Preslaysa

About the Book:

Carson Merrill loves only one thing more than Lone Creek Ranch—high school sweetheart Jessica Tate. He has plans to marry her, until one fateful night a devastating accident nearly kills her brother, James, and claims the use of his legs. Jessica flees to Nashville, blaming Carson for her brother’s paralysis. She avoids him—and James—for more than a year.

 Jessica returns to Lone Creek as one of the top producing land developers in the area, and she has one goal—to banish Carson forever from her memory while taking what he still loves—Lone Creek Ranch. But God has other plans—to draw the two together in a development project that will satisfy both their desires, and help them to reclaim the love they once shared.

My Review:

When I first read a book by Mary Manners, I had to stay up late to finish it. Lost In Lone Creek, her latest story, delivered the goods! Manners’ writing style kept me engaged with Jessica and Carlson from start to finish. It was so good I wished this story were longer! But I’ll just have to wait for the next Mary Manners masterpiece to satisfying my interest in her page turning stories.

You can order Lost In Lone Creek here.

**Thanks so much for stopping by to visit us again, Mary. Tell us about your latest releases this month: Mattie’s Meltaways and Lost in Lone Creek**

Lost in Lone Creek is the first book in my new four-book Lone Creek Ranch Series. Here’s a little overview:

Carson Merrill loves only one thing more than Lone Creek Ranch—high school sweetheart Jessica Tate. He has plans to marry her, until one fateful night a devastating accident nearly kills her brother, James, and claims the use of his legs. Jessica flees to Nashville, blaming Carson for her brother’s paralysis, and avoids him—and James—for more than a year. Jessica returns to Lone Creek as one of the top producing land developers in the area, and she has one goal—to banish Carson forever from her memory while taking what he still loves—Lone Creek Ranch. But God has other plans—to draw the two together in a development project that will satisfy both their desires, and help them to reclaim the love they once shared.

And Mattie’s Meltawaysis the fourth, and last, book in my Sweet Treats Bakery Series. Here’s a little nibble:

Mattie Spencer has spent the last decade raising her three younger and grooming Sweet Treats Bakery into a thriving business. Over the years, she’s watched her sisters grow into beautiful women and find the men of their dreams. Now it’s her turn, but, at thirty-five, she feels too old to dream of a husband and children of her own. Tyler Jacobs, a firefighter in the small town of Mount Ridge, keeps busy raising his seven-year-old daughter. The death of his wife during three years ago still haunts him, but morning stops into Sweet Treats, along with a dose of conversation and a handful of Mattie’s delicious mint meltaways, kindle a desire he thought was extinguished forever. Now Tyler has just one goal–to convince Mattie that love knows no age.

**Where did you get the inspiration for each of the stories?**

I’m glad you asked! I actually dreamed the Sweet Treats Bakery Series. That’s right…I woke up one morning with all four stories outlined in my head. It was the best dream I’ve ever had! I rushed to write them down, and you can see the result.

As for the Lone Creek Ranch Series, I thought it would make a nice parallel to tell the story of four brothers after sharing the lives of the four Spencer sisters. My editor agreed, and the rest is history!

**If anyone were to play the hero and heroine in a film for Mattie’s Meltaways and Lost in Lone Creek, who would you choose?**

Oh, I absolutely adore Matt Damon for the hero and Rachel McAdams would be a perfect heroine…she’s spunky and full of life. I love that!

**What other new releases do you have coming out this year?**

All four Lone Creek Ranch Books—Lullaby in Lone Creek, Lesson in Lone Creek, and Love in Lone Creek are scheduled for releases. I also have a special-to-my-heart romance coming in the fall of 2012—Wisdom Tree. It’s going to be amazing!

**How can readers get in touch with you? **

I LOVE to hear from readers. They can find me in several places:

Website: http://marymannersromance.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Manners-author/303173983043284

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/marymanners1

Author Pages:  http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3AMary+Manners&keywords=Mary+Manners&ie=UTF8&qid=1325609910&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B004AL16YY

I’ll also be presenting the workshop Beyond the Bodice…Lacing Together Faith and Romance at the 2012 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention April 11-15, in Chicago.

**Thanks so much for chatting with us today Mary**

Thank you, Preslaysa!!!

What is a Man with a Capital M? by Elizabeth Camden

One of the things I was aiming for in The Rose of Winslow Street is a celebration of manhood.  I wanted the hero to be a Man with a capital M.

So what makes a Man with a capital M?  This is the guy who will run into a burning building to save a child, and then be able to joke with the kid until the tears stop.   He will calm my rattled nerves when the roof springs a leak in the middle of a hurricane.  He doesn’t care if his coffee comes from Starbucks or McDonalds, so long as it is hot.  He does not whine, he does not hold grudges.  He saddles up and gets the job done, whether that means fixing the roof, signing up for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, or coaching kids on the little league teams. 

These tough, masculine qualities often come bundled with habits that drive women nuts.  I am sorry when I hear women in contemporary society denigrate men or undermine our boys in an attempt to scrub those masculine traits away.  Men with a capital M are the engine and the fuel that makes this world go around.  Yes, men often have a crude sense of humor or act like slobs on the weekend when a good football game is on, the beer is cold, and the wings are hot.  So what?  My husband moves mountains during the workweek, and if he wants to kick back with the NFL on the weekend, I’m happy to bring him a cold one and make the nachos.  I love Men with a capital M, and was determined to feature one in The Rose of Winslow Street.

So what is The Rose of Winslow Street about?  Here is a quick blurb:

Libby Sawyer’s quiet, respectable life in Colden, Massachusetts is shattered when a bold stranger from Romania invades her world.  In short order, Michael Dobrescu seizes her house and declares ownership in an attempt to unravel a century-old mystery that is hidden deeply within the house.  Fascinated by this enigmatic man, Libby uncovers layers of mystery surrounding Mr.  Dobrescu’s amazing past….and his plans for the future in which she plays a startling role.

If you love Men with a Capital M, please check out The Rose of Winslow Street!  Or you can also swing by my blog where I love to ramble about all things related to the romance genre elizabethcamden.com/blog