Travel Dreams #MFRWauthor #BlogChallenge

This week I'm answering Marketing For Romance Writer's 52 Week Blog Challenge. The challenge began in January, but I'm just joining in now. This week's topic is:  

Top 5 Places I'd Like to Visit

Germany 

I've visited Bamberg, Germany several years ago, and I completely fell in love with the history, customs, and people who live there. It was an adventure unlike any other I've experienced (including my first time ever in an airplane!). I've written about my experiences in Germany before, including a bit about the summer palace home of Marie Antoinette. And I've been dreaming of going back ever since!

Anywhere, but especially London, England

 

I'm not sure when it happened, or how exactly, but I've discovered recently that I'm an Anglophile. Maybe it was when I fell in love with Jane Austen's novels spurring me to research everything and anything about the Regency era in England. Or it could be when I first watched Top Gear for the first time, discovering many differences between England in America from the cars to the language. Or, it could be when I first watched a movie featuring Colin Firth. Who knows? Who cares? All I know is that I love England and I've never even set foot there.

I've been researching British history for years and have even set my Regency paranormal romance The Merriweather Witches series in  England. One of my travel dreams is to walk along the same streets in London that my characters have walked. Even if its the present day and not in the Regency era. I just want to be there!

New Orleans, Louisiana

Okay, here's another one. I've visited here several years ago, before Katrina hit. My husband (then boyfriend) and a bunch of our friends drove 19 hours to spend a week in New Orleans. We partied on Bourbon Street, visited a haunted graveyard, boarded a ferry crossing the mighty Mississippi River, and took a tour of the swamp where the crocodiles followed our boat. It was another great adventure that I want to experience again. And there's so much that we didn't get a chance to do, like visit more haunted locations, so I want to go back to check off that on my to-do list.

Rome, Italy

Here's another location that any history lover would be thrilled to explore. The central heart of the Roman Empire. Not only do I want to visit all of the historic sights, but I'd love to learn the Italian language. There's something so enchanting and romantic about this language. Plus, I have some Italian friends who are in desperate need of a vacation. It would be great for us to travel together in a group to explore the home of their ancestors!

Paris, France

Do you sense a historic theme to my choices? I really should just include all of Europe in my travel dreams, because if I want to be honest, I dream of visiting all of the European countries. I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris and visit the Louvre. Here's a list of things to do in Paris that I'd enjoy checking of my list!

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Traveling!

Tricia

Book Review: The Heartbeat Thief by @AJKrafton #NewAdult #DarkFantasy

Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth—she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.

In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn’t be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her. 

But it’s not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It’s death—and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.

So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible—he’d be her perfect match if only he wasn’t so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it…

When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death—but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.

It’s a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Edgar Allen Poe, and a whole lot of stealing heartbeats in order to stay young and beautiful forever. From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time…

How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?

Genre: New Adult Dark Fantasy
150887915X (ISBN13: 9781508879152)

329 pages

Expected publication: September 18th 2015 by Ash Krafton 

Kindle: published June 12th 2015 

For more info & to Purchase: http://www.ashkrafton.com

My Review:

A darkly beautiful tale!

Writing dark, poetic masterpieces is AJ Krafton's specialty. I was captivated by Senza's tale right from page one! But, beware, this story is not for the faint of heart. In fact, I had to put the book down for a brief time because it was so bleak! My absence didn't last long, however, since I couldn't get the characters out of my mind and I just had to know what happened next. It's a compelling, mournful story. Ms. Krafton's writing is filled with luscious detail and vivid descriptions combining to portray an emotionally haunting story. Her writing is emotionally haunting. Senza is filled with curiosity, melancholy and a driven determination to not live the life her mother has chosen for her. With the assistance of the mysterious Mr. Knell, Senza becomes what I like to call, a vampire-like creature, who feeds off the heartbeats of others to survive. It's a unique concept, which I truly enjoyed reading. And personally, I connected with Senza on her obsession with death. It may be one of the reasons I needed to step away from this book. I don't admit to many, but death lingers often in my thoughts because I lost my mother at a young age. I understand that mortality is fragile and brief and those who are left behind are the ones to suffer. If only there was a way to cheat Death, to live forever… Although, Senza's particular thoughts and actions might have been different than my own, I could definitely sympathize which made my reading this story so much more raw and heartfelt. This one is, by far, one of my most favorite and memorable books written by Ms. Krafton!

P.S. I just LOVE the artwork on this cover! It's gorgeous!

Book Spotlight ~ What a Woman Desires by Rachel Brimble

A note from Rachel....

What A Woman Desires is my third Victorian romance for eKensington/Lyrical Press and I am in the process of writing my fourth. I love the Victorian era! Many people initially think of Queen Victoria in mourning, Dickensian poverty or cruelty, or ladies dressed in high-neck dresses, looking down their noses at anyone even thinking an immoral thought, let alone acting on one.

These passing assumptions are not entirely true…although they are true of some people and places from that time. If you have read any of my previous books, you will know my Victorian romances tend to be darker than most on the market, and focus on the lower classes of society, rather than the upper-middle and middle classes.

It is my mission to prove even people not born into money deserve a happy ever after!

Many authors, including me, garner a lot of inspiration from what we read and watch. It is because of my favorite books, films and period TV series that I became so interested in Victoriana. I am lucky enough to live just a short drive from the city of Bath, England in one direction and the beautiful Cotswolds in the other. It would’ve been a sin for me to not take advantage of my location in my books.

What A Woman Desires and my previous books (The Seduction of Emily & The Temptation of Laura) are all set in and around Bath. Here are some books and viewing I highly recommend…albeit most of them are set in London. Enjoy!

Books

Tipping The Velvet, Affinity & Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

A Glimpse at Happiness by Jean Fullerton

The Victorian House by Judith Flanders (non-fiction)

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Mr Briggs’ Hat by Kate Colquhoun

Film/TV

North & South – (British TV)

North & South – (US TV) – these are two VERY different stories!

Bleak House – (British TV)

The Young Victoria – film

Gangs of New York - film

Blurb:

From country girl to actress of the stage, one woman dares to live her dreams—but is she brave enough to open her heart…?

Monica Danes always wanted more than the village of Biddestone had to offer. After a failed courtship to a man of her parents’ choosing, she fled for the city of Bath and never looked back. Today, Monica is the undisputed queen of the theater—a wealthy, independent woman. But when she is called home in the wake of tragedy, Monica returns—intending to leave again as soon as possible.

Thomas Ashby has been a groom at the Danes estate since he was a boy—and has been enamored with Monica for almost as long. He knows he isn’t a suitable match for his master’s daughter, despite the special bond he and Monica have always shared—and their undeniable attraction. But now that she’s returned, Thomas has one last chance to prove himself worthy—and to show Monica a life, and a love, she won’t want to give up...

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

 

About the Author:

Rachel Brimble and Nora Roberts

Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015. 

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.

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

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Facebook Street Team - Rachel's Readers