This is a super-quick post to tell you about the great sale of  November’s Lord Gray’s List! It’s been discounted for the nook, and I’m thrilled to say it’s on the Top 100 list for ALL B&N nook books. Lord Gray and his heroine Evie own a newspaper,the London List, and I’m sure they’d make that the headline! You can purchase the book for only $1.99. Click here.

In other London List news, e-book exclusive Captain Durant’s Countess has been out in the wild for a few weeks, and has garnered some attention. The 4 star Romance Dish review says: “There’s plenty of sizzle in this book but it was ultimately the complexity of the characters, the emotional depth and tenderness that kept me immersed in the story.  The secondary cast of characters is richly drawn, especially Reyn’s sister…Stick with the story and you will be rewarded with a hero and heroine who reveal themselves to be worthy characters with genuinely good hearts who deserve the tender, heartwarming and thoroughly satisfying romance that Maggie Robinson has given them.” Yay!

This is my final post as a Kensington Brava author. My last Brava release, Body Heat, came out in December. I’ve loved writing for Brava and am sad to be leaving.

However, I’m delighted to say that I’ll remain in the Kensington family and continue to write sexy contemporary romances. I’m moving to Zebra this summer and I hope you’ll follow me there.

I’m launching a new series called Caribou Crossing. I grew up in a city and have lived in both Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, so maybe it’s natural that I’ve mostly written about urban settings. However, I’ve also spent a lot of time in the country and I love it, and I was one of the many girls who fell in love with horses as a child and never lost that feeling. So now I figure it’s high time to indulge my adult self with a little country-style romance.

Rather than set my stories in a real town, I created Caribou Crossing. It’s a composite of a number of small towns in the interior of British Columbia. It has a gold-mining history and now its economy is based on ranching and tourism.

The series will be introduced in July with an e-novella titled Caribou Crossing. It’s set in 1994-95 and it’s the story of Miriam and Wade Bly, childhood sweethearts who marry and then discover that the perfect wedding doesn’t guarantee the perfect “happily ever after.” As they’re faced with an unexpected pregnancy, financial issues, and health problems, they learn that it takes strength, love, and hard work to survive—but the benefits are oh, so sweet! This novella introduces their daughter Jessica and her best friend Evan.

Jessica and Evan’s romance is the subject of Home on the Range, an August novel (in mass market paperback and e-book).

For Evan Kincaid, the best thing about his dusty hometown was watching it fade into the distance. Jessica Bly was the only one who didn’t treat him like an outsider, and their friendship ended with one mind-blowing night of young passion. Now they’ve got the lives they planned—Evan in New York, Jess with her beloved horses in Caribou Crossing. But business has brought Evan back to Jess’s Crazy Horse ranch on a mission that could destroy whatever’s left of her trust.

Ten years ago, Jess wanted one perfect night to remember Evan by. What she got was a broken heart and a secret that’s kept them strangers ever since. The boy she knew was sexy and sweet; the man he’s become leaves her breathless. And no matter how much she tells herself that country girl and city boy don’t belong together, in her heart she wants to believe his home has been right here all along…

I’m delighted to say that one of my favorite authors of all time, Susan Wiggs, read this book and said, “I loved this book. It’s the perfect sweep-you-away story—smart, sexy, funny and touching, set in a beautifully rendered place in the west. Susan Fox delivers an unforgettable read.”

The Caribou Crossing series continues in September with Gentle on my Mind (mass market and e-book). This is Evan’s mother’s romance.

Brooke Kincaid knows second chances don’t come cheap. She’s spent five years repairing past mistakes and making her life in Caribou Crossing steady and predictable. But now a stranger’s Harley has shattered her fence and her peace of mind in one swoop. Brooke is drawn to everything about wounded undercover cop Jake Brannon—his raw masculinity, his tenderness, and the undisguised desire that makes her feel more alive than she’s ever been.

By rights, Brooke should curse Jake for complicating her life. Instead, she’s offered him a place to heal and a cover story as he searches for a wanted man. Jake knows she’s vulnerable, but she’s also strong, kind, and hotter than hellfire. It’s a combination that could make even a die-hard loner long to put up his boots and put down roots at last, and show her just how good a second chance can get…

I hope that, come summer, you’ll look for my Caribou Crossing stories. And I hope you keep reading and enjoying the wonderful books in the Brava line.

If you want to keep in touch with me, you can visit my website at http://www.susanlyons.ca, subscribe to my newsletter (through my website), and follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SusanLyonsFox

Dear Readers

You’re in love with your best friend. What would that be like? Fabulous if your love is returned, not so good if it isn’t! Don’t you just love ‘friends to lovers’ romances?

In my, soon to be released third book in the Invitation To series, INVITATION TO PASSION, that’s the situation my heroine, Madeline Knight, finds herself in. She’s in love with her best friend, Richard John Craven, the twin brother of Anthony James Craven, Lord Wickham; from book one, Invitation to Ruin.

Richard and Maddy have a very unconventional relationship considering it’s the early 1800’s. Richard has been Maddy’s friend and protector since she was a child of thirteen, when he saved ‘the traitors daughter’ from the neighboring bullies. He is ten years older than her and sees her more as the little sister he never had.

Madeline’s only sibling, Rufus Knight, Lord Strathmore, is Richard’s best friend. Rufus was never home while she was growing up as he was off trying to clear their father of treason (read book two, Invitation to Scandal). Richard was her substitute brother until she turned seventeen and became a woman. That’s when she viewed Richard in an altogether different light!

I tried to imagine what it must be like to suddenly have deeper and inappropriate feelings for a best friend. If you act on those feelings and they aren’t reciprocated, it could ruin everything. But if you don’t, you might miss out on something wonderful.

I took that decision away from Maddy. Richard and Madeline are forced to marry (read the book to find out why). It was scary, but also fun, wondering how they both would act on their wedding night. Madeline was nervous but excited, Richard was..? What would he have felt?

I asked a couple of my male best-friends how they would feel if faced with having to bed their female friends. What do you think they said? A very typical response from all of them.

“Is she good looking?”

I said, “Of course – she’s beautiful.”

“No problems at all then.”

“What about if it ruined the friendship?” I asked.

They simply shrugged! “We’d work past it.”

Men! I wonder if it says more about my male friends!

Anyway, here’s a snippet of INVITATION TO PASSION, due out April 2013…

…Richard moved and retook his seat opposite Madeline. “That’s my girl. Are you feeling up to discussing our situation?”

“I’m quite composed, thank you.”

He nodded. “Good.” Sitting forward in his chair he leaned his elbows on his knees and cupped his chin in his hands. Earnestly he spoke. “I will try to make the next few days as painless as possible for you. The wedding will take place here at Hascombe, in two days time.”

“So soon?”

“Rufus thinks that is best.”

“My brother is probably happy to see me wed and off his hands. Now he can have Rheda all to himself.”

Richard sighed. “That’s a bit mean, Maddy. Rufus loves you and is only thinking of your reputation.”

“You must think me very ungrateful.”

“Not at all. You forget, sweeting, I know you very well. I’ve watched you grow in to a beautiful young woman.” He heard her breath hitch.

“Beautiful?”

He chuckled. “I remember telling you many years ago that one day I’d have to protect you from the male of the species. I just didn’t think it would be me.”

A gorgeous flush raced up her décolleté, but a frown marred her features.

“Hmmm, that leads me onto a question.” He watched her fidget. This couldn’t be good.

“Go on. You know you can always ask me anything. Nothing will change our friendship. I won’t let it,” he added sternly.

“That’s part of the problem. Friendship. I am rather curious about how our relationship will be after we marry.”

“I suspect it will be much the same as it is now…”

Her pinkish flush turned into a full blush. “Umm, I’m not sure you fully understand my concern. We will be husband and wife…Will you expect us to behave as such?”

Richard let a wolfish smile envelop his lips. “Are you referring to the fact that you will have to share my bed? I’m sure I’ll cope, sweeting. I have had a bit of experience in this area.”

She raised an eyebrow. “A bit?”

He had to laugh at her affronted reply. That’s what he loved about his relationship with Maddy. They had always been able to talk about anything. His laugh died. He hoped their marriage would not change that. “I know you. You’re not one to hide your thoughts from me. What is it you’re really concerned about?”

Her eyes became pleading. “I want children. I want a lot of children.”

Richard shrugged. “I still do not grasp the problem…”

“You won’t expect the marriage to be in name only then.”

“Bloody hell. Where on earth did you get that idea? I suspect we will live as most husbands and wives do.”

She sat up straighter and looked him in the eye. “I don’t want to be bedded out of obligation or duty”-

-“You think I’d bed you because you’re an obligation? A beautiful woman? Come now, Maddy. You know me better than that.” She remained silent. Where in God’s name would she have got this absurd notion from? “You’re beautiful. Bedding you will be no obligation. It will be my pleasure. Our mutual pleasure.”

“Mother and Rheda have already told me I’ll have nothing to worry about on my wedding night. That I should leave everything to you and that no doubt I’ll enjoy your attentions.” She wrung her hands. “But you mentioned that our marriage will be like most other marriages. What if I don’t please you?”

“Please me? As in the bedroom?”

She nodded seriously.

“I taught you how to shoot and ride astride. You’re better than most men I know. You’re a fast learner. How can you not please me when you’ll have the best teacher?” he hoped his teasing tone would allay her fears.

“I know your heart belongs to another. What if… what if you grow tired of bedding me?” She raised a hand at his sound of outrage. “Promise me one thing.”

“Maddy you’re being silly”-

-“I know your reputation, Richard. You have enjoyed a lot of women. I don’t see how I’ll hold a man of your—appetites—interested when I don’t own your heart. Promise me that when you no longer enjoy my bed that you’ll tell me. I couldn’t bear to hear you’ve taken a mistress from anyone else. The one thing I’ve treasured most in our friendship Richard, is the fact you’ve never lied to me or hidden the truth from me—even if the subject was unpleasant. Rufus would most likely hit the roof if he knew some of the things I’ve asked and you’ve answered with no hesitation. Being stuck in the country, growing up alone, I can’t tell you what your honesty meant to me. It gave me the world even if I couldn’t see it, or be a part of it.”

“I’ll show you the world if you’ll let me.”

Isn’t the cover beautiful? Thanks, Carrie of Seductive Designs.

INVITATION TO PASSION is out in April 2013…

Captain Durant’s Countess comes out next week on February 21st! CDC is an e-book, priced affordably, and is the second book in the London List series.

I’m thrilled to introduce Reyn Durant to the world. He’s an unusual hero who’s had grave difficulty in school but success on the battlefield. His heroine Lady Maris Kelby is a bluestocking who needs a lesson in love, and Reyn Durant has been hired to provide just that.

Here’s an excerpt of that first lesson:

Captain Durant was here too, and he was naked. No dressing gown for him. His hair was a bit rumpled and he smelled of tooth powder and sandalwood. Had she brushed her own teeth? She couldn’t remember. He lifted the blanket from her, tugging a bit before she released her grip on it.

“Maris.”

She couldn’t think of a thing to say. Then she remembered she wasn’t going to say anything.

His kiss made speech a moot point. Again, he was gentle. Tender. His moves were not abrupt or startling. He touched her with the barest contact and kept his body away from hers.

He was close enough to touch, though she wouldn’t. Maris felt the heat of him, was aware of every lazy lick of his fingers and tongue. He seemed to be spelling something on her lawn-covered shoulder, but she couldn’t make out the letters. She concentrated on the faint whorls as if they were a sort of code.

Maris expected the stroking and kissing to stop soon enough. The captain was in no apparent hurry for the main event, however. The inventory. The reckoning of her body. Maris hoped he permitted her to keep her night rail on. She was not ready to be inspected, dim firelight or not.

The kissing really was very nice. Nearly relaxing. Maris tried to give in to it, to accept its claim on her. She was thinking too hard to do so.

What was he thinking about?

Could a man rise to any occasion? Maris had been taught their appetites were insatiable. Duchess or dairy maid, it made no difference—their male equipment knew no impediment, no class distinction. All cats were gray in the dark. She had discovered Captain Durant in the midst of perversion in a heightened state of excitement. Would this gray darkness be enough to rouse him?

Good heavens. Why was she worrying about him? He was being well-compensated for this night and all the other days that would follow.

His fingers stopped their spiraling. Belatedly Maris realized his mouth was still on hers, but his tongue had stopped dancing as well. He drew back.

“I can practically hear the gears grinding in your head. This won’t work if you cannot accept it. Focus on just the physical. The pleasure. Stop thinking.”

“I cannot stop thinking, Captain.” She sounded querulous even to herself.

“Reyn.”

“Whatever.”

“Remember, this was your idea. I was willing to wait for tomorrow.”

He was right, damn him. Maris was not giving this her best effort. But she had no best effort, no real experience of how it was meant to be between a man and a woman. While Henry had given her a measure of satisfaction, she’d been hopeless at doing the same for him.

And David didn’t bear thinking about.

“I’m sorry, Captain. Reyn. I don’t know what to do.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “You don’t have to know. You only have to do.”

“I’m sorry if I cannot distinguish the two.”

“Am I not sweeping you off your feet just a little?”

Maris realized she still had her worn needlepoint slippers on. “Obviously, I’m off my feet.”

“And in my bed, yes. Some progress has been made, I grant you. But you’re coiled as tightly as a clockwork spring. You are not kissing me back.”

“I certainly was!”  What had her tongue been doing then if not touching his? Tasting wine and tooth powder and his Durant-ness? Kissing was an intimacy she’d had very little practice with.

It almost seemed more important than the other thing they would do once he stopped arguing with her.

“I know when you really kiss me. When you lose yourself. When you toss all those rules you’ve lived by away. When you let that beautiful body of yours have its way for once.”

Pretty words. He couldn’t mean them. Maris sat up.

“Perhaps you’re right about the wine. Go fetch some. Please,” she added. She had sounded exactly like a Countess of Kelby ordering a minion about. Maris didn’t do that, and no one in their right mind would think Reynold Durant was suited to be a minion, even if he was in her husband’s employ.

Deep down she knew the wine wouldn’t help, but it would get rid of him for a few seconds. His insistent nearness confounded her. He wanted something she couldn’t give.

He padded across the room and opened the door to the sitting room. When he returned with the glass of wine—no bottle, wasn’t he optimistic?—his rangy body was limned with light, his erection unmistakable. The captain pushed the door closed with his bare arse and the bedroom returned to dusk.

“Here you are.”

Maris took the goblet from him, her hands brushing his. “Th-thank you.” She took a tentative sip. It was very good, but then everything at Kelby Hall was of the finest quality.

Even Captain Durant.

It’s the type of day I imagine my hero and heroine from my latest release, THE RELUCTANT WIFE, experience all the time. Why? Because my story is set in Italy, in a Tuscan villa, and the hero is a Conte.  Conte Dante Lombardi who is the sexiest thirty three year old head of a Corporate Empire, on two legs. Unfortunately he’s also married. To Abby Taylor.

Their marriage started off pretty rocky, but they both learned what’s truly important in life- the time we spend with our loved ones…

Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother’s heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.

Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him.

As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.

…an intense, passionate rollercoaster of a love story—just perfect!
- USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson

This is my first contemporary. As you all know, I usually write historical romances (and I still do), but I wanted to write something that was personal to me and I couldn’t set it in the Regency era (read the book to see why). For a long time I tried to ignore Dante and Abby as they stormed about in my head, but eventually I realised I wanted to tell their story. As it happens, it was very cathartic.  I went on a journey along with my characters.

It’s a story about love – surprise! Not really that much of a surprise as it’s a romance. But it’s a story about what we will sacrifice, what we will hide from, and what we are scared to face when it comes to love, especially if what we know can hurt the people we love.

I set my story in Italy when I saw a picture of the Italian football (soccer) team. Dante came roaring into my head and proclaimed himself an Italian Conte – what was I to do? He was so handsome, a lot arrogant, but with such a big heart I couldn’t bring myself to make him leave. Then when he told me about his troubles, I just wanted to hug him.

Dante was thrown into responsibility at the age of twenty. His father died young and suddenly he had a huge corporate empire to manage, a large extended family to take care of, and a mother who was distraught with grief at a relatively young age-39. He saw what the death of his father did to his family and when his latest test results indicate an abnormality, he fears he might die young like his father and grandfather before him. What would that mean to his family? If he dies without an heir, the family loses the title and the estate that goes with it.

What would you do if faced with this situation? You’d want to protect your family and the people you love.  He is so used to shouldering everyone’s troubles he forgets that those who love him would do the same. Instead, he decides to ensure his estranged wife comes back to him and provides him an heir. But he thinks it would be selfish to make her fall in love with him again. He saw what his father’s death did to his mother. Abby is still in her twenties. He wants her to be able to move on with her life and marry again.  He’ll sacrifice his own happiness to ensure her future happiness.

So silly, but then that’s men for you. They put their family’s needs first and want to fix everything themselves! Here’s an excerpt which highlights Dante’s way of dealing with his private life…

When the knock on the door came, she was prepared. She stayed on the balcony and hardened her heart. There was no way she’d waste one tiny piece of her heart on a man who categorically stated he didn’t “do love.”

“Come in, Dante.”

She heard his footsteps across the bedroom tiles. Then large, warm hands massaged her shoulders. “You didn’t run far this time, cara.”

“I wasn’t running.”

She felt a sense of loss when Dante removed his hands. He took off his sunglasses and put them in his jacket pocket. “Interesting choice of hotel.” He looked over at the bed. “Abby,” he said with corrosive lightness, “I remember many pleasant hours spent in a bed similar to this.”

“Obviously not pleasant enough or you would have come looking for me.”

“Frankly, I was too bloody angry. If after everything I’d given you… You didn’t even leave me a good-bye note.”

Guilt crushed her tension-filled shoulders. “I didn’t think you’d care. Actions speak louder than words. You didn’t even care enough to call my grandmother to find out if I was all right.”

“I did call, Abby. I called every day for weeks.”

“Nana didn’t pass on any messages.”

“At first your grandmother told me you didn’t wish to speak with me. Then she told me you’d gone traveling and she didn’t know how to contact you.”

A shiver chilled her spine, and she closed her eyes momentarily. If only she’d known…

“There was a time I thought that if I gave you your space, you might come back on your own. That living with me, sharing my life and my bed, wasn’t so terrible.” His clear blue eyes met hers. “But obviously I was mistaken. You only returned when you needed something from me. ”

I hope you pick up THE RELUCTANT WIFE and follow Abby and Dante’s struggle to work out their marriage.  The HEA is worth the journey.

Giveaway: Leave a comment telling me where in Italy you’d love to visit and why, and I’ll draw one lucky winner who’ll receive a copy of my May 2012 Regency historical, Invitation to Scandal, in book or eBook format.

Amazon http://amzn.to/VdnXzK

B&N http://bit.ly/UCy4Rp

About Bron:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence released Dec 2012, The Reluctant Wife.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

The London List series features three delicious heroes whose lives are changed forever by the London List, a Regency newspaper. I just got the cover for the third book, Lady Anne’s Lover, and once again the Kensington art department has outdone itself! I’m posting all three below. Which is your favorite? Leave a comment and one winner will have their choice of any book in the Courtesan Court series (4 books, 2 novellas in anthologies)!

Lord Gray’s List is now only $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. What a deal! It’s boosted LGL into the top 100 Regency romances. Lord Gray is pretty happy.

Not to be outdone, Captain Durant is waiting for his turn on February 21. Captain Durant’s Countess is now available for review on NetGalley. It’s a full-length e-book exclusive with an unusual hero and his very risky mission.

And last, Lady Anne’s Lover, comes out in August. Here’s the back cover copy:

How delightful that my day to blog at the Brava Authors site falls on Christmas Day itself.  It gives me the perfect opportunity to wish you all a Happy Holiday!

Of course, I have to do it Brava-style…

Evangeline has been masquerading as a gentleman in order to run her newspaper. Here, she and Ben are walking home from the office.

***

The Sunday streets seemed even more deserted than usual. No doubt everyone was getting snug by the fire, readying themselves for their family festivities tomorrow. Evangeline had Christmas envelopes for her small staff, knowing that in these hard times money was preferable to a badly-knitted sock. Thanks to Ben, the envelopes were thicker than they might have been.

A donkey cart a quarter-filled with kissing boughs and branches of holly rumbled by them, then stopped. “Oi, gents! Some fresh greenery for your ladies?” the driver asked. From the looks of his limited wares, he’d had a successful day so far.

Ben looked at Evangeline and nodded. “We’ll take what we can carry. Deliver the rest to this address.” He pulled out a silver case and handed his card and an obscene number of notes to the man.

“Ben! Are you mad?”

“It’s Christmas, Evie, or near to. I reckon this fellow wants to go home before the snow flies, and I haven’t so much as a leaf on the mantel at home. My mama usually takes care of all that, but she’s been busy with Lady Applegate. I expect you’re in a similar fix. What harm can a bit of mistletoe do you? Here, stretch out your arms.” He heaped a mixture of branches onto her coat sleeves, then took twice as much for himself.

“Mistletoe is poisonous, is it not?”

“Hazardous, but not deadly, I believe. We’re not going to eat it, Evie, just kiss under it.”

“We are, are we?”

“Oh, yes. There are just seven days left to our bargain. We are going to decorate your parlor, and then your bedroom.”

“You can’t come into my bedroom!” Evie gasped.

“Oh? And why not? Afraid of your servants? They work for you, not the other way around. One mustn’t worry what the lower classes think.”

“Ben, I am one of the lower classes.”

“Nonsense. Your father comes from a perfectly respectable family. Isn’t he cousin to some marquess or other? And your mother was the daughter of a baronet.”

“He’s never laid eyes on the Marquess of Sandiford. And my mother was disowned when she married. The only reason my father still has Ramsey House is that it is entailed and he couldn’t gamble it away.”

“No matter,” Ben said airily. “Do you inherit it or is it all to go to some chinless nephew thrice removed?”

“It goes to the first-born Ramsey child regardless of gender.” Not that it would do her any good. The house was missing some strategic amenities, like the greater part of the west-wing roof.

“See? Then you are an heiress.”

She snorted and tripped over a curb that she couldn’t see because of the prickly bundle in her arms.

“Steady. We’ll make up some sort of excuse for your servants. Perhaps I’ve come to measure the windows for new drapes as a Christmas present.”

She could use some household refurbishment, but Ben was a very unlikely interior decorator. “I’ll have to live with them after you and I are finished,” she reminded him.

“Well, that puts us in a pickle, then. Where are we to go?” Ben sighed. “I suppose it will have to be tea in your parlor again, then.”

“That would be best,” she agreed. They had managed extraordinarily well on the floor doing that extraordinary thing. Seven more days of it, and she’d be dead of pleasure.

They trudged on, dropping the odd berry onto the frosty pavement. Patsy opened the door at once, something else that was extraordinary. The maid relieved them of their twigs and boughs and dumped them on the floor, where more berries scattered. Perhaps the greenery was not quite as fresh as the seller had promised.

“What do you want me to do with all this mess then?” she asked, looking at the mess she herself had made.

“Don’t worry, Patsy,” Ben said as he handed her his coat. “I’ll take care of it. Your  mistress and I are going to decorate the parlor and don’t wish to be disturbed. It might take us a while to get everything just so. You’ll all have a lovely surprise when we’re done.”

Evangeline watched as the maid struggled to keep a straight face. Lord, the girl knew, probably had known from the first time Ben had taken her on his study floor.

“Certainly, my lord. Will you be wanting any refreshments to keep your strength up as you deck the halls?” Patsy winked right at him, removing any vestigial doubt Evangeline might have harbored about fooling her maid for one blasted instant.

“That would be delightful, Patsy. Some tea and whatever Cook has handy. I’m not fussy.” Ben gave her one of his never-fail smiles.

“Aye, you’ve got your mind on other things, I expect. Indulge me, my lord.” Patsy bent to retrieve a sprig of mistletoe and held it over her evil little head. “I haven’t been properly kissed in an age, not since Miss Evangeline rescued me from the streets, and then there weren’t really much proper about those kisses. Give a girl something to dream over, do.”

Ben’s mouth had dropped open, whether from Patsy’s bold flirtation or the realization that Evangeline had a prostitute for a maid. But then he laughed and gave her a kiss, not quite quick enough to suit Evangeline, but longer than Patsy expected or deserved.

Patsy looked stunned, as well she might. Evangeline sympathized entirely—Ben’s kisses were explosive.

“Tea, Patsy,” Evangeline reminded her, snapping fingers in front of the girl’s love-struck face.

“Yes, sir. I mean miss. I’ll be right up with it.” She scurried down to the kitchen and Evangeline gave Ben her dirtiest look.

“That was not sporting of you.”

“It was just an innocent kiss,” Ben shrugged. “Not her first, I take it.”

Evangeline grabbed some branches from the hall floor. “Not her first. The poor girl has been kissing since she was eleven. I hope she doesn’t murder me in my bed tonight to clear a path to you.”

“If you let me sleep over, I could protect you.”

Evangeline swatted him with holly. “Be serious.”

“I am. I’m told I don’t snore much.”

“I’m told I do. Get the rest of this, will you?”

***

The winner of an autographed copy of Body Heat is Marissa G. Congratulations! Marissa, contact me through the contact page at my website www.susanlyons.ca with your snail mail. And happy holidays, everyone!

I have good news and bad news. The good news is, Body Heat is now available – and isn’t that the most delicious cover? The bad news is, it doesn’t appear that customers who visit the bricks and mortar Chapters Indigo stores (they’re the big chain in Canada) will see that cover because the book’s not on the shelves. Yes, I’m Canadian and in the past, I’ve always seen my books on the shelves of my local stores, but not this time around. It’s kind of depressing.

I suppose the silver lining to the bad news is that not all that many people are shopping in bricks and mortar book stores any more. Though that’s kind of bad news, isn’t it? If people don’t shop there, the stores will go out of business. And don’t we readers all love a visit to an actual real live book store?

If so, why aren’t we buying books there? The two main reasons that always get cited are the poor economy over the last few years and the rise of e-readers and digital books. But I think there’s another one too. We’re all so freaking busy! Who has time any more to go and browse in a book store during their business hours? No, we shop at ten o’clock at night, at home on our computers or e-readers.

Recently, I attended the Novelists Inc. conference. The general consensus from the experts was that fewer book buyers are shopping in bricks and mortar bookstores. Print books are still popular (despite all the warnings that e-books will replace them), but increasingly those print books are being purchased online. And yes, of course e-books continue to grow in popularity.

I confess, I’m an online shopper myself. I often buy e-books, but even when I buy print, I typically shop online. Why? Partly, it’s that ten o’clock at night thing, but also, my local Chapters store didn’t carry all the books I wanted – and the books cost more if I bought them in the store than if I ordered those same books, in print, through that same store’s website. Huh? Well, obviously, as with so many businesses (my office supply store is another), they wanted to encourage me to buy online rather than visit the bricks and mortar store. Why? I imagine it’s because it’s expensive to carry inventory in a real live store.

At the Novelists Inc. conference, there was another interesting discussion around what factors affect purchase decisions. The speakers said that, aside from those “must buy” author lists we all maintain, purchases are significantly influenced by curated recommendations—i.e., recommendations from a trusted source. That source might be a friend, a trusted online community, a trusted reviewer, or a librarian or bookseller. Buzz and momentum are also influences, and many readers take advantage of online features such as “browse inside” or “if you read this, you might like that.” Often, multiple impressions lead up to a purchase, then some final influence is the tipping factor.

This all sounds pretty complicated! Or is book buying maybe easier now? After all, when you walked into a bricks and mortar store ten years ago, how many hundreds of thousands of books were on the shelves? Aside from those on the featured tables and shelves, what chance did you have of finding a particular book, shelved spine out on the third shelf down, in the middle of one bank of the dozens of shelves in that store? Then, as now, if you know exactly what you’re looking for, it’s easy to find – if the particular retailer, be it physical store or website has it in stock. Otherwise, how the heck do you stumble across it?

To me, it seems almost miraculous that readers do manage to stumble across my books. I wish more of them did, but I’m sure grateful for the ones that do!

What are your purchase experiences in this new book-buying environment? Where and how did you find the books that are now on your “to be read” shelf or e-reader?

As an early Christmas present, I’d love to give an autographed copy of Body Heat to someone who leaves a comment. Here’s what the story’s all about.

Maura Mahoney’s quiet routine as accountant and acting manager at Cherry Lane retirement community is turned upside down when a bad boy on a Harley roars into her life. Jesse Blue—who happens to be pure sex, walking—had been sentenced to do community service. Maura puts him to work in the garden, outside her office window where she can keep an eye on him. Though each believes the other is way out of their league, they can’t prevent the increasingly steamy fantasies that obsess them. When fantasies turn to reality, will it shatter their tenuous relationship? Or will they surmount the barriers between them and find a deep, lasting love?

As for a “curated recommendation,” how about this, from Publishers Weekly? “Opposites attract in this sizzling contemporary… Fox will have readers fervently hoping for a happily-ever-after.”

Update: My DH has done his algorhythmic thing and Anna Bowling is our winner. She’ll be receiving a copy of WAKING UP WITH A RAKE . If you didn’t win, please check out my blog tour itinerary for more chances!

2012 has been a very busy publishing year for me. The last two books of my Touch of Seduction series, TOUCH OF A ROGUE and TOUCH OF A SCOUNDREL were released in February and August, respectively. I love these Victorian era stories with characters who have the ‘gift of touch.’ (It’s the psychic ability to glean information from inanimate objects, and while it’s sometimes helpful, it always comes with a price.)

Click image to order!

Click to order!

Click to order!

I’ve heard from so many readers who enjoyed the love stories of Viola and Quinn, Jacob and Julianne, and Devon and Emma. Thank you for taking my books into your heart.

These will be my last Brava titles for the forseeable future. However, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be writing for Kensington’s Zebra line in 2013! I’ll still be delivering my signature historical romance with a sparkle of magic, but now my books will be available in mass market and affordable ebook formats.

I’m starting a new series called Spirit of the Highlands and, you guessed it, a few of my characters are, shall we say … “corporeally challenged.” That’s right. My Scottish castles are home to more than one meddlesome ghost!

PLAID TO THE BONE will be available in September 2013. It’s the story of an arranged marriage that starts with the bride’s pledge to do away with her new husband. However, once Kait Grant meets Adam Cameron, she begins to have a bit of a re-think about her father’s plans for settling the disagreement between their clans. Nothing comes freely though and their HEA results in an unusual curse on all the folk of Bonniebroch Castle.

The curse has a 300 year deadline, and the last chance for it to be broken comes in PLAID TIDINGS (October 2013). Here’s the back cover copy for that story:

Christmas in the Highlands…

Not any dashing English lord’s idea of a good time. But now that Lord Alexander Mallory has won a Scottish estate in a hand of cards, he is the unlikely laird of the wild, snowy Bonniebroch. Worse yet, the ancient pile of stones comes with a betrothal. To a fiery red-headed virgin. And a curse.

Alex will have his hands full honoring the first, seducing the second and breaking the third … all by Twelfth Night.

The mistress of Scottish romance herself, the fabulous Hannah Howell, has given PLAID TIDINGS a delightful cover quote. I wish I could share the cover art with you, but they are still in the production phase. However, if you check back on my Coming Next page periodically, you’ll see them there first! You’ll also get your first peek at my books for Casablanca (WAKING UP WITH A RAKE is coming in January!) as well as my Rock*It Reads releases.

Click to pre-order!

So now, this is my ‘swan song’ on the Brava blog. I bid my Brava sisters a fond adieu. I wish you all well and will surely see you swimming along in the publishing pond.

THE QUESTION

What’s your favorite Christmas story?

THE PRIZE

I have one ARC of WAKING UP WITH A RAKE. Some lucky commenter is going to score an early peek into the first book in the Royal Rakes series. Be sure to check back here on Dec. 11th. I’ll announce the winner then. Good luck!

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