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 ~

Have you picked up your copy of Last Chance Beach: Summer's End?

14 all new short stories from best-selling and award winning 
Romance Gems authors. 

This is a limited-time-only collection. Only 99 cents on Amazon

Did I mention there's a FREE companion book?

Cocktails on Last Chance Beach!
Download a copy from your favorite digital bookseller HERE

Our Comment and Win GIVEAWAY is back!

If you wish to enter, just leave a comment that includes your email
(write your addy out, so spammers don’t grab it)
Enter every day for more chances to win!

Celebrating Our 1st Anniversary by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

One year ago today, twenty-three of us joined together to form Romance Gems.

The response to this blog, and to each of the Authors, has been amazing.

We've made a lot of reading friends, written a ton of posts, and given away dozens of prizes including books, Amazon Gift Cards, jewelry, and tee shirts.

First Anniversary

To celebrate our One Year Anniversary, we have a big Valentine Book Fair with sigh-worthy romance novels at great prices. We also have a Rafflecopter with some great Amazon Gift Cards up for grabs.

My Pop-Up Giveaway

I'm giving away 5 copies of Blame It On Chocolate.

Chloe Elliot was a good girl. She didn’t even curse! Since her dad was the son of a minister and the oft-elected mayor, she'd had no choice but to live a life above reproach. Truthfully, it really hadn’t been that difficult.

Until Hunter Cole returned to his home town. There was just something about the man that addled her brain and created havoc in her body.

Hunter Cole reckoned he had the best of all possible worlds. His life was perfect. Until he dropped by the library to say hello to his best friend's little sister. Only Chloe wasn't a little girl now. Just looking at her made his common sense evaporate. If he made a move on her, her brother would nail his hide to the wall. So how was he going to get Chloe off his mind?

Giveaway Details

Open until February 7, 2020. Winner announced the next day.

To enter, in Comments, leave your email addy so you can be contacted in case you win, and the answer to the following question.

Who was your first kiss and how old were you?

(First name only—unless it was a celebrity, in which case, give us every detail!)

Celebrating One Year of Romance

Watch the video in the Movie Theater or drop by YouTube to view it.

Then visit our Valentine Book Fair and grab some captivating romance novels, sweet treats without calories!

Last, not not least, enter our February Rafflecopter with the link below. Thank you for being a part of the Romance Gems world.


Celebrating Romance Rafflecopter

Bedtime Stories by Laura Hunsaker

When I was a little girl, my dad would read to me every night. I remember his favorite books to read to me were The Wind In the Willows and The Hobbit. I'm sure you can guess that I absolutely love reading. Thanks Dad :)

Now that I have my own children, I carried that love of bedtime stories through to them. My now teens loved bedtime. They knew it meant snuggles and stories and sleep.

I have a six year old as well and while she absolutely loves reading at bedtime, she also loves stalling her bedtime. Her latest requests the past couple of weeks have been to help her change her dreams.

Well, luckily mama is a storyteller.

So instead of telling her that her dreams aren't real, monsters aren't real, here's a cup of water, now go to bed kid (which is what I'm thinking), I say, "Okay let's see what we can do about those dreams.

The first couple nights were flops. I tried to tell original Once Upon A Time stories. "Once upon a time, there was a princess who couldn't sleep." This is where she'd stop me with an eyeroll and an, "Ugh Mooooom. No not that way."

So last week we figured out the magic. I told her to imagine a princess who had superhero powers, but everyone knows that princesses can't have super powers. So she has to hide them while she's at princess school. But she's been hiding them for so long that she doesn't know how to use them, because while princess school is great for teaching her how to be a princess, it's not so great at teaching her how to use her powers.

So every day, she stays late at the school library searching books for help. Searching for other people who have powers. Searching for a way to control her magic. And that's where the prince found her. She was levitating a stack of books to her table one night when he walked in needing help with his homework.

But he didn't scream or freak out because the prince had his own secret he'd been keeping. He had a super power too.

We're now a week deep into this story.

It's sort of like a choose your own adventure story for her. I start part of it, then I let her fill in the blanks on things like what super powers this princess actually has, or what she's doing at school when she's discovered. Most recently she decided that the prince needs a second superpower. But it isn't anything so mundane as flying or super strength. Oh no. My baby girl gave her prince the power to talk to animals. And he has an animal sidekick, of course. His sidekick is a "trash panda" (a raccoon for those of us who don't speak internet meme). Tonight we're going to find out if they get into crazy hijinks, or if they help solve crimes. Or maybe like Scooby Doo, they'll do both?

I started writing down the main points so I wouldn't forget them, night after night. Who knows? Maybe she and I will wind up actually writing it one day? But for right now, bedtime is a teeny bit easier, and hopefully her dreams are too.

If you want to check out my other "bedtime stories" but for grown-ups ;) here's a link to my website's book page, and the first bit of my latest book, a Romantic Suspense called Dark Past.

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway at the bottom!

                     Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Google Play Books  |  Smashwords

Chapter One:

The bell above her door jingled, signaling another customer. It had been a long, busy day, and was almost closing time, but Kate was up for it. She needed this job, and the owner, Corie, had told her she could never turn away a customer. 

All the other coffee shops in this small logging town, all two of them, closed down by noon. But not the Coffee Chaser. Named for Corie's husband, who'd been a chaser in the logging industry, the café was the closest thing to a mainstream coffee shop this small town would ever see. After a lifetime in logging country, and with her husband driving her crazy in his retirement, she'd bought out an old one bedroom cabin with an upstairs apartment and converted it into a coffee shop. 

For Kate Landry, this small café was her first real job in a while, and she needed it to be a success. She needed this job. She needed the money. Long-term wasn't really her thing, not anymore. She wasn't living the dream or anything, but it would do. For now, she needed this.

Game face.

She turned with a smile. "Hi, what can I get for you?"

Her smile froze. She locked eyes with a man whose broad shoulders took up the doorway and whose eyes pinned her in place.

 His eyes were green. Huh. She'd never met a guy with green eyes before. Not like this. They were clear and bright and as green as fresh spring grass. That was stupid, she mentally berated herself. The second she spouted poetry to herself, she realized she needed to snap out of it. 

He didn't speak, not at first. She cleared her throat, which seemed to kick start him as well. He 

stepped fully into the coffee shop, and walked up to the counter.

"Coffee. Black."

The bell jingled again, and the new customer who entered also blocked the setting sun from the room. He was bigger than the man with the green eyes, but they were similarly built. Her green-eyed customer stiffened and turned at the bell, but he relaxed when he seemed to recognize the newcomer. They shook hands and did that guy thing where they one-arm hug. Ahh, so they did know each other. 

"Coffee's up." 

He turned his startling green eyes back to her. "How much do I owe you?" Oh heavens, his voice was deep, gravelly, and so sexy. Oh boy, she was in trouble. Words at this point would be good.

"That'll be two fifty." Surprisingly, her voice was steady, if slightly husky.

Their fingers brushed as they exchanged money, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from gasping. 

She turned to his friend while she put the money in the drawer. "Hi, can I help you?"

"Yes ma'am, I'll have a caramel macchiato with extra whip cream." 

Expecting a comment about the froufrou drink, she began making the espresso while shamelessly eavesdropping on the men. She was surprised, though, that they went straight into whatever their business was.

They were talking about a mission. That was all she caught before the sound of the milk frother covered their words. 

A mission? What mission? Were they cops? Did cops go on missions? Trying to catch their next words, she almost scalded her fingers. Crap, pay attention, Kate. 

Kate was cursed with an overactive imagination, and the curiosity gene only made it worse. She wanted to know what they were talking about. The biggest downfall to her hyperactive imagination was that it could very easily turn into paranoia. She had her own dark secrets and knew all too well how quickly a situation could go from good to hell in a New York minute.

She really had to stop eavesdropping. 

Monthly Giveaway

Click here for the Giveaway

What’s Next in 2020? By Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

Every year, I make my writing goals. In 2018, I concentrated on revising, re-editing, and republishing five books in my Bluegrass Reunion series. I had gotten the rights back and wanted to update and polish them before self-publishing them.

That was 2018. In 2019, I finished revising the series with Kentucky Cowboy and Kentucky Rain. My other goal was more ambitious: a trilogy called Ghost Mountain Ranch. It would tell the story of Hank, a secondary character from the Montana Ranchers, a series I wrote with Maddie James.

I did finish the first book in the trilogy, and because it was a romance, Hank got his happy ending. However, life happened: my husband got sick and so did I. Currently the first book is with my editor. I’m almost finished with the second.

So, my goal in 2020 is to finish all three books and self-publish them. I’ve included the cover for the first book. I’m not sure I’ll keep the cover or the title. What do you think?

If you’ve read yesterday’s group blog, you’ll find I hope to get back on track personally in 2020. I have some chronic health issues that I must live with. But I want to get moving again: taking horseback riding lessons again, going to the gym, walking, volunteering, and helping with the grandkids. I have archery and volleyball contests to attend, not to mention basketball and football games.

What are your plans for 2020?

 MONTHLY GIVEAWAY

Our January Rafflecopter has another month of Amazon Gift Card prizes. Be sure to enter often to improve your chances of winning. Please tell your friends about Romance Gems—our Authors, our books, our blog posts, and our monthly giveaway.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

October Trick or Treat by @JoanReeves #Romance Gems

How many of you chanted this when you were kids: "Trick or treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat!"

My kids used to start on October 1 and keep it up until I heard it in my sleep.

Like my kids, I love Halloween and have fond memories of trick or treating and having a bag full of candy. I gave everything but chocolate candy away.

I'll make a confession. How many of you buy the kind of Halloween candy that YOU like—just in case there are some left over? I'm raising my hand! For me, nothing beats KitKat's and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. What are your favorites?

Dressing Up the Blog for October

Our blog update is done. Although it's not wearing a costume, per se, it has been dressed up with some new quote-graphics on the Home Page.

You'll also see several new covers on the right sidebar so be sure and check out those new books. The Movie Theater has some new videos, including the one for our Halloween promotion, and all the details about our October Promotion are on the Monthly Giveaways Page.

NO TRICKS—JUST TREATS

Every Day is Treat Day in October. Each author will give away a prize of her choice on her posting day. That's 31 days of prizes, starting today. I'll be kicking off Treat Day with the first Giveaway so keep reading.

To be entered in the random drawing for a Kindle copy of Blame It On Chocolate, leave a comment with your email address written out (not as a hot link) on this post.

The deadline for doing this is Wednesday night at 8:00pm Central time. I’ll draw the winner's name Thursday, October 3, 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 want to introduce new Readers to our writing.

If you want to say thanks to the Author, please post a review of the book. Just a few sentences saying why you liked the book is all that is needed! Do this, and Authors will adore you!

But Wait, There's More

Yes, indeedy! We're not just doing a daily random drawing for a prize. We're also doing a Rafflecopter with 4 Amazon Gift Card Prizes. Whoop! Big money! Visit our Monthly Giveaways Page for all the details. If you want to enter immediately, no worries. I've got the Rafflecopter form at the end of my post!

Back to My Giveaway: Blame It On Chocolate

Chloe Elliot was the good girl. She’d never been a hell-raiser. Never gotten drunk, used drugs, smoked pot, or slept around. She didn’t even curse! Since her dad was the son of a minister and the oft-elected mayor, and her mom was the elementary school principal, she'd had no choice but to live a life above reproach. Truthfully, it really hadn’t been that difficult.

Until Hunter Cole returned to his home town.

That was the beginning of Chloe's fall from good girl status. There was just something about the man that addled her brain and created havoc in her body.

Hunter Cole reckoned he had the best of all possible worlds. He'd played for the NFL, and even though two back surgeries had ended that career, he was lucky enough to follow in his dad's footsteps and work the family ranch and also follow his granddad's path and be the sheriff in his west Texas town. Life was perfect.

Until he dropped by the library to say hello to his best friend's little sister.

Chloe wasn't so little any more. In fact, just looking at her made his common sense evaporate. She affected him like no other woman--and he'd had women throwing themselves at him since he was a high school quarterback! If he made a move on her, her brother would nail his hide to the wall. There was only one thing he could do, but did he really want to do that? The thought of it made his bachelor heart shudder with alarm.

To win a Kindle copy of Blame It On Chocolate just leave a comment—with your email—on this post and answer this question:

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

If you don't win the copy I'm giving away, reward yourself by buying a copy.

This romantic comedy short story, Blame It On Chocolate, is only 99¢.

Review: "A fresh, witty, delicious story. Just like an irresistible bar of chocolate, you'll finish it all at once."

Visit Romance Gems every day and enter the Treat Day random drawing giveaway. We're going to have a lot of fun this month and want you to join in!

(By the way, I'll be gone all day tomorrow, but I will read all your wonderful, witty, insightful comments tomorrow evening so be sure and tell me about your candy guilty pleasures.)


Click now to enter the October Rafflecopter: NO TRICKS—JUST TREATS

Dog Days of Summer by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Summer is waning, and I've been waning most of the last few weeks.

Have you wondered why you haven't seen me commenting on the blog lately?

Did you miss me on social media?

In case you want to know if I'm in hiding or just goofing off (I wish), the truth is I'm currently undergoing torture treatment for my "messed up" back.

I'm actually not supposed to be on the computer for a couple of weeks. (Don't tell my chiropractor!) The deal is for every minute I spend online, I have to spend another minute off-line. And that's with a max of 30 minutes at a time on the computer. Sheesh! I can't even get through my email in 30 minutes!

What's A Girl To Do?

This girl learned something very valuable. When you are in enough pain, you'll do whatever the doctor or anyone else says to do to make it go away. So I've listened to the doctor and followed his instructions tried to follow his instructions.

See Joan's Books on Amazon

So today's post is brief. I'd be more talkative, but I a Windows update killed my Dragon dictation software and my techie husband hasn't been able to resuscitate it yet.

Our new Monthly Giveaway starts August 4, and it's Winner's Choice with great options for prizes. Take a look at it.

In conclusion, make the most of the last day of August. Visit Romance Gems every day and be entertained by the great authors here.

Be bold, be brave, be kind—to yourself and others—and, most of all, be joyful!