The Scoop on: THE AWAY PLACE

The genesis for my fantasy/paranormal romance, THE AWAY PLACE, is a little different from my other books. In this tale, I wanted to create a magical place for the heroine to heal, but I also wanted to include storylines from two unfinished short stories that I’d worked on in the past.

The first short story was entitled “Do-Over”. I started writing this for an online publisher with the idea that the heroine, doomed to die, would be getting a magical “do-over”. For various reasons, I didn’t get very far with this.

The second short story was “Educating Mr. Wrong”, where the hero was rather uncouth and the heroine would make him see the error of his ways. Again, I didn’t get very far with this because other projects came my way so I dropped it.

I also decided to include an actual fairytale that I’d written for a writer’s course. Now retitled “The Princess’ Soulmate”, this fairytale includes the magical North Wind... who is an integral character in THE AWAY PLACE.

From the book’s blurb, you can see how “Do-Over” plays an important part and also how “Educating Mr. Wrong” fits in, too!

A HEALING HEARTS ROMANCE

THREE STRIKES AGAINST HER:

Marta Jordan has hit rock bottom... and she’s only twenty-one. Her parents are killed in a tragic accident, her new husband steals from her, and a serious health diagnosis threatens her life. Marta is in desperate need of an intervention. Enter her fairy godmother and fairy godfather: Sola and Quill--the East and North Winds. Providing an enchanted cabin so Marta can heal, they also offer her a do-over... and a chance to walk on the wild side. Will Marta throw all caution to the wind (pun intended!) and listen to her magical helpers?

SECOND TIME’S A CHARM:

Joe Noble is every woman’s Mr. Wrong. So much so that his wife not only divorced him, but their ten-year-old son, Nicky, too. Now only looking for a good time with no strings attached, Joe gets a wake-up call when the consequences of his irresponsible actions finally catch up to him. He has a choice: he can continue to drift or he can “man up” to become a good father, in addition to wooing and winning the woman of his heart, Marta.

BONUS: The fairytale, “The Princess’ Soulmate” is also included!

 Down-and-out Marta Jordan gets a second chance when the magical North and East Winds stage an intervention. Will she accept their challenge and to learn to love again?

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/47vQXL

In print at Amazon.com.

THE AWAY PLACE is available at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com, in addition to other internet locations. Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/47vQXL

It’s received great reviews including 5 Stars on Amazon!

Here are some wonderful reviews:

* 5 Stars! A romantic, sweet, and unforgettable fairytale! THE AWAY PLACE serves up two opposites, Marta and Joe, who are both recovering from the slings and arrows of life. Throw in the magic of a delightful godmother and an incredibly sexy godfather, and you have the ingredients for a delightful story that will please all romance readers! THE AWAY PLACE is a wonderful place to leave your everyday burdens at the door!--Twists on Romance Reviews

* 5 Stars! THE AWAY PLACE delivers! You’ll find magic, romance, sexy encounters, second chances, precocious children, healing hearts, and an original classic fairytale: “The Princess’ Soulmate.” Young Marta Jordan has been hit so many times by tragedy, she’s begging for a do-over. The Four Winds of Myth and Legend decide to grant her request... in the form of good-time bad boy, Joe Noble. But whiskey-drinking, love-‘em-and-leave-‘em Joe is nobody’s hero. Or is he? Escape from your ordinary world with Ms. Knight’s latest fantasy, THE AWAY PLACE!--Just Imagine Fanzine

S. A. Santos Review

Vicky Whedbee Review

5 Stars! Love and Magic. Who would expect to encounter magic, especially in the form of the east and north winds? But that's what happens when Marta Jordan decides to end it all after a series of tragic events leaves her bereft of hope. Not only do the delightful winds--Sola and Quill--intervene, they introduce sexy Joe Noble into her life, who's dealing with his own set of issues. After that the magic begins. This charming tale deftly combines love and magic in a modern day fairytale.--Review by author Sandra Cox R

This book is part of the Magical Fantasies line and the Uncanny Paranormals line.

Here’s a real life tidbit. Marta is a professional artist. I, on the other hand, dabbled. I had training in art, graduating from New York’s High School of Music and Art, but I never saw this as my profession. Back in the day, acrylics weren’t de rigueur yet, so the mediums available were oil and water paints, in addition to charcoals, pencils, etc. But acrylics... wow. Acrylics are so much more versatile than oil paints. Below is one of the many paintings I have displayed in a room that I call my “Happy Room”!

Marta decides to take up painting again and here are some of her thoughts about this medium:

 

Working in acrylic had many benefits. The paint dried quickly and was very forgiving with mistakes. Soon she blocked in the main area of the painting--the lake--starting with the shallow, clear waters near her and then out beyond to the opposite shoreline.

 

And:

 

All she had to do when she got back to the cabin was to wash paintbrushes. That was another good thing about acrylics. The paint was water soluble, not like oil paints.

 

I hope you enjoy Marta and Joe’s magical story.

Susanne Marie Knight

http://www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing with a Twist! 

The Scoop On AN IMPOSSIBLE ALLIANCE

The idea for AN IMPOSSIBLE ALLIANCE started when I re-watched the movie, “Notting Hill” with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. In this film, Julia is an actress, and is shooting a period piece--maybe late nineteenth century--in England. Hugh visits her on the set.

I thought, what if my heroine is an actress (or a would-be actress), in a Regency period piece, and then suddenly time-travels back to Regency England? At first she’d believe she was still on the movie set. Were the people she met actors or extras--actual folks living in twenty-first century England?

Or, in Willa’s case, the people turn out to be genuine Regency inhabitants.

Bingo!

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Eighteen-year-old Willa Berkeley lives in the shadow of her famous actress mother. Although Willa’s greatest hope is to be a ballet dancer, she agrees to her mother’s desire for her to journey to England and take a small acting part in a major film production. Once on-site at Highbridge Hall, she learns the horrendous reason behind her mother’s “request.” Distraught, she makes a wish for happiness at the Hall’s supposedly enchanted lake. When morning comes, Willa is still at Highbridge Hall, however the film’s crew are no longer around. What in the world happened?

WISHES CAN COME TRUE

Ian Laydon, the Earl of Wrexham, returns to his father, the Marquess of Dunhaven’s, estate, Highbridge Hall, after an exhausting tour of duty mediating at the Congress of Vienna. His father wants Ian to marry a neighbor’s daughter, Arabella. Ian is a dutiful son; he plans to propose but his heart is unengaged. He wishes he could have a marriage as loving as the one his parents have. Oddly enough, right after his wish, he comes across an enigmatic young woman sitting against the granite bridge in front of him. Can she possibly be the answer to his wish?

Lights, camera, action... time travel! Modern day Willa, on-site on a movie set in England, makes a wish and then wakes up in the year 1815!

 Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

Available in print at Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z13GZ3H 

This book is part of the prestigious Elegant Regencies line.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

5 Stars! One of the things I love about Susanne Marie Knight’s time-travels is that she uses a different method of time-travel in each book. Here, the method is a lake enchanted by fairy folk. The protagonist is a contemporary young woman on the verge of adulthood who struggles to find her way in her unsympathetic world. Willa has very real concerns; she comes alive for the reader. The novel is filled with believable characters: from the consumed-by-duty hero; to the headstrong, flighty Regency miss; to the sullen cousin; to name only a few. For a magically different romantic read, head over to the enchanted lake and read AN IMPOSSIBLE ALLIANCE!--Regency Fiction World

5 Stars! AN IMPOSSIBLE ALLIANCE is a charming time-travel Regency, complete with vivid characters, an interesting plot, and set in 1815 with accurate historical details. The main character, Willa, is only eighteen. How she grows from an insecure teen to confident young woman took this particular reader back to her youth! I stayed up all night to read this one. Enjoy this trip back to the past!--Twists On Romance Reviews 

I eagerly awaited Ms. Knight’s newest time-travel Regency and oh yes, I love AN IMPOSSIBLE ALLIANCE!--Reader Comment

5 Stars! A wonderful time travel love story! This author keeps surprising me! I have all her books now and am eagerly waiting for the next one!--Reader Review 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

For my tidbit from real life, I’ll include this: My heroine, Willa, is just eighteen years old. So, I had to jump back in time myself to reconnect with the angst of an eighteen-year old. Yikes. I reread diary pages from that period in my life and discovered I was rather emotional (no surprise), sometime clueless (ah well!), and yep, insecure.

I made Willa conflicted in her feelings as she tries to figure out not only her path in life, but also the male of the species (good luck with that!)

Here’s a scene set-up showing some of Willa’s confusion.

Scene Set-Up:

Misunderstandings abound! Ian Laydon returns to his ancestral home and believes the woman he finds by the enchanted lake is his neighbor’s daughter--and soon-to-be his intended--Arabella Carswell. However, it’s Willa Berkeley who wakes up after a wish at the enchanted lake. She believes she is in the middle of a film shoot with actors rehearsing their lines.

EXCERPT:

Ian smoothed his fingertips over Arabella’s soft-as-velvet cheek, and then he moved in closer. He had no choice; he was drawn to the honey of her lips. Catching her gaze, he held it and sent her an unspoken message. He wanted to taste those lips. Would she allow him the privilege? In truth, they had never exchanged a kiss before.

She gasped.

His heartbeat quickened, and he leaned in to accomplish his goal. “There is no need to stand on ceremony, my dear.” He inhaled more of her floral perfume. “After all, we are almost engaged, are we not?”

She stepped away from his touch and took another gulp of air. “I-I haven’t read the script yet. Are you... are you supposed to be my fiancé?”

What an interesting way to phrase their connection. He took her right hand and, delighting in the feel of her, kissed each of her fingertips. “I am if you say yes, my dear.”

“Oh!” She pulled her hand away, and then struck it against her delicate breast. “Goodness, I had no idea. I mean, no one told me what I’m supposed to do.”

She darted her gaze wildly about as if planning her escape. Indeed he was reminded of a trapped animal.

“So sorry,” she panted. “I-I’ve got to get back.” She quickly turned in the Hall’s direction.

He did not remember Arabella as being missish. Indeed, she had always seemed forward.

But that did not signify. People had a tendency to change. He blocked her path. “Stay, my dear. And please, forgive me. You are correct, of course. My apologies. I have not followed the proper procedures.”

Placing his arm through hers, he then headed for the lake, taking her acquiescence for granted. “Is Lord Carswell at the Hall?”

Her lower lip trembled. “I don’t know.” She looked skittish, but she did follow him.

“Never fear, I shall talk with him. Get his permission. Just a formality, I am assured. I daresay he has been longing for this event ever since you were born.” Ian lifted an eyebrow as he looked over at her. “I was under the impression that you were longing for it, as well.”

Even through the fringe of hair on her forehead, he could see her own eyebrows stretched high. She was puzzled. Why was that?

The beauty of the lake distracted him. Perhaps it would soothe her as well. Pulling her with him, he stood on the sandy shore and watched a family of mallards noisily float on the surface. As he did not have treats for them, they sailed past. Once the ducks were out of range, he picked up a stone and hurled it out onto the water. It skimmed and skipped on the surface, and then sank with a plunk.

“There.” He turned to her. “I feel better. Would you care to try it?”

She wrinkled her finely sculpted nose. “No. I don’t understand any of this. Is this part of the script? Are you and I suppose to--”

“Supposed to what?” She looked so desirable, he leaned over and nuzzled his chin against her well-formed ear. This close to her, he was lost indeed. “Supposed to kiss? I have been wanting to kiss you, my dear.”

He took a great liberty. He knew he did. But as he had told her, they were almost engaged. What would be the harm? Before she had a chance to slip away, he curved his arm around her and pulled her even closer, enjoying her feminine feel against his chest.

“Allow me the pleasure, my moppet,” he murmured. Then his lips touched hers.

So soft, so pliant, so wonderfully sweet. He tightened his hold and traced his tongue over the fullness of her lips.

For a moment, he had her. She did not move. She was his. The next second, she jerked away.

Her green eyes flashed fire. “No! You’re not that... that slimy goat of a director, are you?” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I hope you enjoy Willa and Ian’ love story.

Susanne Marie Knight

http://www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing with a Twist!

The Scoop On: QUANTUM KISSES

Here’s another unusual "gem" of a story... or gemstone as in labradorite! QUANTUM KISSES is a contemporary/fantasy romance, or as the cover states: A romance novel of random possibilities. The consequences of choices are explored; for example, the heroine, Annabelle, makes three life-changing choices that then help shape her into the person she is at the present time. We see Annabelle as a ninth grader, as a senior in high school, and as a junior in college... to then view her as... well, you’ll see!

In this tale, the properties of Quantum Entanglement are briefly explored. The actual Introduction to QUANTUM KISSES is as follows: 

Quantum Kisses--what in the world does this title mean? Kisses, of course, are self-explanatory. Quantum, as in “Quantum Physics” however, is another matter entirely.

 

Frankly, an explanation of “Quantum Physics” is beyond the scope of this novel. After all, Quantum Kisses is a contemporary romance, not a scientific textbook explaining the intricacies of how everything in the universe works!

 

However, the mysteries of “Quantum Entanglement” do play a part in this romance novel of random possibilities. In “Quantum Entanglement”, for some unknown reason, two particles of matter can become connected. The two particles--photons or electrons--are inexorably linked no matter the physical distance and no matter the time--past, present, or future. If one particle leaps from one subatomic state to another, the other one does as well, and at the same time.

 

So what does “Quantum Entanglement” have to do with Quantum Kisses? Well, it all started one day when Annabelle Wilcott found a pretty stone...

MEANT FOR HIM

As soon as ninth grader Annabelle Wilcott finds an unusual stone, she suddenly meets high school senior Sam Barnes. She’s immediately attracted to him, uncomfortably so, and this connection scares her silly. To protect herself, she gives him the cold shoulder. But over the years, Fate, or is it Quantum Entanglement?, keeps throwing Sam into her path. Three times she resists. Maybe, in Annabelle’s case, four times is a charm. 

MEANT FOR HER

Sam Barnes is an analytical physicist through and through, however he does have one superstition; he believes a certain gemstone that he carries in his pocket brings good luck. It might even bring the girl of his dreams. After encountering Annabelle Wilcott time and time again, he theorizes that they have a Quantum Entanglement... that they are inexorably linked. His job is to convince his reluctant Annabelle that she and he belong together. Maybe what is needed is a Quantum Kiss! 

Can an ordinary gemstone bring together two people clearly meant for each other? 

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

In print at Amazon.com.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nq2W9 

QUANTUM KISSES is available at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com, universal link, in addition to other internet locations.

Here are some wonderful reviews:

5 Stars! QUANTUM KISSES delivers an intriguing twist on romance! The reader even learns about Quantum Entanglement in this fun and frothy tale. Following young Annabelle through “decision points” in her adolescence into adulthood, we watch her become the woman she’s meant to be. Her path crosses Sam’s, over and over again, until finally, she’s ready to take the next step with him. All it takes is a Quantum Kiss! Don’t miss this one!--Twists On Romance Reviews

5 Kisses! In this imaginative tale, Annabelle and Sam are made for each other, only Annabelle is, to use a word, skittish. And why not? They first meet when she’s only fourteen. I love how Ms. Knight takes us back to junior high, high school, and college, to then vault into Annabelle’s present day adult life. Is a sparkling gemstone responsible for uniting these two would-be lovers? Read QUANTUM KISSES to find out!--Just Imagine Fanzine

This book is part of the Romantic Contemporaries and Magical Fantasies line.

Some real life tidbits: Well, to be frank, there are A LOT of real life tidbits in QUANTUM KISSES. This book took me only seven weeks to write--less, really, because the Christmas holidays and New Year’s celebrations were in this time frame, too.

Anyway, back in my school years I kept a diary, so if you’re wondering if some of the crazy dialogue and situations were based on actual events, then the answer is probably yes! And that’s all I’m going to say about that!

 

The two Phiz Quips that Annabelle wrote in her Physics notebook are actually ones I wrote in my senior year of high school. As Annabelle says, these Quips were written with artistic license!

 

Yeah, artistic license with those two poems. Nope, no “valentine” for me at present, and I haven’t failed a quiz... yet, anyway. Then again, the Physics Final was just two days ago. I honestly don’t know if I’m going to pass or fail.

 

Well, enough grousing!

 

So, for a “taste” of what school life was like back in the day, and also for a true love romance, be sure to read Annabelle and Sam’s story!

Susanne Marie Knight

http://www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing with a Twist!