Historical Romance Readers Take Back the Night

It is dark, it's gritty. It is not Barbara Cartland.
A man who isn't very nice meets a woman who wants something that's out of reach for women in her era--freedom.
She's smart. He's clever. She has ambition. He has skills.
She's got a dead husband and he has ownership of her house.
They are not going to survive falling in love.

THE MASTER OF CLIFF HOUSE ~ Available in Kindle Unlimited or Buy for 3.99

The Master of Cliff House is available in Print from CreateSpace

New Release! The final episode....

The Master of Cliff House Trilogy

Book Three ~ Love Conquered

Own it for 0.99 or Borrow it with Kindle Unlimited

The fourth and final book in the Victorian Villains Saga: WRACKER'S COVE will be released early December as a full-length novel. Emily, an amnesiac victim of a shipwreck falls in love with her mysterious, troubled rescuer, Connor Black, who has managed to escape his father's curse. Until now.

Will the real Catherine Lloyd please stand up...

Romance author, Catherine Lloyd shares the same name as mystery author, Catherine Lloyd (Kurland St. Mary Mystery Series) But they are NOT the same person.

By sheer fluke (and prior to the awesomeness that is Google for research) "Catherine Lloyd" chose her pen name to write romances by amalgamating the first names of her two favorite people, never realizing the name was already taken. But as the style, voice and subject matter of the two authors are completely different, it seemed unlikely there would be any confusion.

Until poor Windemere Hall was released. A reader was disappointed to find it was not at all the book she was expecting from Catherine Lloyd, mystery author. If we wanted a traditional British mystery and we got a brooding, dark anti-hero romance, we would be irked too.

(However, we quibble with the reviewer's comment that the heroine, Clara, is a dimwit. Given the status and power of women in the Victorian Age, her choices are not gloriously abundant. She makes the best one she can in her circumstance. How this terrible choice changes her and develops her strengths is the theme of the story. How the villain, Branson, matures into a man she admires is the heart of the story. But we digress...)

The reviews of the trilogy installments (Betrothed, Betrayed, Beguiled) indicate the story is not at fault, only confusion in authorship. Catherine Lloyd regrets the trouble her pen name has caused. For romance readers who crave a darker, suspenseful historical romance (and can comprehend that women were not emancipated from fathers or husbands in 1867) Windemere Hall  will (we hope!) satisfy that craving.

Own Windemere Hall for $2.99

Borrow it through Kindle Unlimited until October 30, 2016

Print Edition is available through CreateSpace Book Store, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other independent sellers.

Victorian Villains ... the saga continues!

LOVE LOST ~ Own it for 0.99 or Borrow it through Kindle Unlimited!

The former master of Cliff House, Sir Richard Raine returns, forcing Jenny to choose between Jackson Zephyr and her husband. Richard claims his near death experience changed him and indeed his remorse for his past abuse seems genuine. Jenny Raine is desperate to find happiness at Cliff House and agrees to help confiscate Jackson’s treasure. 

Jackson is not convinced his cousin is a changed man. He accepts the loss of his father’s gold without a fight, but he is less accepting of the loss of Jenny Raine. When Jackson is invited to Cliff House as the guest of Sir Richard and Lady Raine, he seizes the opportunity to steal back the gold when a mysterious locked room in the attic exposes a sinister secret. Before Jackson can act, tragedy strikes, separating the thief from the young bookish woman he realizes he has fallen in love with.

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Love Lost is the second episode in The Master of Cliff House Trilogy, launching the third season of Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Saga. Four villainous fathers drowned at sea curse their four sons with greed, murder, lust and pride. Set in 1867 England, this steamy, suspenseful saga is written in the classic gothic romance tradition of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. The novellas will be released in installments like the “penny dreadful” of the Age. Each episode ends in a cliff-hanger. Love Lost contains scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

New Release!

This is why we should WAIT before making any sweeping changes to a publishing plan. After a minor panic attack about not being able to follow through with Victorian Villains Saga via the serial format (due to a shoulder injury) --- NEWS FLASH --- the shoulder healed and Catherine Lloyd wanted to keep going with the "Penny Dreadful" style of release:

"The tone of gothic romance is suited to the cliffhanger narrative. I like the novella format to compact a tight, breathless romance with suspense. The shoulder is feeling better and publishing a novella every 2 or 3 weeks suits my lifestyle at the moment with children coming and going. So, I am back at it!"

Kicking off the third trilogy in Catherine Lloyd's Victorian Villains Saga is LOVE TORN ~ The Master of Cliff House Trilogy ~ Available for purchase on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.

“What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh...”

Jenny Raine, the bookish 19-year-old widow of Sir Richard Raine, is shattered to learn that a distant cousin, Jackson Zephyr, has inherited Cliff House. Jenny was engaged as Sir Richard’s secretary before their marriage and will be homeless if she is evicted from the estate. But the handsome new master is unmoved by her plight. Zephyr is a career thief who has his eye on one prize: stolen gold from a long-ago heist that was hidden on the property. When his predecessor’s beautiful, strange widow thwarts his plans, Jackson applies pressure to break Jenny’s will and she is forced to reveal a shameful secret. The knowledge gives him power over the young woman until a sinister threat arises that pushes them into a passionate alliance.

Love Torn is the first novella in The Master of Cliff House Trilogy, launching the third installment of Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Saga. Four villainous fathers drowned at sea curse their four sons with greed, murder, lust and pride. Set in 1867 England, this steamy, suspenseful saga is written in the classic gothic romance tradition of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. The novellas will be released in installments like the “penny dreadful” of the Age. Each episode ends in a cliff-hanger. Love Torn contains scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

Why do we love romance novels?

It's a regular question that comes up in the book industry and it really, really bugs us. Why does no one ask why Penthouse is popular? Or where did Hustler find its market? Or what's up with all those military thrillers?

What is the big deal if millions and millions of women love to read romance novels? And we're just as bad, enabling the unspoken criticism by making excuses to justify our reading habits. "I don't want to think after a hard day." "I just like a good story." "I have enough worries, I want to live a fantasy for awhile."

You know what? This is the only answer anyone needs to hear: WE LIKE IT. We read it because we like it. As a literary genre, it is a way of understanding our world, our relationships and ourselves. Romance can be a safe place to delve into some dark issues and see there is light at the end of the tunnel. Falling in love is fun and terrible. It is endlessly fascinating as a theme. Oh, and we like happy endings! We could go on and on but the short answer is: WE LIKE IT. Now let's put a fork in that query and get back to reading what we love.

Glory, August is HOT! Bundled Releases in Victorian Villains Saga coming at you just in time for the dog days of summer. 

 WINDEMERE HALL

Shy, stammering Clara Hamilton is shocked when her father announces her betrothal to a cousin she barely knows. Her uncle’s stepson, Branson Hamilton is handsome, avaricious and rumoured to be unstable. Nineteen-year-old Clara, anxious for her father’s approval, agrees to the union unaware of what is at stake. A sinister family secret surfaces and Clara soon discovers that master of Windemere Hall has a dark revenge in store when she enters into his power.

Windemere Hall launches Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Saga. Four villainous men, cursed by their fathers, follow their legacy of greed, murder, lust and pride. Set in 1867 England, the saga is written in the classic gothic romance tradition of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Originally released as a novella trilogy (“Betrothed” “Betrayed” “Beguiled”), the novel, Windemere Hall contains scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

Available in Kindle Unlimited and in Print

MARK OF CAINE

Laura Mayhew is the only witness to a sex scandal at Windsor Castle and is committed to Gateshead Insane Asylum to discredit her story. Tanner Caine, a cold, solitary and emotionally damaged ex-naval officer is tasked with silencing the girl permanently. Laura has the gift of second sight and she has been expecting an assassin for months but Tanner insists he’s only there to help. Haunted in her dreams by a baby’s cries, Laura decides to trust the dangerous Mr. Caine to escape the asylum and find the missing royal infant. When she is compelled into marriage to obtain her release, Laura discovers Tanner Caine is the one man whose thoughts she cannot read. And it is possible she has married her assassin.

Mark of Caine is the second novel in Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Saga. Four villainous men, cursed by their fathers, follow their legacy of greed, murder, lust and pride. Set in 1867 England, the saga is written in the classic gothic romance tradition of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Originally published as a novella trilogy (“Hidden in the Shadows” “Whispers in the Fog” “Revealed in the Mist”) Mark of Caine contains scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

Available in Kindle Unlimited and in Print

Early Bird Special: Preorder Book Launch!

Windemere Hall by Catherine Lloyd

Preorder your copy of the full-length novel until July 27 at the Early Bird Special price of $2.99 $0.99 (reg $3.99) Gothic Victorian Romance that grabs the reader and does not let go until the last page. 

Shy, stammering Clara Hamilton is shocked when her father announces her betrothal to a cousin she barely knows. Her uncle’s stepson, Branson Hamilton is handsome, avaricious and rumoured to be unstable. Nineteen-year-old Clara, anxious for her father’s approval, agrees to the union unaware of what is at stake. A sinister family secret surfaces and Clara soon discovers that master of Windemere Hall has a dark revenge in store when she enters into his power.

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Windemere Hall launches Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Saga. Four villainous men, cursed by their fathers, follow their legacy of greed, murder, lust and pride. Set in 1867 England, the saga is written in the classic gothic romance tradition of Victoria Holt and Phyllis A. Whitney. Originally released as a novella trilogy (“Betrothed” “Betrayed” “Beguiled”), the novel, Windemere Hall contains scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

Not your mother's historical romance.

Mark of Caine Book Three Released Today!

"Revealed in the Mist"

The third and final installment in the Mark of Caine Trilogy. 

In the misty month of October, Tanner Caine crosses paths with his abandoned bride, Laura Mayhew. Laura's feelings for Caine run deeper than ever and when she discovers he is in love with her, she defies fate to be with him. Tanner refuses to put her life at risk a second time but a new threat surfaces forcing him to act. Caine must beat the curse laid on him by his father or Laura will hang.

Buy it for 0.99 or Borrow it with Kindle Unlimited!

From the Author:

"Bring on summer! I'm ready for a mojito. Tanner and Laura really put me through the fire. In the middle of writing their story, my left shoulder became painfully useless and typing was impossible. While I told myself it was okay--lives were not lost--it felt like two lives hung in the balance waiting for the author to get writing again. Just as I was getting back into the swing, a family emergency arose. Again, nothing critical, but Tanner and Laura had to sit it out.

At last, I was able to sit down and dedicate time to writing their story and it was GREAT. I'm thrilled the final installment of their story is released today in time for the lazy days of summer! 

The experience made me realize it is too risky releasing in installments. So, the final two books in the Victorian Villains Saga will be full-length novels. Thank you for following along with the serial format since February. It was exciting as a writer to see where the story was going to twist next and I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me." ~ Catherine Lloyd

Next in the series: The Master of Cliff House

Jackson Zephyr is the new master of Cliff House. Handsome and charming, he is a master thief who has stumbled across the haul of his career if he can only evict of the current occupant of Cliff House. Jennifer Raine is a beautiful girl with a dark secret and a mysterious past. She stands in the way of all that Jackson desires to possess--until he desires to possess her and discovers he cannot.

Anticipated Release: August 2016 

Mark of Caine Book Two Released!

Whispers in the Fog is the second book in the Mark of Caine Trilogy.

Haunted by a curse and a dark past, Tanner Caine struggles to control his growing feelings for his mark, Laura Mayhew. Meanwhile, Laura is plagued by dreams of a sobbing child sealed up behind a brick wall and remains determined to find him. Dangerously drawn to the mysterious man she was compelled to marry, Laura succumbs to a night of heated passion in his bed--a night that pushes Caine to the brink, forcing him to make a hellish decision. 

Buy it for 0.99 or Borrow it through Kindle Unlimited!

Revealed in the Mist,  the third and final book in the trilogy will be released in early June. 

Dear readers, Mark of Caine will end the serial format of Victorian Villains. It has been fun but Catherine's Lloyd's "frozen shoulder" injury scared the pants off of us, wondering if she would be mobile enough to finish the serial.

 

Victorian Villains Saga will continue in July and August with two new releases that will be full books. They'll be priced at 3.99 and available through Kindle Unlimited. 

Thank you for reading!

New Evelyn Ellis Gothic Romance Release!

Evelyn Ellis has started a brand new series centered on Dr. Jekyll and his evil alter-ego Mr. Hyde. The series is published as a Victorian Seduction and Surrender title but we wrestled with the category.

Erotica? No, this series doesn't contain erotica although there are steamy love scenes.
Romance? Well, yes, there is a romantic relationship developing between the governess, Molly Knight and her employer, Dr. Jekyll but it happens through his proxy, the nasty Mr. Hyde.
Paranormal? Well, he does transform after drinking a serum....
Confused? Welcome to our world. Sometimes romance just refuses to be boxed in. The heart wants what the heart wants. We decided to call it a Victorian Erotic Romance and leave it at that.

The Man of the House is launched! Available in Kindle Unlimited until August, 2016 or for purchase on Amazon for $2.99.

Set in 1879 London, England. The Man of the House is the first novella in a series about the wholesome Dr. Jekyll and his depraved alter-ego, Mr. Hyde. Orphaned at a young age and raised in workhouses and foundling homes, nineteen-year-old Molly Knight takes a position in the household of Dr. Jekyll and his wife, Felicity, as governess to their two young children. Molly senses something is not quite right in the Jekyll household and is soon drawn into a sensual forbidden relationship with the evil Mr. Hyde when she discovers Dr. Jekyll’s hidden laboratory. When Felicity Jekyll goes missing, Molly must choose between her secret love for Dr. Jekyll and the rescue of his wife.

More novellas in the series are forthcoming. Expect lots of heat, tension, danger, and yummy romance as Molly and Dr. Jekyll strive to maintain a professional relationship even as Mr. Hyde pushes for something more.

Mark of Caine - Hidden in the Shadows

Hey ladies! (and gents ... we know you're out there...)

We picked up a copy of Lost Island by Phyllis A. Whitney, published in 1970 in its original jacket from a used book sale. It now has a prominent place in the office to remind us of what we loved so much about this romance sub-genre. Good writing, skilled plotting and a breathtaking love story. She was the master!

The first installment of Mark of Caine hits the shelves on May 2nd. An Amazon exclusive! Do not let the length dismay you. It is about 2 chapters shorter than originally planned because Catherine Lloyd suffered a shoulder injury during the writing and was forced to shorten the first installment to do physiotherapy. 

BUT! We've read the next two episodes and they more than make up the difference. Trust us. This complex love story will keep you up at night. 

Buy it or Borrow it through Kindle Unlimited

Have a great May!

Victorian Villains ... the story continues!

Mark of Caine Trilogy

Book One: Hidden the Shadows

Laura Mayhew is the only witness to a sex scandal at Windsor Castle and is swiftly dispatched to Gateshead Insane Asylum. But the girl won’t stop babbling about a stolen baby and the Princess Louise and her mad tale is beginning to attract attention. Queen Victoria summons Tanner Caine to deal with the problem. The brilliant, solitary and emotionally damaged ex-naval officer is tasked with silencing the girl, but first he must break her out of the asylum and win her trust. Laura Mayhew has been expecting a man like Tanner Caine for some time and she has her own agenda for the ruthless Mr. Caine—if she can just stay alive long enough to see it through. 

Mark of Caine is the second book in Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Gothic Romance Serials, gothic romance novels set in 1867 Victorian England. 

Preorder it on Amazon for 0.99!

Release Date: May 2nd. 

Fans of Victorian Villains Windemere Hall Trilogy will be drawn in by Tanner Caine and his mysterious connection to Laura Mayhew. Catherine Lloyd's most passionate love story yet.

Season Finale of Windemere Hall Trilogy

BEGUILED wraps up the twisted, tormented love story of Branson Hamilton and his cousin, Clara. Branson's villainy comes back to bite him when he discovers too late that he needs Clara more than his revenge.

Buy it for 0.99 or Borrow through Kindle Unlimited!

Their story is woven seamlessly into the sequel, Mark of Caine Trilogy which will be launched in June.

Into the Shadows

Laura Mayhew is the only witness to a sex scandal at Windsor Castle and is swiftly dispatched to Gateshead Insane Asylum. But the girl won’t stop babbling about a stolen baby and the Princess Louise. Her mad tale is beginning to attract attention so Queen Victoria summons Tanner Caine to deal with the problem. The brilliant, solitary and emotionally damaged ex-naval officer is tasked with silencing the girl but first he must break her out of the asylum and win her trust. Laura Mayhew has been expecting the queen to send a man like Tanner Caine for some time and she knows his true purpose in liberating her. But Laura has her own agenda for the ruthless Mr. Caine—if she can just stay alive long enough to see it through. 

Mark of Caine Trilogy is the second in Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Gothic Romance Series, gothic romance novellas set in 1867 Victorian England. 

Weight Loss and Romance

We here at Writewood Creations have been trying to lose ten pounds (each) for literally years and we've discovered a certain level of starvation is required to pull this off for inactive women in their fifties. We don't care what the diet gurus say--our research shows we lose weight when we are hungry. As in starving. So hungry that a lunch of vegetable soup tastes out of this world. (For instance, I'm really hungry now and I can't wait for my poached egg on whole grain toast. Can. Not. Wait.)

There's no other way. We don't like to exercise, especially in the winter. A collective shudder goes through the office when someone suggests a walk at noon. ("In this? Are you well?") So that's out. Hunger is the only way to whittle those pounds down. Our motto is: "If you are not hungry, you're doing it wrong."

But we've noticed an overall increase in our testiness since we started this thing. Publishing is a cranky business at the best of times. Lots of snark and general irritating nit-picky stuff to deal with. We used to console ourselves with vats of red wine and chocolate Easter bunnies. Cabbage soup doesn't have the same soothing effect as a good-old bag of Hershey's Kisses. And the worst thing is, this semi-starved state will have to be permanent. The new world order. We just can't eat like we did in our twenties.

Does reading romance novels help us stay the course? Here are our completely unscientific results from the past month. We discovered:

1) Reading warm-to-hot love stories cheered us up and helped us unwind at the end of the day.
2) Romance novels are calorie-free. You burn calories reading a book!
3) Reading an engrossing romance distracted us from being hungry and kept us out of the fridge.
4) Romantic love stories made us more amorous with our husbands. Everyone knows sex burns calories.
5) We believe reading romance stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain and reduced our cravings.

Total weight lost: 7 pounds.

Craving a doughnut? Pick up a romance instead! The craving will pass and you'll be an hour or two closer to bedtime and another day done without blowing your diet. We've got this!

February Free eBook Romance....

Love. 

it can suck you in and then spit you out. falling in love, carrying a torch, heartbreak ... why do we do it?

we celebrate romantic love this month because it takes guts to fall in love and it takes faith to stay there. (Jeremy and Jocelyn, and Ellie and Griff know what we're talking about.)

LOVE RISING

Pick up your Free copy Feb. 11-15 on Amazon

TRAITOR

Pick up your Free copy Feb 13-17 on Amazon

Groundhogs and Heartstrings

Hot New Releases for February!

BETROTHED
Shy, stammering Clara Hamilton is shocked when her father announces her betrothal to a cousin she barely knows. Her uncle’s stepson, Branson Hamilton is handsome, avaricious and rumoured to be unstable. Nineteen-year-old Clara, anxious for her father’s approval, agrees to the union unaware of what is at stake. A sinister family secret surfaces and Clara soon discovers that master of Windemere Hall has a dark revenge in store when she enters into his power. GET IT FOR 0.99 IN FEBRUARY!

Betrothed is the first episode in Windemere Hall Trilogy and launches Catherine Lloyd’s Victorian Villains Gothic Romance Serials. Steamy gothic romance in the tradition of Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt, set in 1867 Victorian England. The novellas will be released in installments like the “penny dreadfuls” of the Age. Each episode ends in a cliff-hanger. They contain scenes, language and themes written for a mature audience.

FORBIDDEN PASSION OBSESSION

Three erotic stories set in Victorian America circa 1895, a time when social pressure puts the lid on simmering desires. Three inquisitive young women and three obsessive men are set on a collision course of taboo sexual encounters. In the Tent, a naturalist can’t stop thinking about a night of forbidden lovemaking with his young assistant. Backstage at the Bijou a young actor acts out a passionate illicit fantasy with his onstage ‘sister’. In When the Landlord Calls, a grotesque landlord is tormented by an obsessive desire for one of his beautiful female tenants. GET IT FOR 2.99 ON AMAZON! Coming soon to other retailers!

FREE ON SMASHWORDS!

Is it hot in here or is it January?

After an unseasonably mild December, we are back in the deep freeze. Writewood Creations has the space heater plugged in and hot chocolate in the coffee pot.

Freshly published today and available for $2.99 at Amazon, Smashwords (all formats) and coming soon to Kobo and B&N:

Buy it on Amazon: The Storm and Doctor Dixon

Buy it on Smashwords: The Storm and Doctor Dixon

Eagle-eyed readers who can spot the difference between the Amazon blurb and the Smashwords blurb will win a free copy of the ebook. There was a last minute change at the time of publishing that did not make it to all retailers. We decided to make a game of it--how many readers will notice? If you can spot it, use the contact form to the right and let us know. A free ebook (via a coupon to be redeemed at Smashwords to allow you the format of your choice) will be yours!

Happy 2016 and best wishes from Writewood Creations!