Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Victorian Scoundrel

Leave a comment today and over the weekend and I'll draw a winner out of the hat to win a PDF ARC of the novel, Victorian Scoundrel.

Smiles
Steph

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Enjoy this excerpt: Grayson escorted her to a door on the right, threw it open, and put his hand on her waist, guiding her inside. A gas lamp burned on a nearby table, throwing stark, deep shadows into the room.

Her determined man shut the door and pinned her against it. He plucked her glasses from her face and threw them onto the table with the gas lamp. Then he pinned her against the door, placing his hands on the door next to her arms. His breathing was erratic. The light from the lamp cast dark shadows over his chiseled features.

"Gray--"

He stepped closer and lowered his hands, placing one on her waist. Heat spiked within her and settled low in her abdomen. His hazel eyes burned with desire. He drew in a deep breath and raised his forefinger, tracing her lips. Alice closed her eyes, but only briefly, savoring the gentle touch of his finger.

"You do wild things to my heart, sweet Alice," he finally whispered. His finger traced her cheeks, then her jaw.

She grew hot, yearning for more. Her senses spun from his sensual touch. She could hardly breathe. "Me?"

"Yes, you."
"What do I do to your heart?"

"You make it beat hard -- fast." He ran his finger down the side of her neck and traced the 'v' in her throat.

Alice met the raging inferno in his eyes and nipped at her lower lip with her teeth. "Is that all I do?"

He issued a low, deep groan from his throat and leaned forward. Their lips searched for each other, teasing, until finally they meshed into a heat-searing kiss.

Alice completely lost her head. His lips were hard, firm, staking his claim. His hands went to her waist as his long, lean body pressed against her. She placed her hands on his shoulders and glided her fingertips around the nape of his neck. She wanted this man. Etiquette and propriety be damned. Victorian values wafted to the floor. She wanted to feel every inch of him that she could. His lips trailed over her jaw, kissing the side of her neck.

"Oh, Gray..." she moaned, her flesh now highly sensitized to his touch.

She had never been kissed like this.

He lifted his head; his mouth overtook hers once again. Her stomach fluttered. If it wasn't for him leaning into her, giving her support, her knees would have buckled. Need. Want. Desire. They pulsed through her.

His tongue teased her lips, coaxing her to receive him. She gave in.

Their tongues mingled, exploring, tempting, teasing. Raging flames consumed her body. There was only Grayson and her. Here. Now.

Grayson broke free, gasping for breath, as did Alice. His hands cupped her face. "I have to stop."

"All... all right."

His thumbs stroked her jaw. "You fascinate me, Alice."

A deep smile graced her lips. "Completely?"

"Totally."

"You kiss like a demon possessed, Grayson."

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Making Characters connect through emotion

What makes Victorian Scoundrel special are the characters. Alice reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. She falls into the "hole" only to discover a different world. Alice has her challenges. Her mother died of cancer around the time Edmund lost his mother. That sense of overwhelming loss drove the cousins together. Alice understands her cousin's need to seek out mischief, but she hates to see him get in trouble. She'll do anything to protect him – even going back in time.

Edmund has a good heart, but he's driven by a restlessness that settled over him once his mother died. He feels its always been his destiny to travel back in time and meet Prince Albert, but he doesn't think about what the consequences would be. Both Edmund and Alice wants what's good for England, but both have different ideas about what that is.

Grayson is also a patriot, serving in the House of Lords. Sir John Russell, the Prime Minister, wants to find alternative forms of energy. Grayson's not looking to find a lady, but Alice stimulates him like no other he's met. Can he stay true to his ambitious goals he's set in Parliament or will his heart take him down another path?

And haven't we all faced the same challenges? How do we channel our loss? Protectiveness? Recklessness? A tough decision? We can all identify with those emotions.

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Grayson Kentfield from Victorian Scoundrel

GAEL: I'm Gael from MUSEum here today with Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton from Victorian Scoundrel. Tell us how you met Alice Windsor.

GRAYSON: Oh, she was a sight! She wore a pastel dress down to her knees, short sleeves, and v-neck that revealed her cleavage! She was a vision – even with that odd little coin necklace and her glasses. She marched right up to Buckingham Palace looking like the most unusual waif I've ever seen and actually expected to get in.

GAEL: What about Alice appeals to you?

GRAYSON: She's quite clever, yet quirky. She cares. She's curious. And she has a secret that I'm determined to discover.

GAEL: Do you have an exhibit in the Crystal Palace?

GRAYSON: No, I have no talent for making things, but I'm very passionate about cleaning up London. There's simply too much soot in the air.

GAEL: What are you doing about the soot?

GRAYSON: I support the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. We're pushing a bill through Parliament to pay for the discovery of alternate fuel.

GAEL: Doesn't your fellow MP, Ridgecroft, believe in alternative fuel, too?


GRAYSON: Curious sort he is. He walks around in leather wearing goggles and is determined to transmogrify coal into black oil. Sir John and I don't know what to make of him.

GAEL: What do you think of Alice's cousin, Edmund.

GRAYSON: He's a descent sort, but he's as odd as Alice. Prince Albert's rather fond of him and I know the Prince is a good judge of character.

GAEL: What have you learned about Alice that surprises you?

GRAYSON: She drinks coffee.

GAEL: Any last words of wisdom?

GRAYSON: I love the adventure that Alice takes me on.


BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephanie Burkhart

Q: Victorian Scoundrel is a steampunk romance. What's steampunk?

STEPH: A steampunk is set between 1830-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria when steam was king. A more traditional setting is England, but you aren't limited to the setting. You can set the story during the American civil war if you want or in Brazil or Africa. It's basically an alternative universe that involves time traveling or paranormal creatures. You've got goggles, strange gadgets, and lots of soot. Think "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. and you get the feel for a steampunk.

Q: Why write a steampunk?

STEPH: Gail Delaney, Editor-in-Chief, put out a call for some steampunk fiction. It was something I hadn't tried before so I decided to go for it.

Q: What inspired the plot?

STEPH: A lot of research. After researching the tone and feel of the steampunk genre, I decided I wanted something more traditionally Victorian. For me, nothing embodies the height of the Victorian age than the Great Exhibition in 1851. Now what would really make the Great Exhibition shine? A dirigible. From there I came up with the plot – Edmund wanting to give his great-grandfather, Prince Albert, a dirigible. A bit long winded, but I rarely get inspiration from dreams.

Q: How long did it take you to write?

STEPH: About 3 months including research.

Q: How did you come up with the title?


STEPH: Well, Edmund may be a prince, but he's very self-absorbed, or should I say, determined to give Prince Albert a dirigible. Then there's Grayson. I'll let you decide who the scoundrel is.

Q: How many books do you have planned for "The Windsor Diaries?"

STEPH: Right now, two. The sequel is "A Gentleman and a Rogue." There might be a third. –wink-

Q: What do you want readers to take away from reading the novel?

STEPH: I want them to be entertained and to feel like they were a fly on the wall in Alice's hotel room.

Q: Do you have an e-reader?

STEPH: I have a Kindle and I love the text to speech feature. I let it read to me in the car on the way to work.

Q: What's your favorite summer fruit?

STEPH: Watermelon.

Q: What are you reading now?

STEPH: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.

BOOK TEASER ON YOU TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY

AMAZON KINDLE BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Windsor-Diaries-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0058UG9Q6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310085532&sr=8-1

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thewindsordiariesbookonevictorianscoundrel-571272-141.html

BARNES & NOBLE NOOK BOOK BUY LINK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-windsor-diaries-book-one-stephanie-burkhart/1104099940?ean=2940012813824&itm=1&usri=the%2bwindsor%2bdiaries

REVIEWS: 5 Stars, Readers Favorites, Molly E: I have never read a Steam Punk novel before, but because of her fantastic writing, her engaging plot line, and fun loving characters, it will NOT be the last. I highly recommend this with highest of 5 stars, and I can't wait until the second Windsor Diaries installment releases!

5 Stars, Tami Dee, Author of the Mists of Time Series: Stephanie Burkhart has a fresh, quick, quirky, inventive imagination and she gives the readers of Victorian Scoundrel a delightful mixture of all of the above!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 Operator for LAPD. Her favorite football team is the New England Patriots. She lives in California.