I am SO excited! I received an e-mail that my Regency romance, COURTING TROUBLE, is up for Best Book of 2008 at Long and Short Reviews! How totally cool is that? (I'm pretty sure I squealed when I read the announcement!)

If you've read it and liked it, please vote for it at http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/BB2008.htm

Buy now: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=896
Thanks so much for letting me share!

Her Captain Returns by Eliza Knight
The Wild Rose Press

This is a fabulous, sexy and romantic read. I adored how this author pulled me immediately into their love story and the emotions of both Corinne--who felt seduced than abandoned, and Ryder—who finally realizes what he has been missing. Kudos, Ms. Knight! This is a winner!

Blurb:
How could anything considered sinful feel so good?
 
That is what Miss Corinne Claymore asked herself as she gave into the titillating suggestions of Captain Ryder Montgomery. Corinne never knew what she was getting into with her innocent flirtations with Ryder. Scandal ensues as they are discovered in an amorous embrace in the gardens at Lady Covington's ball. Corinne finds herself not only married to Ryder, but abandoned. A short letter tells her he will be gone for several years.
 
Eight years pass while Ryder is on a secret mission for the Prince Regent. He only returns at hearing the news of his brother's death, making him the new Earl of Stafford. His love and passion for Corinne have not waned. In fact, remembering their nights of pleasure has been the only thing that's kept him sane on his dangerous journey. But she has changed much, filled now with bitterness and the fear of being deserted again. Ryder must woo her back to him and soothe her fears, all while discovering how his brother died and who may be at fault.

It will be a treacherous adventure, but one consumed with building trust and love while enjoying carnal pleasures.
 
Reviews:
 
"From the opening scene of Her Captain Returns, the chemistry between the feisty Corinne and her charismatic captain, Ryder, captivates. With a hint of scandal, a dose of intrigue, and characters whose banter and arguments are as entertaining as their ardent make-up sessions, Ms. Knight has penned a journey you won't want to miss!" ~ Lainey Bancroft, author of Settling Back & the 3-D Club Trilogy

"This miniature has a great plot, packed with exciting events and interesting characters... a warm, short read with an engaging plot, likeable characters (a hot, caring hero and a heroine who can find it in her heart to forgive), suspense and adventure, and meaningful, tender love scenes..." ~ Vasiliki Scurfield, Between the Lines--WRDF Reviews
BUY NOW!

Eliza's Site

Renee Knowles
SAVVY BUSINESS SKILLS FOR WRITERS
Coming FEBRUARY 10th from Wild Child Publishing
www.reneeknowles.com..http://www.reneeknowles.com">www.reneeknowles.com>
www.mamawriters.com..http://www.mamawriters.com">www.mamawriters.com>

 

You're invited to the

12 Hours of Christmas

When:  December 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST

Where:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LizziesTeaRoom/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LizziesTeaRoom/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LizziesTeaRoom/>

Join Lizzie T. Leaf and a lot of her author friends for 12 hours of prizes, excerpts and fun.  Opportunities to win every hour.  All you have to do to enter is answer the question  asked at the top of each hour.  After the next question is posted, winners will be drawn from all who responded to the prior question. 

Participating authors include, Lizzie T. Leaf, Sloane Taylor, Sam Cheever, Lucynda Storey, Tine Gerow, Renee Knowles, Robin Owens, Melissa Mayhue, Jeanne Stein, Leslee Breene, Cynnara Tregarth, Raine Delight, Tracy Ranson, Eliza Knight, Lena Austin, Bonnie Rose Leigh, Fiona Jayde and others.

In addition to eBooks, print books and whatever the authors throw in the pot, Lizzie will award a "Surprise Prize" to some lucky participant each hour.

COME CHAT WITH US!

Renee

---
Renee Knowles
Sensual, Sassy and Slightly Sinful
www.reneeknowles.com

................

Book Recommendation of the Week!

.. ..

This week I have a truly special story from a fresh new
author. A Celtic Lover’s Magic by Lisa Alexander-Griffin is a fantasy romance with a sassy hero and a
sensual heroine. Together they triumph over dark forces, and look for their
happily ever after.

Available Now from Freya’s Bower!

A Celtic Lover’s Magic...

You can find Lisa here:
www.lisaalexandergriffin.com or www.myspace.com/destinyschoice8

"A Celtic Lover's Magic is an entrancing, hypnotic, and sexy read from new author,
Lisa Alexander-Griffin. From the very first sentence I was hooked. Ms.
Alexander-Griffin is a wonderful new voice in romance."--Renee
Knowles

Dirty Girl Review/Four Stars!   http://dirtygirlreviews.blogspot.com/

Check out the book trailer!

Blurb:

Liam Macauley inherits what he believes to be a mansion in Ireland from an
uncle he’s never known. The moment he sets foot on Irish soil, nothing is as it
seems.

Caileaan, descendent of the Sidhe, ancient gods of  Eire, the Tuatha De Danann, longs to dig her toes into freshly turned earth, toil side by side with a husband, birth his children, know what it is to be loved and alive as one with humans.

In a battle of darkness and light, will the evil Fomhoire destroy the promise made
to Caileaan, and thwart Liam’s chance to gain his hearts desire?

Excerpt:

In her mind’s eye, Caileaan watched Liam enter the keep through the Gothic front door and sighed. She’d made her presence known the first day. Her wait was almost
over, the prophecy nearly fulfilled.

Mortal, but not, Caileaan longed to dig her toes into freshly turned earth, toil side
by side with a husband, birth his children, know what it was to be loved and alive
as one with humans. For thousands of years, the people of Eire had deemed her people gods.

She wrung her hands. Intellectually superior or no, skilled or no, what difference did it
make? The Sidhe were not immortal as legend told. One well-placed blade could
send them into the afterworld.

No intricately designed sword or other weaponry had ever been enough. The
protection of trustworthy mortals remained essential. Hence, the need for the
Macaula family.

Her Sidhe clan had been distraught when tired of the constant threat of the Fomhoire,
Liam’s father moved his family to  America.

Although separated by an ocean, her gift of foresight allowed her to watched Liam grow from child to man and she’d fallen in love with him. Not even the vast distance
between continents had kept them apart.

Caileaan sighed, stroked a raven’s feather, midnight black, against her cheek. A gray
mist swirled, and her body shifted and morphed. Feathers sprouted from her
flesh. She flapped her wings and blinked.

High above Macaula’s Keep, she soared. Gliding, she settled into an oak tree near
Liam’s bedchamber window. Soon he would sleep, and she’d join him in his
dreams.

Liam strode into the room, tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.
Caileaan’s raven heart thumped quickly in her breast. Built like a warrior of
old, Liam’s broad shoulders rippled. He stripped his jeans from long, muscular
thighs. As if sensing her, he moved to the window.

A sensation of longing encompassed her. She dug her talon feet into the branch and concentrated on holding her form. The fullness of his pursed lips andsearching amber gaze tugged at her heart. The mortal part of her desired to shift and claim his mouth, but she dared not. The time between dusk and twilight had not yet arrived.

Caileaan flew toward Newgrange, the quartz façade of the cairn a beacon in the
moonlight.

She entered through a hidden entrance, opened an ancient, bronzed box and grasped
the charm she sought. With the adder-stone secured around her wrist, she
shifted, journeyed back, and lit on the mullioned window ledge. Soundless and
in human form, she entered Liam’s bedchamber.

BUY NOW!....

Today I have a very special guest! Romance and erotic romance author, Eliza Knight is celebrating her debut release, a steamy time travel romance, Warrior in a Box.

Welcome, Eliza!

When did you start writing? Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?

Would you believe me if I said as soon as I could pick up a pencil?  I used to write about princesses daily.  Then my mom got our first computer—MS-DOS anyone?  From there I started typing them up.  I always just did it for fun.  When I got into high school I worked on the newspaper, and from there went into journalism at the university.  However, I abhorred writing obituaries and switched majors.  I did however continue to write, and a few years ago began doing it for publication.

Your current release, Warrior in a Box, is a sizzling, erotic time travel. I have to admit, I LOVED this novella! Can you tell us a little about it?

Can I just say I am SOOO glad you loved it?  It was a really fun story to write, in fact my first erotic romance, so it is especially near and dear to me.  Here's the blurb:

Lainie Shaw, travel writer, work-a-holic, has no time for men. Even if she did, no man could match up to the one in her imagination. A man who makes her blood heat, her body weep and her heart clench with love. Instead, she is almost content drooling over sexy paintings of Highland warriors while working in Inverness, Scotland. An unexpected purchase in the way of an antique box delivers the man of her dreams right at Lainie's feet. Her wildest fantasies are realized when the Highlander shows her up close and personal what he doesn't wear under his kilt. Not only do they click physically, but emotionally, Lainie finds herself falling hard and fast for this sensual, sweep her off her feet, man from the past.


How did you come up with the idea behind it? And do you see some of yourself in the characters?

I came up with the idea from a writer friend of mine, Denisse with Celtic Hearts.  We have online parties and she always gives out Highlanders in a box as our party favor—and believe me if there was such a thing I'd have like 50!  She sponsored a writing contest about our sexy friends and thus, Donell was born.  I think all of my heroines have a little bit of me in them.  I guess you could say that Lainie is one of my alter-egos?

This release is part of a series. What can we expect from the rest of it?

Yes it is, the Highland Jewel Series.  You can definitely continue to expect hot, hot, HOT sex scenes, plus an emotional pull and some humor.

I know you research your books methodically. What did you learn in the research for this series that surprised you?

Can you say obsessed?  I LOVE research.  I think in another life I was a researcher.  (Anyone who reads my blog History Undressed, knows I'm a fanatic, lol)  Hmm, there weren't too many surprises actually.  The hardest part was getting the language down right.

Do you plan to venture out into any other genres?

Well, I already have :)  I write historical romance and contemporary romance.  But I am also toying with suspense and paranormal.  I'm intrigued by vampires, and love a thriller.

What are you working on now?

I am currently writing a novel-length Regency-erotic, titled Lady Seductress's Ball.  

What do you personally look for in a book, and who have been some of your influences?

I personally look for a hero I can fall in love with, a heroine who doesn't make me roll my eyes, and a tight, fun, adventurous plot.  And I can't forget to mention, I like hot sex!

Where can readers find you?

Readers can find me at www.elizaknight.com, www.myspace.com/elizaknight and www.historyundressed.blogspot.com

Okay, for the fun questions: what has been your biggest shopping splurge? And…what would someone be surprised to learn about you?

a. Biggest shopping splurge… $600 on clothes—only got a couple of outfits too…

b. I think a lot of people would be surprised to know I love to go clubbing!  I'm a happily married, mother of two, who loves to cook, total research nerd, closet shoes horse, and homebody.  But I love the clubs…

Thanks for letting me interview you, Eliza!

Thank you Renee!  It was fun!

Check out Warrior in a Box at The Wilder Rose Press!





EXCERPT:

Inverness, Scotland

Muscled calves curved into the beginnings of well-defined thighs. Just above the knee, a kilt covered what Lainie longed to see. The long sculpted legs of the highlander made her heart skip a beat.

She wanted to know what was under that kilt.

Lainie imagined running her hands up the sculpted thighs to find a stiff cock waiting for her to grip then stroke it. Staring at this beautiful specimen of pure maleness conjured up feelings in her body she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Her nipples grew taut against her sweater. The tingling at the tips of her breasts thrummed through her, circling around her belly and slipping lower. It was almost like the man reached out of the painting and caressed her body, his thumb rubbing gently over her clit. Shuddering, she continued to gawk at the painting of the highland warrior at MacDuff Castle, working her way from the tips of his toes and up.

Who was he? If only she could have lived just for a day in his time. She would let him rock her world and then return home, maybe take him with her.

He wore no shirt, just a flap of tartan thrown over his shoulder. The painter had done an excellent job of capturing each and every arch of muscle.

Lainie loosened her scarf, her body warm, invisible hands still demurely stroking her insides. Tearing her gaze from the sexy man's body, she studied his face. A startling green gaze captured hers. Lainie was amazed at how well the paint had held up over four hundred odd years.

The warrior's glance was so intense; she felt it like a caress on her senses. His chiseled features were framed by wavy dark brown locks. His nose straight and sure like an arrow leading to the most sensuous mouth she'd ever seen. The curve of his wide, full lips made her shudder. Whoever he was, he'd surely made many women purr with his wicked smile.

She licked her lips and turned away.

"Now let's head down the stairs. I will show ye where the warriors slept and where they kept their prisoners," the tour guide spoke with a thick Scottish burr as she wiggled her eyebrows, causing a few of the guests to chuckle.

Lainie followed the rest of the crowd down the narrow winding stone staircase, trying to ignore the pulsing heat within her and the pooling of liquid between her thighs. She waved the pamphlet containing facts about Clan MacDuff, to cool her over-heated skin.

The vision of the stunning warrior still lingered in her mind. How on earth could a painting turn her on?

BUY NOW!

This week, my book recommendation is a very sensual, short, and sassy historical from the new Harlequin Historical UNDONE line. It's The Unmasking of Lady Loveless by RITA-nominated author Nicola Cornick.

Here is a blurb:

All of London is buzzing about The Adventures of a Woman of Pleasure by Lady Loveless, a book of barely disguised accounts of the ton's sexual escapades. Reputations have been ruined and society is scandalized, but no one is more shocked than Lord Alexander Beaumont when he learns that the mysterious Lady Loveless is none other than his estranged wife! He remembers Melicent as a shy, innocent young woman and is determined to find out where she's been getting her information…and who has turned his inexperienced bride into a brazen author of erotic literature. There's only one solution: Alex will seduce his errant wife and learn all her wanton secrets...

This is a hot read, so check it out!

Buy The Unmasking of Lady Loveless now!

Nicola's website.

Until next week, folks.

Hugs,

Renee Knowles
Sensual, Sassy and Slightly Sinful
GOING TOPLESS--5 Stars---"A must read."--Euro-Reviews
COURTING TROUBLE--5 Angels--"...simmers with emotion."--Fallen Angel
 
SAVVY BUSINESS SKILLS FOR WRITERS--coming from Wild Child Publishing
www.reneeknowles.com

This week I'm starting a new weekly series on books I love. I will be recommending books that have really wowed me and gotten my attention.

I'm beginning this week with a sassy vintage novella Shoe-In For Love by Bronwyn Storm. This book is set in the '80s (Hello, can you say fun? Not to date myself, but I remember the big hair all too well!) and revolves around a shoe designer and very hot CEO.

Hmm, sexy shoes and a sexy man…what more could a girl want?

Shoe-In for Love
by Bronwyn Storm

For shoe designer Nessie Helph, 1984 is another year in the struggle to keep herself safe from her malicious supervisor, Grace Hart. Nessie's problems worsen when she finds out the company, Victor & Victoria, has been sold to Leo Schumacher.
 
Known as "The Lumberjack," Leo's reputation for cutting costs and hacking jobs is legendary, but Nessie's prepared for any contingency…except the effect he has on her heart. She may not be able to get her hair to feather like Heather Locklear's, but surely she has the skills to win both her dream job and her dream man.
 
Is Nessie a shoe-in—er, shoo-in—for love, or will her efforts leave her heart sinking into the soles of her jelly sandals?

Excerpt:

"I want to know why Archie was crying."
Leo leaned back in his chair, his long legs grazing hers as a small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. "I presume he was overcome by emotion."
"But what kind of emotion?"
He shrugged. "I'm in no position to guess."
"Of course you are." His blasé response replaced her timidity with confidence. "You were in the office with him—surely you can take a guess at what made him cry." The conviction of her words made her bend towards him.
Much to her surprise, he turned to face her, and leaned in until their faces were just a few inches apart. The indescribable scent of masculinity and power curled in sensual ribbons around her, binding her to the spot and holding her captive to Leo's penetrating, sizzling gaze.
"When it comes to certain people," he said, and his deep voice vibrated through her bones and made her atoms quiver, "I'm in no position to judge their emotions. I find these people endlessly fascinating. They arouse my—" His warm gaze drifted to her mouth, lingering there and sending a coil of heat spreading through her. "Curiosity."

Buy'>http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1024&zenid=5946d257bdbc8ea47750e7f08058874e">Buy Now from The Wild Rose Press.

Go check it out! And while you're there, check out Bronwyn's other books too :)

Hugs,

Renee Knowles
Sensual, Sassy and Slightly Sinful
Going Topless-"A must read."--5 Stars--Euro-Reviews Out Now! Siren
Courting Trouble--Regency Historical--A Wild Rose Press Bestseller!
5 Angels..."Courting Trouble simmers with emotion."--Fallen Angel Reviews
Guilty Pleasures--A Siren-Bookstrand Bestseller!
www.reneeknowles.comhttp://www.reneeknowles.com">www.reneeknowles.com>..