Friday, April 13, 2012

Today's Special -- Kate Noble

I am absolutely delighted to welcome back the super talented Kate Noble! As many of you know, I discovered Kate's books when I picked up The Summer of You to review here at the Dish. To say I loved it is an understatement. I have since read her first two books, Compromised and Revealed, and her latest two, Follow My Lead (read my review here) and If I Fall (on shelves now!) and loved each and every one. Ah, but that's not all! Kate also has a special e-novella, The Dress of the Season, out now, too! This story came about thanks to the Nanowrimo writing challenge. Wow! I am dying to read it! Please help me welcome Kate as she talks about....


How to Survive a Broken Heart


During my last visit to the Romance Dish, the wonderful Andrea was so excited over the possibility of reading the story of a ‘certain broken-hearted young miss’, who was cruelly dumped by a duke at the end of Follow My Lead. How could I possibly disappoint her? (Andrea here: Yay! Thanks, Kate!)

Miss Sarah Forrester is that broken-hearted miss, and If I Fall is her story. But she is not broken-hearted any longer. In fact, she is the vivacious life of the party, the Golden Lady. She is at the top of every gossip column and thrilling in the adventure that is life. What, you may ask, precipitated such a change? Did she win the regency version of the lottery? Was she suddenly discovered as a sparkling wit, a literary leader, or some other object of fascination? Or worse yet, had she not actually cared at all about her ex-fiancé?

The answer is far simpler: Sarah Forrester changed because she had to. It was the only way she could get over her broken heart.

Confession time: I’ve had my heart broken in the past. And I know I’m not the only one. But as the details of the object of my heartbreak – his face, our conversations – faded with time, I will never forget the effort it took to get over the loss of what could have been.

I can say with confidence that there are five steps to getting over a broken heart: ice cream, wine, best friend support, re-focus on self, and finally, acceptance.

Steps 1&2: Ice Cream and Wine

In the immediate aftermath of heartbreak, you need the energy provided by such calorie-dense foods as ice cream. You cannot face your emotions on an empty stomach. And wine, in a controlled setting, helps with expression of said emotions.

Note: steps 1 and 2 are allowed to last for 48 hours, tops. After that, you start to indulge too much in chocolate and alcohol-induced revenge fantasies, and that helps no one.

Steps 3&4: Best Friend Support and Re-Focus on Self

While Sarah Forrester might have had a slightly different version of the first two stages (I picture her with bread pudding and ratafia instead of ice cream and wine) she mirrored me in the next two stages perfectly. While my best friend watched John Hughes movies with me and cajoled me into getting out of the apartment by signing us up for kickboxing classes, Sarah is taken under the wing of Lady Phillippa Worth (of Revealed fame) and ruthlessly promoted as and transformed into the Golden Lady. The cutting, witty Golden Lady manages to save her socially, but more importantly, protected her heart.

Step 5: Acceptance

Acceptance is where it gets tricky.

While kick-boxing (and losing 10 crucial pounds) helped me get to the final stage, Sarah has a much harder time of it.

No, for Sarah to get to step 5, she needs something extreme. She needs the Blue Raven.

When childhood friend Lieutenant Jackson Fletcher shows up, he immediately sees through the shiny, but cruel façade of the Golden Lady. He knows that the smart, happy, passionate girl he once knew still exists beneath the Golden Lady, and tries everything in his power to draw that Sarah out.

But after trying everything he can think of to bring his friend Sarah back, in a last ditch effort, he decides to dress up as the Blue Raven, the anonymous British spy that is Sarah’s childhood hero.

Too bad the real Blue Raven isn’t nearly as enthralled as Sarah turns out to be. But he does need Jack and Sarah to help him solve a mystery.

And there is nothing like an adventure to get you over a heartbreak. Heck, it might make you forget whathisname to begin with!

So tell me – what’s the best way you’ve found to get over a broken heart? Leave me a comment below and I’ll choose one lucky commenter to win a copy of If I Fall!




If I Fall

After a duke's betrayal, the resilient Sarah Forrester reinvents herself as the Golden Lady: society's leading light, the beautiful and witty life of the party. It's all a façade of course-one that protects her from another intimate disloyalty. When her old friend, Lieutenant Jackson Fletcher, returns to London, he is determined to rediscover the true and trusting Sarah he once knew. It'll take more than a kiss and a promise. It might even call for an innocent and necessary deception.

Then Jackson is enlisted to help capture the lead suspect in a murder— a man who happens to be Sarah's most ardent suitor. Jack must continue the deception, and weathering this newest and gravest betrayal will be Sarah's ultimate test. But as Jack's passion for her grows, he must also reveal his own secrets. And as the killer turns his attention to his pursuers, more than love and trust is put at risk.







The Dress of the Season

Harris Dane, Viscount Osterley, orders a very fine and scandalously cut dress to be made for a certain lady he wishes to woo. While with the dress designer, he also orders a pair of gloves to be sent to his ward, Miss Felicity Grove, to wish her well for the new Season. But when Felicity accidentally receives the dress, along with Osterley’s affectionate note, it sets into motion a tale of scandalous misunderstandings and love in the last place you look.


Order it here: http://www.katenoble.com/books/dress.php#order

45 comments:

  1. I think you've got it right, Kate. Steps 1 to 3 are vital.

    But the friend support is the most important thing, it's very hard to get through any disaster without friend support. And really good friends will be there through Steps 1 and 2 over-indulging with you. :)

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    1. "And really good friends will be there through Steps 1 and 2 overindulging with you. :)"

      You got that right!!

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  2. Hi Kate! Congrats on the new release. Can't wait to read it!

    I'd say you've nailed the steps necessary in overcoming heartbreak, with ice cream and friends being most critical in my experience. As I recall, last time I went through something like this it was hot fudge sundaes that got me over the initial pain. ;-)

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    1. Mmmmm, hot fudge sundaes. Now I'm hungry! Lol.

      You'll love Kate's latest, PJ!

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  3. Howdy and welcome back, Kate! Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving Sarah a HEA! She so deserved it. And Jack is the perfect hero for her. :)

    I agree with all you said, though I'm partial to potato chips for #1. Lol. I think the support of family is huge. As they say, blood is thicker than water. ;-)

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  4. Oh! Forgot to add--I love the excerpt for your next book! Can't wait!

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  5. Congrats on your new release! I think you've got it right. The ice cream is a must have.

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  6. It's been many years since I had a broken heart and I have to say they are so much easier than when your own child has her heart broken. That is tougher and to see my husband's look of complete bewilderment about the whole thing helped me to see I wasn't the only one at a loss.

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    1. Oh, Maureen, I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm sure I'll be beside myself if/when it happens to one of my kids.

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  7. Congratulations on the new release, Kate. My reading pattern for your books followed PJ's, except I read "The Dress of the Season" last night--and loved it. I look forward to reading If I Fall.

    I'm persuaded ice cream makes anything trouble more bearable, including heartbreak. :) Playing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" countless times helps too. I'm with Maureen on the greater pain of seeing a child you love suffer from a broken heart. The best cure for that is seeing said child find his/her HEA after all, and seeing karma bite the heartbreaker helps as well.

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    1. Janga, I have played that song after a break-up, too!

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  8. First of all you cry and feel sorry for yourself and do the "Wah" thing for a bit, then you buck up and remind yourself that only a real loser wouldn't want to be with you. Next, you look at yourself in the mirror and say, "Looking good, Girl!" You bypass the ice cream so you stay looking good; arch your eyebrow (you choose which one); and sashay your cute little butt out the door to show the world how tough you are. Don't forget that the right one is out there just waiting for you to appear!

    Kate: I absolutely love your books and am a huge fan. Congratulations on your two new releases. I cannot wait to get them. All the best!

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    1. "...and sashay your cute little butt out the door to show the world how tough you are. Don't forget that the right one is out there."

      You are so right, Connie!

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  9. Getting lost in a good book helps me cope with a lot of things! Ice cream is good, too. :-)

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  10. I find that making yourself go out and meet new people helps mend a broken heart. Taking a class or joining a social group is the best medicine. They don't know about your prior relationship so they don't pry. You get to spend time outside of your own head where you have been dwelling in your own misery.

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  11. Congratulations on your latest release...looking forward to adding it to my TBR pile. Hangs head in shame...I have several of your previous books sitting on my ever growing TBR pile, waiting their turn in my hand. Promise, it will be soon.

    BTW, thanks for the heads up on your ebook novella 'The Dress of the Season'. I just popped over to Amazon and bought a copy.

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    1. Karen, you must read Kate's books ASAP! You won't be sorry!

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  12. I have been wanting to read this book.

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  13. Congratulations on the new book. I think time, just taking it a day at a time and getting out of the house can heal a broken heart.

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    1. "Taking it a day at a time" is so true, Kim!

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  14. I'm a big fan of "Love in Hell's" advice. "How do you get over the loss of a love?"
    You;ll get bored with it, eventually." Seriously, what I did was OD on reminding myself. Since every damn thing reminded me of him anyway, I took it to ridiculous extremes. If I saw a penny on the ground, I'd think, "A penny! I bet X once bought something with a penny!" And so I got bored with it. (This was my first relationship, age 19, so believe me, I was genuinely suffering some heartbreak.)

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    1. I hope that you find "the one" someday, willaful!

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  15. Love the ice-cream, chocolates part... always the best... and some books too...

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  16. Hey Kate!! It is wonderful having you with us again. I can't wait to read your latest!

    Other than the disappointment of a schoolgirl crush, I have never had my heart broken. See I met my husband a week after my 16th birthday and this year we will celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary.

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  17. I like 1 & 2 lol and at the same time get a lot of good books. It's the one thing that makes me forget about the world around me. Looking forward to your latest book!

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  18. Thanks for a fun interview and giveaway! I'v read such wonderful reviews not only for this book but this author, I know I live under a rock cuz I haven't read her yet!

    LOL... you summed it up really well! I got stuck on ice cream and chocolate but I had a very good friend who let me wail and cry and then after a few days, told me to shake it off and we went out and had some fun ;)

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  19. Well, I have to say step 1: of course you cry until your eyes swollen and puffy. After that you'll feel a little bit better. Step2: Ice cream and Friends. What I can say if you have a bad day, ice cream is the best medicine. It can lift up your mood. Friends are the best place to share and have supports. They are the one who back up me whenever I feel down, like a loser or an asshole. Step 3 of course it's time to accept the fact and life must go on. Though it needs time to recover and heal the pain. Step 4: just remember that you're worthy to be loved. You have a warm family who love you without any regulations. They will give you hug, kisses, attention and support.

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  20. Another big Kate fan, congrats on the latest release. Ice cream and friends helps for me, too, and listening to music chosen to fit my mood, or even try to change the mood.

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  21. Congrats Kate on your newest release.I definitely agree with #3 & 4.But of course it's time that heals. A terrible heartbreak but we do get stronger.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  22. I have to agree with ice cream (or whatever comfort food you like), friends, and refocusing. (I can't drink much due to taking blood thinners). These will help you get to stage 5 much faster. And always remember that whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

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  23. Good friends to be there for you & time to grieve, be angry and then move on.

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  24. Friends and God have always been my anchors through the storms of a broken heart.

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  25. I would make a slight adjustment to Step 1 - chocolate is needed - specifically dark chocolate. Of course, there are some excellent ice creams with chocolate (I'm thinking Cherry Garcia - has nice chunks of dark chocolate). Now I'm hungry & I don't even have the excuse of a broken heart to use.

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  26. Getting drunk and cying always helped me. I have not been singel now for 18 years, so it has been a long time.
    This book looks great. Love the cover and love Kate's books. Thanks for the giveaway.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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  27. All of the above, and:

    Love's Haiku

    He can't appreciate me?
    A loser is he!
    Many more fish in the sea!

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  28. Very nice post. I'd say hanging out with friends and eating.

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  29. Oh yum!! Repeat steps 1-3 as needed until cured...

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  30. I don't know what happened to my comment, but it isn't here. I probably fell asleep at the keyboard and erased it rather than posted it.
    I was lucky enough not to have my heart broken. There were two times when I liked a guy, but he really wanted friendship and nothing
    more. Don't think either knew how much I liked them. At any rate, we remained friends for many years. In both cases I just got over
    myself and concentrated on my classes and later my job. Since it was never LOVE, I just wanted it to be, I was able to enjoy the friendship.

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