Interview and Giveaway with Debut Author: Erin Knightley

Welcome, welcome, to another interview at Not Another Romance Blog! (Channeling my inner Dumbledore) today as I introduce to the blog a debut author I am very excited about! This climatologist turned romance author mixes romance letters and older brothers' hot guy friends to create her sizzling June 5th debut! So without further adieu:

About the Author:

Despite being an avid reader and closet writer her whole life, Erin Knightley decided to pursue a sensible career in science. It was only after earning her B.S. and working in the field for years that she realized doing the sensible thing wasn't any fun at all. Following her dreams, Erin left her practical side behind and now spends her days writing. Together with her tall, dark, and handsome husband and their three spoiled mutts, she is living her own Happily Ever After in North Carolina. 

Find Erin Online: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

About the Book:

AN UNCOVERED BETRAYAL 

When his family abandoned him at Eton, Benedict Hastings found an unexpected ally in his best friend’s sister. Her letters kept him going—until the day he had to leave everything behind. Years later, Benedict has seen his share of betrayal, but when treachery hits close to home, he turns to his old friend for safe haven…. 

AN UNWANTED ATTRACTION 

After five torturous years on the marriage circuit, Lady Evelyn Moore is finally free to live her life as she wishes. So when her brother shows up with a dashing stranger, she finds herself torn between her dreams...and newfound desires. 

AN UNSTOPPABLE INTRIGUE

Despite his determination to keep Evie at a distance, Benedict cannot deny the attraction that began with a secret correspondence. Yet as they begin to discover one another, the dangers of Benedict’s world find them, threatening their lives, their love, and everything they thought they could never have…

Get Your Copy Today:

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)

Barnes&Noble (Print) | B&N (Nook)

Guest Post and Giveaway with DEBUT Author Darcy Burke

Time to welcome to the blog a debuting author whose releases I am dying to read! She's a RWA Golden Heart finalist and shares my love of cherry coke and thesaurus' ; Get use to seeing her name around, because she's sure to make a splash with her historicals! Without further adieu:

About the Author:

Darcy Burke wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. An RWA Golden Heart® Finalist, Darcy loves all things British (except tomatoes for breakfast, or any other time of day, actually) and happy ever afters.

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and three cats. In her "spare" time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say "no," but she keeps having to start over. She's also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcy-burke.com, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans.

Find Darcy Online: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

About the Book:

She was his savior

Banished from London for her reckless behavior, Lady Miranda Sinclair is robbed by a dashing highwayman en route to the country. By offering him a kiss in lieu of the jewels she had to leave behind, she commits the very type of act that caused her exile. When her dour guardians extend her punishment to performing charitable work at the local orphanage, she's further tempted by the home's owner, a provincial gentleman who stirs her passion in a most wicked way.

He was her downfall

Desperate to save his orphanage from financial catastrophe, Montgomery "Fox" Foxcroft leads a double life as a highwayman. The arrival of wealthy, well-connected Miranda, whose kiss he can't forget, presents a lawful opportunity to increase his coffers. His problems seem solved--until she rejects his suit. Out of options and falling for the heiress, Fox must risk what principles he has left and take advantage of her wicked ways--even if it ruins them both.

Get Your Copy Today:
Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Also available on: Smashwords and in print on Amazon

Guest Post

Recommendation of the Week: 4/15/12 - 4/21/12

'Passion Wears Pearls'

by Renee Bernard

Read  First Chapter: here
Review from The HR Critic: here
Amazon: Print: here | Kindle: here

After the darkness of a dungeon in India, artist Josiah Hastings found that years of imprisonment left his eyesight weak and failing. So when the fiery beauty of Miss Eleanor Beckett appears in his vision amidst the bleak grays of a London winter, he knows he's found his muse and one last chance at a masterpiece...

Book Video:

My Thoughts: Oh Renee! A going-blind hero? I've been craving one (is that bad? odd? not normal?) since reading Teresa Medeiros' Yours Until Dawn! I know this book will be smashing! And not just because the housekeeper's named after moi ;) I am currently re-beginning Ecstasy Wears Emeralds after my grandmother 'borrowed' it while I was in the middle of it. But this author has the goods. I knew 3 chapters in she was good and I can't wait to revisit Emeralds, catch up with Rubies and Sapphires, and then ATTACK Pearls ...all while eagerly awaiting Opals ;) And if any of you are wondering what the hell I am talking about, just check out Renee Bernard and get back to me ;) 

What do YOU think of this week's Recommendation?
Have you read it yet or anything by this author?
What are your thoughts? 

Until Next Week<3...

Yay, Blogoversary Fun: Build Your Own Book Giveaway-Giveaway

Since last year’s giveaway was such a hit, and this time around planning time was scarce, I’ve decided to do it again! Just a little something for the readers who enjoy this blog ;)

A bit of this and that: some historical romance and fiction, YA, contemporary, paranormal, and an option to have your choice of an ebook! There’s a little of everything to please most of you diverse readers out there.

And what blogoversary would be complete without Tea and Chocolates?

A box of Twinings Tea (winner’s preference of flavor) and some Lindor Truffles Chocolate-variety bag (everything will be bought the day of shipping to ensure maximum freshness and orgasmic deliciousness!)

And we can’t forget the books, can we? The winner gets to pick 6!

Up for grabs:

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas (Hard copy)

One Whisper Away by Emma Wildes (never read ARC)
Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase
The White Queen by Phillippa Gregory
Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day (never read ARC)
A Brush Of Darkness by Allison Pang
Vow Of Deception by Angela Johnson (signed by author-read once for review)
Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle
Night Falls Darkly by Kim Lenox
Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Or exchange 1 pick for: E-book of your choice- valued at or under $7.99

Click to view amazon pages:

So whether you’ve spot a few reads you never got the chance to read, want to try something new, want to use the E-book of choice option to move a book off your wish list, or a combination of all, I encourage you all to enter!

Rules:
I only ask that you be a GFC follower of this blog. Twitter and Facebook friends get extra entries, but GFC follow is mandatory.
Also, get extra entries for commenting on the “Happy 2nd Birthday To The Blog” post, Tweeting or Facebooking about the giveaway, and/or Joining the Goodreads Discussion Group!

Just fill out the form below before April 28th, 2012 to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unrelated: But I just want to remind you guys and and new followers or visitors to the blog that I’ve entered this blog in the Independent Book Blogger Awards and would LOVE it if you could vote for my blog! I am not going to make it an extra entries task because I don’t want to bribe votes, but if you’re inclined to vote because you enjoy the content on this blog, I’d appreciate it greatly!

Thanks for the support on all fronts, And good luck!

Happy 2nd Birthday To The Blog!!!

Yep, 2 years. Two…years…
Holy Shitake!

Where’d the time go? It seems like just a short time ago I was celebrating my first year of blogging, but now it’s time to start the party all over again!

As I said a few post ago, there’s a saying that if you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans. This 2nd year of blogging exceeded expectations but in ways that didn’t go according to plan. I’ve flexed my networking skills and met and talked with so many amazingly talented people (bloggers, authors, industry peeps, ect) and also made some lovely new friends in the process! I went to my very first ‘industry party’-and got HAMMERED!, my first book signing, a Romance Book Conference (attended RomCon 2011- and had THE MOST AMAZING TIME EVAHH!!) and sneaked around like a creeper at RWA 11- yelling at my idol Julia Quinn from a taxi and accosting authors like Teresa Medeiros and Grace Burrowes in a bathroom (true story)…These are all memories I’ll treasure.

Although I’ve let the crazy hectic life of a full time college student and part time shirt folder (yes, a real position) take the reins more recently, in this second year of blogging, so many amazing opportunities and experiences found its way to this neck of the blogging woods. I got to throw a KICK ASS Xmas party (with Dani from Ramblings From This Chick), a SICK Valentine’s Day event (also with Dani), interview and hosted so many authors- both established, indie, debuting, ect. Hosted a short lived (but due to come back at some capacity) online web show; It’s just been an unpredictable but fruitful year! I’ve gotten the chance to review books I’d never get the chance to try otherwise, find some new favorite authors (Theresa Romain, Renee Bernard, Shana Galen..list goes on), and use this crazy creative mind of mine to do blogging my way.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration when I say that I have the BEST blog followers in the world! I consider you all my friends. From followers here, to Facebook fans and friends, to Twitter Tweaps, and Goodreads pals. We chat (sometimes disagreeing, but most of the time feeling the same exact way) about certain books, publishing, LIFE in general. I love that I’ve been privileged enough to count on your support time and again and offer in return some unique entertainment (aka, a slow corruption- which is really my mission). Every interview, review, giveaway, and blog event is done with you guys in mind and it’s an amazing feeling to know that there are a few people out there who don’t know me from Eve (another old saying) but appreciate and enjoy what I have to say nonetheless! You guys rock!

I am not going to set any expectations other than to improve on the quality and quantity of content on this blog and I'll let the rest unfold on its own. Expect my presences around here more frequently than as of late, and look out for cool new stuff like the GoodReads Discussion Group I just started (and you guys can start joining now) and new features I'll come up with as we go along.

Here are some of my favorite posts from this past year:
Like I mentioned earlier: the X-mas and Valentine's Day events
Interview with Anna Campbell (a favorite author!)
Interview with Loretta Chase (yes, THE Loretta Chase)
"So You Want To Be A Young Corinthian" was a cool and different guest post where you guys got to play a guessing game and be spies
Guest Post by Jenn LeBlanc (she broughts pics of man titties...how could it NOT be a fav?)

Today, you guys can also begin entering the special Blogoversary giveaway (post will go live at noon). It’s just my little way of thanking you followers and friends for the support. I thought that this year I’d be able to do something grander than what I did last year, but year 2 has snuck up on me just as year 1 did! Enjoy this year’s giveaway and look out for a slammin’ summer and other associated coolness in the 3rd year of this crazy little thing I like to call blogging.

Note: In the comments, please take this opportunity to tell me what you’d like to see more of on the blog. Is there anything you’ve really enjoyed and wish I’d bring back? Any favorite posts? Let me know or email them to me! Thanks again!

Ecstasy Wears Emeralds by Renee Bernard –Review-

Read an excerpt: here
Buy at Amazon:
Print: here | Kindle: here

What can I say? I simply adored this book.
From the first page I knew this book would be riddled with characters my heart could bleed for. Ms Bernard has the special gift of not only making her characters feel authentically real, but making readers want to feel for them almost the minute they step onto the page. Gayle and Rowan will go down as one of my favorite historical romance couples ever. Their relationship and interactions felt very genuine. And I’ve been CRAVING a good romance with a Doctor lead for a while. I could gush about this book for forever, but I think I’ll just get to my review and outline what made this book work for me.

Contest Alert: BookTrib's Mary Jo Putney Giveaway!

Below, check out the deets on a very cool and different giveaway brought to you by BookTrib. You can follow the button and enter!

Mary Jo Putney is a fixture on national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. This spring Mary Jo has not one, but two releases to share with you. The first being a reissue of her classic, The Rake, available now! The second, coming out on April 24th, is No Longer A Gentleman. If you are a Mary Jo Putney fan you know this means historical romance at its best. If you haven’t read any of Mary Jo’s titles, now’s your chance to be swept away. In celebration of the two-title release Surroundings Flowers and Events of NYC has partnered with BookTrib for an amazing giveaway–


This giveaway includes One Grand Prize winner: Three consecutive months of exquisite fresh flower arrangements delivered to your door, plus a copy of THE RAKE and NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN by Mary Jo Putney.

Ten randomly selected winners: A copy of THE RAKE and NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN by Mary Jo Putney.

Enter Today! Good Luck!

Vote for N.A.R.B in the Independent Book Blogger Awards!

*seductive eyes, smokey voice*

"Why, hello Blog followers..."

LOL! Ok, so maybe trying to seduce you guys won't work, but seriously bookies, I need your help! 

I've entered this blog in the Independent Book Blogger Awards contest sponsored by The Association of American Publishers Trade Division and Goodreads.

The blog is coming up on its 2nd birthday on Saturday and I hope that over the past two years it has become clear that I love books and review from the heart. Hopefully, if you've stuck around with me this long, I've done something right-ish and I appreciate the support!

With over 800 entrants in the 4 different categories, every vote counts! So if you enjoy the content on this blog and have a Goodreads account (its free and easy to make if you haven't got one already) I'd LOVE it if you could take a second to vote for this blog in the Adult Fiction>Romance catagory! Also, take an opportunity to check out some of the other blogs that have entered! I've already found and subsequently followed 3-4 just by peeking at the competition!

Voting starts Today, April 10th and runs until Monday, April 23rd
Click the button below to vote!

Vote for this blog for the
Independent Book
Blogger Awards!

Vote

Click the sexy man...you know you want to!

And if my seduction earlier really didn't work on you, how about an endorsement from my future husband?:

Thanks again for all the support and I look forward to bringing you guys many more years of cooky reviews, fun interviews, unique blog events, giveaways, and more!