Today's Special - - Spotlight & Giveaway: Christmas at Caynham Castle

I'm excited to welcome the authors of the upcoming holiday anthology, Christmas at Caynham Castle, to the blog today. Please give them all a warm welcome!

Christmas at Caynham Castle

Hi, everyone!  I’m Nancy Northcott, and my friends and I are excited to share our forthcoming holiday anthology, Christmas at Caynham Castle, with you. I have a weakness for Christmas collections. At busy times, I like having something I can read that’s shorter than a novel, and I love stories set during the holiday season. I wasn’t surprised to discover my co-authors felt the same way. So the seven of us got together and devised various Christmas celebrations at an imaginary castle.

Jeanne Adams and I created Caynham Castle, which is inspired by Ludlow Castle in Shropshire (England).  Unlike Ludlow, which is a well-preserved ruin, Caynham Castle is a hotel, bustling with life and brimming with holiday spirit. Once we had the castle layout and basics, the entire group then added details of the castle and the nearby town, Caynham-on-Ledwyche.

I had a great time reading what everyone came up with for Christmas at Caynham Castle. We hope you’ll enjoy that too!

Here’s a bit about the stories:

Her Heart in His Pocket ~ Donna MacMeans ~ https://www.donnamacmeans.com

About a year ago, I asked my readers what secondary character they’d like to see featured in a Christmas novella and they chose Ben from Redeeming the Rogue.  I love the resulting novella and I hope you do as well. A surprise reunion of a pickpocket turned lady’s maid and a mysterious unexpected footman occurs just in time for the Christmas Frost Ball at Caynham Castle. The past of each could jeopardize the future of the other, and the future of Caynham Castle itself.

A Perfect Grey Christmas ~ Anna Sugden ~ https://www.annasugden.com

Readers often ask me about Ryan Grey, a former NJ Ice Cat who runs Grey’s Steakhouse, and who appears in several of my books. Christmas at Caynham Castle gave me the opportunity to explore Ryan’s story. Since concussion issues forced Ryan to give up hockey, and his dream of winning the Stanley Cup, it seemed important to give him his chance at glory – hence having him compete for the ultimate prize in cooking. Only one woman would do for Ryan’s heroine – Lydia, his former business partner and the woman he once loved, who left him to marry an English lord. Things are about to get hot in the kitchen!

The Ghost of Christmas Past ~Jeanne Adams ~ https://www.jeanneadams.com 

In The Ghost of Christmas Past, Dr. Denby “Bee” Alden, is a bee expert and one of the witches from my Witches of Haven Harbor series. She’s come to Caynham Castle at Christmas to research ancient beekeeping techniques…and to escape. The ex-boyfriend who dumped her is getting married and she wants to be far away when that happens. While there, she meets the Earl of Caynham. A castle ghost helps them both find something to celebrate! I hope you enjoy Bee and Ward’s story!

Christmas Crossroads ~ Caren Crane ~ https://www.carencrane.com

My story is about a young woman from my fictional town of Cross Springs, NC, who was orphaned young and has not found a place to call “home” until she lands in Caynham-on-Ledwyche and meets a local man who is reconnecting with his hometown.

Still ~ Seressia Glass ~ http://seressiaglass.com

Still is set in my Shadowchasers universe. Morgan Lafayette is a Light Witch who got injured while astral traveling. She teams up with fellow traveler Arthur Davies and Shadowchaser Kira Solomon to defeat the creature that hurt her and finds love and a new friend in the process.

Crewel Fate ~ Gail Z. Martin ~https://ascendantkingdoms.com 

Crewel Fate was inspired by the many embroidery samples I’ve seen when touring historic homes. When Teag Logan and his fiancé Anthony Benton travel to England to celebrate their engagement, Teag’s magic and supernatural experience hone in on restless ghosts, an old scandal and century-old secrets that could turn deadly. Can Teag and Anthony solve the mystery and settle the ghosts before the Ball, or will more people join the ranks of the castle ghosts? Crewel Fate is part of my Deadly Curiosities urban fantasy series, and falls immediately after the newest novel, Inheritance. 

The Last Favor ~ Nancy Northcott ~ https://www.nancynorthcott.com

The Last Favor, part of my Arachnid Files spy series, was inspired by my experiences and those of friends in dealing with loss at the holidays. Grayson (Gray) Kane, the hero, comes to Caynham Castle to pick up an award for his late father. Dealing with his loss amid the families celebrating the holiday makes him question his solitary life as an covert agent. His partner, Laurel Whitney, joins him to protect Gray from an assassin. As the long-suppressed attraction between them flares anew and a killer closes in, she must decide whether she has the courage to seize what she has always wanted.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Many thanks to all of the authors for visiting with us today and sharing a bit about their contributions to Christmas at Caynham Castle. This anthology is definitely going on my holiday reading list!

Christmas at Caynham Castle will be available November 20 through most ebook vendors. Jeanne Adams and Nancy Northcott return on December 4 to share the process of creating the castle.

Readers, do you have questions for the authors?

What's your favorite story with a castle in it? 

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EST), October 27, will receive a Kindle copy of Christmas at Caynham Castle (gifted to winner on November 20). 

Winner - - Donna MacMeans

The randomly chosen winner of a digital copy of

Charming the Professor by Donna MacMeans is:

Glenda

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Donna MacMeans

It's my pleasure to welcome award-winning author Donna MacMeans to the Dish today. Hailing from Central Ohio, Donna is a Certified Public Accountant who spends the first part of every year keeping her clients out of trouble with the IRS and the rest of the year creating romance novels we love to read. She's active in many writing organizations, including Romance Writers of America where she currently serves as treasurer for the national chapter and received a 2013 service award for her work with local chapter treasurers. Donna joins us today to talk about her newest book, Charming the Professor. 

Welcome, Donna!

Thank you, PJ, for allowing me to share my latest book with your followers and fans.  I truly appreciate it.

                     

Hi all!  This story has been a long time in the making and I thought I’d share its inspiration with you.  I believe it was back in July of 2004, I attended an RWA conference in New Orleans.  I wasn’t interested so much in the conference as I was the location.  Things were a bit wonky with two of my roommates, so the remaining roommate and I took off and played hookey quite a bit. J  We had just gone to visit a fortune teller at Bottom of the Cup on Royal Rue, when we decided to have a late lunch.  A sign beckoned us across the street.  It said “The Court of Two Sisters.”

“I’ve heard of that place,” I said.  “Let’s give it a try.”  We entered a hallway, not terribly long, but

terribly bare.  It was mostly exposed brick with splashes of plaster, and had the feel of someplace you really shouldn’t be.  In New Orleans, you sort of listen to how your body reacts to strange surroundings, but a Maître d' waved us forward through the glass door at the end of the hallway, so we continued on.

At the end of the hallway, right before the glass door with pretty lace curtains, stood an ornate set of iron gates.  A sign hung on the wall near the gates that proclaimed the gates “The Charm Gates” along with the announcement that Queen Isabella had blessed the gates to give charm to all who touched them.  I have a picture somewhere of me holding those gates with both hands to prove to my husband that I am indeed charming J.

Once we passed through the glass door, we were led to a beautiful courtyard with a triple fountain and tables placed beneath a huge wisteria vine.  The food was excellent, the experience wonderful.  But the memory of those gates never left me.

After I was home, I listened to a taped workshop by Barbara Mason that told the workshop participants that there was something in what they saw, heard, or read in New Orleans that they, as writers, were meant to experience and use in a story.  For me, I knew it was the Charm Gates, so I concocted a story premise whereby after touching the gates, a lawyer channeled Queen Isabella and was forced to be charming.  After researching, I found two problems with the premise.  One – Queen Isabella II was not charming at all.  She was mean, not very attractive, and very unpopular.  Two – a movie came out later that year called Liar, Liar that sort of did the same thing.  Curses.  L  Back to the drawling room…

But what if someone truly charming was assigned to work with the Queen to tactfully instruct her how to deal with foreign dignitaries and what if the Queen absolutely hated her for it.  What if the Queen found a way to imprison the charm teacher in the iron gates that were to be shipped off to New Orleans.  Her blessing would then have a secret tongue-in-cheek meaning. Ohhh….great idea!

I had only managed to write the prologue and the first chapter when Hurricane Katrinia hit New Orleans and so much damage occurred. I just couldn’t write because my heart hurt watching the reports on televison.  I did enter the first chapter in a contest and won first place, but another story I’d written earlier called The Education of Mrs. Brimley won the Golden Heart that year and my writing career took off writing historicals.

But I never forgot this story.  Especially as I used to imagine as a child what it would be like to have a “secret friend” from the past century who came forward into current time.  I’d have to explain things like cars and electricity and things.  I imagined the sort of things that would scare and frighten my new friend.

So when circumstances allowed me to finish the story, I did.  My agent challenged me to plot out a sequel (which I hadn’t intended), so I did that too. I now have three books somewhat plotted in this series.  An opportunity to write a short story, led to the creation of “The Moor’s Tear” which is a sort of prequel to Charming the Professor.  That story didn’t sell as intended so I published it myself.  See – all the fates aligned so I could bring this book to you. J  Here’s the blurb:

The Charm Gates have stood at The Court of Two Sisters for more than a century with no one guessing the secret they hold. A jealous vindictive queen and a blackmailed alchemist have encased French “charm teacher” Madeline Charlebois’s essence inside the gates, at least until a grieving professor touches them during a storm and Madeline tumbles out, not in her own 19th century Spain, but in 21st century New Orleans.

Quantum physics Professor Grant Stewart has mourned his wife’s death for the last three years.  But he must move on for his young daughter’s sake, the child who delights in terrorizing babysitters.  Grant needs adequate childcare to pursue tenure at Tulane.  What he doesn’t need is a French beauty believing nonsense like time-travel and voodoo, and whose very being is melting his heart.

Maddie may be without resources but she’s good at making new friends, even if they are on the quirky side. She believes Professor Stewart can return her home, but first she must earn his trust to win his cooperation.  Babysitting his daughter gives her both proximity, and love for the child. Will Grant be the key to returning to her time? Or will she, in turn, unlock his frozen heart? All they need is time and maybe a little voodoo…

Did I forget to mention voodoo?  Well, that’s a different blog (grin).  I hope you give Charming the Professor a try.

So tell me, have you ever visited New Orleans?  Did you go to The Court of Two Sisters?  What impressed you the most about the city?  Have you ever had a fantasy that someone from the past came forward to meet you in the current age?  Let’s talk FUN!  I’m happy to give a digital copy of Charming The Professor to someone leaving a comment.

Donna MacMeans Winner

The winners of a copy of THE CASANOVA CODE from Donna MacMeans are

fsbuchler

and

Na

Congratulations, ladies!  Please send your full name and mailing address 

(with Casanova winner in the subject line) to us at

 theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com 

to claim your book.

Today's Special - - Donna MacMeans

Donna MacMeans is in the house!  Donna is the author of sexy Victorian romances that keep me reading way past my bedtime.  Her latest, THE CASANOVA CODE, kicks off her new series, The Rake Patrol.  (Read my review here.)  It's a wonderful book that I highly recommend and Donna is here today to tell us a bit about it.  Welcome, Donna!


You can find more information about Donna and her books at her website and on Facebook.

Thank you PJ for inviting me to talk about THE CASANOVA CODE.

I love this book!  It’s fun.  It’s sexy.  And it’s the first of a new series built around Victorian personal ads.  Yes - they had personal ads in the 1890s.  They’re mentioned in Sherlock Holmes, and also in the secret code books that I used in research.

Secret code?  What has that to do with personal ads?  Well, I’ll tell you.

Originally, I wanted to show that my heroine, Edwina Hargrove, was analytical so I thought I’d have her enjoy working crossword puzzles.  However, I discovered that crossword puzzles didn’t become popular until world war I, which is far later than the setting of my book.  A facebook fan suggested cryptograms and I found that those had been around for a long, long time.

Then I discovered a reference in a code book to Victorian personal ads.  It seems that some individuals used the personals as a way of communicating to individuals they really shouldn’t be communicating with.  By putting their messages in code, they assumed such messages would be private - and they would be, unless you can break code, like my heroine Edwina.  Actually, I read a story in one code book about a code-breaker in 1890 who had been following a conversation between a man and woman in the personals.  The code-breaker placed a message in the newspaper using their rather simple code, suggesting that the woman be more judicious in her choice of paramours.  The woman replied to her lover that their secret had been discovered.

Once I learned of the connection between secret codes and Victorian personal ads, the book took off.  I tossed in a secret organization connected with Japanese erotica and the Casanova Code was the result.

Here’s the blurb:

“A refined gentleman, age 25, of wealth and education, seeks the acquaintance, with a view to matrimony, of a high-minded, kind-hearted lady who prefers an evening of quiet conversation to the lively demands of society.”

Edwina Hargrove knows that this “gentleman” was, in fact, Ashton Trewelyn, a rake notorious for seducing the young and naive. In fact, five decent women have already been tricked and bundled off to the continent for scandalous purposes. There was a way to thwart his scheme though—by shadowing this devilishly handsome Casanova and warning his prey.  If only it were that simple.

Wounded and weary, Ashton Trewelyn returns home to London from the King’s Royal Rifles but soon discovers a coded message that has implications for the Crown and his family.  His only hope to unravel the mystery lies in the enigmatic Edwina’s ability to recognize patterns.  Even as he leads her on a path of secret societies and risque temptations, he discovers she arouses his jaded soul with temptations of her own.  Must they risk everything to decipher Casanova’s code?

I hope you give it try.  To help the process I’ll give away a copy of THE CASANOVA CODE to two people leaving a comment on today.s blog.  If you were writing a personal ad, what qualities would you include in the advertisement?

Thanks, Donna!  Okay, everybody, let those creative juices flow!  

Review - - The Casanova Code

The Casanova Code

The Rake Patrol – Book 1

By Donna MacMeans

Publisher:  Berkley Sensation

Release Date: 

There are three things I’m certain of when I pick up a Donna MacMeans novel: (1) I’ll be entertained (2) I’ll be reading way past my regular bedtime and (3) I’ll be surprised. 

Edwina Hargrove is intrigued but not usually concerned by the ads she reads in the personals column of the Mayfair Messenger.  A talented (secret) code breaker, Edwina hones her skills on letters from her traveling brother and coded messages that appear in the paper but a seemingly innocent message has her raising the red flags when she discovers the author is a well known rake.

A refined gentleman, age 25, of wealth and education, seeks the acquaintance, with a view to matrimony, of a high-minded, kindhearted lady who prefers an evening of quiet conversation and a good book to the lively demands of society. 

Certain that Ashton Carswell Trewelyn the Third, otherwise known as “Casanova,” is using the ad to lure innocent women into seduction, Edwina and her friends decide someone should stop him and the other men who seduce and discard unsuspecting young woman.  Thus, the Rake Patrol is formed.   Tired of her dull, boring life, Edwina – a modern woman who rides a bicycle and fantasizes about the adventures she’s not allowed to pursue - volunteers to follow Trewelyn around London and warn off the women who answer the ad before they are ruined.   What could go wrong?  Turns out, quite a bit!

In his younger years, Ashton Trewelyn more than lived up to his reputation as a rake but he’s not the same man he was back then.  Time in the King’s Royal Rifles made a man of him.  Too bad nobody believes it, including his own father, a man he’s never been able to satisfy.  After being wounded in service, he's returned to London, living in the same house with his father, young half-brother and step-mother, the woman he had planned to marry before she threw him over for his richer and more powerful father.   Could his life get more complicated?  When he encounters Edwina at a coffee shop where he had hoped to interview potential brides for a soldier friend and later discovers her sneaking into his father’s study (to thwart what she thinks is a secret meeting to lure innocent young women to the house) he learns that the complications are just beginning.  There's a secret meeting but not one to which he was invited.  Something is going on and it appears he will need Edwina, and her code breaking skills, to unravel the mystery.

Gradually, Ashton and Edwina begin to fall under each other’s spell but a happy ending for this couple is a long way off.  There are many roadblocks on their journey, including a secret society that may implicate Ashton’s father in a plot against the Crown,  an uptight beau handpicked by Edwina’s father who has never made her heart race and is firmly under the thumb of his controlling mother, Ashton’s need to prove himself worthy before he formally declares his feelings for Edwina and, not to be forgotten, the other members of the Rake Patrol who are having difficulty with the concept of Edwina and Casanova…together!    It’s a wild ride to the finish line but oh so worth it when they finally arrive!

I’ve enjoyed the writing of Donna MacMeans since her debut but this book and her last, Redeeming the Rogue have had an added depth and richness that have been especially satisfying.    While her writing flows smoothly and the story moves along quickly, she takes time to develop her characters, gradually peeling away layers, allowing us to come to know them slowly as we would a new friend.   The chemistry between the hero and heroine sparks from the start but the fire builds slowly in intensity along with the friendship between the two.  MacMeans’ use of the Japanese erotic art (one of those delightful surprises I alluded to earlier) kept in a secret room by the hero’s father is a uniquely sensual and highly satisfying tool used in Ashton and Edwina’s mutual seduction and also holds the key to family secrets that answer many questions about the man Ashton’s father has become; answers that keep Ashton from repeating his father's mistakes.


If you haven’t read a Donna MacMeans book yet, I suggest you begin with the highly entertaining The Casanova Code.   A word of warning though: you may want to order out for dinner before you start reading.   I ended up having pretzels and ranch dip for dinner the day I read it because I wasn't able to put the book down long enough to cook!

~PJ