My Interview on Awesome Gang!

*This originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.


Marie Lavender

by Vinny O'Hare
Mariepic2Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I am a romance author. I have published 16 books, and I have numerous works in progress.

I have always loved “love”, whether it was watching a romantic comedy or reading a book. And I have written stories since I was a kid. So, it was no wonder I wanted to write romance.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My current release is Upon Your Return. It is a historical romance. I have always loved to read historical romance novels. In the past, I read the greats like Catherine Coulter and Rosemary Rogers. Upon Your Return just kind of popped into my head one day. The characters started talking and wouldn’t stop!

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

Define “unusual”. Does staying up till four or five in the morning to finish a scene count? Then probably. A lot of times my ideas come at night when I really should be sleeping. Sometimes I’ll write during the day if the mood hits me. For a lot of my works, I write by hand at first, though I occasionally compose on the computer.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

As I said before, I read Catherine Coulter. I definitely read a lot of Nora Roberts’ books. Hmm…who else? Barbara Delinsky and Debbie Macomber. In recent years, I got on a paranormal kick and picked up J.R. Ward, Kerrelyn Sparks, P.C. Cast and Chloe Neill. For historical, I have also read Tessa Dare, Emma Wildes and Jane Feather.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on the sequel to Upon Your Return. It will be titled Upon Your Honor. I also have a romantic suspense I am working on with a writing partner. And I may still do self-publishing. I have lots of works in progress.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

It seems like Facebook and Twitter have been the best for me so far. They are simple to use, even if it takes up a lot of time. They have still been invaluable tools, and I have met a lot of great people on those sites!

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Never give up. The road is long and hard. It is very tempting to just throw your dreams away completely or to just set them aside because other people are telling you to or you don’t have the time. Make time for your dreams. Keep writing. You’ll be glad you did.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

There is something I am terribly guilty of doing. I still do it, even though I shouldn’t. But, it’s good to come back to this old adage every once in awhile. “Don’t put too much on your plate.” Handle one thing at a time, and it will turn out right. In this day and age, it is so tempting to multitask and to stress out over everything. We want to handle it all because we think that’s the only way. But, really, even though we can doesn’t mean we should. Putting too much pressure on yourself just has the opposite effect. You get nothing done because you’re freaking out about it. Just do that one thing, finish it, and move on to the next. You can’t lump everything into one column. It doesn’t all fit.

What are you reading now?

It’s funny, but I’m reading the print version of Upon Your Return. I’ve only ever read it in document format until now. It’s so exciting to see your work in print!


I also just started Old Town Nights by Linda Lee Williams. It is a paranormal romance. I recommend it, as well as her book Elsewhere. This indie author is doing very well!

What’s next for you as a writer?

I hope to release the sequel to Upon Your Return, whenever I get done writing it. And I have ideas for all kinds of series after the Heiresses in Love series is done! I have a series in mind about a coven of six witches. These books will also be historical romance, set during the Salem Witch trials so a lot of it will be about their struggles to remain anonymous.

What is your favorite book of all time?

Do I have to choose? Okay, I have two. Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter. That book really woke me up to the genre.

And I loved J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. I’d always loved paranormal movies, but that book introduced me to paranormal romance books. And the series is awesome.

Author Websites and Profiles

Marie Lavender Website
Marie Lavender Amazon Profile
Marie Lavender Author Profile on Smashwords

Marie Lavender’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Check out my book promo on Tea Cooper's blog!

*This originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.

Picture
Upon Your Return 

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

PRAISE FOR UPON YOUR RETURN
I read Upon Your Return by Marie Lavender per her request. In my time I have read many books by authors like Sabrina Jeffries, Johanna Lindsey, etc and found Ms Lavenders' book inspiring. She did a lot of work in this fabulous romance. At first I was a little bit anxious to read another story about a woman is forced to marry someone she doesn't love. But once I started reading, it kept me in suspense. When Fara is attacked by ruffians, she is rescued by a sea captain by the name of Grant Hill. He acts the gentleman with Fara and wants to be helpful. Of course Fara is grateful with his actions. When Fara is returned safely to her home, her Uncle is displeased and upset with her behavior. It's his way to be in charge of his niece and tells her so. Even though Grant played the hero to Fara, her Uncle says this man is beneath her station. Can two people from different backgrounds find happiness and love? Please try this exciting new author.  

Original link:  http://snurl.com/2794zrs



Author Bio
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats.  She has been writing for over twenty years.  She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.
At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories.  Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play.  Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one.  She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer.  While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal.  After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to to publish a book.  Since then, Marie has published sixteen books.  Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories.  Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them.  Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. 
Feel free to visit her website for further information about her books and her life.  Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. 


A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender:  Upon Your Return

Erica Sutherhome:  Hard to GetMemoriesA Hint of ScandalWithout YouStrange HeatTerror in the NightHauntedPursuitPerfect GameA Touch of DawnRansom

Kathryn Layne:  A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse:  Express Café and Other RamblingsRamblings, Musings and Other ThingsSoulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things 


Links


Website:  http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
Blogs:  http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upon-Your-Return/221212331354873
LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92992474&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/marielavender1

Purchase Links:

http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/
http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Return-Marie-Lavender/dp/1484978099/
https://www.createspace.com/4284739
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-your-return-marie-lavender/1115291084
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/315796
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Upon-Your-Return/book-S9j9kHxqnUOxEUK4IkjFRw/page1.html?s=sGcZru_xmE2NIc-tjelWvg&r=1

5 Star Review on Lusty Pengin!

*This was originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.

Review: Upon Your Return by Marie Lavender

Upon Your Return
Review – Requested by Author
By: Marie Lavender
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Format: eBook
Pages: 352
Publication date: February 13, 2013
ISBN 13: 9781484978092
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Heiresses in Love


5Stars-3Flames


Book Description

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into and adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

The Review

With vivid characters, sensuality, and danger, Marie Lavender hits the mark with her historical romance Upon Your Return. Set in 1860s France, Lavender pulls the reader into her story with colorful historical details, authentic settings, and French phrases, making the atmosphere even more realistic.

Orphaned by the death of her parents, Fara Bellamont becomes the ward of her unloving uncle. Having known love from her parents, Fara is unprepared to deal with her uncle, who cannot wait until she is of age to marry her off. Fara’s fiancé deliberately puts her in danger one evening and ruffians attack her. Grant Hill, a trading captain, fights off the ruffians and rescues a still pure Fara, which makes Grant hero-worthy in my book. Immediately affected by Grant, Fara falls for his charms. Meanwhile, Grant is also affected by Fara’s beauty and spirit. Defying social convention because they are from different stations, Grant pursues Fara, which made me fall for him even more. All of her life, Fara has been looking for true love and believes that she has found that with Grant. A wise character, Fara realizes that love covers a wide range of feelings because one moment she wants nothing more than to kiss Grant and the next moment she just wants to smack him. Fara needs to hear those three magical words from Grant, and for the longest time, he is unable to say the words to her, which is heartbreaking.. When danger finds its way to Fara’s life once again, Grant finally understands that he truly is in love with Fara, making me cheer out loud.

Seamlessly melding a powerful love story with plenty of surprising plot twists, Upon Your Return is a deliciously seductive read that will sweep readers away to a different time and place.
LustyPenguinC66a-A01cT03a-Z
Lori Zalewski
I received an eBook copy from the author for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

If you enjoyed this review, be sure to follow Lusty Penguin Reviews—in whichever way is your favorite way to follow—via Facebook, Google+, e-mail, RSS, Weekly Newsletter, or Bloglovin’ for future posts!

5 Star Review by Amanda for Upon Your Return!

*This was originally posted on Amanda's blog here, but I will post it below.


Friday, July 26, 2013

Review: Upon Your Return

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.
But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.
Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.
Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

Upon receiving this book, I immediately noticed how beautiful the cover was. I only meant to open it long enough to see how long it was going to be but found myself sucked in to the story from page one. I couldn't stop reading and ending up stay up way past my usual bedtime. It was that good. 

Fara's background elicits teary eyes at the thought of the hopelessness that faces children in her situation. She was orphaned at a young age during a time in the world that when having a place to live meant relatives had to take you in or your were sent to the work houses, no matter your age. Thankfully, she did have an uncle to turn to but he was a cold man that tried to stifle the independent woman she was to become. 

I laughed, cried, and even cheered a few times during the reading of Upon Your Return.

Fara and Grant's story is one that leaves you hoping for more and the touches of historically correct facts, women's rights issues, and the way society worked back then makes this book a hidden gem. Add in the fact that it was well-written and wonderfully edited makes it a five star book, in my opinion.

Brava to the author for publishing a book that turned out so wonderfully! Looking forward to reading more from Marie Lavender in the future! You can purchase Upon Your Return from Amazon or read more about it from Goodreads.
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Book Promo Up on Awesome Gang!

*This was originally posted here, but I will post below as well.

Upon Your Return

by Vinny O'Hare
UponYourReturn_E-bookCoverAbout Upon Your Return:
Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.
But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.
Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.
Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…
Author Bio:
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.
At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.
Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
A list of her books and pen names are as follows:
Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom
Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things
Learn more about the author and follow them on social media:
Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
Goodreads Profile Page

Another Five Star Review!

French romance, July 18, 2013

By

Sandra Lynne Padgett

This review is from: Upon Your Return (Kindle Edition)

This is a love story set in the 1860's in France. Fara is left an orphan and put into the care of her uncle. He is all business with no real feelings for Fara. One of the duties of the uncle is to find a suitor for Fara. One such suitor sets up Fara into a bad situation. Captain Grant Hill saves Fara, and they become acquainted. Love grows between them, but he is involved in political intrigues and ends up separated from Fara for a period of time. The characters are very well developed, the history is well researched and the story line flows along very smoothly. There is a lot of suspense because of the intrigues and whether they love each other enough to commit to each other or is he just using her as men will often do. This is a very exciting, passionate and suspenseful story. It will grab you and not let you go. I received this free through Goodreads Making Connections group. Recommend, especially for people who like historical fiction. Well done!

http://snurl.com/27hd4tt

*This review is also on Goodreads here.

Book Promo on Chris Weigand's blog!

*This originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.


Welcome Marie Lavender

We are excited to welcome Marie Lavender and her book: Upon Your Return. Tell us a little about your book.




Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…

Wow if you thought that was intriguing here is an excerpt:

This was a very bad idea. Surely Monsieur Le Croíx knew the dangers. What if he was a rascal indeed? What if he’d meant for her to be alone at the pier?

A shiver slowly crept up her spine. It wasn’t the implications of that thought which plagued her. It was the feel of something or someone close by. Were those footsteps she heard behind her or on another pier?
“Jean? Is that you?” She tried to slow her breathing, which came in rapid pants. “Jean?” She stiffened. “Jean Le Croíx, are you there? You’d better come out.” As she turned, her elbow brushed something and she recoiled, falling against a wall. No, not a wall. Terror ripped through her as she realized a pair of arms enclosed around her.

“Lovely lady. You’re looking for someone, I presume? Well, Monsieur Le Croíx thought you’d be better off in our hands.”

Our hands? She tried to jerk away from him, but he was too strong. “Let me go, I-I demand it.”

Laughter erupted nearby and a figure loomed before her. Another man appeared and licked his lips lasciviously. “OuiMonsieur Le Croíx believed us quite capable once he dished out the finances required. We may have gotten a poor bargain, Bernard. She could be worth far more.”

The man grunted in agreement.

Mon Dieu, she thought. Jean had hired them! For what exactly? To kill her? Her stomach rolled as she imagined all the things they might do to her.

“Please, I’ll do anything. Not this…” She shook her head.

“The lady is smart, Bernard. We must watch her.”

“Please. My…m-my uncle,” she stammered.

“I’m terribly sorry, chère. Your uncle has nothing to do with our pleasure.”

“But…” She swallowed her fear. “Ransom…if you ask for a ransom, he’ll give it to you. I promise. Anything.”

“No doubt your uncle is a wealthy man and you might fetch a fair price. But, what we’re looking for you cannot buy.” He laughed. “In most circumstances.”

No, they couldn’t buy it. But, they could take it. Her virginity. She could not fight them if they tried. Anger heated her face and a red haze filled her vision. She struggled harder. “Damn you! You’ll pay for this!”

He laughed. “I suppose so. But, what else can you do? There is an alternative now, a position withdames de nuit…”

She clenched her fist. Now she was likened to a prostitute? No, it would not be done. She tried to play at her innocence. “Please…this can’t be happening.”

“Oh, but it is, my lovely lady. It won’t be so bad–”

“No!” She slammed the heel of her foot in her captor’s shin and spun away.

“Bernard!” called one of the men.

She heard footsteps behind her and she turned, lashing out with her fingernails. She gasped as she saw him howl in pain, lowering his head to reveal red claw marks over the bridge of his nose. Then the man she’d first wounded came at her, tackling her.

The impact jarred her and she went down. “No!” Her escape was not to be.

She rolled to the ground in a maze of skirts and a heavy thigh was thrown across her knees, leaving her immobile. She squeezed her eyes tight. His touch on her face and breasts was repulsive. Tears threatened to overcome her and they ran like tracks into her hair. “Please,” she whispered.

“Ah, gentlemen, what have we here?” An unfamiliar voice sounded and Fara lifted her head weakly to see a new face, a different man. She wondered if he was an ordinary spectator. He didn’t look ordinary. He was big, intimidating but not frighteningly so. There was something about him she wanted to trust. She thought it might be his eyes, thought she detected a hint of concern as he glanced at her briefly. But, of course, she might be wrong. She had been before.

The man who pinned her disengaged himself and got to his feet. He looked down at her uneasily. “To your feet, chère,” he ordered.

She dizzily stood in response and he clutched her to his side as if to claim her as his possession.

The stranger frowned. “She’s quite a catch, gentlemen. Are you sure she’s not off limits?”

The man at her side stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“She appears to be a lady.”

Hope sprang from inside her. The man was no innocent bystander. He was a man with a purpose, but deep down she knew he could not be with these rogues.

“And if she is, Monsieur?”

“Then I would be curious as to why a lady is here with the two of you.”

The one called Bernard replied derisively, “Perhaps we are just too irresistible.”

The man laughed. “Hardly.” He sighed as her captor chose to resume his place behind her and blocked all attempts of escape with an arm across her chest. “Release her, gentlemen. Let’s settle this in a civilized manner, shall we?”

The man who held her grunted. “Why don’t you go about your business, Monsieur? A simple matter like this shouldn’t interest you.”

“A woman’s reputation may be at stake. Of course I’m interested.”

“We could share her, Monsieur.”

His gaze swept over her body and she shivered. Why, surely he would not take them seriously…he couldn’t take the offer. For God’s sake, he was her only hope. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she cursed herself for her maiden’s sensibilities. Where had her strength gone?

“You think I would participate in something so lewd? You mistake my character, gentlemen.” He pulled a rapier from its sheath. “The question is, what risks will you take? Let me see…two men against one. Of course, if you still want to keep the lady, it will take one of you to hold her. She looks fairly strong despite her size…why look at that mark on your face. She has fought you. She could be deadly, if given the chance. That makes one against one. Do you intend to fight me for her obvious favors?”

“Take out the girl, Bernard.”

The command came too quickly and before she could struggle away, a fist slammed against her jaw and she fell into blackness.

She lifted her head sometime later, unsure of how long she’d been unconscious. Her vision gradually returned, and the damp of the ground seeped through her dress. She shuddered with the chill of air upon her body. She heard the scrape of a footstep and a grunting sound above her. Still disoriented, Fara raised her head to see the man who had come to her rescue fighting off the two rogues.

He fought them with expert wrist and arm technique. He seemed to be in top physical shape as compared to Jean Le Croíx, who was soft for his obvious youth. She grimaced. Her wound caused her to be silly. So, he was attractive and strong…strong enough to fight these men off and break her neck all in the same moment.
Then the man thrust his rapier forward swiftly. When the one called Bernard, who had a white scar down the side of his face pulled away, he revealed a small but bloody wound on his arm. With a ragged breath, he looked at her rescuer as if weighing the consequences of his decision. He then turned on his heel and his accomplice soon followed him away from the docks.

Fara watched their retreat with a deep sigh. Her rescuer pivoted on his heel and approached her. He looked much larger than before. Trembling, she levered herself up on one elbow and waited for him to speak.
He kneeled and looked her over. “I guess they gave up the chase…”

Fara nodded, swallowing hard. “Oui, Monsieur.” He touched her cheek and she felt the warmth emanate from his hand. She was afraid, but she did not pull away from his touch. She found it strangely protective, even affectionate. Though she barely knew him, she wanted to believe he cared for her welfare. Her vision clouded with tears as rich longing swept through her. To be cared for completely, to be loved. But, he was a stranger. She could not forget that.

Distantly, she knew that her physical state was far from normal at the moment.

“Are you all right?”

She shook her head, feeling herself grow weaker by the second.  Nothing could keep her alert at that moment.  “Monsieur…” she murmured, falling in the inviting darkness.

Can’t wait to get my hands on this one.  Here’s a little bit about the author Marie Lavender:




Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; MemoriesA Hint of ScandalWithout YouStrange HeatTerror in the NightHauntedPursuitPerfect GameA Touch of DawnRansom
Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other RamblingsRamblings, Musings and Other ThingsSoulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

Links

Thank you so much, RANSOM readers!

I got a pleasant surprise when I was casually looking over my KDP account yesterday.  I found that 15 people bought Ransom this month!  Just that one book.  That's exciting!

So, this is my shoutout to my readers!  Thank you, RANSOM readers!  That is one of my favorite books.  It is very close to my heart, and I recently changed the cover.  Here is it if you missed it! 



Here is the blurb:

Triana Richards finds a prospect in the form of her captor when she is kidnapped from her home. For reasons she cannot imagine, she becomes very attached to a man who calls himself Damien. As events unfold, she must ask herself if her feelings are real or if she is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome.

But, her captor has his own reasons for holding her for ransom. Can he do the right thing and let her go or will he keep her, as he is also a slave to his own desires?


I am so excited that RANSOM appealed to so many in such a short time!  Triana is great character.  She is a young woman who is completely undone by the passion she feels for this man named Damien.  And Damien can hardly control himself either.  They both question their own desires and motives in this book. 

If you like this book, you might also like A TOUCH OF DAWN, another book that is available directly from my website, http://www.marielavender.webs.com/. 

A TOUCH OF DAWN is also available on Lulu and Amazon.  Here is the cover:




A TOUCH OF DAWN is a book that is very close to my heart.  Caitlyn and Jack are both very generous, loving people who, despite their terrible pasts and experiences, somehow find each other.  Their passion is gradually discovered.  This book is sweetly sensual, and after I wrote it, even I was amazed by how much the characters learned about each other and themselves.  It is truly a story about growth and love.  I recommend it! 

I got off tangent a bit, didn't I?  Readers who have not read either one of these books...well, I hope that you do.  And I appreciate you, readers, for taking the time to add RANSOM to your collection.  Please join my website, blogs and follow my Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates on my books.

Here are the links:

Website:  http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
Blogs:  http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upon-Your-Return/221212331354873
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/marielavender1

I have websites, Facebook pages and Twitter handles for my other pen names (Erica Sutherhome, Kathryn Layne and Heather Crouse) as well, but please keep in mind, readers, that I will be re-releasing all of my books under Marie Lavender eventually.

Erica Sutherhome:

Website:  http://ericasutherhome.webs.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/erica.sutherhome.3
https://www.facebook.com/EricaSutherhome
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erica-Sutherhome/146654435472037
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hard-to-Get/360904657323866
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Memories/377389515662980
https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Hint-of-Scandal/351129741629124?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Without-You/373506926053949
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Strange-Heat/432157900167806
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Terror-in-the-Night/424565970927880
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Haunted/472906489401237
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pursuit/107947226021066
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perfect-Game/333953053355900
https://www.facebook.com/ATouchOfDawn
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ransom/408591795886134
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/EricaSutherhome  



Kathryn Layne:

Website:  http://authorkathrynlayne.webs.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.layne.9
https://www.facebook.com/KathrynLayne01
https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Misplaced-Life/495192237161388
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kathryn_layne

Heather Crouse:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/heather.crouse.319
https://www.facebook.com/ExpressCafeAndOtherRamblings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ramblings-Musings-and-Other-Things/461291660578318
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soulful-Ramblings-and-Other-Worldly-Things/338475046239096
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/heychica80


Thanks so much for following me and reading my books!

Interview on the Smily Somebody Loves You (SSLY) Blog

*This was originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.


Interview ~ Marie Lavender ~ & ~ Book Spotlight ~ Upon Your Return

Mariepic2Beverly and Tamara: Marie, welcome to SSLY. Thanks so much for joining us today. So first why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid. My preferred genre is romance. I have published sixteen books. Fifteen of them were self-published. My latest release, published by Solstice Publishing, is a historical romance called Upon Your Return. It came out in February.

Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?

A pen usually. Most of the time, I write by hand, unless the mood takes me when I’m at the computer. Preferably, a gel pen in a pretty color, but I’ll use what I have if I must. 
 
Beverly: When did you start to write?

When I was nine years old. I started writing stories then, and really never stopped.

Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?

A good hero in a story should be compelling. Strong, attractive (but not overly) and human. By human, I mean he should be a little flawed, capable of mistakes.

Beverly: Can you describe your favorite character? And which of your books is he/she in? How do you come up with your characters?

That’s a hard question. I love them all! I guess my favorite is Fara Bellamont. She is the starring character in Upon Your Return. Despite the odds and the time period, she is strong and determined to find love at all costs. As far as how my characters come to me, they just do. The muse strikes me whenever it wants. Right now, I have over 90 stories in progress. I get new ideas for characters and storylines all of the time. 
 
Tamara: What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?

Dialogue is pretty easy for me. I would say with some books, love scenes can be challenging. Getting that perfect balance between passion and emotion is hard. And the other challenging thing for me is description, giving a sense of place. Sometimes I have to go back in and put it in later. 

Beverly: What writer, if any, influenced how you write?

That’s a cross between Catherine Coulter and Nora Roberts.
 
Tamara: Who would you choose as your “book boyfriend/girlfriend”? From what book? Author?

Hmm. J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series is very good. Maybe the character Wrath from Dark Lover. He is very powerful.

Beverly: OMG! He is sooo yummy! What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done? Or would like to? What? We are all about the love!

Um, I’d like to get my man outside, maybe on a beach or something. I’m not saying anything else! *Blush*

Tamara: What are your favorite types of heroines? Do you like the damsel in distress who needs saving or the kick-ass variety? Why?

I like a combination of the two. I definitely like a woman who can handle herself in a time of crisis, but I am okay with someone saving her if the situation calls for it (if there’s no other choice). I like strong females (i.e. Buffy…LOL), but it’s even better if the hero and heroine can work together kicking the villain’s butt.

Beverly: What was your worst date ever?

I went on one date with this guy, and I just knew there was no chemistry at all. I think he took me to a pool place (pool tables). It really isn’t all that memorable. But, I felt so incredibly awkward. I just wanted to go home.

Tamara: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you? (you have food, water, shelter, all the necessities, so nothing mundane)

My fiancé, a thick journal and a pen that never dries up. LOL.

Beverly: What is your “guilty pleasure”?

Dark chocolate. It is my total weakness. I can’t get enough! Really, any kind of chocolate dessert is wonderful, but dark chocolate? I can’t say no!

Tamara: What dream or goals have you yet to realize?

I want to see one of my books on a shelf in a store someday. That would really make my day!

Beverly: What was your most embarrassing moment? It can’t be worse than mine….

Really? Did you flub up the words to a song you were supposed to sing in front of your whole graduating class in high school? I ended up singing the first verse all over again, hoping no one noticed, but I was mortified!

Tamara: *shakes her head* Beverly was much naughtier than that! It involved *muffled, pries Bev’s hands away* Fine! I won’t tell! But you owe me! If you were a color what would you be and why?

Hot pink. I love hot pink. It says, “Hey, I’m here,” and yet it’s still feminine.

Beverly: *high fives Marie* Oh yeah! Who has influenced how you perceive love? Why?

Well, I’ve always loved “love”. And reading romance novels certainly helped. But, I would have to say that my parents really affected my view of love. If they didn’t clearly love each other, if they weren’t clearly “in” love with each other, then I’m not sure I’d be where I am today.

Tamara and Beverly: Okay. We are SSLY so I have to ask. Who loves you?

My fiance. Chris. He loves me. I know he does. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have stuck around this long. LOL.

Now for some quick fun questions:

Boxers or briefs? No preference really.
Coffee or Tea? Tea.
Tall, dark and handsome or Blond and buff? Tall, dark and handsome of course.
Hairy chest or smooth? Smooth. My man better have no hair. Hair is gross.
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
Kinky or Sweet? A combination of the two, I hope.
Fast or slow? Oh my God, did you really ask that? That depends on the mood.
Public or private? Private, of course. A bed is really nice.
Top or bottom? Wow. Bottom, I guess. Sometimes it’s nice to have him in control.

Beverly and Tamara: Well, now that we’ve shocked Marie our job here is done! *laughing and hugging Marie* Thanks for being such a good sport!

UponYourReturn_E-bookCover 

UPON YOUR RETURN blurb:

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life. But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position. Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms. Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…
Buy links: http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/
https://www.createspace.com/4284739
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-your-return-marie-lavender/1115291084
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/315796
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Upon-Your-Return/book-S9j9kHxqnUOxEUK4IkjFRw/page1.html?s=sGcZru_xmE2NIc-tjelWvg&r=1

MARIE LAVENDER bio:
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book. Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
A list of her books and pen names are as follows:
Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return
Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom
Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life
Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things
MARIE LAVENDER links
Website: http://marielavender.webs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upon-Your-Return/221212331354873?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marielavender1

Another Five Star Review!


Another five star review!

Jul 12, 2013 Amanda Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Upon receiving this book, I immediately noticed how beautiful the cover was. I only meant to open it long enough to see how long it was going to be but found myself sucked in to the story from page one.

Fara's background elicits teary eyes at the thought of the hopelessness that faces children in her situation.

I laughed, cried, and even cheered a few times during the reading of Upon Your Return.

Fara and Grant's story is one that leaves you hoping for more and the touches of historically correct facts, women's rights issues, and the way society worked back then makes this book a hidden gem. Add in the fact that it was well-written and wonderfully edited makes it a five star book, in my opinion.

Brava to the author for publishing a book that turned out so wonderfully! Looking forward to reading more from Marie Lavender in the future! - from Goodreads and Amazon http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17375235-upon-your-return

Author Interview on Nina Soden's blog

*This interview was originally posted here, but I will post it below as well.



Author Interview – Marie Lavender

Marie Lavender an established self-published Indie author with 16 published books to her name (including pen names) recently went the route of traditional publishing when she released Upon Your Return. Learn all about her experience in this intimate one-on-one interview.
Mariepic2Marie Lavender ~ Author of Upon Your Return
UponYourReturn_E-bookCover
  • What is your name and where do you call home? My name is Marie Lavender and I am a small town girl from Indiana. 
  • What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say? Upon Your Return is my latest release.  It came out in February through Solstice Publishing.  Upon Your Return is a historical romance about a girl who dreams big and gets into a lot of trouble for it.
  • Is the above book part of a series?Yes, it is the first book in the Heiresses in Love series.
  • What or who inspired you to start writing? And how long have you been writing? I’ve always been an avid reader ever since I was a kid.  I suppose that was part of the onset of my writing obsession.  But, mainly, it was that I had these scenes go through my head of characters and dialogue and I had no choice but to write them down.
  • How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book(s)? I had a few ideas for it, but the credit goes to Kayden McLeod, the cover designer, and Jimmy Thomas, one of the cover models.
  • Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your book(s)? Yes, sometimes I listen to different artists.  Sometimes, if I am writing historical stories, it helps to listen to Celtic music or love songs.  It really depends on the book I’m working on.  I like a lot of different music.  Some of my favorite artists are Owl City, Paramore, Fireflight, OneRepublic, Switchfoot and Sarah MacLachlan.  I have others, but there are really too many to count.
  • How did you come up with the title for your book(s)? It came from part of the dialogue in the book.  It is something the heroine says to the man she later falls for.
  • Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books? In some ways, I am traditional.  I still love to have a paperback or hard copy in my hands.
  • Are you a self-published/Indie author? Yes.  I have self-published fifteen books.  Upon Your Return is the first one that is traditionally published.
  • If you’re a self-published/Indie author what made you go that route instead of the traditional publishing route? I had a lot of works I wanted people to see.  And it was fun to self-publish!
  • Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it? I’ve definitely read some of Catherine Coulter’s books over again.  And I’ve read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood more than once.
  • What is your opinion of novellas? There is nothing wrong with a novella.  It is a short read, but it still tells a good story.
  • Have you ever read a book just based on its cover? The cover is appealing a lot of the time, but mostly I have read a book because of the blurb or because I already follow that author’s work.
  • What is your favorite film based on a book? Jurassic Park is a great movie based on a book.  I have read the book and even though it is entirely different from the movie, both were equally appealing.
  • What is your favorite book genre at the moment? I am really into paranormal romance right now.
  • What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why? Word of mouth is a great marketing tool.  Someone recommended Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series to me recently.  And I had to add another series because I kept seeing tweets about it on Twitter.  I added  Ally Shield’s Guardian Witch series to the list.  I have also made a lot of author friends on Facebook and through my writer’s blog Writing in the Modern Age.  So, I added Linda Lee Williiam’s Elsewhere and C.J. Heck’s Anatomy of a Poet to my wish list on Amazon.
  • What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format? Truthfully, it is silly but I am reading Upon Your Return for the first time in paperback.  It was sitting around so I thought…what the heck?
  • If you could invite any four (4) celebrities (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why? Ooh…can I invite Gerard Butler?  God, I love that man’s accent!  Oh, and Jimmy Thomas, the man who blessed my cover with his beautiful…um, face!  I would also like to bring Catherine Coulter to the table simply because she was the woman who woke me up to the historical romance genre.  And J.R. Ward…simply because I can’t get enough of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  The brothers rule!
  • What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing? Never give up.  Never, ever, ever give up no matter what.  Perseverance is the key to making it in this industry.  If you don’t have that, you can’t weather the storm to get noticed.
  • Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to reading & writing? Shopping!  Is that related?  Well, I guess it is somewhat related because I can’t ever buy enough books!  But, I love shopping of any kind.  I really need someone to take my credit cards away.  My fiancé knows what a problem I have with that, but that’s a discussion for another day. 
Where can your readers follow you?
I want to thank Marie Lavender for taking the time to participate in this interview and for allowing us a glimpse into her wonderful world of writing.
As a writer myself I always learn something new from every writer I meet and I hope that all of my readers are able to enjoy and learn from Marie’s experiences.

Five star review on Amazon!!!!!

It posted today on Amazon, but I will post below:


Marie Lavender's beautifully written love story between heiress Fara Bellamont and Captain Grant Hill captured my heart immediately. Set in 1860's France, the novel portrays the social and political struggles of that era, and the challenges Fara faces as a woman. Although a "man's world," that sphere could prove just as hard for a man not born to a position, such as Captain Hill. Despite their situations, Fara and Grant are bold enough and brave enough to defy the conventions of the time.

In Upon Your Return, the author touches upon the stirrings of feminism and uses period details judiciously, creating a sense of reality without ever boring the reader. Fara and Grant must travel a long, difficult road and overcome a lot of obstacles. We take that journey with them and hope that somehow, in the end, love will prevail.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys romance stories and appreciates good writing. It is one of those "rare gems."  




Five Star Review on Goodreads for UPON YOUR RETURN!

*This posted July 8th here, but I will post it below as well.


's review 
 
Jul 08, 13


I was asked to read this historic romance novel. As a great lover of books from Catherine Coulter & Johanna Lindsey I was afraid I would be disappointed. However the characters were very compelling and the story didn't follow any guidelines. I was completely enamored by the story of Fara and Grant. I felt Fara and I were emotionally entwined. I have felt love for someone & had the opportunity to wait for them. I could relate with her feelings and her love.

I haven't read a historical romance in a long time that I felt like I was the character. I truly enjoyed this book and would look forward to reading more from this author. 
 
 

Book Promo on Thomas Baker's Site

*This was originally posted on Thomas Baker's site here, but I have posted it below as well.


Romance Author Marie Lavender’s New #Book Release: “Upon Your Return”



My name is Marie Lavender. I am a romance author and I have been writing for over twenty years. I have always wanted to be an author. I’ve spent most of my life trying to fulfill that dream. I recently published my first historical romance novel. I am currently working on the sequels in the Heiresses in Love series.

I have published sixteen books under various pen names. In the past, I had two short stories published in a private university publication. My books are listed below with links for your convenience.

My focus is the romance genre. I write both contemporary and historical romance stories/novels, but I also write literary fiction.

Customer Review
***** Five Star Romance, July 2, 2013
By Robin Bailey
This review is from: Upon Your Return (Kindle Edition)
I am very happy to say that I won this wonderful novel in a Facebook contest! The first thought to grab my attention was the fact that the cover is so stunning. I then proceeded to read the synopsis, which was incredibly intriguing.

I have never read any previous works by this author, so I was very excited to have the chance to read her work now. I read through the reviews posted previously, and I had high expectations, and I must say that Marie did not disappoint.

This period piece novel was obviously done with love, patience, and pride. She brought the characters to life for me! She certainly did her homework on the time period, for she presented a wonderfully written novel that immediately grabbed my historical loving heart!

I am a very picky reader, and I found this book to be so well-written and beautiful, that I was hard-pressed to put it down when I was done! I wanted to skim back to the start and read again. I do not want to give any spoilers out, but I will say that the adventure, twists, and hot romance, is incredible within this book.

You will not be disappointed!
 
I will go back into Amazon and purchase all of her other works and start reading those. Hail to, Marie Lavender! What a talented and wonderful author. I cannot wait for her next book to come out. It sounds like another winner! Please, buy this talented woman’s work! I really wish I could give her more than five stars!!
**

About the Author
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one.

She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published sixteen books. Marie Lavender’s real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them.

Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return

Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom

**Books by Erica Sutherhome

Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

Taking a Break from MLB

Yes, readers, that's right. I'm on hiatus for a while. I know I haven't posted for a bit, and that's really the reason why I...