Lamb's Wool & a Christmas Novella #Giveaway

Today I'm over at Embracing Romance with a recipe for Lamb's Wool, an old-fashioned drink that features in some of my Christmas novellas. It's a truly lovely holiday beverage and well worth trying.

Also, there's a giveaway - a copy of one of the aforementioned novellas. For a chance to win, go on over to Embracing Romance and leave a comment telling me about your favorite holiday beverage.

The blog is here: http://www.embracingromance.com/lambs-wool-recipe-and-a-giveaway-by-barbara-monajem/

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes!

Barbara 

Favorite things, especially socks, and a Goodreads #giveaway!

First, the giveaway: Two paperback copies of the anthology Improper Christmas Nights, which contains two of my novellas, Under a Christmas Spell and Under a New Year's Enchantment. This anthology is for sale only in the UK and Australia, so I decided to have a giveaway for readers in the US and Canada. It's open from now until Dec. 30. To enter, go here.

(http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/119897-improper-christmas-nights)

Also... today I'm over at Embracing Romance blogging about some favorite things (including socks) to encourage people to enter our contest. The prize is a gift basket loaded with great stuff contributed by the Embracing Romance authors.

(http://www.embracingromance.com/?p=4785)

Barbara

P.S. The link for the giveaway didn't work -- I think I've fixed it. 

Of Alphas and Edinburgh

This is Edinburgh Castle from below:

I visited Edinburgh last month--didn't get a chance to tour the castle, but it sure was impressive from the outside.

Is this castle on a rock a good metaphor for an alpha hero? I don't know...I don't quite understand the alpha hero thingy...so I'm pondering it on Embracing Romance today. If you can enlighten me, whether a little bit or a lot, please come over and do so.

http://embracingromance.com/2014/10/20/of-alphas-and-edinburgh

There will be a chance to enter our monthly giveaway. My question is easy-peasy as usual.

Also, for those of you in the UK and Australia, the Christmas anthology, Improper Christmas Nights, is now available. In contains two of my novellas, Under a Christmas Spell and Under a New Year's Enchantment.

Isn't that a lovely cover? She's definitely harboring improper thoughts! :)

#Giveaway of 2 novellas at Collette Cameron's blog, and... SOCKS!

Today I'm at Collette Cameron's blog talking about what inspired me to write about incubi and succubi--and I'm giving away a download of my two novellas (the top two on the left) about these sexy non-demonic people who send erotic dreams (or at least that's how I see them). Hop on over for a chance to win.

Now for the socks. Ta-da!

 OK, so they're not perfect, but they're my first completed pair of socks. (Please ignore the dirt on the carpet. I vacuumed IMMEDIATELY after taking this picture. No, seriously, I did. I'm a terrible housekeeper, but what with all the snow and melting snow and resultant debris carried in on people's shoes, it really, really needed doing.)

I have a thing about socks. I buy more socks than any other item of clothing. But I've always wanted to knit some, like the ones my grandmother made for us when we were kids, heels (shudder) and all. My first try, years ago, was argyle socks. Really dumb of me! I got so tangled up with various threads that I didn't even make it to the heel. Next try (with one color of wool), I got as far as the heel (argh) and gave up. Then, entirely by chance, I found The Big Book of Socks by Kathleen Taylor.

Yes! Start with easy and work up was the route for me. I made this pair of tube socks. I only dropped a few stitches along the way (and picked them up, too). Onward and upward. :)

Under a New Year's Enchantment - Release Day

Today is release day (in North America and Australia) for my new novella, Under a New Year's Enchantment. (It won't be out in the UK until February 1st, alas.) It's the sequel to Under a Christmas Spell.

Hampshire, 1816

Garrick, Lord Westerly, has forbidden the hanging of mistletoe, yet the holiday house party at his country estate sizzles with sensual desire. And though Theodora Southern decided long ago never to marry, she enjoys the erotic fantasies that haunt her each night—fantasies featuring her handsome, brooding host….

Since returning from the war, Garrick has been in no mood to celebrate. But suddenly the nightmares that plague him are making way for much more pleasant dreams—dreams in which his childhood friend Theodora is very much a grown woman. The question is, has he fallen in love—or under a wicked spell?




The story picks up where Under a Christmas Spell left off. I had a lot of fun writing it -- for one thing, I got to put in bits and pieces about my current fascination with Ancient Rome -- but it was also a hard slog for me. I made several false starts and did a lot more rewriting than usual. It seems ridiculous that after writing a novella -- not a huge job -- I simply had to take some time off.

But now I'm back again, writing another story in the same universe. I'm using the title The Reluctant Succubus. It's only a placeholder title, but it says a lot about the heroine of the story. ;~)

Are you making any New Year's resolutions? Setting any new goals? I'm still not sure yet -- about both the resolutions (which I don't usually make) and the goals (which I'm too superstitious to put into words).

***Happy New Year!***

My Contest is Today!!

It's Harlequin Historical Giveaway time! Every year, a group of Harlequin Historical authors hold a series of individual contests in the weeks leading to Christmas. Each author offers her own prizes, and there's a Grand Prize at the end. This year, it's a Kindle Fire HDX WiFi tablet!
 
Today, December 5th, is my contest day. I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, a paperback copy of the anthology A Scandalous Regency Christmas, and a pair of Christmas socks (because I love buying socks, and I have too many of my own). To enter my contest, to to my website (http://www.BarbaraMonajem.com). There you will be directed to read an excerpt from my new historical novella, Under a Christmas Spell, and answer a question. You can even make up your own question about the excerpt and answer it, if you prefer.

Hampshire, 1815

Dissolute aristocrat Lord Valiant Oakenhurst hides a sexy, supernatural secret—as a powerful incubus, he is able to influence others through erotic dreams. At an exclusive Christmas house party, his latest mission is compromised by the beautiful but deadly succubus Lucille Beaulieu. Though still drawn to his former lover, Val cannot forget her betrayal….
Hoping to atone for her past, Lucie uses her seductive powers to help couples find happiness. But she is distracted from her task by her own delicious dreams of the dark and dangerous Val.
As the riotous festivities begin, their passion is rekindled, but can a little Christmas magic restore their lost trust?

Here is this year's calendar for the Harlequin Historical Giveaway. For a calendar with clickable links, go to Jeannie Lin's blog. (http://www.jeannielin.com/harlequin-historical-holiday-giveaway-3/) For the rules, go to Michelle Willingham's website. (http://www.michellewillingham.com/official-rules/) Enter every day for more chances to win!

NO-No-Wri-Mo

No, that's not a typo. November for me this year is No Novel Writing Month. It's partly burnout and partly chaos in life in general, so I'm taking a break.

But I'm still guest blogging and giving away books. Today I'm at the Paranormal Romance Blog giving away a download of my latest Regency novella, Under a Christmas Spell, to one lucky commenter. Hop on over to tell me what you would love to give someone for Christmas, and you might just win a download in return.:~)

http://paranormalromanceblog.com/

Happy After Halloween Giveaway! (And Release Day)

Greetings from the ghost cat, who hopes you enjoyed your spooky night. 

Another bulletin on the non-blog blog: Today I'm at the Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers doing the Writerly Blog thingummy and also a giveaway of my new novella, Under a Christmas Spell. Hop on over there for a chance to win.

http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/

Giveaway times two and why my incubu and succubus aren't demons

As anyone who reads this blog has probably noticed, this isn't a blog but a bulletin board. These days authors are encouraged to blog, but I don't think I have it in me. If I have to choose between writing stories or blogs, stories will always win out. But I do enjoy guest blogs!

So...today I'm a guest at Ella Quinn's blog to talk about my November 1 novella, Under a Christmas Spell, which is not only a Regency spy story, but stars an incubus and succubus who aren't demons. I'm giving away an e-copy of Under a Christmas Spell and a paperback of A Scandalous Regency Christmas, which contains 5 stories, one of which I wrote.

Do come and join us! http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/spotlight-on-barbara-monajem/

Barbara

Home and Another Bayou Gavotte Giveaway

Got back home from Europe last night -- just in time for a guest post at Collette Cameron's blog, including an international giveaway of one of the Bayou Gavotte books (winner's choice). Hop on over if you'd like a chance to win. I'm celebrating the release of Heart of Constantine and will be for the rest of the week. There will be an interview with Constantine Dufray's spirit guide on Thursday at Suzanne Johnson's Preternatura, and a post on my Native American hero on Lois Winston's blog on Friday.  (Also, there are a few hours left to enter the giveaway at GraveTells.)

I adore the owl on the cover of Heart of Constantine. He's both beautiful and menacing -- just like Constantine, although the owl is a character in his own right.


I'm no photographer -- most of the time I forget to take pictures -- but there are some of Roman artifacts in my dh's camera which I will try to post here soon. Why Roman artifacts? Because they play a part in my next two novellas, which come out in November (Under a Christmas Spell) and January (Under a New Year's Enchantment). They're mostly in the second story, where the hero has dug up a hoard of Roman coins. I will get the covers and blurbs up soon!

I wish I'd had time to visit some Roman ruins while in Britain -- maybe next time! I would love to write a romantic story about Roman Britain one day... After I write one that takes place right after the Norman Conquest... Right after finishing the Regency fantasy I'm working on now... and the Bayou Gavotte novella I'm revising.. and...and...and.... So many stories, so little time. :)