So today I crunched the numbers on the free downloads of ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE & SEDUCTION, and so far as of 10-29-2011, I can tell you there have been 173,289 downloads from Amazon, B&N, iBookstore and Sony. My ultimate goal as I’ve stated in prior posts is 250,000–that’s also when I’ll celebrate by giving away a Kindle Fire. Do I believe it’s attainable goal? Absolutely, or I wouldn’t have put it out there. Do I think it’s an easy goal to achieve? Nope, but then nothing and I repeat nothing about being a successful author is. And since I’ve always been a pretty ambitious person, I’m striving to be as successful as I possibly can.
Many of my readers have asked me what’s next after AN HEIR OF DECEPTION. Well, I’m taking the plunge and switching gears for a bit to write a contemporary novella. It will be the introduction to my Creme de la Creme series, which is about three friends who decide to open an upscale bakery together specializing in French pastries. In the novella, to which I have no title yet but on some days fondly call ‘Kick Him to the Curb’ and on others, ‘Ultimatum’, a week before her 30th birthday, my heroine ends her two year long relationship with her 35 year old ex-football player boyfriend, who is not ready to go another round with the marriage institution. Unfortunately, for him (our stubborn hero) more than marriage, he detests the thought of his girlfriend all free and single or, even worse, with somebody else. I’m looking for a title that somehow relates to food, pastries, baking, what have you. Any suggestions will be most welcome. 😉
After I go contemp for a bit, I’ll come back to historical romances and I will finish the first book in The Temptresses series, which will spin off The Elusive Lords. The first book in the series is titled TWICE THE TEMPTATION and features Catherine (Charlotte’s twin) and Lucas (American business man introduced in An Heir of Deception). Here’s the a short blurb that summarizes the series:
Temptation is as old as Adam and Eve. Unfortunately, succumbing to it is as natural as breathing to the gentlemen in the haut ton. But the secret society of the TEMPT club (Test Eligible Males’ Proof of Trustworthiness) will save prospective brides bent on fidelity, by discerning the faithful from the philanderers. And the founders and sole members of the club—Catherine Rutherford, Olivia Wakefield and Meghan Townsend—are ready and willing to apply themselves fully to that task. What they hadn’t counted on was emotional entanglements…
Speaking of temptation, today I’m giving away the appropriately titled contemporary, TEMPTED AGAIN by Cathie Linz. I have to say, this one got me at, “Enter sexy lawman Connor Doyle–bad boy who took her virginity back in high school.”
TEMPTED AGAIN
Author: Cathie Linz
Publisher: Penguin Group
Line: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0425244548
Retail Price: $7.99
Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBookstoreShe’d been tempted before…
Marissa Bennett needs to start over, so she returns to her hometown of Hopeful, Ohio, and a new job at the library. After a painful divorce. she craves peace of mind and stability. Instead, the first thing she does is accidentally crash the Founders’ Day Parade. To make matters worse, she has to deal with her menopausal mom, a sarcastic sister and a loony library board.he also has to deal with a menapausal mom, a saracastic sister and a loony library board.
…and this wickedly hot sheriff knows her weakness.
The last thing Marissa needs is a new man in her life. Enter sexy lawman Connor Doyle-the bad boy who took her virginity back in high school. She knows she should turn the pages on her past and get her life back on track, but Connor is irresistible. Has she come all the way home just to get her heart broken again?
So here’s the question of the day–and not meaning to getting into anyone’s personal business–but how would you feel if you ran into ‘your first’? If in fact you aren’t currently married or going out with him/her? Comment and enter to win TEMPTED AGAIN!
If I meet guy I used to love I’ll avoid him or if we used to have friend love relationship I’m gonna ask his number and start our friendship. Love the theme of first love. This book gonna be next On my reading list.
Well, I married my “first” and then divorced him – and since he passed away, I don’t think I’ll be running into him. If I ran into an old love though, I’d be interested to see if we would still click after years apart.
I’d rather poke myself in the eye than meet the first. It was memorable only for the fact that it wasn’t. I distinctly remember saying aloud, “Is that IT?” Add to it it that the guy was a total sleaze in the end, then I would totally ignore the guy.
I ran into my first and it was so awesome. He cheated on me on Valentines and broke my heart in college. A few years after graduation, my husband and I walked into a Starbucks and guess who waited on us…..yup, the cheating loser. My husband, a very successful and handsome architect, leaned across the counter and said “I can’t thank you enough for screwing up, she is the best thing that ever happened to me”. It was the most amazing moment. My husband and I have been married for 12 years and I love being married to my best friend, everything does work out for the best.
Love this story! What a great guy. I would love him forever just for telling your ex thank you.
I love your story, Jamie. Love your husband. Boy, I would have loved being a fly on the wall when the Starbuck scene went down. Hehehehe
My first is my best friend. We live in different towns and states now but we still communicate and talk. So I would have no problem running into him again….Now if I ran in to my last boyfriend (before the one I am with now) I would get annoyed. He is just blah…. I sit back and think what did I see in him….. He irratates me very fast. Sometimes i just want to smack him.
OMG! That book sounds HOT!!! A sexy sheriff? I’m in!!!:P LOL
I’d have to make the embarassing confesion: I haven’t met ‘my first’ yet! 😎
but someday.. Hopefully soon!:) LOL
Maybe the new year will bring him to me!; )
Happy New Year everyone!:*
Take your time. Make sure he’s the right one. Make sure he deserves you.
Well I am very married to my 1st. “We started going together” lol When I was 12 and he was 14 (we started things really young). We were married at 15 and 17. In FEB we will be married 34 years. He was my 1st boyfriend, kiss, well lets just say my 1st everything. Two children and two grandchildren later and still very much in love. 🙂
Sigh. That is sooooo sweet. A toast to one true loves.
Super excited about the upcoming 2012 and of course anxiously awaiting Heir *hint hint*. Lol! You know I love mentioning my patience issues every chance I get.
This first love thing… well, if I met that first love again I doubt I would give a second glance unless he’s changed his act a little. He had some horrible habits that tore us apart the first round.
But this Tempted Again novel sounds like a fun read. May just add that to my purchase list. Look forward to an exciting 2012 Bev!
Thanks so much, Landra. You’re a doll! I’m going to get Alex to you as soon as I can. He’s hurrying me along too. 😉
As for ‘firsts’ I say thank God for lessons they teach us. Shall some of us never be that stupid again. AMEN!
Many times I’ve thought about my first, and true love. Unfortunately, our paths lead us in two different direction once he was accepted at Oxford University, and I was accepted and NYU. We tried to do the long distance dream of success, hoping I would return to the UK shortly after college. Needless to say, we grew apart during our 3rd year. My brother mentioned that he had seen my first love a few months back. He too, had been married, divorced, and has a teenage son, where I have a teenage daughter. Like my ex-husband, his ex-wife wasn’t truthful to their marriage. My first love was my soulmate, no question about that. Maybe one day, who knows, I’ll see him again, and finish where we left off. Well, that is my dream I want to come true.
Now for a more happier moment: 🙂
Bev, Congrats on your rising success. I hope you’ll meet your goal. I’m also glad to hear you plan to continue with Catherine’s story. I had hoped you’d plan to work her story in somewhere down the road. I hope Heir of Deception is going well. Still waiting patiently to see it soon.
I would be slightly curious to see how the guy who I considered my first real love turned out, the time just never was right for our relationship to go further, he married/I married, we live in separate states and have no common circles anymore, but I came across a few pictures of him when I was cleaning recently and started wondering what happened in his life….in my life, I am still happily married to my guy, no regrets.
Cathie’s book sounds like it is going to be a great read!
I thinkI would not want to meet him again. It would be rather embarrassing.
I’m not sure how I would react to meeting my first love. When our lives took us in two different directions, instead of moving on, he tried to commit suicide. Since him I have married and have been happily married for almost 20 years. So, I would have to say, that while I am sorry he tried to take his life, because we didn’t work out, I think if I saw him today, I would run the other way. I cared for him very much but, I can’t carry that kind of guilt for his emotional well being. I hope that doesn’t sound cold, because that is not how I mean it. Having a relationship with someone that needy is very draining, emotionally and physically. You tend to not have energy for much anything else. For a long time I thought it was all my fault, but after meeting my husband, soul mate and best friend, I realized, it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with him and the issues he was dealing with. I honestly hope he finds his true love, because I believe there is someone for everyone, it just wasn’t me.
I am so excited about all of your future projects! I would read any book you write, but would love to read a contemporary. My first is now my ex. We have a good relationship because we share three children. I also love Cathie! Hope you have a great new year!
Well, my first and only is my husband of almost 40 years. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy stories of reunions of first loves.
Still no e-reader. My husband wanted to get a Kindle for me on a recent trip and I talked him out of it. I am still trying to figure out why I did that because I really want one. My birthday is coming up. We’ll see. Good luck with the plans for you new books. They all sound good.
Depend s what happen congrats on all the next projects, who, would love to win then bok, cute coverall, have new year, all
Oooh……a contemp, count me in! Best to you on that project, I know it’ll be great. 🙂
I’m strictly a historical reader, but since hubby gave me a Kindle I have been reading other genres.
Sorry, off the top of my head no ideas for titles, I will try and think of something for you.
I’m sure you’re always open to a few good laughs. 😉
The Temptresses series sounds like I need to make more room on my bookshelf.
Eagerly awaiting those books. Looks like you’re going to have an awesome 2012.
I’ve known my hubby since 5th grade, we were high school sweethearts and eloped right after graduation. He was my first for everything and he is still my #1 guy in my life. Still going strong after 33 years of marriage and counting.
Wishing you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I am new here and while reading your blog I saw you asked for title ideas. I have studied Culinary Arts and I love the name of your new series. And a idea came in mind. ‘Whipped to Perfection’, Hope this help you come up with a title. For I am no writer, but this comes to mind when I think about baking. I look forward to reading more of your books and I will be waitingfor the new series to come out!!!!
Whipped to Perfection! I LOVE IT!!! For that suggestion alone, you get a book from my stash. 🙂
Happy New Year. I think there would a lot of emotions going through me like excitement and maybe a little sadness at what might have been.
Happy New Years Everyone!!! If I ran into my first I think I would just say hi and keep on walking. I realize after we broke up that I was much better without him.
Jamie S:
How romantic of your husband.
I am not sure what i would do if I ran into my first love after all these years. I think it would be very strange for me. Although sometimes I do still think about him. I doubt that I would ever run into him again.
My first was a worm that was only after my virginity. Then he dropped me. I think if I saw him today, I would say hello and move on without thinking of him at all. That was 42 years ago, and a lot of water has passed over the bridge since then. I have been married to my best friend and love of 40 years and we are still going strong.
Bev, I am also waiting on AN HEIR OF DECEPTION. I, too, will read anything you write. You have me spoiled and hooked.
As far as your football hero story goes, I am thinking of a title of HALF-BAKED HERO. After all, the heroine already has him half-baked, but will not have him totally baked until she lands him.
Have a safe, healthy, and prosperous Happy New Year everyone!
Well that’s an easy question for me – I married my first lol. 42 years. Happy New Year everyone!
Happy New Year’s !!
Gracie –
As I’m settling in for a cold New Years Eve I have turned by chair to face the fireplace, and since I live in New England stocking up books to get thru thru the cold snowy winter is always a priority so books have been pre-ordered for my Kindle of favorite authors for their new releases in 2012 and favorite books to re-read from some of my favorite authors have been but in a bookcase by my chair in case power is lost.
To me New Years is a time to sit back and reflect on the year past and look forward to tomorrow. The one thing about winter I love is that it’s a time you can sit back and relax and not feel guilty in enjoying the pleasure of reading in front of a warm fire. It’s a time to enjoy being at home with my husband and we can enjoy the quiet and peace while the snow falls and to sit back and enjoy the wonderful settings and intrigue of where an author is taking us.
So let the snow fly and pile up outside while we sit back and relax and let the author take us on a journey around the world with mystery, intrigue and romance.
My first one passed away a number of years ago.
Hi, Beverley!
Congratulations on the great numbers! Agree that 250k is an attainable number. ^_^
Your projects for 2012 sound exciting! I’ve been checking all the major online stores (almost daily) for a release date for An Heir of Deception — or, at least, a button that will allow me to pre-order it.
As for my first — I married mine and I love how we complement each other.
Happy 2012! Cheers to you and all of your readers and blog followers!
My first was/is a great guy. We had a chance to get back together after college and it didn’t work out. I’ve now been happily married for over 20 years. It would be nice to see my first. I think we’d have fun catching up and reminiscing, but I’d be careful to avoid any temptation or any situation that might lead to temptation.
Oooh I can’t wait for your Temptress series! Historicals are my first love, but since its you writing the contemporary I will have to give it a try. And I love baking and pastries so even better!
Nice to see others have married their firsts, as did I. The sparks flew and I just knew =)
(no need to enter me in the contest, just wanted to comment!)
Happy New Year!
I’m still waiting. 🙂 The irony is that I’m watching TLC’s The Virgin Diaries as I type this. It’s an odd show.
I’m divorced from my “first”. We are still friends so it wouldn’t be weird to see him again. But I promise that nothing would be rekindled either. LOL
I would really enjoy meeting my first love again. I haven’t seen him since high school and that was many years ago. I am married, so I wouldn’t expect anything other than friendship – but it would be fun!
Im still friends with my “first” ~ I knew he wanted marriage and I didn’t, so I let him go to find someone who did.