Thursday Thirteen - 161 - 13 Questions for Anna Campbell, Author of My Reckless Surrender

A big Maritime welcome to Australian historical romance writer Anna Campbell! Through the magic of the world wide web, oceans and continents fall away and here I am chatting away with one of my favorite writers.

Hi Julia! Thanks for inviting me to be your guest today!

1 - Living in Australia, which has its own vibrant romance writers' community, have you found the new global age has made physical distance an afterthought? Or does it hold challenges for you as a writer?


What an interesting question. You know, like most things, there’s pluses and minuses to being so far away. And of course, the Internet has removed a lot of the tyranny of distance.

I think it would be lovely to be able to meet my U.S. readers at signings on a more regular basis, but I do try to make the Romance Writers of America conference every year and this year, I’m also doing RomCon in Colorado in July.

2 - Is this the first time you've had a North American release and an Australian release coincide? What sparked the decision to bring them out together?


This is my first simultaneous release. I think the Aussies are trying to catch the locals who are so keen to read the book that they order the American edition before the local one is out.

I love having a simultaneous release and the Aussie trade paperback edition is just gorgeous!

3 - Have you had any stories come to you that are set in your native Australia? Or have you only scratched the surface of your London-based Regency Noir settings?

Oh, Regency Noir could continue forever – so many stories in Regency London. I risk being pilloried in my home country but I just don’t find Australian history romantic.

A lot of it is fairly grim (hello, convicts, anyone?) and I love working with the strict social boundaries of an aristocratic society which Australia never really was.

None of which means I don’t love my homeland, I do!

4 - Your debut novel, Claiming The Courtesan, was a publishing world sensation. You burst out of the starting gates and haven't looked back. How long did it take you to write the book that launched your career?

I started Claiming The Courtesan in 2001 and finished polishing it to publication standard in 2006 when it sold. At the same time, I was writing Untouched so I figure about four years on each book, piggybacking on one another if that makes sense.

Of course, I wasn’t working on the books every hour of every day in that time!

5 - I know from observation that you make your presence felt on the net.

I hope so! LOL!

And you definitely travel to conferences to make in person connections. How has your own promo efforts affected your career?

Promo is one of those weird things – nobody knows what works although people know at least some of it does work. Who knows whether my internet presence has affected my career? It’s certainly enriched my life!

I didn’t grow up surrounded by romance readers, although my mum and grandmother both loved a good romance novel. So it’s always a joy talking to other enthusiastic romance readers both in person and online!

6 - What would you say is the percentage of people getting in touch with you to make appearances, as opposed to you approaching them? Do you find that part easy, approaching people?

Luckily, people mostly approach me – probably as a result of the internet presence you mentioned. And even more luckily, people seem to be happy to have me back again once I’ve blogged. It’s always nice to have a return invitation!

7 - Were you ever tempted to surrender your dream of being published? What were your own Dark Moments as a writer?

I finished my first romance – a very Kathleen Woodiwissy medieval – when I left high school and before I started university. It was twenty-seven years then before I sold a book!

In all that time, dark moments abounded, as you can imagine! At one stage, about seventeen years in, I decided being a published author was a childish dream and I should stop pursuing this whim and get a proper job.

I had a really rotten 18 months where life was dull and without flavour. That convinced me as nothing else could that I really WANTED to write but I needed to approach my career differently if I hoped to succeed.

That’s when I joined a few romance writing organizations, joined a crit group, started watching the market, etc. Things started happening in leaps and bounds then.

What would you have told that beginner Anna if you could have Dr. Who's Tardis for a few moments?

I’d tell that Anna to stop being such a wimp and start interacting in the romance community and submitting her work. Books under the bed are never going to sell!

8 - Publisher's Weekly named your previous book Captive of Sin one of the Top 100 Books of 2009 - one of only a handful of massmarket paperbacks so honored. How did it feel to get that news?

Oh, that was fantastic! It took a while to sink in that it wasn’t just Top 100 ROMANCES of 2009, but Top 100 Books!

I’ve been really bowled over at the reception Captive of Sin has received. It recently won most popular historical romance in the Australian Romance Readers Awards and it won the Golden Quill Award. It’s also finaled in a stack of other contests.

I’ve had a lot of fanmail about that book – people just love their tortured heroes.


9 - Your fifth and latest book is called My Reckless Surrender - do you have that aspect in yourself? Do you throw yourself into things?

What an interesting question. First of all, I was going to say I was Miss Caution. But you know, I’m not sure if that’s true!

I think there IS a reckless side to me so it was fun to draw on that when I wrote My Reckless Surrender

10 - You've mentioned that Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft is the first non-tortured hero you've written. I'm exceedingly fond of tortured heroes - can't get enough of them. Why do you suppose these characters come to you?

You’re another tortured hero fan! How cool!

And Tarquin is well and truly tortured by the end of the book – he just doesn’t start out that way.

I find complex, flawed characters intensely interesting, as I think is clear from my books! And if I torture the hero, it usually puts the readers on his side and gives me high stakes emotion to work with. Not only that, I love the idea of a man purified by fire which I think is true of all my tortured heroes.

11 - Was it easier to write a hero without such dark emotional baggage?

Writing Tarquin was different, I’m not sure it was easier. And as I said, he’s definitely been through the wringer by the time he gets his happy ending!

12 - Your heroine, Diana Carrick, is shockingly forthright about what she does and doesn't want. Is she also a departure from your previous characters?

I tend to write strong women – one of the things I find interesting about Regency England is that women were legally so powerless and yet clearly strong women could exercise power in their own spheres and find happiness.

Diana was interesting to write because I wanted to look at someone who did the wrong thing and learned the error of her ways. She convinces herself that by committing a victimless crime, she’ll get everything she ever wanted but of course she’s deceiving herself!

13 - Do you think all lovers ultimately surrender at some point? Or does the act of surrender imply conflict that no longer exists, once the lovers accept their new status?

Ooh, what a profound question! Actually I think strong personalities will always need a certain amount of give and take in a loving relationship. I hope by the end of my books, the reader feels that the love between the characters is enduring enough to help them weather any storm, as it’s helped them weather whatever storms feature in the story.

In terms of surrender, I think both the hero and heroine surrender to each other so there’s no triumph of one over the other. Of course, the mutual surrender is terrifying and my characters tend to resist that moment as long as they can, LOL!

Anna, thank you so much for dropping by A Piece of My Mind today. I know you're blogging over at Vauxhall Vixens as well. Places to go, places to be...

Wonder if Sven will show up...? Sven is a rather distracting fellow who makes appearances at Anna's group blog, Romance Bandits. ...hmm...maybe that's him, now...



Scotialassie says In reading the responses I felt like she could have been sitting across from me...she was that personable. Glad to hear of Anna's dark periods and that she got out of them. Thanks for the encouragement.

Melanie says Anna you have just been all over the place and I just want to say thanks. Not only do I get to learn more about you and the books that you write, but I have found so many new blogs to follow and in turn am finding a whole bunch of new authors to start reading.

Laurie says Anna, I've started MY RECKLESS SURRENDER tonight and had to force myself to put it down to take care of business. It's fabulous, that carriage ride is hot! I'm forcing myself to leave the book downstairs so I'll get a little sleep - I have to work tomorrow.

UPDATE: The winner of a copy of My Reckless Surrender is...drumroll please...

Janet!

Come on down!

Actually, please drop Anna a line at anna@annacampbell.info and give her your snail mail address. Congratulations!

Thursday Thoughts - 4 - Book Review - When a Stranger Loves Me by Julianne MacLean

This is my third book review for my cousin's latest release. As I'm nearing my second blogiversary on Feb. 5th, this means she's had three books come out in that time.

I know. She is amazing.


1 - You can check out all three reviews in My Book Reviews archive.

2 - When a Stranger Loves Me is the third book in Julianne's Pembroke Palace series. The hero is part of an English ducal family driven to act by the deranged requirements of the patriarch. The current duke is going mad, and believes a flood will wipe out their ancestral home - unless all four of his sons marry before Christmas. If they fail to find wives in that time, the entire fortune will go to the Horticultural Society.

3 - Part of Avon's Historical Romance category, When a Stranger Loves Me gives us a heroine who tried to follow her own passions as a young woman, was hauled away from her elopement by her prominent father and promptly became the outrageous scandal of London. The hero survives a shipwreck in the English Channel, washing ashore upon the Jersey Island where the heroine has lived in exile.

4 - We meet Lady Chelsea Campion, a woman whose exile from society turned into the kind of freedom that allowed her to blossom. Chelsea lives in the summer home of her family's estate year round, along with her mother, brother and sister-in-law. Chelsea is deeply attached to her island home. She knows how to read the skies, she knows every ridge and hollow of the island, and spends her days crafting stories.

5 - Luckily for the hero, Chelsea takes a walk along the shore after a wild storm, ending up in the sea caves. There she finds an unconscious naked man thrown onto the jagged rocks. When he finally awakes, it is only to discover he can remember nothing of how he got there. Not the circumstances of his discovery, not any circumstances - he has no memory of anything that happened before he was discovered in the cave. Including his own identity.

6 - Chelsea dubs him Jack so he can have a name, at least. Jack's abilities remain intact - his aristocratic manners, his knack of tying a cravat and especially his exceptional talent for drawing. Among other pastimes, Chelsea and Jack spend many fulfilling hours while she writes and Jack sketches.

7 - But at night, Chelsea joins him in his room, giving in to the frightening passion she feels for this complete stranger. For he may not know who he is, but Jack can see inside of Chelsea in a way no one else has ever done - not even the lover she'd tried to marry before her family put a stop to it.

8 - Jack tells Chelsea she is his whole world now - the only person who knows him in a world he can't recall. But the gnawing sensation of letting someone down, of something urgent that needs him to act intrudes upon his Jersey Island idyll. And why can't he remember being stabbed? When Chelsea found him in the cave, he was bleeding from a puncture wound. Was it simply from the shipwreck? Or did someone want him dead?

9 - A thread of rebellion against the weight of duty runs strongly throughout this book. Charged with being the reason for her family's exile, Chelsea feels compelled to bear the burden of her loved ones' future, with her father passed on and a marriage proposal made by a man willing to overlook her ruination. Is it so wrong to allow herself a few days of pleasure with a stranger before shackling herself to Lord Carruthers?

As for Jack - why does his heart sink when he's finally located by his family? Why must he leave Chelsea behind and face the crushing expectations of 'loved ones' for whom he has no feelings?

10 - Julianne really knows how to end each chapter with a hook. Like this, for example:

"Chelsea sat for a long time, listening to the steady ticking of the clock on the mantel and the constant murmur of the sea. The sun had disappeared below the horizon, and outside the window, high in the sky, the stars appeared, one by one.

Rising to her feet, she strolled to the bedside, put a hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn, then leaned over the man. He would no doubt be very weak when he opened his eyes, perhaps too weak to even speak.

Feeling a sudden wave of compassion for his suffering, she laid her open hand upon his forearm. Gently, with the tip of her finger, she traced a path around all the little scrapes and cuts, as if she were following a maze. He was warm to her touch, but so very still and lifeless.

Her eyes traveled down the length of his body. She could see the outline of his firm torso and long legs, and remembered again his naked form in the cave. Her belly swirled with fascination and arousal, which shamed her for a moment, until she remembered that she was a flesh and blood woman - a woman who had once known passion and desire for a brief time before this seven-year exile. There was a time she'd wanted nothing more than to know a man's body, and to be made love to by someone she adored.

Suddenly, without warning, the man's arm snapped up. He grabbed her wrist.

Panic flared in her stomach. She gasped, but before she could even comprehend the pain in her arm, he was scrambling out of the bed like a wild animal, coming at her with raging fury in his eyes.

She screamed as he threw her to the floor. Her head hit the rug and she squeezed her eyes shut. All the air sailed out of her lungs.

The man pinned her down, tossed a leg over her hips and straddled her. When she opened her eyes, he was sitting on top of her, holding a brass candlestick over his head. It gleamed in the firelight, just like the ferocity in his wild blue eyes.

'Aaah!' he yelled as he drew the weapon back and swung."

11 - As always, Julianne excels at the dialogue between her hero and heroine. Julianne never fails to take a scene I think is going in one direction - and then flips it on its ear. She's the master of getting to the deeper emotions between lovers. Their raw feelings create true conflict, twisting the reader's heart into the same knots as the lovers'.

12 - Julianne moves to St. Martin's Press for her next release. Here's her announcement on her website:

"Julianne just accepted a three book deal to write for St. Martins Press. The contract is for a historical romance trilogy set in the Scottish Highlands. Release dates to be announced soon!"

She's wearing her fingers out at the keyboard on the first of the trilogy. My writers' chapter already got a sneak peek at the opening scene. Ladies, this is a hero to die for.

13 - I leave you with an excerpt from When a Stranger Loves Me. Enjoy!

" 'So you've forgiven me, then?' Jack asked as he refastened his trousers.

They had made love standing up against the door of his bedchamber. She had not seemed to mind the base carnality of it, nor suggested they move to a quieter spot on the bed. Perhaps she knew there was no one nearby to hear, for clearly she'd come here with one thing on her mind, and they got down to business without any of the usual genteel preliminaries.

He nuzzled her cheek and stepped back. Chelsea pushed away from the door.

'We already agreed that there is nothing to forgive,' she said. 'You were right when we spoke outside earlier today. You have not kept anything from me. I knew what I was getting myself into when I came to you the other night, and I have indeed been more than satisfied.'

He watched her for a strange moment, as she walked seductively to the window.

'But there is something different about you,' he said, narrowing his eyes. 'You're closed off. You're not acting like yourself.'

'That's ridiculous.'

'Is it? I think you are still angry about what happened in bed this morning.' He hesitated. 'Or perhaps... hurt.'

'I am neither,' she quickly asserted as she pulled the curtain aside with one finger and looked out. 'I am simply trying to be realistic.'

'How so?'

She faced him. He had the distinct impression she was giving a great deal of consideration to her answer, almost as if she were plotting one of her stories, deciding upon the most effective piece of dialogue for her protagonist.

'I don't want to become too attached to you,' she said at last.

He studied her eyes and saw a hint of vulnerability there, mixed possibly with some melancholy.

But it was an honest answer - at least he believed it to be so - and it gave him some reassurance that he had not lost her completely. She was still being open with him.

He approached her. 'And is there a danger of you becoming too attached?'

'There is a danger of anything. You are very pleasant to be around. Most of the time,' she added playfully.

'When I am not calling you by other women's names, I suppose.'

'Precisely.'

'I'll try not to do it again.'

'I would appreciate that.'

For a moment more they stood without talking, merely looking at each other while the waves rolled up onto the shoreline outside the window. Here in the room, the clock ticked steadily on the mantel.

Jack noticed the heavy beat of his heart. He felt restless, filled with a yearning that seemed to have no cure - for he could not close the space between them. How could he, when he did not know who he was, or if he was even free to care for her the way he wanted to?

Then, for some unknown reason, he remembered the urgency he'd felt the night before, and felt again that he was letting someone down. The feeling dropped into his stomach like a stone. Someone needed him. Of that, he was certain. There was a duty he was expected to fulfill.

God, was there a wife?

He looked down at the floor.

'So until we know more about you,' Chelsea said, her voice more forceful now, almost as if she had read his thoughts, 'I will simply keep my heart out of it, as you should do as well.'

'That's probably wise,' he heard himself saying, without looking up, because he was not in a position to offer his heart, or any kind of promise that involved the future. As things stood, he could offer Chelsea nothing, and she knew it."

- Julianne MacLean, 2009


Join me next week when I review Wanderlust by Shelley Munro.

My Very First Contest Closes Today - Last Chance to Enter - This is a sticky post - Scroll down for the regular schedule

I'm running my first-ever contest. It starts today and will run until Friday, August 8th, 2008.

To celebrate my cousin's 11th book release, I'm giving away a signed copy of The Mistress Diaries, autographed by Julianne MacLean. I'm also giving away a diary for your journaling pleasure. And I also have three original prints made into greeting cards from my mom's artwork.














Your mission, if you choose to accept it:

1 - Name 3 of Julianne's 11 books. Here's a link to her booklist from a Thursday Thirteen I did.

2 - Name 3 of her books that were nominated for a Rita. Check here for her official booklist and awards.

3 - Name 3 of Julianne's favorite films. Check here for a list of her faves from her website.

Put your answers in the comments section, and on Friday, August 8th the contest will close. Julianne will pick the lucky winner after I put everyone's name on a piece of paper so she can draw one.

Good luck to all!

Thursday Thirteen - 28 - 13 Reasons to Read Julianne MacLean

Who is this charming fellow settling back to read 'In My Wildest Fantasies'? My cousin's newest Avon Historical hits store shelves on October 30th, and the actor appears in her new book trailer. For my Thursday Thirteen today, here's a look at Julianne's work from her first release in August of 2000 to her 11th release in five short days!





1 - August 2000 (Harlequin Historical)

"The prairie was hard on a woman.

You had to be tough to survive here, and Briggs expected any wife of his to be as stalwart as he. The first woman he had trusted to do the job had failed. So what had made him think a stranger, especially a beautiful one, could ever help him salvage his dreams?

Sarah MacFarland's mail-order-bride marriage to Mr. Brigman was heaven-sent. She only hoped that the silent rancher was as honest as he appeared, for Sarah's unspoken past already held enough lies and scandal to last her a lifetime." (back cover)

Reader comments:

"It is a refreshing change not to be able to predict every plot turn in a book! Prairie Bride features characters who don't act/react in the formula ways." - K. Wellborn, Amazon reviewer from California, USA

"Both Briggs and Sarah were decent, honorable people. They were flawed, but in human ways, not in unforgivable ways that would make them unlikeable. That's a delicate balance to strike, so I applaud this author for a job well done. My only real complaint with this book was that it wasn't long enough!" - Gemma, Amazon reviewer from Alberta, Canada




2 - June 2001 (Julia's note: one of my favorite covers! - Harlequin Historical)

"Finally a Hero who doesn't make it through the story physically unscathed. First day on the job and U.S. Marshal Fletcher Collins gets shot. By the most unexpected character.
Mrs. Jospehine O'Malley is out for vigilante justice - her son Leo wants to solve the mystery of why his father was killed. She probably can't trust the Marshal. He may be a bought man. What the Marshal feels for Jo does not make a difference. He has the law to uphold. Definitely a keeper." - M. Hartmann, Amazon reviewer, Michigan, USA

"This great cover hooked me, but it was the characters who drew me in. Author Julianne MacLean layers complication until it seems impossible that love can be allowed to bloom between these two. The prose is action-packed, the pace fast, and the plot twists are guaranteed to make you wring your hands." - Norah Wilson, Amazon reviewer, New Brunswick, Canada

"Another wonderfully fast paced story with great tension and more layers than the heroine's petticoat. The twists are delightful. Her characters are so realistic and natural, this story is without a doubt one of my keepers!" - Barbara Phinney, Amazon reviewer, Canada




3 - April 2003 (RITA FINALIST, Romance Writers of America - Harlequin Historical)

"After years struggling to build a prosperous life in colonial Nova Scotia, Adam Coates is finally able to send back to England for his first love. Instead, he gets her younger sister, Madeline, who has quietly yearned for him. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Adam and Madeline unfold as they reassess their rose-colored impressions of first love and struggle to establish a stronger, deeper bond." - "hrwdebhale", Amazon reviewer, Canada

"Julianne MacLean extracts plot points from several romance classics and deftly uses them to her advantage. The tone and atmosphere nicely echo that of writer Jane Austen. This unusual and satisfying romance affirms how very important it is to show love openly and never settle for anything less." - 4 star Romantic Times review by Gerry Benninger

"Agreeing to stay together until her sister Diana arrives, Madeline and Adam try living and working together as friends, only to gradually realize they want something more. MacLean's quietly compelling writing turns this simple, classic love story into a richly emotional romance, and by combining engaging characters with a unique, vividly detailed setting, she has created an exceptional tale for readers who hunger for something a bit different in their historical romances." - John Charles, 'Booklist'








4 - May 2003 (RITA FINALIST - Avon Historical)

"Though several eligible men seem to vie for her hand, American heiress Sophia is attracted to the one they call 'The Dangerous Duke'—James Langdon, Duke of Wentworth. James is in for quite a surprise when Sophia becomes his bride and sets out to turn his estates, life and heart upside down with her uncompromising desire to give of herself. With charm and wit and a true understanding of the era, Julianne MacLean delivers realistic characters locked in a passionate and poignant love story." - 4 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"After having spent his life learning to control his passions, the duke must now give into desire if he is to successfully seduce the heiress he needs. An unconventional, genuinely kind American who isn't afraid of breaking the rules of society teaches a cynical Englishman the true meaning of love in this sexy historical. MacLean gives readers a fascinating glimpse of a time when American women were accused of "buying" husbands in England as she fluently blends history into a emotionally compelling love story." - John Charles, 'Booklist'

"Sophia was determined to marry for love, no matter what title her dear mama would try to force upon her. As fate would have it, across the crowded room, a hush fell, a body moved, and Sophia gazed upon a work of art - the most devastatingly handsome man, His Grace, the Duke of Wentworth. The whispers began again, with Sophia hearing `dangerous duke', nightmare, heartbreaker, stay away etc.
This was my introduction to one of the finest books I have had the pleasure to read this year. Sophia had her work cut out to act the part of his `Duchess' but in her own estimable way, and perseverance she brought him, and his family, back from darkness into a world of light and love! Do keep your tissues handy when you get toward the very moving and sensual ending!" - M. Rondeau, Amazon reviewer, West Springfield, MA, USA





5 - June 2003 (WINNER, Bookseller's Best Awards, Greater Detroit Romance Writers - Silhouette Desire)

"Dr Donovan Knight, wealthy, handsome, sexy heart surgeon has been getting death threats. Now someone has broken into his penthouse and attacked him. His worried partner hires a bodyguard to protect Donovan until this stalker is caught.

Jocelyn MacKenzie, former Secret Service agent, isn't so sure she should accept this assignment. She's got issues with men who live for status, wealth and material things, but she moves in to provide 24-hour protection.

Donovan can't resist the challenge of dragging out the woman hiding behind that professional facade, but she's just as determined to keep him at arm's length and discourages any personal interaction. But there's still a stalker out there. She can't afford to lose her focus. Someone could get hurt, maybe killed. What about the threat to her heart - especially when she figures out that her first impressions of him were so wrong?" - baltimore0502, Amazon reviewer

"The handsome heart surgeon can't remember the last time a woman appeared so unaffected by him, and that holds more appeal than he wants to admit. Julianne MacLean fills 'Sleeping With the Playboy' with everything that makes a good story into a lasting keeper." - 4.5 star TOP PICK Romantic Times review by Angela Keck



6 - January 2004 (USA Today Bestseller - Avon Historical)

"Time has come for Clara, the sister of American heiress Sophia Wilson (To Marry the Duke), to come to London and capture a husband. She left America because of her adventurous behavior, but accidentally attends a notorious ball. The Marquess of Rawdon, Seger Wolfe, is enchanted with the mysterious young woman he encounters. Realizing she is an innocent, Seger decides to tempt and test the lady. He sends her outrageously sensual letters, and steals kisses that set Clara's world on fire.

With humor, a sassy heroine, a delightfully wicked hero and a perfectly rendered Victorian atmosphere, MacLean enchants readers. Her special spark and brand of sensuality mark her rise to the top." - 4 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"Clara thought there was something improper going on at the ball, but it took a sinful kiss from a stranger to convince her. A mix-up in invitations on the part of Clara's companion sent the two Americans to a notorious Cakras ball instead of the polite society event they meant to attend. Clara realizes he is exactly the kind of sexy rogue she came to London to avoid. Even worse, Clara isn't sure if Seger is asking her to indulge in a wicked affair or a proper courtship. MacLean continues her captivating historical series featuring American heiresses who marry into British nobility with this deliciously sexy tale of two people who marry for desire only to discover how important trust is to true romance." - John Charles, 'Booklist'

"Burned by love years ago, Seger Wolfe, the Marquess of Rawdon, has long forsaken the ballrooms of polite society. That changes, however, when Seger rescues an innocent from certain social ruin - but not before stealing a kiss. Soon the rakish marquess and the daring debutante are indulging in naughty correspondence and a heated flirtation. Will this audacious miss find true love before scandal catches up with her? Returning to the ballrooms and salons of the Gilded Age, Julianne MacLean pens a worthy follow up to last year's 'To Marry The Duke'. Seger and Clara are well matched and their heated encounters, and delicious repartee bring this tale to life." - TheSchemer, Amazon reviewer, NYC



7 - November 2004 (FINALIST, Booksellers Best Awards, Greater Detroit Romance Writers - Avon Historical)

"MacLean will delight her fans with this charmer. From first page to last, you'll be drawn into the well-crafted setting and the Edith Wharton/ Henry James–style love story." - 4 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"Adele, the last of three American sisters to wed, always comes across as perfect. She always does what she's told and is very agreeable. Wow! Did she ever surprise me! It's not that she doesn't want, or yearn to be adventuresome, it's that she has an ingrained, very strong streak of sensibility. When she's returned to her fiancé, she quickly knows he isn't the man for her. So she's torn between what she had agreed to do (marry Harold), and reaching out and grabbing what she does want. I did so enjoy watching Adele grow as she learned that sometimes the things you want the most you have to fight for, and that IS the sensible decision!" - Darkcat, Amazon reviewer, Alaska, USA

"I have read the 'Grand Ladies' over and over again, Mary Balogh, Jo Beverly, Mary Jo Putney. I'm thrilled to say there's another historical romance author who is fast rising on the heels of these wonderfully talented ladies: Julianne MacLean. Mary Balogh can alway gets my heart tied up in knots, often with one line. The talented Ms. MacLean can do it, too. In this third instalment of her 'American Heiress' Series, Damien and Adele are forced to question their loyalties as they experience a passionate desire which overrides everything. For MacLean's characters, love always comes with a huge pricetag - maybe that's why I love her books so much." - Rom Fan, Amazon reviewer, Michigan, USA



8 - July 2005 (Julia's note: another of my favorite covers! - WINNER, 2005 RT Reviewers Choice Award, Best Regency Set Historical - Avon Historical)

"There's been only one man in the world for Lady Lily Langdon — Edward Wallis, Earl of Whitby. But Edward sees her as a sister, until Lily takes lessons in love from Sophia, her audacious sister-in-law. A love-'em-and-leave-'em rogue, Edward is falling under Lily's spell when the strange illness that plagues him strikes. Fearing he will die, Lily concocts a daring scheme to seduce Edward and become pregnant, thereby saving his estate and having a child so as to keep a piece of him forever. It will take another terrible twist of fate for her to see her dream of true love come true. It takes a talented author to segue from a lighthearted tale of seduction to an emotionally powerful romance that plays a darker tune on your heartstrings. MacLean is more than up to the task with this very special, powerful read." - 4.5 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"The sheer emotion that this book wrenched from me was what prevented me from being able to put the book down till I'd finished it all in one day. I felt instantly drawn into Lily and Edward's story, as if observing them for real. I ached for them both, although I wished I could have smacked them at times for being hard headed, especially Edward. And as for Edward, I have probably never read a romance book where I've felt that the hero's emotions, thoughts, etc., were portrayed with all the depth and emotion that the heroine's almost always are. Sure, we usually get strong impressions of how hunk-a-licious the hero always is, but Edward was all that and more. He had real feelings, he had real fears and he had real wants." - K. Montgomery, Amazon reviewer, Columbus, GA, USA

"I was hooked from the beginning. Page after page I just got sucked in deeper until I closed the book with a happy sigh. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with the palatable passion in the story. MacLean developed Lily and Whitby's personalities and motivations to the point where you feel as though you know them well enough to be friends by the time you finish the book. Both the hero and the heroine have secrets of their own, which are slowly brought to light by the author, like layers being peeled from a (very good) onion...." - D. Lane, Amazon reviewer, Austin, TX, USA



9 - February 2006 (Julia's note: my favorite cover so far - NOMINEE, Reviewers International Organization Award of Excellence - Avon Historical)

"When artist Annabelle Lawson meets Magnus Wallis on a train, she sees him as the perfect subject for a painting and, during the weeks that follow that fateful meeting, he becomes her model and her lover. Then she discovers the truth: Magnus is the cousin of her loathsome benefactor. Devastated by his betrayal, she never dreams of love again. But then Magnus returns from America to open an art gallery. He requests permission to show Annabelle's portrait of him, risking everything to win Annabelle's trust and love. MacLean reaches far inside her characters to pull out all the stops in this deeply touching, unforgettable love story. Known for her ability to balance humor, passion and emotional intensity, MacLean crafts stories that are romantic and thought-provoking. She is an author whose time has come." - 4.5 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"The cover of Julianne MacLean's Portrait of a Lover looks delicious and this engaging historical does not disappoint. Young, ravishing, unattainable Annabelle and the misunderstood, abhorred and darkly handsome Magnus - through a chance meeting, they discover mutual attraction and timeless love. Forced separation prove to be critical catalysts to the growth of more balanced, dimensional characters. Even so, Magnus is haunted by what could have been. Annabelle is determined not to be deceived or to love again. When Magnus reenters her life, Annabelle still fears love and lacks appreciation of her considerable artistic talent. You will not be disappointed by MacLean's artistic composition, by the way she nudges her characters along with her writer's brush, creating her masterpiece." - Patricia Thomas, Amazon reviewer

"Annabelle's act of painting is so vividly described I can smell the oils and turpentine. There are wonderful scenes of charged emotion between Annabelle and Magnus that never fail to go in a direction I couldn't expect. Ms. MacLean excels at turning a character who seems to be one thing at first meeting, into someone else once we see what's behind the public persona. In the case of Magnus, already shown to us in Love According to Lily, the ferocity and seething rage of that book's villain transforms into the truer image of Annabelle's tragic lover. Magnus' refusal to allow the constraints of interfering family to deny him the love that still burns for Annabelle is a delicious fuel that cleanses his rage into passion. As for Annabelle, her inability to be anyone but herself, to pursue her painting even when her heart seems broken, really endears her to me. Her reaction to Magnus' return to her life is very real and very touching. This is a romance for those who love a story that can really wrench your heart." - Gerryaddict, Amazon reviewer, Halifax, Canada



10 - December 2006 (Avon Historical)

"After winning the last two yachting races at Cowes, Lord Martin Langdon is looking forward to adding another trophy to his collection. Then he decides that an affair with the very proper, very wealthy and recently widowed Evelyn Wheaton is too tempting to resist. He uses all of his seductive skills to melt her icy reserve, and soon realizes that her love is the only prize worth winning. A nicely detailed Victorian setting and fascinating details about yacht racing give this bracing book its refreshingly different twist as MacLean brings her "American Heiress" series to a splendid conclusion." - John Charles, 'Booklist'

"Lord Martin Langdon loves that his reputation makes good women run in the opposite direction. That's what makes him so eager to prove he can corrupt the incorruptible Evelyn Wheaton. Martin remembers pulling her from a frozen lake and saving her life when she was a child. She has never forgotten him, and she finds it difficult to believe that her hero relishes his scandalous reputation. He woos her not with flowers, but with sailing lessons that bring them together in a partnership that blossoms into deep respect and love. MacLean showcases her knack for combining sensuality and emotion in a breathtaking story about a bad boy and a straightlaced lady. Your heart will sing as love conquers all, while MacLean's vibrant love story will strike the perfect chords and make you cherish this book." - 4.5 star Romantic Times review by Kathe Robin

"It's a plot full of romance, yacht racing, summer parties, and a particular sensual session of lovemaking on a beach. Both of the main characters have emotional issues from their past that MacLean handles well. She has them work things out together or go and grow up a bit, and time passes. I like that. There are plenty of little details about sailing, the lives of the rich, a few appearances by actual folks who lived in the time, and finally, several characters from her earlier novels in this series make a return, but don't hog the story. Finally, our heroine wears glasses. At last. What a nice touch. In short, this is one of those novels that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and sighed a bit when I put it down. It's a smart novel, and there are just too few of them out there." - Rebecca Huston, Amazon reviewer, On the Banks of the Hudson



11 - Before we get to the latest release, I bet you wouldn't suspect that Julianne was a club fixture in 1980's Halifax. Not ON the dance floor, but spinning the tunes that got everybody else out there. Yes, Julianne was a club DJ at Rosa's. This was taken around 1987 or 88.

"I'm the daughter of a jazz musician," Julianne says. "So I will always love jazz classics. I'm also nostaligic about the 80's, so I have a soft spot for REM and U2."








12 - And now - the moment you've been waiting for! Here's the book trailer for 'In Her Wildest Fantasies'.













13 - "I always strive to write books that have lots of heart and emotion," says Julianne. "And I've come to realize that I love to read historical romances that are rich in atmosphere and sweep you into the period. So I research my settings extensively.

"As far as characters are concerned, I like to write about strong, dark, tortured heroes who experience substantial growth throughout the story. Some of my favorite heroes from other romances include Rothgar, from 'Devilish', Brand Malloren from 'Secrets of the Night', and Fitzroger from 'Dark Champion'. These are books by Jo Beverley. Other favorites? Peregrine from Mary Jo Putney's 'Silk and Shadows', and Devon Crandall from 'The Windflower', by Tom and Sharon Curtis.


"I also strive to write heroines who are calm, reasonable and emotionally intelligent, even when times are tough."

Here's my favorite advice from my cousin:

"If you love writing romances, what does it matter if it takes a year or five or even ten? As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not a sacrifice. Those years are going to go by anyway, and if you give up - thinking it’s too hard or it will take too long - you’ll find yourself sitting around in five years wondering where you’d be right now if you had stayed with it."

I KNOW this is Julianne's true philosophy in life. When I was considering going to university at age 26 as a mature student, and I was making fun of the idea of getting my degree at 30, Julianne said I would turn 30 anyway, so why not turn 30 with a degree? I have often passed that advice on to others. And I thank her for giving it to me when I most needed it.

I'm very lucky to have my cousin in my life. We've grown up together, shared our first crushes and heartbreaks together, laughed till we rolled on the floor with tears rolling down our faces. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, and filled my suitcase with rose petals so that when Brad and I got to the hotel I had a heart-swelling moment of wonder when I opened it. I did a reading at her wedding, where I always remember the loving way she had her hand on her husband's back as he signed the register.

Happy 11th Release Day, Julianne! October 30th - May it be so much more than your wildest fantasies could have imagined.

Voting Open at The New Covey Awards

The New Covey Awards are featuring an author dear to my heart this month. 'In My Wildest Fantasies' is my cousin's seventh Avon Historical release.









Here's an excerpt










Who is my cousin? Why, Julianne MacLean, of course!