• Western

    Read #Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #WesternHistoricalRomance

    Read #Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #WesternHistoricalRomance

     

    A Pinkerton agent married to his job falls for a runaway heiress who turns up missing. Try Alexa Aston's newest Western historical romance, Runaway Hearts, from the Lawmen of the West series.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Runaway Hearts.

    Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston

    Genre: Western historical romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    A young woman fleeing to save her life.

    An untrusting loner weighed down by guilt.

    Two very different souls who find love in the booming American West...

    Shortly after her beloved father's death, Emma Bradford becomes a runaway heiress when she overhears her beau and stepmother plotting to steal her fortune—and take her life. She jumps on a train headed to the American West and is instantly attracted to a handsome stranger onboard.

    Pinkerton detective Rye Callahan is assigned to protect an opera diva as she travels from New York to Colorado and remain undercover as a bodyguard during her engagement at Denver's newest opera house. Along the way he encounters a beautiful woman who looks and sings like an angel, but Rye is married to his job and determined not to become involved with the woman romantically.

    But Rye and Emma wind up living in the same house in Denver, and their relationship heats up fast. When the diva disappears without a trace, Emma takes her place on stage—only to wind up missing soon after. Rye races against the clock to find both women in time. And if he does, will he be able to open his heart and learn to love?

    Runaway Hearts is a standalone western historical romance from Alexa Aston's Lawmen of the West series, which features heroes of the American west in various law enforcement positions and the strong heroines who bring love into their lives.

    Series includes:

    Runaway Heart
    Blind Faith
    Love and the Lawman
    Ballad Beauty

    Where to buy Runaway Hearts

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WTBP71B

    Read #Runaway Hearts by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #WesternHistoricalRomance

    Alexa Aston Social Media

    Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She's a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.
    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
    Website https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram Https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join

  • Historical,  Stressing the Hero

    Stressing Seamus Tynedale from Carnal Transgression @FayeHall79 #RLFblog #HistoricalRomance

    Would you break the law to protect the woman you love from a killer? Is the Question Faye Hall asks in Carnal Transgression

    Let’s meet Seamus Tynedale from Carnal Transgression, a Historical Romance, by Faye Hall. 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 latest book.

    Carnal Transgression by Faye Hall

    Genre Historical Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Would you break the law to protect the woman you love from a killer?

    Constance Dunbar is desperate to discover who killed her sister. Her plea for help is ignored by the local police, so she advertises for a private investigator. Seamus Tynedale answers the ad, and she immediately recognizes him as the friendly stranger whose arms held her so tenderly as she wept after her sister’s death.

    Seamus longed to be reunited with the dark-haired beauty who’d kissed him in the churchyard. When he ends up working for her as a private investigator, he knows that his position as a police constable needs to remain a secret due to her mistrust of the department.

    As Seamus hunts for the murderer, he finds himself lured into a den of secrets and lies tracing back eighteen years to Ireland, and it all seems to be connected to Constance. Seamus delves into Constance’s past, hoping to understand the secrets she’s so intent on keeping hidden. What he finds is a passion that ignites his heart and captivates his senses.

    When Constance’s life comes under threat, Seamus has to choose between following the law and protecting the woman he loves from a killer. Will he be able to safeguard Constance, or will he lose her to the evil that seems to have followed her to Australia?

    Stressing Seamus Tynedale

    Stressing Seamus Tynedale from Carnal Transgression @FayeHall79 #RLFblog #HistoricalRomanceEvery hero has a story. He has a background, a history, and a past. This interview allows us to meet a hero and get to know him better, by focusing on how he handles being relaxed, as well as how he handles stress.

    Please tell me about your hero.

    Age: 38

    Gender: Nale

    Birthplace: Ireland

    Profession: Policeman

    Ethnicity: Irish

    Species (for scifi/fantasy characters):

    What does your hero look like?

    Red Hair, Green eyes, Slender build and Average height.

    Who is the significant other in his life?

    A dark haired beauty with an hourglass figure named Constance.

    The Hero’s Relaxed Side

    This hero is at a party. Considering his story, describe the party.

    It would be very quiet and traditional. Perhaps just a few friends sharing some Irish whiskey whilst reminiscing about their hometown and the friends they’d lost.

    How does the hero feel about being this particular party, and what body language is he displaying that gives it away?

    Seamus would be very uncomfortable as he’s distanced himself from people for so long.

    Is he more likely to mingle or remain aloof?

    Very aloof.

    If he drinks, what is his drink of choice at this party?

    Irish whiskey

    How much drink is his usual?

    Only a small glass or two. Not a heavy drinker at all.

    The hero figures out where the hiding places are and then goes there. Is it to hide, to avoid someone, or to go drag a friend back to the party?

    Probably to hide, but if Constance has also left the party then he’d follow her just to sneak some time alone.

    Is he likely to latch onto a friend and stay with him/her and ignore others, or is he the friend that others latch onto?

    He’d stay by Constance’s side.

    If someone picked a fight at this party, how is the hero going to handle it?

    He would try to break it up, but would only throw punches if Constance was in danger.

    Is the hero the one most likely to get tossed out of the party, or the one who does the tossing?

    Despite his small stature, he can handle himself quite well so he’d be doing the tossing in an attempt to keep the peace.

    Will he know when to leave, or stay late and make a nuisance of himself?

    He’d be one of the first to leave.

    The Hero’s Stressed Out Side

    How does the hero handle it if the cops or some other authority figure pulls him aside when he was blameless in a situation?

    He is a police officer so provided it’s not his senior Constable pulling him aside, he would be fine.

    How does the hero react to hearing a scream?

    It would trigger his protective instinct and he’d run to see if he could help.

    If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing that crosses his mind?

    To risk life and limb to save them.

    If he sees someone being assaulted, what is the FIRST thing he does?

    He’s not much of a fighter, but he’d swing enough punches until the aggressor was distracted.

    This hero attempts to rescue someone and realizes that he is in over his head. The odds are against him and there is no way out. He is going to get his butt handed to him. What does he do?

    He fights until the victim has found there way to safety no matter the cost.

    The hero runs into the one person from his past he wanted to avoid. He can’t get out of the situation and must interact in some way. What does he do?

    He’s very aloof and short in his respnses and leaves as soon as he’s able.

    Someone younger than the hero is in charge of the situation, and they are handling it badly, perhaps bungling things. How does the hero deal with it?

    Seamus would try to give advice and steer them in the right direction.

    The hero is in physical pain but must bear up under it and keep going. What does he tell himself in order to get through the situation?

    He’d remind himself of his duty and the price so many of his kinsmen had paid for his freedom.

    What mentor’s words come to mind in a bad situation?

    He’s quoted in the book as telling one character to “remember the brave man you once were.”

    What lesson from his past gets him through a stressful situation?

    Seamus has lost his family and he is constantly reminded of the sacrifice they made so he could start a new life in Australia.

    What one thing would you like readers to know about your hero?

    Seamus is loosely based on my Great Grandfather who was a policeman both in Ireland and when he migrated to Australia during the same time Carnal Transgression is set.

    Where to buy Carnal Transgression

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096PS4KT4

    Faye Hall Social Media

    Faye Hall spent her early years listening to stories about the families – including her own – who settled townships in and around her hometown in North Queensland, Australia. The local townspeople, including her own parents, told her stories of corruption and slavery, along with family secrets and forbidden love.
    Desperate to remember what she’d been told, along with her already growing love of writing, Faye began to write about the history of her local area. Never could she have imagined the history of her small home town in Australia would become a growing list of published books.
    Faye’s passionate stories combine controversial subjects and provocative encounters as her characters struggle to survive the lifestyle in early rural townships throughout Australia. She explores slavery and abortion, drug addiction and murder, as well as forbidden love and passionate affairs of the heart.
    When she’d not writing, Faye enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with her husband in their ever-growing garden, and encouraging the varied interests of their combined family of nine children.
    Explore the world of Faye Hall, Australian Historical Romance Author at her website https://www.faye-hall.com
    Website https://www.faye-hall.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/FayeHall79
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/fayehall79/
    Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall
    Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DPIMSMW

     

  • Gay or MM,  Historical

    The Lock-Keeper’s Heart by Neil S Plakcy @NeilPlakcy #RLFblog #NewRelease #MMHistoricalRomance #MM

    The Lock-Keeper's Heart by Neil S Plakcy @NeilPlakcy #RLFblog #NewRelease #MMHistoricalRomance #MMCan two broken men heal each other? In Neil Plakcy’s newest historical romance, The Lock-Keeper’s Heart, journey back in time to 1872, to a rural lock along the Delaware Canal, where a young lock-keeper with a broken heart must help a bargeman with a broken leg.

    Neil, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about The Lock-Keeper’s Heart.

    The Lock-Keeper’s Heart by Neil S Plakcy

    Genre MM historical romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Fans of MM historical romance will appreciate a fascinating time period, filled with unique details and a vibrant location, and a focus on the lives of working-class men in the 19th century who dare to love other men. This historical MM romance set in a small town in rural Pennsylvania in 1872 has a hurt/comfort theme.

    Why did you write this book?

    I grew up in the area where this book is set, walking along the long-dormant canal and hearing in my mind the calls of the bargemen and the clip-clop of the mules’ hooves as they dragged coal-laden barges upstream. I wanted to spend time in that world, and I thought it was a fresh time and place for an MM historical romance.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    Right now I have a passion for this kind of book, which is why I wanted to write my own. I love MM romance, but I’m too old (LOL) for the stories of contemporary young men to resonate with me. I also read a lot of small-town cozy mysteries and thought I could combine the two genres.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    Though it’s a cliché, I’d have to say Sal Paradise from Kerouac’s On the Road. I wish I’d had that kind of adventurous spirit as a young man.

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I had a sabbatical from my college teaching job last fall, so I wrote a lot of first drafts during the quarantine of 2020. Now I’m deep in editorial revisions for several books, but daydreaming about a follow up to The Gentleman and the Spy, my most recent MM historical romance. I think that will take place in Tangier in 1873 and I can’t wait to get there.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    I’m looking forward to The Graveyard of God’s Name, the next in my Have Body, Will Guard series, which takes place on the resort island of Djerba, off the Tunisian coast. Dog’s Waiting Room is #13 in my golden retriever mystery series, set in the contemporary version of the small town in The Lock-Keeper’s Heart. Finally, Unruly Son is #12 in my Honolulu-based Mahu Investigations.

    Where to buy The Lock-Keeper’s Heart

    Amazon https://amzn.to/3vLkrUD
    Barnes and Noble https://books2read.com/u/bQJWBe?store=bn
    iBooks https://books2read.com/u/bQJWBe?store=apple
    Kobo https://books2read.com/u/bQJWBe?store=kobo

    Neil S Plakcy Social Media

    Author of over fifty cozy mystery, gay mystery, and MM romance novels, Neil S Plakcy lives in south Florida with his husband and two rambunctious golden retrievers. During the great lockdown of 2020 he honed his skills as his own barista.
    Website https://www.mahubooks.com
    Blog http://mahubooks.blogspot.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/NeilPlakcy
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy
    Pinterest http://pinterest.com/neilplakcy/boards/
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/neilplakcy/
    Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/126217.Neil_Plakcy
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/neil-s-plakcy
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B001JP4EL6
    Get to know Neil S Plakcy better by signing up for an email newsletter at https://www.mahubooks.com

     

  • Regency

    Read the #Duke of Honor by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Read the #Duke of Honor by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Will Hadley be able to tear down the walls surrounding Sebastian’s heart and help the Duke of Honor finally heal? Try Alexa Aston’s newest Regency romance, Duke of Honor, from the Dukes of Distinction series.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Duke of Arrogance.

    Duke of Honor by Alexa Aston

    A duke harboring a secret he can never reveal...

    Sebastian Cooper, Marquess of Marbury, chooses to leave England and fight in the Napoleonic Wars for a decade. He comes home to find his father has died and assumes his role as the new Duke of Hardwick.

    When Lady Hadley Hampton’s parents die, she is made a ward to the Duke of Hardwick, a man estranged from his only son. She reads Sebastian’s letters aloud to her guardian and over the years falls in love with the dashing war hero.

    When Sebastian arrives home, he is astounded that Hadley has been managing his father’s affairs and is angry this beautiful stranger knows so much about him when he didn’t even know she existed. Sebastian fights his growing attraction to Hadley, believing she deserves much more than the broken, scarred man he has become.

    Will Hadley be able to tear down the walls surrounding Sebastian’s heart and help the Duke of Honor finally heal?

    Find the answer in The Duke of Honor, Book 5 in the Dukes of Distinction.

    *Each book in Dukes of Distinction is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free in Kindle Unlimited.

    Where to buy Duke of Honor

    Amazon: http://bit.ly/DukeOfHonor

    Alexa Aston Social Media

    Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She's a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.
    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
    Website https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram Https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join

  • Historical,  Meet an Author

    Meet Patricia Bates @PatBAuthor Author of Chains of Rome #RLFblog #HistoricalRomance

    Meet Patricia Bates @PatBAuthor Author of Chains of Rome #RLFblog #HistoricalRomancePatricia Bates, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Chains of Rome.

    Chains of Rome by Patricia Bates

    Genre Historical Romance set in Ancient Rome

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Born a slave, Salaria has served her mistress, Roman noblewoman Icilia, from childhood. Skilled with medicines and potions, she’s served as both her body slave and healer. From her position at Icilia’s side Salaria’s bore witness to countless indiscretions.

    To protect herself and the slave children of the villa, Salaria has kept her mistress’s secrets safe. When she unwittingly humiliates Icilia, Salaria is punished severely and thrown out of the house and into the slave quarters attached to the barn.

    Her fate – to serve the men training to be gladiators.

    Recently taken from the battlefield, war chieftain Tritus has no love of Rome. His hatred deepens when he sees how Salaria, a spirited yet compassionate woman, is treated. To protect her, Tritus begins to train her as a gladiator.

    But the longer they’re together, the more they yearn for each other. In Tritus, Salaria finds a man of honor, of integrity who sees her as an equal. A man who doesn’t fear her or want to crush her beneath his heel. Love, however, is a luxury no slave can afford.

    Pushed together for survival, they find themselves drawn to each other. But their futures are uncertain and one slip could mean they’re torn from each other’s arms forever.

    Can they survive the fight for freedom and their hearts in the face of dark secrets and deep betrayals?

    **Content Warning – Contains graphic scenes of violence, sex, and gore.

    Tell us about yourself as a person.

    What is your personality type?

    I’m an introverted extrovert, I enjoy socializing when I’m away from home, but for me the quiet calm of my office is my favorite place.

    What was your favorite childhood game?

    Cowboys. Growing up out of town, our neighbors had livestock and I love riding horses so I was often at my neighbors helping out around the yard and barn.

    What is your favorite subject to talk about?

    History – love history. Which is why I love writing about it and often when not talking about writing talk about historical trivia.

    What is your favorite book?

    Um just one? I have a dozen favorites in many different genres. One that’s stuck with me the longest is Sackett Brand by Louis L’Amour.

    What is your favorite meal?

    Scalloped potatoes

    Tell us about yourself as a writer.

    What made you want to be a writer?

    I’ve always loved the written word – when I was little it was the challenge of keeping up with my older sister then it grew into a compulsion.

    What are your favorite books for writing advice?

    K.M Weiland – she has an amazing amount of non-fiction writing books which are absolutely gold.

    What are your favorite reference books?

    Craig Marten Release Strategies, Plot Your Romance Novel by Natasha James, and Chicago Manual of Style

    When you go to a convention, what kinds of things do you take along?

    I haven’t been to one yet, but swag for giveaways, copies of my books in print and my laptop set up so people can purchase their ebook copies immediately if they desire to.

    What’s your best advice for a new writer?

    Write a business plan for yourself and work on your author base (website, social media, newsletter) with your writing as your main priority.

    What are your writing goals for the next year or so?

    To finish the WIPs I have on my desk at the moment – which total five and then work on new ideas.

    Where to buy Chains of Rome

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZK5FG31
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chains-of-rome-patricia-bates/1139170051
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/chains-of-rome

    Patricia Bates Social Media

    Patricia Bates is a Canadian romance author writing in her favorite genre: Historical Romance. She recently expanded her genres to include Contemporary Suspense and Romantic Suspense with a gothicesque feel.
    Patricia has developed a unique writing style to reflect her passion for history and strong, independent characters. Her stories feature characters of strength and integrity, with their own unique flaws.
    She has two Best Sellers under her belt for Champagne Books and Beachwalk Press.
    Her best selling Master’s Mistress has signed with an agent and they are actively seeking to get it made into a feature-length film. She recently released a Dark Romantic Suspense romance and is set to release another historical romance in 2021.
    Website https://www.patriciabates.com
    Twitter https://www.twitter.com/PatBAuthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Patriciabatesauthor
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patriciabatesauthor
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/patriciabates
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/patricia-bates
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.ca/Patricia-Bates/e/B003UTR7UE
    Get to know Patricia Bates better by signing up for an email newsletter https://patriciabates.com/welcome-to-the-authors-den/

     

  • Regency

    Read the #Duke of Arrogance by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #RegencyRomance

    Can a bluestocking with a quick wit tame the disreputable Duke of Arrogance—and save his soul? Try Alexa Aston's newest Regency romance, Duke of Arrogance, from the Dukes of Distinction series.

    Alexa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I'm Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Duke of Arrogance.

    Duke of Arrogance by Alexa Aston

    A woman spurned by the ton...

    A duke harboring an appalling secret...

    Life radically changes for Arabella Jennings, the daughter of an Oxford don, when her father becomes the Earl of Barrington. She’s an intellectual who would rather be discussing Shakespeare’s works but now finds herself navigating the vicious waters of Polite Society.

    Jonathan Sutton’s twin dies, making him the new Duke of Blackmore. Pledging to live for both himself and Arch, Jon becomes one of London’s leading rakes, breaking rules and bedding women as his brother would have done had he lived.

    Jon meets Arabella the first night of the Season and decides this woman, so different from every conquest he’s made, might help him from the abyss he’s sunk into.

    Can a bluestocking with a quick wit tame the disreputable Duke of Arrogance—and save his soul?

    Find the answer in The Duke of Arrogance, Book 4 in the Dukes of Distinction.

    *Each book in Dukes of Distinction is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order and can be read for free in Kindle Unlimited.

    Where to buy Duke of Arrogance

    Amazon: http://bit.ly/DukeOfArrogance

    Alexa Aston Social Media

    Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She's a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.
    Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
    Website https://alexaaston.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Instagram Https://www.instagram.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads https://goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexa-aston
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    Get to know Alexa Aston better by signing up for an email newsletter http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join