Rachel Brimble Introduces Templeton Cove

 

Templeton Cove – the UK’s finest imaginary town!

Mr. B and I are celebrating. The third book in my Templeton Cove series with Harlequin Superromance is released today, YAY! What Belongs To Her is set in the town’s fairground. When Vonnie asked me to write a short piece about the town itself, I jumped at the chance. Why? Because Templeton Cove has become so very special to me that to share it with you, makes me believe it all the more real.  

Won't you have some champagne with us? Vonnie has lots chilled and she's made some scrumptious goodies too. Grab a flute and a sweet morsel or two and listen to me tell you about my beloved Templeton Cove.

 

When I started writing the debut book in the series, Finding Justice, I had no intention of creating a town that I would revisit time and again…but as I neared the end of the book, I knew I couldn’t let the Cove go that easily. I started writing book two, A Man Like Him, pretty much straight away. Thankfully, my agent sold both books to Harlequin fairly quickly and my editor immediately asked me if I’d like to set more books there. Ummm…yes!!

 

In total, I now have five Templeton books contracted with Harlequin (the fourth will be a Christmas 2014 release). So what is it about this town that I find so hard to leave? Well, Templeton started as a mix of my favorite UK holiday destinations––a blend of Cornwall, Devon and North Wales. I brought all my favorite things about these places into one small town. It has the beaches of Cornwall, the scenery of Devon and the mountains and hills of Wales. In a word, Templeton is gorgeous!

 

 

As well as the myriad of pretty boutique shops and hip bars, Templeton boasts a fabulous beach restaurant, The Oceanside which is situated on stilts so its views across the ocean are second-to-none. It has a fairground, the bakery (run by the infamous Marian Cohen), a caravan park and planked boardwalk. It’s just a wonderful place where I’d love to live! 

 

 

I will soon be sending in the first three chapters and synopsis of my final contracted book of the series – I would love to write more so watch this space and pray my editor thinks the same!

 

 

She's ready to take back what's hers. 

Since the moment a local crime boss claimed ownership of her family's fairground, Sasha Todd has dreamed of righting the wrong. Now it's time to act, and backing down from the man's estranged son is definitely not an option. After all, giving up her legacy to hot-blooded John Jordon means losing the chance to finally heal the wounds in her past. 

Stopping John in his tracks—and resisting the sizzle between them—is Sasha's best defense. But there's more to him than she thought, which changes everything. With what matters most at stake, she'll have to risk a brand-new future with John, or walk away from the man whose heart belongs to her.

Buy Links:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.  After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013 and she has since signed for three more.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links: 

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Champagne and Cotton Candy -- a new elegant party combination. They say it's all the rage...somewhere...

"Doctors Beyond Borders" by Georgie Tyler

My guest today is a young lady from Australia I met while editing for Still Moments, a small e-publisher that has since become part of The Wild Rose Press. While many of us are dealing with snow, bitter winds and cold, it's summer down under. Georgie and her family have just returned from a camping trip to some gorgeous places in their country.

Georgie Tyler--who I can attest is a real sweetheart--lives on Sydney’s leafy North Shore with her husband and three children. After years of being a stay-at-home mum she decided to branch out and return to university to study teaching and pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not teaching or writing she likes to watch movies, catch up with family and friends, and has been known to dally on social media.

And, imagine, she enjoys eating strawberry and balsamic vinegar sorbet. *shudders*

Her debut book, Doctors Beyond Borders, released on New Years' Day. Is that a fabulous way to begin 2014, or what? She's sent along her beautiful cover, blurb and excerpt for your enjoyment. Looks like she ate all the sorbet...

BLURB:

She's about to find out that nothing is fair when it comes to war, except, the healing power of love.

When Ariadne Tate takes a deployment to Sudan with a medical aid organisation, romance is the last thing on her mind…but Dr Ford Gosden puts a glitch in her plans. Too damn attractive for his own good and a thoroughly nice guy, Ford slowly seeps under Ariadne's skin.

But Sudan is not a stable place to form a relationship, and as political tension escalates in the region, Ariadne has no choice but to focus on her job and her safety. Under the protection of a UN convoy, she heads out into the war-torn countryside — and the unthinkable happens. Captured and held hostage by a renegade with no chance of escape, Ariadne's hope for a new life with the man she loves begins to fade and the fight for her life begins.

 

EXCERPT:

 

 

            ‘How do you like your living quarters?’

            ‘Not much. I never thought it would happen, but I’m confident I will be yearning for that lumpy bed at the house after tonight.’ She smiled and ran her fingers through her glossy hair.

            ‘Yeah, I know what you mean.’ He chuckled and looked outside. Pastel stripes streaked across the horizon as the sun sunk into the ground. ‘If you need me for anything at all during the night, that’s my hut over there.’ He pointed.

            She looked at him, one brow cocked. ‘I’ll be just fine.’

            His eyes widened. ‘Hey, I didn’t mean that…hell, I’m bunking with Jack.’ He shook his head. ‘Jeez, you have a one-track mind.’

            ‘Me?’ Her eyes widened and her lips twitched into a smile.

            God he wanted to nibble and suck those moist bands of pink flesh. His eyes didn’t move from them as she continued to speak.

            ‘Anyway, my hut is out of bounds to men, so don’t you come looking for me. I don’t care if you’re scared and want your mummy.’

            He sat back on his haunches, ignoring her jibe, focusing all his energy on not launching at her and kissing those smartass words right out of her mouth. He kept his hands busy and his mind blank as he helped unpack the supplies. Boy, was she distracting him. She didn’t even have to try. Sitting cross-legged, her shorts hitched around her upper thighs as she sorted through the boxes. His eyes were engrossed by her long smooth, tanned legs. His fingers twitched, aching to reach out and touch her.

Ford tossed an empty box to the other side of the tent and averted his eyes to another, tearing it open with his bare hands. He felt her eyes on him, but didn’t dare meet her gaze. Perhaps bringing her out here wasn’t as bright an idea as he had originally thought. It was going to be one long, frustrating ride.

He gave himself a mental shakedown and decided to have a bit of fun. Comic relief was always an effective way to assuage the serious stuff. ‘By the way Ariadne, make sure you shake out your sleeping bag before you snuggle into it tonight.’

            ‘Why?’ Two faint lines creased the skin between her brows.

            ‘Scorpions.’

 

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Beyond-Borders-Georgie-Tyler-ebook/dp/B00GXUXOFO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388890312&sr=1-1&keywords=doctors+beyond+borders 

 

Finding Justice by Rachel Brimble

 

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

 

I do love to celebrate. When my good friend and critique partner, Rachel Brimble, has a release, well, I'm ready to throw a party. Let's have a little bubbly and chocolate, shall we?

Thanks so much, Vonnie. Fill my glass up to the rim, will you? Let's get this party started! I am so happy to be here to celebrate the release of “Finding Justice”, my debut novel with Harlequin Superromance! Every time I say or write that, I have to take a moment to steady myself and not keel over….

 

Okay, I’m back J

 

It’s been a long, hard journey but I am finally starting to believe 1) I can actually write, 2) I might be able to make a living from what I LOVE to do and 3) people are reading and enjoying my books.

 

Miss Vonnie has played no small part in my new found success and I wanted to use my visit with her today to thank this marvelous lady for all she’s done for me. I started writing for The Wild Rose Press back in 2007 and have made many, many online friends there over the years. As I’m in the UK and write for the US market, I often feel I’ll never have the chance to meet my readers or fellow romance writers so the web is VITAL to keep me buoyed and happy.

 

Vonnie is a HUGE participant at TWRP – she takes time out of her busy schedule to cajole, support and cheer many writers with her wit, encouragement and admiration. Always finding time to comment on blogs, loops and websites is difficult to achieve when you are juggling deadlines, home life and for many writers, full time day jobs—Vonnie manages it…ENDLESSLY!

 

In 2010, I was beginning to get itchy feet and desperately wanted to stretch my writing skills and myself by inching my career goal a little higher. By then, I had six novels and a novella either published or contracted with small presses and wanted to start seriously looking for an agent.

 

Naturally, I began my search in the UK as that’s where I live. Disaster struck when I hit a brick wall and over thirty rejections. Depression set in. Doubt took over and I came to an abrupt stand still. While online one day, I saw a comment by Vonnie singing the praises of her agent, Dawn Dowdle. I searched for The Blue Ridge Literary website, loved what I saw and began to wonder…

 

Before I could change my mind, I fired off an email to Vonnie asking a million and one questions… her answers and enthusiasm set the fire burning again. The rest is history. Dawn loved my proposal and offered representation—that was in March 2011.

 

Since then, thanks to my agent’s amazing editing skills and support, my writing has improved immeasurably and along with it, I have signed two romantic suspense contracts with Harlequin as well as a two-book Victorian romance contract with Kensington AND a romantic comedy with Omnific publishing.

 Needless to say, life is pretty darn grand!

If there are any writers out there, afraid to make that leap from small press to big publishers, PLEASE gather your courage and go for it! The validation alone is worth any amount of advance or royalties you might receive. If, like me, you can’t live without writing, we have to get out of our comfort zones and step into the big wide world.

 

Admittedly, ‘live’ promotion still fills me with so much dread, I literally want to run and hide but I will get there…eventually. One step at a time is the not so well kept secret. Writers are renowned introverts but anything is possible!

 

I wish you all the luck in the world! In the meantime, thank you, thank you, thank you, to my wonderful readers who’ve followed me from the very start. I could not have done this without you! J

 

Rachel’s 2013 release schedule:

 

Finding Justice – Harlequin Superromance – February

Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

 

BUY LINK:  http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Justice-Harlequin-Superromance-Brimble/dp/0373718357/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360053132&sr=8-2&keywords=finding+justice

 

The Seduction of Emily – E-Kensington – April

 

16 Marsden Place – Omnific Publishing – June

A Man Like Him – Harlequin Superromance – August

 

Rachel’s Links:

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble

LOVE'S DEBT by Rachel Brimble

 

My guest today, Rachel Brimble, is here from England to talk about her latest release and all the other exciting things going on in her life.

 

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. She started writing short stories about eight years ago but once her children were at school, embarked on her first novel. It was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several books published with small presses as well as securing her first contract with Harlequin Superromance in May 2012 and a two book Victorian romance contract with Kensington in August. She was just offered her second contract with Harlequin this week.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused…

Rachel, what is your writing schedule like?

I am a stay at home mom so I work when the kids are at school – I have a very strict schedule of 8.30 to 3.30pm during the week and whenever I have a spare hour during the weekend.

Evenings are strictly for family time…or I might find they’ve abandoned me altogether, lol!

Do you ever dream of writing in a different genre?

I often feel the urge to write a crime novel but worry about getting the forensics and police procedures right. I have considered setting it in history so that the forensics don’t have to be so in-depth but it still feels too complicated, lol!

I write romantic suspense so I can see me getting to crime eventually – although goodness knows when. I fantasize about following in Tess Gerritsen’s footsteps who wrote for Harlequin many years ago.

How do you research your storylines or locations?

I tend to set my historicals where I grew up or able to drive to so I can ‘see’ the details for myself. I live in South West England, just thirty minutes drive from the famous Georgian city of Bath. It’s beautiful and rich in historical detail. Another thirty minutes drive in the opposite direction takes me to the Cotswolds, which is a cluster of gorgeous, picturesque villages with houses built in the 1800s.

For my contemporaries, I use the town where I live but use fictional names and a touch of artistic license, lol!

What part of the writing process brings you the most pleasure? The most angst?

The most pleasure is the second draft – I write the first draft from start to finish without stopping so draft two is playing with the words, polishing and deleting. I love it!

The most pain is the plotting – it never EVER gets easier!!

How do you see your career in five years?

I hope it keeps going the way it has for the last five – each year I’ve made a step forward with 2012 being my most successful so far. This year I signed with Harlequin and Kensington, I love to think I will still be writing for these publishers five years from now but maybe writing bigger books with more complex storylines.

Tell us, has your road to publication been a walk in the park or a steep mountain climb? Give us some details?

Both! I am proud to say The Wild Rose Press published my first novel and I’ve had a book or more published every year since. I’ve managed to contract everything I’ve written, HOWEVER, each of those books was a steep mountain climb to get from page 1 to the end, LOL! Writing is NOT easy and with each book I write, I wait for some big breakthrough, a formula that will make the next one a breeze – got a funny feeling that ain’t never gonna happen!

 

Tell us about this week's release. LOVE'S DEBT, right? 

Yes. “Love’s Debt” is available now from The Wild Rose Press. Here’s the blurb, excerpt and buy link.

 

Blurb:

To keep herself from the depths of poverty, Milly Shepherd needs to be appointed manager of the Red Lion Tavern.  The elderly owner is in failing health and has promised her the job permanently if no one more suitable applies.  Milly will fight with her entire being to make the job her own.

 

Joseph Jacobs needs to supplement his income to pay off his father’s creditors and save him from debtor’s prison.  Though the job as manager of the local tavern looks promising, Milly is favored by both the owner and customers.  Instead, Joseph swallows his pride and agrees to tend bar.

 

As they work together, their attraction grows, their goals cross, and both Millie and Joseph find they must face their fears …the question is whether they face them alone or together?

 

Excerpt:

            “No, I take it from here.” His jaw tightened. “I mean it, Milly. I don’t want you in there.”

            “Why are we arguing about this? I thought we’d built a trust between us.”
            His gaze darted over her face, lingered at her lips. “This has nothing to do with trust.”

            “Then what?”
            “Pride. If I haven’t got that…if I’ve stooped so low as to put a woman at risk, then there’s no point in going on at all. I won’t do it, Milly. I won’t expose you to whatever is behind that door. If you can’t stay here, then go back to the tavern. I’ll see you there shortly.”

            His face was set, his shoulders stiff and Milly’s irritation grew. She poked a finger into his chest. It was like iron. She swallowed. “Have you heard the saying, pride before a fall?” He nodded. “Good, because if people don’t reach out to other people, Joseph Jacobs, they fall further than ever with nobody there to catch them.”

            “Milly--”

            She raised her hand. “Go. Do what you want. I’ve got more important things to worry about that a man full of so much pride, he looks fit to burst.”

            Turning, Milly gripped her bag tightly in her hand and strode away. She did not look back, and she didn’t stop walking. Her stupid heart had let her down. Made her get involved in a man’s life and begin to care about him. Well, the buck stopped there. No more. If Joseph Jacobs ever needed her help again, he could take a long walk off the dock.

                        Buy Link:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4967

 

Rachel can be found here:

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441

https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble