Kelli’s Quill Newsletter - Welcome Winter Issue

 

Hi everyone! I hope you’re surviving the chaos of “the holidays” and taking it easy when you can. This issue of the Quill recaps 2022—and oddly, it’s mostly devoted to the paranormal! It’s not a throwback to Halloween, but since the Christmas stuff has been in stores since before Halloween, who can tell?

I’m sharing info on a non-fiction paranormal anthology, flashing back to my paranormal romance novel, sharing a link to a yummy cookie recipe, and more!  

Out of Time - 26 True Stories of the Paranormal!

As most of my readers know, I love all things supernatural. My idea of an exciting weekend is exploring historical/haunted/creepy places. (Wilson Castle, VT, anyone??!) I have no qualms about investigating haunted mansions, and videos of orbs or strange shadow figures intrigue me.

It’s no secret that my husband and I have had our share of paranormal adventures. Many of my friends and relatives already know about the unusual events that occurred in Gettysburg—but now I’m sharing my story with the rest of world in the Out of Time anthology from Timber Ghost Press.

Out of Time

Are ghosts real? The question has haunted us for ages. Almost every culture in the world has tales and stories of the unknown things that lurk in our periphery.

Contained within are 26 true stories about ghosts, poltergeists, haunted houses, unexplained events, and possessed items. You'll find stories about strange noises, objects that vanish and reappear in odd places, dolls that refuse to sit still, haunted battlefields, abandoned castles, and much more! But beware: after reading this anthology, you might just start believing in the things that are trapped out of time.

Order your copy here: https://www.timberghostpress.com/out-of-time1.html

I’ve read several of the stories and some of them are pretty creepy—even by my standards! If you love true stories of the paranormal, be sure to get a copy of this book… if you dare. (Makes a great holiday gift!)

And if you like paranormal romances don’t miss… In Another World

This contemporary romance novel blends a murder mystery with the world of the paranormal. It’s received several excellent reviews!

In Another World

A Paranormal Mystery/Romance Novel

Disgraced psychic medium Julie Kershaw has finally met her soul mate. The problem is he’s dead… and his spirit haunts the car she just bought.

The spirit of Detective Eddie Mahoney is determined to find his killer and needs Julie’s help. At first, she refuses. She’s tired of being called crazy and swore she’d never use her abilities to speak to the dead again—even if Eddie is handsome and charming.

Eddie persuades Julie to contact his former partner, Lou Kaplonski, to ask him to reopen his case. Skeptical, Lou dismisses Julie as a fake—until she proves she can communicate with the dead—and he finds out Eddie has a lot to say.

Julie channels Eddie’s spirit and together with Lou, the unusual trio tracks down leads and follows clues to solve Eddie’s murder. The case takes them down a dark and dangerous path filled with secrets, where nobody can be trusted.

As they work to find his killer, Julie falls for Eddie. Funny, smart, and sexy, Eddie is the guy of her dreams—and he doesn’t look or act the least bit dead. To her surprise, Eddie discovers a clever way they can be together, and they begin an ethereal romance.

When Lou’s investigation brings him too close to the killer, his life and Julie’s are put in danger—and Eddie may be the only one who can save them.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R11STRN

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bpw16g

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/in-another-world

Looking for more mystery? Curl up with these quick reads:

Silent Sentinel - A Mini-Thriller

One afternoon, Valerie visits a flea market and meets a peculiar man who tries to sell her an ancient statue of Anubis—the Egyptian god of the dead. Despite her protests, the man insists that she must have the statue. Valerie gives in and brings her new “guardian” home.

Later that night, Valerie awakens to discover an intruder has broken into her house. She’s forced to fight for her life and relies on Anubis to save her.

When the police investigate, they make a shocking discovery about her attacker and his motive. Only then does Valerie realize how lucky she was— the statue was the last thing she wanted, but exactly what she needed.

Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JB57751

All other platforms:  https://books2read.com/u/mgExB0

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/silent-sentinel

More Than I Bargained For - A Paranormal Mini-Mystery

Katie doesn’t like going to estate sales. Why? Because she sees dead people.

When Katie reluctantly attends an estate sale with her friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased former owner of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her, and she has a lot to say.

As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells her the story of how she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in the house.

It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder weapon and get it to the police… before time runs out.

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG4J8B2

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me9jzl

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/more-than-i-bargained-for

Kelli’s Been Blogging…             

In November, I blogged about my non-fiction self-help ebooks. If you’re looking for fun ways to make the most of the new year, be sure to check them out!

Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing: Love the holidays? Can’t stand them? Want to vent about what bothers you? Try Journaling! https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/love-the-holidays-can-t-stand-them-want-to-vent-about-what-bothers-you-try-journaling

Romance Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love: Show you care this holiday season! https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/show-you-care-this-holiday-season-with-romance-every-weekend-104-fun-ways-to-express-your-love

Kelli’s Blog Series Wraps Up! This year I completed my blog series. The Behind the Scenes blogs examine my romance novels. I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. The Meet the Character Day blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances.

Each series is featured on both of my blogs. If you missed any, you can catch up here:

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog or https://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

A Tasty Holiday Treat!

My Spicy Ginger Cookie recipe appeared in the December issue of Still Moments digital magazine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxDOtqtRhHk--y9s2omJHePuBTMOTM7A/view

In 2023, I’ll be contributing articles to several issues. You can follow them/subscribe here:

http://stillmomentsezine.blogspot.com

Looking into the Future…

I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Quill. Thank you to all my readers for your support over the last 12 months. If you’ve read one of my books and loved it, please consider leaving a great review on Amazon, Goodreads, or other social media platforms.

As some of you may already know, I’ve been on hiatus from writing and social media for the last few months. I’ll be blogging about why and what I’ve been up to…  But in the meantime I’ll be writing new horror stories and finally writing that contemporary gay romance.

I’m starting a writing-related blog series next year. Stay tuned to my blogs and social media for updates.

I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Want to get in touch with me on social media? All my links are listed on the contact page of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/contact

Happy Holidays! (Please donate to your local animal shelter if you can!)

Kelli 

 

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Sam Hixton from Love, Lies and Redemption

 

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. 

The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers.

 

Today we’re chatting with Sam Hixton, the hero from my historical romance, Love, Lies and Redemption. Let’s get to know him better…

Q: Greetings, Sam. Before we get started, could you tell readers about the book?

Sure, I’m glad to. Love, Lies and Redemption is a full-length novel set on the Nebraska prairie in 1877 and blends a steamy Western romance with mystery and danger. It has a little bit of everything: humor, sadness, and more than a few spicy love scenes. (Grins.)

Here’s the summary and links…

Love, Lies and Redemption

Shot and left for dead, Sam Hixton stumbles into a general store on the Nebraska prairie and collapses into the arms of Cassie Wilcox.

Cassie’s world is turned upside down when the handsome stranger drops into her life. Sam is another complication she doesn’t need: her business is dying and her trouble with the townspeople is escalating. Yet she’s determined to keep the store open — no matter what the cost.

As Sam recovers from his injuries, he hides the truth about his identity and convinces Cassie to let him work in the store. He’s attracted to her and admires her independent nature, but quickly realizes Cassie’s in way over her head. They fight their growing attraction, and Cassie questions whether she can trust her fragile heart to a mysterious stranger. Will he accept her once he knows about her troubled past?

Cassie resists Sam’s advances and represses her feelings until one fateful night when they give in to their fiery passion. Together, they work out a plan to save the store, but find their efforts are thwarted — and their lives endangered — by the locals.

Sam’s secret returns to haunt him and pulls him away just when Cassie needs him the most. Will he regain her trust when she learns the truth?

Cassie has everything invested in the store — can she save it and find true love with Sam before it’s too late?

 

Order Love, Lies and Redemption here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0849LN73Z

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/mdzL6W

***

Q: Tell us about yourself. How does the story begin for you?

I’m not sure what I did to make Kelli annoyed at me, but the book begins with me shot and half-dead, stumbling across the prairie. I’m at the lowest point in my life, and I was ready to fall down and not bother to get up. I’m not usually like that; I’m known for being resilient and determined. Once I set my sights on a goal, I go after it. Of course, that’s how I got into that predicament in the first place—but that’s a long story.

I made my way to Cassie Wilcox’s store and she saved my life. Against her better judgment, Cassie allowed me to stay with her until I recovered. When I was back on my feet I felt that I had a debt to pay, and that it was my duty to watch over Cassie. Naturally, this led to lots of conflict between us. And it didn’t help that the townsfolk (and Luke, the sheriff,) didn’t trust me because I was a stranger, but I defended Cassie when she needed it.

Cassie brought me back into the land of the living (in more ways than one), although it wasn’t easy for either of us. We both had issues with trusting other people, and ourselves.

Q: You have a lot of emotional and physical struggles in the book. Kelli put you through the wringer at times. How do you feel about that?

Well, I realize Kelli knows what she’s doing when it comes to writing a good story, but really? I had my fair share of heartache, self-doubt, lack of purpose, and I nearly died over the course of the book.

And, I was put through the worst emotional trials and tribulations imaginable before the book started. (I can’t divulge them here, but they were whoppers!) Of course, the troubles from my past resurfaced just as I was settling in and making a new life with Cassie.

Our relationship was nearly destroyed a few times (thanks, Kelli!) due to trust issues (or rather, “lack of trust” issues), and we almost went our separate ways toward the end. It was a very emotional time for me, and I’ll admit, I wasn’t always seen in a good light. But, as in all great romances, Cassie and I do live happily-ever-after.

Q: What drew you to Cassie? Tell us about her.

Cassie is an amazing woman for our time. When I met her, she was running a general store that had seen better days. The store meant everything to her and she was determined to keep it open, no matter what. Cassie lived in Holloway all her life, and her father used to run the store. After a tragic incident, Cassie inherited the store, but the puritanical townspeople didn’t approve of her independent ways and wanted to drive her out.

I admired Cassie’s strength and perseverance, and discovered that under her seemingly gruff exterior, she was a sensitive woman who longed to be loved. Of course, she refused to admit that, and we had our fair share of spats from the moment we met. (Laughs.) That probably made me love her even more.

Q: What is it about Cassie that makes you crazy in a good way?

Sometimes she’s just so dang headstrong! She’ll get an idea to do something, and off she goes. Of course I’m able to settle her, but that’s because she loves and trusts me. In the book, I have to be the calm voice of reason and tell her to slow down and make a logical plan to do something. Cassie was on her own and had to rely on herself for everything. Now she has me to help her, whether she wants the help or not.

Q: Was there an instant attraction between you?

Oh yes! I was attracted to Cassie from the moment I first woke up—even though she wasn’t very nice to me. Cassie fell for me, too, but she had a hard time admitting it. Part of her didn’t want to get attached because her heart’s been broken before, and she didn’t want to feel vulnerable again.

Q: Describe yourself in four words.

Loyal. Dependable. Funny. Mysterious.

Q: What do you do for a living?

Right now I’m working in a hardware store, and loving it. Why? (Laughs) Nobody’s shooting at me! A long time ago, I used to be a sheriff, and that got me into a lot of trouble. That experience came in handy in the book, but I’m glad to put that violent lifestyle behind me.

Q: What do you fear the most?

I fear what most people fear—losing the people they love. Before I met Cassie I suffered a great personal loss and it took me a very long time to get over it. I nearly lost Cassie a few times in the book, and I was reminded all over again how short and precious life is.

Q: Anything else you want to add?

Love, Lies and Redemption is a great book, if I do say so myself. It’s gotten several excellent reviews and is a perfect way to lose yourself in another place and time. If you like Westerns, you’ll love this story. And if you’ve never read one, now’s your chance. It blends adventure, danger, and wry humor into an anything-but-boring romance.

Kelli has written several other historical romances, and what I heard, they’re pretty good, too. Lots of action, adventure, mystery, drama, and hot love scenes! I’ve learned that Kelli doesn’t write boring books. She says that although she writes a lot of historical romances, they all take place in different time periods and different places. So, she’s not “just” writing Westerns or “only” writing about a certain century.

Her romances span all genres (contemporary, historical/fantasy, gay, paranormal) and range from mild to super-spicy. I encourage everyone to check out all of her books here: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins or https://www.books2read.com/ap/nkvddR/Kelli-A-Wilkins and read more about them on her site: www.KelliWilkins.com

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with readers. This was fun. If readers missed any blog in this series, they can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

Best wishes,

Sam Hixton

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories.

Her latest novel, In Another World, was released in early 2022. This contemporary mystery/romance is set in the world of the paranormal.

She also released two horror shorts, More Than I Bargained For and Silent Sentinel in 2021.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins 

and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor

Visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and to find all her social media links.

Behind the Scenes: The Viking’s Witch (A Historical Paranormal Romance)

 

This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.

Today I’m blogging about one of my favorite historical romances, The Viking’s Witch. The book is set in Celtic Scotland and blends a sensual love story with adventure and paranormal elements.

I loved everything about writing this book—the characters, the setting, the plot—and readers and reviewers loved it, too. When the book was originally published in 2012 by Medallion Press, it won an IPPY award for best historical romance e-book. 

I’ve written a few detailed blogs about the characters, setting, research, the gritty details, conflicts, violence, and even the use of magic in the book. I won’t rehash all that here (you can read the other blogs in the blog section of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog , but I will talk a bit about the origin of the book.

Like many of my romances, the idea for the story popped into my head one morning. I know it sounds strange, but the book came to me in a dream. It played out like I was watching a movie. When I woke up, I grabbed a pen and paper and wrote down everything I remembered. It took me about two hours, and from there I created an outline and started writing.

I had to do a lot of research while I wrote the book. I knew the story took place in Scotland, but I wasn’t sure where—or when. I needed to set the book in a place where the Vikings traveled in their early years of exploration, but it had to be an isolated location. After much back-and-forth, I decided on the Orkney Islands, then I had to decide on which island to set the story. (There are 70 different islands, but only 20 are inhabited.) 

After I knew the setting, I did more research to learn what life was like in that time period for Odaria and Rothgar. I had to make the details realistic for the characters and the readers. Once I got a feel for what everyday life was like for each of them, I weaved the details into the story.

One way I did this was to have Odaria ask Rothgar questions (How did Norsemen travel so far across the ocean? What are their ships like?) and address the differences in their backgrounds. Rothgar also comments on how things are different on the island compared to his home and is proud to teach Odaria about his Nordic culture.

When writing, I also faced another big challenge: technically, Odaria and Rothgar would have been speaking different languages and would have trouble communicating. So I had to find a clever way for them to understand each other. In essence, I had to blend their two cultures together in a way that flowed with the story.

The opening scene is very powerful, and it was one of my favorites to write. When we first meet Odaria, she is about to be burned at the stake for being a witch. Her fellow villagers have turned against her, accused her of murder, and she’s been betrayed by everyone she knows. It’s a very dark time for her, and although deep down she is afraid, she doesn’t show it.

Instead, she calls down a curse on the villagers, and seconds later, screaming “demons” appear out of the darkness and capture most of her tormentors. Odaria is saved from the pyre—only to find herself facing another big problem—hordes of Norsemen have invaded the island.

In the beginning of the story I deliberately kept the truth about Odaria’s “abilities” vague. Did she really conjure up the Viking warriors who unwittingly saved her from certain death? Or was it all a coincidence? I wanted readers to follow the story and wonder “does she have abilities or not?” Is Rothgar right when he suspects Odaria is using trickery and manipulating circumstances to scare people into thinking she’s a witch?

Over the course of the book, Odaria never denies being a witch. She warns Rothgar not to cross her or she’ll hex him. Rothgar laughs at her threat. He calls her “my little witch” and makes fun of her… For a while.

Later, Rothgar needs Odaria’s help and tells her to prove she has magic powers. Although reluctant, Odaria doesn’t disappoint. After a few highly charged scenes, readers and Rothgar learn the truth about Odaira’s abilities. I loved showing readers (and Rothgar) Odaria’s powers of clairvoyance, telekinesis, and psychometry. The scenes that included the “magic” elements were a lot of fun to write.

Rothgar and Odaria are my favorite historical romance couple. Odaria is strong-willed and doesn’t take any nonsense from Rothgar. Although she’s tough and feisty, Rothgar uncovers a vulnerable, soft side to her. And while Rothgar appears gruff and violent on the outside, underneath he’s really a gentle and sensitive man. Together, they make a pretty good team. There’s lots of push/pull between them and plenty of hot love scenes.

If you love historical romances, paranormal romances, or romances filled with drama, emotional rollercoasters, and danger, you’ll want to read The Viking’s Witch. I’m happy to say readers and reviewers fell in love with Rothgar and Odaria as much as I did.

Here is the summary and book links:

 

The Viking’s Witch

Scotland, 803 A.D.

About to be burned at the stake by her fellow villagers, Odaria does what any betrayed witch facing certain death would do. She calls down a curse. Within seconds, rampaging Norsemen raid the village, capturing everyone except her.

But her reprieve is short-lived, and Odaria lands in the clutches of the Norse leader Rothgar. Can she remain true to herself and fight her growing attraction to this domineering man, or will she fall under his influence and be used for his ambitions?

After Rothgar witnesses Odaria’s powers firsthand, he strikes a bargain with her. The raven-haired beauty will use her magical abilities to help him with his quest in exchange for safe passage off the isle. But can this cunning woman be trusted, or is she using him to exact vengeance on her village?

Together they must fight bloodthirsty villagers, battle a mutinous band of Norsemen, find a missing Norse ship, and learn to trust each other…before time runs out.

 

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/%20ebook/dp/B07T15MHSW

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4EQe0o

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-viking-s-witch

 

I hope you enjoyed this “Behind the Scenes” look at the making of this sensual historical romance. I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Contact me via the form on my site or on social media.

Happy Reading,

Kelli A. Wilkins

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Curtis Taylor from Trust with Hearts

 

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers.

Hello romance lovers! Today we’re chatting with Curtis Taylor, the hero from Trust with Hearts by Kelli A. Wilkins. Let’s see what’s on his mind…

 

Greetings, Curtis. Trust with Hearts is a contemporary summer romance. Can you tell us a bit more about the book?

Sure, I’d be glad to. The basic premise is: Sherrie moves in with her cousin Dave, and I’m already staying there. So we’re sorta thrown together and forced to get along. Or not. Sherrie is a city girl and hates country music, and I’m a country boy who just happens to make his living in country music, so you can imagine there’s lots of opportunity for conflict. But once we get past all that, Sherrie and I start a tenuous, yet passionate, summer romance. Readers will be intrigued and hooked right away.

In a good romance, the relationship between the hero and the heroine usually gets off to a rocky start. Tell us about your first meet with Sherrie. What attracted you to her?

Well… nothing. (Laughs) I met Sherrie early one morning—before she even knew I was staying with Dave. And she was a bit grouchy. She said a “banjo boy” kept her up all night playing music… Well, I didn’t take the insult too kindly, and I told her so. And off we went, right on page 1, we started fussin’ and feudin’. I liked teasing her, and I thought she was pretty (and had great legs) but she needed to tone down her attitude.

Sherrie came from the city and you’re a country boy at heart. How do you make that work in a relationship?

For the first few chapters, we fought like cats and dogs. Sherrie would insult country music (or me), and I’d tell her she didn’t know what she was talking about. After a few weeks of being forced together, (Dave conveniently left us alone a lot. It was his way of playing matchmaker.) I saw her vulnerable side and opened up to her. In time, we realized we both had been hurt in previous relationships and had serious trust issues. Once we dropped our defenses, we got along just fine.

Most romance readers know Kelli likes to torment her main characters. She tends to put them through the emotional wringer. When Kelli wrote the book, she gave you and Sherrie a lot of baggage, trust issues, and conflict. Tell us how she made your life miserable.

For most of the book I’m hiding a big secret from Sherrie, and when she finds out the truth it nearly ends our relationship. Kelli said the “bombshell” scene where Sherrie learns my secret was one of her favorites to write—but it put us through hell.

Sherrie already had a hard time trusting people, so learning I’d lied to her about something major shattered her trust in me and destroyed our relationship. At the same time, I’d just gotten horrible news, and I was in no mood to be questioned or to deal with a royally pissed-off girlfriend. I didn’t behave in the best way, and shut Sherrie out. (Thanks Kelli.) It took Sherrie a long while to come around, and for a time, I was certain we were finished. But in the end, we have a happy-ever-after.

But I’ll give Kelli credit, she wrote several amazing love scenes. And I certainly can’t complain about those. Sherrie and I weren’t incompatible in the bedroom, by any means! (Laughs)

Describe yourself in four words.

Stubborn, complex, sexy, talented.

Do readers need to be country music fans to enjoy Trust with Hearts?

Not at all. The book uses country music as a backdrop and setting for the main romance. If anything, country music fans might find Sherrie’s loathing and lack of understanding about the genre amusing. Readers who don’t like country music will probably agree when Sherrie calls country music “sad songs in denim.”

There’s a rumor that once upon a time the book had an entirely different ending. Is it true?

Yes. When Kelli originally wrote the book, Sherrie and I were in a horrible car accident and I nearly died. Sherrie risked her life to pull me out of a burning car. Kelli deleted those scenes from the current edition of the book, and wrote a new epilogue to tie up everything.

Will there be a sequel to Trust with Hearts?

After Trust with Hearts came out, Kelli was going to write a sequel, but other books got in the way and it never happened. Her idea was to have Dave fall in love with my girl cousin. (She seeks refuge with Dave the same way Sherrie did.) Kelli has shelved the project, but she did say if enough readers want a sequel, she might be persuaded to write a novella-length version of the idea. (Readers: Let her know your thoughts about this on social media.)

Anything else you want to add?

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with readers and talk about this great book. Trust with Hearts is a summer romance with interesting characters, an unusual storyline, and plenty of sizzling love scenes. It will make you laugh, cry, and root for love. I hope you’ll add it to your summer reading list.

Kelli has written romances in all genres—historical, paranormal, contemporary, gay, and straight—but they all have two things in common—they’re all unique stories, and they’re anything but boring! I invite readers to catch up on all of Kelli’s romances and visit her on social media. If you missed any blog in this series, you can catch up here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

TRUST WITH HEARTS

After a bitter breakup, Sherrie Parker seeks refuge at her cousin Dave’s house in rural West Virginia. Early one morning, she runs into Dave’s other houseguest, a singer named Curtis Taylor. The last thing Sherrie wants is to share living quarters with a country music crooner – even if he is sexy, in a cowboy sort of way.

Thrown together by circumstances, Sherrie and Curtis get off to a rocky start, but soon discover they have more in common than they ever imagined. Unable to fight their growing attraction, they give in to their desires and start a sizzling summer romance.

Everything is perfect between them until Sherrie discovers that Curtis is keeping secrets from her – and his biggest secret of all will change everything. Can their newfound love survive, or will destiny keep them apart forever?

 

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074422FHY

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/mgrK7R

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/trust-with-hearts

Kelli created a Facebook page for her contemporary romances. Visit it here:

https://www.facebook.com/Contemporary-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1965702023664339/

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20 romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 3 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories.

She released Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing in early 2021. This fun and innovative guide to journaling is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking prompts designed to get you writing about your feelings and emotions.

In 2020 Kelli published Love, Lies & Redemption, a western romance set in 1877 Nebraska. This novel blends a sensual love story with mystery and danger.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor

Visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and to find all her social media links.

 

 

 

 

Behind the Scenes: Trust with Hearts (A Contemporary Summer Romance)

 

This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.

Trust with Hearts is an example of how a story idea can come to an author anytime, anywhere. One night I was waiting for a concert to start and a premise for a romance popped into my head: A woman falls in love with her cousin’s best friend, but doesn’t realize he’s a famous country singer. I knew I had to write it down, but the only paper I had was the envelope the concert tickets came in. (Yes, this was years ago!) I scribbled a brief outline and a character list before the concert started. And that’s how Trust with Hearts was born—but not right away.

I was in the middle of revising another romance at the time, so I took a few hours and wrote a detailed outline, snippets of dialogue, and character information about Trust with Hearts, then set it aside. About a year later, I pulled out my notes and started writing. The idea was still fresh in my head, and the book practically wrote itself. (I always advise writers to take down ideas as they appear—otherwise they might fade into oblivion.)

Trust with Hearts was an interesting book to write. The heroine, Sherrie, has left a bad relationship, and on the spur of the moment, goes to West Virginia and moves in with her cousin Dave. Unknown to her, Dave already has a houseguest—his friend Curtis. Curtis is a country boy and Sherrie is all city.

I enjoyed playing off their differences and had fun inventing vexing situations for them to get on each other’s nerves. And boy, do they! Right on page 1, Curtis and Sherrie start an on/off love/hate relationship—and soon realize there’s more to their teasing and feuding. Before long, they discover they have a lot in common, and begin a steamy summer romance.

Some of my favorite scenes are when Curtis climbs a tree to rescue a kitten, when Curtis and Sherrie realize they like each other, and the big bombshell scene when Sherrie learns Curtis’s secret. I also liked writing the scenes where Dave plays matchmaker and counselor to each of them. In his own way, he brought this unlikely couple together. 

But you can’t have a good romance without drama, and the book is filled with it. Sherrie confronts her abusive ex-boyfriend, reexamines her life, and finds her purpose. Curtis is healing his wounded heart, dealing with a major family crisis, and going out of his way to keep a huge secret from Sherrie. Throughout the book Cutis and Sherrie face their pasts, work on their personal issues, and learn to love and trust again.

Trust with Hearts is not just a romance, it’s also a summer romance, so when I was writing the book I made sure to include specific details to bring out the “summer romance” theme: hot, sticky, sweaty days and nights, cool iced tea, gardening, and even heat stroke. The details pull the reader into the story and into Curtis and Sherrie’s world. And since Curtis is an expert in country music, I worked those details into the plot and even had Curtis give Sherrie a very erotic guitar lesson...

When I was writing Trust with Hearts, I fell in love with the characters and considered writing a sequel. (A few readers were interested in a sequel too!) The basic plot would have been Dave falling in love with Curtis’s girl cousin (we briefly meet her in the book). But I’ve since abandoned the project. If enough readers want a sequel, I might be persuaded to write a novella-length version of my book idea. (Readers: Let me know your thoughts about this on social media.)

Trust with Hearts is a summer romance with interesting characters, an unusual storyline, and plenty of sizzling love scenes. It will make you laugh, cry, and root for love. I hope you’ll add it to your summer reading list.

 

 TRUST WITH HEARTS

After a bitter breakup, Sherrie Parker seeks refuge at her cousin Dave’s house in rural West Virginia. Early one morning, she runs into Dave’s other houseguest, a singer named Curtis Taylor. The last thing Sherrie wants is to share living quarters with a country music crooner – even if he is sexy, in a cowboy sort of way.

Thrown together by circumstances, Sherrie and Curtis get off to a rocky start, but soon discover they have more in common than they ever imagined. Unable to fight their growing attraction, they give in to their desires and start a sizzling summer romance.

Everything is perfect between them until Sherrie discovers that Curtis is keeping secrets from her – and his biggest secret of all will change everything. Can their newfound love survive, or will destiny keep them apart forever?

 

Order Trust with Hearts here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074422FHY

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/mgrK7R

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/trust-with-hearts

I created a Facebook page for my contemporary romances. Visit it here:

https://www.facebook.com/Contemporary-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1965702023664339/

I hope you enjoyed this “Behind the Scenes” look at the making of this hot summer romance. I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Contact me via the form on my site or on social media.

Happy Reading,

Kelli A. Wilkins

Behind the Scenes: A Most Unfortunate Prince

 

This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.

A Most Unfortunate Prince picks up soon after A Most Intriguing Temptation. King Maxwell is furious at Prince Allan and blames him for the disastrous events at Emperor Salizar’s palace. As punishment, the king banishes him. Allan is a spoiled, pampered prince who is used to living the good life and getting his own way. Now he is being sent to the worst/poorest area of the kingdom.

At first, Allan doesn’t seem to take his banishment seriously. He is experienced in manipulating people and situations to his advantage and figures he will be punished for a few weeks (or maybe a month), and then his father will change his mind and welcome him home.

But deep down, Allan is concerned. A part of him knows he is responsible for nearly getting himself, Dalton, and Elara killed. He starts to realize the severity of the banishment and has no idea how he will survive on his own. He has lost favor with his father and basically has been told to get out and grow up. The king has cut off all his funds and only lets him take what he can carry. But to save face, Allan jokingly tells Elara he’ll take the family silver with him to pawn if he needs money.

So begins Allan’s trials and tribulations. As readers can imagine, life is not going to be easy for this fallen prince. He is forced to find work at the docks doing manual labor—something he has never done before. Working at the docks for an abusive boss brings its own set of mental, emotional, and physical challenges.

But life isn’t all bad for Allan. He meets a sweet and savvy seamstress named Claudette and wants to impress her. In the past he could seduce women with his wealth and prestige—but now he has to rely on his charm and true personality. Claudette is a sensible, no-nonsense young woman who is not taken in by Allan. In fact, their first meet is disastrous (and physically painful) for him.

Claudette has overcome her own challenges and is used to making her own way in the world. She doesn’t trust that Allan’s motives are sincere and makes him work for her affection. In doing so, Allan learns many lessons about himself, relationships, and what it means to be in love. He helps Claudette stand up to her nasty boss, and together they create a good life for themselves. It’s a simple life, but they’re happy.

But A Most Unfortunate Prince isn’t all about Allan and Claudette’s romance. While working at the docks, Allan uncovers a smuggling/illegal trade operation. In the course of his investigation, he is subjected to mental and physical abuse at the hands of his vile supervisor and other dockworkers.

Although the primary focus is Allan, Dalton and Elara appear as secondary characters. Elara and Allan exchange letters, and when Claudette finds letters from a mysterious woman with the initial “E” she becomes jealous. She accuses Allan of having a secret life (and a wife). This causes all sorts of problems in their relationship.

As a result of his investigation, Allan is attacked and viciously beaten. When he is whisked away by strangers and taken to a manor house to recover, Claudette’s suspicions grow. And when Claudette meets Dalton, Elara, and King Maxwell, she is in for quite a shock. Learning Allan is a prince throws their love into a tailspin.

After Claudette learns who Allan really is, she questions everything about their relationship. She wonders why Allan never told her his true identity, questions if he has only been toying with her for fun while he’s slumming it in the poorest section of the kingdom, and is unsure if she is truly worthy of being with him.

One of the things I liked best about writing the book was showing Allan’s growth and transition from the drunken womanizer he was in A Most Intriguing Temptation, into a respectable man. Claudette’s guidance and love has reformed him in a way no severe punishment could have. I enjoyed writing ways for them to get to know each other and fall in love, and I liked inventing clever ways for Allan to learn his lessons.

Spoiler Alert: The one thing I hated most about writing this book was killing off Alex, a secondary character. Alex isn’t in a lot of the book, but he made a dramatic impact on Allan’s life. When Allan’s money ran out, he was living on the street begging for food and nearly froze to death. Alex rescued Allan and they became extremely close friends (and more).

I originally had no intention of creating Alex at all. He was a secondary character who appeared out of nowhere and became an important element of the story. Alex was a good friend to Allan and may have unknowingly died for him. It broke my heart to kill him off, but it had to be done for the sake of the story. (I still wish I could have found a way to keep him alive.)

Later in the book, Allan is so overcome with grief and guilt over Alex’s death that he nearly dies out in the cold on Alex’s grave. Claudette finds him in the cemetery, distraught and broken, and brings him home. This was a heart-wrenching, powerful scene to write and a major turning point in the novel.

Dalton and Elara are mostly off-page for the book, but they play a large role in the events at the end of the story. A very pregnant Elara gives birth and needs Claudette’s help with the delivery. Allan consoles a terribly worried Dalton and confesses a secret he has been keeping from everyone.

I leave Dalton, Elara, Allan, and Claudette in good places at the end of the book—and the trilogy. (I even wrote a special epilogue to wrap up everything.) It’s a satisfying conclusion for the characters and the readers.

The Royal Desires series is my favorite. All three stories are sensual romances that blend adventure and humor while taking readers on an emotional roller coaster ride. Whether you read this book as a stand-alone story or as the last part of the series, I think you will love reading A Most Unfortunate Prince as much as I loved writing it.

Here’s the summary:

A Most Unfortunate Prince

This time, it’s all about Allan… and he never expected to fall in love!

Banished by the Royal Family, pampered Prince Allan is forced to abandon his life of luxury. The former Royal Shipmaster General is sent to the worst part of the kingdom and manages to find work at the docks. Lost in a commoner’s world, Allan is miserable—until he has an unusual encounter with a saucy shop girl named Claudette.

Allan must earn the respect of the woman he loves while keeping his true identity a secret. In an effort to redeem himself in his father’s eyes, he exposes a dangerous smuggling operation involving the Royal Fleet. But his loyalty to duty comes with a deadly price.

Can he keep Claudette and his royal title? Or will he lose her forever when she discovers his secret?

 

The Royal Desires Series is available on Amazon & other platforms. Catch this hot historical/fantasy trilogy from the start:

 

Book 1: A Most Unusual Princess:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CBX43D8

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me00L9 

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unusual-princess

 

Book 2: A Most Intriguing Temptation:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8P8604

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kkvj

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-intriguing-temptation

 

Book 3: A Most Unfortunate Prince:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unfortunate-Prince-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01DMBYJ6E

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3yPPM6

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unfortunate-prince

 

I hope you enjoyed this “Behind the Scenes” look at the making of this romance. I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Contact me via the form on my site or on social media.

Happy Reading,

Kelli A. Wilkins

 

Meet the Character Day: Chatting with Prince Dalton from A Most Intriguing Temptation

 

This “Meet the Character Day” blog is part of a series examining my romance novels. In each “Behind the Scenes” blog, I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. The “Meet the Character Day” blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances. Warning: blogs may contain spoilers.

 

Hello romance lovers! Today we’re chatting with Prince Dalton, the hero from A Most Intriguing Temptation by Kelli A. Wilkins.

 

Q: Greetings, Prince Dalton. A Most Intriguing Temptation is the second book in Kelli’s Royal Desires series of historical/fantasy novels. Can you tell us about the trilogy?

A: Certainly. As readers may already know, A Most Intriguing Temptation is the second story in a trilogy that began with A Most Unusual Princess and concludes with A Most Unfortunate Prince. Although the books are related, each stands alone as an individual read.

A Most Unusual Princess introduced readers to Princess Elara and myself. The book brought us together through unusual circumstances. (Elara discussed our interesting first-meet in a previous blog.)

In A Most Intriguing Temptation I’ve been called away to attend a business meeting with Emperor Salizar. Elara got jealous of the fact I’d be away and surrounded by Salizar’s sultry “kharim” women, so she decided to follow me and her brother, Prince Allan, to the palace. Needless to say, she got into a lot of trouble.

A Most Unfortunate Prince (the last book in the series) is all about Allan’s banishment from the kingdom and his journey as he finds true love. Elara and I are also in the story, and we play a central role in the ending.

Q: Tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author?

A: I was charged with guarding Elara while she received suitors. Of course, one thing led to another and we ended up falling in love. I’m a very patient and understanding person and it takes a lot to push me to the edge. However, in A Most Intriguing Temptation, Kelli (my author), tested me at every turn.

In this novel, Kelli explored the themes of fidelity and trust. I was sent to a palace full of women whose only function is to satisfy the male visitors’ every wanton need. When Elara learned where I was going, she followed me, and to my surprise, impersonated a “kharim” woman to test me and my loyalty to her. I admit, I was tempted, but when I learned of her deception, I turned the tables on her to teach her a lesson.

Q: What drew you to Elara?

A: Elara is headstrong and intelligent, and she has a sweet and vulnerable side she only shows to me. Of all the people in her life, I’m the one who understands her best and can “manage” her moods and unpredictability. I love her dearly, and yet, at times, she is vexing. As we spent time together, I realized she was putting on a brave front most of the time and I learned not to be swayed by her tantrums or tricks. Elara needs to be treated like an equal, both in and out of the bedroom.

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner? Or where she seduced you?

A: A Most Intriguing Temptation is definitely naughtier than A Most Unusual Princess. We’re not shy about our lovemaking at home, or anywhere. Elara (disguised as Oonish) tried to seduce me everywhere—in the bathtub, in bed, in a hallway… In the book, we made very naughty use of a settee, and later we got frisky on a pile of satin cushions (and we were not alone!). After the story ended, we wanted to recreate the wanton atmosphere of the palace, so Elara and I set up a tent outside to engage in a few wild fantasies. She likes fooling around outside in the dark, and it’s something I look forward too, as well.

Q: Do you sometimes want to strangle your author because of the situations she puts you in?

A: Yes! Kelli put me through several physical and emotional trials in this book. She says it was “for the good of the story” but I would have been content not being tormented, teased, and driven mad with lust on every other page. Kelli thought it was fun and has admitted that creating those scenes was one of the highlights of writing the book.

Q: Tell us more. What was one of the most embarrassing things Kelli did to you in A Most Intriguing Temptation?

A: Throughout most of the book, I’m in a state of sexual frustration. Oonish is at my side every minute of every day, and she’s practically naked. She goes out of her way to tease me, arouse me, and test my loyalty to Elara. And since Oonish is Elara, she knows just what to do to get me hot and bothered. At one point in the story, I get very, very excited and want Oonish so bad… I have a naughty dream about her and… Well, let’s say, my body reacted in a physical way to an extremely erotic dream. It was highly embarrassing to be discovered like that, and I’m not thrilled with Kelli for putting me in that awkward situation. Naturally, Oonish/Elara thought it was funny!

Q: Kelli has written romances in all genres in all heat levels. Does she find the love scenes difficult to write?

A: Not at all. A Most Unusual Princess was a mild book (I believe you’d call it a heat level of 1) and A Most Intriguing Temptation is much hotter (a 2 or 3, depending on your taste) and contains a lot of graphic sexual activities taking place at the palace.

Kelli’s books have different heat levels because she matches the intensity and situations with the characters and plot. She says makes the love scenes as natural and as real for the characters as possible, given the story, the characters’ personalities, motivations, and backgrounds, and what level of intimacy they share.

She admits that sometimes she’ll be writing a scene and the characters “take over” and decide the scene should go a different way, or something she planned on happening changes. (This can happen during regular scenes or love scenes.) Characters can jump off the page and take the story in a different direction. (“Of course we can,” I told her. “This is our story!”)

Kelli confided in me although she thought knew all about her characters before writing A Most Unfortunate Prince, she was surprised to discover a different side to Prince Allan. (I have no idea what that means exactly, but Allan will be here in a few weeks to address his book, so you can ask him.)

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: Although A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing Temptation, and A Most Unfortunate Prince make up the Royal Desires series, each of our stories stand alone as individual reads. You can start with book 2 and then go back to book 1 to see how everything started, or start with book 3 and go in reverse order. However you read them, I encourage romance lovers to catch up on all of our adventures. I’m content with the way the trilogy ends—but I don’t want to give away the ending. I can say Kelli left all of us in very good places.

I’d like to add that Kelli has written several fantastic books in all genres, not just historical romances. She has contemporary, paranormal, and gay romances that bring incredibly interesting characters to life.

This visit was fun. Thank you for having me. Elara has arranged for Prince Allan to answer a few questions in another chat. Brace yourself, because he’s a wiseass.

Thank you, Prince Dalton, for joining us today. Readers can learn more about all of Kelli’s books on her site: www.KelliWilkins.com

Here’s the book summary:

A Most Intriguing Temptation

After only four months of marriage to Princess Elara, Prince Dalton is sent to Emperor Salizar’s pleasure palace on business. Not wanting to be left behind, Elara risks her personal safety and sneaks along on the trip.

Aided by her mischievous brother, Prince Allan, she disguises herself as one of Salizar’s sultry “kharim” women and decides to test Dalton’s loyalty. Masquerading as Oonish, Elara goes out of her way to tempt Dalton at every turn. Despite Dalton’s resolve to resist the indulgent girls, he finds himself falling under the spell of the mysterious Oonish.

After nearly giving in to temptation, Dalton discovers Elara’s trickery and turns the tables on her, making her into his submissive playmate. Their fun and games are quickly shattered when Emperor Salizar learns about Elara’s deception. He holds the royals prisoner and condemns Elara to a fate worse than death.

Can Dalton save Elara before it’s too late, or will her prank bring about the end of their love?

***

The Royal Desires Series is available on Amazon & other platforms. Catch this hot historical/fantasy trilogy from the start:

Book 1: A Most Unusual Princess:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CBX43D8

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me00L9 

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unusual-princess

 

Book 2: A Most Intriguing Temptation:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8P8604

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kkvj

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-intriguing-temptation

Book 3: A Most Unfortunate Prince:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unfortunate-Prince-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01DMBYJ6E

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3yPPM6

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/a-most-unfortunate-prince