TOP

Behind the Scenes: A Most Unusual Princess (A Hot Historical/Fantasy Romance)

356 Views

Behind the Scenes: A Most Unusual Princess (A Hot Historical/Fantasy Romance)

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

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.

Hi romance lovers!

Here’s a look at A Most Unusual Princess – Book 1 of my “Royal Desires” series of hot historical/fantasy romances. I’m sharing looks at the other two books in the series today, so stay tuned for those blogs.

I specifically wrote A Most Unusual Princess for the Amber Quill Press “Amber Heat” romance contest. My premise was simple: a headstrong, spoiled princess has to find a husband. Her father has arranged for her to meet a lot of eligible bachelors while being watched over by her new bodyguard, Dalton. (Basically, it’s a medieval style of speed dating.)

Elara is an independent young woman and insists she doesn’t need a husband. But what she’s really saying is that she doesn’t want to be controlled by a man. She wants to make her own decisions in life and refuses to allow anyone to tell her what to do. She is an unusual woman for her time—smart, quick-thinking, and knows what she wants. Or at least she thinks she does… then Dalton enters her life.

Dalton and Elara’s first meet is anything but typical. On his way to the palace, Dalton comes across a young lady bathing herself in a pond… except she’s not exactly bathing. Dalton knows he shouldn’t watch, but he is captivated by the beautiful woman. When Elara discovers she is being spied on, she gives Dalton hell and tries to slap him—but he’s not bothered by her actions. In fact, he finds her amusing… and enchanting.

Later, things really heat up when Dalton learns he has been assigned to watch over Elara while she courts suitors. He is not allowed to leave her side and decides to make a pest of himself. At first, Elara resents Dalton for being around her all the time, but over the course of the story, they realize how compatible they are. Along the way they also discover how easy it is to share a few forbidden passionate encounters.

When I wrote the novella, I wasn’t exactly sure what defined erotica, so I decided to spice things up right on the first page. (Believe it or not, erotica and erotic romances were a new subgenre at the time.) I made sure to keep the romantic/sexual tension between Dalton and Elara building throughout the story.

One of the things I liked best about writing the book was coming up with the different situations for Dalton and Elara to bond over. Each encounter between them (whether they are arguing or teasing each other) helps build their relationship and show how well-matched they really are.

Dalton is unmoved by Elara’s tantrums and moodiness and has the ability to settle her down when she gets riled up. (Her calls her “little princess” to annoy her. She insults him by saying he’s “just a bodyguard” to her.)

Dalton isn’t intimated by Elara when she tries to pull rank on him; instead, he finds it entertaining. The more Elara insists she doesn’t want a husband, the more she finds herself falling for Dalton. The longer Dalton stays with Elara, the more he realizes he doesn’t want to lose her to anyone else. He goes out of his way to protect her and even fights for her honor—with mixed results.

I had no idea it would be the first book in a trilogy (collectively the three books are known as the Royal Desires series). Readers fell in love with the characters and wanted more. Elara and Dalton were fun characters to write for, and I wanted to explore more of their relationship and give them new erotic adventures. So I wrote a sequel, A Most Intriguing Temptation. (I’ll talk more about that book in another blog.) Although the story is part of a series, it stands alone as an individual read.

A Most Unusual Princess is still one of my favorite romances for many reasons. I love the connection and banter between Dalton and Elara. It’s a lighthearted, humorous, and sexy story. And it’s anything but boring. Here is the summary and links:

A Most Unusual Princess

Princess Elara needs to find a royal husband, but claims that no man can satisfy her. Her father hires Dalton, a special guard, to watch over her while she’s courting suitors. Dalton finds her unusual behaviors charming—and enthralling.

Dalton’s aloof manner intrigues Elara, and despite their differences, they share tender moments and intimate nighttime encounters. Elara is heartbroken when her father chooses a “proper” husband for her—until she meets the mystery man.

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. You can read more “Behind the Scenes” blogs here: www.KelliWilkins.com/blog

Happy Reading,

Kelli A. Wilkins

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.

In 2021, Kelli published Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing. 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.

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.

Historical Romance Blog - Fearne Hill	Historical Romance Blog - Kara Griffin
Historical Romance Blog - Eliana Piers	Historical Romance Blog - Sawyer North

Kelli A. Wilkins

ctrstaffer

791 977

Insta-Coffee | Sharing our love of books and authors with you since 2004.

Why Historical Fiction Matters and Why I Wrote the Magician’s Daughter by Alison Chambershttps://bit.ly/4iD2Qqk

Happy Historical Fiction month and thank you to Coffee Time Romance for allowing me to be a part of it.

Why is Historical Fiction So Important?
“What’s past is prologue” is a Shakespeare quote from the play “The Tempest.” It basically means that past events set the stage for what is to come. History provides context, meaning that these past events are just the beginning of the story and shape and inform future events. We learn from the past, whether in our own personal experience or when contemplating how we should move forward in our daily lives.

Why I Love Writing and Reading History
It`s fun to “play around” with history, creating intriguing “what-ifs” when we want to write a story to change past events. Majoring in political science and history with a heavy emphasis on World War II at a time when not many women were entering these fields, led me to have an early fascination with the era leading up to the war and the war itself. Even before college, I read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William L. Shirer and “Eleanor and Franklin” by Joseph P. Lash, the latter detailing the forty-five-year marriage between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt.

“The Magician’s Daughter” is my first truly historical novel. The others were set in the present, though they centered around historical elements. “The Secret Sentinel” dealt with lost Civil War treasure and “The Montezuma Secret” involved a search for Montezuma’s lost gold.

While I enjoy all kinds of historical fiction, I have really enjoyed the resurgence of World War II historical fiction in recent years, by authors such as Karen Robards (my favorite), Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, and Kristin Hannah.

Purchase Link: “The Magician’s Daughter”
“A Thrilling Novel of Conspiracy, Espionage & Intrigue”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9JF5QD

“The Magician’s Daughter” takes place on a US Army Air Force Base outside London in 1942 as a way of providing a different backdrop for the novel, as opposed to setting it in Nazi-Occupied Europe. I wanted to focus on several interesting areas, including highlight...

0 0

Open

Why Historical Fiction Matters and Why I Wrote the Magician’s Daughter by Alison Chambershttps://bit.ly/4iD2Qqk

Happy Historical Fiction month and thank you to Coffee Time Romance for allowing me to be a part of it.

Why is Historical Fiction So Important?
“What’s past is prologue” is a Shakespeare quote from the play “The Tempest.” It basically means that past events set the stage for what is to come. History provides context, meaning that these past events are just the beginning of the story and shape and inform future events. We learn from the past, whether in our own personal experience or when contemplating how we should move forward in our daily lives.

Why I Love Writing and Reading History
It's fun to “play around” with history, creating intriguing “what-ifs” when we want to write a story to change past events. Majoring in political science and history with a heavy emphasis on World War II at a time when not many women were entering these fields, led me to have an early fascination with the era leading up to the war and the war itself. Even before college, I read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William L. Shirer and “Eleanor and Franklin” by Joseph P. Lash, the latter detailing the forty-five-year marriage between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt.

“The Magician’s Daughter” is my first truly historical novel. The others were set in the present, though they centered around historical elements. “The Secret Sentinel” dealt with lost Civil War treasure and “The Montezuma Secret” involved a search for Montezuma’s lost gold.

While I enjoy all kinds of historical fiction, I have really enjoyed the resurgence of World War II historical fiction in recent years, by authors such as Karen Robards (my favorite), Kate Quinn, Kristin Harmel, and Kristin Hannah.

Purchase Link: “The Magician’s Daughter”
“A Thrilling Novel of Conspiracy, Espionage & Intrigue”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW9JF5QD

“The Magician’s Daughter” takes place on a US Army Air Force Base outside London in 1942 as a way of providing a different backdrop for the novel, as opposed to setting it in Nazi-Occupied Europe. I wanted to focus on several interesting areas, including highlight...

0 0

#Stuff Your #Kindle #indie #author #event #contemporary #cozyfantasy #dystopia #gothic #fantasy #darkfantasy #fiction #urbanfantasy #spicy #thriller #scifi #youngadult #romantasy #gothic #historical #stuffyourkindle
https://bit.ly/stuffkindle3008205

2 0

Open

#Stuff Your #Kindle #indie #author #event #contemporary #cozyfantasy #dystopia #gothic #fantasy #darkfantasy #fiction #urbanfantasy #spicy #thriller #scifi #youngadult #romantasy #gothic #historical #stuffyourkindle
https://bit.ly/stuffkindle3008205

2 0

Giveaway - Severed Heart by Kate Stewarthttps://bit.ly/3XAViwa

1 0

Open

Giveaway - Severed Heart by Kate Stewarthttps://bit.ly/3XAViwa ...

1 0

Book Giveaway For An Enchanted Knight (The Cursed Kingdom, #1)https://bit.ly/3DpZxDY

An Enchanted Knight (The Cursed Kingdom, #1)

by

Hildie McQueen(Goodreads Author)

Release date: Mar 31, 2025

Gwyneth "Gwen" Lockhart has a rare and powerful gift—she helps lost spirits find peace and cross over. When she takes on a job at a beautiful Scottish castle, she expects it to be like any other. But when she encounters the ghostly presence of Lord Tristan McRainey, a knight who died centuries ago, something feels different. Drawn to him in ways she can’t explain, Gwen begins to wonder if Tristan is not a ghost at all, but a man cursed and trapped in time by dark magic.

Lord Tristan McRainey has been imprisoned for three hundred years, bound by an evil wizard’s spell along with four of his fellow knights. When Gwen enters his world, he’s certain that she holds the key to breaking the enchantment. Confident that he can make her fall in love with him and sacrifice whatever it takes to free him, Tristan has no doubt the plan will work. But what he doesn’t expect is to find himself falling for her first.

And as their bond deepens, the cost of breaking the curse may be higher than either of them imagined.

Binge a brand new Romantasy! Discover The Cursed Kingdom. Enter for a chance to win one of 100 copies!
An exciting new paranormal romantic treasure from USA Today bestselling Historical Romance Author Hildie McQueen

Gwyneth "Gwen" Lockhart has a rare...more

Enter Giveaway

Format:

Giveaway ends in: 24 days and 6:58:14

Availability: 100 copies available, 1257 people requesting

Giveaway dates: Mar 01 - Mar 31, 2025

Countries available: U.S.

About Hildie McQueen

Bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of Romance in Highland historical, Western Historical and contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking te...more

0 0

Open

0 0

Dead Man`s List by Karen Rosehttps://bit.ly/4hb0uhj

On a long-anticipated second date with police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves—right as things are getting steamy—Kit stumbles across the mutilated body of a local San Diego politician. The man was loved by many of his constituents but is hated and reviled by many more. That the suspect list is long surprises no one, but exactly who ends up on it stuns Kit and her team.

As the SDPD reveal the victim`s sinister dealings, Kit and Sam are forced to navigate the closely guarded world of the city`s richest and most powerful citizens to find answers. But time is rapidly running out, with their sources of information dropping like flies as the killer methodically eliminates loose ends—and anyone else who stands in the way.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6TX1BLL

Meet the Author

Karen Rose is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the bestselling New Orleans, Sacramento, Baltimore, and Cincinnati series. She has been translated into twenty-three languages, and her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany`s der Spiegel bestseller lists.

0 0

Open

Dead Man's List by Karen Rosehttps://bit.ly/4hb0uhj

On a long-anticipated second date with police psychologist Dr. Sam Reeves—right as things are getting steamy—Kit stumbles across the mutilated body of a local San Diego politician. The man was loved by many of his constituents but is hated and reviled by many more. That the suspect list is long surprises no one, but exactly who ends up on it stuns Kit and her team.

As the SDPD reveal the victim's sinister dealings, Kit and Sam are forced to navigate the closely guarded world of the city's richest and most powerful citizens to find answers. But time is rapidly running out, with their sources of information dropping like flies as the killer methodically eliminates loose ends—and anyone else who stands in the way.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6TX1BLL

Meet the Author

Karen Rose is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the bestselling New Orleans, Sacramento, Baltimore, and Cincinnati series. She has been translated into twenty-three languages, and her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany's der Spiegel bestseller lists.

0 0

Mafia Romance Giveawayhttps://bit.ly/3DyAIFU

0 0

Open

Mafia Romance Giveawayhttps://bit.ly/3DyAIFU ...

0 0

Sophia`s Letter by Elizabeth Donnehttps://bit.ly/3DkxjKS

In my sweet Regency novel, "Sophia`s Letter," the written correspondence between the hero and heroine plays a central role in the plot. You can read the first three chapters in the Amazon sample here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKG71KFK

In Regency times, without landlines, emails, or text messaging, letters were the go-to method for communication between businesses and households. In literature of that era, letters carried critical news of an inheritance or, perhaps, the longing sighs of parted lovers.

Letters can make for interesting plot-points. Whose handwriting is that? Why is this person suddenly writing to her if she hardly knows him?

We might assume then that envelopes might also hold promising mysteries in Regency literature, right? Oddly enough, the answer is, mostly, "no." Envelopes really only came into regular use in Victorian times.

This is what Wikipedia has to say on the matter:
"In Western history, from the time flexible writing material became more readily available in the 13th century until the mid-19th century, correspondence was typically secured by a process of letter folding and sealing which sometimes employed elaborate letterlocking techniques to indicate tampering or prove authenticity. Some of these techniques, which could involve stitching or wax seals, were also employed to secure hand-made envelopes."
- (2021, March 12). Envelope. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope

Shannon Donnelly explains further:
"The letter itself differed from its modern form. The letter usually comprised a single sheet (sometimes folded once in the middle to make a booklet-like page). This was folded in thirds, then the ends were folded together, with one end tucked inside another. Hot wax dripped onto the joining ends sealed the letter.
- Shannon Donnelly. (2010, May 29). The Regency Post — A Pity We`ve Lost Letters. Shannon Donnelly`s Fresh Ink. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://shannondonnelly.com/2010/05/

We can see that it would be unusual for a Regency author to write a scene in which the heroine eagerly rips open an envelope. More li...

2 0

Open

Sophia's Letter by Elizabeth Donnehttps://bit.ly/3DkxjKS

In my sweet Regency novel, "Sophia's Letter," the written correspondence between the hero and heroine plays a central role in the plot. You can read the first three chapters in the Amazon sample here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKG71KFK

In Regency times, without landlines, emails, or text messaging, letters were the go-to method for communication between businesses and households. In literature of that era, letters carried critical news of an inheritance or, perhaps, the longing sighs of parted lovers.

Letters can make for interesting plot-points. Whose handwriting is that? Why is this person suddenly writing to her if she hardly knows him?

We might assume then that envelopes might also hold promising mysteries in Regency literature, right? Oddly enough, the answer is, mostly, "no." Envelopes really only came into regular use in Victorian times.

This is what Wikipedia has to say on the matter:
"In Western history, from the time flexible writing material became more readily available in the 13th century until the mid-19th century, correspondence was typically secured by a process of letter folding and sealing which sometimes employed elaborate letterlocking techniques to indicate tampering or prove authenticity. Some of these techniques, which could involve stitching or wax seals, were also employed to secure hand-made envelopes."
- (2021, March 12). Envelope. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope

Shannon Donnelly explains further:
"The letter itself differed from its modern form. The letter usually comprised a single sheet (sometimes folded once in the middle to make a booklet-like page). This was folded in thirds, then the ends were folded together, with one end tucked inside another. Hot wax dripped onto the joining ends sealed the letter.
- Shannon Donnelly. (2010, May 29). The Regency Post — A Pity We've Lost Letters. Shannon Donnelly's Fresh Ink. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://shannondonnelly.com/2010/05/

We can see that it would be unusual for a Regency author to write a scene in which the heroine eagerly rips open an envelope. More li...

2 0

With Love in Their Corner by Sandra Sookoohttps://bit.ly/3QQJjGY

When you want something out of life, you’ll have to fight for it.

Lewis Stapleton, eighth Earl of Lethbridge is a man hovering on the edge of breaking. Between his mother pestering him about finding a bride of high social standing, maintaining his estates and title without enough funding, and worrying over his brothers, he requires an outlet. Anger and grief haven’t been dealt with since his father’s death two years prior, so he works through those emotions while in the boxing ring. His father was a prize fighter so matching his over-large footsteps is difficult, but something must give else he’ll explode.

Miss Cecilia Dawson is tired of being an object of ridicule or allegedly not good enough for anything beyond a quick tryst. With an affinity for numbers, she keeps the books for her father’s shipping company, but is desperate for a way to defend herself against the coarse and crude men she encounters in the office near the docks. The day she steps into the Stapleton Boxing Salon while disguised as a boy rapidly becomes both the best and worst day of her life.

Despite the instant attraction between them, Lewis ignores it in favor of teaching Cecilia how to box for protection. As the summer days slip by filled with an illegal fight or two as well as activities that come far too close to courtship, the attraction spills into forbidden desire that lands them both into scandal. Distracted, they never see danger coming that puts them into a corner of peril.

Only by releasing fears and working together will they come away with a prize more valuable than anything they could imagine.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTLK2R71/

Meet the Author

Sandra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. She’s written for publication since 2008. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in Victorian era romances, or historical romantic suspense complete with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating fine chocolates—you can’t just have one. Good thing book...

1 0

Open

With Love in Their Corner by Sandra Sookoohttps://bit.ly/3QQJjGY

When you want something out of life, you’ll have to fight for it.

Lewis Stapleton, eighth Earl of Lethbridge is a man hovering on the edge of breaking. Between his mother pestering him about finding a bride of high social standing, maintaining his estates and title without enough funding, and worrying over his brothers, he requires an outlet. Anger and grief haven’t been dealt with since his father’s death two years prior, so he works through those emotions while in the boxing ring. His father was a prize fighter so matching his over-large footsteps is difficult, but something must give else he’ll explode.

Miss Cecilia Dawson is tired of being an object of ridicule or allegedly not good enough for anything beyond a quick tryst. With an affinity for numbers, she keeps the books for her father’s shipping company, but is desperate for a way to defend herself against the coarse and crude men she encounters in the office near the docks. The day she steps into the Stapleton Boxing Salon while disguised as a boy rapidly becomes both the best and worst day of her life.

Despite the instant attraction between them, Lewis ignores it in favor of teaching Cecilia how to box for protection. As the summer days slip by filled with an illegal fight or two as well as activities that come far too close to courtship, the attraction spills into forbidden desire that lands them both into scandal. Distracted, they never see danger coming that puts them into a corner of peril.

Only by releasing fears and working together will they come away with a prize more valuable than anything they could imagine.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTLK2R71/

Meet the Author

Sandra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. She’s written for publication since 2008. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in Victorian era romances, or historical romantic suspense complete with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating fine chocolates—you can’t just have one. Good thing book...

1 0

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybournhttps://bit.ly/3DgiWY6

Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.

After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.

Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.

Amazon

0 0

Open

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybournhttps://bit.ly/3DgiWY6

Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.

After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.

Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.

Amazon

0 0

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
https://bit.ly/4btSDuf

Brianna Rogers has been told a time (or six) she needs to stop jumping into things head first. But when the principal rescinds his approval for a library upgrade, deciding to spend the money on a football field instead, she sees red. Literally. Brianna throws her hat in the ring and joins a team of teachers who will spend their summer in a Mars simulation. As the sister of an astronaut, this should be easy, right? What she didn`t count on was the last-minute addition to the team—Roman Major: science teacher, son of the principal, and too handsome for his own good.

Roman and Brianna have been hot and cold all year, and living in close quarters intensifies their animosity and attraction. Brianna is sure he`s been sent by his father to sabotage them, foiling their chance at prize money that will cover all of the school`s actual needs. But each day, Roman proves himself to be a dedicated teammate—and Brianna finds herself falling harder and harder. While it`s clear the feeling is mutual, she can`t shake the sense that he`s hiding something. As the simulation nears its end, Brianna realizes she may have to make an impossible choice, between the school she`s dedicated herself to, and the man who has won his way into her heart.

Excerpt:
© Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

What is it called when you know someone is playing in your face but you still manage to sit there and maintain your composure?

Etiquette? The height of professionalism? I`ve got it-a superpower.

When I took on the role of vice principal at Juanita Craft Middle School nine months ago, I knew I`d have my hands full with rowdy students and entitled parents. The years I spent as a guidance counselor prepared me for that part of the job. It`s taken a while, however, to get used to the teachers trying to butter me up whenever they want something they know I can`t give, and Angie`s been the main one out to test my patience.

Angie, Angie, Angie. Out here trying to get me to break school policy. Again.

I push my braids behind my back and suppress a sigh. "It`s true. In the grand scheme of things, one chair won`t ...

2 0

Open

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
https://bit.ly/4btSDuf

Brianna Rogers has been told a time (or six) she needs to stop jumping into things head first. But when the principal rescinds his approval for a library upgrade, deciding to spend the money on a football field instead, she sees red. Literally. Brianna throws her hat in the ring and joins a team of teachers who will spend their summer in a Mars simulation. As the sister of an astronaut, this should be easy, right? What she didn't count on was the last-minute addition to the team—Roman Major: science teacher, son of the principal, and too handsome for his own good.

Roman and Brianna have been hot and cold all year, and living in close quarters intensifies their animosity and attraction. Brianna is sure he's been sent by his father to sabotage them, foiling their chance at prize money that will cover all of the school's actual needs. But each day, Roman proves himself to be a dedicated teammate—and Brianna finds herself falling harder and harder. While it's clear the feeling is mutual, she can't shake the sense that he's hiding something. As the simulation nears its end, Brianna realizes she may have to make an impossible choice, between the school she's dedicated herself to, and the man who has won his way into her heart.

Excerpt:
© Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

What is it called when you know someone is playing in your face but you still manage to sit there and maintain your composure?

Etiquette? The height of professionalism? I've got it-a superpower.

When I took on the role of vice principal at Juanita Craft Middle School nine months ago, I knew I'd have my hands full with rowdy students and entitled parents. The years I spent as a guidance counselor prepared me for that part of the job. It's taken a while, however, to get used to the teachers trying to butter me up whenever they want something they know I can't give, and Angie's been the main one out to test my patience.

Angie, Angie, Angie. Out here trying to get me to break school policy. Again.

I push my braids behind my back and suppress a sigh. "It's true. In the grand scheme of things, one chair won't ...

2 0

Mysteries & Thrillers Hitting Stores This Marchhttps://bit.ly/3Dfox0O

Mysteries & Thrillers Hitting Stores This March

March Madness is here but make it mysteries and thrillers. Here`s our round up of some new releases we can`t wait for.

Every Michael Connelly Book Adapted into a TV Series

Michael Connelly’s crime novels have been the inspiration for some of the best TV adaptations in recent years, bringing his complex characters and intense storylines to life.

...

1 0

Open

Mysteries & Thrillers Hitting Stores This Marchhttps://bit.ly/3Dfox0O

Mysteries & Thrillers Hitting Stores This March

March Madness is here but make it mysteries and thrillers. Here's our round up of some new releases we can't wait for.

Every Michael Connelly Book Adapted into a TV Series

Michael Connelly’s crime novels have been the inspiration for some of the best TV adaptations in recent years, bringing his complex characters and intense storylines to life.

...

1 0

Marriage and Murder by Stephanie Laurens
https://bit.ly/41Hs0Pc

When a middle-aged spinster is found strangled in her country cottage and scurrilous gossip implicates Henry, Lord Glossup, he appeals to Barnaby and Penelope Adair along with Inspector Stokes to unravel the mystery of who killed Viola Huntingdon.

Henry, Lord Glossup, arrives on Barnaby and Penelope Adairs` doorstep and begs their aid-and that of Stokes-in identifying the murderer of Viola Huntingdon, a middle-aged spinster who lived a largely blameless life in a country cottage in a tiny village close to Henry`s home. As Stokes has already been tapped to take the case, the investigators travel to Salisbury and thence to Ashmore village and throw themselves into the case.

While initially Henry was touted as a suspect, he is quickly eliminated, and with the help of the victim`s sister, Madeline, the investigators set out to discover all they can about the victim and who might have wished her ill. In such a small village, with a commensurately small population, the list of possible suspects is short, but the existence of Viola`s `secret admirer, H` has everyone stumped. First, how could Viola, living in such a small community, have had a secret visitor, a man no one saw except at a distance? And who on earth is he, this H?

As the investigators piece together the clues of missing jewelry and sightings of H and follow the leads generated by opportunistic thieves, dodgy jewelers, and local moneylenders, a picture emerges that points to only one conclusion. But in small villages, things are rarely as they seem. Have the investigators got the right man in their sights, or have they been led astray?

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Murder-Stephanie-Laurens-ebook/dp/B0DPLKVGZ1?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zknRS9xIgVuIRuP7ec7xgbYyRLJSMer5eKZghDJuGfM2KcfBbUOy4EglYBf9SZTHRABwpfYJ0WQSyc-QSOgsfXPvEV8W5rhDGHii9PyzAhvjIYmL8C0H6BmviCfY_MsxVyh070ufQnS94tp07z7k8uYbRDz7vWiMGsEojamFesCL0X79uT3dxkbWq5BdDxLliinziiKJhw-YqJS5uwqdRfUhx08TLXc3B2T8l-KpPyT0xSjB402FdLCwfNJFSc5GzhfTRxpcGOXfuH41mLazOha8ug1-lcIfZyx3hj2Qql1sz35F00VnTIkLldRJ625kgaWolL9WEK9HhU1W5-Gj5nKZgf-XEIM5wAhfft4Sq8dVIpRoPo66STfuO...

1 0

Open

Marriage and Murder by Stephanie Laurens
https://bit.ly/41Hs0Pc

When a middle-aged spinster is found strangled in her country cottage and scurrilous gossip implicates Henry, Lord Glossup, he appeals to Barnaby and Penelope Adair along with Inspector Stokes to unravel the mystery of who killed Viola Huntingdon.

Henry, Lord Glossup, arrives on Barnaby and Penelope Adairs' doorstep and begs their aid-and that of Stokes-in identifying the murderer of Viola Huntingdon, a middle-aged spinster who lived a largely blameless life in a country cottage in a tiny village close to Henry's home. As Stokes has already been tapped to take the case, the investigators travel to Salisbury and thence to Ashmore village and throw themselves into the case.

While initially Henry was touted as a suspect, he is quickly eliminated, and with the help of the victim's sister, Madeline, the investigators set out to discover all they can about the victim and who might have wished her ill. In such a small village, with a commensurately small population, the list of possible suspects is short, but the existence of Viola's 'secret admirer, H' has everyone stumped. First, how could Viola, living in such a small community, have had a secret visitor, a man no one saw except at a distance? And who on earth is he, this H?

As the investigators piece together the clues of missing jewelry and sightings of H and follow the leads generated by opportunistic thieves, dodgy jewelers, and local moneylenders, a picture emerges that points to only one conclusion. But in small villages, things are rarely as they seem. Have the investigators got the right man in their sights, or have they been led astray?

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Murder-Stephanie-Laurens-ebook/dp/B0DPLKVGZ1?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zknRS9xIgVuIRuP7ec7xgbYyRLJSMer5eKZghDJuGfM2KcfBbUOy4EglYBf9SZTHRABwpfYJ0WQSyc-QSOgsfXPvEV8W5rhDGHii9PyzAhvjIYmL8C0H6BmviCfY_MsxVyh070ufQnS94tp07z7k8uYbRDz7vWiMGsEojamFesCL0X79uT3dxkbWq5BdDxLliinziiKJhw-YqJS5uwqdRfUhx08TLXc3B2T8l-KpPyT0xSjB402FdLCwfNJFSc5GzhfTRxpcGOXfuH41mLazOha8ug1-lcIfZyx3hj2Qql1sz35F00VnTIkLldRJ625kgaWolL9WEK9HhU1W5-Gj5nKZgf-XEIM5wAhfft4Sq8dVIpRoPo66STfuO...

1 0

Load More Follow on Instagram

Behind the Scenes: A Most Unusual Princess (A Hot Historical/Fantasy Romance)

A Most Unusual Princess

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Join Our Newsletter

Follow Me on Instagram

ctrstaffer

Authors-
JOIN US TODAY!

A Most Unusual Princess

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Share & Earn Points for Prizes

Let Readers know

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

#ShowItOffSaturday AUTHOR Christina Lynn Lambert – Bear’s Dream »

You May Also Like

Kelli A. Wilkins

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Join Our Newsletter

Follow Me on Instagram

ctrstaffer