What kind of contest would you like?

Now that all 4 of my Druids books are out I'm thinking of having a contest. My question to you is, What kind? There are a lot out there: scavenger hunts, leave a comment on a blog, those kinds of things. I want something different...but what? Fix the collapsible panels on my website, win a book doesn't sound too intriguing! (Though I'd be grateful, they're driving me bonkers!)

Rules: Must pertain to me, my Druids books, and have a realistic prize. The person whose contest I pick will receive their choice of either a Victorian purse or a box of Godiva chocolates. Their choice. The contest runs from June 26, 2009-July 10, 2009.

Ideas? Leave a comment on my blog, twitter me @Ladyisabel, or email me!
Murder and Magick
Sex and Subterfuge
Desert and Destiny
Temptations and Treachery

Temptations and Treachery!

Now out! Temptations and Treachery, the 4th and final book of my Dark Desire of the Druids series is out today!

Blurb: Lady Isadore Harrington is a well-bred English lady. She's traveled the world in search of magickal artifacts to help her people and has seen the best and worst of humanity. But she's never taken time for herself—never done just for herself. Going to Philadelphia as the magicker emissary between England and the Americas, she intends to rectify that.

Then she meets James Blackthorne. Tall, handsome, witty, commanding, he brings out feelings in her she's always wanted to experience but never has. He makes her want him, makes her forget all else but him. Virginal, but far from naïve, Isadore is tempted to experience everything James has to offer. Cautious by nature, she offers her body to him and discovers all her sexual desires fulfilled.

But the magicker world is far from safe, and Isadore is threatened from many who are jealous and distrustful. Temptations abound, but treachery is never far behind.

Excerpt:

Isadore woke to find herself wrapped in the arms of Morgana's cousin. She remembered what happened last night, the vision she experienced, James holding her. She smiled as she thought of Lucien's snide comments about him, but dismissed them. James had been nothing but kind to her—sardonic, but she found that charming.

Carefully turning over, Isadore looked at the sleeping man.

She'd never slept with a man in her bed, despite her druidic heritage. The arousal that pooled low in her at the intimacy of their positions surprised her. And aroused her more. Despite that, her body ached from the incessant visions, her throat sore and she hoped she hadn't screamed and embarrassed herself.

Her fingers were light as she brushed his red-blonde hair off his forehead, traced the dark circles under his eyes. Embarrassed at her move, Isadore slipped out of bed. James didn't stir. Splashing water on her face from the basin on the table, she found a brush and ran it through her hair.

Irisi wasn't in the room. Isadore paused as she thought about last night. She remembered James carrying her upstairs, she remembered Irisi bathing her face with a cool cloth, but not much else until she woke this morning. At least not much beyond the horrific visions.

Flushed with embarrassment at not only her position but Irisi seeing it, she pulled the bell cord.

She had to dress before James woke—and there he was.

If it's Wednesday...

I'm blogging over at Slip into Something Victorian! Today's topic: Victorian Mistresses

Tomorrow, Thursday June 25, the last in my Dark Desire of the Druids series, Temptations and Treachery, will be released from Ravenous. It's Lady Isadore Harrington's story. I originally wasn't going to do a 4th book, but couldn't leave Isadore out! I loved her too much, she's such a part of the series, especially Murder and Magick and Desert and Destiny. Who's the lucky guy for Lady Isadore? You might remember James Blackthorne, Morgana's cousin, from Sex and Subterfuge. Their path is not an easy one, and hidden obsticals lie in wait. Temptations abound, but treachery is never far behind.

Excerpt:
James tried not to stare as he helped his guest out of the carriage. She smiled her thanks, all charm and beauty. The moment he’d seen her, he’d lost all thought. As he did then, now he traced the lines of her curves with his eyes as she started toward the steps of the house. Shaking his head to focus on the moment at hand, he checked his reaction, and wondered how she could be related to Granv—

“Wait.” Takoda slipped past him, jerking his head at the house. James turned sharply. Distracted, it took him a moment to register the reason for concern.

His cousin Morgana’s house lay in darkness. Unusual since they were expected by the servants still in residence. Not a light blazed from the windows. Takoda gestured for them to remain outside as he jogged to the rear entrance. James ushered the ladies to one side of the front door. Still closed, he warily opened it.

“Stay here,” he ordered them.

“I can be of assistance,” Lady Isadore whispered in her proper English voice. The firmness in it wasn’t false modesty, either, he sensed.

James grunted in annoyance, but said nothing to her comment and continued inside. Gathering his magicks to him, he cautiously made his way over the threshold.

Review

I admit, I spend an inordinate amount of time sending my books out for reviews. As a reader, I won't buy a new author unless someone--another reader, a print mag, an online review, or anyone not Oprah who doesn't read romances and gravitates toward the depressing--favorably reviews the story. And includes good reasons as to why or why not they enjoyed the tale.

Coffee Time Romance just reviewed Hot Water in the Green Love Anthology. Read the review of the whole anthology here. I've excerpted my story:

Hot Water
Ms. Roman has written an emotionally and stimulatingly charged story full of love and sensuality. This was not only beautifully composed but the type of tale I love to read, where you can connect with the characters. This story was easy to read from beginning to end and the conclusion of it will not leave you hanging, which made me a very happy reader.

Russian Aristocracy

That's the tentative title of my Russian Epic. I've got Princes, Counts, a Tsar and Tsarevich, Royal Guards, and possibly a Sultan. In Russia, Princes aren't next in line. It's just another title. The Tsar is the Emperor, the Tsarevich is the heir, and all other children are Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses.

To be a Prince in Russia isn't like being the Prince of Wales. It's just a title. A high title, with populated land (meaning serfs) but it's just a title. There was no line to being Tsar, unless you planned a palace coup, but that's another story.

Katria and Nikolai. They're in love, the deep passionate kind. Their marriage is called off, their lives endangered, their families threatened. Russian Epics at their finest! Move over, Tolstoy! Or maybe not...

Crimean War and you

Not so perfect together. I have 1 slim volume, and 2 very large, very detailed books on the Crimean War. Luckily, they come with an index, because I truly have no desire to read through them! But they do have some cool pictures.

Hmm, I can only find 2 at the moment. I can't imagine where that 3rd large one went to.

Crimea: The Great Crimean War 1854-1856 by Trevor Royle
The Origins of the Crimean War by Brison D. Gooch

Naming them is harder than usual, because of the patronymic, the Russian middle name. Everyone had one like Worf, son of Mogh in Trek, it meant the same thing: -ovich/-yevich/-yich for son of and yevna/-ovna/-ichna for daughter of.

The patronymic is an official part of the name. It's used in all official documents as well as when addressing somebody both formally and among friends. For instance, you'd rarely formally address a person named Mikhail simply as Mikhail, but rather as Mikhail followed by his patronymic Mikhail Nikolayevich or Mikhail Sergeyevich. However, when a person is called by a diminutive, Misha for Mikhail, the patronymic is rarely used.

See the problem? Off I go to name, name, name. I intend to have this completely plotted and broken by Friday.

New WIPs

I haven't worked on anything, really worked, in about 6 weeks. I've edited, I've researched, I've thought, but not really worked. I now have 4 stories I'd like to have finished by October. I don't know what happened here, but there it is, NOT in the order I intend to write them!

• 1 paranormal contemporary
• 1 War of 1812
• 1 American Revolution
• 1 Crimean War in Russia

I've taken out books from my library that haven't seen the light of day in a decade. Children's books I didn't know were even available! (Nice condensed versions with nifty pictures.) I've exhausted Wikipedia and their reference links. And still, I can't get "In 1814 we took a little trip, along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississipp..." out of my head. I'm not writing in 1814 OR about New Orleans! Burning of DC! I wonder if there's a song about that.

Oh, songs! Hmm, a new avenue of research to pursue. I love songs of the time. Hmm, thinking...