How to Catch a Billionaire Wolf’s Attention and Hold on Tight in 17 Ways Get caught in a rip current, but only when he’s watching the ocean from his palatial beachfront home. And hope he’s not distracted when you nearly drown. Don’t act all Olympic swimmer on him. Let him think you need the rescue, the intimacy, the time to bask in each other’s scent. Be mysterious. That’s sexier. Have a secret. That’s intriguing. Be a wolf. He’ll love that. Show off your classic car. He’s a car connoisseur, sure to please. Act like everything in his billionaire world is amazing. Because to non-billionaires, it would be. And no sense in trying to pretend this is like any other day in the life of a billionaire. He’ll appreciate you’re not jaded. Strip naked in his poolside shower and wash off the sand and salt before he returns just so you don’t chafe badly and ruin your whole time there. Don’t get caught or he’ll think you have ulterior motives. It’s okay to act surprised when you see the paparazzi taking photos of you and him together. It’s part of the whole experience. Play coy. Don’t act like you are enamored…

The world has lots of exciting and scary things going on right now. I’ve been watching the news and trying to balance normal life sanity with keeping up with what’s going on outside my door. And in the middle of that, I realized I’ve got four books coming out this fall. Yes, FOUR! The first is: As Rich as a Rogue by Jade Lee coming in August! Woo hoo! Here’s the problem. There’s a ton of work to do before a new book’s release and I’ve been avoiding all of it. So here are my Top 6 Ways I’ve been Avoiding Promotion Work: WENT ON A DIET – There’s really no time to do promotion when I’m sneaking chocolate and then yelling at myself for sneaking chocolate. GOT LOST IN THE NEWS – It’s a scary world out there and there’s a lot going on. I’ve been fascinated by Brexit, presidential campaigns, insane violence, and everything all those Late Night Comedians are saying about it. Who has time to write a blog when I haven’t seen John Oliver’s latest video? GOT LOST IN SOME GOOD BOOKS – I started reading a few books, and then had to fly through the…

I’m thinking about the future of Indigo Sky. In a whirlwind romance, a lovely New York socialite marries a fêted, debonair author. But beneath the charm is a cheating husband addicted to hasheesh. Her dream marriage turns sour and the simplicity of her life runs amok when a handsome stranger, her husband’s business partner, threatens her staunch loyalty to her wayward husband. When she faces the ugly truth about her marriage, her need to finalize her divorce sends her on mad chase across the wilds of nineteenth century America with a handsome stranger—she learns hard lessons of murder, kidnapping and more that almost destroy her. A new release in paperback and audiobook will be here sometime soon. After last week’s blog, I Write and I Paint, my novel,Indigo Sky needed a blog of its own. If you like romance, and you like adventure, Indigo Sky is for you! Shopping at Tiffany’s, getting caught up in the New York Draft Riot, the Civil War, and the wilds of the Great Plains. Here’s an excerpt from my book that will curl your toes. Read the rest on Ingis About Gail Ingis Gail Ingis writes historical romance, loves history and romance of course,…

When I revealed the title of my second book to one of my writing buddies, she wrote back: “Nice. Are virgins like the new dukes?” Apparently I’m not the only one name-checking virgins these days. She’d seen it on several other books, not unlike the proliferation of “dukes” of the last couple of years. So, what gives? What is it about a virgin? Before I go any further, let me acknowledge that not everyone loves a virginal heroine. In fact, some readers can’t abide them. Certainly, virgins-as-heroines are not as thick on the ground as they were back in the day, when I read my first romance in the late 1980s. In today’s contemporary romance, I’d venture to say that virgins are virtually nonexistent. But my editor loved the title, THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT as soon as I suggested it, and as my friend said, I’m not the only author brandishing the big “V.” So perhaps this means that there are still a few of us virgin enthusiasts out there. Hey, I’ll admit, straight up, that one of my favorite romance tropes is a hero who believes a heroine is not a virgin, only to discover, after he deflowers…

Often when reading a romance, I’ll fall in love with a hero knowing full well that the very qualities I find attractive on the page would probably annoy me in reality. But there are definitely some male protagonists out there who could potentially make a great real life boyfriend. In no particular order, here are ten of my favorite romance heroes who, for various reasons, I think make good boyfriend material: Whittaker Cole from TEMPTING FATE. Obviously, I’m a little bias where my own characters are concerned. But one of the things I love most about Whit is his determination to always do the right thing and, just as importantly, his willingness to admit when he gets it all wrong. Roarke from the In Death series—He has that sexy, sexy accent. Also, being able to take a private jet to your personal tropical island paradise whenever the whim strikes you can only be counted as a plus. Sir Harry Valentine from WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON—Harry will make you laugh. Actually, nearly every hero in every Julia Quinn book will make you laugh. And sense of humor is, for many of us, an absolute must in a romantic partner. Gabriel Arkwright–Gabriel…

Thank you for inviting me to Fresh Fiction today. I am excited to announce the release of IF THE EARL ONLY KNEW, which features some of my favorite characters. Determined to avoid society as much as possible, Lady Kate has returned to London after leaving six years ago. Part of her departure, and certainly the haste with which she left, can be blamed on a certain John Arlington, the Earl of Wynbrook, for it was he who kissed her in a moment of trial. She had hoped to elude him when she returned but of course that didn’t work and she finds herself alone with him in the study. Here is an exclusive excerpt from IF THE EARL ONLY KNEW of Kate and Wynbrook discussing the kiss—and Wynbrook trying to convince her to do it again—properly this time! Wynbrook cleared his throat and motioned for her to sit in a chair beside the waning embers of the fire. He took the chair opposite her and Kate waited in silence. “The last time you left was so sudden, I did not have the chance to say good-bye. This time, I wanted to be able to express my gratitude for your service…

by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, Authors of America’s First Daughter The American revolution is having a bit of a moment in the collective conscience and just in time for July 4th! Here’s a recommended reading list so that you can kick back and do a little “independent” reading during this patriotic holiday. HAMILTON by Lin-Manuel Miranda The hottest musical on the planet has tried to satisfy fans with a book that parallels the creative journey of making a broadway hit with the struggles and dedication needed to bring about a new nation. Gossipy, clever, and earnest by turns, this beautiful book just works. The Revolution Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country’s origins for a diverse new generation. HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only…

“Then I defy you, stars!” – Romeo Romeo and Juliet is not my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays, and yet it found its way into both LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES and LIFE AFTER JULIET. There’s a funny T-shirt I’ve seen on Etsy that reads, “I think Romeo and Juliet could have handled the whole situation better.” That pretty much sums up how I feel about the play. I’ve always thought it was such a shame that Romeo and Juliet felt so controlled by their fates that death felt like their only choice. The play ended on a hopeless note. I never believed that they had died for a greater cause—to stop their families from feuding. It felt like a cheat, and I don’t like authorial cheats. Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare is trying to get these two crazy lovebirds together for the happily-ever-after, and then boom! Death. And more Death (and throw in a few more deaths for good measure). And I’m supposed to nod along and say, “Well, at least the Capulets and Montagues learned their lessons.” No. That’s not what I want. I’ve spent years contemplating Romeo and Juliet’s actions. When I try to make sense of their…

Hello and thank you for hosting me today. With Fourth of July fast approaching many people will be hosting family and friends as we celebrate the birth of the United States of America. I remember growing up, my grandparents would have everyone to their house for a barbeque. There would be hamburgers, hot dogs and my grandmother’s fried chicken. Corn on the cob dripping with butter, slices of fresh watermelon straight out of my grandfather’s garden and dessert–we’d have my grandfather’s homemade vanilla ice cream and berry pie. Yum. As an adult I found I didn’t like cooking the way my grandmother and grandfather did but I will occasionally make a few choice creations. One that I would like to share with you that would be perfect for a Fourth of July celebration whether a picnic at a park or a backyard barbeque. This is an appealing, do-ahead dessert that can be formed and frozen, ready to be thawed and baked the day you want to eat it. Fresh Plum-Blueberry Turnovers Makes 8 large turnovers 12 ounces plums, pitted and sliced 2 cups fresh blueberries ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water…

Can heroines from the past be relevant in today’s world? A twenty-first century career woman coming home to a partner, children, dishes in the sink, and a hamper full of dirty laundry may find it difficult to relate to an early nineteenth century lady, whose every need is seen to by servants. Writers of historical romance try to imbue their heroines with enough curiosity, gumption, and resourcefulness to make them relatable and likable. Ladies living in a different age didn’t have the same family responsibilities as we do today, but neither did they have the same opportunities, especially for education and employment. For an unmarried gentlewoman of the early nineteenth century, options were limited to a very few professions: most commonly, lady’s companion, governess, or shopkeeper. And we see these occupations often in historical romances. But Regency writers have found clever ways to circumvent the lack of options available to their heroines. These fictional characters often have the requisite skills and interests to carve out a purposeful life. And if they are also engaging, beautiful, and admirable, heroes (and readers) find heroines to love. As a result, we have female characters who are writers, philanthropists, artists, and scientists. We can…