Madelle Morgan's New Release - Hollywood Hero

Unrequited love is hell on earth. Wendy Davila is desperately in love with a man out of her league in Hollywood Hero, my new contemporary romance—Book 3 in the Hollywood in Muskoka series.

Description

Personal assistant Wendy Davila is in love with her boss, Halden Armstrong, megastar of the Apollo superhero film franchise. But she can’t compete with the succession of stick-thin blond beauties he’s caught and released. Or can she? When Halden asks Wendy to accompany him on a fishing trip to Muskoka, it’s her chance to remake her dark-haired, curvy Latina self into his ideal woman and cast her hook for Halden.

 

Halden has been burned by love. The last thing he wants is a woman like his ex who faked it until she landed him. Wendy is special, and the private trip is an opportunity to explore his feelings for her. However, the Greek god has an Achilles’ heel. Can he trust Wendy with a secret that could ruin his career? And will she still care for him when she learns the truth?

When Apollo falls off his pedestal, Wendy must decide if the man she adores is a keeper.

A Bit of Background

We first meet Wendy Davila in Caught on Camera, Book 1 in the Hollywood in Muskoka series. In that novel, Wendy is the personal assistant (PA) to Candy Kane, the bridezilla. Hollywood Hero is set a year after Candy and Halden’s disastrous wedding, and may be read as a standalone romance.

Star-crossed lovers Halden and Wendy have a rocky journey from boss-employee to romantic partners in Hollywood Hero. Not only is Halden a completely different guy away from Hollywood, city girl Wendy is a fish out of water in the Muskoka wilderness.

Hollywood Hero Excerpt: First Kiss Scene 

“I’m valued for my physical appearance, not my ability. Some role model.” Hurt clogged Halden’s throat.

“Now you understand how women feel. Get over yourself.” Wendy slapped him on the chest and shoved to extricate herself from his lap.

“Not so fast.” He slid an arm around her waist and drew her close. Wendy’s practical, no-sympathy approach, so different from fawning Hollywood hangers-on, prodded him to think about his deep, dark secret from a different angle. He’d needed that kick in the ass, he realized. “I value your abilities.”

“Wonderful. Let me go.”

“I value everything about you.” Including the fact she’d known and kept his secret all along. He gently angled her chin with a forefinger. His mouth hovered over hers, savoring the moment.

She stilled in his arms. Firelight flashed in narrowed, wary chocolate eyes. “Is this a self-pity, ‘make yourself feel better with whoever’s handy’ kiss?”

His heart pounded as rapidly as it had a few minutes earlier, but for a different reason. “This is a ‘friends-fall-over-the-edge-to-lovers’ kiss.”

She exhaled. “Okay, then.”

Their lips touched, and he tasted joy. 

Preorder Hollywood Hero on Amazon for $0.99. The ebook will be published March 8, 2021 on Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books. Visit MadelleMorgan.com for all buy links, as well as the link to the YouTube playlist that mirrors the progress of Wendy and Halden’s romance. 

About Madelle Morgan 

I’m a Canadian author who writes humorous, slightly steamy romance set in wild and beautiful Canada. My romantic thriller Diamond Hunter is a free read in Kindle Unlimited. 

Catch Up on the Series

I rebranded the Hollywood in Muskoka series with new covers for Caught on Camera (Book 1) and Seduced by the Screenwriter (Book 2). What do you think of the update?

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Wattpad. For info on new releases, including the upcoming box set and Caught on Camera audiobook, subscribe to my occasional newsletter at MadelleMorgan.com.

Medical Thrillers by Melissa Yi

CODE BLUES

"Are you going to write about the pandemic? There's so much material!" a few readers asked me.

I smiled. "I will. Later. When it's entertaining instead of scary."

Yes, we're all living through a real-life medical thriller. The most frightening thing, as an emergency doctor, was watching people die in China, Iran, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US, including medical personnel with inadequate equipment and vulnerable members of the population, knowing that SARS-Cov-2 was marching its way to Canada, and only our relative geographic isolation was buying us time. I frantically tried to educate myself, establish rational policies for our hospital, and advocate nationally for protective equipment and other measures (over 200,000 people signed our petition http://change.org/COVID19frontline.

Right now, Canada is cautiously reopening and encouraging people to keep wearing masks, washing their hands, and isolating themselves when possible. We're crossing our fingers to avoid more fatal surges as much as possible.

And I'm trying to write before the second wave hits.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT

In the seventh Hope Sze thriller, GRAVEYARD SHIFT, Hope politely interviews her first patient, who tries to strangle her with her own stethoscope—and it deteriorates from there. So it's not a cuddly read, but a page-turner that offers us some flesh and blood villains that we can see and fight and convict.

"This is the book I wanted you to write! I wanted to know about your work," said Rhonda, the head of our local book club.

"Well, it's not exactly a typical shift," I hedged.

"I like that Hope was able to solve it on her own, without her men," said my friend Jessica firmly. Although Hope's current boyfriend Tucker shows up in GRAVEYARD SHIFT, her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, has disappeared, and Tucker decides to find him because Hope is tethered to the hospital. So there is a love story, but an unconventional one.

Now I'm working on the eighth Hope Sze crime novel (tentatively titled DEATH STALKER), where Hope and Tucker travel to Egypt. Last year, I took a cruise down the Nile and holidayed on the Red Sea. I'm still learning so much about Egyptian history and culture and trying to pack it into this book.

It's Hope and Tucker's first adventure outside of North America, which Tucker envisions as an idyllic pre-wedding honeymoon. Spoiler: OF COURSE IT IS NOT. First Hope gets sprayed by an airport toilet (this actually happened to me), their travel representative doesn't show up, and then … da da da DAH! Chaos ensues.

NOTORIOUS D.O.C.

Maybe I sound too lighthearted to you.

I know many writers who are blocked and struggling right now. It's hard to write when you are or are close to people who are fighting for their lives, or who've lost their jobs.

I lost at least a month of writing to COVID-19. I concentrated on working at the hospital and speaking to the media about how best to protect our health. But in the end, for my own mental health and well-being, I need to write again. So now I'm back in the saddle, lightly nudging my writing horse to stay on the trail and finish DEATH STALKER before the end of 2020.

I wish the same for you. May we all stay home, wear masks, and wash hands to protect our most vulnerable. May we work on the front lines and behind the lines as best as we can. And may we create and consume stories that buoy our spirits through sacrifice and hardship.

THE ITALIAN SCHOOL
FOR ASSASSINS

Bio: Melissa Yi is an emergency physician and award-winning writer. Her Dr. Hope Sze medical thrillers, written as Melissa Yi, have been recommended by Publishers Weekly, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, the CBC, and The Globe and Mail, and have been transformed into audio books by Kobo Originals. Yi was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for the best crime story in Canada and the Derringer Award for the best short mystery in the English language. 

Under the name Melissa Yuan-Innes, she has also won awards for speculative fiction, poetry, and children’s literature. 

Socials:

http://www.melissayuaninnes.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dr_sassy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melissa.yuaninnes

https://www.facebook.com/MelissaYiYuanInnes/

Instagram: melissa.yuaninnes

Canadian Author of Mystery, History and Romance

By Alison Bruce

Although I know what defines a "romance novel", I can never seem to stick to the rules. Dead bodies keep showing up!

Take my first novel, Under A Texas Star, recently re-released by Deadly Press. I started writing it as a Historical Western Romance.

Then my characters rode into the town of Fortuna, Texas and the next thing you know, they’re sticking around to solve a murder mystery. I knew I needed to put an obstacle in their path and I decided it would be a dead body.

A couple of years later I went back to the romance well and wrote half of Hazardous Unions with Kat Flannery. (To be re-released by Deadly Press in August.) Notwithstanding the Civil War politics, race ethics, and dark humor, I managed to hit the Historical Romance mark, but it was a near thing. If I had needed to write another 10,000 words, I’m sure it would have included murder.

In A Bodyguard to Remember, released by Lachesis Publishing, my heroine finds a dead spy in her living room. In that case I set off to write a mystery but couldn’t resist adding a romance. In fact, I added three potential love interests, but my editor thought that was overkill so one of them ended up on the figurative cutting room floor (not the living room floor).

My most recent book, Ghost Writer, combines romantic suspense with a thirty-year old mystery, Canadian-US tension and ghosts. It includes my favorite romantic hero. It’s sad but true that for a while I was jealous of my own heroine.

As an author, I have no problem mixing mystery and romance with whatever other genre I’m writing. As a reader, that’s what I prefer. I grew up reading Georgette Heyer’s historical romances. My favorites were also mysteries, comedies or both. My favorite mysteries and thrillers included a romance. To me, the genres go together like bread and butter, or butter chicken and naan. Sure you can have one without the other, but it wouldn’t be as satisfying.

Alison Bruce writes history, mystery and suspense. Her books combine clever mysteries, well-researched backgrounds and a touch of romance. Her protagonists are marked by their strength of character, sense of humor and the ability to adapt to new situations. Four of her novels have been finalists for genre awards. Find all her books on Amazon.com.

Website: www.alisonbruce.ca

Twitter: @alisonebruce

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alisonbruce.books

Debut Romance Author - Melanie Robertson-King

Melanie Robertson-King

Thank you for inviting me to Romancing the Genres to talk about my publishing journey. Conventional or not, it’s how I got there.

I’ve always had a vivid imagination so writing fiction is a great place to put it to use, especially when I work in a job that is very cut and dried with no grey areas. The summer I graduated from elementary school, I started writing and illustrating a story. There was little plot and it went on and on and on… Thankfully, secondary school began and this never-ending story came to an end.

Throughout school, I hated history – with a passion, I might add. It was boring. Only dry facts that we had to learn and memorize. The only Canadian history we ever studied was the War of 1812... over and over and over.

I always knew my Dad was raised in an orphanage in Scotland before he immigrated to Canada but it wasn’t until the genealogy bug bit me that I delved into my own heritage and realized that history isn’t so bad after all. At least now, I was finding more than just hatch, match and dispatch (birth, marriage, death) dates and places.

In 1993, I made my first trip to Scotland where I visited the former orphanage and my father’s birthplace. I’m not sure if that’s when the wheels started turning or not, but I was inspired by the rugged beauty of the country, and its broodiness in foul weather.

Return trips in 1997 and 1999 (I schmoozed with Royalty on this trip when I met Princess Anne at the former orphanage) and reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series really set the wheels churning. A friend and co-worker who had read my short stories fuelled the fire even more when she told me I should try writing a book because she thought I could do just as good a job.

My debut novel began its life as a (not-so-well written) novella, or as I referred to it back then an overgrown short story because I had no idea what a novella was. Boy was I green.

Many drafts, new characters, and umpteen more revisions later, and just as many rejections, I was about to give up. Then I heard about an online writing conference where there were workshops and the opportunity to pitch to publishers and agents. I signed up and got a pitch appointment with the President of 4RV Publishing, Vivian Zabel. I mean nothing ventured, nothing gained. The pitch session went extremely well and I was asked to submit.

By Thanksgiving Monday (Columbus Day in the US), I had my submission as perfect as it possibly could be and sent it off. According to the 4RV website, it could take some time to get a response, so I was completely gobsmacked when later that evening, I had a return e-mail saying they were offering me a contract. 

And that’s been my publishing journey from the very early days until now – October 2011 contract offer, January 2012 assigned an editor and my cover (which I had input on), and finally September 2012 when my book made its debut at the Kansas Book Festival. Since then, I hosted a launch in my hometown, did a twenty-one stop, fifteen day blog tour, and did signings at various seasonal events in the lead-up to Christmas.

The one line that best describes my book is “When a contemporary teen is transported back through time to the Victorian era, she becomes A Shadow in the Past…”

Check out Melanie's website Here

What’s New?

By Opal Carew

It’s a new year and that’s always a good time to try something new.    I’m jumping right in on that one.  First up, I have a serial novel, called His To Command, coming out starting on January 8th—one of the newest trends.  (Yeah, I know they were popular years ago, but they’re back.)

A serial novel is a book that comes out in pieces.  His To Command is coming out in six parts.  Part 1 and 2, The Chase and The Capture, both come out on January 8th (today!) then the other parts come out a week at a time.  Each part is equivalent to about 2-3 chapters.  (I write short chapters, so for mine it would be three chapters.)

People tend to love them or hate them.  I’ve watched the reviews on some of the other novels that have come out in serial form over the past few months and many readers seem unhappy about the format.  I find it funny, though, that many readers still complain about the format on later parts.  You’d think they would have stopped buying them once they realized the nature of the serialization.  (At least that must mean that they are enjoying the story!

For any of my readers who feel they may not like a serial novel, the entire novel will be released in book form in April, in both print and eBook.  I wish it could be sooner, but the publisher can produce an ebook much faster than a full length book that is going to print.

The other new thing I’m trying with respect to publishing is being acquiring editor of an anthology.  I’m a Canadian author and I was asked by a Canadian literary publisher if I would be interested in working on an anthology of Canadian erotic romance.  I’ve never been an editor before, but I love trying new things, and I really liked the idea of being involved in a project working with other Canadians.  I love the fact that a literary publisher—who has worked with authors like Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro—wants to feature Canadian genre authors.

The anthology is called Northern Heat and you’ll probably recognize many of the authors, even though you probably didn’t realize (why would you even think about it?) that they are Canadian.  Authors like Sharon Page and Kayla Perrin.  And me!  The publisher wanted me to include a story, too!

The anthology will be coming out in time for Valentine’s Day, so I hope you’ll watch for it!

The publisher asked me to suggest some images for the cover and I did a couple of mockups and they chose one of them for the book.  They had their artist streamline it and make it more artistic, but it’s fun that they used my idea.  Doing cover art isn’t brand new for me, since I’ve done several of the covers for my self-published works, but it was inspiring that a publisher and their art department felt my idea was good enough to use!

Well, I’m not all work and no play—though I have to work at that (lol).  In my private life, I’ve launched a blog about nail polish.  “What’s so interesting about nail polish?” you might ask.  I just love combining colours and textures and nails are such easy little canvases on which to express myself.  Also, the special nail polishes available today are awe inspiring (to me, anyway).

I am obsessive about my hobbies and I’ve had to put them all on hold because writing consumes most of my time, but with nail polish, I can do a quick coat, write a bit, put on another coat, write, etc.  Sometimes I take an hour out to do something special, like water marbling or stamping, but in general, I can indulge without losing much writing time, thus it’s a guilt-free hobby.  Also, I find I love the flash of a duochrome polish (shows multiple colours) or of a fabulous glitter while I’m typing.  It feeds my artistic soul!


Speaking of hobbies, now that I’ve opened the door to allow myself some, I’ve just started a new artistic endeavour: zentangle.  These are a meditative form of ink drawing done on a 3.5 inch square piece of paper with repetitive patterns.  It allows the mind to focus, thus the meditative aspect.

|I bought a book that teaches Zentangles and these are my first two exercises..

There are lots of other new things in my life, too.  Both my sons have moved out, so now it’s just me and my husband at home.  It’s taking a little time to adapt, but it does mean I’ll have more time to write (and do my new hobbies!)

What new things do you have going on in your life now, or do you plan to try soon?

---

His To Command, #1: The Chase
His To Command, #2: The Capture

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Strong, independent, smart, Kate is a modern business woman who knows exactly how to run her well organized world. But underneath her professional exterior lurks a secret she's been running from for years...a secret desire to be dominated that both exhilarates her and terrifies her. When an old lover, Matt Pearce, unexpectedly shows up, Kate is bombarded by sensual memories of their affair. Matt was the first and only man to give her a taste of domination, and she's never been able to forget. But though she's spent years trying to forget him, this time she may not be able to get away.

Northern Heat
Release date:  February 14, 2013

Ever since the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy started topping the bestseller charts, people have taken an interest in this new phenomenon of erotic romance books.  Only it’s not new.  There are many of us who have been writing in this genre for years.

Featuring some of the best examples of Canadian erotic romance, this anthology includes authors such as Sharon Page (USA Today bestselling author) and Kayla Perrin (USA Today and Essence bestselling author, and one of the inaugural authors of the Harlequin Spice line).

These delightful stories show the broad range of eroticism and romance in stories that publishers label as "erotic romance". Some focus on the burgeoning romance between a couple, whereas others focus more on the erotic situation that hints at a romance to build in the future. Yet others are simply a celebration of sexual intimacy. In all, however, the characters are challenged by some aspect of their sexual desire for each other.


http://www.OpalCarew.com

http://www.facebook.com/OpalCarewRomanceAuthor

Diamond Lust

A note from Opal: Hi. I've had an amazing new project land in my lap with a very short time frame (and two current projects already underway), so my friend, Madelle Morgan, has agreed to fill in for me for my September and October posts. Madelle is also Canadian and writes Hot Romantic Suspense. She has a facinating story to tell you about the inspiration for her book, Diamond Lust.

In a place where the sun doesn’t set, where can a girl hide from the bad guys?

I set my debut romantic suspense novel, Diamond Lust, at a mine site accessible only by air in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

The spark for a novel about a beautiful young geologist who poses a threat to desperate diamond smugglers originated in the 80s when I was an adventurous junior engineer travelling to construction sites throughout the Arctic. Back then most remote communities in Canada’s Northwest Territories had populations of less than 300 (not including sled dogs). For those inland from the ocean and the Mackenzie River, the only access was by air. To combat alcoholism, several community councils had banned alcohol.

One summer day my survey equipment and I were flown in a tiny plane to a native community of picturesque log cabins clustered along the shore of Great Bear Lake. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer greeted me and the pilot at the dirt runway. Because this was a “dry” community, he met every arrival to inspect the baggage and freight for smuggled alcohol.

Later, the very cute young officer entertained me with tea and stories of how creative locals had attempted to sneak alcohol past him. One method especially impressed me: in a crate of oranges he’d stuck his hand under the top layer of fruit to discover some squishy imposters. They’d replaced the oranges with round plastic bladders filled with alcohol and individually wrapped in green paper. Twenty years later I adapted the method when devising a way to smuggle diamonds through very tight security at the fictional Ptarmigan Lake mine.

Petra Paris discovers diamonds aren’t her best friend when murder traps her at the mine. Her only ally, an undercover RCMP officer with the Diamond Protection Unit, races to find the killers before Petra becomes the next victim. In exchange for Seth’s protection, Petra reluctantly agrees to let him pretend to be her boyfriend so he has an excuse to overnight at the mine. Here’s an excerpt.

Shortly after midnight, Seth quietly let himself into Petra’s room with his key card. Soft rhythmic breathing emanated from a mound under the bedding he could barely discern in the dimness. She’d closed the curtains to block the daylight. In mid-July this far north the sun barely kissed the horizon to mark the transition from one day to the next. He advanced in the gloom and cursed as he tripped over the duffel bag he’d left just inside the door.

The mound erupted. “Who’s there?”

“Seth,” he said in a normal tone, moving to part the curtains a crack. “Time to get up.”

Petra levered herself into a sitting position and clutched the blanket to the neck of her white thermal underwear. “What are you doing here?” Sleepiness fuzzed the edge of her words.

A grin tipped the corners of his mouth. She apparently shopped for lingerie at Work Warehouse. “This is my room too, remember?” Seth dropped heavily onto the edge of the bed to remove his boots.

“What are you doing?”

He quirked a brow. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m preparing for some shuteye.”

“Oh no. Not yet! I mean, let me get dressed and out of here first.”

“Don’t panic.” Seth patted the two lumps that were knees drawn up to her chest. “I’m so beat I can barely keep my eyes open. Besides, you’re sporting long underwear like ever-lovin’ armor. It’s hardly a turn-on.”

“These are my p.j.’s.”

“Right. Well, I don’t wear any.” He shucked his T-shirt and tossed it on top of the leather jacket draped over the back of the chair.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” came the mutter from the other end of the bed.

“Pardon me?”

“Nothing.”

“Nobody’s forcing you to watch.” He unbuckled his leather belt and unzipped his fly to the accompaniment of a muffled moan.

“Where’s your gun?”

“I’m undercover, remember? A gun sure woulda triggered the security alarms.”

“Get undressed in the bathroom. Please,” she pleaded, her voice pitched high.

“Too late.” Seth, naked but for boxer briefs, yanked at the blanket she clutched in a death grip. “Move over, darlin’.”

The e-version of Diamond Lust is available for only $1.49 or less at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Ellora’s Cave. Read Chapter 1.

Bio:

Madelle left Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, now known as the Diamond Capital of North America, after the birth of her son and one too many close calls in small planes. She moved to Ottawa, Canada and joined the local chapter of RWA. After completing three novels “for practice”, she sold the fourth to Ellora’s Cave who had faith in the hot but not erotic Diamond Lust. Recently retired from a demanding management position, Madelle is working on a romantic suspense novel (the story of Sophia from the free short read The Next Big Thing) and a steamy novella for publication in 2013. Find Madelle at www.madellemorgan.com and on Goodreads.

I Will Not Feel Guilty for Reading a Novel!

Susan Lyons Fox AKA Savanna Fox

I was here during Blog-O-Versary month in my Susan Fox persona, and I’d like to thank the Genre-istas for inviting me back as Susan Lyons.

Do you find that life is increasingly confusing and stressful?

I mean, why Susan Lyons and Susan Fox and, oh by the way, I’ll also be Savanna Fox in September? Don’t ask me. I’m a simple soul. I’d have stuck with just one name. It’s not like one name writes vampires and the other writes sweet historicals. All my books are sexy, emotional contemporary romances with character growth and secondary themes like friendship and family. But, anyhow, my publishers in their infinite wisdom think that different names will work better, and I, the humble author, go along and hope that they’re right. After all, what do I know? I’m just a person who gets easily confused.

My publishers are certainly following market trends, which I suppose are designed to better serve consumers but in fact drive me a little crazy.

For example, why, when I go to buy face cream or toothpaste, does the brand I prefer have five dozen choices? Is it better to reduce wrinkles, rejuvenate, lift, smooth, firm, hydrate, moisturize, nourish, refine texture, fight signs of aging? Should I whiten, brighten, fight tartar, prevent cavities, reduce sensitivity, protect gums, shield enamel, yada yada? It’s so confusing that, I swear, sometimes I’ve simply walked away from the store shelf and not made a purchase.

Is there one single thing in life today that’s simple and straightforward? Well, reading a book. Once you’ve figured out which book you want to read, from the seemingly infinite selection that’s available today, and once you’ve decided whether you’re going to read it in print or on a Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, iPad, or yada yada. If you’re still awake and not exhausted from all that decision-making, you can settle down in your chair (or bed or bathtub, but that’s a much easier and less stressful decision!) and turn (or click) to that first page and settle in.

I love books! That’s a huge reason that I’m a writer. Even back in the much simpler days of my childhood, the one thing I could always count on was a good book. It transported me away from the stress, confusion, exhaustion, etc. of day-to-day life. Of my life, and the life around me.

My guy and I were just talking about why we don’t read the newspaper or even, very often, watch/listen to the news. It’s so negative, so stressful, so depressing, so confusing. Yes, a part of me feels guilty for not being better informed, for choosing a novel rather than a newspaper, and yet . . . Darn it, I need a break. I need to relax.

And so do you. Whether it’s a break from the depressing news of the day, or the stresses of your job, or the pressures of family life.

Repeat after me: I will not feel guilty for reading a novel!

How about you? Do you find the world confusing and stressful? Do you take the time to unwind? If you’re visiting this blog, I’m pretty sure you’re a reader, so how about sharing what books mean to you.

And once you’ve done that, get off the Internet and go read a good book!! 

Susan writes for Berkley Heat as both Susan Lyons and Savanna Fox, and for Kensington Brava as Susan Fox. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite! Visit her website at http://www.susanlyons.ca.