New Historical Release!

I so love writing historical novels, and although I pen Georgian and Regency Romances my greatest love lies within the 1700s: the era of buccaneers, the English Civil War and the Restoration of Charles II to the throne of England! 

I ventured to Naples and Venice for this one and loved every minute of the Venice Carnivale: set within the Georgian period.   

Amazon. com

Amazon .co.uk

Blurb: 

A Romantic Georgian Murder Mystery: the year is 1800: Naples & Venice.

Amidst a gathering of nobility and gentry a daring jewel theft occurs. A young naval lieutenant suggests the notorious Venetian jewel thief could well be a woman, but a beautiful Russian countess scoffs at his suggestion albeit in coquettish manner. Determined to unmask the identity of the thief, at the same time intrigued by the countess, Lt Herne covertly follows Therese around Naples. But where the countess treads murders occur with frequency and she suddenly takes flight to Venice.

Ordered to the Adriatic on naval business Herne drops anchor in Venice. Tempted ashore by Carnivale a second encounter with the countess proves fatal for both. Madly in love they indulge in pleasurable pursuits but become embroiled in the mysterious death of a Russian count, and Therese feels duty bound to return to St Petersburg. Herne awaits her promised return to no avail. Three years later and back in England he discovers the countess on his doorstep, and wonders if he dare let his heart rule his head again? Equally, Therese fears a secret is best kept secret but Herne asks a potent question and she cannot lie for the truth is staring him in the face!          

US published Contemporary Novel Now On Release!

It's on release at Amazon! 

Amazon. co.uk

Amazon. com

Blurb:
In the past Tania has masqueraded as Nina at parties, and likewise Nina has pretended to be Tania. As far as Tania is concerned one more act of deception isn’t going to hurt anybody. Despite Nina’s reluctance, she’s won over by Tania’s pleading ways and travels to London on a pre-arranged date with a Polo playing playboy. Against her better judgement she becomes as smitten by Allessandre as that of his prized stallions, and one mad moment of intimacy seals an inescapable bond between them.

Aware his heart is already captured, nevertheless Allessandre has it in mind he’s been duped by identical twins. Although a man borne of honour, he has a ruthless and vengeful nature. Determined to unveil the twins and teach them a lesson they won’t forget, revenge proves bittersweet when the one he truly desires takes flight. Forced to travel half way around the globe in attempt to redeem his unforgivable behaviour he has no idea she walks with lions, nor that a lioness will challenge his desire to be the life-long protector of the one he loves.  


See excerpt here

Stuck in the Middle - A Writing Challenge

I hate letting RFW down by not posting, but because I'm really pushed for time with a heavy publishing schedule I've cheated with a snippet from a romantic thriller. It was recently released on Amazon. See right sidebar: Love Walked In.

~~~

This is a fourteen-year old boy's perspective of viewing the possibility of a new dad (step dad), plus his thoughts on his best mate's observations and something his elder sister mentioned.

From the back seat of the Porsche and albeit somewhat squashed by Leo, Dominic studied Mac’s sun-tanned reflection in the rear-view mirror. He liked the American well enough and had enjoyed romping with him, but Alexander’s speculation that Mac was a likely candidate for a stepfather had hit a raw nerve.

     Just for a brief moment Mac’s smile and conspiratorial wink reminded him their American guest probably knew more about his father than anyone else. Not that he minded his mother having a friend, a close friend for that matter. It was no business of his, and her eyes did have a kind of sparkle not seen for a long while.

     If Mac can make her smile with little effort then that’s fine, and maybe Mac being around is not as bad as granddad made out. Granddad’s hostility had seemed a little odd. And Alexander hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on the elders before luncheon, but the Colonel and grandfather were quite openly discussing the American’s sudden arrival in London and none too pleased about it. Even the game of croquet had seemed to be a tactical ploy of collusion, and an underhanded plot of sending the unwelcome American on his way: with a flea in his ear.

    Perhaps Alexander was right; that his grandfather had declared war on Mac. That the Colonel had been called upon as back-up, and Maud Baggett seconded in order to ease his mother away from the American’s grasp. He could understand their concern for his mother, for he thought her beautiful too, but he couldn’t grasp why Mac was thought of as a totally unsuitable friend for her.

    Mac and Dad were good friends, and maybe mum needed someone other than Rhian to talk to. Hell, womens’ talk is okay, but Rhian never much liked dad, and dad hadn’t much liked her either. Even Rhian would agree that any fool could have seen through granddad’s less than tactical suggestion that Maud and his mother might like to go hunt out some refreshments while a game of croquet was set up.

    He mused the way his mum had managed to snatch a few moments alone with Mac during a refreshment break, that is, before Mac fell asleep. It crossed his mind that Mac’s snooze was a well-timed tactical ruse to avoid further inquisition from the two old war dogs out for his blood.

    He smiled to himself for he had always been told he was a chip of the old Douglas block; that is, in general appearance, yet most people referred to elements of his mother’s temperament, in that he held his own council from within and passed no judgement, not in either direction to opposing forces. Like Alexander, he viewed the events of the afternoon as having unfolded in like to an utterly bizarre Edwardian drama with family intrigue afoot.  Where his mother and Mac had been for the duration of their absence stirred wild imaginings, and mention of an antique fair had drawn a few raised brows. Alexander’s theory was probably about as accurate as any posed, and maybe it was not so terrible to think that his mum and Mac might have canoodled.

    Fiona had often warned: “Someone will make mum smile again, one day”

    A bit soon, perhaps, but what the hell was it to do with anyone other than mum? And if mum is happy maybe life will become a lot less security conscious.

To see entries by other participants go here.

On Release - English Civil War novel.

This is the first book in *The Royal Series*

It's now available on Amazon as an e-book: see left sidebar for link to Amazon.

Blurb:

Orphaned at royal court, Anna Lady Maitcliffe embraced freedom from courtly restraint whilst residing at Axebury Hall Estate. Now grown to womanhood, wilful and impulsive she wins hearts with ease, but the one she loves above all others is seemingly immune to her charms. 


Morton Viscount Axebury, although smitten with Anna, duly rejects her during a brief exquisite moment of intimacy. But time and Civil War are marching across England, and he knows by loyalty divided they are to be torn apart, and believes Anna will be called to the Queen’s chamber.

Of a rebellious nature and prepared for the consequences of denying loyalty to the King, banishment from the estate is a small price to pay in return for his life. But when news of Anna’s sudden betrothal reaches his ears, short of taking war to Axebury Hall with a regiment of horse, how else can he wrest her from the clutches of his father: her guardian and husband to be?  In secret and alone he ventures to Axebury Hall Estate, perchance his fate in Anna’s hands. For should she choose to reject his love and declare his presence, there will be no escape!   






       

My beta reader claimed she cried several times whilst reading the proof, and suggested it have a Warning Notice: Tissue Box Required!

I so love the period of the English Civil War, for it entailed great change from that of supreme royal rule to that of man-of-the-people: Cromwell. The latter declared (or self-declared) Lord Protector. Though as often happens in cases of military coups, and that's effectively what occurred in this case, for a seeming born leader took it upon himself to challenge the King in battle. Needless to say victory was achieved by the Army of Parliament led by Cromwell, Sir William Waller and Lord Fairfax and other notable gentlemen.

Not all of Cromwell's backers were Puritans, for many lords and ladies rallied to his call on the basis the country's religious status was that of Protestant, and the king had married a French Catholic. The king's extravagances in respect of the royal household and the queen's influence upon him led to his downfall in more ways than one. The English Civil War became a time of divided loyalties, not only the country torn apart by the war but families too, as individuals sought to fight and or support the King or Parliament.         

Cromwell's army became known as the New Model Army, its soldiers referred to as Roundheads in respect of or in disdain of their steel helmets. After all, what a contrast the Roundheads were in their buff coloured uniforms in comparison to the flamboyant dress of the Royalists known as Cavaliers.   

      

That said, officers within the New Model Army wore similar hats (when not in battle) to that of the Royalists, their feathered plumes red (gold) to match their cummerband at waist: denoting regimental colours. It is claimed the discipline of the New Model Army was the winning factor. The Royalists were reliant on foreign mercenary soldiers who were apt - if caught by the enemy - to switch sides on the basis they were offered regular pay as a regular soldier of Parliament, and less reliant on pillage and plunder of enemy property. Though it seems pillage and plunder occurred on both sides of the divide.      

  

So there you have it, one of my favourite periods of history.

New Kindle Book - Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Finally, I've got around to re-publishing a full length novel: first published in 1994.

What is there to say, other than it reflects a big chunk of my life (real-time), yet it's set within fiction! But as the saying goes, truth is often stranger than fiction. But as the famous saying goes: Nothing is ever quite what it seems!

A Romantic Suspense: Headline News – MI6 Officer Assassinated.

Witness to the tragic death of her husband, traumatised and terrified, Cassie’s world has collapsed, and nine months after the incident she’s still struggling to gain sense of normality. Meanwhile her son makes use of his late father’s computer without permission, and discovers what he thinks is a cool computer game. Whilst playing said game Dominic is unaware it is sending coded messages across the ether.

Naturally, when a best friend of her late husband arrives on her doorstep, Cassie is drawn to McKinley in a way she never imagined possible. In the meantime a web of lies and deceit soon turn her life into a living nightmare, and come a final showdown she’s the one holding the gun. But can she squeeze the trigger?

To see other posts by RFW go here.

Jane Austen - What Do you Really Know about Her?

For any one who writes Regency romances or aspires to such, it really is worth getting a copy of Jane Austen’s Letters. The letters are invaluable for finding out prices of goods and fare during the Regency era, and of course, she reveals so much about life in her time.

Below is a snippet (copied exactly) from a letter by Jane Austen to Anna Austen, inclusive spelling mistakes and grammatical errors: note the humour in Jane’s voice alongside encouragement bestowed upon Anna’s writing.

BTW: Jane’s spelling within other letters is shocking!! She was obviously never taught the rhyme of I before E except after C… And her sister Cassandra commits similar literary sins. That said, I thought this letter was highly amusing re Jane’s witty comments about other authors.

…You have been perfectly right in telling Ben of your work, & I am very glad to hear he likes it. His encouragement & approbation must be quite “beyond everything.” — I do not at all wonder at his not expecting to like anybody so well as Cecilia at first, but shall be surprised if he does not become a Susan-ite in time. — Devereux Forester’s being ruined by his Vanity is extremely good; but I wish you would not let him plunge into a “vortex of Dissipation”. I do not object to the Thing, but I cannot bear the expression; it is such thorough novel slang — and so old, that I dare say Adam met with it in the first novel he opened. — Indeed I did very much like to know Ben’s opinion. — I hope he will continue to be pleased with it, I think he must — but I cannot flatter him with there being much Incident. We have no great right to wonder at his not valueing the name of Progillian. That is a source of delight which he hardly ever can be quite competent to. — Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. — It is not fair. — He has Fame & Profit enough as a Poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people’s mouths. — I do not like him, & do not mean to like Waverley if I can help it. — but fear I must. — I am quite determined however not to be pleased with Mrs West’s Alicia de Lacy, should I ever meet with it, which I hope I may not. — I think I can be stout against any thing written by Mrs West. — I have made up my mind to like no Novels really but Miss Edgeworth’s, Yours & my own. —  …

As an aside: do you recognise this passage and in which of Jane’s titles does it feature? It’s taken from an original publication, not a modern revised edition by 20th century editor.   

She looked round the room. The window curtains seemed in motion. It could be nothing but the violence of the wind penetrating through the divisions of the shutters; and she stepped boldly forward, carelessly humming a tune, to assure herself of its being so, peeped courageously behind each curtain, saw nothing on either low window-seat to scare her, and on placing a hand against the shutter, felt the strongest conviction of the wind’s force. A glance at the old chest, as she turned away from this examination, not without its use; she scorned the causeless fears of an idle fancy, and began with a most happy indifference to prepare herself for bed.

Don’t you just love her rambling convoluted sentences...    

I love Jane Austen's letters as much as I love her novels. When reading her private thoughts and asides one hears her true voice, aside from her narrator voice. She was critical of other writers, but in a comic manner. One can even hear a touch of envy in one or two of her more brittle comments, but she conveys admiration too for fellow writers of her day and of those who were penning novels before she began her writings, such as Mrs Radcliffe's Gothic tomes, and Sir Walter Scott. Who we can ponder, inspired her writings?

To obtain a copy of J's letters go here. This particular book compiled by Diedre le Faye is superb, even to the finite details of page numbering and scribbled items Jane penned in margins, headers & footers. 

New Kindle Book - Infamous Rival!

Writing this particular novella was a thrilling experience. In the main because I dabbled with a murder mystery plot, yet a romance is at its heart. I love stories involving scandal/s. Hence, Georgette's disgrace and fall from favour has more to do with gossip mongers than any guilt for her part beyond that of finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong moment. 

Infamous Rival is set against the backdrop of London, Bath and Wells, and as always happens with any novel/las that I end up penning, this story came to me in a glorious overnight dream movie. All the characters stem from viewing portraits a few days beforehand, of which most are featured within the book trailer below. I count myself lucky in the ease with which my characters enter play and take centre stage. Needless to say the image below is Georgette (L) and her misguided and dangerous rival Eliza (R).

Amazon UK link

Book's blurb:

Once the darling of the beau monde, Georgette Lady Beaumont’s reputation lies in tatters after the apparent suicide of Lord Brockenbury’s heir. Shunned by society she embraces a secretive lifestyle in which she endeavours to evade Adam Brockenbury, whom she loathes as much as he desires her. Believing him capable of murder to gain his heart’ desire, she is not alone in thinking his elder brother’s death as somewhat suspicious, and whilst on a clandestine visit to her dearest friends she encounters a stranger of note.

Her travelling companion, although of charming disposition and of considerable handsomeness, something about him airs dark and secretive but unmitigated mutual attraction exists that neither can deny. Unfortunately he’s a Brockebury too, and as love, jealousy and hate take precedence, three murders are committed and Georgette quite believes she will be the murderer’s next victim, but who is the real murderer?          

So tell me, how do your characters materialise? 

Do you know them before you start writing or do you struggle to visualise them as you write?

  

See more book trailers here.

New Paperback - Character Guest Blogging - New Year's Resolution.

A message from Christina Napier (character in Scandalous Whispers). 

A New Year, January 2012 and I have seemingly slipped through time. Until this morning I had no concept of my existence in this other world. So, what or who am I? Now that is something I too must come to terms with. Nevertheless, I am here, in some nether world. My very thoughts, my spoken words now appearing before me on a rather peculiar device. But let me begin at the begin: 

Awakened by a bright light this very morn the concept of book and stepping from its pages became a whole new experience for me. I am, it would seem, a character within a book and my name is Christina. I was born into a fictional world and have no recollection of existence before my 21^st year, for that is where my story begins, along with that of the man I love Robert Lord Devonish.  Do I like this other world? Hmm.

It has many benefits, I shall grant it that: quite luxurious benefits. Though I cannot imagine why one would wish to have a metal carriage, and one that has to be driven to a strange place to be fuelled so that it functions, and then driven away again. Horses are so much more practical: fed and watered on one’s premises, and drive-away at mere request of carriage ordered to the front door at a specified time.

The greatest benefit of this 2012 world, of which I approve most sincere, is that of a bathroom. What a delightful experience!  Oh, and there are wonderful machines for kitchen staff, not least a contraption that washes clothes, washes dishes, and another which sucks dirt from rugs. Just think of the saving in house staff numbers, if all these things could be taken back to my fictional world of England in the year 1818. But of course, they would be useless in our world.   

Another device I find most amusing is that from which I hear a voice, and likewise I can be heard, yet both speakers miles distant. There is also what is referred to as The TV. It’s a rather fun contraption, but the device it requires to function correctly seems to malfunction with regularity. I think I shall be glad to get back to my own world, where women are feminine and men are men, for I have seen breeches everywhere and worn by men and women alike. But I thank my creator for giving me a glimpse of her world, and if not for her New Year’s resolution to publish in paperback I might be trapped inside a Kindle contraption instead of crispy new paperback book.           

Oh, and other people have posted New Year Resolution posts, their links, apparently, here.


Footnote: I thought I had better mention the paperback is a collection of (3) novellas Volume 1: 320 pages. All the novellas are available as individual Kindle books.

New Kindle Book - Scandalous Whisper!

I have again indulged in the Regency period with this love story, but unlike my Georgian novella "The Highwayman's Mistress" this one is set entirely within England.  While heroic officers & gentlemen abound, two of the latter prove themselves more rogues than gentlemen!     

blurb:

England, September 1818, and the Hon Mrs. Napier views the Earl of Kilder as a most desirable suitor for her daughter’s hand in marriage. Forced to engage with the extremely handsome and charming earl, a darker side to his nature is revealed and Christina despises his very presence. Worse, her twin brother cavorts with the earl in unmentionable pursuits, and equally bent on seeing her married to his favoured friend. Luckily, with the return of the 11th Dragoons from France, their eldest brother’s homecoming affords Christina brief respite from the earl’s overt attentions. 

So too, the man Christina admires above all others has returned to the Netherwood Estate. A chance meeting and lingering eye contact with her heart’s desire stirs rebellion within her. Her mother impervious to an act of wilful subterfuge insists Christina will marry the earl, but Christina indulges in secret liaisons with the man of her dreams. With deception retribution must follow and a cruel price is to be paid when Robert Lord Devonish is recalled to duty, the regiment bound for India. What will become of her now there is no one to save her from the earl’s clutches? 

See book trailer here.

The Highwayman's Mistress - Live on Kindle!

Today The Highwayman's Mistress went live as Kindle e-book at Amazon: see left sidebar for link.

Be warned it has three explicit sex scenes.

The first chapter is available to read: see left sidebar, or read sample Kindle version at Amazon.

This is the cover, and below the blurb!

The novella is set in 1792 - 1793 respectively: the era of the French Revolution.

Richard Courtenay Viscount Somerton, gallant as heroes come, has agreed to see Miss Diamonta Whitaker, safely delivered to the Palace of Versailles. Half French by birth and daughter of a French countess, Diamonta has more than one reason for accepting a gracious invite to stay at the Royal Court at Versailles. Her heart lies at court, with Francois de Boviere, Count of Saint Mont Marche.

Unfortunately, tide of revolution has swept from Paris to Versailles and heads of French aristocrats are seriously under threat of Madame Guillotine. With Diamonta's coche still en route to Versailles, strange as it seems a highwayman delivers a message by way of robbery to save her life. Can she, upon return to England, ever recover from her mother's wrath once her relationship with a highwayman is discovered, and can he survive a duel to the death?

See book trailer here