BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--TO LOVE A SPY BOXED SET

Marie Higgins is a bestselling, multi-published author of Christian and sweet romance novels who writes about refined bad-boy heroes who make your heart melt and the feisty heroines who somehow manage to love them regardless of their faults.  Learn more about her and her books at her website.

Got to love a spy!!

What does it take to be a spy? How about a historical spy? Those of us who love a good spy story, always think of the spy being a man, especially in history. During my research while writing my latest release, Secrets and Lies, I learned quite a bit about women spies. My story is a Victorian romance, and takes place in New York City after the Civil War in 1870. Did you know there were many women spies during the Civil War? They needed to help their soldiers in some way in hopes of ending the war. Women could get away with being a spy, mainly because the men would never suspect a woman of being in espionage.

Secrets and Lies is about Nicole Bastian who works as a Secret Agent for President Ulysses S Grant.

On secret assignment from President Grant, Nicole Bastian is tasked with investigating a string of train robberies in which government money was stolen. The stakes are high and she is utterly devastated when she uncovers information that indicates the man of her dreams, Ashton Lee, one of the wealthy owners of Conrail, is the number one suspect. Desperate to remain cool and impartial, Nicole strives to keep her suspicions quiet until she learns what Ashton is keeping from her. At the same time, she’s determined to keep her own secrets from Ashton, hoping he never finds out.

Ashton Lee is immediately attracted to the woman he’d met at the masked ball. Unfortunately, there’s something not right about her, and he can’t put his finger on why he thinks this way. She’s mysterious, beautiful, but very secretive. Dare he allow her to soften his heart? And more importantly, will she understand why he keeps secrets from her?

Check out the book trailer.

Secrets and Lies boxed set BuyLink

Secrets and Lies is also in a boxed set with five other bestselling authors, titled To Love a Spy. All the authors have written historical romance stories dealing with spies.

To Love a Spy

A collection of wickedly suspenseful and wildly charming historical romances with bold heroes and dauntless heroines who must use unconventional methods to deliver justice—and hopefully find a love that proves a perfect fit for their hearts. The collection includes:

The Lieutenant’s Promise by Aileen Fish, USA Today and National bestselling author.

Caught in the path of an impending battle between approaching Federal and rebel troops, headstrong Em Gilmore clashes with handsome Lt. Lucas over keeping her family safe. 

Secrets and Lies by Marie Higgins, National bestselling author.

Love for the man of her dreams wasn't the only thing she was trying to hide. 

Blood for Ink by LL Muir, National bestselling author.

Northwick is determined to uncover the identity of The Scarlet Plumiere, a gossip writer who has exposed his friend to the ridicule of the ton. But if he unmasks her, she's as good as dead... 

Anna and the Conductor by Bess McBride, National bestselling author. Amid the ravages of the American Civil War, abolitionist Anna Douglas and a mysterious Underground Railroad conductor risk their freedom and lives to carry others to safety. Can their newfound love survive the chaos and destruction of war? 

Love, Lies, Traitors, and Spies by Melissa Lynn Blue, National bestselling author.

The last year has harbored little more than horror and loss for Juliet Jackson, but when her fiancé, Cole Turner, shows up one night claiming to have information that will end the war she is faced with a rare opportunity to take control of her own destiny. The only problem is that Cole is serving as a Union army spy, and Juliet is a staunch Virginian... 

The Mapmaker's Wife by Kathy L Wheeler, National bestselling author.

A flippant proposal and an attack on her person finds one young woman married to the mapmaker who only needs someone to take control of his ungovernable child. Feelings quickly shift into something less platonic and when the enemy gains vital secrets, her suspicions land her in jail.

To Love a Spy boxed set BuyLink (ONLY 99 CENTS!)

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--THE MARTINI CLUB

Left to Right: Alicia Dean, Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, Krysta Scott

Alicia Dean is one of the members of the Martini Club. The club is comprised of four writing friends. Today Alicia talks about how they collaborated on a new romance series set in the Roaring Twenties. Learn more about the Martini Club at their Facebook page. 

  

Martini Club 4 – The 1920s

A few years ago, myself and three of my writer friends—Amanda McCabe, Kathy L. Wheeler, and Krysta Scott—began meeting each Friday evening (unless something extremely important kept one of us away, and trust me, it had to be IMPORTANT) for Martinis and various other libations, at the Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma. In time, we came to dub our gathering the ‘Martini Club.’ We unwind, vent, chat about writing, laugh, and strengthen an already strong bond of friendship. It’s not only fun, it’s beneficial. As all writers know, no other friend besides a writer friend truly understands us. (We also have an honorary MC member, Cindy Sorenson. Although she is a writer, she declined to write one of the stories, but she has been invaluable as far as brainstorming and beta reading. So, what else could we do…we named a character after her in the series!)

During one of these gatherings, one of us, and I can’t remember who, made an offhand remark about writing stories centered around the Martini Club. The idea blossomed from there, and the ‘Martini Club 4’ series was born. We thought it would be fun to set our first MC4 stories in the 1920’s, but we intend to write more in other decades in the future. During the planning, plotting, and writing, we have had a few weekend retreats that were loads of fun, and some were even productive. J What a joy to do something that I love so much—writing—with a group of ladies that I love so much!

The four books that comprise the Martini Club 4 series officially release on February 26. Right now you can pre-order any of the books at the sale price of only 99¢. The price will go up to $2.99 after the release date.

Martini Club 4 – The 1920s

Four young English women discover friendship, romance, and danger in 1920’s New York City...

Rebellious, Book 1 by Amanda McCabe

Can an aristocratic lady melt the cold heart of a Russian gangster?

Lady Jessica Hatton fled her high-society London debutante life for one of investigative journalism in New York—only to be relegated to the fashion pages. Searching for a juicy story leads her to Club 501, the city's most glamorous speakeasy—and its handsome, mysterious owner, Frank Markov. But his past of war and revolution puts their hearts—and their lives—in danger...

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Ruined, book 2 by Alicia Dean

She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans...

After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped.

When Vince Taggart’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend.

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Reckless, Book 3 by Kathy L. Wheeler

Lady Margaret turned Lady Bootlegger…

Singer Margaret (Meggie) Montley needs money…fast. Her friend is in a dire situation with nowhere to turn. While Meggie is on the brink of stardom, it’s not soon enough to save her friend.

Harry Dempsey is out to avenge the deaths of his father and brother at the hands of a ruthless gangster. But trouble spirals out of control when Meggie Montley shows up the night he meets his nemesis to settle the score. Saving the impetuous woman from a crime lord might be easier than saving her from her own reckless behavior.

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Runaway, Book 4 by Krysta Scott

Can she prove her innocence before more than her dreams are destroyed?

After escaping an arranged marriage, Lady Charlotte Leighton lands on a new shore, determined to realize her dream of opening her own bakery. But her plans are shattered when her former fiancé follows her to New York. Now, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom.

Haunted by a string of failures, Detective Felix Noble is determined to solve his latest case. But his efforts to find a murderer are jeopardized by a forbidden attraction to his number one suspect. While he’s certain Charlotte Leighton is keeping secrets, instinct tells him she’s not the murderess he first believed.

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FASHION WITH GUEST AUTHOR KATHY L. WHEELER

Romance author Kathy L. Wheeler, who also writes as Kae Elle Wheeler, joins us today to talk about a subject near and dear to her heart and the heart of one of the characters from her Bloomington series. Learn more about Kathy and her books at her website.  

What girl does not love shoes? I ask you. Me, for example, I have tons of shoes. And lately I’ve been buying up all the boots, booties I can find. I love shoes of all kinds. For instance, I just bought the cutest pair of booties from Nine West. Of course, mine don’t have the tassel.

I also picked up a pair of gladiator sandals. They’ve been big the last couple of years, and it looks as if this year will not be any different. (Also, Nine West.)

There are all kinds of goofy shoes, and truly fabulous shoes.  Here are some really great shoes, though they have a very specific purpose, as you can see. My daughter was the genius behind this little gift (as in giving). They were perfect this winter when my critique group went to the Embassy Suites in Tulsa for a little writing pow-wow. 

Some shoes I’ve acquired were not necessarily meant for me. Take these size 14’s of Eric Maynor’s.  An NBA ex Oklahoma City Thunder player. Yes, you read that right: size 14!!!

Oh, here’s Eric and I:   He’s cute, isn’t he? Alas, the shoes are unsigned, and believe me, I tried for a couple of years to no avail. Guess you have to be some adorable little kid, age 5 or so....

Speaking of Thunder: This guy was in the bar, and I don’t know what he was thinking. Yes, I took the picture to totally make fun of some guy wearing purple shoes. I’m not that nice. (At least I didn’t show his face.)

I just love shoes. So when I was writing my Bloomington Series, it turns out that Lorianne loves shoes too! In fact, she is notorious for spending loads of money she does not have on shoes when she is really upset. Take these fuschia Mary Jane platforms. She has them in a couple of colors. And when she is angry? Well, watch out. You never know what might come flying at you.

Happy shopping!

Quotable

Genna Lyndsey is not a people person. A short, too-skinny, wild haired waif, with crazy hair and sturdy nerdy glasses who lives through books. So it’s lucky she and her best friend own their own bookstore. Her college days taught her that dating was too unreliable to depend on others. It was then that she started resorting to obscure quotes to shield herself from others who ventured too close.

Rick Johnson, Fraud Insurance Claims Investigator, is assigned to look into an unusual number of claims filed by Genna Lyndsey. He suspects Genna of sabotaging her own property for insurance money. His investigation uncovers an adorable introvert determined to keep everyone at bay, while someone else resolves to put her out of business—no matter how great the risk.

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