Blogging at Slip Into Something Victorian today

I'm over at Slip Into Something Victorian today talking about women soldiers in the American Civil War.

Win a Copy of Confederate Rose!

Enter my month long contest for the chance to win a copy of my upcoming Civil War romance from The Wild Rose Press, Confederate Rose.

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.

Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

Excerpt:

"I'm hating to have to say it, since I'd accused you of being a thief, but I stole something from you." She looked away.

"What could you...?" He racked his mind trying to figure out what she could have taken.

"I went through yer pack."

"In Patrick's tent?"

"No, weeks ago back at the cabin. I went through it to try to learn more about you when you were in the stable. I found a letter and took it but didn't have time to read it until now."

Alex swallowed.

"It was a Federal dispatch. Yer a Yankee."

His chest tightened. No wonder he'd been unable to find the dispatch. She'd had it all along. "What do you intend to do?" He hoped she wouldn't discover his real motive. He could never harm her.

"You lied to me the whole time," she said, disbelief marring her delicate features.

He exhaled the breath he'd held. "I had no choice."

"If I'd known you to be a Yankee, I'd have shot you the first chance I got." Her eyes glittered in the light of the fire. "You touched me...pretended to care fer me. And all the while, you lied to me."

The raw hurt on her face broke his heart. He'd deceived her. He couldn't deny it. "What do you intend to do?" he asked again.

She shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Alex, but 'tis me duty to turn you in."

Visit my website for information on how you can win a copy of Condederate Rose, coming September 25th from The Wild Rose Press.

Erin's Rebel is a Reviewers Top Pick at Night Owl Romance!!!

Night Owl Romance reviewer, Melinda, says, "Susan Macatee did a great job in showing the full details about the Civil War and lovers reuniting. This is definitely a book worth reading for it brings the war into real focus. Betrayal and a romance that spans all time are brought to life...
"I love historical romance and Susan Macatee did a beautiful job in this one. I loved that Erin is definitely a 21st century woman yet yearns or that all consuming love that she cannot find right now. William is all she has been searching for in a man, but he is in another century. Erin will do anything she can to find out what her part in this is even if it means her own life."

See the full review here www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=4249

Blurb:

Philadelphia newspaper reporter, Erin Branigan, is engaged to marry an up-and-coming lawyer, but dreams of a man from the change those plans and start her on a journey beyond time. After a car accident, Erin wakes to find herself living in the 1860s in a Confederate army camp.

Captain Will Montgomery, the man of her dreams, is now a flesh and blood Rebel soldier who sets her soul aflame. But the Irish beauty holds a secret he needs to unravel before he can place his trust in her.

Can she correct a mistake made long ago that caused his death and denied her the love she was meant to have? Or is she doomed to live out her life with nothing but regret?

Excerpt:

"Ma'am," someone called, startling her. "I'm mighty pleased to see you're up."

She turned in the direction of the deep voice. Am I dreaming? She licked her dry lips as she stared into the dark eyes that had haunted her dreams.

"Ma'am? You look a might peaked."

As he moved closer, her knees turned to jelly. Strong, hard-muscled arms embraced her, offering support. Her head spun. She lifted a hand to stop the motion and encountered wool, a double row of metal buttons and a rock-hard chest. The enticing aroma of sandalwood mixed with a musky, masculine scent, plus a tinge of wood smoke invaded her senses. Had she hit her head harder than she'd thought?

She gazed at his lightly tanned face. Firm lips tilted upward slightly at the corners surrounded by a thin chocolate-colored mustache curving into a neatly-trimmed beard covering only his chin. Thick, dark hair brushed his collar and curled from beneath a broad-brimmed black hat. Her pulse raced as she leaned against his long, solid frame. Night after night in her dreams she'd run her hands through those curls.

"How can you be here?" she murmured.

"Pardon me, ma'am?"

"I don't understand." She tried to wrench from his grasp, but he gathered her close, lifting her into his arms. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you back where you belong?" He carried her back to the tent entrance where Doc peered out.

Erin's Rebel available at The Wild Rose Press. Read the opening chapters at my website www.susanmacatee.com/erinsrebel.html

Win a Copy of Confederate Rose

I'll be launching a contest on my website on Tuesday, August 25th. All you have to do is read the opening paragraphs of Confederate Rose, posted on my site and answer one easy question. I'll draw from the entrants and pick three winners on September 23rd, two days before the official release from The Wild Rose Press.

While you wait to enter, here's the blurb and exerpt from Confederate Rose.

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

Excerpt:

"What? Are you telling me you were kissing him?" His blood heated at the thought of her moving on to another man.

"I was tryin' to escape."

"By kissing him?"

"Aye." Anger flashed in her eyes. "And it was working until you came along and hit the poor lad."

He grasped her forearm and pulled her from the guardhouse. They couldn't stay here debating. "Come on, we've got to get out of camp. I fear I've compromised my cover."

"But what about Nate?" she protested. "You may have killed him."

Sighing, Alex knelt and felt for a pulse. The lad's breathing was regular, his pulse steady. "Reckon he'll be out for awhile, but aside from a nasty headache and some bruising, he should be all right." He rose and glanced into the guardhouse. "They’ll reckon you clobbered him when he came for your dinner plate." He caught her worried gaze. "Now, let’s skedaddle."

She nodded, but eyed him again. "Why are you dressed as a priest?"

"It's a disguise. I'm ministering to the Rebel soldiers." His eyes roved to the white vee of her bosom. "Button your shirt before we go. We don’t want to attract any more attention."

Read the opening chapters at http://susanmacatee.com/confederateroseone.html

Taking a few days away from book promotion

It's been both exciting and hectic having two books come out in one month. I've been trying to do all the promo I can, while not neglecting work on contracted books and new works in progress.

I'm also anxiously awaiting reviews. Each day that goes by without one just makes me worry that I won't get any at all.

So, for the next two days, I'm taking a break from promotion, so I can fully concentrate on my newest projects. My only contracted story is getting ready to go to galley, but I haven't gotten it yet.

I sent off two contest entries for the opening of my science fiction romance and want to get back to revision on that manuscript next month.

My two first draft projects, a full-length historical and short contemporary, I'm writing in tandem. I'd planned to wait until the historical was finished, but the new story just didn't want to wait. Good thing they're two different genres, so I can't possibly get them mixed up. I'd like to complete both by the end of the month, if possible.

I know a lot of writers work on multiple projects at one time, and if they can do it, so can I.

Wish me luck!

Another excerpt and an unexpected coincidence!

Thought it was time to treat you all with another excerpt from my paranormal/reenactor story, Angel of My Dreams, from the Civil War anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles.

But by strange coincidence, the hero of my story, Kyle Dalton, commented on this blog yesterday. Not only is the real Kyle a former Civil War reenactor, but he teaches history, like the character in my story.

How cool is that!

It's fun when my characters leave comments on my blog.

Here's the blurb and excerpt from Angel of My Dreams.

When Civil War reenactor, Kyle Dalton, keeps seeing a beautiful woman on the battlefield tending to soldiers, he thinks she's another reenactor. But when she disappears into thin air, he starts to believe he's seen a ghost. Did he have a past life with this woman?

Excerpt:

A chill ran down Kyle's spine. Josie, that's the name Derek said he'd been calling out last night.

"What reenactment group you with?"

She bit her lip. "I'm afraid I don’t understand your question, sir."

"You're not with a group? How about one of the civilian groups?"

"Oh, no. I'm here on my own. I want to help in whatever way I can."

Kyle decided to take a different track. "Do you live near Philadelphia?"

"I live in the city, on Chestnut Street."

He glanced at her ring finger. Empty. "Most ladies in my group come with their husbands or boyfriends."

"No. As I said, I'm here on my own."

"Well, can I walk you back to camp? Or are you staying off-site?"

She frowned again. "I stay with the other nurses."

"Great. Lead on, and I'll walk you back."

She smiled, and he reached for her arm. His hand closed on air.

"What the hell?"

She gazed at him. "I can't stay."

She dissolved before his eyes.

Northern Roses and Southern Belles, available now from The Wild Rose Press.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/northern-roses-and-southern-belles-p-3578.html

For more info on this anthology visit www.nrandsb.wordpress.com/

At Slip Into Something Victorian today

I'm over at Slip Into Something Victorian today continuing my series on Victorian travel. Today, I'm talking about where the mid-19th century traveler would stay.

Is it Christmas?

I was googling my name and look what popped up. I got a review from Sherri at Goodreads for my Civil War Christmas story, A Kiss Under the Mistletoe.


And if you're inclined to read a Christmas story in August, you can download this one for free right here.

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-kiss-under-the-mistletoe-p-1091.html?zenid=f9cdcaeb606c81d5208d2fa88ef7cdc1

Opening Chapters for Confederate Rose Now Up

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O'Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she's transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.

Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he's the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

If the blurb intriques you, you can now read the opening chapters on my website. Go to http://susanmacatee.com/confederateroseone.html

Confederate Rose will be available this September from The Wild Rose Press.

Prize Winner

The winner of my prize over at Love Romance Passion yesterday is Mary Ricksen. I've already sent Mary notification, but it's not too late to win more prizes.

The blog tour continues over at Slip Into Something Victorian, where you can learn more about Caroline Clemmens' story and have a chance at more giveaways!

Our Anthology Blog Tour Continues

Our blog tour is already underway, and today's my turn to talk about my story, Angel of My Dreams, part of the Northern Roses and Southern Belles anthology.

And all comments on this post will be entered in a drawing to win a prize!

Join me at Love Romance Passion to learn about my story and see what prize I'm giving away today.

Winner of pdf copy of the Anthology!

Thanks for all the great comments yesterday! It's convinced me there is a market for Civil War romance despite what some publishers say.

And the winner of the pdf download of Northern Roses and Southern Belles is... Celia Yeary!!

Congratulations! Contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com so I can send out your prize!

And for the chance to win even more prizes, including a grand prize of a print copy of the anthology signed by all six authors, follow our blog tour all this week!

Visit the first stop today at http://nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/not-your-mothers-civil-war-romance.html

And you can follow the remainder of the tour here http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/release-day/

We hope you have a great time learning all about us and our stories and hopefully, win a few prizes along the way.