First, thanks to the fabulous authors of Naughty and Spice for inviting me to blog!  I was going to say thanks to the “ladies,” but then I realized the term “lady” is, for an author of steamy historical romance, a tricky one.

“Lady” brings to mind images of your grandmother telling you to “act like a lady.”  In 1814 England, when my debut novel “Nothing but Scandal” is set, the title “Lady” identified a woman as a member of the nobility, complete with a whole set of expectations about roles and proper behavior.

And yet, the “ladies” in my novels (and many other romance authors’ books as well) don’t always behave, well, like ladies.  They are daring, intrepid, and–gasp!–they like sex.  Sometimes before they’re married.  ;)

In “Nothing But Scandal,” my heroine Elizabeth makes the choice to leave home and support herself as a governess rather than submit to the suitor her family has approved–a man she knows is physically and verbally abusive.  For her time period, such a choice was pretty daring, but Elizabeth doesn’t stop there…because when the unattainable, yet wickedly handsome Duke of Beaufort pays her notice, she decides to risk the one thing she has left–the job that supports her–for a chance at love.

For my heroines, they often find that stepping outside the bounds of propriety, while risky, brings them a far greater reward (yes, sometimes in the form of a handsome, caring man) than if they’d played by the “rules”–meaning, if they’d acted like a “lady.”

I love to hear real life stories, too, of people who took a chance (whether on love, starting up a business, moving across oceans…whatever) and made their dreams come true.

Tell me your stories, and among the responses I’ll pick a winner to receive an autographed copy of “Nothing But Scandal!”

Thanks for stopping by, and happy Friday!

Allegra

www.allegragray.com

We bought the Wii Fit a couple of weeks ago. We already had a Wii so the cost was minimal ($78 bundle deal at Costco) and we’ve been playing like maniacs ever since.

So far I’ve lost four pounds.

I don’t think it’s all from Wii Fit but I believe it’s inspired by it. I’ve been trying to eat less, swim harder in the pool and put in at least thirty minutes a day on the Wii Fit. I’ve skipped two days out of thirteen and man, does the game make you feel guilty when you do!

I really like the yoga and the strength exercises. I also like the boxing. My husband is so competitive - he drives me to work harder! We’re all in constant competition together. All three of the kids love it too. Family fun, man. Family fun…

Anything to get my fat ass moving, that’s what I say. Anybody have the Wii Fit? You want it? Think it’s stupid? Gimme your opinions…

First off, for writers, I’m doing a 2-day class for LBLI (that’s Left Behind and Loving It) for those NOT going to RWA.  It’s called, “So You Want to be a Published Author.”  Looking for ideas on other classes so if you have any interest in anything you’d like to hear me ramble like an idiot about–holla. There will be give-aways

There was quiet a to-do yesterday on twitter over Alice Hoffman’s review of a reviewer who gave her a bad review :lmao: Did you get all that?

Yes it’s stinky and unprofessional and yes even I have 1-2 authors I won’t buy anymore because of their behavior online but I don’t broadcast.  And does it really deserve all that attention?

What online author behavior turns you off? Feel free to share your horror stories.  What would take an author off your to-try or auto-buy list? 

And for your amusement, Geek Pranks! My fave is the statue of John Harvard turned into Master Chief from Halo3!!  :lmao:

So as I type this post I’ve just finished watching a romantic movie that came out nearly twenty years ago, got shitty reviews and pretty much written off as crap. And yet…I love it. And I love the cheesy theme song that goes with it, that so many couples declared ‘their song’ as they danced to it at weddings.

Has anyone guessed the movie yet? Anyone? Make a guess (and just one guess please!). Of those who get it right, I’ll draw a name and give them a copy of one of the ebooks off my backlist!

But while you’re guessing, why don’t you share with me a movie you love that got pounded by the critics. Come on…share! There’s plenty to choose from  

Also, be sure to check out my personal blog on July 1st for an announcement of my big contest to celebrate the upcoming release of Take Me!

Good morning, everyone! And thank you so much to the Naughty & Spice gals for inviting me back to their lair. ;-)

Summer is here already, if you can even believe it, and it’s shaping up to be a busy one for me. Not only am I part of a fabulous, hot and steamy anthology that’s out now called REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT (http://www.heidibetts.com/books/realmen.php) with Lori Foster, Lora Leigh, and Cheyenne McCray, but the second book in my sexy, funny “Chicks with Sticks” trilogy, LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT (http://www.heidibetts.com/books/lovesme_knot.php), will be out August 4th. Whew. (And that doesn’t even count the current deadlines hanging over my head. LOL)

But all the hoopla about REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT’s release has got me thinking quite a bit about “real men” and what qualities they might possess that regular men (read: not as real *vbg*) don’t. If I were to compose a list, these are the traits I think would be on it:

REAL MEN…

…do dishes

…take out the garbage

…kill the bug / catch the mouse

…change diapers

…are kind to animals

…open doors for ladies

…are loyal, reliable, and steadfast

…remember special occasions (especially birthdays and anniversaries!)

…come bearing chocolate

…do the right thing, even if it isn’t always the easy thing

…really do last all night

So what do you think? Good list, or am I setting my sights a little too high? ;-)

Linc Rappaport, the hero of my REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT novella, “Wanted: A Real Man” is definitely a real man. He’s tough and sexy and Alpha to the core. And even though he’s been hurt by Claire Cassidy in the past, when he discovers that he has a daughter with her—one he never knew existed—he steps up and does the right thing despite the numerous reasons he could give for turning and walking away.

And as for Gage Marshall, the hero of LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT…well, doing the right thing is so ingrained in him that he’s willing to go through with it even if it cost him the one thing that means the most to him—his wife. But never fear. Jenna and Gage may be separated, but she has no intention of letting him get away!

So what would be on your list of REAL MEN requirements?

Let me know what qualities you like to see in your heroes and “real men,” and at the end of the day, I’ll pick two winners from my favorite responses to receive autographed copies of REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT and the prequel to LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT, TANGLED UP IN LOVE. (The winners will get to choose which title they get on a first come, first served basis. Cruel, I know. But then, they don’t call me Mistress Heidi over at my WIPs and Chains blog (http://www.heidibetts.com/wipsandchains/) for nothing. *g*)

Here’s hoping your future if filled with lots of KNOT-free REAL MEN…
Heidi
www.HeidiBetts.com
www.HeidiBetts.com/WIPSandChains
www.HeidiBetts.com/MustLoveYarn

Megan Hart did my first ever video interview. Check it out here!