​Since childhood, my personal version of heaven has resembled Mr. Scrooge’s time-traveling adventures, only with a much more enjoyable spin: being able to visit any time period anywhere, to fully understand what life was like then.
 
Rome in its heyday? I could be there. Charlemagne’s ascension to emperor? Yup. Witnessing the signing of the Declaration of Independence? Sign me up!
 
Of course, I’d be invisible, a mere witness, not an active participant (I wouldn’t want to potentially mess anything up!) – which means I’d like to avoid the more horrific points in human history.
 
Still, imagining what people, places, and events were truly like in times past thrills me just as much today as it did when I was younger. It’s one of the reasons writing time-travel romance seemed like a natural fit.
 
I spent hours brainstorming what A Matter of Time’s Eliza James might have experienced once in Regency England. I danced over some of the less savory realities she’d likely encounter (time-of-the-month issues, anyone?) in favor of imagining the furniture, the horses, the open country, the lavish foods … and of course, the handsome, cravat-bedecked gentlemen.
 
For Eliza, Jane Austen’s time is her ultimate dream-come-true. Until it isn’t. Because, of course, reality never can quite live up to fantasy, right? And accepting that is one of the ways we grow and mature. No matter what time we live in.
 
So, tell me, if you could travel to any period in history, where would you go? Why? What do you think your first reactions would be?
 
I, for one, would want to take a bag like Hermione’s bag from Harry Potter, with its Undetectable Extension Charm, so that I could have all the storage without all the bulk. Because I’d want Advil, and Bandaids, and pads, maybe my Kindle . . . Though I suppose if I had all those things, it’d rather defeat the purpose.
 
I might as well stay right here, in twenty-first century Virginia, curled up in my chair with a good book in hand. Which isn’t such a bad idea, actually, because books allow me to experience my own imaged heaven, right here on earth, every single day. 

​A Matter of Time:
 
Love comes when least expected. 

Nobody would blame widowed doctoral student Eliza James for giving up on Happily Ever After; at twenty-nine, she’s suffered more loss than most people do in a lifetime. But Eliza’s convinced her own hero is still out there, waiting for her, just like in the beloved romance novels she devours. Every girl deserves a Darcy, right? 

Only Eliza doesn’t dream of a modern-day affair: she wants the whole Regency experience. When a magical manuscript thrusts her back two hundred years into the arms and life of one Deveric Mattersley, Duke of Claremont, however, Eliza soon realizes some fantasies aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, especially when her duke proves himself less than a Prince Charming. 

Deveric Mattersley has no interest in women, much less marriage. Determined to atone for his sins after convincing himself he's at fault for the death of his first wife, he decrees himself content to focus on running his family’s estates, and on raising his son–until the mysterious Mrs. James appears. Who is she? What does she want? And why does she make Dev’s blood run hot in a way no woman ever has? 

Can a man with a past and a woman from the future forge a love for all time? 

Biography:
 
A lover of romance novels since the age of ten (shh, don't tell mom!), Margaret Locke declared as a teen that she'd write romances when she grew up. Once an adult, however, she figured she ought to be doing grown-up things (such as earning that master's degree in medieval history), not penning steamy love stories. Yeah, whatever. Turning forty cured her of that silly notion. Margaret is now happily ensconced back in the clutches of her first love, this time as an author as well as a reader. Margaret lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia with her fantastic husband, two fabulous kids, and two fat cats. You can usually find her in front of some sort of screen (electronic or window); she's come to terms with the fact that she's not an outdoors person. Margaret loves to interact with fellow readers and authors! You may find her here:
 
Website/Blog: http://margaretlocke.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorMargaretLocke
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/Margaret_Locke
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Margaret_Locke
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/MLAmz
Email: [email protected]
Buy Link:  http://bit.ly/AMatterOfTime

Magical romantic comedy A Man of Character now available! http://bit.ly/AManOfCharacter

School teacher Cassidy Sinclair’s sanity is questioned after claiming to see her hero appear out of thin air. Her savior dies in her arms after intercepting a gunshot meant for her and her student, Allan Branson. The only person who believes her account is the boy’s father who arranges her one-week stay at an exclusive holistic healing spa called the Wiccan Haus off the coast of Maine.

Trevor Green, a paranormal, is recovering—again—from gunshot wounds at Wiccan Haus. His body battered and his confidence broken, he is tasked to protect the woman he almost got killed. The one he’s fantasized about for months and who thinks he’s dead.





Excerpt:

“What happened?”

What happened? He inhaled a calming breath and counted to ten, aware that Cemil and Cyrus had joined Sage and were awaiting his answer. Well, not Cemil. He was just being polite. As a telepath, he’d already read Trevor’s thoughts.

“She was determined to come back here and I had to stop her.”

Cemil grinned. “The best you could come up with was decloaking her dead savior right in front of her?”

“Yeah,” he snarled, “it was.” Cassidy stirred in his arms and he tightened his hold keeping her close. He savored the innocent intimacy and hated himself for enjoying it.

Dana stood between the two elevators. “Your room or hers?”

“Hers.”

He nodded toward Sage as he waited for the third elevator, the one reserved for the humans. Somehow, these siblings had charmed the elevators so that only humans could use the one designated to go to the third floor and only Paranormals could use the second floor elevator. The first elevator was reserved for the siblings alone. No one knew where that one went.

“I could use a key to her room.”

“How will you get there?” Sage asked, though he was sure she knew the answer. As always, he would wait patiently, cloaked, for his opportunity.

“Don’t worry about me. Just get me the key. She’s not going to be an easy one to keep an eye on.” The elevator pinged and Dana escorted him to the third floor.

In the privacy of the elevator, he pressed his lips to her hair. She wouldn’t know, but he would remember the silky strands caressing his cheek during the long lonely nights.

He needed to concoct a believable explanation for materializing out of thin air without threatening her sanity. Or his secret.
 
 
About the author
Once upon a time there an only child who grew up with a single mother in a rural Virginia county. This curious, bright girl, full of imagination, often roamed in her mind to far away places she’d read about or seen on television. Now, decades later, she appreciates the slow, steady ritual of suburban life as a wife and mother of two similarly whimsical girls. The trips are still frequent, only now she records them to share with others. Enjoy!
 
 
Links
Amazon::http://www.amazon.com/Guarding-Heart-Wiccan-Haus-Book-ebook/dp/B0189W4POW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448543617&sr=8-1&keywords=guarding+his+heart%2C+carolyn+spear
 
Website: http://www.carolynspearromance.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolynSpearRom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolynSpearAuthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cspearauthor/
Trailer: https://youtu.be/wwnJvH-u-7s
 
 
 

Is anything sweeter than revenge?

In a family of remarkable people, ordinary Beatrice strives to prove herself worthy. When her family is threatened with losing everything, she rushes to London to save them. Unfortunately, she chooses as her savior the very man who will see her family brought low.

Garrett has sworn vengeance on Sir Arthur of Anglesea for destroying his life when he was a boy and forcing his mother into prostitution for them to survive. He has chosen as his instrument Sir Arthur's youngest daughter, Beatrice.

Can Beatrice’s goodness teach Garrett that love, not vengeance, is the greatest reward of all?

Click HERE to read a longer excerpt on my website.

If this sounds like your thing, you can pick up a copy at AMAZON or BARNES & NOBLE or pop along to KENSINGTON PUBLISHING for your favorite format.

Who am I?

Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Draper, Utah, with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books. 

She loves to hear from readers and you can find her at any of the places below.

 

Website

Facebook

Twitter

From my paranormal novella Guarding His Heart, one of the awesome Wiccan Haus series.

Trevor Greene, injured again while protecting a charge, recuperates at Wiccan Haus. His leg wound almost healed, he's relaxing by the pool when the island's head of security Rekkus arrives with a message about his new assignment. He's to protect Cassidy Sinclair, the teacher he saved. She thinks he's dead and Rekkus reveals Cassidy's diagnosis of being mentally unstable.

            Trevor waited while his companion drew out the tension. “Well, she says
            she saw the man who dove in front of her and the boy materialize out of
            thin air. Of course, neither that man—who died—nor the dead assailant
            is around to corroborate her story. In fact, neither body was ever found.”


So, what do you think? Is Cassidy crazy or did she see something a little outside the norm? Come back next week for more!

Thanks to the lovely and talented Kim Handysides who asked me to take part in the Writing Process Blog Tour.

She writes contemporary romance and is currently working on a series. The first, Stolen Kiss, is about a Boston princess and a hot blue collar mechanic. Sounds awesome. Can't wait for it to be released!

Now on to the Tour.


I have accepted the challenge of answering questions about my writing process. Here goes.


What are you working on? 
I am editing a submission to Wiccan Haus, a shared world series with several authors. I am privileged to be one such lucky writer. Imagine Fantasy Island for humans, shifters and all types of people with paranormal powers. The staff remains the same, but the guests have their experiences and leave. It's amazing and fun to write these novellas.

I am deep in the editing process of my military novella which made it through the trial by fire of my critique group. Each one of them helps me hone the characters and plot through their unique viewpoints. I love them!

Finally, I am working on my ghost story, the first full novel and hopefully the first in a series. It's going slow, because well, I have kids and a husband and this annoying day job.

How does your work differ from others of its genre?
My characters are a bit older than average, usually mid-thirties to early forties so they have a different world view and richer history. I also don't like perfect people. Not in looks, not in personality. There is no true perfect man or woman.

Why do you write what you do?
I write paranormal and contemporary. Most of the contemporary involve military or former military members. I grew up in an area with bases and posts of every branch of the military so I have high regard for our men and women who serve our country. 

I write paranormal because I grew up wishing I could wiggle my nose like Samantha and make things fly through the air or say and spell and the broom would magically sweep the floor. Magic is fun and mysterious. I understand that power can corrupt so there is a battle in my stories between good and evil (or misuse of magic).

How does your writing process work?

I wish I were one of those scheduled, sit down and put my hands to the keyboard and let the words flow kind of people. I'm not. Period. I'm a dreamer. The story comes to me and I write it down. I have a mercurial muse who frequently allows characters through who I'm not ready to meet yet. I have a sneaking suspicion she can be bribed. 

From my paranormal novella Guarding His Heart, one of the awesome Wiccan Haus series.

Trevor Greene, injured again while protecting a charge, recuperates at Wiccan Haus. His leg wound almost healed, he's relaxing by the pool when the island's head of security Rekkus arrives with a message about his new assignment. He's to protect Cassidy Sinclair, the teacher he saved.

“I can’t guard her. She thinks I’m dead.”
Weak, but it was one reason he shouldn’t be protecting her. Besides the
staff on the island and the chairman’s own security team, nobody knew he
was alive, and for now, the chairman had decided to keep it that way.

How will he handle the situation when she thinks he's dead? Come back next week for more.

From my paranormal novella Guarding His Heart, one of the awesome Wiccan Haus series.


Last week, Cassidy and her class of first graders were attempting to elude a gunman. The bodyguard of one of her students had not only found them and intercepted the bullet meant for her and his charge, but had revealed a secret ability. We left her with a decision to make: Escape to safety or save the man with a beast within...

She pushed off the wall she’d been glued to and hurried to him, pressing hard against the red stain on his jeans.

“Cassie. You should go.”

She met his potent sea blue gaze, caught in how pale his face had turned, struggling to make the pieces of what she’d witnessed fit in her reality. 


Return next week to see what happens. Will she save him?

Jenna Jaxon follows up sexy medieval romance Betrothal with white hot Betrayal in her Time Enough To Love series.

Jenna Jaxon researches well and turns up the heat  amidst the archaic marriage rituals of Medieval England. 

Blurb:
After a night of passion with her betrothed, Sir Geoffrey Longford, Lady Alyse de Courcy is eagerly looking forward to her wedding.  But when Geoffrey is forced to marry another, a heartbroken and possibly pregnant Alyse finds herself in her own private hell. She must either gamble with her reputation or marry someone she does not love.

A reputed connoisseur of women, Thomas, Lord Braeton, has dallied with many ladies of King Edward’s court, although he has favored none.  However, as Geoffrey’s best friend, Thomas has sworn to serve and protect Alyse, an oath now sorely tested when he agrees to marry her—in name only—to guard her reputation. Yet, as they grow closer, and Thomas discovers Alyse’s sweet but spirited nature, he comes to desire a marriage in truth.  Can he overcome her memory of Geoffrey or is Thomas doomed to burn with passion for a woman he can never possess?




Excerpt:
With the sigh of a martyr at the stake, Alyse nodded and Anne leaped forth and stripped the linen shift from her. She fought the impulse to shield her breasts and womanhood; apparently brides were expected to be appraised as if a horse at market. The only stare that sent a shiver up her back, however, was Lady Carlyle’s. The woman’s lips twisted into a sneer as her gaze swept Alyse from head to toe. A look of triumph she did not understand lit the lady’s face and Alyse turned her back, quite willing to allow Anne to drop the silk chemise over her head.

When she turned back to the company, loud “ahs’ and whispers of “indecent” ran through the women. Alyse looked down at herself. As she feared, the sheer material revealed every swell of her breasts. As the fabric moved across them, her nipples hardened, poking the garment out to sharp points.

Maurya stepped behind her and began to brush her hair again. “Pay them no mind, Alyse,” she whispered. “You are more beautiful than any of them. And I warrant Lord Braeton will have no qualms about you whatsoever in that shift.”

Before Alyse could reply, the door burst open and the laughing, swearing, drinking chorus of male courtiers who attended Thomas strode in. And stopped. The sudden silence intensified the tension in the small room. Their eyes rested on Alyse, who stared back at them and prayed she would not faint again.

As suddenly as the silence descended it broke, and a babble of laughter, praise and ribald jests issued forth from the appreciative gentlemen. To her utter humiliation, Alyse recognized Patrick Sullivan, Roger Delaney, and Robert Spencer among the courtiers. All stared at her still, Patrick leaning over to comment to Sir Roger, who laughed and nodded in agreement.

She blinked back tears of rage, but stood quietly lest they make even more sport of her.

From the corner of her eye, she caught movement in the doorway, and several men and ladies moved to make way for the final actor in this terrible play.  Thomas strode grandly into the chamber, smiling as though he walked in a decorous procession. Attired in a splendid robe of green wool, adorned with velvet down the center edges and fur at collar and cuffs, he swept her a low bow. He laughed as he arose, but the sound died on his lips when at last he registered her figure in the blue chemise. The stunned look in his eyes was swiftly replaced by a hot hunger that made her gasp. Any hope she had of him honoring his promise died with that look.

“Lady Braeton.” He held out his hand, and Alyse had no choice but to take it. He raised it to his lips, searing her flesh with their warm touch. “You are a vision I scarce would credit this side of heaven.” She peered into his darkened eyes, seeking mercy. At the almost imperceptible nod of his head, she could breathe again.

He released her and stepped back. “The wedding is done.” Thomas nodded to his attendants, who stepped forward. “Let the bedding be done as well.” Stretching forth his arms, he waited as the men stripped the robe from him, revealing his perfectly nude body beneath.

Have you ever wondered why people are obsessed with Bigfoot? Have you noticed how many TV shows are dedicated to finding evidence of the legendary Sasquatch? What if those beings were really shifters, able to virtually disappear by cloaking themselves? 

Trevor Greene is one such being. His kind calls themselves “Watchers” and shift between the human side of their souls and the beast. As a master of stealth, Trevor employs his abilities to guard a damaged six year old boy and falls for his nurturing teacher.

Available through Musa Publishing (http://tinyurl.com/q6svuk7) and Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/kdu4jyt).



Blurb:

School teacher Cassidy Sinclair’s sanity is questioned after claiming to see her hero appear out of thin air. Her savior dies in her arms after intercepting a gunshot meant for her and her student, Allan Branson. The only person who believes her account is the boy’s father who arranges her one-week stay at an exclusive holistic healing spa called the Wiccan Haus off the coast of Maine.

Trevor Green, a paranormal, is recovering—again—from gunshot wounds at Wiccan Haus. His body battered and his confidence broken, he is tasked to protect the woman he almost got killed. The one he’s fantasized about for months and who thinks he’s dead.

Excerpt:

“What happened?”

What happened? He inhaled a calming breath and counted to ten, aware that Cemil and Cyrus had joined Sage and were awaiting his answer. Well, not Cemil. He was just being polite. As a telepath, he’d already read Trevor’s thoughts.

“She was determined to come back here and I had to stop her.”

Cemil grinned. “The best you could come up with was decloaking her dead savior right in front of her?”

“Yeah,” he snarled, “it was.” Cassidy stirred in his arms and he tightened his hold keeping her close. He savored the innocent intimacy and hated himself for enjoying it.

Dana stood between the two elevators. “Your room or hers?”

“Hers.”

He nodded toward Sage as he waited for the third elevator, the one reserved for the humans. Somehow, these siblings had charmed the elevators so that only humans could use the one designated to go to the third floor and only Paranormals could use the second floor elevator. The first elevator was reserved for the siblings alone. No one knew where that one went.

“I could use a key to her room.”

“How will you get there?” Sage asked, though he was sure she knew the answer. As always, he would wait patiently, cloaked, for his opportunity.

“Don’t worry about me. Just get me the key. She’s not going to be an easy one to keep an eye on.” The elevator pinged and Dana escorted him to the third floor.

In the privacy of the elevator, he pressed his lips to her hair. She wouldn’t know, but he would remember the silky strands caressing his cheek during the long lonely nights.

He needed to concoct a believable explanation for materializing out of thin air without threatening her sanity. 
Or his secret.