Do you ever dream of going to Paris? That was my dream from the time I was a small child living in Texas. When some neighbors returned from a trip to Europe and their daughter, who was about my age, talked about what she’d seen, I developed an incurable urge to see the Eiffel Tower. Is it any wonder that I gave Catherine, the heroine of my new release A Borrowed Dream, a similar dream? Admittedly, Catherine doesn’t dream of the Eiffel Tower, because it hadn’t been constructed in 1881, but images of the City of Light fill her dreams. I’ve been fortunate. My dream came true when I was in college majoring in – what else? – French, and then again when my husband and I lived in Germany compliments of the U.S. Army. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to return to Paris several more times and wanted to share ten things I highly recommend you do when you’re in the French capital. Of course you won’t want to miss Paris’s iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889, the tower itself hasn’t changed over the years, but the surrounding area has. The peace wall, which includes…

There’s something about the cold and gloom of winter that makes it the perfect time to snuggle up by the fire or the heater with a hot beverage and a novel about “the Dark Ages.” Far enough from the present to be wrapped in myth and mystery, the extent record of events sketchy enough to allow inventive novelists much room to spin stories, the medieval period is full of fascinating, larger-than-life characters. Along with a queen, the A-named heroines of the books we’ll look at today are lesser figures who play their parts on the same grand stage as their more famous contemporaries. We begin with THE CANTERBURY PAPERS by Judith Koll Healey. Our heroine is well-known to followers of the Eleanor of Aquitaine/Henry II saga–Alaïs, sister of the king of France who is sent to England as a child as Eleanor’s ward, intended to become the bride of the Prince of Wales—but becoming instead the mistress of Eleanor’s husband, King Henry. This novel skips over that well-known triangle to pick up Alais’s story years later, after she has returned to the court of France. She receives an unexpected summons from Aquitaine, where the aging former Queen of England has…

Shhh… Don’t tell anyone, but writing has not been a life-long dream of mine. Oh sure, I wrote some in high school and loved it, but that was high school and I was pretty much forced to do it. No one really encouraged me to continue. But one day, not too many years ago, I began to wonder if I could write my own book. The following authors not only inspired me to try, they taught me a lot just by reading their awesome books. 1) Stephenie Meyer. Without her Twilight series (which I read four times!), I don’t know if I’d be writing today. Heck, I didn’t even know paranormal romance existed before that. Good vampires? It was crazy talk. But my daughter gave me that first book and I was hooked. Hooked so badly, I finally got over my fear and started to write my own paranormal romance. I not only found my passion in life, a new career was born. 2) Lynsay Sands. Once you discover one paranormal romance author, you tend to search for more. My search led me to Lynsay Sands and the Argeneau Vampire series. I love the humor and try my best to…

Excerpt from The Vanishing Spark of Dusk: Kalen sighs and drags a hand through his hair. “Don’t speak of these pirates again, Lark. I don’t want you to even mention rebels at all, much less suggest I work with those thieves. You think Tavdorians who own slaves are bad? You haven’t experienced the black heart of the empire yet. The Renegade is what keeps that black heart beating.” He steps closer, takes my chin between his thumb and his forefinger, and tilts it up until our eyes meet. “Am I understood?” I can see his features clearly now. His violet eyes, filled with that aristocratic sternness. This isn’t a discussion between two equals, but an order from a master to his slave. He said not to mention them, but he said nothing about meeting with them. That I can agree to. “I understand,” I whisper. “I won’t speak of them again.” He lowers his hand. “I only want you safe, Lark. If I’m to take you to Earth on my next trip, I want to have a whole, healthy daughter returned to her mother. Not a scarred one. Definitely not a dead one.” He’s not smiling at all, but somehow…

WRITES: Contemporary romance and romantic suspense with my latest release, GREEN, releasing on February 28, 2018. ABOUT AUTHOR: I’m an indie-author, juggling a day job, being a mom and wife, with breathing as optional! But I wouldn’t change a thing! I’m a self-professed junkie of many things including a voracious fan of music, a born wanderer, a wine aficionado and chocolate connoisseur. And of course, I do talk to my characters and sometimes, I’ve been accused of living in another world. WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR IN MY IDEAL READER MATCH: You have a passion for strong heroes and heroines You love a page turner and will forgo sleep for the sake of a good love story You don’t go anywhere without a book or your e-reader You want your stories to be fast-paced, sweet and sexy with an edge You’re looking for a roller-coaster ride in both emotions and plot You want characters that may be flawed, but their intentions are pure You want to read about love that stands the test of time WHAT TO EXPECT IF COMPATIBLE: Complex, memorable characters you’ll be rooting for with a focus on love and family Stories with a twist, and it won’t…