• Historical

    Read the historical novel A Noble Deception by Veronica Bale @VeronicaBale1 #RLFblog #HistoricalFiction

    Read the historical novel A Noble Deception by Veronica Bale @VeronicaBale1 #RLFblog #HistoricalFiction
    Veronica welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.

    Noble Deception by Veronica Bale

    Title A Noble Deception
    Genre Historical Romance
    Author Veronica Bale
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Forced to wed a landless knight in order to protect her home, Moira MacInnes intends an annulment of her marriage to the arrogant Lachlan Ramsay as soon as possible. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan.
    Scotland 1455 – The Douglas clan is at war with their king. To protect his lands from confiscation, Lord John Douglas, the dying Earl of Kildrummond, must find an heir that doesn’t carry his name.
    A landless knight, Lachlan Ramsay expects no more of life than battles, blood, and the occasional warm bosom. But when Lord John makes him his heir, Lachlan has a chance at something he never dreamt of—a home. There’s just one condition: He must marry the earl’s bastard daughter, the fiery, eccentric Moira MacInnes.
    Lachlan has no desire for a headstrong, sharp-tongued wife. Moira has no need for an arrogant, too-handsome husband. To save Kildrummond they will marry and seek an annulment immediately upon the earl’s death. But deception is never simple, and passion once inflamed is impossible to ignore. Soon they will no longer be deceiving the earl but themselves.

    Where to buy Noble Deception

    Publisher Boroughs Publishing Group
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-noble-deception-veronica-bale/1122597120?ean=2940152119619

    Author Social Media

    Veronica Bale has written several novellas, short stories, and news articles as a freelance writer. With her Highland Loyalties trilogy she made her debut into the world of historical romance novels. Veronica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, young son and two spoiled cats. When she’s not writing she’s running, reading, spending time with her family, or hopelessly lost in the cobbles of Coronation Street.
    Website www.veronicabale.com
    Twitter www.Twitter.com/VeronicaBale1 (@VeronicaBale1)
  • Historical

    Veronica Bale author A Noble Deception @VeronicaBale1 #RLFblog #HistFic

    Veronica Bale author of A Noble Deception answers five easy questions to help readers get to know her better.

    Author Bio

    Veronica Bale has written several novellas, short stories, and news articles as a freelance writer. With her Highland Loyalties trilogy she made her debut into the world of historical romance novels. Veronica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, young son and two spoiled cats. When she’s not writing she’s running, reading, spending time with her family, or hopelessly lost in the cobbles of Coronation Street.
    What is your go-to meal when you dine out?
    This may not technically count, since I’ve only had it twice, but let it suffice to say that it’s my new go-to meal. It’s called Dubblin Coddle, and if you haven’t had it, you must try it! It’s a creamy bacon and sausage stew that tastes like loaded potato skins, and it’s been a staple of Irish cuisine for as long as anyone can remember. I discovered Dublin Coddle when I tried a little Irish pub called The Snug in the small town of Newcastle Ontario. I was immediately hooked. Since that fateful day three weeks ago, I’ve been back twice more. My family agrees unilaterally that it’s our new go-to pub, and Dublin Coddle is my new go-to meal!
    Describe the perfect vacation.
    My perfect vacation? Why, Scotland, of course! I’ve been twice, and I dream of returning at least once a week. Travelling the Highland countryside, visiting small villages, and taking in all that history suits me perfectly. Lots of time for quiet reflection, for writing, and for reading, all in my favourite setting. What more could one ask for out of a vacation?
    Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.
    Gah … this is embarrassing to admit, but I kind of still have it. It’s not a toy, really, it’s my baby blanket. It was once yellow. It once had a cartoon tiger imprinted on it. It once had evenly distributed stuffing. Now, twenty-nine (and holding) years later, I must have my “little blanket” to sleep with, tucked under my cheek, or I won’t sleep well. I have no intention of giving it up, and fully expect to be buried with it. My husband has long ago reconciled himself to having to compete with a blanket for my affections.
    What are your hobbies?
    Besides reading and writing? I’m an avid knitter. It’s such a relaxing hobby. Everyone’s into Mandala right now, but I turn to knitting for stress reduction. I also love to run. Being outside in the fresh air and pounding the pavement with my headphones on – there’s nothing better.
    When you read for pleasure, what kind of books do you choose?
    I’m a voracious reader, and I love the written word in all its forms. When I read for pleasure, I go through phases. Right now, I’m in a Chick Lit groove. Last year, I had a bit of a thing for Dickens. And at some point (I don’t quite recall when), I was switching back and forth between Game of Thrones and heavy non-fiction tomes on topics ranging from The Troubles, to the first world war, to the culinary landscape of Marie Antoinette’s court.

    About the Book

    Title A Noble Deception
    Genre Historical Romance
    Author Veronica Bale
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Forced to wed a landless knight in order to protect her home, Moira MacInnes intends an annulment of her marriage to the arrogant Lachlan Ramsay as soon as possible. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan. 
    Scotland 1455 – The Douglas clan is at war with their king. To protect his lands from confiscation, Lord John Douglas, the dying Earl of Kildrummond, must find an heir that doesn’t carry his name. 
    A landless knight, Lachlan Ramsay expects no more of life than battles, blood, and the occasional warm bosom. But when Lord John makes him his heir, Lachlan has a chance at something he never dreamt of—a home. There’s just one condition: He must marry the earl’s bastard daughter, the fiery, eccentric Moira MacInnes. 
    Lachlan has no desire for a headstrong, sharp-tongued wife. Moira has no need for an arrogant, too-handsome husband. To save Kildrummond they will marry and seek an annulment immediately upon the earl’s death. But deception is never simple, and passion once inflamed is impossible to ignore. Soon they will no longer be deceiving the earl but themselves.

    Buy This Book

    Publisher Boroughs Publishing Group
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-noble-deception-veronica-bale/1122597120?ean=9781942886822
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-anobledeception-1875686-153.htm l

    Author Social Media

    Website www.veronicabale.com  
    Twitter www.Twitter.com/VeronicaBale1 (@VeronicaBale1)
  • Contemporary

    3 Tips for Writing Likeable Characters @VeronicaBale1 #RLFblog #amwriting

    A Noble Deception 
    Today’s post is by guest author Veronica Bale.
    It there’s one thing you need to know about yourself as a writer,
    it’s what you do well. As an author of historical romances, I know I’m good at creating
    real, believable characters. I’m not being arrogant by saying that, it’s actually
    what my readers say in their reviews of my books:
    “A warm-blooded historical romance that breathes with the
    true humanity of its characters (even the secondary ones).” – A Noble Deception
    “The H and h are likeable characters that I would enjoy
    reading more about.” – Bride of Dunloch
    “A very engaging presentation and characters you’re compelled
    to follow.” – Legend of the Mist.
    It’s something you hear often about your favourite books: the
    characters are likeable; they are real. But what, exactly, makes a character real?
    This is unfortunately something that surprisingly few writers (relatively speaking)
    understand. And that’s a shame, because creating memorable characters that readers
    can identify with is not hard to do.
    At the risk of giving a leg up to the competition (that’s tongue-in-cheek
    of course; I always love to help my fellow writers), I’ll share a trade secret:
    the trick to writing real, likeable characters is to spend time on scenes, or parts
    of scenes, which do absolutely nothing to further your plot.
    Please, keep reading this post – I promise, I’m making sense.
    You might think it’s counterproductive to waste time on anything that doesn’t further
    your plot. And if the sheer volume of books out there that don’t understand this
    vital concept attest to anything, it’s that many authors would agree with you. But
    nothing could be further from the truth. By allowing your character these non-plot-advancing
    sections, in which nothing more than their personalities are front and centre, you
    make them real to your readers.
    Here are three methods you can try to add likeability to your
    characters.

    Silliness

    Ever had a tickle-fight? Ever played keep-away? These kinds of
    silly moments, especially between your characters, are a great way to show their
    real sides. They are fun moments, and don’t do much to enhance your plot. What they
    do is enhance the overall quality of your story, though.
    Take the Disney movie Tangled as an example. The character of
    Flynn Ryder is obviously the sexy, smouldering hero we expect of a good fairytale.
    But what did you think about the scene where Rapunzel wasn’t falling for his charms,
    so he declared it was time to “give her the smoulder?” What did you think
    when, after she dropped him on his face, he groaned “You broke my smoulder?”
    Didn’t that endear him to you all the more?
    Admittedly Tangled is a children’s comedy; it’s supposed to have
    silly bits like that to make the audience laugh. But apply the logic I’ve given
    you to the romance novels you’ve read where the characters fell flat. I’m betting
    that silly moments like this were notably absent.
    This is especially prevalent in historical romance novels. Too
    many authors focus only the sombre mood, the tension borne of historical conflict
    or the burning lust. But even in a romance novel with tension and strife and desire,
    your characters can still indulge in a bit of silliness every now and again.

    Banter

    I just had a bantering argument with my husband about whether
    or not soccer is the least skill-oriented sport played professionally. At the end
    of the … discussion (putting it mildly) we were no further ahead on the topic than
    the last time we argued about it.
    Everyone banters. What real person doesn’t? So, if you want your
    characters to be real, let them banter. Let them argue and snipe at each other over
    something that has nothing whatsoever to do with your main storyline. Let them debate
    about the most ridiculous of things, and let them rage at how pig-headed and stubborn
    they’re each being over something so insignificant. They might end up angry at each
    other by the end of your chapter, but your readers will end up loving them because
    of it.

    Mild embarrassment

    Have you seen the movie Hitch with Will Smith and Eva Mendez?
    Then you’ll probably remember the part where Will Smith’s character, Alex Hitchens,
    has an allergic reaction to shellfish. Okay, now I’ll admit that seeing him with
    a distorted, swollen face did not do this hottie any favours, but how much more
    attractive did this embarrassing event make him overall? No longer the smooth-talking,
    suave “Date Doctor,” we saw Alex Hitchens’ real side. And we loved him
    for it.
    Your characters, too, can benefit from times of mild embarrassment
    like this. Maybe your hero gets caught belting out some Spice Girls tunes in the
    shower. Maybe your leading lady falls into a nearby body of water in her best cocktail
    dress. Whatever it is, embarrassing your characters this way warms them to us and
    makes them real. Because hey, we’ve all been there.
    Living, breathing characters are so much more than the things
    they need to do and say to advance your plot. Your characters become real when we
    see them do and say things that we recognize of ourselves – silly, stupid and embarrassing
    things. Allow your characters a few unnecessary scenes where their personalities
    can really come through; let your creativity wander in writing those memorable moments.
    They serve your plot in no measurable way, but they’ll serve your overall story
    beautifully.
    These aren’t the only ways to show the real sides of your characters
    and make them likeable. What other “tricks” can you think of? Weigh in
    here at Romance Lives Forever and let us know.

    Author Bio

    Veronica Bale
    Veronica Bale is a romance novelist, freelance writer and copyeditor.
    Her latest book, A
    Noble Deception, was released June 1st. She graduated from Toronto’s
    York University with a degree
    in environmental writing, and she writes Scottish historical romance novels with
    strong heroines and cracking-good love stories.

    Author Social Media

    Amazon (A Noble Deception): http://www.amazon.com/Noble-Deception-Douglas-Clan-Book-ebook/dp/B00KPMIT9W/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405700363&sr=8-1&keywords=a+noble+deception