Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Fearless
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://kimberlykincaid.com/
CITY:
STATE: VA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2014006345
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2014006345
HEADING: Kincaid, Kimberly
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040 __ |a DLC |b eng |c DLC |e rda
100 1_ |a Kincaid, Kimberly
370 __ |e Virginia
374 __ |a Women authors |2 lcsh
670 __ |a The sugar cookie sweetheart swap, 2013: |b t.p. (Kimberly Kincaid); about the author page (Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance; lives in northern Virginia)
PERSONAL
Married; children: three daughters.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Yoga, cooking.
WRITINGS
Work represented in anthologies, including The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap and Hot on Ice.
Several novels published as audiobooks.
SIDELIGHTS
Kimberly Kincaid has described her novels as “sexy contemporary romance.” “It’s different than erotica or erotic romance, where the sex is steamier and more central to the plot,” she told an interviewer at the Scribbler’s Ink Web log. “I am definitely plot and character driven, with sexy scenes. I believe in intimacy bringing my characters together, but there’s a definite deeper layer to the connection between them. It’s not just between the sheets!” Kincaid has written several series as well as stand-alone novels.
Turn up the Heat
Turn up the Heat initiates Kincaid’s “Pine Mountain” series, set in a ski resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia; she had introduced the setting in the anthology The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap. This novel’s heroine, Bellamy Blake, is an ambitious young banker headed for a vacation at the resort when her car breaks down. An attraction grows between Bellamy and Shane Griffin, the local mechanic working on her car, but a secret from his past creates an obstacle. While their romance is developing, Bellamy decides to quit her job — she has become enraged at her boss because of his request that she work during her vacation — and pursue a new career that will utilize her cooking skills.
Food is an important factor throughout the “Pine Mountain” series. “Pine Mountain is a fictional town in the very real Blue Ridge Mountains, and it serves as home to a lot of hot locals as well as boasting a fancier ski resort that draws in sexy out-of-towners,” Kincaid told an online interviewer at Smexy Books. “I wanted to create a place that felt like home, but had a unique element to make it stand out. Plus, I write a lot of chefs, and I needed a restaurant home base for them to congregate.”
Some reviewers found Turn up the Heat a promising start to the series, although they saw room for the author to improve. It “features competent writing but a pedestrian story,” remarked a Publishers Weekly contributor. RT Book Reviews Web site critic Bunny Callahan, however, praised Kincaid’s plotting and prose, adding: “Just a touch more character depth and this author is on her way to the top.”
Fire Me Up
Fire Me Up, the fourth “Pine Mountain” novel, focuses on Adrian Holt, who had appeared previously as a supporting character. He has been in the town for a year, working as a sous-chef at the resort, but studiously avoiding any friendships. After he breaks his arm in a motorcycle accident, he has to take six weeks off work, and he chafes at the inactivity. One night he stops in at a local pub and finds the bartender is Teagan O’Malley, the paramedic who tended him after the crash. She is running the establishment for her ailing father, and she is rather overwhelmed; among other things, the cook has just quit. Adrian offers to help out, and their relationship soon becomes something more than a business one. Along the way, there are revelations about Adrian’s past.
The novel received some critical praise, particularly for a rather surprising ending. “A last-minute twist will make readers gasp,” predicted a Publishers Weekly commentator. Bunny Callahan, again writing online at RT Book Reviews, termed the resolution “very clever.” Another Web-based reviewer, at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, termed the novel overall “a quick paced contemporary romance with lots of sizzle and characters with whom I enjoyed spending a day.”
Reckless
This is the first novel in Kincaid’s “Rescue Squad” series, about emergency services workers. It features temperamental firefighter Alex Donovan, who is ordered by his captain to do four weeks of community service at a soup kitchen as punishment for insubordinate behavior. The soup kitchen happens to be run by the captain’s daughter, Zoe Westin. They are quickly attracted to each other but are wary of acting on their feelings, due to their own strong wills as well as Zoe’s family ties.
Several critics deemed this a winning tale. A Publishers Weekly commentator called it “a heartwarming opposites-attract romance” that underlines how important “mutual trust and respect” are in a relationship. Melanie Bates, writing online at RT Book Reviews, praised Kincaid’s “solid contemporary plot” and “genuine, distinctive characters,” then summed up the novel as “a delight.”
Fearless
The second “Rescue Squad” entry has firefighter Cole Everett training a new recruit, Savannah Nelson. He is calm and methodical, while she is impulsive and quick-tempered, in addition to being sensitive to the possibility of gender bias, as she is the only woman in the firehouse. They develop a friendship and then a romance despite their contrasting personalities, all while investigating an arson case and trying to thwart attempts to undermine Savannah.
Kincaid’s combination of love story and suspense tale received several positive reviews. Fearless is “an adrenaline-packed contemporary romance” featuring a mystery that makes it “a gripping page-turner,” remarked a Publishers Weekly contributor. Melanie Bates, again critiquing at the RT Book Reviews site, thought the novel occasionally marred by slow pacing but on the whole an “engaging read” enhanced by “humor and authenticity.”
Crossing Hearts
This novel initiates the “Cross Creek” series, set in a small Virginia town by that name. Emerson Montgomery has returned to Cross Creek after a twelve-year absence. She had been eager to leave the town and her domineering parents, and she had found success as a physical therapist for a pro football team. She had also left behind her high school sweetheart, Hunter Cross, who has stayed in the community to work on his family’s farm. Emerson begins practicing physical therapy in her hometown, but she is secretive about her reason for returning — she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She finds one confidant, however, when Hunter is referred to her for therapy for a shoulder injury. In addition, she finds that her love for him is rekindled, and he reciprocates even though she had broken his heart. Her secret, though, proves a heavy burden to their relationship.
Some critics welcomed the novel and the new series. Crossing Hearts “is a beautiful second chance love story,” observed a contributor to the Harlequin Junkie Web site, further calling the tale “amazing, touching, sexy and spectacular.” Jennifer Wilson, writing online at RT Book Reviews, pronounced it “a wonderful read by the talented Kincaid!”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2013, review of The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap.
Library Journal, October 15, 2013, Kristin Ramsdell, review of The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, p. 7.
Publishers Weekly, January 20, 2014, review of Turn up the Heat, p. 37; December 22, 2014, review of Fire Me Up, p. 61; November 23, 2015, review of Reckless, p. 54; June 6, 2016, review of Fearless, p. 67.
ONLINE
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (February 24, 2017), Denny S. Bryce, “Authors and Their Book Boyfriends: Kimberly Kincaid, Diana Quincy and Joanna Shupe.”
Harlequin Junkie, http://harlequinjunkie.com/ (February 7, 2017), review of Crossing Hearts.
Kimberly Kincaid Home Page, https://kimberlykincaid.com (March 28, 2017).
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (March 28, 2017), Bunny Callahan, reviews of Turn up the Heat, Stirring up Trouble, and Fire Me Up; Melanie Bates, reviews of All Wrapped Up, Reckless, and Fearless; Jennifer Wilson, review of Crossing Hearts.
Scribbler’s Ink, https://scribblersinkblog.wordpress.com/ (January 10, 2014), interview with Kimberly Kincaid.
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (June 10, 2016), review of Fire Me Up.
Smexy Books, http://smexybooks.com/ (October 9, 2014), interview with Kimberly Kincaid.*
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet and hot and edgy romantic suspense. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2016 and 2015 RWA RITA® finalist and 2014 Bookseller’s Best nominee who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.
Authors and their book boyfriends: Kimberly Kincaid, Diana Quincy and Joanna Shupe
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By: Denny S. Bryce | February 24, 2017 12:00 am
Happy end of February — and oh, my that went fast. Hopefully, you remembered to leave some room on your TBR list for this month’s book boyfriends. We have quite a luscious group of men to choose from, so delicious. Frankly, I think you may wish to take a bite of each or make a meal of them by adding all three book recommendations to your TBR list. A huge thank-you to Kimberly Kincaid, Diana Quincy and Joanna Shupe for sharing their latest heartthrobs with us!
Kimberly Kincaid
Kimberly Kincaid
Kimberly Kincaid is a USA TODAY bestseller and two-time RITA finalist who writes bold, sexy romance. Her latest release, Crossing Hearts, is a small-town second-chance romance with big-time sizzle.
Kimberly’s book boyfriend is Max Grady from Tangled Up by Erin Nicholas.
Denny: Welcome, Kimberly! It’s great to have you, and thanks for a very sexy book boyfriend. Tell me more!
Kimberly: Tangled Up is a super-fun contemporary romance with all the charm of a small town and enough heat to keep you up past your bedtime. It’s a “best friends to lovers story” (one of my favorites!) with a hero who comes home to work but ends up realizing how much more there is for him in Chance, Nebraska.
Denny: Why do you love Max?
tangled-up-erin-nicholas
Kimberly: Let me count the ways! First of all, let’s state the obvious. He’s smokin’ hot. But even better than that, he knows what he wants, and he’s not afraid to go after it. This applies to his work as a stormchaser (thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie, anyone? Cue the swoons!), and also to the best friend who he’s secretly got a thing for. Possibly the sexiest thing about Max, though, is how he balances being protective of Bree and acknowledging who she is — a fellow adrenaline junkie, just like him. Yes, it provides friction between them, and yes, he’s a bit stubborn about that, too, but Max is 100% certain of what he wants, and oh, that conviction is just so appealing.
Denny: How far would you go to win Max?
Kimberly: While I know Max is head over heels for Bree (another trait that is oh-so-yummy … a man who’s fierce for his partner is a hero I can get behind as a book boyfriend!), I have to say, I’d weather a storm for this guy. And from the first kiss scene where that actually happens between Max and Bree — nothing like a close call with Mother Nature to bring a couple, ahem, closer — it’s easy to see why Max is book boyfriend material. Smart, clearly dedicated to a job he feels passionate about and a woman he feels very passionate about and did I mention hot? (Oh so hot!) Trust me when I say, you’ll want to snap Max Grady up as your book boyfriend, too!
Diana Quincy
Diana Quincy
Diana Quincy is a former television reporter whose latest novel is From London With Love, which begins when the bride is kidnapped at the altar by the man who jilted her on their wedding day five years earlier. Diana’s first historical mystery, Murder in Mayfair, will be out this summer.
Diana’s book boyfriend is Derek Craven from Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas.
Denny: What is it about Derek Craven that does it for you?
Diana: In many ways, Derek is not the typical romance hero. He was born in the gutter and grew up on the streets. A former thief and grave robber, he eventually becomes a wealthy gaming club owner. Not exactly the type of man you’d want to take home to meet the parents in real life, but Derek is absolutely the perfect book boyfriend.
dreaming-of-you-lisa-kleypas
I love that he’s tough and ruthless with others, yet tender and protective with Sara, a writer he comes to love. I guess that, for me, there’s nothing sexier than a self-made man who’s still a little rough around the edges. Even Lisa Kleypas thinks Derek is a larger-than-life character. She has said that Derek rarely appears in her other books because he tends to overpower every story he’s in. Yes, he’s that ridiculously hot in every way.
Denny: What other character traits draw you to Derek?
Diana: There’s nothing like an alpha hero who’s still a little vulnerable. Derek wears the finest clothes and has learned to speak with a refined accent, but when he’s under duress, Derek tends to revert to the cockney accent he learned on the streets. These little slips remind us of how far the character has come, how hard he still works at being the formidable man the world sees, and how the tough, vulnerable little boy who grew up alone on the streets is still there, deep down, inside of Derek.
Charlie Hunnam arrives at The Lost City of Z U.K. premiere Feb. 16 in London. (Photo: Mike Marsland, WireImage)
Charlie Hunnam arrives at The Lost City of Z U.K. premiere Feb. 16 in London. (Photo: Mike Marsland, WireImage)
Denny: And now for some fantasy casting. Who would you have play the role of Derek in a movie?
Diana: I know Derek is described as having dark hair, but since this is my fantasy, I would totally choose Charlie Hunnam. (Settle down, purists. This is nothing a little hair dye can’t fix.) Charlie can play the tough guy, and he’s totally believable as someone only a fool would cross. He exudes that rough-but-tender-for-you quality that is Derek’s trademark. And, while undeniably attractive, Charlie does not have perfect refined features. He’s got a heavy brow bone and strong features that I think would make him the perfect Derek. Sigh. He can give me a very personal tour of his gaming hell any day. And if we happen to disappear into one of those special private rooms, do not send help!
Joanna Shupe
Joanna Shupe
Joanna Shupe writes historical romances set in Gilded Age New York City as well as Regency London. Her latest release, Mogul, is the last book in The Knickerbocker Club series.
Joanna’s book boyfriend is Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, from Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt.
Denny: Tell us about Valentine (and you’ve got to love the name!).
Joanna: The broken rake (also known as the unapologetic bad boy) is my absolute catnip, and that is where Valentine comes in. He is not a good man. Yes, he’s a duke, but he’s as bad as they come. He’s a murderer. A kidnapper. A blackmailer. He is a gorgeous, hedonistic villain … and he’s not sorry. In a world of machinations and trickery, Val has decided he’ll rise to the top, getting even with those who have wronged him. As the story unfolds, we begin to root for him.
duke-of-sin-elizabeth-hoyt
Denny: What do you like best about him?
Joanna: He is unconventional. We all expect our bad-boy heroes to be redeemed in the end. That never quite happens with Val, and I didn’t want it any other way. Hoyt’s characterization and writing are masterful here, and we never get a softened, watered-down version of Valentine. He is who he is — charming, arrogant, funny and vain — and the heroine loves him anyway. In turn, so does the reader.
Val is also bisexual. It doesn’t happen on the page (sadly … and someone *please* write this Duke of Sin prequel fanfic asap!), but it’s heavily implied. And this is presented as just part of his sexuality, something he’s comfortable with, and it made me love him all the more.
Denny: What might you do to meet Valentine?
Joanna: I might hide in the walls of his London townhouse, as he does in the opening of the book. 🙂
Denny: Now for some fantasy casting for Valentine …
Tom Hiddleston at the 70th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) on Feb. 12 in London. (Photo: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Tom Hiddleston at the 70th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) on Feb. 12 in London. (Photo: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Joanna: I believe Hoyt has said that Tom Hiddleston is her inspiration for Val … and I wholeheartedly agree! Tom has those fair, angelic looks, but you just know he’s naughty underneath.
INTERVIEWS
An Interview with Kimberly Kincaid
by thatthornguy • March 21, 2016 • 12 Comments
Kim
How did you become a professional artist?
About 12-13 years ago, as our last child showed signs of leaving the nest, I started contemplating what I wanted to do with my life since I was facing unemployment as a mother. 30+ years ago when I was in college, my major was art. I dabbled a bit here and there while raising my kids but nothing resembling dedicated study and practice. I was extremely rusty but there was a spark that was fuelled each time I tried drawing something and soon the passion I felt long ago ignited. I began with fan art, mostly LOTR since the movies were all the rage. I entered a few online contests and won a few awards. I began taking classes, as many as I could afford. I just kept at it and started getting jobs. Those jobs led to others. I remember one day I ran into an old acquaintance and when she asked what I did, I blurted out, “I’m an artist”. This declaration resonated within and from that moment on, each artistic endeavour took on new meaning for me.
I read another interview with you a few years back in which to a question you wrote “I can’t remember my life without associating some type of art/creating with it. I was always drawing as a kid. Throughout my schooling, art and music were my passions. There are so many parallels between the two. I did have a defining experience a decade ago when I needed to choose where to focus my energy. Art won out and I’ve never looked back.” I was wondering if you would tell us about this experience?
The experience I referred to in the interview involved a difficult audition process for a well-known choir. I made it through all the tests and call backs and was waiting for the acceptance/rejection letter. In the meantime I had been paid for my very first freelance job and wondering if I would be able to funnel the energy for both endeavors. The morning the letter arrived I had this powerful impression that I did not make the singing group but had the overwhelming sense of peace that art was the direction to go. In so many ways this experience clarified my decision. The difficult aspects of returning to an art career involve time, balancing family and age issues…which lead me to your next question.
Kimart2
What challenges did you find the most difficult during this process?
My biggest handicap is the mental perception of age… that it’s too late to try or to start. Oh, those age demons play havoc with my confidence. It’s hard to walk into a classroom and realize you are old enough to be the teacher’s mother, let alone the other students. I’ve had to overcome my fear of learning the computer and Photoshop and networking. Promoting my work is almost painful but it’s necessary. These factors as well as my shortcomings in technique and anatomy are my biggest challenges.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Oh the art! The challenge of creating something that’s in your mind and succeeding. I love connecting with other like-minded souls and finding inspiration in their work which drives me to work harder.
What is your drawing Achilles’ heel? Is there something in particular that stumps you?
Hey, do you have an hour or two? If I were to pick the biggest problem it would be my lack of confidence. It’s okay to be grateful and humble about your craft but there is a point where second guessing your work can shackle you and sabotage your dreams. It’s the artist’s curse that we are rarely satisfied with the end result of our creative vision but constantly berating yourself is dangerous to the creative process. It’s a battle I wage daily.
KimDragon
I read on your blog that you have a dragon weathervane at home! I’m jealous! 😀 How did you acquire it?
I really do have a dragon weathervane. I found it online and several years ago my husband paid a neighbour to build a lovely cupola to hold it.
There’s also a drawing of it on your blog header, which is called The Twirling Dragon. Do you consider yourself a dragon fan? Or was there maybe another reason you decided on this name?
I am a huge dragon fan, especially when they have a bond with a human or human like individual (as in Eragon or Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series). I have loved animals all my life, especially reptiles and birds. I also spent the first 16 years of my life riding and showing horses. So, you put those three living species together and then stir in my fascination with dinosaurs and you have dragons. As far as the Twirling Dragon Header on my blog goes, my studio used to be underneath the roof that held the dragon weathervane and I could hear it squeaking while it twirled during blustery days. I’m now in a larger room in the basement that has a lock on the door to keep little grandchildren out and safe from potentially dangerous materials. Alas, I can no longer hear my dragon twirling.
Who are some of your favourite fantasy authors?
Oh boy, this is tough. Tolkien would have to be first on this list. Lord of the Rings is a deeply spiritual book for me and I can’t separate my return to art from discovering his work for the first time. Lloyd Alexander for his Prydain Chronicles holds such fond memories for me and my kids. Of course, Mark Lawrence, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Maggie Stiefvater, Jonathan Stroud, Terry Pratchett, Suzanne Collins and well, the list goes on and on. Oh, and I’m really enjoying Robin Hobb.
KimLOTR2
Favourite fantasy books?
I’ve already mentioned LOTR and Prydain. Name of the Wind had me with the first two pages. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (sea horses!), The Harry Potter series(sigh), Hunger Games, The Monstromologist by Rick Yancy and Mark Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy, pretty much anything by Sanderson but especially his Mistborn series and the ambitious Stormlight Archives. Loved Melina Marchetta’s Lumetere Chronicles. Anything Discworld, especially Tiffany Aching by Pratchett and Nation. I could go on and on but will finish with Orson S. Card’s Speaker for the Dead.
I’ve seen a lot of excellent fantasy fan art that you created in the past. Which ones were your favourites?
Kvothe (name: The Minstrel) is certainly my most well known. He was my first try at digital painting and he turned out better than I hoped. Probably my personal favourite is the one depicting the end of Arwen’s life from LOTR. I put my heart into her creation.
KimKvothe
I believe I can speak for all Mark Lawrence fans when I say we loved your Jorg Ancrath art! He must have been a very challenging character to capture!
Truthfully, I would like to do him over. I didn’t have much time but after reading Mark’s books I had to try to depict Jorg, who can be quite insistent as you know.
KimJorg
I personally also really liked your Edward Cullen fan art (based on the books rather than the movies), ‘Dazed and Confused’, capturing the moment when Edward realizes for the first time that he can’t read Bella’s mind, and I’m not even a Twilight fan!
Oh Agnes, you are going way back to my beginnings. I discovered Meyer’s first book way before anyone was making noise about it. I worked at our local library to pay for my art classes and the Twilight audio book came through processing and I brought it home out of curiosity. I had no idea it was about vampires. Ha! I seriously thought Edward was an alien at first.
KimEdward
How do you generally go about drawing fan art?
When I respond to a character in a book, I try to envision their appearance. I will spend time on Pinterest or come across a random photo that jump-starts the drawing. From there, I start making tweaks here and there based on my impressions of the character. Sometimes people respond to the end result and sometimes they don’t.
I used to love Boris Valejjo’s art as a teenager, and when I looked up some posts on your blog the other day I spotted a master illustration class photo of him, Donato Giancola, Julie Bell and other known artists. How did you find learning from them?
Attending the Illustration Master Class back in Amherst, MA was a game changer for me. Rebecca Guay is the organizer of the event that offers an intense week-long immersion of classes, lectures and one on one instruction with the greats in the fantasy art genre. All of the teachers are so forth coming with their knowledge and process. Boris and Julie are such gentle, sensitive and generous people. Donato is amazing and so passionate about art and of course has a deep love of LOTR. What I have learned most from all these wonderful artists is that talent only takes you so far. It’s hard work and proper practice and persistently striving to improve that will bring about success.
KimBear
There was a time you used to design and sew dolls and bears. I really love this one here, for example. Do you think you might make some more of these in the future?
No. I sewed for 14 years and was so burned out in the end. I have all these original patterns just waiting to be used but I’m not inspired to pick it up again. Maybe one of my kids or grandkids will use them and build a business with them.
These days I often see you posting ‘Every Day Original’ arts. What is ‘Every Day Original’?
Every Day Original is an online gallery developed by Marc Scheff and Lauren Panepinto. Over a year ago, they hand selected around 30 artists to post a small original work valued under $500 on a specific day of the month. It’s a great idea, providing small, affordable works for the beginning collectors well as a format for artists new to the gallery world. I’ve done it for over a year now and it’s been a good challenge for me to come up with something new every month.
KimArt
What are you currently working on?
I just finished a piece (Snow Child) for an exhibit in Seattle in April. Each artist invited picked a personally significant book and created a mock book cover. The roster of artists is quite intimidating and includes both Julie Bell and Boris. I’m also finishing illustrations for a self-published children’s book and have three private commissions and an entry for an exhibit in New York in June at the Society of Illustrators.
Is there any advice you would share with the contestants?
Risk…take it. You’ll never know unless you try.
Quoted in Sidelights
Pine Mountain is a fictional town in the very real Blue Ridge Mountains, and it serves as home to a lot of hot locals as well as boasting a fancier ski resort that draws in sexy out-of-towners. I wanted to create a place that felt like home, but had a unique element to make it stand out. Plus, I write a lot of chefs, and I needed a restaurant home base for them to congregate. But it’s definitely a mix of small town charm and fast-talking city life.
Interview with Kimberly Kincaid
October 9, 2014 By Mandi 3 Comments
Stirring Up Trouble.indd
Stirring up Trouble by Kimberly Kincaid just released and she is stopping by Smexy for a chat.
Who is Kimberly Kincaid? Give us the low down.
I write contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. I love fast cars, slow kisses, and cupcakes (not necessarily in that order). I’ve written two series, the Line books about sexy cops and feisty chefs, and the Pine Mountain series, about small town singles finding big time love. Right now I’m working on a super secret project, as well as a firefighter series that will be released starting in 2016.
Your latest release, Stirring Up Trouble is the third book in your Pine Mountain series. Give us some background on this series.
Pine Mountain is a fictional town in the very real Blue Ridge Mountains, and it serves as home to a lot of hot locals as well as boasting a fancier ski resort that draws in sexy out-of-towners. I wanted to create a place that felt like home, but had a unique element to make it stand out. Plus, I write a lot of chefs, and I needed a restaurant home base for them to congregate. But it’s definitely a mix of small town charm and fast-talking city life.
Sloane is in need of cash and becomes what you call, an “anti-nanny.” I love that term. How exactly does one perform duties as an anti-nanny?
Sloane is definitely the least likely nanny candidate on the planet, but of course, she’s the only choice Gavin’s got for his thirteen-year-old half-sister. She bumbles her way through taking care of Bree at first, but Sloane’s a writer and Bree needs tutoring, so they catch on with a common goal. But they end up teaching each other a lot more than just Shakespeare.
Our hero Gavin is raising his teenage half-sister and needs to be responsible, and mature and all of those boring adult things. Was it fun to write this pair, with Sloane more carefree? Can you give us a favorite quote or brief scene between these two?
These two are probably the most quintessential “opposites attract” couple I’ve ever written. She is so quirky and offbeat and he’s so serious and reserved with his emotions, it was great fun to put them on the page and let them needle each other into middle ground. One of my favorite scenes is at Carly and Jackson’s wedding (the characters from book 2, Gimme Some Sugar), where Sloane teases Gavin mercilessly about how he’s never danced in the rain or done anything silly. But then he turns the tables on her (I won’t tell you how, you’ll have to read!), surprising not just Sloane, but himself in the process. Of course, it leads to steamy business, too, and that’s always good stuff!
Somewhere between the sexy curve of her mouth and the half-dare coming out of it, Gavin flung his stalwart caution to the wind. He knew how to live life, dammit. Losing his mother with barely any warning had taught him just how quickly things could slip away.
This moment wasn’t going to be one of them.
Gavin rounded the bistro table in a purposeful stride, stopping only when he was close enough to feel the rise of Sloane’s chest over her sharp inhale of surprise. “I know how to have fun, and I don’t have to run around in the rain to do it.”
“You don’t?” Sloane squeaked, but she didn’t take a step back. Instead, she lifted her gaze to meet his head-on, and there was no mistaking the want in her eyes.
“I don’t. Let’s go.”
What is up next for you?
I am always working on something (usually two somethings, with another something on the side) Pine Mountain book 4, Fire Me Up (yes! Adrian’s story. Finally. I know!) will be out in February 2015, and then I’ve got a fun release coming in March 2015 (keep your eyes on my social media for that announcement later this year). There will also be two more Pine Mountain stories, a digital novella in June 2015, and then the last book, All Wrapped Up, in October 2015. It’s a busy life!
Find Kimberly: Website l Goodreads l Amazon
Quoted in Sidelights:
I write sexy contemporary romance. It’s different than erotica or erotic romance, where the sex is steamier and more central to the plot. I am definitely plot and character driven, with sexy scenes. I believe in intimacy bringing my characters together, but there’s a definite deeper layer to the connection between them. It’s not just between the sheets!
Pushing The Line – Interview with Kimberly Kincaid
Posted on January 10, 2014 by scribblersinkblog
Portrait of young attractive happy amorous couple in bedroomKimberly-Head shotI’m thrilled to welcome, multi-published, contemporary romance writer Kimberly Kincaid and author of the newly released novella Pushing The Line.
First, a bit of background on our author:
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Her digital “line” series is all about the hot cops and sexy chefs of Brentsville, New York. She is also thrilled to have collaborated on a Christmas anthology with Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell, titled The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, to kick off her Pine Mountain foodie series with Kensington books, to be followed by her first full-length print novel, Turn Up the Heat. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters. Visit her any time at www.kimberlykincaid.com or come check her out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1) and Twitter (@kimberlykincaid).
Thank you for joining us at Scribbler’s today, Kimberly!
What would you most like your readers to know about you that they would not read in your official bio?
Family, food and fun are my three favorite things, I love to find stories in the least likely places (I once wrote half a scene on a box of bananas in the middle of Costco!) and my favorite TV show is Monday Night Football.
Tell us Scribbler’s a bit about Pushing The Line and what inspired this story?
Pushing The Line is the fourth book in the “line” series, and it’s the story of confident firefighter Aaron Fisher. Aaron made his first appearance in Outside The Lines (he is the hero Blake’s cousin), and in truth, was not supposed to get his own story. But he was such a fan favorite, and an author favorite too, that in the end, I couldn’t say no!
Do you use a pen name/pseudo name? If so, why? If not, why did you decide to write under your own name?
Yes. I prefer to remain as mysterious as humanly possible.
As a writer of contemporary romance, do you feel the story line is as important as the sex scenes?
I write sexy contemporary romance. It’s different than erotica or erotic romance, where the sex is steamier and more central to the plot. I am definitely plot and character driven, with sexy scenes. I believe in intimacy bringing my characters together, but there’s a definite deeper layer to the connection between them. It’s not just between the sheets!
What three ingredients to do you consider an absolute necessity to writing a hot sex scene?
Connection between characters, respect between characters, and intimacy driving the emotion. Also, it’s hard to go wrong with a sexy firefighter hero!
Do you develop a deep backstory for your characters before sitting down to write or do you just have a general idea of who they are?
I’m a total plotter. I almost always know exactly who they are before I even start writing a word.
When brainstorming a story idea do you begin with character or plot?
Characters. Nearly always!
I noticed in your Line Trilogy Stories as well as in your newest release; Pushing The Line, cooking/food is not only a skill all your heroine’s share, but a core piece of their coping skills. Was this deliberate or did the idea just morph as you wrote the novellas?
Food plays a huge part in everything I write, and that’s very much on purpose. I was raised in a big Italian family, I married into a big Italian family, and we all very much believe that food is love. I am fascinated by how intimate and evocative food (cooking and sharing food) is. For me, there is nothing sexier.
What are your strongest influences when it comes to character creation?
Photos. I scour the Internet for pictures of models or actors, then get a composite of how I want my “people” to look/act/think based on my interpretation of a given photo. The entire idea behind Love On The Line (book #1) came from a photo spread in Cosmopolitan magazine!
Do you ever base your character on people you know?
Nope. Always fiction.
What is your process for coming up with character names?
I’m quite particular about this. I frequent baby-name websites, and have a running list on my laptop. My characters’ names have to “fit” just right.
Can we have an excerpt from Pushing The Line?
For a second, Harper stood next to him, her arms knotted over her chest and a truckload of doubt scrawled over her pretty face, and Aaron’s gut rippled. As tough as she seemed, she’d been through a lot, losing her grandmother and having her newly-inherited shop nearly burn to the ground. Any normal woman would be well within reason to cry at first sight of the damage.
But clearly, Harper McGee wasn’t any normal woman.
“You said you’ll be here tomorrow to get started with the cleanup?” She lifted her spine to its full height, setting her chin in a yank completely at-odds with her delicate face, and Aaron took a step back in confusion.
“Well, yeah. The crew doesn’t usually do weekends, but I’m not on-shift again at the fire house until Sunday. I figured I’d get started since you’re in a rush.”
“Good. I’ll meet you here at eight. We have a ton of work to do.”
“Wait.” He shook his head, realization trickling in like a slow leak. “There’s not really a whole lot you can do on-site, especially during this phase.” In fact, there were probably a million different ways an untrained person could get hurt during cleanup and demolition. Aaron had the scars to prove it, and he’d worked with Tully for years.
But Harper wasn’t having it. “I learn fast and work hard. And I’m not going to just sit still when I could be helping.”
“You might get hurt,” he argued.
“I’m sure you’ll find something to keep me busy.” Her glance skimmed over the kitchen one more time, eyes flickering with that same emotion he’d caught when they’d first walked in.
Oh, hell. Harper was already hurt.
“No working without protective gear, no doing anything unless I clear it first, and no arguing. You’re going to need a pair of work boots, and if you value your legs, you’ll cover them up.”
For a long second, she was quiet, until finally she said, “I can do that.”
“Good.” He stepped in to hit her with a challenge-laden smile. “You’re going to get what you want. Just be sure you want what you’re going to get.”
Why the short story venue vs a full-length novel?
I do write both, and love both. For these stories though, the shorter format was a great fit because there are streamlined conflicts and many of the characters already know each other. It’s a tight community.
What are you most proud of about your writing?
That my three daughters see their mom living her biggest dream every day.
Is there any genre you dislike reading?
I’m not huge on horror, mostly because it scares the pants off of me! I’d read Stephen King and not sleep for at least a month.
If you could cast anyone to play the character’s of Harper and Aaron, whom would you pick?
I love this question! I’d pick Marine-turned-underwear model (yes ladies. You read that correctly) Alex Minsky to be Aaron and actress Jessica Alba as Harper.
What is the writing process like for you? If you were to describe our process in one word, what would it be?
In a word, it’s messy. I plot out nearly everything before I draft, and there are lots of Post-Its and scribbled notes and crumpled pages before the final book comes out.
What does your writing space look like?
I work from home, in an office with bright red walls, an antique-looking desk, and the ugliest, most awful fake leather chair ever. It’s SO comfortable. I refuse to get rid of it, much it my husband’s dismay.
What writer has most influenced your own work?
You want me to pick one?! So tough…but I’ll say Barbara O’Neal. She writes these lyrical, gorgeous books that make me just want to be on the page.
What are you currently reading?
I’m catching up on the Sullivan series by Bella Andre. Addicting!
What sound or noise do you love?
My kids laughing.
What sound or noise do you hate?
Whining! I live in a whine-free zone.
Do you have a favorite curse word?
I should probably not admit this in case my mother is reading, but I swear like a sailor. I am so partial to the F-word. It’s not ladylike, but there you have it!
Lace or silk?
Toss up…let’s go with lace.
Boxers, briefs or going commando?
I think this depends on the character! I won’t reveal Mr. K’s secrets, but I think all three of these can be sexy, depending on who’s in them (or, more specifically, out of them!)
What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you’ve ever heard?
Best is to honor your process no matter what. Worst is to try and make your process look like someone else’s. There’s no “right” way to write a book. There’s only a right way FOR YOU.
What books or other projects do you have coming up in the future?
I’ve got a full print series with Kensington books, starting in March 2014. The first book is titled Turn Up The Heat, and it will be followed by Gimme Some Sugar, Stirring Up Trouble, and Fire Me Up.
To keep up with Kimberly:
www.kimberlykincaid.com
www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1
@kimberlykincaid
To purchase your own copy of Pushing The Line, go to:
Quoted in Sidelights:
an adrenaline-packed contemporary romance
a gripping page-turner
Fearless
Publishers Weekly.
263.23 (June 6, 2016): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Fearless
Kimberly Kincaid. Zebra, $7.99 mass market paperback (368p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3775-0
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Kincaid follows Reckless with an adrenaline-packed contemporary romance that boasts plenty of literal and figurative heat. Savannah Nelson is
bent on proving she has what it takes to join the close-knit brotherhood of Station Eight, a firehouse in the fictional American town of Fairview
(in an unnamed state). Captain Westin is tough, but he gives Savannah a fait chance by pairing her with his best firefighter, Cole Everett, who's
known for his methodical and focused nature. Cole finds Savannah's brashness and impetuousness dangerous on the job, and distractingly sexy
during their time off. Savanna is defensive about being the only female candidate for the firehouse, and she tends to argue and push instead of
thinking, but under Cole's tutelage, she learns to plan first. Savannah is ready to combust from the sizzling chemistry between them, and when she
makes the first move, Cole is eager to follow. The romance is sweet and sexy, and the pair's intimate conversations are peppered with lust and
flirtation. Cole and Savannah have each other's backs and form an intense connection as friends, colleagues, and lovers. The mystery they are
unraveling transforms the romance into a gripping page-turner from start to finish. Agent: Maureen Walters, Curtis Brown Literary. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Fearless." Publishers Weekly, 6 June 2016, p. 67+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA454730999&it=r&asid=e928bbb338f0ead30d7bf3b2fc1aeb55. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A454730999
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Quoted in Sidelights: a heartwarming opposites-attract romance
mutual trust and respect
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Reckless
Publishers Weekly.
262.47 (Nov. 23, 2015): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Reckless
Kimberly Kincaid. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (326p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3773-6
Kincaid's first Rescue Squad contemporary sets up a heartwarming opposites-attract romance. When adrenaline-junkie firefighter Alex Donovan
is assigned to four weeks of community service at a soup kitchen, staffer Zoe Westin immediately wants him gone; she likes to play it safe and
doesn't have time to babysit someone who thinks rules exist to be broken. Nonetheless, they establish rapport easily, and their mutual attraction is
sexy and sweet. Alex nudges Zoe into learning how to ask for help, and to trust that people won't let her down. Gradually she takes more risks,
both in her job and in her personal life. Zoe's father is Alex's boss, so Alex won't make a move romantically; Zoe has to pursue him. Alex's
transformation is a little more gradual, but he's the one who decides not to keep things casual. The passion burns brightly, but Kincaid (the Pine
Mountain series) makes it clear that mutual trust and respect are even more important for bringing families, lovers, and friends together. Agent:
Maureen Walters, Curtis Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Reckless." Publishers Weekly, 23 Nov. 2015, p. 54+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA436439890&it=r&asid=41830301bdaa6016f4f65c080e7425a6. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A436439890
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Quoted in Sidelights: a last-minute twist will make readers gasp.
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Fire Me Up
Publishers Weekly.
261.53 (Dec. 22, 2014): p61.
COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Fire Me Up
Kimberly Kincaid. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3655-5
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Tension, drama, and sweet nothings mingle in the tasty fourth Pine Mountain contemporary (after Stirring Up Trouble). Snarky chef Adrian Holt's
motorcycle accident leaves him with a broken arm and the beginnings of a serious stircrazy crisis. Kitchen phobic paramedic Teagan O'Malley is
her wits' end; the chef at her father's bar has quit, and the Friday night crowd is building. Then Adrian walks in and offers his services. As the
battle of wills continues from an earlier encounter, Adrian and Teagan simultaneously fight against and stir up the heat in the kitchen and their
hearts. Threats from a loan shark and a hardhearted parole officer add the dramatic elements; unfortunately, the Pennsylvanian Blue Ridge
Mountains setting lacks real local color. The plot is fairly ordinary, but a last-minute twist will make readers gasp. Foodies and series fans will
relish this spirited journey of love and happiness. Agent: Maureen Walters, Curtis Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Fire Me Up." Publishers Weekly, 22 Dec. 2014, p. 61. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA395846580&it=r&asid=cd7ea88f8d1abf0590f92fe38a49a736. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A395846580
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Kauffman, Donna: THE SUGAR COOKIE SWEETHEART
SWAP
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 1, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Kauffman, Donna THE SUGAR COOKIE SWEETHEART SWAP Kensington (Adult Fiction) $15.00 9, 24 ISBN: 978-0-7582-9088-5
Three best friends attend their small-town community Christmas cookie swap, bemoaning their loveless state, but the holiday season will prove to
be their most romantic ever. Clara, Abby and Lily have been friends since childhood, and they are each devoted to their Blue Ridge town of Pine
Mountain. Abby and Lily are both baking entrepreneurs, while Clara can't boil water, so it's no big surprise when Clara has one of her friends
bake her cookies for the annual cookie swap. It is, however, a huge surprise when Clara's assigned to write a column on holiday cookie baking for
the local paper. Trekking to the bookstore a town away for a cookie cookbook for beginners, she runs into Will, her college crush/friend, who is
now the hunky cover model for a charity beefcake firemen's calendar. Still reeling from the attraction she's never forgotten, Clara is both mortified
and fascinated when she nearly burns down her house, Will comes to her rescue, and she winds up in his guest room. Holiday yearning and
romance ensue. Meanwhile, Abby, who has created an online business selling anatomically correct gingerbread men through the innovative use of
peppermint sticks, regrets her decision to bring some of her wares to the conservative community's cookie swap. Saved by a gorgeous stranger
who walks in off the street and pays a fortune for the still-boxed cookies, Abby is stunned an hour later when she finds the handsome man
unconscious in his wrecked car, the victim of a storm-related accident, and takes him to her isolated cabin to wait out the blizzard. Finally, Lily is
preparing for the event of her life, a cookie baking contest at an area resort. She's up against one of the best chefs around, Pete Mancuso, who just
unwittingly humiliated Clara in front of the whole town. Lily wants nothing more than to beat the arrogant man and put him in his place, but the
more time she spends getting to know him, the more she realizes his place is right by her side. Three writers, three fun, sexy Christmas romances-
-light, sugary holiday fare.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Kauffman, Donna: THE SUGAR COOKIE SWEETHEART SWAP." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2013. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA344130553&it=r&asid=cc3facff8f6ccb57be3f25270f2b535c. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A344130553
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Quoted in Sidelights: features competent writing but a pedestrian
story.
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Turn Up the Heat
Publishers Weekly.
261.3 (Jan. 20, 2014): p37.
COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Turn Up the Heat
Kimberly Kincaid. Kensington/Zebra, $6.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3283-0
Kincaid's debut novel, which shares a setting with the anthology The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, features competent writing but a pedestrian
story. Jilted "city girl" Bellamy Blake's car breaks down en route to her weekend getaway in Pine Mountain, a little town in the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Shane Griffin, a Mozart-loving mechanic with a dislike of city folk, is behind in loan payments, and fixing Bellamy's car may stave
off the sale of his beloved Mustang. Bellamy is a career-driven banker with a secret talent for cooking, and after her annoying boss tries to get her
to work while she's on vacation, she quits her job and uses her time in Pine Mountain to consider pursuing her foodie dreams. The big secret that
Shane hides from Bellamy for most of the book casts a pall over their sweet and sexy romance, and makes him less sympathetic, and the plot less
cohesive, once all is revealed. Agent: Maureen Walters. Curtis Brown Ltd. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Turn Up the Heat." Publishers Weekly, 20 Jan. 2014, p. 37. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA356580557&it=r&asid=f563679e19f7f6dffdef7c51e9344e22. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A356580557
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Romance
Kristin Ramsdell
Library Journal.
138.17 (Oct. 15, 2013): p77.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS--MOSTLY Though many people believe the best place to spend the holidays is on the ski slopes, or in a foreign
city, or on a cruise, for most of us the idea of spending the fall and winter season anywhere but at home just doesn't compute. Holidays mean
home and family, and whether that's in a city apartment, a suburban bungalow, a ranch house, a country estate, or even a castle, home is where the
memories and traditions come to life. And that's generally the way we like it. Owing to the current fascination with community-based tales, most
of these seasonal romances have rural or small-town settings. Charming, nostalgic, and rife with old-fashioned charm, they can be funny, sweet,
sexy, or poignant, but all are guaranteed to put you in a holiday mood. [For more holiday fiction, see "Deck the Shelves: New Reads To Bring on
the Holiday Spirit," p. 86.]
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
* Andre, Bella. Kissing Under the Mistletoe: A Sullivan Christmas. Mira: Harlequin. Oct. 2013. 384p. ISBN 9780778316930. $16.95.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
When electrical engineer Jack Sullivan and his partners are given one last chance to come up with a marketing scheme for their computerized
Pocket Planner, they know they need a major miracle. Jack spies model Mary Ferrer on a shoot in Union Square and knows he's found it. But
Jack sees Mary as more than just the perfect face for their product; she's also the perfect woman for his life. So in true Sullivan fashion, he
intends to convince her he's perfect for her, as well. VERDICT Seductive and infinitely romantic, this nostalgic story of Mary and Jack Sullivan,
the siblings' parents, is sparked by Mary's memories of their first Christmas together and is an excellent prequel to the series. Another winner for
the popular Andre (I Only Have Eyes for You), who lives in Sonoma, CA.
Burrowes, Grace. Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait. Sourcebooks Casablanca. (Windham Family, Bk. 8). Oct. 2013. c.384p. ISBN
9781402263835. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781402263842. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
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When portrait painter Elijah Harrison appears at the country house door, bedraggled and half frozen in the icy rain, Lady Jenny Windham, an
aspiring artist herself, has no idea that he is going to change her life. Elijah needs assistance with an upcoming commission, and Jenny steps in
and agrees to help him in return for eight hours of instruction, a decision Elijah may come to regret as Jenny's talent becomes more and more
apparent. VERDICT A brilliantly artistic heroine and a talented but conflicted hero find fulfillment and love in this complex and engaging tale
that simmers with sexual tension, radiates the holiday spirit, and beautifully wraps up the exceptionally enjoyable Windham saga. Burrowes
(Lady Eve's Indiscretion) lives in rural Maryland.
Jacobs, Holly. A Valley Ridge Christmas. Harlequin Superromance. Dec. 2013. c.304p. ISBN 9780373718948. pap. $5.75; ebk. ISBN
9781460323267. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Maeve Buchanan can't help trying to make things better. So when an early snowstorm strands a young homeless family in Valley Ridge, she
secretly hatches a plan to have a house for them by Christmas. Prickly, skeptical newcomer Aaron Holder unintentionally gets in the way of her
scheme, so Maeve has no choice but to bring him on board (and the whole town, as well)--with results that are both heartwarming and ultimately
romantic. VERDICT A generous heroine who shares everything but herself and a smart but wary hero who needs to make peace with his past find
friendship, love, and belonging in this sweet confection that channels It's a Wonderful Life and has links to Jacobs's earlier Valley Ridge books.
Jacobs (A Walk Down the Aisle: A Valley Ridge Wedding) lives in Erie, PA.
Kauffman, Donna & others. The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap. Kensington. Oct. 2013. c.416p. ISBN 970758290885. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN
9780758290892. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Who'd have thought that December could get so steamy in the Blue Ridge Mountains? Three friends learn just how hot it can be as they link up
with the men of their dreams in this lively anthology that includes recipes along with each novella. A cookie columnist who doesn't bake (just sets
things on fire) reconnects with a schoolmate who's turned into a hunky calendar-worthy firefighter in Kauffman's saucy "Where There's
Smoke..."; a secret baker of X-rated gingerbread men rescues a stranger when his car crashes in a snowstorm in Kate Angell's tenderly nostalgic
"The Gingerbread Man"; and a cookie bake-off pits a caterer against a pastry chef in a competition that has sweet and spicy results for them both
in Kimberly Kincaid's delectable "Sugar and Spice." VERDICT Linked by the annual Christmas cookie auction, this trio of deliciously sensual
novellas from two veteran authors and one newcomer practically melt the snow from the Pine Mountain rooftops and are the perfect reward for
readers who like their holiday treats with a hefty helping of spice. Both Kauffman and Kincaid live in northern Virginia, while Angell resides in
Naples, FL.
Mallery, Susan. Christmas on 4th Street. HQN: Harlequin. (Fool's Gold, Bk. 12.5). Oct. 2013. c.384p. ISBN 9780373777822. pap. $16.95; ebk.
ISBN 9781460319567. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
With dismal memories of his childhood, army medic Gabriel Boylan isn't happy about spending the holidays in quaint Fool's Gold, CA, with his
family, but he's on medical leave, and when his soon-to-be-married twin brother invites him, Gabriel reluctantly accepts. The last thing he expects
is to be accosted by a leggy blonde waving an umbrella or to be immediately captivated by her heart-melting smile. Yet when Noelle Perkins
invades Gabriel's world with her hard-won, live-life-to-the-fullest attitude, his pessimistic views are in for an adjustment. Noelle knows exactly
what's important to her. The question is: Will Gabriel finally realize what he wants, as well--and be smart and quick enough to do something
about it? VERDICT Brimming with lively humor, spot-on dialog, small-town charm, and holiday cheer, this latest addition to Mallery's beloved
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"Fool's Gold" series picks up where Three Little Words leaves off. Highlighting the importance of family and friends, the book doesn't let the
action flag until all the wedding vows are spoken. A joy-filled, Christmas treat that should please series fans. Mallery lives in Bellevue, WA.
* Novak, Brenda. Take Me Home for Christmas. Mira: Harlequin. (Whiskey Creek, Bk. 5): Nov. 2013. c.416p. ISBN 9780778315469. pap.
$7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781460320822. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Left penniless when her high-living, abusive husband, Skip, drowns off the coast of Brazil in an attempt to fake his own death after cheating
everyone who invested with him, Sophia DeBussi struggles to keep things together for her teenage daughter and get her life back on track. But
her wild, careless high school ways have not been forgotten, and paired with the suspicion that Sophia was part of Skip's plan and is hiding
money, few in town are willing to cut her any slack. Then a sympathetic friend convinces thriller author Ted Dixon, who has every reason to hate
Sophia, to hire her as his housekeeper--a reluctant decision that changes both their lives. VERDICT Although filled with plenty of fall and winter
holiday atmosphere, this story has a lot more going for it. Affecting, painful, sometimes funny, but ultimately satisfying, this engrossing tale of
love and forgiveness takes on real problems (e.g., abuse, alcoholism, bullying, mob violence) and gives its characters the strength and compassion
to come through with flying colors. Real people--with all their virtues and vices--live in Whiskey Creek, and Ted and Sophia will be two more
you'll be glad to have met. Novak (Home to Whiskey Creek) lives in Rocklin, CA.
Rolls, Elizabeth & others. A Sprinkling of Christmas Magic. Harlequin Historical. Nov. 2013. c.28Bp. ISBN 9780373297597. pap. $6.50; ebk.
ISBN 9781460321485. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Home for the holidays usually meant "off to the country estate" for Regency-era aristocrats, and although one of these novellas takes place mostly
aboard ship, all the stories offer a welcome change from the typical London-set tales. A country vicar hires as his schoolmistress an impoverished
young lady who is treated as a second-class citizen by her noble relations and finds his soul mate in Rolls's "Christmas Cinderella"; an impulsive,
stolen kiss helps a young woman realize which brother she loves in Bronwyn Scott's tenderly romantic "Finding Forever at Christmas": and a
young widow sailing home to England at Yuletide saves a mysterious Scotsman from drowning and is swept up in a treacherous plot in Margaret
McPhee's witty and engaging "The Captain's Christmas Angel." VERDICT This spirited trio of Regency novellas are recommended for all those
Regency collections that quite likely need refreshing; not a loser in the bunch.
Ross, JoAnn & others. Christmas on Main Street. Signet: NAL. Nov. 2013. c.364p. ISBN 9780451419538. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9781101621431. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
You'll practically smell the cinnamon, nutmeg, and pines as four popular contemporary authors take readers for a nostalgic, soul-warming stroll
down Main Street in each of their respective series' small towns in this holiday-infused collection. A snowstorm and some helpful family
members ensure a merry Christmas in a cozy cabin for two friends who should be so much more in Ross's heartfelt "Christmas in Shelter Bay"; a
TV producer heads for Bayberry Island to scope out the local mermaid legend for the show Truly Weird and finds himself captivated by a lovely
writer of erotica in Susan Donovan's sassy, slightly magical "A Seaside Christmas"; a baseball coach returns to Cricket Creek after 15 years away
and sets about wooing his teenage love in LuAnn McLane's touching "Mistletoe on Main Street"; and Snowberry Creek's talented baker is
attracted to a quiet newcomer who is more than he seems in Alexis Morgan's delicious and thoroughly rewarding "The Christmas Gift."
VERDICT Pleasing, sexy, touching, and funny, this well-done anthology has something for everyone who's ever yearned for a small-town
Christmas.
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Stone, Juliana. The Christmas He Loved Her. Sourcebooks Casablanca. (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake). Oct. 2013. c.352p. ISBN 9781402274831.
pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781402274648. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
It's taken more than a year for former army ranger Jake Edwards to return to Crystal Lake after the death in Afghanistan of his twin brother, Jesse.
Jake knows it's time to come home and move on--if he can. But grief and guilt haunt him. That he has secretly loved Jesse's widow, Raine, since
they were kids--she's majorly annoyed with him for staying away--just makes it worse. As the sparks fly and the tension mounts, it's only a matter
of time before they will be forced to deal with their grief and come to terms with their conflicted feelings. VERDICT Two lost souls who've been
friends forever struggle to overcome the past and get on with their lives in this heart-wrenching, uplifting story that overflows with family,
friends, and holiday spirit and is infused with the healing power of love. Stone (The Summer He Came Home) lives in Canada.
Thayne, RaeAnne. Christmas in Snowflake Canyon. HQN: Harlequin. (Hope's Crossing, Bk. 6). Nov. 2013. c.384p. ISBN 9780373778157. pap.
$7.99; ebk. ISBN 9781460320914. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
A barroom brawl is not the way wounded veteran Dylan Caine fancied spending his evening, but when tipsy Genevieve Beaumont, the mayor's
spoiled socialite daughter, picks a fight over Christmas carols, Dylan ends up on his way to jail, handcuffed to an annoyed Genevieve. Two more
different people couldn't be found, but their community service sentence has them both involved in a wounded veterans' camp, and their
perspectives change--and, surprisingly, so does their relationship. VERDICT An unlikely pair of damaged protagonists find healing, purpose, and
love in this quirky, funny, warmhearted romance that will draw readers in and keep them enthralled until the last romantic page. Thayne
(Willowleaf Lane) lives in the mountains of northern Utah.
Woods, Sherryl. A Seaside Christmas. Mira: Harlequin. (Chesapeake Shores, Bk. 10). Oct. 2013. c.288p. ISBN 9780778315117. pap. $16.95;
ebk. ISBN 9781460319505. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
After fleeing to Nashville years earlier, songwriter Jenny Collins has been lured back to Chesapeake Shores to write songs for her friend Bree's
holiday play. But Bree has an ulterior motive: she wants Jenny to make peace with her estranged family and realize she's part of the whole
O'Brien clan. Yet after years of feeling like an outsider, it's not easy for Jenny to change--though she's determined to try. The unexpected arrival
of her ex-boyfriend--and his reasons for coming--stir things up, and suddenly Jenny has far more to deal with than she'd planned. VERDICT
Touching, heart-rending, and beautifully family-centered, this fresh holiday romance brings the O'Brien clan together in a rewarding story of
forgiveness, trust, and unconditional love; another addition to Woods's popular series. Woods (Sea Glass Island) divides her time between
Colonial Beach, VA, and Key Biscayne, FL.
AND THE REST OF THE YEAR
* Brockway, Connie. No Place for a Dame. Montlake Romance. Nov. 2013. c.360p. ISBN 9781477808580. pap. $12.95; ebk. ISBN
9781477858585. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
In 1819, the Royal Astrological Society is definitely "no place for a dame," but solitary astronomer Avery Quinn has discovered a new comet and
will do anything to see her discovery recognized, even coerce the scandal-plagued son of her late mentor into helping her. His plan, however, is
not what she anticipates--and neither are the stunningly successful but hilarious results. A brilliant heroine, far too well educated for her sex and
her working-class birth, and a jaded, infamous nobleman foil multiple obstacles and end up as unlikely soul mates in a passionate love match he
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never saw coming. VERDICT From the first outrageously fortuitous scene to the soul-satisfying conclusion, this funny, touching, often
outrageous romp satisfies as no other and flawlessly wraps up a memorable series the best-selling Brockway began nearly two decades ago.
Award-winning Brockway (The Other Guy's Bride) lives in Minnesota. Note: This book follows Promise Me Heaven (1994) and All Through the
Night (1997)--both of which have been revised and recently released by Montlake Romance.
* Dreyer, Eileen. Once a Rake. Forever: Grand Central. (Drake's Rakes, Bk. 4). Oct. 2013. c.416p. ISBN 9781455519323. pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN
9781455519330. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Framed for the attempted murder of the Duke of Wellington, Ian Ferguson, wounded and on the run, is desperate to get to London before the real
traitors cut him down. His only hope is Lady Sarah Clarke, whose husband has been lost at Waterloo and on whose land Ian has been hiding out.
Helping Ian could endanger Sarah and her vulnerable household, something he's not willing to allow until fever--and Sarah--take over his life.
Danger from disparate sources threatens at every turn, but a touch of humor keeps things humming in this lively adventure that gets more
intriguing as it goes along. The infamous flask continues to play its role in this dynamic, engaging series title. VERDICT Exquisite writing,
historical accuracy, a clever plot, and complex, enthralling, walk-off-the-page characters make this another fascinating gem for the awardwinning
Dreyer (Always a Temptress). She lives in St Louis.
Guhrke, Laura Lee. When the Marquess Met His Match. Avon. (American Heiress in London, Bk. 1). Nov. 2013. c.384p. ISBN 9780062118172.
pap. $7.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062118189. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Lady Belinda Featherstone, a former American heiress and now the quite happy widow of the Earl of Featherstone, has become the matchmaker
of choice for aspiring American debutantes in London--and keeping them safe from philandering fortune hunters is one of her goals. So when the
infamous rakehell Marquess of Trubridge asks for her help, naturally she refuses and sets out to turn the tables and scuttle his plans--only to find
the tables turned on herself. VERDICT A formidable society matchmaker with an axe to grind against fortune-hunting suitors meets her own
match when one of her noble clients decides she is the woman for him. This delightful, well-written story filled with characters who develop
nicely is sure to be a treat for the many fans who have been waiting for Idaho-based Guhrke's (Trouble at the Wedding) next work.
Quinn, Julia. The Sum of All Kisses. Avon. (Smythe-Smith Quartet, Bk. 3). Avon. Nov. 2013. c.384p. ISBN 9780062072924. pap. $7.99; ebk.
ISBN 9780062072931. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Ever since "The Duel" sent her cousin Daniel fleeing to France, Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has absolutely loathed Lord Hugh Prentice; after all, it
was his fault that she couldn't make her come out on time and lost her chance at marrying any of the 14 men who became engaged that dismal
season. Of course, Hugh doesn't think much of Sarah, either, especially since their first disastrous meeting. So when they find themselves at a
wedding and are forced to spend time together (and behave) as a favor to the bride, they anticipate being vexed--a lot. They never imagine what
will happen. VERDICT A fiercely outspoken heroine and a mathematically brilliant hero whose eidetic memory is both a blessing and a curse
clash splendidly in an unstoppable romp that sparkles with enough hilarious situations, over-the-top characters, and laugh-out-loud dialog to keep
the chuckles coming long after the book is closed. A lovely tale that is just plain fun! Quinn (The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After) lives in the
Pacific Northwest.
Roberts, Nora. Dark Witch. Berkley. (Cousins O'Dwyer, Bk. 1). Nov. 2013. c.368p. ISBN 9780425259856. pap. $17; ebk. ISBN 9781101626368.
CONTEMPORARY FANTASY ROMANCE
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Centuries ago, dark witch Sorcha spurned, marked, and nearly destroyed the evil sorcerer Cabhan as she gave her life to protect her three
children. But Cabhan still lived--and waited. Now, with Iona Sheehan's arrival in County Mayo, the descendants of those offspring are finally
together, and the time is right for Cabhan to take his revenge. But Iona and her cousins Branna and Connor O'Dwyer are far more powerful than
Cabhan had imagined, as he discovers when he sets his sights on neophyte witch Iona. While this is definitely Iona and stable owner Boyle
McGrath's romantic story, the other characters, including assorted friends, relatives, and animals (especially a brilliant horse named Alastar), are
important elements in the mix, beautifully setting the stage for the stories to come. VERDICT Combining myth, magic, and legend with Ireland's
wild beauty, Roberts spins a mesmerizing tale of good vs. evil, providing another trio of addictive romances that readers who love her trilogies--
especially "Born In" and "Three Sisters Island"--are sure to enjoy. Roberts (Whiskey Beach) lives in Keedysville, MD.
* Sherwood, Pamela. A Song at Twilight. Sourcebooks Casablanca. Oct. 2013. c.416p. ISBN 9781402273254. pap. $6.99; ebk. ISBN
9781402273261. HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Devastated when Robin Pendarvis's past wrenches him from her life and crushes her romantic dreams, silver-voiced Sophie Tresilian gives up on
love and immerses herself in her music. Now, four years later with her star on the rise, Sophie almost has it all--until Robin walks into one of her
London performances and turns her world upside down. The past alternates with the present as tantalizing flashbacks bring fans up to speed in a
compelling, deeply complex romance that becomes more tangled as it progresses. A self-possessed heroine and a hero determined to make things
right prevail against formidable odds in this engaging story that is enhanced by an abundance of family and friends (some introduced in Waltz
with a Stranger) and leaves room for the stories that are sure to come. VERDICT Moving, lyrically written, and superbly inventive, this late
Victorian tale has a dash of mystery and more than one startling plot twist to put a refreshing spin on the typical tender reunion story. A delightful
way to spend an afternoon. Sherwood lives in Southern California.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Bittner, Rosanne. Follow Your Heart. Severn House. Oct. 2013. c.336p. ISBN 970727883063. $28.95. HISTORICAL INSPIRATIONAL
ROMANCE
An unexpected friendship and eventually romance develop between a Nebraska farm girl and the wealthy son of a railroad family, but the clashes
between the ranchers and the railroad and the differences in the pair's circumstances make their relationship seemingly impossible in this romance
first published by Steeple Hill in 2005.
Harper, Karen. The Baby Farm. Severn House. Oct. 2013. c.400p. ISBN 9780727883087. $29.95. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
When pregnant women start disappearing in the rural Kentucky hills, an Appalachian-bred midwife and a city-raised doctor go in search of the
truth and are drawn into a terrifying web of evil and deception. Harper is a popular, best-selling writer of romantic suspense, and this chilling tale,
first published in 1999, is considered one of her best.
eBOOKS
LJ's reviews of e-original romances are first published weekly at Xpress Reviews (reviews.libraryjournal.com/tag/express-reviews).
Gail, Stacy. Ugly Ducklings Finish First. Carina: Harlequin. 2013. 174p. ebk. ISBN 9781426895890. $1.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
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Payton "Metal Mouth" Pruitt has left behind in Bitterthorn, TX, the demise of her parents, marriage, the relentless push of her mother to succeed
at all costs, and the taunts of her school peers. Now she's a successful, big-city doctor returning to Bitterthorn for her ten-year high school
reunion. But as she steps into the school gym, her pride falters under the weight of too many horrid juvenile memories, the worst of which
includes Wiley "Coyote" Sharpe, the young stud she had to tutor in high school. VERDICT Readers who love stories of going back to a high
school reunion and finding first love again will enjoy this one. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/6/13.]--Christyna Hunter, Loudoun Cty. EL., Lovettsville,
VA
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Gibson, Rachel. Blue by You. Avon Impulse. 2013. 100p. ebk. ISBN 9780062247490. $1.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Between the family feud and getting very familiar with each other in a tree as teenagers, Blue Butler and Kasper Penningten have a long and
turbulent history. It has been nearly 20 years, but when the Pennington matriarch shows up on Blue's doorstep, Blue and Kesper find themselves
together again. Can Blue and Kasper overcome their past to build a future? VERDICT Don't be fooled by the brevity. Gibson has packed major
heat and chemistry into these pages. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/13/13.]--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash
* Harper, Cheryl. Can't Help Falling in Love. Avon Impulse. 2013. NAp. ebk. ISBN 9780062276384. $2.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Randa Whitmore shows up at the Rock'n'Rolla Hotel as a spy for her very successful hotel family. Sent by her father to scope out the competition
and take control of a buyout, Randa instead meets hotel manager Tony Ortega. Not a man easily open to women, Tony is a former marine who
has overcome his lack of family to build a life at the hotel. Tony immediately knows Randa is not just the Elvis tourist she claims to be, but Tony
can't help but be drawn to the beautiful and fun Randa. Escaping the fierce, ruthless nature of the Whitmore clan, Randa learns to trust her own
judgment, as the hotel--and the staff--show her what love and family are really all about. VERDICT Harper's return engagement (after Stuck on
You) at the Rock'n'Rolla Hotel, known for the Elvis-themed restaurant and kitschy decor, is another fun story and will definitely leave you
wishing for your own pair of blue suede shoes. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 8/30/13.]--Judy Taylor Garner, Strayer Univ. Lib., Glen Allen, VA
Macdonald, Ellie. The Governess Club: Bonnie. Avon Impulse. (Governess Club, Bk. 2). 2013. 100p. ebk. ISBN 9780062292247. 99 cents.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Miss Bonnie Hedges is presently caring for the eight-year-old viscount and his younger brother. Their now guardian, Sir Stephen Montgomery, is
convinced the boys' parents were murdered and immediately begins his investigation on the estate. With peril closing in on them at Darrowgate,
Stephen and Bonnie must work together to keep the bays safe against the violent menace lurking there. VERDICT A quick read, this fast-paced
romance with an undercurrent of suspense features very skillful writing, a satisfying plot, and fleshed-out and likable characters. The heat factor
becomes scorching during one interval, while the rest of the book focuses on the events and character development. [LJ Xpress Reviews,
9/6/13.]--Marie Burton, Rockwall, TX
* Maher, Rebecca Rogers. The Bridge. Promised Land. 2013. 79p. ebk. ISBN 9781625390486. $1.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
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Christa and Henry meet in the most unlikely of places: in the middle of the night, at the top of one of the Brooklyn Bridge towers, screwing their
respective courage to the sticking place in preparation to jumping off. They make a pact to spend 24 hours together, alive. Yet for those 24 hours,
they will share one perfect day. VERDICT Readers know Christa and Henry will fight the good fight together. The ending feels wonderful
because it is so hopeful. This lovely, sweet, and slightly sappy three-hankie special by Maher (Hurricane Lily) is for anyone who wants to see a
really sad love story end with an upbeat happy-for-now. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/6/13.]--Marlene Harris, Seattle P.L.
Porter, Katie. Bare Knuckle. Samhain. (Vegas Top Guns, Bk. 5). Oct. 2013. 349p. ebk. ISBN 9781619210943. $5.50. CONTEMPORARY
ROMANCE
Eric is an air force pilot who moonlights as a boxer in Vegas; he is badly scarred from a crash landing some time ago. Trish is a gorgeous,
aspiring set designer who makes her living as a showgirl and a sports card girl. Both are hiding behind their physical appearances, showing tough
exteriors to the world. They are a combustive match in bed--he is a voyeur who likes to photograph his lovers, and she loves to be watched. As
they spend more time together, Trish begins to open up to Eric about her past. However, the openness isn't necessarily reciprocated, causing a
crisis in the relationship. VERDICT These characters have depth, the sex scenes are hot, and the reader will root for this pair to work out their
differences and allow themselves to get past their emotional scars and be vulnerable. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/13/13.]--B. Allison Gray, Goleta
Lib., CA
Regnery, Katy. By Proxy. Boroughs Pub. Group. (Heart of Montana). 2013. 165p. ebk. ISBN 9781938876714. $3.99. CONTEMPORARY
ROMANCE
Sam Kelley's cousin Kris is stationed in Afghanistan and asks Sam to serve as proxy at his Montana wedding. Jenny Lindstrom agrees to serve as
proxy for the bride, her friend Ingrid, who is stationed at an army hospital in Germany. When circumstances cause Sam and Jenny to miss the
planned courthouse nuptials, the event is rescheduled for the following Monday. Jenny, a high school science teacher, has plans to participate in
the Christmas Stroll, her Gardiner, MT, hometown's holiday festivities. Sam decides to tag along. VERDICT Jenny's Swedish heritage adds detail
to this sweet love story about the big shot city guy who meets the innocent small-town girl. [U Xpress Reviews, 9/13/13.]--Joyce Sparrow,
Kenneth City, FL
Soliman, Wendy. Beguiling the Barrister. Carina: Harlequin. (Forsters, Bk. 2). 2013. 396p. ebk. ISBN 9781426895661. $3.99. REGENCY
ROMANCE
Lady Flick (never Felicity) Forster has a plan! She's determined to see her second season end with a successful marriage of her choosing. The
gentleman she's selected is not a blue blood but instead young lawyer Darius Grantley, who works tirelessly for the good of the common folk in
the Old Bailey's criminal court. Darius is equally as attracted to the headstrong and intelligent Flick, but she is well above his social status and
income and not a proper candidate for marriage. How much the couple will win or lose will be determined in the courtroom and on the highest
battleground of all: the human heart. VERDICT As a satisfying second title in a promising series (after Compromising the Marquess), this book
captures the interplay of a couple at odds with society and life's circumstances. This tale of a bachelor barrister and a high-spirited noblewoman is
an excellent addition to the Regency genre. [LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/13/13.]--Debra M. Dudek, Fountaindale P.L., IL
THE BEST OF BARBARA CARTLAND
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Though she died in 2000 just shy of her 99th birthday, British romance doyenne Barbara Cartland is still considered synonymous with all things
romance, Through a partnership between M-Y Books and Ingram Content Group, Cartland's published and some unpublished output will be
available to the author's legion of fans, M-Y Books, a service provider to indie publishers, will use Ingram for the print and distribution
operations, The print titles from three of Cartland's collections will be available on-demand by Lightning Source, with Ingram global distribution.
The ebooks will be available through Ingram's CoreSource platform,
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Ramsdell, Kristin
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Ramsdell, Kristin. "Romance." Library Journal, 15 Oct. 2013, p. 77+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA344826742&it=r&asid=5a7681c2b2560e977b746f81dd91615f. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A344826742
Quoted in Sidelights: a quick paced contemporary romance with lots of sizzle and characters with whom I enjoyed spending a day
RITA READER CHALLENGE REVIEW
Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid
by Guest Reviewer · Jun 10, 2016 at 10:00 am · View all 6 comments
Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid
SBTB Media Page
Fire Me Up
by Kimberly Kincaid
JANUARY 27, 2015 · ZEBRA
Order →
A-
GENRE: Romance, Contemporary Romance
THEME: Nursed Back to Health
ARCHETYPE: Chef/Foodie/Bartender, Criminal/Mafia, Doctor
This RITA® Reader Challenge 2016 review was written by Shoppermom. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Long Contemporary category.
THE SUMMARY:
If You Can’t Stand The Heat…
Teagan O’Malley can handle a crisis. She’s a paramedic, it’s her job. But she never expected to land in the kitchen of her father’s pub, with no notice, no cash, and no room for error. The kitchen is not her favorite place. Lucky for her, she just scraped a bad-boy chef off the pavement after a motorcycle accident—and something about him says he can turn up the heat in more ways than one.
Adrian Holt has had a rough few years, and he’s not eager to get tangled up in anything more complicated than a good risotto. But with a broken arm and a head full of bad memories, he needs a challenge to keep him sane. Teagan’s dare-me attitude and smoldering mess of a bar are just what the doctor ordered. And the two of them together might cook up some even better medicine…
Here is Shoppermom's review:
This was my first time reading Kimberly Kincaid, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book. Fire Me Up is a quick moving story about two passionate young people determined to follow through on their self-appointed paths of duty. The book held my attention and kept me wanting more – not to that crazy point where you try to hold the book with one hand while you squeeze the toothpaste onto the toothbrush with the other – but definitely enough to keep me up longer than I wanted and to sneak the book out during down moments at work. The romance was hot and there was just enough of a mystery to really keep the story moving.
Adrian, our hero, is a chef who defines himself through his relationship with cooking, and the descriptions of his food prep and passion for different dishes were beautifully conveyed, certainly making this “throw whatever together” cook feel more than a bit inadequate. Adrian is, naturally, big, strong, and gorgeous, and though hampered by a broken arm throughout much of the story, he is nevertheless quite . . . skillful at expressing himself physically.
Adrian falls reluctantly in love with Teagan, an EMT, who HATES the idea of spending time in a kitchen. They’re both dragging around a lot of emotional baggage, though, so neither one wants anything to do with a real relationship. Adrian’s on probation for a crime he didn’t commit, and Teagan is guiltily dealing with her father’s failing health and is still unsettled by her mother’s long-ago desertion. Their hesitant relationship is moving fairly quickly from simmer to boil when a sinister loan shark attempts to blackmail Teagan’s dad and take over his family restaurant.
The plot was entertaining and fairly credible, and I’ve already looked up and ordered the next book in the series that revolves around Jesse, one of the secondary characters. Adrian and Teagan were both sympathetic characters, and their dialog was quick moving and believable.
Only one line occasionally jarred the flow: “Let me take care of you.” Both hero and heroine are described repeatedly as fiercely independent people unused to needing or accepting help, so when they both use the line more than once at different points in the story, it rang a little off-key. On the positive side, the story contained none of the annoying roadblocks so common in romance: Adrian and Teagan did indeed have to battle their own demons before allowing joy into their lives but didn’t drag the story down with misunderstandings and half-truths.
The end of the book contained recipes mentioned in the story, and I’m actually eager to try one of them (I’m sure most readers would immediately go for “Adrian’s Pulled Pork Sliders,” but it was “Jesse’s Not-Your-Average Cole Slaw” that caught my eye). The book ended with an excerpt from All Wrapped Up, which looks equally inviting. All in all, Fire Me Up was a quick paced contemporary romance with lots of sizzle and characters with whom I enjoyed spending a day, or at least a good meal!
Quoted in Sidelights:
A wonderful read by the talented Kincaid!
CROSSING HEARTS
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
Kincaid will have readers quickly flipping the pages of this tale that tells the story of two high-school sweethearts reunited after years of being apart. The small town of Cross Creek is the backdrop for this journey of redemption and forgiveness. With the threat of secrets being revealed, the characters’ strength will be put to the test. A wonderful read by the talented Kincaid!
Physical therapist Emerson Montgomery left Cross Creek 12 years ago to get out from under her parents’ thumbs. Getting a job with the hottest pro football team, and landing the star player as a boyfriend, was a bonus. Now, with her medical circumstances changing due to a recent diagnosis, she must return to a town she never expected to see again. Hunter Cross knew he was meant to work on the family farm for as long as he can remember. When he injures his shoulder, the last person he expects to be referred to is Brooke. She left him after he proposed to her, and Hunter is shocked by the attraction that he still feels for the woman who broke his heart. With secrets and many years between them, Brooke and Hunter set out to see if there is still something there, or if they should just move on. (MONTLAKE, Feb., 317 pp., $12.95)
Reviewed by:
Jennifer Wilson
(NOTE FROM TRUDY—I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS REVIEWER REFERS TO THE FEMALE PROTAGONIST AS “BROOKE.” I DID A TEXT SEARCH ON AMAZON AND FOUND NO RESULTS FOR BROOKE. OBVIOUSLY SHE MEANS EMERSON.)
engaging read
humor and authenticity.
FEARLESS
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
Cole is a tough, sexy character who will appeal to readers. With amusing, modern storytelling, Kincaid brings readers a solid plot filled with humor and authenticity. The chemistry — and tension — between Cole and Savannah sizzles. However, there are moments throughout the story where the pacing slows the flow, dampening an otherwise engaging read.
Firefighter Cole Everett is set to fill the open position on Rescue Squad, but first he has to train a new candidate who, to his surprise, is female firefighter Savannah Nelson. Savannah captivates Cole’s eye on first look, and Savannah feels an attraction to Cole, but both are focused on Savannah becoming the best firefighter possible. As their heated attraction grows, their relationship is tested both professionally and personally as they try to solve a possible arson case while Savannah faces an intense opponent in her own firehouse. (ZEBRA, Aug., 368 pp, $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Melanie Bates
Quoted in Sidelights:
solid contemporary plot
genuine, distinctive characters
a delight
RECKLESS
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
Kincaid’s first book in her Rescue Squad series is charming and engaging. Zoe’s tough, strong-willed, no-nonsense character coupled with Alex’s charming, risk-taking attitude will appeal to readers. A solid contemporary plot written in Kincaid’s easygoing, modern style and filled with genuine, distinctive characters make this latest story a delight.
After shoving a captain from another firehouse to the ground and disobeying that captain’s orders, firefighter Alex Donovan is sentenced to four weeks of full-time community service at a soup kitchen run by Zoe Westin, his fire captain’s daughter. Zoe refuses to go easy on the reckless, egotistical firefighter despite his connection to her father. It’s going to be a long four weeks, but all Zoe has to do is keep control of the situation with Alex. However, Zoe does a reckless thing of her own and falls in love with Alex. Is this new love worth the risk? (ZEBRA, Feb., 368 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Melanie Bates
ALL WRAPPED UP
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
With her modern storytelling and complex, down-to-earth characters set within a solid plot, Kincaid brings us one sexy, romantic read. The tension between Ava and Nick is as intensely passionate as their chemistry and will appeal to readers. Kincaid’s latest romance sparkles.
When restaurant manager Nick Brennan sees reporter Ava Mancuso sitting at the end of his restaurant bar, he is stunned. Seven years ago, Nick and Ava were deeply in love when Ava suddenly left him without saying goodbye. Ava is there to get the story behind Nick’s heroic act of running into a burning grocery store to save a boy earlier that day. Despite his resistance, she is determined to get the story and continues to seek Nick out. Soon, being around each other proves that the feelings they had for each other years ago still remain. (ZEBRA, Oct., 368 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Melanie Bates
the resolution of the plot is very clever,
FIRE ME UP
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
This is a solid entry in the Pine Mountain series that gives clamoring fans Adrian’s story. His backstory answers a lot of questions, and the resolution of the plot is very clever, even if the writing gets a tiny bit pedestrian in places. Fire Me Up is recommended for fans of the series.
Teagan handles emergencies. As a paramedic, that’s her job. She also handles her father’s bar on the side. But when he has a health crisis and the cook quits, she has more work than she can handle. She hates the kitchen, the pub has no money for an extra hand, and yet she has to keep it afloat for her dad. Then, in walks the hunk who she just pulled out of the car/motorcycle wreck. He seems able to handle anything — including her. Adrian has been the strong, silent sous chef at the resort for the year that he has been in Pine Mountain. He spends all his time in the kitchen and has no interest in making friends or settling in to the town in any way. It is all food, all the time. When he’s involved in a crash and ends up with a broken arm, he gets sidelined for six weeks, and the lack of work drives him crazy. When he stops at the pub for a bite to eat, the mess — and the redheaded, sharp-tongued barkeep — seems to be just the challenge he needs. (ZEBRA, Feb., 328 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Bunny Callahan
STIRRING UP TROUBLE
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
The third visit to Pine Mountain continues the tradition of lovely contemporary romance. This one is only tangentially connected to the restaurant, but it is definitely still in the club. A straight-up romance, the characters are fun, the sizzle is hot-off-the-griddle without undue details and the plot is totally believable. The book stands alone, but the whole series is definitely worth a read. Grab an apple, curl up and enjoy.
Sloane Russo has made a career out of traveling to exotic locales and writing smoking romances set in them. She stopped in Pine Mountain for this year and has run out of inspiration and money. It is time to hit the road, and she takes a temp job as a tutor/babysitter for Gavin Carmicheal’s preteen sister in order to rustle up airfare. Gavin is very tempting, but he’s a starched shirt kind of guy. And yet he kisses like a descendant of Don Juan. Gavin traveled the world rescuing restaurants, but then his mother died and he became guardian for his young sister. He might like to gobble up the babysitter, but he must concentrate on his sister. Can these opposites overcome their attraction and stay on their separate tracks, or are they on a romantic collision course? (ZEBRA, Oct., 337 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Bunny Callahan
GIMME SOME SUGAR
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
In this charming return to Pine Mountain, readers get a straight-up romance with likable characters and a story they can invest in. Kincaid has a deft turn of phrase that brings a scene to life and a grin to your face. These Pine Mountain stories keep getting better.
Carly di Matisse may have gotten burned by her philandering ex, but she is set to turn her life around by building a first-class restaurant at a hotel and spa in the Blue Ridge mountains. Sure, it’s not New York City and she’s not near her family, but she is the sole head chef and once she rebuilds her reputation, she can return triumphant to the city. Contractor Jackson Carter is a family man who doesn’t do love, so the beautiful, no-commitment chef who crosses his path is the perfect answer. When things between Carly and Jackson come to a boil, can they keep their hearts at a simmer? (ZEBRA, Jun., 352 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed by:
Bunny Callahan
Quoted in Sidellights: Just a touch more character depth and this author is on her way to the top.
TURN UP THE HEAT
Author(s): Kimberly Kincaid
In this very readable romance, Kincaid shows that she’s an author on the rise. With a good plotline, attention to flow and a lovely story idea, this book is a fine winter escape. Just a touch more character depth and this author is on her way to the top.
After an especially horrible week, Bellamy Blake decides that a spa getaway in the mountains with her two best friends is the only cure for her slump. When a dead transmission leaves her stranded, the only bright side is the hot mechanic. Shane Griffin has been hiding out on the mountain for a year. His life has plenty of complications and he doesn’t need another in the form of a Miata-driving city girl. Bellamy and Shane have one week together while they wait for car parts, and each can’t get the other off their mind. Bellamy has to get a grip on her life and return to the city, doesn’t she? (ZEBRA, Mar., 304 pp., $6.99)
Reviewed by:
Bunny Callahan
Quoted in Sidelights: It is a beautiful second chance love story.
Amazing, touching, sexy and spectacular
Crossing Hearts (Cross Creek #1) by Kimberly Kincaid: WOW! That is what comes to mind when I think of this amazing story. It is a beautiful second chance love story. But more than that, the writing, the characters…..amazing! I have loved Kimberly Kincaid since I was first introduced to her Pine Mountain series, and I can tell you that if the first book in the Cross Creek series is any indication, she has another hit on her hands. This is the story of Hunter and Emerson.
Hunter Cross wants nothing more than to work the family farm, see it prosper and live his dream. But when an old shoulder injury comes back to haunt him, so does a ghost from his past, in the form of the one girl that he loved as a boy, the one that broke his heart, and the one that he can’t seem to forget, Emerson Montgomery.
Emerson is back in town, a physical therapist with a secret. If it gets out, her parents will look at her as a failure, so she tries to hide it from everyone, especially Hunter Cross, who can still read her like a book. When Emerson is called in to work with Hunter to get his shoulder back in shape, the sparks start flying.
As Emerson and Hunter spend more time together, and they start to open up to each other, Emerson will need to make a decision on how much trust she can put in Hunter. Because she doesn’t want his pity, she wants the man, but secrets can keep these two apart if they don’t learn to trust.
I loved the dynamic between Emerson and Hunter. I love that Hunter stayed with Emerson, was fighting for them, would not give up. It is a refreshing thing when you have a hero who is willing to step up and fight for love. Amazing, touching, sexy and spectacular, that is what this book is.
Book Info:
Expected publication: February 7th 2017 | Montlake Romance | Cross Creek #1
Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated.
Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down.
But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good?