• RLF Gems

    #Romance Lives Forever on #RLFblog Meet the top bloggers @LindaBrendle @alinakfield

    Be sure to read What is RLF? Romance Lives Forever in 2018 and discover great new opportunities for authors and readers.

    The RLF Gems announcement last month was in the top ten. You are why I do this!

    Top Blogger for this month is Linda Brendle. Top chatter was Alina K Field. Top Blogger of 2017 was Vicki Batman, who won a year of free advertising for 2018.

    Top Blogger Linda Brendle

    The top bloggers are judged by page visits. Congratulations!
    Ashley York
    Anna Durbin
    Kayelle Allen
    Sayara St Clair
    Robin Michaela
    D Anne Paris
    Alexa Aston

    Honorable Mention:

    Livia Quinn
    NJ Walters

     

    Top Chatter for the Month

    The person who gets the most comments in a month is not always the person who gets the most page views. For that reason, I instituted the Top Chatter Award. This award is for the blogger who received the most comments.
    This month’s winner is Alina K Field.

    Who among us doesn’t have a veteran in the family?
    Please support our veterans and their families personally
    and in your communications with Congress.

    Authors of #FreeBookFriday

    Adriana Kraft, Beverley Oakley, Bonnie Edwards, Carly Carson, Chris Redding, Erica Ridley, Jana Richards, Kayelle Allen, Kris Bock, Kris Pearson, Kristina Knight, Livia Quinn, Madison Michael, Marie Lavender, Mary Martinez, Pamela Ford, Rachel Leigh Smith, Sophia Knightly, Stephanie Queen, Thea Dawson

    Join us each week for #FreeBookFriday

    Readers – bookmark the blog and come back every day for good books. On Fridays, every book we offer is free. Look for the #FreeBookFriday hashtag on Twitter and Facebook.

    Authors, do you offer subscribers a free book for signing up to your newsletter? Do you have a permafree book or a book on KindleUnlimited? Here’s your chance to reach new readers in 2018. Romance Lives Forever now offers a free book section. #FreeBookFriday will offer 5 books each week all year long. Each week, 4 spots will be free.

    How do you take part? It’s easy. All you need to send is the cover, a blurb, and a link to get your book. When you sign up, your confirmation form will have a link to add your book info.

    When someone clicks the link you provide, they’ll be taken directly to your site. You’ll have the double opt in that newsletter services require. No worrying about adding a list downloaded from another place. You’ll get subscribers directly. Easy peasy.

    There’s a 5th paid spot for $5. It comes with a week-long cover ad spot on the front page (upper right corner). Your free book will also get a pinned spot on the RLF Facebook page, and a cover spot on the RLF #FreeBookFriday Pinterest board.

    Click here and pick your date. http://bit.ly/rlf-free

    Be a Guest Author

    Romance Lives Forever uses Signup Genius to schedule guests. The system also reminds authors of their visit. One post is available each day. Once you choose a date, no one else will be able to take it. You can sign up for more than one visit; however, each visit must be in a different month.

    Reserve a date between April – June 2018
    http://bit.ly/rlf2Q2018

    Reserve a date between July – September 2018
    http://bit.ly/rlf3Q2018

    Reserve a date between October – December 2018
    http://bit.ly/rlf4Q2018

     

    My thanks to all who took part this month. You made Romance Lives Forever a great place to discover new books and authors. Other guests during the month are (in alpha order by first name):

    Amber Daulton, Aurora Springer, Bonnie Edwards, Bonnie Phelps, Collette Cameron, Faye Hall, Gabi Stevens, Jana Richards, Kim McMahill, Kris Bock, Kristina Knight, Kryssie Fortune, Livia Quinn, Lucy Felthouse, Madelon Smid, Madison Michael, Olivia Night, Seelie Kay, Stephanie Queen

    Do you want to BLAST PIRATES?

    I recommend Blasty. When you use it, please mark Romance Lives Forever as a legal site. Thank you!

     

  • Regency

    Regency Romance by Anna Durbin: King of Swords @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #Regency

    Regency Romance by Anna Durbin: King of Swords @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #RegencyAnna Durbin, 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.

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin

    Genre Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A fiercely independent spinster who desperately needs assistance . . .
    Lady Cassandra Gardner will inherit fifty thousand pounds when she turns thirty—and just in time. She has a special purpose for her money, one no man could understand. But when her brother the duke tries to cheat her out of her fortune, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who shattered her heart years ago.
    A gallant nobleman who can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress . . .
    Lord William Poniard is looking for a wife, but the last woman he should consider marrying is his archenemy’s sister, the woman who hates him with a vengeance. Yet, when she is compromised by her brother’s nefarious scheme, he sees an opportunity not only to rescue the lady by marrying her but also to exact revenge on the duke for his past betrayal.
    Will she accept his offer of help and at what cost?
    Despite the long-standing animosity between Cassandra and William, sparks fly when their attraction to one another ignites into a passion neither saw coming. Will one night of rapture unite them or drive them apart? Can she forget past wounds and let him back into her heart? And can he convince her that she is the only woman he wants?

    Where to buy King of Swords

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV/

    Anna Durbin Social Media

    Anna Durbin is the author of charming tales of the Beau Monde. Having grown up reading sagas of chivalry and romance, she began crafting her own elaborate stories in her imagination at a young age. It was only natural that she would one day write them down. Her first novel, King of Swords, was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
    Despite years of study in the biological and physical sciences, her true love has always been the literary arts. Inspired by her favorite author, Jane Austen, Anna adores the Regency Era and writes period pieces set during that time that show love conquering adversity. Oddly, for all her love of science and history, she is a faithful devotee of the New Age. She discovered tarot cards in a New Age shop in Minneapolis during a high school class trip one year and has been enchanted with them ever since. She enjoys weaving the symbolism of the tarot deck into her storylines.
    Anna has lived in ten different states throughout her lifetime, from California to New Jersey. A Midwesterner at heart, she was born in Kansas and raised in Iowa. Currently, she lives in Wisconsin with her husband and works as a technician for local government.
    Website https://annadurbinauthor.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurbin
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurbinAuthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16946965.Anna_Durbin
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Durbin/e/B072N25NR4/

  • Regency

    King of Swords: Regency Romance by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #Regency

    Is It True: King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #Regency #RomanceWelcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Today’s guest is Anna Durbin, author of King of Swords, a Regency romance.

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin

    Genre Regency romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A fiercely independent spinster who desperately needs assistance . . .
    Lady Cassandra Gardner will inherit fifty thousand pounds when she turns thirty—and just in time. She has a special purpose for her money, one no man could understand. But when her brother the duke tries to cheat her out of her fortune, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who shattered her heart years ago.
    A gallant nobleman who can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress . . .
    Lord William Poniard is looking for a wife, but the last woman he should consider marrying is his archenemy’s sister, the woman who hates him with a vengeance. Yet, when she is compromised by her brother’s nefarious scheme, he sees an opportunity not only to rescue the lady by marrying her but also to exact revenge on the duke for his past betrayal.
    Will she accept his offer of help and at what cost?
    Despite the long-standing animosity between Cassandra and William, sparks fly when their attraction to one another ignites into a passion neither saw coming. Will one night of rapture unite them or drive them apart? Can she forget past wounds and let him back into her heart? And can he convince her that she is the only woman he wants?

    Where to buy King of Swords

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-swords-for-e-pub-copy-durbin-anna-anna-durbin/1127801624

    Anna Durbin Social Media

    Anna Durbin is the author of charming tales of the Beau Monde. Having grown up reading sagas of chivalry and romance, she began crafting her own elaborate stories in her imagination at a young age. It was only natural that she would one day write them down. Her first novel, King of Swords, was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
    Despite years of study in the biological and physical sciences, her true love has always been the literary arts. Inspired by her favorite author, Jane Austen, Anna adores the Regency Era and writes period pieces set during that time that show love conquering adversity. Oddly, for all her love of science and history, she is a faithful devotee of the New Age. She discovered tarot cards in a New Age shop in Minneapolis during a high school class trip one year and has been enchanted with them ever since. She enjoys weaving the symbolism of the tarot deck into her storylines.
    Anna has lived in ten different states throughout her lifetime, from California to New Jersey. A Midwesterner at heart, she was born in Kansas and raised in Iowa. Currently, she lives in Wisconsin with her husband and works as a technician for local government.
    Website https://annadurbinauthor.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurbin
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurbinAuthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35424999-king-of-swords
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Durbin/e/B072N25NR4/

  • Quick and Fun,  Regency

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Anna Durbin, 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.

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin

    Genre Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A fiercely independent spinster who desperately needs assistance…
    Lady Cassandra Gardner will inherit fifty thousand pounds when she turns thirty—and just in time. She has a special purpose for her money, one no man could understand. But when her brother the duke tries to cheat her out of her fortune, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who shattered her heart years ago.
    A gallant nobleman who can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress…
    Lord William Poniard is looking for a wife, but the last woman he should consider marrying is his archenemy’s sister, the woman who hates him with a vengeance. Yet, when she is compromised by her brother’s nefarious scheme, he sees an opportunity not only to rescue the lady by marrying her but also to exact revenge on the duke for his past betrayal.
    Will she accept his offer of help and at what cost?
    Despite the long-standing animosity between Cassandra and William, sparks fly when their attraction to one another ignites into a passion neither saw coming. Will one night of rapture unite them or drive them apart? Can she forget past wounds and let him back into her heart? And can he convince her that she is the only woman he wants?

    QUICK

    Do you write more than one genre? If so, what are they?…
    Right now, I only write in the romance genre, and specifically, the Regency romance sub-genre, but I have written other stories outside Regency romance.
    How do you come up with ideas?…
    Most of my ideas come to me as “what ifs.” For instance, what would happen if you put this woman with this man in this time period under these circumstances? For my Kings of the Tarot series, I created each of the heroes to represent a king card in the tarot deck and the heroines to represent the corresponding queen.
    What is the single most important part of writing for you?…
    The single most important part of writing for me is that it allows me an outlet to express my creativity. Though I like the work I do in my real world job, it is, quite frankly, dry and boring with absolutely no opportunity to be creative. I have fun in world-building and creating plots and scenes and characters with my writing.
    When did you write your first book?…
    I wrote my first book when was 8 or 9. It was a story about a girl who discovers that the guy she thinks is her brother is actually a space alien. The first book I wrote as an adult was a ghost story that falls more under the umbrella of Women’s Fiction than paranormal or romance, although there is a strong romantic element running through it.

    FUN

    Leather or lace? Lace
    Black or red? Black
    Satin sheets or smooth cotton? Cotton
    Ocean or mountains? Ocean
    City life or country life? Country
    Party life or evening at home? Evening at home
    Dogs or cats? Both—but I only have a cat these days.

    Where to buy King of Swords

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV/

    Anna Durbin Social Media

    Anna Durbin is the author of charming tales of the Beau Monde. Having grown up reading sagas of chivalry and romance, she began crafting her own elaborate stories in her imagination at a young age. It was only natural that she would one day write them down. Her first novel, King of Swords, was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
    Despite years of study in the biological and physical sciences, her true love has always been the literary arts. Inspired by her favorite author, Jane Austen, Anna adores the Regency Era and writes period pieces set during that time that show love conquering adversity. Oddly, for all her love of science and history, she is a faithful devotee of the New Age. She discovered tarot cards in a New Age shop in Minneapolis during a high school class trip one year and has been enchanted with them ever since. She enjoys weaving the symbolism of the tarot deck into her storylines.
    Anna has lived in ten different states throughout her lifetime, from California to New Jersey. A Midwesterner at heart, she was born in Kansas and raised in Iowa. Currently, she lives in Wisconsin with her husband and works as a technician for local government.
    Website https://annadurbinauthor.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurbin
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurbinAuthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16946965.Anna_Durbin
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Durbin/e/B072N25NR4/

     

  • Is It True,  Regency

    Is It True: King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #Regency #Romance

    Is It True: King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #Regency #RomanceWelcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Let’s play Is It True with today’s guest, Anna Durbin, author of King of Swords, a Regency romance. This is a game with yes and no questions. Writers can elaborate on answers as much as they choose.

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin

    Genre Regency romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A fiercely independent spinster who desperately needs assistance . . .
    Lady Cassandra Gardner will inherit fifty thousand pounds when she turns thirty—and just in time. She has a special purpose for her money, one no man could understand. But when her brother the duke tries to cheat her out of her fortune, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who shattered her heart years ago.
    A gallant nobleman who can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress . . .
    Lord William Poniard is looking for a wife, but the last woman he should consider marrying is his archenemy’s sister, the woman who hates him with a vengeance. Yet, when she is compromised by her brother’s nefarious scheme, he sees an opportunity not only to rescue the lady by marrying her but also to exact revenge on the duke for his past betrayal.
    Will she accept his offer of help and at what cost?
    Despite the long-standing animosity between Cassandra and William, sparks fly when their attraction to one another ignites into a passion neither saw coming. Will one night of rapture unite them or drive them apart? Can she forget past wounds and let him back into her heart? And can he convince her that she is the only woman he wants?

    Is it true:

    this is your first book?
    Yes. It’s my first published book at any rate. I wrote my first true “book” when I was in grade school and have been thinking up stories ever since.
    this book is part of a series?
    Yes. King of Swords is part of the Kings of the Tarot series. Each hero in the series is based on one of the kings in the tarot card deck, and I use the symbolism of the tarot cards throughout the story.
    you lost sleep while writing this book?
    Yes. I frequently think about plot points while trying to fall asleep, and it can keep me wide awake while I go through scenarios in my head. Sometimes, I give up on trying to sleep and just get up and go to my computer room and write.
    you did research for this book?
    Yes. Tons of research. The book takes place in Regency England, so I had to do extensive research on the period. Specifically, I delved into marriage laws of the era, Gretna Green elopements, and other topics.
    some characters in this book are not human? (pets for example)
    No. There are no non-human characters in this book.
    this book has more than one genre?
    No. The book is simply a Regency romance.
    you speak more than one language?
    No. I did take French in junior high and high school but never mastered the language.
    you grew up where you live now?
    No. I grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but now live in Madison, Wisconsin.
    you love to read?
    Yes. I love to read all sorts of books ranging from romance to non-fiction.
    you are never late?
    No. I always aim to be on time, but sometimes I miss the mark.
    you love pizza?
    No. I’ll eat pizza, but I do not love it whatsoever.
    you love sushi?
    No. Absolutely NOT.
    you have a pet?
    Yes. We have a calico cat named Maizy. She will be one year old in March, and we call her Crazy Maizy because she leaps through the air and flies around the house like a crazy woman. Although it’s fun to see her burn off that kitten energy, we’re hoping she calms down when she’s a little older.

    Where to buy King of Swords

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV/

    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-swords-for-e-pub-copy-durbin-anna-anna-durbin/1127801624

    Anna Durbin Social Media

    Anna Durbin is the author of charming tales of the Beau Monde. Having grown up reading sagas of chivalry and romance, she began crafting her own elaborate stories in her imagination at a young age. It was only natural that she would one day write them down. Her first novel, King of Swords, was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
    Despite years of study in the biological and physical sciences, her true love has always been the literary arts. Inspired by her favorite author, Jane Austen, Anna adores the Regency Era and writes period pieces set during that time that show love conquering adversity. Oddly, for all her love of science and history, she is a faithful devotee of the New Age. She discovered tarot cards in a New Age shop in Minneapolis during a high school class trip one year and has been enchanted with them ever since. She enjoys weaving the symbolism of the tarot deck into her storylines.
    Anna has lived in ten different states throughout her lifetime, from California to New Jersey. A Midwesterner at heart, she was born in Kansas and raised in Iowa. Currently, she lives in Wisconsin with her husband and works as a technician for local government.
    Website https://annadurbinauthor.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurbin
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurbinAuthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35424999-king-of-swords
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Durbin/e/B072N25NR4/

     

  • 5 Easy Questions,  Regency

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    King of Swords by Anna Durbin @TheAnnaDurbin #RLFblog #RegencyRomanceAnna Durbin author of King of Swords answers five easy questions.

    Please tell us about yourself.
    Anna Durbin is the author of charming tales of the Beau Monde. Having grown up reading sagas of chivalry and romance, she began crafting her own elaborate stories in her imagination at a young age. It was only natural that she would one day write them down. Her first novel, King of Swords, was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
    Despite years of study in the biological and physical sciences, her true love has always been the literary arts. Inspired by her favorite author, Jane Austen, Anna adores the Regency Era and writes period pieces set during that time that show love conquering adversity. Oddly, for all her love of science and history, she is a faithful devotee of the New Age. She discovered tarot cards in a New Age shop in Minneapolis during a high school class trip one year and has been enchanted with them ever since. She enjoys weaving the symbolism of the tarot deck into her storylines.
    Anna has lived in ten different states throughout her lifetime, from California to New Jersey. A Midwesterner at heart, she was born in Kansas and raised in Iowa. Currently, she lives in Wisconsin with her husband and works as a technician for local government.
    What is your go-to meal when you dine out?
    Thai food. I love the spiciness of Thai cuisine.
    Who is your “book boyfriend” (that hottie you read about and drool over)?
    Mr. Darcy, of course! He’s the perfect not-so-perfect hero who risks it all for love.
    Describe the perfect vacation.
    The perfect vacation for me is doing absolutely nothing as I lie on a warm beach in the Caribbean, sun shining, palm trees swaying, the gentle ocean waves lulling me to sleep.
    Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.
    Barbie and friends. My sister and I would play for hours with our Barbie dolls, making up wild stories and exploits for them, usually involving romance, of course!
    What are your hobbies?
    I like reading and collecting antiques. I also have a Barbie collection, which includes both vintage and contemporary dolls.
    Please tell us about your latest book.
    Genre Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A fiercely independent spinster who desperately needs assistance…
    Lady Cassandra Gardner will inherit fifty thousand pounds when she turns thirty—and just in time. She has a special purpose for her money, one no man could understand. But when her brother the duke tries to cheat her out of her fortune, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who shattered her heart years ago.
    A gallant nobleman who can’t resist rescuing a damsel in distress…
    Lord William Poniard is looking for a wife, but the last woman he should consider marrying is his archenemy’s sister, the woman who hates him with a vengeance. Yet, when she is compromised by her brother’s nefarious scheme, he sees an opportunity not only to rescue the lady by marrying her but also to exact revenge on the duke for his past betrayal.
    Will she accept his offer of help and at what cost?
    Despite the long-standing animosity between Cassandra and William, sparks fly when their attraction to one another ignites into a passion neither saw coming. Will one night of rapture unite them or drive them apart? Can she forget past wounds and let him back into her heart? And can he convince her that she is the only woman he wants?
    Publisher self-published
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV
    CreateSpace https://www.amazon.com/King-Swords-Kings-Tarot-Book-ebook/dp/B072KFYXQV

    Anna Durbin Social Media

    Website https://annadurbinauthor.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/theannadurbin
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurbinAuthor/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16946965.Anna_Durbin
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Durbin/e/B072N25NR4/