By Nicole North

Whether historical, contemporary or paranormal, most of the stories I’ve written feature a man using a weapon at some point. Maybe it’s because I like a lot of action, suspense and adventure with my sizzling romance. But, let’s face it; a man who has a weapon and knows how to use it is hot. Not because I’m a fan of violence. I’m not. But I do like a hero who is protective of those he loves or cares about. And actually capable of protecting them.

What kind of weapons are we talking about? For my historical heroes, from 17^th century Scotland, their weapon of choice is usually a basket-hilted broadsword. They’re much shorter and easier to carry around than the two-handed Highland sword. Gavin, the hero of my novella, Devil in a Kilt in Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures uses both. But of course it depends on whether the scene is a battle scene, skirmish, practice, or whether he is using it for general defense while traveling. At home (in a castle,) the swords and other weapons were usually kept in the armory instead of all the men carrying around swords, axes and pistols all the time, unless they’ve just been out fighting the enemy. But my Scottish heroes usually have a sgian dubh, dirk or dagger well within reach at all times.

Since early types of pistols were in use by the 15^th and 16^th centuries, my heroes sometimes use those as well, especially the Scottish snaphaunce belt pistols, sometimes made in matched pairs. But they can only get one shot off from each pistol, then they must charge in with their swords.

Showing a hero in action with his sword or other weapon is fun and exciting, so I always try to show that he knows how to use this weapon. It isn’t just for display. Something equally great is a man who can use his hands as weapons, such as in martial arts or simply punching someone out.

Back through history and prehistory, men were the main ones who protected and defended the social group. We see a man who can do this as strong, capable and confident. We want to be under his protection because he knows what he’s doing.

This is not to say women can’t do the same thing, because they can, of course. I love to have my heroines use weapons and save the day too. And the hero admires her for it, but does feel a bit sheepish that he didn’t accomplish it before she did. A hero who can protect his woman and fight alongside her is great to have around.

In my latest erotic romance novella, Kilted lover, the hero is a modern day, hot, muscular, kilted guy who finds his warrior roots. He’s thrown into a dangerous situation in which he must protect the heroine from two villains, not once but twice. Definitely the kind of man I’d want protecting me!

What about you? Do you like sexy, alpha heroes bearing weapons (or using his hands as weapons)? Which is your favorite type: Medieval knights, Highlanders with huge swords, Western gunslingers, modern day cops, some other type? What about them draws you in? One commenter will win a copy of my erotic romance novella ebook, Kilted lover.

Click to read a chapter one excerpt of Kilted lover

Visit my website: www.nicolenorth.com

Blurbs

Devil in a Kilt: A trip to the Highland Games turns into a trip to the past when modern day Shauna MacRae touches Gavin MacTavish’s 400-year-old claymore. She finds the Devil in a Kilt she’s had erotic fantasies about for months. Can she break the curse imprisoning this shape-shifting laird and his clan before an evil witch sends Shauna back to her time and takes Gavin as her sex slave?

Watch the Secrets 27 book video.

Kilted lover: When kilted cabertosser Scott MacPherson tosses Leslie Livingston over his shoulder to rescue her from two armed thieves trying to steal her priceless amulet, they are thrust into a deadly but sexy adventure. Though Leslie already has a lukewarm, uninterested boyfriend, her attraction to Scott is whitehot and undeniable. She wants to lick this tall, muscular alpha male all over and explore the depths of eroticism with him. But will he want anything more than one night once the danger is behind them?

Watch the Kilted lover book video.

Bio: Nicole North’s erotic romance novellas have been described by reviewers as “exciting, high octane, captivating, scintillating, sinfully delicious and pure romance.” Her stories contain “heart and heat, killer love scenes, magic and extraordinary characters.” Her latest release from Red Sage, Kilted lover, is contemporary erotic romance novella with a touch of paranormal. Her first story, Devil in a Kilt is in the anthology Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures, out now from Red Sage. The second novella in the series, Beast in a Kilt, will be in Secrets Volume 29. Her works have finaled in over a dozen writing competitions and won several awards. She is a member of romance Writers of America and three chapters. She teaches online workshops about various aspects of writing, including sexual tension and how to write great love scenes. Though she has a degree in psychology, writing romance is her first love. She and her husband live in the Southeastern US, but she wishes she lived in the Scottish Highlands at least half the year. Visit her website at: www.nicolenorth.com

Thanks in advance for comment.

Two books in the series later (HOPE SPRINGS and FOREVER FRIENDS), the ladies are back for the holiday season in CHRISTMAS CAKE.

Some things have changed for them–one has moved to New Mexico to run a women’s shelter, another finds that her cancer has returned–but other things, like their friendship, remain steadfast.

In addition to its wonderful portrayal of female friendship, what I love about this book are the cake recipes. Just reading the table of contents makes my mouth water: Ambrosia Cake, Apple Dabble Cake, Peaches and Cream Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Old-Fashioned Yellow Cake with Caramel Icing, Lemon Lavender Pound Cake…

What is your favorite cake recipe?

Thanks in advance for comment.

Thanks in advance for view cafe.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Speaking of everything lovely, Betsey Johnson’s dresses would be perfect for bridesmaids’ dresses too, right? So with that being said, I have an announcement.

Attention married blogger gals, Please head over to RCaitlin’s blog @ City Intern Girl Life… she is writing an article and needs embarrassing wedding stories, please help her out! Thanks! Also, please check out her wedding blog, it is so lovely! Her wedding blog is called Wedding Tips for Future Brides!

Let’s just take a moment and look at some of these lovely Betsey items, shall we?

Evening Poison Ivy Dress

Battenburg and Net Strapless Dress

Evening Sequins and Mesh Slip Dress

Evening Bonded Charmeuse and Lace Dress {actually on sale right now!}

Evening Cotton Tape on Woven Lace Tiered Dress

Charemeuse Ruched Dress

Evening Sequins Crinkle Chiffon Strapless Dress

Evening Duchess Open Back Dress

Cotton Poplin Strapless Dress {a total Ocean Dreamer dress, reminds me of The Little Mermaid!}

Tye Dye Velvet Sheath Dress {my favorite because you all know my obsession with tye dye!}

Bow Locket Crochet Necklace {would go perfectly with the above dress!}

Evening Sugar and Spice Dress

Lace Print Ring with Rhinestones {I looove this! Eeek!}

Heaven knows I don’t have any upcoming events to wear a dress like this, I wish I did! Plus I need a little bit more $$, but since my last post was just on giving I won’t complain.

Maybe we should have a little bloggy get together and go out and get cocktails like Sex & the City? Who’s with me?

Okay, that was the dreamer coming out in me. Well, you never know. Maybe in the future! Have a spicy Tuesday!

XOXO,

Thanks in advance for view cafe.

How I despise country music! Is anything more annoying than a smarmy Stetson-wearing “hunk” wailing about turning to drink because his woman stole his unemployment check and his dog and ran off with his best friend? I’ll never understand how the people who produce that garbage can hold their heads up. And don’t even get me started on the listeners. From what I can tell, the typical country music fan has the brains of a sweet potato.

Before we go any further, I’m just kidding, okay? But just for a moment, let’s imagine that everyone reading this is a die-hard country music fan. Now–

Did my opening paragraph make you feel ashamed of your listening habits? Will it discourage you from buying Brad Paisley’s latest CD? Will it make you reconsider your dream of taking your songs to Nashville and getting them heard? And finally, do you believe that my foolish, mean-spirited words will have even the tiniest impact on the country music industry or its, uh, listenership?

I’m guessing most of you answered each of those questions in the negative. So why do we get so upset when people ridicule the romance industry? When they insist that any fool could write one of those “trashy little romance novels”? When they imply that the typical romance reader is a bored and boring individual of sub-par intelligence who has checked out of the real world because she can’t get a good man to love her?

Last week an author writing in another genre singled out my romance publisher’s guidelines for some heavy ridicule. His message was clear: Our books are shallow, whereas his books are deep. We have sold out, while he is willing to fight to the death for Realism and Integrity in Fiction.

Quite a few of my author friends were deeply offended and did their best to set the guy straight. Yes, his rant was a tad irksome, but he was expressing his own opinions on his own blog, and isn’t that what blogs are for? One of the things I hate about the internet is the way people leap into arguments on blogs they have never read before, leaving huffy comments because their friends have stirred them up and encouraged them to go over there and give that jerk a piece of their minds.

I cringe when I see romance readers piling on, coming from every corner of the internet to punish the hapless bloggers our friends have taken exception to. Is our self-respect so fragile that we must shore it up by slapping down everyone who ventures to express an unflattering opinion about our favorite genre of fiction?

There are times and places where a few well-chosen words can help build respect for the romance industry and its various subgenres. But I don’t think its wise for us to troop over to blogs we don’t ordinarily read and “tell off” bloggers who are complete strangers to us. When we rush into battle every single time somebody maligns the books we love, we risk appearing insecure and pathetic. And consider this: if a blogger really is mean spirited, she’ll “win” by making us angry. She’ll sit back and laugh at us all the more once she knows she’s controlling our emotions.

I’d just like for all of us to display a little more confidence, that’s all. We who read and write romance have no need to defend our choice. We don’t have to fight for and earn the right to hold our heads up. Tell a country music fan that you detest country music and she’ll probably just shrug and say, “Well, I love it.”

Maybe we romance lovers ought to do the same.

Thanks in advance for comment.

Some of Saturday will consist of volunteering for the International Princess Project, which I will blog about later to tell you more about the organization. For the rest of the weekend I will be spending well needed time with Big Kiddo.

So, it’s been a while since I was tagged by Marjorie @ For the Love of all That is Pretty, so here you go love! Sorry it took me so long to get to this. Instead of expressing myself through words…I am going to express myself through a few pictures. Have fun guessing!

What were you doing 10 years ago?


What are 5 things on your to do list today?





Snacks you enjoy?


Places you have lived…


5 things you would do if you were a billionaire:





Please keep this tag going if you have some free time in the near future. I especially think it is fun via pictures instead of just typing, but either way it is fun to learn more about all of you!

Happy weekend, hope it is beautiful!

XOXO,

*all photos are from google.com and weheartit.com

Thanks in advance for view cafe.

1) It contains the great opening lines: “There were two universal truths in Gospel, Idaho. First, God had done His best work when He’d created the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. And except for the unfortunate incident of ‘95, Gospel had always been heaven on earth. Second–a truth just as adamantly believed as the first–every sin known to heaven and earth was California’s fault.”

2) Every chapter opens with a “headline” that could be ripped from the Weekly World News. For example, MAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTS or MICROPHONE DETECTS SOUND OF BREAKING HEART. I miss the Weekly World News and am a little obsessed about spontaneous combustion.

3) There is a toilet tossing contest in the book.

4) The heroine, who is from California, drives a car with the license plate MZBHAVN.

5) The hero is a sheriff who’s way sexier than Andy Taylor. Way.

I’m also curious about what you think of the cover. We went in a different direction for this edition of TRUE CONFESSIONS, and I’d really love to hear some opinions.

Thanks in advance for your time.