Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: Do you have a favorite book boyfriend?

I know you have at least one. That dreamy hero straight from the pages of a book you love. Perhaps even from a book you’ve written! He’s that guy you think about long after the story is done. Is he a tall, dark, and handsome super-spy or ex-Navy Seal? Maybe he’s a ginger-haired warrior from the Highlands? Or a rancher, firefighter, doctor, or single-dad next door? Could be he’s not a man at all, because he lives on a mythical planet, or he’s a vampire! Tell me… Who is your FAVORITE book boyfriend? Let’s talk!

"My favorite book boyfriend is Lucas Ross from PRINCE CHARMING by Julie Garwood. He is (like my husband who I call Hero) a man who encompasses fine qualities: selfless, protective, compassionate, kind, and competent at a wide variety of things. He is versatile and can function in English society, in criminal-riddled Chicago, or in the rough and rowdy Old West. He accomplishes his goals even at heavy personal cost. This is also one of my all-time favorite books and I re-read it about once a year." ~ Carolyn Clemmons

“Of the more than 40 books I've written, I get lots of fan mail for my book now titled The Wedding Bargain because women???including me???fall in love with its hero, Nick Birmingham. What's not to love? This guy is the richest man in England, and he's tall, dark, and handsome. Add to that he's super sexy, tender hearted, and a great patriot during the Napoleonic Wars. In this marriage-of-convenience story, he marries Lady Fiona, who was jilted in the previous Brazen Brides book. Readers tell me she's much better off with Nick than in the hero of Counterfeit Countess!"
~ Cheryl Bolen

"My favorite book boyfriend is Ilona Andrews' Mad Rogan. He's protective and fierce when it comes to what's his, and he's strong, knowing when to fight versus when to walk away. A true alpha male without being an alphahole ;) He's a good leader, and his men would follow him anywhere. I have re-read the Hidden Legacy series so many times, that I'd say he qualifies as my book boyfriend." ~ Laura Hunsaker

“I might be old, but I’m not dead. I like my book boyfriends intelligent, considerate, and sexy as hell! Professor Joshua Cain, from my Egyptian-themed time travel, Eye of the Pharaoh, ticks all those boxes. He’s a great combination of absent-minded professor and modern-day Indiana Jones all wrapped up in one uber-sexy package! My publicist heroine knows exactly how to handle him—if only the spirit of an Egyptian Queen-Pharaoh would leave them alone so they could get down to the business of falling in love!” ~ Nancy Fraser
(Eye of the Pharaoh is currently on sale for 99¢!)

“All my heroes in all my 13 books are my book boyfriend because I created them to be the way I want a book boyfriend to be. However, my most favorite book boyfriend superhero is Chris Jamisen in Book of Love, a release I had in December 2014. He’s Native American, has four children, runs an auto repair business, and is active in his community. He does his best to keep Janice’s “car from hell” running for her. In the beginning he thought of her as a gold digger looking for a rich husband. Boy was he proven wrong!” ~ Constance Bretes

“I like my hero Slade from the Ghost Mountain Ranch series. A fraternal twin with an over-achieving twin sister, he doesn’t know what he wants to do to his life. Of course, he meets his true love in the book, but learns about himself in the process. He saves the heroine from a grizzly bear, and helps find answers to a mystery.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

“This was so hard. I can’t even tell you. But I am going to make myself choose, and I’m not picking someone from a Jane Austen novel for once. My book boyfriend is Wulfric Bedwyn from Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh. He is the oldest of six children, and he has to take care of all of them. He does his duty well, and, as a result, takes no happiness for himself. He is strong. Steady. Calm. Patient. And SMART. There’s one scene where he fixes all the troubles for the woman he loves, and it’s perfect. The perfect hero.” ~ Kara O’Neal

“As I type this, the song, "Love the One You're With" floats through my subconscious. Can't help it. I'm a child of the 60s/70s. Why? Because I can't keep a book boyfriend. It's true. I hop from one book boyfriend to another. Fickle girl. Truth is, I'm always in love with the hero I'm writing right now. The one I'm with. And currently, that guy is Ethan MacKay. I mean, how could you not fall in love with a Navy SEAL cowboy returned home, injured and flawed, his body broken…but oh, so irresistible?” ~ Maddie James

“I love reading romance books but can't say I ever imagined myself with one of the heroes. If I had to choose one who made me truly swoon, it would be Colin Bridgerton of the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. We see this younger brother as a bit of a rake throughout the first three books, but when it’s time for his turn, Colin goes and falls for the chubby little wallflower who’s been made fun of for years. And he falls hard and fast and can’t figure out how he hadn’t seen her beauty all these years. Yup, swoon!” ~ Kari Lemor

“I spent way too much time trying to figure out who my favorite book boyfriend is. I've come to the conclusion that I'm book boyfriend...capricious. Yeah, that's the word. I always tell whichever of my grandkids is around at the moment that s/he's my favorite, so that's the path I'm taking with book boyfriends, too. Right now, and often since I first met him in 2012's One More Summer, Dr. Steven Elliot, hero of The Healing Summer is my between-the-covers love.” ~ Liz Flaherty

“I must admit I have had many book boyfriends during my lifetime. However, the one I remain true to is Lynx Maddox, champion rodeo bull rider and hero of my first published contemporary romance. Tall, handsome, with a deep voice and a sexy Texas drawl. What woman cannot resist a man with a dangerous reputation for taking chances and tempting fate? Lynx Maddox comment, the ‘Wild-Cat” of the rodeo circuit is determined to win the heart of the woman he loves.” ~ Connie Vines

“My personal book boyfriend has got to be Steele Hardt in my contemporary cowboy romance, UNDERCOVER. He is the Alpha male of my heart, a self-made man not afraid of taking chances. Especially when it comes to a certain “black widow” he has been sent to report on. Steele is special to me because when my own hero and I started to correspond on-line, I learned his name is Steel. Swoon! Write it and he will come! Even though he still bugs me about spelling his name wrong in the book!” ~ Kathleen Lawless

“I’m of a certain age and don’t necessarily have a book boyfriend. But my I pick for the man I’d like to spend eternity with who sprang from the pages of a novel is ROARKE from the JDRobb IN DEATH novels. Described as having a face sculpted from the Gods and a poet’s mouth, Roarke is a gazillionaire, Irish-born, has a shady and violent past and loves his woman more than life itself. Who wouldn’t want a man like that, I ask ya?? Le swoon….” ~ Peggy Jaeger

"Such a tough choice. I love all my own heroes. Of course, Robert Pennington from Haunting Highland House is my personal favorite because he's my first. BUT there is one book I've read repeatedly since I adore the hero – Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. Her leading man, Derek Craven, is rough and tough, wonderfully wicked, and runs a gambling house. Yet he loves and admires the heroine beyond all else. A sassy, mischievous writer who dares enter his shadowy world. Need I say more? I met Lisa Kleypas some years back, and we totally girl-gushed over Derek Craven. 😊”
~ Kathryn Hills

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us!

~ The Romance Gems ~

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It's All About The Characters by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

Summer has arrived! I'm a teacher, and this season brings much needed rest and fun. Summer is also when I can read and write to my heart's content. My children are older, so I get to spend more time with books and the characters within them.

I -- much to my family's affectionate frustration -- form attachments to the people in the stories I read. I can't help it. I worry, I laugh, I cheer, and I cry right along with them. I bet a lot of you are the same.



It's hard for me to let go when I finish a book. If it makes me feel something, I think about it for several days. And, of course, I re-read my favorite parts.



As the years have gone by, I have collected books I love, which can be found here, and books I enjoyed reading, which can be found here.

My attachment to characters extends to the one's I've created, as well. It's so hard to let them go, and I have discovered their lives have continued in my mind. So....I started a blog called, "The Story Continues". Here, I will be posting extra scenes and short stories that allow these people to live on.


Isn't that wonderful? I never have to leave them! (My family will probably shake their heads at me -- fondly, of course.)

Right now, I'm posting a three part story about Elinor, a feisty and rule-breaking debutante, and Trap, a rowdy cowboy. These two formed an attachment with each other in The Cowboy's Embrace, and I had a lot of fun learning about them. I felt their story wasn't over and had to delve further into their relationship. Come visit "The Story Continues" to see how everything goes for them!

Do you have a character, or characters, who have stayed with you? Answer in the comments and two people will win a free copy of Saving Sarah or Welcome Home!

In other news, y'all might remember that I was orphaned by my publisher in March. I have two books back up with the third coming next week.

If you would like to sign up for my monthly newsletter, click here.

Saving Sarah
Historical Romance

Sarah Kerry's world is shattered when a man from her past, Liam Devlin, shows up with proof that, if shared, would send her father to the noose. In order to keep Liam quiet, she must break her young courtship with Michael Lonnigan and marry Liam instead.

Michael is crushed and angry when Sarah abruptly ends their courtship, but he knows something isn't right. He's seen the new man hanging around the Kerry family and believes the man is blackmailing the woman Michael loves. Unwilling to let her go, Michael will do whatever it takes to save Sarah and make her his own.

Welcome Home
Historical Romance

Emma Prescott, determined and selfless, flees from wealth and her murderous father, wanting the love and forgiveness of poor cotton farmer, Kyle Lonnigan.

Although Kyle refuses to forgive her for her part in his father's death, Emma stays and works her own farm. Over the next several months, Emma proves to Kyle she is not the spoiled girl he remembers.

Emma's sudden re-entrance into Kyle's life only conjures long-buried painful memories. Kyle does his best to avoid her, needing to keep the pain at bay, and stopping her from reminding him of their last moments together before bullets shattered their world. But, he is unsuccessful. The love he denies is too strong, and soon Emma and Kyle are tumbling headlong into the past and passion.



I hope y'all have a wonderful start to your summer! And remember our giveaway!


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My Sister is Always Right by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

Happy anniversary to me! One year ago I joined Romance Gems, and it has been wonderful. I've learned so much and read so many amazing books that I feel like I hit the jackpot when I found these ladies!

This mark has also brought up memories about how I started this writing journey. Seven years ago this month I received my first publishing contract. And I can't even begin to tell you how happy and awed I was!

Happy, because someone liked my book, and awed because...well...

I had written a book. Me.

And it was all thanks to my sister.

My daughter                 My sister

I have always been an avid reader. I would pick up just about anything. (Except horror! I would have nightmares.)

After years and years of reading, of staying up late and telling myself, "Just one more chapter.", I got pretty picky and critical about the direction of a story. And if it didn't have a happy ending, what was the point?

One day I finished a book, and as I huffed and puffed about how it had worked out, showing my irritation with how an author could do such a thing, my sister said in her most matter-of-fact, quit-your-whining, fictional-characters-aren't-real tone, "Write your own ending.".

Well, that shut me up and opened up a whole new world for me. Thank God for sisters. They call you on your annoying habits and show you what you can really be if you put your mind to it.

And now I'm blogging and working with some of the best writers I've ever had the pleasure to know and read.

Romance has been in "bloom" for me for the last seven years, and it always will be!

Some of you might remember that I was orphaned by my publisher, and now I'm navigating the world of self-publishing. I'm happy to say that I'm about to put book 1, Welcome Home, onto the seller sites! Yay!

It's been an interesting journey, but so worth it! And if I hadn't found the ladies at Romance Gems, I might still be wallowing in despair at being "orphaned". (Anne Shirley would so sympathize with me!)

Thank you so much for joining us each day, and remember to enter our May giveaway! To enter, click here.

A New Path by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

On February 29th, my publisher announced it would be closing its doors. The following day all my books -- 13 in all -- would be taken down from all sellers' sites.

Yikes.

I did a lot of tossing and turning that night. There were tears. Thoughts of quitting.

But then I reached out to my family, friends and fellow authors and found that my writing doesn't have to stop. I am now navigating the scary path of self-publishing. Double yikes!

But I am excited. It's something to look forward to. I'm learning new things and enjoying that I have ALL the control. That's pretty heady. And nice.

After a few days of uncertainty, I'm grateful I have a plan and that I'm anticipating the opportunity. I hope to have my books back up soon, and my new release, The Inventor's Heart, is ready to go!

Wish me luck!

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Oh How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning! by Hannah Rowan #RomanceGems

Early to bed and early to rise makes me very, very tired and cranky.

Sure, there are times when I get up at the crack of dawn, but it’s usually because we’re headed to the airport for a very early flight.  And really, since I generally stay up all night packing before a trip, “getting up” is really nothing more than ending the little nap I take before heading to the plane, where I sleep through the flight.

On a recent quick trip down the shore for our anniversary, my husband woke me with great excitement, talking about the sun coming up and the beautiful sunrise and all that.  Our room had a lovely balcony facing the ocean and I would have delighted in sleeping in the sunshine streaming through the window.

Yes, the sun came up.  That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do.  If it doesn’t happen, go ahead and wake me up.

I’ve been a night owl all my life.  Even as a baby I sat in the crib looking around far into the wee hours.  I did the old cliché reading under the covers with a flashlight until I couldn’t see the print anymore because my eyes were so tired.

I missed more school buses because I overslept than any kid in history, but I can honestly tell my children I walked miles to school up very steep hills.  Truthfully, I ran most of the way so I wouldn’t be late.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t change my biological clock.  I’ve managed to get up for work in the morning for many years, but I can’t seem to manage the other end—going to sleep at what most people would consider a reasonable hour.  Thus, I fall asleep with my nose in the newspaper or my head on the keyboard very often.

What I don’t understand is why it’s considered virtuous to get up before the sun.  My body can get out of bed, but my brain doesn’t follow until much later in the day.

So many writing-advice books tell us to get up an hour early to get our writing kickstarted for the day. I can’t even imagine what sort of writing I’d produce under such a system.  I’m sure it would make no sense at all.

Night own or morning lark.  Which are you?  And have you been forced to change your natural tendency because of some circumstance in your life?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every Day is Treat Day in October. To be entered in the random drawing for a $5 Amazon gift card, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link). The deadline for doing this is 2 days from now. I’ll draw the winners name on October 11, 2019 and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

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Do you collect books? by Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

In ninth grade, my English teacher Mrs. Neff told us we should buy and own books. I took her advice to heart. My father owned books, and they were displayed in shelves in our home. My mother was an avid reader, but she preferred going to the library and borrowing books. She was a child of The Depression, don’t you know?

So, over the years, I began my own collection of books, mostly paperback. I accumulated my college texts, and kept the ones on history and English. I read novels—buying Georgette Heyer and Anya Seton. I even bought the first wildly popular historical romances—TheFlame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss and Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers.

As my collection grew and grew, I built my own bookshelves—first in the basement and then upstairs flanking the fireplace. My office has two bookshelves. All the shelves crowded. Finally, I decided I needed to cull the quantity and started donating books to Locust Grove for their fundraisers.

Locust Grove is a c.1792 Georgian mansion built by William and Lucy Clark Croghan, near Louisville Kentucky. Lucy Clark Croghan is the sister of Revolutionary War hero General George Rogers Clark. I feel my physical books have a good home if they go to supporters of this historic mansion.

Yet, my collecting hasn’t stopped. Beginning in April 2010, I bought ebooks. Amazon’s Kindle app fit nicely on my new iPad, and Amazon was so accommodating to allow me to buy with One Click and somehow, amazingly, the book appeared on my devices—my iPad and my iPhone.

Do I read them all? No. Not enough time in the day. Most are on my To Be Read pile. What about you? Do you have an ebook pile or a physical one? Or both?

*****

Every Day is Treat Day in October. To be entered in the random drawing for HEART TO HEART, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link). The deadline for doing this is 2 days from now. I’ll draw the winners name on October 9, 2019 and notify the winner by email and by leaving a comment on this post.

By the way, in case you wonder why Authors give away books, it’s simple. We give away books to introduce new Readers to our writing. The best way to thank an Author who gives you a book is to post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and we’ll adore you!

Click here to enter our No Tricks—JustTreats Rafflecopter today for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards. Enter often and tell your friends! (You can also click Monthly Giveaways on the Menu Bar of the blog to see details of the current month’s Rafflecopter and to enter it.)