Irish Dreams Blurb:

It’s one thing to resist an Irish dream, quite another to resist a dreamy Irishman.

After being traded for another woman by her fiancé, Maggie decides she’s had it with men. Good thing she’s far away from him, in Ireland fulfilling her best friend’s request to be maid-of-honor. Wicklow and the Emerald Isle are more than she expects-—green, lush, and exactly what she needs. What she doesn’t need is rescuing by some emerald-eyed charmer.

Newly divorced, Ethan Moore is ready to enjoy bachelorhood. Only one problem—-the fiery-haired Maggie Christy. Unlike any woman he’s ever met, Maggie draws him close and turns him inside out. The attraction is unexpected and inconvenient, but nobody ever said true love was easy.

WARNING: Exceedingly charming Irishmen and sexually explicit scenes.

1. Publication Date – or when it      will be ready.

March 5, 2012

2. Where people can buy your book      including your website – please provide links.

Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/

Amazon: www.amazon.com

Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com

All Romance Books: http://www.allromanceebooks.com

My Website: www.toni-kelly.com

Mini Excerpt (Lyrical used longer one and I only see one excerpt approved):

“What?” Maggie met Elsie’s gaze. “You’re leaving?”

“We’ll be right back. Ethan won’t bite, right?” She pinned Ethan with her most take-charge stare.

“Definitely not.” He raised his hands in surrender as his mouth curved upward. “I will behave like the utmost gentleman.”

“All right.” Turning, Elsie followed her fiance, leaving Maggie standing alone with Ethan.

“Married gentlemen don’t kiss or ask for kisses, especially with unknown women,” she said.

Ethan frowned and adjusted his cuffs. “You’re right.”

With one look at his contrite expression, sadness and a hollowed out feeling filled her. How could one man affect her this easily? After Rick, how could she ask such a silly question? It appeared learning from mistakes was beyond her capabilities.

“I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“No worries. After what you did yesterday, I owe you.”

“How about a dance?” Hand held out, he nodded toward the floor below. “Friends. Completely platonic dancing.”

Absolutely nothing with this man could be completely platonic.

She quickly quashed the thought and slipped her hand in his.

Bio:

Toni Kelly writes principally paranormal and contemporary romance. Her background is a mix between Ireland and the Caribbean, something which has always fascinated her. Growing up in a household where dinner could be pilaf rice and curry chicken while dessert was Terry’s Orange chocolate and Earl Grey tea left her mind wanting to delve into the myths and magic which lay in these two cultures and many more.

When time permits, Toni loves to travel and explore the world bit by bit. She is fluent in English and Spanish and teaching herself Italian. Toni loves incorporating her experiences in travel (even if they are just scents, sights and tastes) into her writing. Come explore the world with her.

In 1890s London, young Simone Baden is left with responsibility of her two brothers. Being a woman of color with very little experience, she cannot provide for them through honest means and is soon desperate. From the women at the boarding house, she hears of a brothel that caters to the unusual—supernaturals. With the ache of hunger growing in her brothers’ bellies and the threat of eviction looming, she has no choice but to barter her body and freedom.

Eravas Lilu is an ancient spirit of desire who excels at what he does—teaching the arts of pleasure to women—but Simone is different. With a male and female helper, decadent instruction follows to mold his charge into Magdalene. Enthralled by her inner beauty, he finds himself at a crossroads.

Shall he let her new profession take her soul, or give up his own in exchange for hers…?

Warning: Graphic sex including m/m/f, f/f/m, and m/f. Discipline.

Teaser:

Magdalene didn’t know what he was thinking. His expression remained hard. Since Eravas had shown her pleasure, her body craved for more, and more.

“I cannot allow you to disobey my instructions without consequences.” As he lifted his gaze to hers, he loosened his cravat and collar. He slipped off his jacket and removed a razor strop from his pocket. The leather strip gleamed in the light of the fire.

Pain seemed an unavoidable part of her life. She wouldn’t cry. No matter the sting of his punishment. She’d earned the consequence she now faced.

He unbuttoned his shirt and pushed aside his braces. A light dusting of dark hair lined the lean ridge of his abdomen. A man’s body had never held as much marvel as his.

“Given my failure as your instructor to garner your obedience and respect, there must be a penalty.” He removed the fabric, revealing defined muscular arms and flawless skin. He walked past her, tossed the razor strop to her lap, and stopped at the post of her bed. Between his shoulder blades were two deep craters of scarred flesh.

“Five lashings at your hand, Magdalene.”

“No, I cannot.” There was no way he could expect this of her. She wasn’t capable of such an act. As her father’s wife had whipped her, she promised never to inflict the same on another.

“And that is why you must,” he shouted. “By doing so you’ll never dare disobey me after this.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I won’t do it again.” He couldn’t ask this of her. “I’ll take a hundred to spare you one,” she said. “Please, I beg your mercy.”

“I cannot give you what even God failed to give me.” He lifted her from the bed and placed the metal end of the strop in her hand. “Five, and each must count, or you will start again. The pain you shall feel whipping me is what I suffer for you breaching my request.”

The leather felt warm against her fingers. Her hands trembled.

“If you do not do as I have asked, you shall force a far greater pain on me.” He leaned his head to the post.

Please meet Etienne Grant. Aequitas II Punishment coming Jan 17th 2010.

Welcome to my website G. Jillian Stone. I’m honored to have you on as guest. Thanks for inviting me, Mason.

Why don’t you share with us the very exciting news you recently received. On March 25^, early in the morning, I was getting ready to go to the dentist to have a temporary crown done. I answered the phone on the way out the door. It was the contest director of the RWA^® calling to say THE YARD MAN had finaled in the Romantic Suspense category of Golden Heart.^®

Who did you tell first? Haha! Besides my son, who heard the screaming when I set down the phone from the other room, I immediately e-mailed my crit partner, a.c. Mason, of course.

Where did you go immediate after? The dentist, of course. Life goes on, even though your brain is buzzing with happiness. Not an altogether bad way to sit in the dentist’s chair.

How did you decide to enter the contest? And what category to enter? Once again, haha! It was my crit partner, a.c. Mason, who convinced me to enter the Golden Heart. I didn’t want to enter.  First of all, even though THE YARD MAN had finaled in several contests last year, in the fall months the ms had been getting it’s butt kicked in the romance category and I wasn’t feeling all that confident. Around the time of the Golden Heart entry deadlines, I decided to try entering the RS category. I knew I had written a romantic suspense story but the historical setting had always thrown me when entering contests.

Are you planning to attend the award ceremony? Going to Nashville, baby!

What is the manuscript about?

Set in late Victorian London, THE YARD MAN is the first in a series of romantic suspense novels featuring a clever and wickedly sexy Scotland Yard detective, a love story and a suspense/thriller subplot.

Here’s the blurb:

Zeno Augustus Kennedy is part stoic gentleman, part adventurous Scotland Yard agent. Brilliant, troubled, and wildly uninhibited in bed, he is an enigma of the first order. Having lost his mistress, killed in a horrific blast perpetrated by Fenian dynamiters, Zeno has struggled for years to forgive himself for not preventing the bomb attack. Just as the memory of his explosive past begins to ease, the young widow Cassandra St. Cloud moves in next door.

After six months of marriage and nearly three years of mourning, Cassandra is more than ready to purge off her widow’s weeds and begin life anew. An artist by temperament as well as training, she is not only eager to paint again but entertains the idea of a romantic escapade, something discreet but rather daring. Having an amorous and famous detective for a neighbor proves to be more than tempting, especially when her affaire with Mr. Kennedy catapults them both into a perilous adventure.

Where did you get your inspiration for the story? I was knee deep in another historical romance novel, which was rapidly turning into a trilogy. After writing over 300,000 words with no end in sight, I was feeling a bit drained and overwhelmed. I needed a break from the ms. Having read and enjoyed Amanda Quick’s mystery/suspense, romance novels, I began thinking about something set in the late Victorian period. I didn’t want to do yet another variation on Sherlock Holmes, so I opted for Scotland Yard detectives (often portrayed in novels and film as bungling inspectors). I thought why not create a special branch of elite detectives and hook them up with feisty heroines?

Is it true that The Yard Men Series has two branches? Yeah, there is Special Branch and Secret Branch.

Tell me the unique attributes of each branch and the tone of the novels. The first novel, is romantic suspense and involves Special Branch detective, Zeno Kennedy. In that story, I introduce several other detectives, including Phaeton Black, an eccentric, somewhat troubled character who I instantly knew I wanted to develop into the dark hero of his own story. Since Phaeton is an occult detective I needed to create a new division of Scotland Yard called Secret Branch. These stories are darker and more erotic in tone and incorporate both suspense and paranormal elements.

Are there more Yard Men in the wings? And what branch do they work for and why?  Oh yes. I have another RS story called THE CARNAL SINS OF RAPHAEL, which involves Detective Rafe Lewis and an industrial tycoon’s daughter on the run from a crazed, maniacal killer who hates the new machine age and is determined to see anyone involved in modernization obliterated. What I love about this suspense tale is I have them on the run from the beginning to the very end of the story.

THE MISS EDUCATION OF DOCTOR EXTER is a story I am also excited to write. Reader’s first meet Doctor Exeter in Phaeton Black’s story, when he and Phaeton team up to solve the vampire murders (amongst other crimes). In THE MISS EDCUATION OF DOCTOR EXETER he solves a series of occult murders that come to involve his ward, Mia, (now fully grown up) who has begun to shapeshift into a Leopardess. As the dark mystery unfolds, Mia helps Doctor Exeter expose a strange, brilliant inventor bent on revenge. Together they defeat a small army of undead creatures and uncover a plot to eliminate every member of the British Royal Society. In the process, they also fall into a very heated, sexually charged romance.

Share with me your research techniques? How much do you do? As you know, I do a lot of research on the front end of every story. As I begin the writing process, I research details as I need them. I am a big believer in sprinkling in lots of authentic period details, which helps ground the characters as well as the reader into the world/time frame.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Very early on, I think I wanted to be a screenwriter or filmmaker. I went to art school and eventually fell into working as an advertising creative. I continued to take film school courses and ended up involved in a film production company (documentary projects, music videos and TV commercials). Finally, I figured out I was more than likely a storyteller and began to write down my stories. For the past year and a half, I have been working very hard at learning the finer points of fiction writing.

At what point do you feel you shifted your focus to your literary career? When Tony, my partner of ten years died of cancer, I went through a very important shift in priorities. I thought––no one knows how long they have on the planet. If you have stories to tell and you’d better get them told.

Who inspires you? People who are passionate about what they do.

What are you especially grateful for when it comes to your writing? I am grateful for all the support and encouragement I have received along the way. My crit group and wonderful crit partner (of course). I also want to recognize the creative risk-taker in me. It is not easy forging your own path in fiction writing, but I think it is critical to developing your voice as a writer.

Tell me something I don’t know about you? I have so many dark secrets I’m not sure which one to tell.

I like doing a speed round for others to get to know you. I’m going to list a few things and I want you to name your favorite.

Superhero? Doctor Who

Hero? Edward Sissorhands, Jack  Sparrow––Heathcliff. Obviously, I gravitate towards the eccentric, darker types.

Time Period? 1880––1910.

Historical Novel? SEA OF POPPIES, is a current favorite. The novel is set in British Raj India. Part of the research I am doing for my next historical novel.

Historical Film? A Room With A View (such a feel good movie) or Wuthering Heights, the BBC version with Tom Hardy. Yes, I know you love him too!

Thank you. That was great fun.

Is there something you’ve always wanted to be asked about a special talent, a pet, so on that you’d like to share with us. I have a horse named Bronson who I have owned since he was three years old. He has won many blue ribbons and buckles for me. He is smart and brave with an attitude––truly a hero.

What’s next for you? Two historicals in the works. One set in British Raj India at the turn of the century, tentatively titled FOREVER AND A DAY and another set during WWII Scotland called THE SHEEP INSPECTOR. Both are mainstream novels with romantic elements.

I wish you all the success G. Jillian Stone. Thank you for sharing with us your exciting experience as a 2010 Golden Heart Finalist for the Yard Man in the Romantic Suspense category.

Thank you, Mason, for the interview and all your support over the last year. You have truly

been a huge part of all this excitement and I would not be celebrating the Golden Heart final if you had not talked me into entering.

G. Jillian Stone can be found at the following places:

Website: http://gjillianstone.com
Blog: Mondays at http://ahistoryofromance.wordpress.com

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com