Make Mine A KAT MARTIN!!

Welcome back, TLN'ers!! Whew-wee! Is it hot enough for you, yet?

Well, grab a glass of something cool, because we've got the sultry KAT MARTIN here with us today!

I'm completely twitter-patted to have Kat in the TLN Hot Seat. Not only is she one heck of an awesome author, but she's a California Central Valley girl, too! Definitely one good thing Calif has in its favor. lol

Kat's latest release RULE's BRIDE hit #18 on New York Times Best Seller List in May 2010, but the good news doesn't stop there, because September starts the re-issue releases of THE NECKLACE TRILOGY!!

If that doesn't have you dancing in your seat, better get ready to boogie. Not only is Kat dishing some killer writing advice, but she's been sweet enough to offer up a GIVEAWAY! One lucky commenter will win a personally autographed copy of RULE'S BRIDE!

Hope you're ready to get inspired. I know by the end of this post, you'll be saying, "Make Mine a KAT MARTIN, too!" And away we go . . .


1)If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

The story of a poor country girl who yearned to become a writer.

2)Using three words, describe your voice.

Concise, emotional, fast-paced.

3)What's been the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome with your writing? What about in your career?

Learning to actually write was the biggest obstacle! I had stories in my head, but no idea how to get them down on paper. Writing as simply as I do has been a career problem. I don’t do flowery description--I prefer dialog and action.

4)Any tidbits of advice you'd like to pass along to all the aspiring writers out there?

Best advice is to write a book you yourself would want to read. Once you start--finish it. Then don’t give up until you get it published. Always keep learning, and if you have to, start another book!

5)Novice writer to New York Times Best Seller: Tell us a little bit about your journey. Is there anything you might have done differently?

I’ve been writing for 25 years. More than half my books have hit the NYT extended list, but I could never make the published list--which is what is important. I think you just have to keep charging forward. Keep your goals in mind and don’t give up.

6)What has been the highlight(s) of your career?

Getting my first book published was a major thrill. Hitting the USA Today list many years ago was fantastic. Being on CBS 48 Hours was amazing. Traveling to different places and countries, and meeting really incredible people is one of the greatest perks.

7)What does the rest of 2010 hold in store for you?

Lots of books coming out in the next few months. 4 reprints out late June. Sept 1, The Necklace Trilogy is being reprinted: BRIDE’S NECKLACE, DEVIL’S NECKLACE, HANDMAIDEN’S NECKLACE. In October, my gift-sized hardcover, THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK, is being re-issued in paperback for $5.99, which makes it very affordable for readers who couldn’t afford the more expensive book. Then Jan, Feb, March, my new trilogy, The Raines Brothers, beginning with Jackson Raines in AGAINST THE WIND.

So you see I have a lot going on! Best and happy reading to all, Kat


The Necklace Trilogy










The Raines Brothers Trilogy














EXCERPT: The Bride's Necklace

Cord flicked another glance at the clock on the mantle. It was two minutes after midnight. Wearing only his shirt and breeches, he reclined on the bed, hoping his plan would work, that his latest strategy would win him the game.

That sacrificing a pawn would net him the queen.

It was a dangerous move and he knew it. Still, Victoria Temple was a difficult opponent and he had been forced to come up with a different approach than he had intended.

Cord grinned at the sound of four sharp raps at his door. Not the soft, tentative knock Claire would have used, but the firm, furious tapping that could only belong to her sister.

"Come in," he drawled, and then waited as the door swung open and Victoria walked in. Standing as she was in the shadows, he couldn't see her face but he recognized her shorter stature and the belligerence in her stance.

"You're late," he said with a nonchalant glance at the clock. "I specifically instructed you to be here at midnight. It is now three minutes past."

"Late?" she repeated the fury in her voice unmistakable. "Three minutes or three hours, the fact is Claire is not going to come."

Victoria stepped toward him, out of the shadows and into a shaft of moonlight streaming in through the window. Her hair was unbound, curling softly around her shoulders, and he itched to run his fingers through it, to know the silky texture. Beneath her wrapper, her breasts rapidly rose and fell and he wanted to cup them, to bend his head and take the fullness into his mouth.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, my lord,” she said, “but your plan for seduction has failed. Claire remains safely upstairs in her room."

Cord came up off the bed and paced toward her, a panther with his prey in sight. "As well she should be."

"What are you talking about? You sent Claire a note. You told her to come to your room at midnight. You planned to seduce her. You--"

"You're wrong, lovely Victoria. I told her to come because I knew you would not let her--which you would come in her stead." He reached her then, settled his hands on her shoulders, felt the tension thrumming through her. Very slowly, he drew her toward him. "It is you I want, Victoria. It has been from the start."

Tory gasped as his mouth settled softly over hers. For several moments, she simply stood there, letting the heat flood through her, absorbing the taste of him, only dimly aware of the hard male body pressing into hers.

Then she remembered why she was there and forced herself to pull away. “I don’t believe you.” She took several steps backward, her breath coming too fast. She told herself it was anger. "You...you would take whatever woman happened to appear in your bedchamber."

The earl shook his head, stalking her, matching her step for step until her shoulders came up against the wall and she couldn't retreat any farther.

"You don't really believe that? We were playing a game, you and I. You were the prize I wanted, not Claire."

"That can't be the truth. Men always want Claire."

"Claire is a child, no matter her years. You're a woman, Victoria." He pinned her with his lion's gaze, caught her chin, and held her so she couldn't look way. "Deep down, you know it's you I want and not Claire."

She swallowed, stared into those hot brown eyes and fought not to tremble. She remembered that same look the night he had come to her room, remembered the way he had kissed her in his study. She remembered the vague hints that he wanted her as his mistress--and God in heaven, she believed him.

The earl tilted her chin up, bent his head and captured her lips. It was a gentle, persuasive kiss, softly taking, convincing her with every touch, ever taste. He kissed the corners of her mouth, pressed his lips against the side of her neck.
"If you're telling the truth," she whispered, "why didn't...why didn't you send the note to me?"

She felt the faint pull of his smile. "Would you have come?"

She wouldn't have, of course. "No."

"I didn't think so." And then he kissed her again.

Tory's hands came up to his chest, fluttered, and flattened against the hard wall of his chest. Sweet Lord, it was heaven, the softest, hottest kisses, his lips hard-soft, perfectly fitted to hers, coaxing yet demanding, giving and taking all at once.

He deepened the kiss and pleasure made her legs go weak. Her arms slid up around his neck, and he pulled her more snugly against him.

Tory trembled. She knew she should stop him. He was the Earl of Brant, a rake and a rogue, a man who would ruin her if she let him. And yet she sensed a need in him, had since that night he had barged into her room.

Her own need surfaced, pulsed to life with every stroke of his tongue, deepened with the feel of his hands on her breasts, smoothing over them, molding them through her robe. He kissed the side of her neck as he parted the blue quilted wrapper and slid his hand inside, over her thin cotton nightgown to cup a breast.

"Give you to me," he said softly. "I know you want to."

God's breath, it was the truth. She had never wanted anything so badly. He was every wicked dream she'd ever had, every wanton fantasy. She had known that about herself, that she wasn't like Claire, that she had desires and wants and she wanted the Earl of Brant.

Tory shook her head, tried to step away, but the earl held her firmly in place.

"Don't say no. Let me take care of you, give you a better life. And you can take care of Claire. Neither of you will want for anything."

He was saying it straight out, asking her to become his mistress. He wanted her, the sturdy sister, not Claire the beautiful one.

Tory simply could not do it.

She was surprised to feel the sting of tears.

Ooh-la-la!! Sounds like every gal's fantasy to have a hunky-dunkie pining and plotting for her. Sign me up! *wink wink*

I'd like to thank Kat for letting me interview her! I appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to dish us up a heapin' helpin' of sweet advice. If you'd like to know more about the lovely KAT MARTIN and her books, please click on over to her beautiful website! http://www.katbooks.com/

THANK YOU, TLN'ers!! If the heat ain't makin' you sweat bullets, how about a sweet piece of country boy to get your thermostat rising! Here's RODNEY ATKINS and FARMER's DAUGHTER. *sigh* Oh, my, my, brings me back the good ole days of ridin' around with my guy while he drove tractor . . . and irrigated . . . and worked cows. OH, WAIT! I still do that, but now I'm juggling a kid or two in the process! LOL Have a fantastic weekend, folks! Catch ya back on 'Moan'day!!

Pssst, DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF REESE'S BRIDE!!