Today's #Interview #Guest Christine Donovan @cmdonovan #mysticrealms #RB4U

Welcome to Romance Books 4 Us, a place for all romance and all genres. We’re very happy to have you here with us today. First, tell us a little bit about yourself…

I grew up in Massachusetts in a small suburb south of Boston with my parents and four siblings. I always wanted to be a fashion buyer and envisioned my life travelling back and forth between New York, Milan and Paris. Somehow that didn’t happen. Although I did work for several years at a dance boutique and was the buyer and manager. I loved it.  My husband and I raised four sons ranging in age from 20 to 31. Busy, chaotic times in our house when they were growing up. If you have a question about any male dominated sport, I’m your gal. I began writing fifteen years ago and have never looked back.

What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you get? When it comes to research, it depends on the genre of the book about how extensive I get. When I write an historical, I have several binders with information ready on hand. Maps of London, England and street maps from the Regency Era. I have a binder on fashion alone and one on the aristocracy of England, and frequently used language, etc. For a contemporary it’s easier as it is current day. The research narrows down to location, someone’s occupation, etc. For a paranormal, I’m world building and creating some of my own research. One of my series incorporates fairies who receive their powers from crystals. I spent and still spend countless hours studying different types of crystals and learning their healing properties.

Do real life events find their way into your stories? Always. But I’m not telling where.

Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters? Once again, always. Whenever there is a kid in my books, they always seem to do some of the funny or crazy things my boys did. My brother was talking about a recent hiking trip at the table on Easter, and we were in tears laughing. You can be sure I’m using it at some point.

Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch? When my oldest son moved out I turned his room into my office. I thought, finally my own space to create. Well, I still do most of my writing at the kitchen table or out on the deck during the nice weather.

What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop, iPad or the old-fashioned pencil and paper?  And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse? I like to write on an Alphasmart. Old school, I know, but it works for me. Very light, no internet, so no distractions because I’m a pantser and it doesn’t take much to get me off task.

When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing? I work two days a week at an optometrist’s office. I do that so I leave the house once in a while. Otherwise I read, paint and love DIY projects. I spend as much time as I can at our family beach house on Cape Cod.

Share your favorites:

Favorite color – Blue

Favorite dessert/snack – Ice cream

Favorite Season – Autumn

Favorite Romantic movie – Dirty Dancing

Favorite way to relax – Walk on the beach

What is your ideal romantic vacation? I’ve never been, but I believe Hawaii would be romantic. (hint to hubby)

Where can our readers find you?  

Email: christinedonovan6@verizon.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmdonovan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchirstinedonovan/

Website/blog: http://www.christinedonovan.org

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Christine-Donovan/e/B00APR743Y/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6573862.Christine_Donovan

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-donovan

Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?

A WOLF’S TOUCH

Part of the MYSTIC REALMS boxed set

Troy, one of the first werewolves ever created, amassed many enemies during his time on earth. Although he’s dead, his adversaries still seek their revenge by hunting his surviving descendants. 

Unbeknownst to her, Kate Stewart is a direct descendent of Troy’s. She is attacked one night by a wolf who converses mind-to-mind with her. Another wolf comes to her rescue. This encounter throws her into a world where ordinary people mix with preternatural beings.

Ethan Brown, leader of the Saviors of the Night Clan is visited by Troy during sleep and given the task of keeping Kate safe and initiating her into his world. He’s also shocked to learn Kate is his mate. The assignment given him won’t be easy as Kate lives in a world where only humans exist. Or at least she thinks only humans exist.

Can the physical and emotional connection between Ethan and Kate be enough for her to accept her future and allow Ethan to change her and turn her into one of the creatures she fears most.

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://a.co/4CCVBGi

iBooks:  https://t.co/4T2Wn0aIVe

  https://itunes.apple.com/mt/book/mystic-realms-limited-edition-collection-paranormal/id1348421156?mt=11

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mystic-realms-1

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystic-realms-nicole-morgan/1127071453?ean=2940158782725

THE QUEEN WHO WAS CROWNED POSTHUMOUSLY: Greatest Love Stories Ever Told Series

Posted by Author #R. Ann Siracusa

Peter I and Ines by Ernesto Condeixa

"AGORA É TARDE; INÉS É MORTA.”

“It’s too late; Inés is dead.”

This saying is still commonly used in Portugal, a testimony to the love story of King Peter I of Portugal and Inés de Castro.

Their tale took place in the 14^th century, during the early years of the Renaissance, but unlike Romeo and Juliette, it is a true and documented love story rooted in Portuguese history, language, and legend. [Please note that in researching this, I found discrepancies in the dates. What a surprise!]

INÉS DE CASTRO
Inés de Castro was born in Castile in 1325, the daughter of the Pedro Fernández de Castro, an illegitimate grandson of King Sancho IV of Castile and Lord of Lemos and Sarria. Her mother, Pedro’s mistress Aldonca Lourenco de Valadares, daughter of a Portuguese nobleman, was legitimately descended from Infanta Sancha Henriques of Portugal.

At fifteen, Inés went to Portugal as lady-in-waiting to her cousin, Infanta Constanca of Castile, [the granddaughter of James II of Aragon], who was to marry Don Pedro [later King Peter I ], son and heir of King Alfonso IV of Portugal.

DON PEDRO / KING PETER I of PORTUGAL
Peter, the heir to the throne of Portugal, was born in 1320, the only son of King Alfonso IV and Queen Beatrice.

In those days, as everyone knows, children of noble birth rarely had any say in whom they married. It was all about the politics of kingdoms, alliances, duty to the crown, and responsibility to the realm. Also, remember that all these noble families were inbred and everyone is related to everyone else.

Kingdoms during 1300s ▼

At the age of nine, Peter was betrothed to Blanche of Castile, but the marriage never took place because of her weak mental health and incapacity. 

Peter was about twenty when his father arranged his marriage to Infanta Constansa of Castile for reasons which I won’t burden the reader with. Different sources give his bride the names Lady Constansa Manuel of Castela and Leão and Constance Manuel of Villena. For clarity, I will refer to her as Constansa.

Peter and Constansa were married in 1340. Since the couple didn’t know each other, and Peter was young, he fell hopelessly in love with Inés and soon was neglecting his legitimate wife.                                                                

AFFAIRS OF THE HEART OUT OF WEDLOCK
Most of the court turned a blind eye to discrete affairs of the heart, even out of wedlock.

Unfortunately, young Peter was not inclined to be discrete and was even willing to give up the throne to be near Inés. His father, King Alfonso IV didn’t approve because it weakened his already-fragile ties with his ally, the King of Castile. Alfonso waited, believing his son’s infatuation would soon die out. But it didn’t, and the affair continued.

PLOTS TO END THE AFFAIR
Legend tells that although Constansa was not in love with Peter, she plotted to end his affair by inviting Inés to be the godmother of her newly born son, born in 1340. According to the Catholic Church, this would make Inés a member of the family and her affair with Peter would be deemed incestuous, ending it once and for all. To her disappointment, her efforts didn’t produce the result she wanted.

Finally, in 1344, King Alfonso banished Inés from court and sent her back to Castile, where she resided in Albuquerque Castle. Still, they wrote letters and Peter continued to visit her.

Albuquerque Castle today

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
A year later, in 1345, Constansa died shortly after giving birth to their third child named Fernando (the first of Peter’s sons to succeed him on the throne).

As soon as Peter was no longer married, he brought his lover back to Portugal. They settled in Coimba and lived together openly. Over the next ten years they had four children, one of whom died in infancy.

King Alfonso made attempts to convince his son to remarry other noble women “worthy of his station” with family ties to buttress King Alfonso’s power, but Peter would have none of it. Instead he wanted to marry Inés, which his father forbade. Whether he actually married her during this time or not falls into the legend category. Some sources say he did, some believe he didn’t. After the fact, Peter claimed he had married her and produced witnesses, although they couldn’t quite remember the exact date.

During this time, Peter became close to Inés’s brothers who attempted to convince him to claim the throne of Castile. King Alfonso and his advisors feared the future monarch would embroil the kingdom in a war with neighbors, or worse, a civil war. Something had to be done.

THE MURDER
In 1354 (or 1355), while Peter was away from home, the king and his counselors discussed the matter, and finally decided the only solution was do away with Inés. As a grandfather, the king wasn’t happy about the idea, but finally went with three of his courtiers to sentence her to death.

Painting by Eugénie Servières, 1822

 
Murder of Inês de Castro. Painting by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, ca. 1901/04

Alfonso struggled with the decision, but finally turned his back and told his courtiers to do what they wanted with her. The three men proceeded to decapitate her in front of her children. Some sources say she was stabled with a dagger. Her age was somewhere between 29 and 35 years old, depending on the source of the information.

THE AFTERMATH
When Peter returned and learned of Ines’s death, he was furious with his father for ordering the execution. With the support of Ines’s brothers, he staged a revolt against his father lasting almost a year, until Queen Beatrice, Peter’s mother, forced an end to the war and brought about a reconciliation between father and son. Two years later, King Alfonso IV died, and Peter was crowned king in 1357.

A QUEEN IS CROWNED POSTMORTEM
As soon as he was crowned, King Peter I did two things. First, ignoring the promise to his father, to forgive the murder, he found two the men who had killed Inés (the third escaped to France), subjected them to public trial where they were found guilty, and then had them tortured and executed.

According to an article by Else M. in TheRoyalArticles.com, the method of death torture was highly symbolic. “…from one of the men who had killed the love of his life, the heart was ripped out of the body through his back, and from the other, the heart was pulled out through the chest. All this happened in front of the Royal Palace, where the King was able to watch the terrible scene while having dinner!” Other sources claim he did it himself. This earned him the title of “Peter the Cruel.”

Second, King Peter announced that he had secretly married Inés in the town of Braganca, and produced his witnesses. Thus Inés de Castro was declared as Peter’s legitimate wife and therefore Queen of Portugal. He ordered her body exhumed from where she was buried in the Monastery of Santa Clara in Coimbra, and taken to the Monastery of Alcobada (tomb of the kings).

Her body was accompanied by a huge procession and a thousand men carried candles in a way that kept the body lighted for the entire trip. She was placed in a magnificent tomb carved of white marble. Today, King Peter I and Inés de Castro are inured facing each other in identical tombs inscribed “Until the end of the world.”

Legend has it that once Ines’s body arrived in Alcobada, Peter ordered it dressed in finery and jewels and placed on the throne, then required his court to pledge allegiance to her as queen and kiss her hand. There is little evidence this really happened, but after everything else Peter did, who knows? Most legends are found on some truth.

                

Pierre-Charles Comte, and hangs in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon.

REIGN OF KING PETER I OF PORTUGAL

King Peter I ruled for ten years, until his death in 1367. Despite his nickname “Peter the Cruel” he was also known as “Peter the Just”.

He was, indeed, just but he carried out justice with extreme measures, often handling executions himself rather than leaving it to servants.

Otherwise, his rule actually displayed him as a sweet and gentle character, as well as a good administrator. He was beloved by the population. He defended the realm against papal influence, helped the least fortunate, administered justice, and curbed the excesses of the nobility. His rule was the only time in the 14^th century when Portugal was without war and was very prosperous.

Travel to Foreign Lands for Romance and Intrigue with a Novel by 

AUTHOR R. ANN SIRACUSA

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Note: There are a variety of spellings for the names of these historical figures, including variations of Spanish, Portuguese, and Castillian. I picked those which seemed most familiar and used them consistently.

Sourceshttp://www.theroyalarticles.com/articles/71/1/Ines-de-Castro-The-Queen-Who-Was-Crowned-After-Death/Page1.htmlttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In%C3%AAs_de_Castro

https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/the-royal-women/ines-de-castro-the-posthumous-queen/ http://ayoungwerewolf.tumblr.com/post/11797783166/thehaunter-the-corpse-bride-of-portugal-when http://www.centerofportugal.com/the-tale-of-peter-and-ines/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tomb-of-ines-de-castro http://portuguesediner.com/tiamaria/portuguese-love-stories/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_of_Portugal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_of_Castilehttps://www.geni.com/people/Aldon%C3%A7a-Louren%C3%A7o-de-Valadares/6000000000529077941https://comicvine.gamespot.com/profile/dragonborn_ct/blog/history-files-the-tragedy-of-pedro-and-ines-de-cas/93697/https://www.vortexmag.net/como-ines-de-castro-se-tornou-rainha-depois-de-morta/http://www.rednecklatte.com/she-looks-a-little-pale-to-me/ http://www.medievalists.net/2010/03/relations-between-portugal-and-castile-in-the-late-middle-ages-%E2%80%93-13th-16th-centuries/ https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/castro-inez-de-c-1320-1355

 

Writing from Your Heart #RB4U #Cleveland_Quarries #melissa_keir

Writing From Your Heart

Hello and welcome back to another visit with your favorite small-town author. What were your favorite things to do as a child? I grew up outside of town on a two acre spread with trees for climbing, a play house my father built and a winding road to ride my bike on. With four younger sisters, we were always running around the property playing make believe or games like Mother May I or Red Light, Green Light.

One of our favorite places to play was the property across the street from our house. I never really knew who owned it, but they let Mother Nature reclaim it with vines, trees and boulders. My sisters and I would go over there and live in our pretend houses (boulders) or save the day like Charlie's Angels. 

A few times, the place became dangerous like when someone on motor bikes chased us through the trails. Luckily for us, we didn't need to stay on the cleared areas. We could climb over the rocks, swing on the vines and escape. Along one wall, a tombstone stood etched on the tall wall, never having been removed for a loved one. Just imagine our story about her!

It was in this magical place that I created my setting for my latest release- My Secret Mate.  This wild land had once been a quarry where local masons dug Berea Sandstone from the pits. These men used their strength to dig out large slabs of stone which were used in local homes, as well as important buildings across the United States. 

I fell in love with the adventures I had in the woods. They became a second

home for me--a place to reflect, a place to search and a place to grow. In essence a place of my heart and one I couldn't wait to include in a book.

What better place for a dragon to guard a magic pond where the water has healing properties- a sort of Fountain of Youth? Sean Mackenzie is a shifter, but not only does he change his shape into a dragon but also a large black dog. He meets his soul mate when she's too young, but the dog saves the day on more than one occasion, giving her time to grow up--if the bad guys will allow it.

Luckily for my Sean and Macy, I give them a happily ever after but I did leave the reader wondering about other magical places and the beings that protect them!

Growing up, Macy Waters leaned on a special pet who came to her during some of her most trying times. Now she’s grown up and must face returning to her childhood home alone, after the death of her parents.

Sean MacKenzie waited years for his mate to grow up, silently watching over her. Now, he’s ready to claim her and make her his.

As Sean shares his secret with Macy, can she learn to love a man who is something more, or will she give up on her own magical happy ending?

Fall for a Shifter Who Has Waited a Lifetime for his Mate….

Available in print as a standalone and in a box set; Daydreams and Night Desires-- in ebook

Happy Reading,

Melissa Keir

www.melissakeir.com

SPOTLIGHT ON Elle James/Myla Jackson and Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow

Please Welcome Elle James to Romance Books 4 Us!

Tell us a little about the kinds of romance you write.

As Elle James, I write romantic suspense featuring military heroes and cowboys. As Myla Jackson, I write contemporary romance with cowboys based around the Ugly Stick Saloon in Texas.

How did your writing career begin?

My sister, Delilah Devlin, and I challenged each other to write a romance novel in the year 2000. We began by co-authoring 5 books together and have since branched out on our own. I’ve now written more than 130 books. She’s written even more!

Are you indie, traditional or hybrid?

Hybrid. I write a lot of indie books, but I also write for Harlequin Intrigue.

Philosophies or epiphanies on writing or reading you’d like to share?

Persistence pays off

What advice would you give new writers?

Don’t keep writing/revising your first book, keep moving forward, write more!

Favorite snack while writing?

Oranges, watermelon

What is your superpower?

My optimism

What is your spirit animal?

Dog

What color is your aura?

Purple

Tell us about your latest release!

Montana Ranger’s Wedding Vow launched March 20^th, 2018

Hot Delta-Force Cowboy and sexy female Army Ranger plan a wedding to trap a killer.

Dallas Hayes muscled her way through Army Ranger training only to be considered a curse on her all-male unit in an operation in Syria. When half the team is killed, she’s left Injured, losing the lower portion of her left leg. Back in the States, she’s fitted with a prosthetic, still jogs and works out, but she’s medically discharged from the life she loved in the Army. Angry and resentful, she doesn't trust anyone. A fight with her physical therapist at Walter Reed lands her at the Brighter Days Rehab Ranch in Montana, with her last chance to get a grip on her new life as a civilian. Only she brings with her the curse that cost her the leg, her teammates and her life in the Army. By being at the ranch, she places the other veterans in danger. Determined to leave, she’s given another alternative, in the form of a bodyguard, courtesy of the Brotherhood Protectors.

Retired Delta Force soldier, Vince “Viper” Van Cleave, did his time in the Army but hasn't managed to fit into the civilian world. What can an expert sniper do with his life when not shooting at enemy combatants? A confirmed bachelor, his first assignment is to masquerade as the groom of a former Army Ranger female and stage a wedding to smoke out the man behind the curse dogging her every step. Together, they make a formidable team that might just make it to the altar intact.

Author bio

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is a former IT professional and retired Army and Air Force Reservist. With over 120 books under her belt, she writes romantic suspense, mysteries and paranormal romance that keeps her readers on the edges of their seats to the very end of every book. When she's not at her computer, she's traveling to exotic and wonderful places, snow-skiing, boating, or riding her four-wheeler, dreaming up new stories.

Social Media links

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page

Giveaways?

Claim a free download of Montana SEAL, the first book in my Brotherhood Protector Series.
To claim a copy of Montana SEAL,  go to this link and choose your format: https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/kS5Xd

 

A reluctant witch and a god who wants to get his bad boy on - FREEING THE BEAST - erotic paranormal romantic comedy - 99¢ SALE #FreeingtheBeast #TinaDonahueBooks

Have I got a sale for you.

Freeing the Beast, book one in my Taming the Beast series (erotic paranormal romantic comedy) is on sale for 99¢ until April 29. Woot!

AMAZON US - AMAZON UK

Series Blurb:

Magic has never been as sexy or as fun. In New Orleans’ French Quarter From Crud to Stud is the makeover service for supernatural beings who want to tame their beasts so they can date mortal babes. Owned by a half-witch and staffed by a good fairy, a reformed female demon, and a voodoo priestess—among others—the place is always hopping. There’s moonlight therapy for weres, aversion therapy to keep vamps from sinking their fangs in anyone’s neck, and no end of spells, potions, and treatments. These ladies definitely put the boys through their paces. But it’s not all work as they search for their one true love. Their journeys aren’t easy, but they’re definitely magical.

Freeing the Beast Blurb:

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

For Becca Salt being a witch isn’t all magic. Too curvy and lonely, she spends her nights running a makeover service for demons, vamps, weres and zombies who want to project a more human, normal side. Their goal? To get the babes without the authorities hunting them down like rabid dogs. Once Becca suppresses the worst of their beast, they’re on the hunt and gone.

Dating has been a definite bitch for Eric Diletto. Although he’s hot and hung, he’s also one of Cupid’s descendants—a god born to believe in courtship, courtesy and all that other junk. Tired of women dumping him for the bad boys, Eric hires Becca to release his inner beast. Grrrr.

Two potions later, they’re crawling all over each other. With Eric’s newfound dominance, he’s definitely the man. And the god, who intends to take Becca here, there and everywhere. Who said sorcery and love wasn’t fun?

Warning—a witchdoctor’s nightmare. Contains potions with weird side effects, a sorceress with limited magical skills and a yearning heart, plus a minor god who wants to get down and dirty. Bad, bad boy.

Read the First Chapter for FREE. Click HERE.

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