Please welcome Catherine Kean back to the blog today! She’s here to tell us about her new release, THAT KNIGHT BY THE SEA, and she’s giving away two e-books to two people who answer her question. So, be sure to read to the end so you can find out how to win.
MEET CATHERINE
Bestselling, award-winning novelist Catherine Kean is a Kindle Unlimited All-Star author of medieval romances. Catherine’s early books were originally published in paperback and several were released in Czech, German, and Thai foreign editions. She has won numerous awards for her stories, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. When not working on her next book, Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, browsing antique shops, shopping with her daughter, and gardening. She lives in Florida with two spoiled cats.
THE STORY BLURB
Lady Adaline Mortimer never expected to see Garrett Thurlow, the rebellious young lord she loved and lost, ever again. Yet, when she's kidnapped and held captive, the dark secrets of the past return. In the cave of St. Agnes, will she and Garrett win a second chance at true love, or will they perish just like the legendary lovers before them?
“You must have a given name.”
Warning touched his gaze, and a heady tingle coursed through her. Was her captor afraid she’d figure out who he was?
The silence lagged.
“Well?” she insisted.
His eyes narrowed, and then, of all things, he chuckled: a genuine, admiring laugh that sent shivers dancing over her skin.
Her face warmed. “You find this situation amusing?”
“Nay, milady, I find you amusing.”
Mother Mary!
“You are in great peril, but you do not caution your tongue.”
She refused to cower, despite the awful quivering of her stomach. “I only ask what is fair. You know my name. Therefore, I have a right to know yours.”
“Do you?”
Mayhap this fool would respond to threats rather than questions. Forcing a cold smile, she said, “Did you know I am to be wed days from now, to one of the most powerful, renowned men in all of England? Once my betrothed realizes I am missing, he will be searching for me. So will my father.”
Her captor’s expression had shadowed with wariness.
“My betrothed will not rest until he finds the man who dared to jeopardize the wellbeing of his lady.”
Her abductor almost seemed to be holding back a smile, but she hadn’t spoken in jest. He was a damned idiot if he didn’t heed her warning. “You would be wise to release me.”
“You will remain here.”
“If you release me—”
“I will not.” His tone warned there was no point trying to change his mind.
Impatience and anger prompted her to rise to her feet. Head held high, she stood in a stream of sunshine swirling with dust motes. “I have warned you. You might think you have bested my betrothed and my father in whatever plot you have contrived, but they will find me and free me. You will lose all.”
“We shall see.”
“Indeed we will.”
Their gazes clashed. As she stared into his brown eyes, she sensed there was so much more to this man than he would ever let her understand. And yet, God help her, she’d swear she’d seen such expressive eyes before….
He moved toward her, his leather boots creaking in the quiet of the chamber.
She longed to step back, but there was nowhere to go; the bed was right behind her.
Do not show weakness, her conscience screamed. Show him you will not be defeated.
He closed in on her. Her palms dampened with sweat, and she curled her fingers into fists.
An earthy, outdoorsy scent surrounded him: a blend of verdant forests, sun-drenched stone, and windswept fields. To her shame, she liked the scent. It reminded her, oddly, of the seashore long ago.
His hand rose to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyelids fluttered on an unexpected swell of longing and confusion. A battle warred within her: a sense that she knew his touch. The only man who’d ever touched her, though, was Garrett, and he’d died while fighting for the king.
She tilted her head, trying to dislodge her captor’s fingers, but his hand moved to her nape and held her firm.
“Stop,” she whispered. She hated feeling trapped. Hated that her life, for now, belonged to this man.
His smoldering stare bored into her. “Am I hurting you?”
“Nay, I….”
“What?” he coaxed, a huskiness in his voice. “Tell me.”
Addy swallowed hard. What should she say? She didn’t dare tell him that for some strange reason, he reminded her of her true love.
UP NEXT FOR CATHERINE:
Her Gallant Knight
Available January 2018
PREVIOUS RELEASES BY CATHERINE:
The Interview
Nancy Robards Thompson: Hi, Catherine! I’m so happy you’re here today! How often do you get lost in a story?
Catherine Kean: Thanks for having me today, Nancy. I get lost in a story almost every day! I’m a slow writer, so I try to work on my books on a daily basis. My creative process is to write a story through three times from beginning to end, with each revised version becoming stronger and more polished. Then I will print out the story and read it through twice, to catch typos, eliminate over-used words, and add in any final details, before I consider it to be done.
NRT: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
CK: Either Sleeping Beauty or Beauty and the Beast.
NRT: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
CK: Impossible to choose. I enjoy both.
NRT: Where do you read and how often?
CK: I love to curl up in my bed in the evening and read a bit before I go to sleep. If I don’t get this reading time, my brain will refuse to switch off.
NRT: What sound or noise do you love?
CK: I love the crashing of waves. The sound is so soothing.
NRT: What is your favorite trait about your hero in That Knight by the Sea?
CK: I love Garrett’s deep-rooted sense of honor. He’s had a tough life, but is a really good, chivalrous guy at heart, even though it takes him a while to admit this to himself.
NRT: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
CK: I love fast-paced, romantic adventures set in the past that grab hold of me from page one and don’t let me go until I read the last word of the story. I especially love medievals because I’ve visited castles, churches, and other historic sites that date from the Middle Ages and found them to be fascinating.
NRT: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?
CK: I can’t write while listening to music. I get too distracted! I need silence so my Muse can think.
NRT: What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?
CK: My two kitties. They are the sweetest little guys. They like to lie in front of my keyboard and snooze while I work.
NRT: Benedict Cumberbatch or Chris Pine?
CK: Benedict! He’s a marvelous Sherlock Holmes. He’s so complex and intriguing.
NRT: What drinks or snacks are always on your desk when you’re writing?
CK: Green tea or organic coffee, Walkers shortbread cookies, and Petit Ecolier milk chocolate biscuits.
CATHERINE WANTS TO KNOW: Do you read medieval romances? If so, what’s your favorite thing about stories set in the medieval era?
Catherine Kean is giving away 2 Kindle copies of That Knight by the Sea to 2 people who comment below! (North America only)
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FIND CATHERINE ON THE WEB
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National bestselling author Nancy Robards Thompson lives and writes in Florida, but her imagination transports her all over the world. She has found Nirvana doing what she loves most – writing romance and women's fiction full-time. After hanging up her press pass, this former journalist and two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart struck gold in July 2002 when she won the award. Since then, she’s gone on to sell more than 40 books, which critics have deemed, “…funny, smart and observant.” You can connect with her at NancyRobardsThompson.com; on Facebook at Nancy Robards Thompson Books; follow her on Twitter at @NRTWrites; and connect with her on Instagram @NancyRThompson.
Thanks so much for having me at the blog today, Nancy!
ReplyDeleteI love romances set in all eras... for me it is all about the journey the characters take to find their HEAs... thanks for sharing! Such beautiful covers! greenshamrock atcox dotnet :)
ReplyDeleteyes, settings
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Yes, I read medieval romances. My favorite things about stories set in the medieval era are castles, knights and the code of chivalry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today, Colleen C.! You're right about the journey to the HEA being such an important part of why we read romances. I think some of the best books involve the hero and heroine really struggling to achieve that happily-ever-after moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, bn100. I enjoy reading about settings, too, especially in historical romances. I've visited quite a few castles to try and ensure that when people read my books, they can visualize what it was like to live in a fortress.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Karen M! I see we are kindred spirits when it comes to medievals. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine! All I have to say about your blurb above is “oh my”! My heart was starting to beat a little fast! I love all historical romances but medieval times are one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Lori! :) I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
DeleteSorry I must have hit enter before I finished! I love the strong family ties within the clans. The different settings and the traditions. For the warriors the intense training and their string sense of what is right. I just love everything about that time period!⚔️⚔️
ReplyDeleteCatherine, Medieval romances were the first romances I read and they hooked me on the genre. What attracts me to the stories set during Medieval times is the difficulty of life for most people and the strength they developed because of it. Women had little control over their lives and were used as pawns by families. Unfortunately that didn't change for centuries. In times like that the character of a person was reflected in the way they treated others and what they stood for. A person's true character could not easily be hidden by social station and social niceties.
ReplyDeleteSo very well said, libbrarypat! :) Thanks for the insightful comment.
DeleteThanks so much to everyone who stopped by and commented on my post. The winners of my contest are: Colleen C. and Lori Dykes. Ladies, please contact me via my website and I will gift you your copies of THAT KNIGHT BY THE SEA.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Catherine... sending off email now!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Colleen and Lori. Enjoy.
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