giveaway Rules:

* In order to qualify to be entered to win, you MUST comment and leave a valid email address so that I can notify you when you win. Remember the formula:

 
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thanks for playing!

* This Giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY (void where prohibited)
* This Giveaway will run until 11:30PM EDT, Friday, November 2, 2012 at which time one lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win a print copy of THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL and two lucky commenters will be chosen at random to each win a signed coverflat for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. The winners will notified by email and then announced on a special Saturday post. Good Luck Everyone!

To learn more about Maya and her wonderful books, please feel free to visit her website, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Happy Reading Everyone!

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.

THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL, a novella by Maya Rodale, Avon Impulse, available now in ebook format and print will be available Nov 6, 2012.

Be sure to check out the other Writing Girl books if you haven't already.  : )

       


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY!

Hey my dear readers, storm or no storm, I couldn't let a New Release Tuesday go by without letting you know about some of the fabulous new romances are now available to make your TBR list even longer! Enjoy and Happy Reading Everyone!!
 
 
Monday, October 29, 2012 New Release to consider:
 
 
 
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 New Releases:
 
 
Remember to come by tomorrow, Wednesday Oct 31st to meet this
lovely lady and enjoy a great #Giveaway!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well, I think that should spark your interest!
There are many more so GO SHOPPING!
 
Happy Reading Everyone!
 
 
         
 




Monday, October 29, 2012

Unwrapping: Review of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale

Having read all of the Writing Girl series by Maya Rodale, I knew that as soon as an eARC of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY was available that I just had to read this final book of the series. I also wanted to get a jump on it so that could bring you an interview with the lovely authoress herself, Maya Rodale - stay tuned for that on Wacky Wednesday's Halloween addition - she'll be visiting and we've got some great prizes to give away. But until then hold on to your breeches and enjoy what I have to say about this best book of the series and how 'bout that cover? *smiling*

***eARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY:

He’s the only man she’s ever loved…

For ages it seems advice columnist Annabelle Swift has loved Derek Knightly, editor-owner of The London Weekly from a distance. Determined to finally attract her employer’s attention, she seeks advice from her loyal readers—who offer Annabelle myriad suggestions…from lower-cut bodices (success!) and sultry gazes (disaster!) to a surprise midnight rendezvous (wicked!).

She’s the only woman he never noticed…

Derek never really took note of his shy, wallflower lady writer. But suddenly she’s exquisite…and he can’t get Annabelle out of his mind! She must be pursuing someone, but who? For some inexplicable reason, the thought of her with another man makes Knightly insanely jealous.

Will Dear Annabelle find her happy ending?

But Knightly’s scandalous periodical has been targeted for destruction by a vengeful Lord Marsden, and the beleaguered editor now faces a devastating choice: either marry Marsden’s sister to save his beloved newspaper…or follow his heart and wed his Writing Girl.


                  *                    *                    *                    *                      *                    *

Annabelle Swift has been working for Derek Knightly at the London Weekly for years and in love with him just as long. Having watched her dear friends, and fellow Writing Girls, find and fall in love with their prince charmings, Annabelle is tired of dispensing advice to the masses and decides to turn the tables. As Dear Annabelle, her column usually gives advice on how to get stains out or such but when she asks the people of London for advice on how to get a man to notice her, the column becomes the talk of the Town and the ton.
 
Derek Knightly has made a name for himself and is revered in the publishing world. He's built a fortune and has many friends and more than one woman who wouldn't mind turning his head but he's only got one goal to which he truly aspires. He wants to marry someone who would place him in the position where his half-brother would finally recognize him as a gentleman and an equal. The only way he sees this happening is by marrying the right woman. A woman who would provide him the place in the ton he needs to be recognized by his half-brother. He believes he's found her, but at what cost?
 
Threatened with the destruction of his newspaper and everything he's built up, Derek must marry the vengeful Lord Marsden's sister or watch his name and fortune destroyed by scandal and false accusations. Even as he struggles to solve this problem, his newspaper is soaring in popularity all because of a little noticed column written by an even less noticed Writing Girl. Ever since Dear Annabelle asked the good people of London to help her gain the notice of one particular nodcock, it's all that anyone including his best friends are talking about. Not only has the column grown in popularity but suddenly, Annabelle is much more noticeable.
 
Will Annabelle succeed in winning the attentions and affections of her nodcock, better known to everyone else at the London Weekly as Derek Knightly, or will she lose to the woman with society and a title behind her?
 
SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale is absolutely delightful from the first page to the last. We suffer Annabelle's angst as she attempts to capture Derek Knightly's attention. Just when we think it's safe, we suffer Derek's worry over whether or not he will be able to recapture Annabelle's love and convince her that she is worthy of all she wants. Maya writes SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY with humor, laugh out loud slapstick, and makes us remember that lack of confidence feeling that everyone, who has ever tried to capture the attention of a first love, has experienced.
 
With a Cinderella meets I Love Lucy feel to this delightfully endearing story, Maya Rodale has conjured her best writing to date for her final Writing Girl. She's succeeded in creating a happy-ever-after that leaves you smiling and wishing Mr. Knightly and his Dear Annabelle all the best. This one is, by far, my most favorite and I so didn't want it to end.
 
I highly recommend SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale whether you've read anything by this fabulous Regency authoress yet, or not. If you love a light-hearted comedy romance, you will love SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. It will have you smiling, giggling and possibly laughing out loud as I did. Warning: be prepared to have people stare as if you've lost your mind if you read it in a public place.
 
Happy Reading Everyone!
 
SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale, Avon Romance, available Oct 30, 2012 in print and ebook formats. Run, don't walk, to get this one!

                                                                 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

And SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot goes to ...

 
 
 
A great big thank you to everyone who
visited to eavesdrop on Romance Heroes Anonymous,
I had a great time creating this post and so am very
happy that y'all enjoyed it.
 
A quick note before I announce the winner of
a print copy of
SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK
by Meg Cabot -


 
There is a very good possiblity with this Frankenstorm
heading in my direction that I will lose power and
consequently, Internet access.
I have scheduled a review post for
SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale
for Monday, Oct 29th and an interview with
this same lovely lady on Wednesday, Oct 31st
with a fabulous Giveaway.
I hope you will all come by and check out these posts
and enjoy meeting Maya - she's a delight and the interview
is filled with fun and some news from her.
 
If I'm not back by Friday, I've scheduled a review
of SIN WITH A SCOUNDREL by Sara Bennett -
 it's a good book, you won't want to miss it.
 I'm sorry I won't get a chance to post the new releases on Tuesday.
Just to let you know, I will run the randomizer
for the winners of the Maya Rodale Giveaway
 as soon as I'm back. 
 
Thanks for being such great fans
and I hope everyone in the path of this monster is safe.
 
And now, the print copy of
SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot
goes to ...

Amy Bachtel

Amy, you've been notified by email so check your mail
and your SPAM folder, in case it goes in there.

Thanks again to everyone for visiting and
I hope you all have a great weekend and

Happy Reading Everyone!  xoxo 
 
 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Unwrapping: Review of THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands

I'm a huge fan of Lynsay Sands and her books are auto-buys for me - especially the Argeneau series. So, when THE LADY IS A VAMP came available this past August, I couldn't wait to read it and as a special treat from Avon Romance, they sent me a copy - mind you, this was for my own personal enjoyment but I thought I'd tempt you with it anyway.

***Print copy supplied by publisher for my personal enjoyment with no expectation of a review.

Blurb for THE LADY IS A VAMP:

One late night leads to...
Kidnapped! When Jeanne Louise Argeneau left work, she never thought she'd end up tied down by a good-looking mortal. More attracted than annoyed, she quickly realizes there is more to her abductor than meets the eye.

One desperate act leads to...
Love? Paul Jones has need of a vampire, and only Jeanne Louise will do. He just has to convince this beauty of a Vamp to help him...never imagining that he would fall in love. But with the immortal world's answer to law enforcement hunting them, their time together is running out...and Paul and Jeanne Louise will need to risk everything to spend an eternity together.


                     *                         *                       *                      *                       *

Jeanne Louise Argeneau works hard at Argeneau Enterprises, a corporation that deals with research and development in aiding the immortals descendant from Atlantis to live easier and more integrating lives with the mortals from whom they must stay hidden. Jeanne Louise's main work is finding a cure for her cousin Vincent and his father, Victor for whom bag feeding is not possible. Both immortals must feed off the hoof because if they attempt to survive on bagged blood, they will starve to death. Jeanne Louise's life has become all about finding this cure so when she heads home one weekend only to find herself kidnapped, everything about her situation becomes a worry about others.

Paul Jones works at Argeneau Enterprises in research and development and has always had an eye for Jeanne Louise but she's never noticed him once in all the time he's worked the night shift just as she does. He's share breaks, meals and knows her routine as well as she does. So, when desperation drives him to do something drastic to get her much needed help, he knows just when to kidnap her.

Paul is desperate. His sweet little girl, Livy, is dying. All of his knowledge, all of his work in development can do nothing to save her and at five years of age, Livy hasn't even begun to live her life. As a member of the R & D team at AE, Paul is privy to certain information and he knows who and what the Argeneaus, and their fellow immortals, are. He's gambling that by asking Jeanne to turn his daughter that the immortal will be willing and his little girl can live forever.

At first frustrated because she can't read Paul's thoughts, Jeanne assumes it's whatever he drugged with that is causing the problem until she meets little Livy. Able to easily read the girl's thoughts and feel her suffering, Jeanne starts checking off the symptoms that may mean that Paul Jones, her kidnapper, is most likely her lifemate. She's immediately taken with the seriousness of the situation with Livy and is quickly infatuated with both the girl and her father but finds herself faced with a question. Should she use her only turn to provide herself with a lifemate or save a sweet little girl from a painful and senseless death?

THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands is very different from her other books in the series. The seriousness of the topic of pediatric cancer tugs the heartstrings and quickly connects you to the characters and the desperateness of Paul's love for his daughter. Lynsay still catches you with a bit of humor that makes you smile but I found myself on the verge of tears more times than not while reading this amazingly fast-paced story. Jeanne quickly finds herself falling in love with her potential lifemate but also with Livy. She begins to think of them as a family and wishes she could design a means of turning both Paul and Livy so that the three of them can live on as a loving family - something she's always missed and craved for in her own long life.

THE LADY IS A VAMP by Lynsay Sands is touching, emotional, and as delightful a read as any of the series with a happily-ever-after that will surely have you reaching for some tissues. Even if you're not a fan of vampires, if you love a story about family, about a little girl who is facing the end of her life and how she wants everyone else to be okay, if you're one of those folks who loves a tear-jerker then please read THE LADY IS A VAMP. You might just be surprised at how much you will enjoy it and perhaps check out some that came before. I adore the Argeneaus and even if I'd never read any before, I would still recommend this book to everyone. This lady is a vampire but she's got a huge heart.

Happy Reading Everyone!

THE LADY IS A VAMP, an Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.

                                                               

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Wacky Wednesday: Eavesdropping on Romance Heroes Anonymous

Last week, I asked you what your favorite Romance Hero type said about you and one of my readers, Mary Ann Landers said this: 

"My dream men tend to be heroes who are truly heroic, who go above and beyond for love; or ordinary guys looking for love amidst the problems and complications of life. I also dig mystical types, but they're pretty rare.

I know I'm weird, but there's one common aspect of romance heroes I don't care for one bit. I don't want to read about a man who needs to be redeemed. I don't see how men like this can give love or be worthy to receive it."
  Thank you, Mary Ann.


This intriguing comment got me to thinking about Romance Heroes. About whether or not they think they're truly in need of redemption despite how they led their lives before meeting their true loves or were they merely seeking the same things as the heroines? I decided to figure out a way to discover what Romance Heroes were really thinking about when it came to their romantic escapades, and lo and behold, I found Romance Heroes Anonymous!

***There is no Romance Heroes Anonymous, all characters are fictional and do not resemble any others except generically. Everything said here is fiction and not meant to represent the thoughts or actions of any or all fictional heroes except for entertainment purposes.  ; )

This was what was overheard at one of those meetings which I managed to eavesdrop on :

Bad Boy:  Hey fellas, how's it hangin'? (tall, gorgeous man enters wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket, muscle hugging blue jeans, scuffed boots and carrying a twelve-pack of beer)

Good Man:  BB, you know we're not supposed to be drinking alcohol on the premises. It's kind enough of the proprietor to allow us to use the backroom without insulting the poor man.  (seated at the table is a tall, gorgeous man wearing a pale blue shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, black jeans and running shoes)

Bad Boy:  GM, you gotta loosen up a bit, old man! (setting the beer pack on the table surrounded by chairs) We're always having to play by those crazy author rules but we don't have to on our time.  (pulls out a cold can and tosses it to Good Man who promptly catches it and grins)

Good Man:  I suppose you're right, BB - occasionally. (snapping open the can and takes a drink)

Bad Boy:  Where is everybody? (glancing around)

Free Spirit: Right here ... well, except NQH but then you know he'll probably make a grand entrance eventually. (a tall, gorgeous man enters the room wearing a cowboy hat, red flannel shirt, dirty blue jeans and cowboy boots that looked like they'd seen better days. He removes the hat and tosses it on the table)

Free Spirit is followed by another tall, gorgeous man wearing a suit and tie, polished shoes with only a small scuff on one of the toes. He shrugs off the jacket and drapes it over a chair while tugging his tie loose)

Knight in Shining Armor:  Brought beer, I see, BB ... are they cold?

Bad Boy:  Cold enough.  (tosses a beer to Knight and then slides one across the table to Free Spirit, who nods his thanks)

Free Spirit:  Ever tried finding a place to park your horse in this city? Geesh! Every time I found a tree to tie him up, a cop came along and told me to move along.

Knight:  Good thing I came along when I did. Told the cop that was about to write poor old FS here a ticket that this cowboy was with me and the horse was evidence in a case. Schmuck actually believed me.  (laughing as he tugged his tie off and draped it over his jacket)

All four men laughed happily.

Not Quite Human:  Sounds like you're all in a good mood tonight. 

All four men turned to look at the tall, gorgeous man standing in the doorway wearing a long black coat beneath which black leather pants peeked out over the toes of black boots.

Bad Boy:  What? No fancy shimmer or smoke prelude to your entrance tonight, NQH?

Not Quite Human:  Naw, just not in the mood. (walks forward shrugging out of his black coat only to reveal a black silk shirt beneath with full sleeves and opened wide at the neck)  Got another of those cold ones?

Bad Boy:  Sure. (tossing NQH a beer after he watches the dark figure drape his coat over the back of the chair and take a seat) What's up? Or rather what's got you down, NQH?

Not Quite Human:  I'm so tired of always being portrayed as the hero who needs a woman to redeem his ass, in order for him to appreciate the love she's bringing to the relationship.  Sometimes, it's just damn lonely being a supernatural being wandering through existence alone and without someone to tell my troubles to - you guys are the exception, of course.

Four voices chime together:  Of course.

Not Quite Human:  I'm not heartless, you know? Even if I'm portrayed as soulless, I'm not heartless - well, maybe at times I'm a bit heartless in my dealings with some but I try to limit that to the bad guys.

Bad Boy:  Hey!

Good Man:  He said bad GUYS, BB, not Bad Boys.

Bad Boy:  Oh, right, sorry NQH - go on.

Not Quite Human:  No, you've just hit on the thing that bugs me the most. People automatically label me as evil. Someone who needs to be changed. Redeemed, ... I had parents once upon a time. I may even have had family. Sometimes, I've even been in love before and got my heart broken. We all have, right?

Four voices chime together:  Right!

Not Quite Human:  So why do the authors always make us out to be some horrible no-good who needs the love of a good woman to redeem us?

Free Spirit:  I know what you mean, NQH, how many times haven't I been portayed as some guy who needs a woman's influence to become responsible, to grow up even. Hey, what's wrong with enjoying life and having a good time? Besides, I am responsible. I always take care of my horse.

Bad Boy: Exactly. I know I'm sometimes guilty of bad behavior but that doesn't mean that I don't care about folks, even if I don't always treat 'em the way they want to be treated. I'd never deliberately harm anyone - well, unless they deserve it.

Knight:  That's so true, BB. Sometimes, in order to do the right thing, you have to do some bad things. It's our nature as heroes, isn't it? To protect those who can't protect themselves and those that we care about?

Good Man:  I think I understand what you're all saying. If we're to be the heroes we are asked to be then we have to act on our instincts. And if our instincts take us along a certain path, then why do we need to be changed in order to love someone?

Four voices chime together:  Exactly!

Not Quite Human:  Not that you've probably ever had to be redeemed, GM.

Good Man:  Oh, I've had my moments, NQH. I'm not that good!  (chuckling)

Everyone gets his joke and laughs along with him.

                 *                   *                  *                   *                  *                   *

So readers, what do you think? Do Romance Heroes have to be redeemable for the heroines (and us) to love them?

What about Heroines, who are less than innocent, should we think of them as needing to be redeemed?

Giveaway:

Prize:  One Print Copy of SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot

Blurb for SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK:

Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy!
Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's "new" fiancE. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, "this" reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated.


A bit of mystery keeps this contemporary romance moving along. Anyone want a copy?

Giveaway rules:   THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thanks for playing.

One lucky commenter will be randomly chosen to win a print copy of SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK by Meg Cabot.

This Giveaway is OPEN to US RESIDENTS ONLY (void where prohibited)

You must leave a comment with a valid email address to qualify to be entered in this Giveaway.

COMMENT + EMAIL ADDRESS = ENTRY
 
Giveaway will run till 11:30PM Friday, October 26, 2012 at which time one lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified by email as well as announced in a special post on Saturday. Good Luck!
 
Happy Reading Everyone!
 
SIZE 12 AND READY TO ROCK, a Heather Wells Mystery novel, by Meg Cabot, William Morrow paperbacks, available in print, ebook, and audio formats.