Aloha to the New Jersey Romance Writers - Part 3

Continuing the Author Fact Bingo from the NJRW's Hearts and Sparks brunch ...

Tina Gabrielle, tinagabrielle.com,

I have visited 47 of the U.S. 

Shirley Hailstock, shirleyhailstock.net,

(From her bio with a BS in Chemistry and MBA in Chemical Marketing) Her initial wish was to join the space program.

Nancy Herkness, nancyherkness.com,

I have gone snorkling with hammerhead sharks.

Elizabeth Hoyt, elizabethhoyt.com,

I was once locked in the oldest museum in Europe.

Babette James, babettejames.com,

I played with a real tiger in my front yard.

Elizabeth John, elizabethjohn.com,

I was one of 5,060 participants to make/break a Guinness World Record for the Largest Game of Musical Chairs.

Tracey Lyons, traceylyons.com,

If I had it to do over again ... I would choose the career of a NASCAR driver.

I am giving away RWA swag to four randomly selected commenters during the month of October. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about a favorite museum where you would enjoy being locked in!  The Bishop Museum in Honolulu - it is the Hawai'i State Museum of Natural and Cultural History.  So much to see with a planetarium, too.  Check out my pictures at this link.

2. Comments are open through Tuesday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Hawaiian Hall
bishopmuseum.org

Aloha to Elizabeth Hoyt and ONCE UPON A MOONLIT NIGHT

 

Reminder - I have a special giveaway for July at this link.

ONCE UPON A MOONLIT NIGHT by Elizabeth Hoyt (July 5, 2016; Forever Yours Ebook; A Maiden Lane Series Novella)

From New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt comes a delightful Maiden Lane novella that begins once upon a moonlit night---and ends wickedly, wonderfully ever after . . .

Hippolyta Royle is running for her life. Pursued by hounds on a cold rainy night, the heiress flags down a passing carriage and throws herself at the mercy of the coach's occupant. Whoever this handsome traveler may be, he is her only hope to escape a terrible fate. But should he agree to escort her to safety, he's in for much more than he bargained for . . .

At first Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe Hippolyta's story, that she's a fabulously wealthy heiress who's been kidnapped. He assumes she's a beggar, an actress, or worse. But once his new travel companion washes the mud from her surprisingly lovely face, and they share a breathtaking kiss, there is no turning back . . .

Buy the Book!

Amazon
B&N
iBooks
Google
Kobo

Add Once Upon a Moonlit Night to your shelf on Goodreads - link.

Elizabeth Hoyt is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventeen lush historical romances including the Maiden Lane series. Publishers Weekly has called her writing "mesmerizing." She also pens deliciously fun contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with three untrained dogs, a garden in constant need of weeding, and the long-suffering Mr. Hoyt.

ElizabethHoyt.com
Twitter @elizabethhoyt
Facebook.com/ElizabethHoytBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aloha to Elizabeth Hoyt and DUKE OF SIN - Release Day Blitz

A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR

Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .

Amazon
B&N
iBooks
Google

Kobo
IndieBound

Covent Gardens

Public Domain (link)

Elizabeth Hoyt is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventeen lush historical romances including the Maiden Lane series. Publishers Weekly has called her writing "mesmerizing." She also pens deliciously fun contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with three untrained dogs, a garden in constant need of weeding, and the long-suffering Mr. Hoyt.

ElizabethHoyt.com

Twitter.com/ElizabethHoyt
Facebook.com/ElizabethHoytBooks

Add DUKE OF SIN to your shelf on Goodreads at this link.

Check out my review of DUKE OF SIN at this link.

Can Bridget spin a happy ending?

Elizabeth offers an excerpt from DUKE OF SIN ...

“I was told you had need of me, Your Grace,” she reminded him, folding her hands at her waist to hide the trembling that had begun again. She’d been in demand before this position. Duchesses and lionesses of society had wanted her.

“So practical,” he mused, tilting his golden head back to gaze, presumably, at the gaudy sky-blue velvet canopy of his bed. She’d always thought it rather vulgar, actually. “I suppose that would be considered a good thing in a housekeeper.”

“It’s generally considered so, Your Grace.”

“And yet, I find it somewhat…”—he raised his naked arm straight up above his head and twirled his hand as he thought—“irksome.”

“I am sorry, Your Grace,” Bridget said as pleasantly as she could, which, sadly, was not very.

“Oh, don’t be,” the duke murmured silkily. “One can’t help one’s nature, no matter how irritating it is to others.”

His azure eyes suddenly dropped to pin her, hard and merciless, and she lost her breath as she fell into his predator’s stare. It was like looking into the eyes of something inhuman, almost otherworldly. Her chest ached as she stared at him, the air still locked within her, but at the same time the place between her legs ached as well.

Then she inhaled, filling her lungs with sweet air, as he watched her still, his eyes half-lidded, and she felt an odd exhilaration, as if a gauntlet had been thrown down. As if they were adversaries, equal on the field.

Which was completely ridiculous.

Possibly she shouldn’t have indulged in that third cup of tea this morning.

“I wonder whom you work for, Mrs. Crumb?” he whispered.

“Why, for you, Your Grace,” she replied, holding his gaze.

He snorted.

She felt a bead of perspiration trail down her spine.

He strode, nude, to his desk, and, bending over it, afforded her a quite scandalous view of his muscular bottom. He seemed to have a dark mark of some kind on the left cheek. Good God, it looked like a tattoo. What—? “Why, Mrs. Crumb,” he drawled, and she snapped her gaze belatedly up to find that he’d turned back to her—damn it! “Were you ogling my arse?”

She opened her mouth and then wasn’t sure, exactly, what to say. Was he about to dismiss her or not? “I…I—”

“Ye-es?” He took one long stride toward her.

She was suddenly, overwhelmingly aware of what she’d until now successfully ignored: He. Was. Nude.

His shoulders were wide, his chest highlighted by pale-pink nipples drawn tight, with but a few curling golden hairs between. His torso narrowed in a perfect V to a slim waist and a shallow belly button. A thin line of slightly darker hair led to his genitals.

During his supposed absence Bridget had had plenty of time to study the life-size nude portrait of the duke hanging next to his bed. She’d long thought the dimensions of his manhood exaggerated.

They were not.

She hastily glanced up to find him standing far too close to her, a wicked smile playing about his mouth.

“Oh, Mrs. Crumb, such a look,” he murmured, his voice a deep purr, his bare chest brushing against her snowy white apron. “Why, I don’t know whether to guard my bollocks…”—his gaze dropped to her mouth—“or to kiss you.”

Book 9 is closely related

to DUKE OF SIN

Weekly Winners

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

Laura Lippman's WILDE LAKE
- Mary P. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Washington Loves Readers Luncheon - Spotlight on Terri Brisbin

-  Natasha wins a book choice from my convention stash. 

Wednesday's Warrior: Aloha to Chanel Cleeton and FLY WITH ME (Wild Aces Book 1)

- Melody May wins a book choice from my convention stash. 

Aloha to Elizabaeth Hoyt and DUKE OF SIN (Maiden Lane Book 10) - Book Review

- Lexi wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners, please send your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Elizabaeth Hoyt and DUKE OF SIN (Maiden Lane Book 10) - Book Review

Reminder: I have a special giveaway for Military Appreciation Month at this link.

A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR

Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .

Covent Gardens

Public Domain (link)

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall. - William Shakespeare

Val enjoys being the villain - he has blackmailed several characters throughout the series.  In one case, the blackmail was for a good reason. He coerced Lady Caire to include his bastard sister, Eve, in ladies' charitable projects while he held onto sensitive letters in her handwriting. Although Lady Caire compiled with the Duke's instructions, she asks her own bastard daughter, Bridget Crumb, to apply as a housekeeper to his home. As Bridget searches for the letters (and other items he holds over the ton), she discovers that Val was not born wicked. Instead, he is the product of a monstrous father and a neglectful mother. His destructive attitude - the antithesis of her nurturing life - intrigues her as she considers how to save her mother, the other blackmail victims, and the Duke of Montgomery himself.

Hoyt is a master storyteller.  Her writing is rich, decadent, and delicious, much like dark chocolate. Alas, Val is dark chocolate personified.  Despite his villainous actions in previous books, Hoyt writes Val in a way that I applaud his bravado. He imbibes in retorts while gorging his ego. Val challenges Georgian society for their blatant hypocrisy. He is fascinated by Mrs. Crumb.  Val wonders why she hides her hair under a mobcap. He questions who gives her the authority to lecture him - a Duke! - about morality. Val even asks what is her Christian name. When she refuses to answer him, he calls her Seraphine,

"This is who I am, Seraphine. Naked, with blade and blood. I am vengeance. I am hate. I am sin personified. Never mistake me for the hero of this tale, for I am not and shall never be. I am the villain."

DUKE OF SIN is grittier than I prefer but Hoyt tackles the wicked indulgences within Georgian society. That is the beauty of Hoyt's writing - she takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotions to celebrate love and grieve loss, all part of the circle of life. The plot itself is predictable. Yet Hoyt includes her trademark fairy tale to introduce each chapter, adding an extra dimension to the "fiction that points to truth". Kudos to Hoyt for the scene with Val, a child, and a kitten - more dark chocolate, this time with a creamy center!

The question remains - did Bridget's love inspire Val to redeem himself?  You'll have to read DUKE OF SIN to make your own judgement.

DUKE OF SIN can be read as a stand alone novel.  It is closely connected to SWEETEST SCOUNDREL, Book 9, with his sister Eve as the heroine. I have only read Book 9 and 10, yet I was able to understand the themes running throughout the Maiden Lane series.

I received an ARC from Forever Romance for an honest review.

DUKE OF SIN is available on May 31, 2016.

Can Bridget spin a happy ending?

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about lockets (one item Val stole to blackmail an heiress) - would I find one in your jewelry box? I have a heart shaped locket I bought at an antique market in
Tongeren, Belgium (link).

2. This giveaway is open to US readers.

3. Comments are open through Saturday, May 14, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 15.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Elizabeth and her books at elizabethhoyt.com.

Celebrate Romance Every Day: SOS Aloha 6th Anniversary (Part 3): Andrews AFB, RT, and RWA

Andrews AFB is home of Air Force One, which frequently visited Hawaii, parking not too far from my house!  Andrews AFB is also where my romance appetite was cultivated by Cathy Maxwell during a book signing in the base exchange. 

Cathy's THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT was the first romance book I read (link). Cathy attended the Old Fashioned Tea Party on Fort Meade (link). I was too busy at the Tea Party to chat with Cathy, thus prompting me to join her at the book signing on Andrews AFB.

I watched Cathy work her magic, laughing with readers as she signed their books.  I noticed a retiree approach her table, pick up her book, read her bio, and comment, "You look like you love what you do.  I'd like to buy this book!"

In April 2009, I attended the RT Booklovers' Convention in Orlando.  Cathy supported me as I coordinated the SOS America Military Tribute - she's a Navy Vet!   Many readers asked what they could do to support military families ... so I collected email addresses to create the SOS America newsletter (the newsletter would later morph into a blog).

No sooner had I returned home from Orlando when my husband received his next assignment - Hawaii.  By July, my house was packed but I had one last event - the RWA National Conference in Washington, DC.  I was in heaven! The highlight was sitting in the bar with Cathy, Cara Elliott, and Lauren Willig ... when the fire alarm rang and the lobby was swarmed with firemen!  No doubt this inspired the wave of firemen romances to come.  As we evacuated the building, Cathy suggested we enjoy lunch at an Thai restaurant across the street.  We were joined by Elizabeth Hoyt and Jade Lee. What more could a romance fan want?!?

I found firemen during RWA in NYC in 2015

My roommate at RWA was Mary Gramlich (link), who had been reviewing books for several years. She invited Delilah Marvelle back to our room for an impromptu wine tasting.  We later dined with Delilah and Kim Killion.  I look back at the entire conference with fond memories before our big move to Hawaii.  Those memories sustained me as I felt isolated from romance by the physical distance ... my blog would later bridge that distance. 

Readers, do you remember the first romance blog(s) which caught your attention?  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, March 19, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 20.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Next Week:  SOS Aloha is born on Pearl Harbor.

Aloha to Elizabeth Hoyt and ONCE AND ALWAYS - Book Review

IS THERE A PROBLEM, OFFICER?

Small town cop Sam West certainly doesn't mind a routine traffic stop: speeding ticket, stern warning, and sayonara. With a whopper of a blizzard closing in, that's all he has time for. But the lawbreaker he pulls over is anything but typical. From her mile-long legs to her razor-sharp wit, Maisa Bradley is like nothing Coot Lake, Minnesota, has ever seen . . . and she's about to take Sam on the ride of his life.

BEING BAD HAS ITS BENEFITS

Whoever said blood is thicker than water probably wasn't related to a former Russian mobster. But an innocent mix-up and rumors of stolen diamonds soon have the Russian mob taking an unusual interest in the sleepy little town-and Maisa facing heated scrutiny from a certain tall, dark, and handsome deputy. Sam's dazzling blue eyes beg her to reveal all her secrets, but how much should she tell? Getting snowed in with the sexiest lawman in the frozen north may not be the worst way to decide . . .

Dogsledding in Ely, MN

Image from ely.org

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - Thomas A. Edison

Deputy Sam West keeps trying one more time to win over Maisa Bradley.  Each time she visits her uncle in Coot Lake, Minnesota, he pulls her over.  Sam tries to charm her and even reminds her of the passion they shared one hot summer night ... but Maisa keeps her distance.   She content with her budding custom dress business in St. Paul ... and she knows they would mix like oil and water.  Her uncle is a retired Russian mobster hiding out in the boonies ... and Sam is a decorated Army veteran. Yet Maisa herself cannot deny the spark between them.   

A blizzard traps Maisa in town along with a mobster's accountant on the run.  Coot Lake erupts into a battleground when the mobster himself comes looking for the accountant.   Sam draws upon his combat experience and enlists local mushers to save the town from the carnage ... and Maisa from her own mobster heritage.

ONCE AND ALWAYS is Northern Exposure meets OK Corral with an ensemble cast ala Ocean's Eleven.  Hoyt starts with a small town romance and infuses action, suspense, and redemption.  Sam is a juxtaposition with a swagger - he confidently pursues Maisa but resists the sheriff's efforts to groom him as his successor.  One deadly patrol in Afghanistan continues to plague Sam.  Yet he relies on his Army training when the Russian mafia arrives in Coot Lake.  He proves to the townsfolk, Maisa, and himself that anyone can overcome bad history.

Глаза́ боя́тся, а ру́ки де́лают. 

Eyes are afraid, but hands are doing the job.

I received a print copy from the author during the Forever Romance book signing at the RWA Annual Conference.

Palisade Head on Lake Superior
Released to Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Minnesota - what do you know about the Land of 10,000 Lakes?  

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 19, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 20.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Julia Harper aka Elizabeth Hoyt at elizabethhoyt.com.  

Other books from Julia Harper ... which I also enjoyed!

Aloha to Elizabeth Hoyt and SWEETEST SCOUNDREL - Book Review

SHE'S TAKING CHARGE

Prim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.

HE'S RUNNING THE SHOW

Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.

BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL

In spite of her lack of theatrical experience—and her fiery clashes with Asa—Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them—and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all.

Procession of Characters from Shakespeare's Plays by an unknown artist
Public Domain (link)

No great scoundrel is ever uninteresting. - Murray Kempton

Asa Makepeace is anything but uninteresting.  He is loud and proud of Harte's Folly - a pleasure garden, theater, and opera all in one for Georgian London to enjoy.  Asa's love of theater earned him the wrath of his father and distanced him from his siblings.  Although Harte's Folly burned down (presumably in a previous book in the series), Asa has a new sponsor (and fellow scoundrel) to help rebuild - the Duke of Montgomery.

The Duke tasks his half sister, Eve Dinwoody, to manage his financial investment in Harte's Folly. Asa is aghast to be audited ... and Eve is aghast to find Asa in bed with the opera singer.  Yet Eve takes her job seriously to please her brother, the only person who cares about the mousy bastard of his father.  She is soon drawn into the theater world, taking an interest in the dancers' welfare, participating in the rehearsals, and even rescuing a mangy dog despite her fear of dogs.  Along the way, Eve appreciates Asa's passion for the arts.  She blooms into a confident woman who realizes she wants more from life than simply relying upon her brother.   Likewise, Asa allows Eve into his cynical heart.  She inspires him to reconnect with his family (characters in previous books) and see that he can have a life other than the theater.  

SWEETEST SCOUNDREL is my first entry into the Maiden Lane series.  Somehow, I missed the previous eight books.  Still, I was able to read SWEETEST SCOUNDREL as a stand alone book - the focus is on Asa Makepeace and Eve Dinwoody.  Hoyt creates two unique characters who give readers a different perspective of the Georgian Era; its not all about the London Ton.  Asa reminds of me of Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeake in Love - his quest for theatrical perfection intersects with his growing love for Eve.  Does he have enough passion for both? Is Eve willing to share Asa with the theater world?

Hoyt adds extra drama and humor to the story with the colorful cast and tidbits about theater.  Hoyt sets SWEETEST SCOUNDREL apart from other historical romances with steamy scenes in which Asa teaches Eve about pleasure. Finally, Hoyt introduces each chapter with an excerpt from a fairy tale which symbolizes the upcoming action in SWEETEST SCOUNDREL.   This added bonus reminds me of the fairy tales Hoyt included in her debut, THE RAVEN PRINCE.   Since then, Hoyt has written 15 full length historicals.  It was a pleasure to read SWEETEST SCOUNDREL to see how Hoyt has matured as a writer and even have confidence to take a chance on extraordinary characters.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from Forever Romance.

The Globe Theater
Public Domain (link)

Forever Romance is giving away a copy of SWEETEST SCOUNDREL to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about the theater - do you have a favorite play, musical, or opera?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 28, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Forever Romance is also hosting a tour wide giveaway at this link.

Shakespeare's Skum (link)
at the Maryland Renaissance Festival 

RWA in NYC ... Authors About Town

The Lions of NYC's Public Library are ready to welcome the Romance Writers of America (RWA) for its annual conference at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square from July 22 - 26, 2015.  Authors will be out and about at events open to the public.  Mahalo to Pamela Jaffee at Avon Romance for the press release detailing these events ... 

Why Are We Just Now Discovering Romance?

Tuesday, July 21, 2015
7:00pm 8:00pm
Fueled Collective, 568 Broadway, NY, NY 10012

For hundreds of years, romance novels have been derided as fluff, degraded as 'light reading' and ignored as a literary genre. Yet they're among the biggest revenue drivers for publishers from print to Kindle. And they're almost every woman's guilty pleasure, starring women making choices for themselves, their lovers, their children and their future

We explore power of the female protagonist over time, the multi-billion dollar romance novel industry and ever so much more in conversation between moderator (and author) Maya Rodale (Dangerous Books for Girls), Sarah MacLean (The Washington Post), Carla Neggers, and more.

Romance Authors. Hosted by Joyce Lamb, Happy Ever After Curator & Blogger, USA Today
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
12:30pm – 1:45pm

Bryant Park Reading Room

Robyn Carr, Never Too Late
Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew
Elizabeth Hoyt, Dearest Rogue
Beverly Jenkins, For Your Love, Destiny’s Captive
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Heroes Are My Weakness
Meredith Wild, Hardwired

Gotta love it! Harlequin, Avon, and Forever authors dish on their best-selling romance novels.

RWA's Readers for Life Literacy Autographing

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

5:30pm - 7:30 pm
Marriott Marquis, Westside Ballroom

At the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing, hundreds of romance authors meet with and sign books for fans in this two-hour event, with the proceeds from book sales going to literacy organizations. This year's beneficiaries are ProLiteracy Worldwide, Literacy Partners, and Literacy Assistance Center.

In 2014, Romance Writers of America raised more than $53,000 to benefit literacy organizations. Since 1990, RWA has raised more than $878,000 to fight illiteracy.

The stars will be shining bright in the Big Apple!  If you could attend the literacy signing, which author would you visit?   Here's the link to the participating authors.  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, July 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Aloha to Elizabeth Hoyt and DUKE OF MIDNIGHT

Elizabeth Hoyt joins me for a cozy chat about DUKE OF MIDNIGHT, Book 6 in her Maiden Lane Series:

WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .
Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe—and won’t back down…

MEETS HIS MATCH . . .
Artemis Greaves toils as a lady’s companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads she recognizes a kindred spirit—and is intrigued. She’s even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day…

DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION
Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother—or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire—or the temptation of his embrace?

Elizabeth (left) with Vicky Dreiling and Cathy Maxwell
at RWA/LA 2012.

Kim:  I missed RT/KC and RWA/Atlanta ... thus I missed seeing your smiling face! What is your favorite part of these conventions?

Elizabeth:  I missed seeing you, too, Kim! My favorite part is seeing old friends, some of whom I only see at conventions, and meeting new readers.

Kim:  Your new release, DUKE OF MIDNIGHT, mirrors Batman. Who is your favorite actor to play Batman, TV or movies? Who is your favorite villain from the comics, TV series, or movies?

Elizabeth:  I think Christian Bale because he's just so intense--he really throws himself into the role, whispery voice and all. I always liked the Riddler from the old TV show. He seemed very smart--maybe smarter than Batman. ;-)

Kim:  The cover is gorgeous ... if you were to pose as one of your characters, what would be the color and style of the dress? And what jewelry would you wear?

Elizabeth:  LOL! I don't know that I would look at good in these dresses as the professional models. I'd like a sapphire blue dress and I quite like the necklace on the cover of DUKE OF MIDNIGHT--though it wouldn't go with blue. ;-)

Elizabeth (right) with Cindy Colby, Cathy, and Elizabeth Boyle
at RT/LA 2011.

Mahalo, Elizabeth, for being my guest today!  In honor of the DUKE OF MIDNIGHT, I am giving away a "jeweled" cell phone bling - winner's choice of green (like the cover's dress) or red (like her debut's cover, The Raven Prince, one of my favorite books).   To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite actor to play Batman and/or secondary character, including villains.  I still chuckle at Adam West playing TV's Batman ... and Eartha Kitt as Catwoman.

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 12, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Elizabeth and her books, including an excerpt for DUKE OF MIDNIGHT and extras for the Maiden Lane series, check out her website at elizabethhoyt.com.

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