October New Releases

Here we have the list of October releases from current members of the Romantic Novelist Association. Thank you to Sheila Riley for compiling such an interesting list of books.

Linn B Halton

A LITTLE SUGAR A LOT OF LOVE

Choc Lit UK

Paperback

14 October 2016

http://smarturl.it/LittleSugarLotOfLove

 Life isn’t all love and cupcakes. Katie has had her fair share of bad luck, but when she finally realises her dream of opening a bakery. It seems things can only get better. But the reality of running a business hits Katie hard and whilst her partner, Steve, tries to help she can’t help but feel that the situation is driving them further apart. Could Katie be set to lose her relationship and her dream job? Then, one winter’s day, a man walks into her shop and, in the space of that moment, the course of Katie’s life is changed. But nobody finds happiness in the blink of an eye.

Sometimes it takes two Christmases, three birthdays and a whole lot of cake to get there.

Linn B Halton

A LITTLE LUCK A LOT OF FATE

Choc Lit UK

eFormat only

25 October 2016

Exclusive pre-order iTunes http://goo.gl/SL0yUU

 When destiny calls, you need to pick up. On the surface, Kristi Danielson has it all.

She’s lifestyle coach to the rich and famous, has a bestselling book to her name and is

described by her fans as the veritable Queen of how to lead a fulfilling life. But the harsh truth is that Kristi has never practiced what she preaches.

Her home life is a mess, her relationship with artist boyfriend, Tom, not much better

and now she has to redeem herself before all is lost. At her wit’s end, Kristi is driven to seek out the help of Patrick Blakeslee, a tarot card reader and psychic medium, in an attempt to make sense of the mounting panic she’s feeling.

But Patrick’s visits have an unexpected effect on Kristi, leaving her with more questions than answers and a life-changing decision to make

Jill Steeples

CHRISTMAS AT THE DOG AND DUCK

Aria

Epub

22nd September 2016

 Ellie Browne has returned to the charming village of Little Leyton looking for a simpler way of life. Only in her absence, things have changed. Property developer, Max Golding, is ruffling feathers all round.

Johnny Tay, Ellieís ex, wants to pick up where they left off and the pub, which holds a special place in Ellie's heart, might be sold. Suddenly, life’s looking a whole lot more complicated. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but can Ellie juggle her emotions and commitments in time to celebrate Christmas?

Anne Stenhouse

COURTING THE COUNTESS

Endeavour Press

E-book

8th September 2016

Beauty, Melissa Pateley, has been injured and scarred by a fire. Colonel Harry Gunn is charged by his uncle to find the countess and rescue her from their dangerous cousin, George Gunn. Can love grow in such inauspicious circumstances? Will the family secrets now dislodged prove too strong to overcome?

Marie Laval

DANCING FOR THE DEVIL

Accent Press

Traditional publishing, epub, mobi, pdf

29th August 2016 as a box set

 Bruce McGunn is a man as brutal and unforgiving as his land. Discharged from the army, he is haunted by the spectres of his fallen comrades and convinced he is going mad. And he is running out of time to save his estate from the machinations of Cameron McRae, heir to the McGunn's ancestral enemies. When the clipper carrying McRaeís new bride is caught in a violent storm and docks at Wrath harbour,

Bruce decides to revert to the old ways and hold the clipper and the woman to ransom. However, far from the spoilt heiress he expected, Rose is genuine, funny and vulnerable a ray of sunshine in the long, harsh winter that has become his life. But Rose is determined to escape Wrath and its proud master the man she calls McGlum.

Will she be reunited with Cameron McRae, the dazzlingly handsome aristocrat she married after a whirlwind romance in Algiers,or will she risk her heart and her honour to help Bruce discover the truth about his past and solve the brutal murders committed on his land?

Jan Jones

THE KYDD INHERITANCE

Kindle

Self-published (previously hardback with Hale)

1st September 2016

Nell Kyddís brother is missing, her father is dead and her loathsome uncle is ruining the family estate. Enter Captain Hugo Derringer who blows hot, then cold, and is discovered in odd places asking some very odd questions. How far can Nell trust him?

Jan Jones

FAIR DECEPTION

Kindle

Self-published (previously hardback with Hale)

1st October 2016

 When Kit Kydd rescues actress Susanna Fair from disreputable Rafe Warwick, he proposes a feigned engagement to suit them both. But problems multiply when Susanna's past beckons, her former theatre troupe need her and Rafe reappears.

Not a good time to fall in love, really.

Nora Fountain

TROPICAL MADNESS

Linford Romance Library

Large Print

 Serena is a paediatrician and Jake a journalist and adventurer. Their unlikely romance blossoms in the steamy jungle where danger from rebels, an injured lion, etc., is only a heartbeat away. Will they return to normality and go their separate ways or is there a future for their romance?

Kate Walker

INDEBTED TO MORENO

Harlequin Mills and Boon

Traditional published, and e-book

1st October 2016

Dark and dangerous Spaniard took Rose’s virginity before a terrible misunderstanding

led her to nearly destroy his life. Now he’s back with the design commission that will

save Rose’s career as a dress designer ñ but he’s also determined to collect on the debt she owes him.

Christina Courtenay

THE VELVET CLOAK OF MOONLIGHT

Choc Lit

Traditionally published, paperback and ebook

th October

 When newly widowed Tess visits Raglan Castle, she experiences a vision that transports her to 17th century Wales and a castle on the brink of a siege. Her life becomes increasingly intertwined with the past and when the new owner of the estate arrives - New Zealander Josh - the parallels become even more obvious.

But perhaps the visions aren’t just trying to tell their own story, maybe they’re also giving a warning.

Carol Townend

MISTAKEN FOR A LADY

Harlequin Mills & Boon

Paperback and eBook

 When a shocking revelation reveals Francesca’s illegitimacy, she worries that her marriage to Tristan, Comte des Iles, will crumble. Her heart in tatters, she awaits her husband’s return. Will he request an annulment or give their union a second chance?

Duty has kept Tristan from his beautiful wife’s side for far too long, but the memory of her touch is seared into his soul. Now, with malevolent forces working against, them, it’s more important than ever for Tristan to show Francesca that he’ll never let her go!

Carol MacLean

FROZEN HEART

Accent Press

e-book and paperback

 Jenna has reached a low point in her life - she's lost her business, her home and her boyfriend. Reluctantly she goes to live with her step-family where she's treated like Cinderella. Then she meets Gus, a handsome stranger with his own problems. When they fall in love it looks like Jenna will get her own fairytale happy-ever-after but there are troubles to overcome before Jenna and Gus can finally reach for a life and love together.

Rosemary Dun

THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

Sphere, Little, Brown Book Group

e-book via traditional publisher

1st August 2016

When Polly Park meets Spike, the fact that he's emigrating to Australia in six months' time is not a problem - no commitment or messy endings. But she doesn't bank on falling in love, or on making a certain discovery after he's gone. Three years on, Polly is a single mum to her gorgeous daughter Rowan, she's dating cameraman Max and she might finally be ready to take a chance on love. Then, out of the blue, Spike returns with his glamorous girlfriend in tow, and suddenly Polly finds herself in the middle of a very sticky situation . . .

Will Spike's return resurrect Polly's feelings for him? Where does that leave Max and Polly? And how will all this change effect Rowan? Nothing is simple - but then, that's the trouble with love . . .

Rhoda Baxter

GIRL HAVING A BALL

Choc Lit

Traditional published, e-book.

27 Sept 2016

 Now that poor needy little Stevie is all grown up, she won’t let a man get in the way of her dreams will she?

Louise Allen

MISS WESTON'S MASQUERADE

Self-published

e-book

1st OCT 2016

 Take a desperate woman, an unwanted suitor, one very reluctant nobleman, a valet with a broken leg, a ferocious great aunt, the under-footman’s breeches and Miss Cassandra Weston finds herself on the Grand Tour in a dangerously romantic masquerade

Leah Mercer (Talli Roland)

WHO WE WERE BEFORE

Lake Union

Traditionally published

1 October 2017

 Zoe knows that it wasn’t really her fault. Of course it wasn’t. But if she’d just grasped harder, run faster, lunged quicker, she might have saved him. And Edward doesn’t really blame her, though his bitter words at the time still haunt her, and he can no more take them back than she can halt the car that killed their son.

Two years on, every day is a tragedy. Edward knows they should take healing steps together, but he’s tired of being shut out. For Zoe, it just seems easier to let grief lead the way. A weekend in Paris might be their last hope for reconciliation, but mischance sees them separated before they’ve even left Gare du Nord. Lost and alone, Edward and Zoe must try to find their way back to each other and find their way back to the people they were before. But is that even possible?

             

Mandy Baggot

ONE CHRISTMAS IN PARIS

Bookouture

E-book and paperback

7 October 2016

 They say Paris is the City of Love, so bring your je ne sais quoi and donít forget the mistletoe! Will Ava go home with a broken heart, or will she find true love amongst the cobbled streets of Paris?

Helen J Rolfe

IN A MANHATTAN MINUTE

Fabrian Books

Kindle Edition

20th October (available for pre-order).

 Jack exists in a world that has seen its fair share of tragedy, but also success and the wealth that comes with it. One snowy night, he crosses paths with Evie, a homeless girl, and it changes everything.

Rosemary Morris

Monday's Child

Books We Love

e-publication and paper back.

14th October, 2016

 Love, despair and renewed hope amid the gaiety and anxiety in Brussels between Napoleon's escape from Elba and Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.

Lynne Pardoe

Abandoned By My Mum

KDP select

ebook

July 2016

 Everybody needs someone somewhere. Chelsea isn’t like most people. For as long as she can remember she’s been in care, and for all sorts of reasons this hasn’t gone well. At fourteen years old her past has been the stuff of nightmares, so much so that even she hasn’t wanted to know the full story. Desperately searching for the love she’s always craved, her life takes an even more sinister turn when she’s befriended by two men with a string of convictions for the sexual abuse of minors. Her only hope of salvation comes in the form of someone she’s never even met. Social worker Natasha Livingston is sent on a raid of the men’s house with the police.

Little by little, Tasha uses her professional skills to help Chelsea understand her life and find a way towards a happier future. It means confronting some ghosts from the past but with support that helps her come to terms with what she’s been through. Abandoned by My Mum is the story of Chelsea’s self-discovery and the recognition that whilst not everyone has her best interests at heart, there are some people who care enough to convince her she’s worth the effort.

Jill Barry

Christmas Revelations

Large Print Linford Romance Library

F A Thorpe

1st October 2016

 Reluctant 1920s debutante Annabel prefers horses to suitors. She’s furious when she discovers Lawrence, Lord Lassiter, is the despised 13th guest joining the family’s Christmas house party. 

About Sheila:

Apart from keeping busy compiling our monthly lists of members new novels Merseyside saga writer, Sheila Riley, also writes bestselling novels for Harper Collins under the name of Annie Groves.

Mandy Baggot: Location, Location, Location!

Today we welcome the fabulous Mandy Baggot to the blog to tell us about the exotic and exciting places she visits in her books.

At the moment I am proud to be 'Escapism Girl' for Bookouture. I am all about the lovely locations, setting the scene for a perfect summer or winter romance. From Basingstoke to La Manga, Nashville to New York and of course my beloved Greece! I’ve written stories set in some fantastic destinations. So, does location really matter? YES!

There is no doubt in my mind that your setting is another character in your book. Use it! Readers want to believe they are there with the main players, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel – the sun on their face, the snow whipping around their coat, etc. No one wants to read a summer romance where no one mentions the white sand and the azure sea or the flowers in bloom on the terracotta terraces. The same goes for a Christmas read - it has to be cold, snowing and there must be fairy lights. Your description of the setting is going to make or break a book with a seasonal theme.

So how do you get it right? Research! I would love to say that I’ve been to every single place I’ve written about, but that would involve me having lots of money and the time to jet off to them. Make You Tube your new best friend!

When I wrote RoNA shortlisted novel, One Wish in Manhattan, I had never been to New York. But Christmas in New York is special, readers love it, and I had to do my research right. I looked up street maps, I watched You Tube videos tourists had taken just walking down the streets of NYC, so I could capture the sights and sounds of the Big Apple. I looked at photographs, I spoke to friends who had been to New York, I went on Pinterest. I did everything I possibly could to ensure I wrote the best, most authentic book possible, knowing that quite a number of readers reading it would have been to New York!

Corfu on the other hand… this is my go-to place for holidays. I adore the Greek island and as I visit at least twice a year there are endless opportunities for research. My latest summer read, Those Summer Nights, is set in the north of Corfu, my area of choice for my breaks. However, I didn’t want these regions to feel stale or repetitive to my readers. So, back in October, I insisted my husband took us over to the west coast of the island to Arillas and Agios Stefanos. Arillas was actually suggested to me by a member of the Corfu for You Facebook group as a potential location for my books. Use your friends, they know what they are talking about!

And talking of friends… the fictional restaurant in Those Summer Nights was inspired by a real restaurant!

Back in October 2015 I was asked if I would like to do a book signing of my novel, Truly Madly Greekly, at a newly opened tea-rooms and restaurant on Acharavi beach front called Lavender. I jumped at the chance and found myself not only with a great opportunity to meet new readers in Corfu doing this event, but to get some fabulous new friends in the form of Michelle and Lee Chapman and Melinda and Andy Jacobs.

After a successful signing amid high tea that could have been served up at the Ritz, Mr Big and I went back for dinner. And, as I was stuffing my face with Greek delights and Metaxa and Coke, a kitten called Eric winding itself round my feet, gazing at the most perfect sunset I had ever seen, the story for Those Summer Nights was born! New friends, new novel inspiration and a perfect Greek setting. In short, it really is all about that base! Give your story an amazing backdrop and you won’t go wrong!

About Mandy:

Mandy Baggot is an award-winning writer of romantic comedies, chick-lit and contemporary romance. She is represented by Kate Nash of The Kate Nash Literary Agency. In February 2016 her romantic comedy novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romantic Novel of the Year award. Previously she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance and has scooped Top Ten Reads/Book of the Year places from a number of UK book bloggers.

Links:

Amazon UK 
Website  
Twitter  
Facebook 

Thank you for your informative and entertaining post, Mandy, and good luck with your writing.

This interview was brought to you by Helena Fairfax on behalf for 'The RNA Blogging Team'

If you would like to write for the RNA blog, please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Mandy Baggot Loves Digital!

Mandy Baggot doesn’t just love writing romance. She loves the digital age that facilitates spreading the word. This is what she has to say:

As a reader I enjoy lapping up new books in any medium I can get my sticky hands on them in! Kindle, Kobo, Sainsbury’s e-books – I have accounts with them all. The Works, Waterstones, WH Smith – I’m a browser and a sucker for a cover I can fondle.

But, as a writer, I’m currently riding much higher with my latest romantic comedy, Truly Madly Greekly in the digital arena.

So what’s so great about digital publishing?

1)      Fast

It doesn’t take as long to prepare and publish an e-book. This doesn’t mean the novel doesn’t go through a rigorous editing process (I’m going through one of those right now!) but digital done right can cut down the process by months.

2)      Flexible

You can make amendments quickly and easily – change the cover, add bonus content at a later date etc. You can also jump on trends as they occur. This might be getting something into the marketplace quickly to hit on a special event – a tennis romance in time for Wimbledon, a gardening tale for the Chelsea Flower Show, athlete heroine for the next Olympics etc.

3)      Price

Digital publishing doesn’t have a lot of the costs involved with traditional paperback publishing. You can offer books at a more competitive rate to readers and still make money.

4)      Ride the electronic wave

More people that ever own tablets for entertainment and recreation. You don’t have to have a specific e-reader to read digital books – any tablet, smartphone or P.C. has the capability to download a free app to read books on. Some people are becoming readers for the first time because it’s cheap, convenient and accessible.

5)      New writer opportunities

Since Kindle Direct Publishing was born, more and more storytellers are taking the plunge and getting their work into the marketplace. Self-publishing and digital publishing have let authors take much more control over their work and I’m embracing that!

Writing and reading have never been hotter and I say, long may it continue.

About Mandy:

Mandy Baggot is an award-winning romantic fiction author, writing hot heroes and emotional reads. She is represented by Kate Nash of The Kate Nash Literary Agency.

In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK's Festival of Romance and has since scooped Top Ten Reads/Book of the Year places from a number of UK book bloggers.

Traditionally published by US publisher Sapphire Star, Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse, and most recently, digital fiction specialists, Bookouture, a great story is never far from her fingertips!

A contributor to writing blogs and short story anthologies, Mandy is also a regular speaker at literary festivals, events and women’s networking groups.

Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World's Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1's Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.

Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.

Links:

Website

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Twitter

Facebook

Thank you, Mandy, for joining us today and giving us such a comprehensive explanation.

The RNA blog is brought to you by  

Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman 

If you would like to write for the RNA blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com