Best Books to Read Now: October 2018

Is there anything better than a crisp autumn day and an excellent book?

The answer is, NO. There is not. Because autumn is prime reading season, I thought I’d get back to sharing my recommendations of what I’ve read and what is next on my TBR list!

The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick

Amazon || Apple Books

The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick is a fabulous book for fall. It has everything - Tudor history, a dash of romance, a mystery, and time-travel! I have been recommending this one to a lot of people so if you read it, please let me know how you like it! I’d love to talk about it.

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Amazon || Apple Books

I just realized I recommended this one at the end of the summer, as well. HA! That’s how you know it’s good. Still, as mentioned in my Women With Books episode with Chanel Cleeton (she’s the one who finally got me to start the series), this is really the perfect book to enjoy snuggled up on a dreary day with a hot cup of tea.

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? by Alyssa Mastromonaco

Amazon || Apple Books

One of the things that gets me to recommend a book is if I cannot get it out of my mind. And this is one of those. No, it’s not a great literary piece or a fast-paced thriller or steamy romance. It’s an easy to read, funny yet thoughtful memoir of one of the most senior White House staffers for President Obama. As we go through yet another divisive political season, I think more of us should read books like this one, that remind us what government (and politics) looks like through an insider’s lens and how it can be used for good. And yes, I think people of all political stripes can find something to enjoy in this one.

TBR PILE!

What’s next on my to-read list? I’ve been saving these two as a reward for when I get my edits done (which should be ANY DAY NOW!!)

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

Amazon || Apple Books

My Favorite Half Night Stand - by Christina Lauren

Amazon || Apple Books

So I’ve been anxiously awaiting both of the above, since I interviewed Jasmine (last JANUARY?? Has it been that long???) and C.Lo this summer. (You can find both podcast episodes here: Women With Books.) These authors know how to bring me tears and laughs with their modern romances and I know it will be exactly what I need after I RIP MY HEART OUT (sorry - I meant to say, ‘finish my edits.’)

And of course, I can’t let a “Best Fall Books To Read” blog go by without mentioning that my book, THE ROYAL RUNAWAY has been included in several “best of” lists!

Check these out!
Bookbub’s 18 Best Fall Romances

Get Literary’s Five October Fiction Picks

AND…

In Style’s Ten Books You Won’t Be Able To Put Down This October

 The Royal Runaway!

Amazon : http://amzn.to/2EhFPuz

BN.Com: http://bit.ly/TRRBN

Simon & Schuster: http://bit.ly/RoyalRunaway

Apple : http://bit.ly/TheRoyalRunaway

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2xQNdrl

Kobo: http://bit.ly/TRRKobo

So go on - what are you waiting for? I give you permission to joyfully purchase all the books that will make your heart warm and fluttery this autumn.

Test your Royal IQ!

How Well Do you Know Your Queens (and Future Queens?)

Yes, yes, we all know the BRF (British Royal Family) but there are lots of lovely, intelligent, fierce women in other royal families around the globe.  We’ve been having some fun talking about these royals on my Facebook Page, so I thought I’d do a quiz to test your Royal IQ!

Rules: Each right answer is one point. I’ll give you a picture and the country she currently lives in and you have to guess her name! Keep track of your points and you’ll get your own royal title.

Ready?

1. Queen _____ of Jordan

2. Queen ____ of Bhutan

3. Crown Princess _____ of Norway

I think he’s helping her with her dress but the photo pleases me in every way.

4. Crown Princess _____, Duchess of Vastergotland  of Sweden (Sorry, had to include that extra title in there. What a title!)

Y’all know I love her. She makes wearing a crown look fun.

5. Queen _____ of The  Netherlands

She’s a former journalist!

6. Queen ______ of Spain

7. Princess _____ of Liechtenstein

She has a Masters’ degree!

8. Princess _____ of Japan

She’s an Olympian!

9. Her Serene Highness Princess _____ of Monaco

Extra Credit:

What are the birth nationalities of the Queen of Netherlands (1 point), the Liechtenstein princess (1 point) and HSH Princess of Monaco (1 point).

---

ANSWERS!!!

1.       Queen of Jordan

2.       Queen {Jetsun Pema} of Bhutan

3.       Crown Princess of Norway

4.       Crown Princess , Duchess of Vastergotland  of Sweden (Sorry, had to include that extra title in there. What a title!)

5.       Queen of The  Netherlands

6.       Queen of  Spain

7.       Princess of Liechtenstein

8.       Princess of Japan

9.       Her Serene Highness Princess of Monaco

Extra Credit:
1 point: The Queen of The Netherlands was born in Argentina
1 point: Princess Angela of Liechtenstein was born in Panama
1 point: Her Serene Royal Highness Charlene was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Tally them up and get ready for your Coronation!

What did you get?                            

8-12 points = You’re Queen Elizabeth II! You’re the Queen!

4-7 points = You’re the Duchess of Cambridge! Keep working and you’ll get there eventually!

0-3 points = You’re Princess Eugenie! At least you’re on the balcony wearing a pretty dress!

All These Things That I Love - Royally Royal Movies - September 2018

A monthly roundup of things that give me life...

Last month I shared some of my favorite romance-adventure movies, so of course, then I was asked, what are some of my favorite royally themed movies?

And I have to admit, I sort of paused. Because I don’t really think of a “princess” movie as being a separate genre. It’s either something I like and want to watch again, or it’s… not.

But I drew up a list anyway, and I definitely started seeing some similarities in the movies I picked. One, they all have royals in them (obviously.) Two, they all have humor and/ or romance. There are good movies and television shows about court intrigue and rising to power, etc., and I like watching those but generally, I need humor and that extra something else to re-watch.

Ready for my recommendations? 

Elizabeth at 90 - this is a documentary, also available on Netflix, prepared and narrated by Prince Charles on the occasion of his mother, Her Majesty’s ninetieth birthday. With never before-seen interviews and home movies, I just adored this peek into the lives of a woman who truly has defined the last century. And I’ll admit it, I cried. I don’t even know what that was about.

The Princess Bride - a true classic. Quotes from this appear in many a writer’s wheelhouse and the mix of adventure, romance and humor will never get old. Or mostly dead.

The Princess Diaries - another classic fantasy. The cast is perfection - who doesn’t love Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway?- and it will always cheer you up on a gloomy day in Genovia.

The Crown - a gorgeous dramatization of Queen Elizabeth’s reign (I mean, that photo alone makes me want to write all the things ^^), I highly recommend watching this and the documentary above. I’ve rewatched the series and I love the actors so much. I’m not quite sure how I’ll feel about Tobias Menzies taking over as Prince Phillip. He was so devastatingly good as Black Jack Randall. I’m sure for the first episode of series 3 I’ll be terrified for the safety of HM. Here’s the most recent news about the third season of The Crown.

The Young Victoria - another gorgeous (I’m using that word a lot, aren’t I? But seriously, I just get lost in all the costume and sets of these period movies) film about, yes, Young Queen Victoria. The depiction of the courtship and early marriage of Victoria and Prince Albert is swoony.

And finally…

The Woman He Loved.

It’s a 1988 film about the love affair that ended a king’s reign - between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII. I don’t even know why this movie still is so firmly implanted in my brain. This was a television movie, and I’m not sure if I would have seen it on TV, or on a VCR (very old technology for those youngsters out there.) But something about this movie stuck with me - maybe it was the glorious angst of a king giving up his throne or the glamour of the 30’s and 40’s costumes, the beauty of Jane Seymour or the very intense furrowed brow of Anthony Andrews… who knows. It definitely made an impression on me as a pre-teen and then I was VERY invested in the same characters in The Crown.

Anyway, the movie is available in its entirety on You Tube here:

So those are my top recommendations for royally-themed movies! I’m putting my silly little self-made movie poster here again for The Royal Runaway. It comes out next month (!!!) and I can’t wait for everyone to read it and let me know who they see playing the roles of Princess Theodora of Drieden and Nick Fraser-Campbell.

No celebrity endorsement implied. Just inspired to play around with a movie poster of my own.

I'd love to hear what royally wonderful movies you love and what I need to add to my rainy day movie queues!

Reserve your copy of THE ROYAL RUNAWAY at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo

Best Books to Read Now: 2018 Women With Books Summer Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

Earlier this summer, I introduced the 2018 WOMEN WITH BOOKS SUMMER READING CHALLENGE!
 

Did you do it? What did you read? 
I sort of accidentally completed the challenge, and I talk all about it on the Season 3 opener of my podcast, Women With Books. Check out the episode here. And while you're listening, these are the books I discuss....
 

A royal book! 

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Amazon || Apple Books

BEACH BOOKS

Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams

Amazon || Apple Books

New To You Genre

Prisoner of the Crown by Jeffe Kennedy

Amazon || Apple Books

A Diverse / Inclusive Read And Debut Author
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
 

Amazon || Apple Books

 

A Book that Inspired a Movie/ TV Show

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan:  Amazon || iBooks

A Book with A Pretty Dress on the Cover

Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean

Amazon || Apple Books

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

 

Amazon || Apple Books

Book from a Former Women With Books Guest
Check out Tessa Dare's, Sarah MacLean's and Jeffe Kennedy's books, above!

I'd love to hear if you read anything good this summer and I definitely recommend the above books so go ahead and add them to your TBR pile! And while you're one-clicking, make sure you reserve your copy of my next release... THE ROYAL RUNAWAY!  Anyone who has good taste in books will enjoy it! 
 

All These Things That I Love - Drinks Edition - August 2018 & a COVER REVEAL

A monthly roundup of things that give me life...

I've got a very special drinks edition for you today!  A guest drinks edition brought to you by my British-American friend Julia Kelly to celebrate my new UK cover! 

First, let's look at my beautiful cover, then you can fix a very British drink to celebrate it! 

Isn't it fun?  I love seeing my book re-interpreted in different ways! So if you are in the United Kingdom, Australia, any part of the English speaking world that IS NOT North America, this is the cover you'll see for THE ROYAL RUNAWAY, my novel that is releasing 9 October 2018! (see how I used the right date format?)
 

Learn more about the book here and here!

And now please welcome my friend, author Julia Kelly. I asked her to tell us about a quintessential British summer cocktail. 

Author Julia Kelly and family. Probably role-playing scenes from THE ROYAL RUNAWAY.

Since moving to London, I’ve realized that there are a few reliable clues that summer is coming. People start wearing light jackets rather than heavy ones. Tennis players start thinking about dusting off their tennis whites. And the Pimms begins to flow.

If you aren’t familiar with Pimms, it’s an herbal-ish drink made from Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, lemonade, fruit, cucumber, and mint. Think British sangria, minus the wine.

In the UK, you can buy Pimm’s in cans, but that takes all of the romance out of the drink. Instead, break out your best water pitcher and mix up a batch. Just be careful. Depending on who’s mixing the drink and whether they add anything “special” to it (i.e. gin), it can be more potent than you think.

Julia’s Perfect Pimm’s

250ml Pimm’s No. 1 Cup

500ml British-style lemonade*

Orange, sliced

Strawberries, sliced

Cucumber, sliced

1 bunch mint leaves

Ice cubes

Slice your fruit and cucumber. (The beauty of Pimm’s is that you can customize how much fruit you really want). Place the fruit, mint, and ice into a large pitcher. Pour in your Pimm’s and lemonade over and stir. Pour out your Pimm’s and be sure to eat the liquor-soaked fruit when you reach the end of the jug. Enjoy with friends or (safely) by yourself. We won’t judge.

*British lemonade is not like American lemonade! It’s a slightly fizzy drink that’s more lightly sweet than sharp. In a pinch try flavoring sparkling water with a couple squeezes of fresh lemon.

Reserve your copy of THE ROYAL RUNAWAY at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo

And Pre-Order Julia Kelly's next historical fiction novel, THE LIGHT OVER LONDON at:
Amazon || BN.Com || Simon & Schuster ||  Apple Books  ||Amazon UK || Kobo