Have you ever looked at your significant other and thought, geez, that guy needs a makeover? And if they did, what would you change?

This is my heroine’s dilemma in my August release, REDEEMING THE ROGUE. The story begins in London, England in 1881 and moves across the Atlantic to Washington, D.C. Michael Rafferty is a sexy Irishman who is most comfortable in London’s dark underbelly, ferreting out violent Fenians (a group desiring Independence for Ireland) in the hopes of finding the one responsible for the bomb that killed his family. His black hair is unfashionably long and shaggy, his wardrobe is not that of the aristocracy, and he has no need for knowing about the fourteen types of forks and eleven types of spoons on a well-laid Victorian table.

However, when the British minister assigned to Washington D.C. turns up dead. Rafferty believes the one responsible is the man he’s been chasing. The Home Office decides the best way to catch a murderer is for Rafferty to temporarily assume the position of British minister and head of Washington’s ligation. He just doesn’t exactly look the part.

Enter Lady Arianne Chambers, who for reasons of her own, agrees to mold Rafferty into an acceptable diplomat. While they cross the Atlantic she modifies his appearance, teaches him etiquette – that is, when he shows up for lessons – and teaches him to dance in a sort of reverse Pygmalion.

Little did she suspect that Rafferty was transforming her as well. Together they face Washington society, find themselves involved in the assassination of President Garfield, and are forced to defend themselves against charges of treason.

So, my question for you is…if you could change your significant other, what would it be? His hair? His weight? His clothes? His manners?

Let’s talk and I’ll send one person leaving a comment a copy of REDEEMING THE ROGUE.

Donna MacMeans
www.DonnaMacMeans.com

“[Redeeming the Rogue] is pure joy; funny, sexy and exciting.” 4.5 TOP PICK! Romantic Times Bookreviews

“Irish rebellion, smuggled guns, and the assassination of American president James Garfield form a lively backdrop for this sweet, sexy, and smartly told Victorian romance.” — Publishers Weekly

I still have promo stuff to give away that I brought back from Lori Foster’s Readers’ Get-Together. Today, I’m going to give away some of it! What do you have to do? POST A COMMENT—here and/or on the Girls Who Bite blog! Yes, you can enter this contest twice to improve your chance of winning!

This is what today’s bundle includes:

Autographed books:
Assassin’s Heart by Monica Burns
A Taste of the Nightlife by Sarah Zettel
Paramour by Margaret Ethridge

Autographed excerpt booklet from Donna MacMeans and Susan Gee Heino

Assorted stuff (some of it signed as well!)…bookmarks, trading cards, excerpt booklets from:
Carina Press, Liz Arnold, Sidney Ayers, Anya Bast, Dana Marie Bell, Cheryl Brooks, Monca Burns, Mary Burton, Virna DePaul, Lila DiPasqua, Jess Granger, Donna Grant, Marcia James, Jade Lee, Michelle Levigne, Michelle Miles, Nancy Naigle, Zinobia Renquist, Sidney Somers, Catherine Stang, Renee Vincent, Emma Wildes, Beth Williamson, and more!

No doubt, I’ll throw some of my stuff in as well! So, what can you comment about? How about this?

There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle. ~Samuel Butler

Today’s winner is named at the bottom of this post, but first, you have to see what I’m offering this week. You know I look far and wide to bring you fun things to compete for. Well, this time I’ve outdone myself!

Yeah, I’m hyping this up because what I found is the ugliest ring I’ve ever seen. This is one you’ll save for special occasions. Like Halloween. Or to give away to your least favorite relative. So, maybe I’m exaggerating just a little bit. The pictures don’t do it justice. I couldn’t get my little Canon to focus, so I’ll have to describe it to you.

The ring is a size 8, sterling silver, with a 21+-carat fire garnet, and several smaller garnets in the horns of the caribou/raindeer decorating the sides. I’m almost glad the pictures are too blurry for you to see. Imagine the winner’s suprise when she receives this gem!

Read the rest of this entry »

**Remember! The Skull Stealing Fairy contest continues! Post to enter! ~DD

I know you all need something to do today. I have the perfect activity. It’s “Tag It” day! What’s that, you say?

Well, on Amazon.com, they have this marvelous little section on each book’s page entitled “Tags Customers Associate with This Product.” Why is it significant? It’s how customers find the kinds of books they love. The more people who click on the tag, the higher the number of tags it accumulates, and the more likely the book is to appear on one of those searches. Then a reader seeking “cowboy” books, might actually find the author’s cowboy book.

I have several books that could benefit from being tagged. I promise, it only takes a few seconds of time to do it!

* Handy Men has been moving steadily up the list. A few more tags might bump it up a bit more. Click on the link to open the page: Handy Men

* While Begging For It has been accumulating some terrific reviews, it needs help for readers to discover the story. Click on this link to help: Begging For It

* Undeniable is still finding an audience among readers who love a little cross-genre hopping: Undeniable

And then there are the two big books I have coming in September and October. They are both available for pre-order at a reduced price, so it’s not too soon to tell readers about them. Here are the links for you to hop on over and “tag” the hell out of the books!

* Enslaved by a Viking (Kindle) and Enslaved by a Viking (paperback)
* Girls Who Bite

For Girls Who Bite, be sure to open up all 21 tags so you can click on my name. It’s not appearing at the moment because I wasn’t as fast as some of the contributing authors to get my name listed in the tags.

So let me know if you did this and whether it was something you never considered doing before or something you found a total pain in the ass. I do it for authors I love. Maybe you’ll think about it the next time you head to Amazon. Along with heartfelt reviews, tagging can really help.

And because I never ask for a favor without offering something in return, for any of you who post today telling me about your experience, I’ll hold a drawing for a free download of any of my Samhain or Ellora’s Cave books. I’ll name the winner in Sunday’s post, so you have plenty of time to make your way down the list!

Authors, if you drop by today, be sure to leave a link to your book at Amazon in the comments for helpful readers to find!

A new contest is here with another very cool prize!

What can you win?
This trinket box that I purchased from my favorite curio shop, Christi’s Gifts & Consignment
(870-230-1877).

What do you have to do?
Post comments on my blog or my Facebook page. Every comment you make over the next two weeks will count as one entry. Could I make it any easier?

The contest ends August 1st!

To start you off right, you can post here today AND at Wild & Wicked Cowboys. I’ve posted a very sexy picture of a cowboy. Come help me dream up a story to go along with it!

Gritty Historical Novels

by Denise A. Agnew

Romance novels have a happy ending, and that’s one of the reasons why I love them. That doesn’t mean that I don’t like a novel with grit. You know, the type of novel that really is heart-wrenching, makes you think something seriously bad is happening to the hero and heroine and that they will have to fight for their lives and their happiness.

While I love writing contemporary novels, I’ve found my true voice in historical romance. Here I feel like I can sink my teeth into everything dramatic, romantic.

Research isn’t something I shy from when I’m researching a historical novel. In fact, it’s one of the elements I find compelling. Not only do I discover what I need to accurately portray the people and times for that novel, I love learning about a new time period and place.

Historical novels are calling on me at all levels lately. In summer 2010, Samhain Publishing released a reprint of my Jack The Ripper novel (original title Midnight Rose) under the title Dark, Deadly Love. On January 4, 2011 Samhain released For A Roman’s Heart. Both novels have stunning covers! Thank you to the wonderful artist Kanaxa. In June of 2011 Samhain released Before The Dawn and it also has a beautiful cover. Each novel started with a kernel of an idea and blossomed into a story I loved writing.

And what about the future? I have six…count ‘em…six historical novels either in the works or in the idea stages. The six are broken into two separate trilogies but they all involve paranormal elements.

Here’s a tidbit of BEFORE THE DAWN to tantalize you.

A fallen woman must decide to stay down, or rise and fight…

Elijah McKinnon has been found innocent of a heinous murder, but it doesn’t erase the hellish years in prison he endured. He boards the train to Pittsburgh a changed man, certain he will never feel free until he’s wreaked revenge on the brother who ruined his life.

The passenger who catches his eye is intriguing, but he’s seen her kind before. The kind who puts on airs—and looks down on Irishmen. Still, he can’t seem to stop himself from stepping between her and a pack of ruthless cads.

Mary Jane Lawson is grateful for the handsome stranger’s help, but her journey has a higher purpose: to rise above her shattered reputation and declare her independence, come flood or famine. Propriety says she should refuse Elijah’s suggestion they pose as husband and wife—for her own protection, of course. Her practical side says it won’t hurt to pretend, just this once.

Come nightfall, though, their little charade must be carried all the way to shared sleeping quarters, where their vulnerabilities become painfully clear. And when danger past and present threatens, trusting each other becomes a matter of life and death.

Product Warnings: A hot Irish accent mixed with high adventure may cause combustion. Beware of falling for this hunk. The heroine says he’s hers.

She stumbled along in his wake, no energy to ask why they pushed onward into the woods where no one from the train could help them. Thinking that far ahead caused more trepidation, so she concentrated on planting one shoe in front of the other. After what seemed an endless time, a rocky outcropping and massive hill rose in front of them.

“Thank the saints.” He tugged her forward. “Here.” He released her hand long enough to shove aside shrubbery and reveal a tall opening. She saw his throat work as he swallowed hard. “Damnation. I don’t want to go in here, but we must. I’ll go first, you follow.”

His voice snapped like a general, and she flinched. His eyes went hard, unyielding.
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A new contest is here with a very cool prize!

What can you win?
This lovely book dragon that I purchased as a pair from my favorite curio shop. It’s small, but beautifully detailed.

What do you have to do?
Post comments on my blog or my Facebook page. Every comment you make over the next two weeks will count as one entry. How easy is that?

The contest ends July 18th!

And since you need something to start your commenting with other than, “It’s so cute!”, here’s a question…

If you had a great voice and had the opportunity to record a duet with any singer living today, whom would you choose as your partner for the recording?