Sailing Down the Amazon River by Anna Randol
When I was eight, I decided that my life was too boring, so I decided to write in my journal as if I was sailing down the Amazon River with my dog, Cream Puff. Nope. I wish I was kidding. I still have the red spiral bound notebook as proof. Here’s the entry for that day in case you don’t believe me. I've captured it exactly, bad spelling and all.
“Dear Diary, today I will write about school our class sugle [I have to assume this was an attempt at schedule.] is take roll, handwriting, seat work, reading, recess, spelling, math, lunch, story after recess and lunch, sharing, language, s.s., since, fine arts/ P.E. I hate math. I like art and since. Today I will start something new. I am going to write like I am on a raft. Not true. Repeat not true! Day 1…It’s nice out here just me and my dog Cream Puff smelling the fresh air drinking clean water in peace and quite. [This might be an appropriate place to note I have six sisters and one brother…] eating fish and seaweed and fresh fruit. I put my unused fish in a barll of salt. The day is over so I will go to bed. I have one cover and a pillow so good night Cream Puff.” [In case you were wondering, no, my spelling hasn't improved much over the past twenty years. I just use spell check.]
I know, after reading that fascinating tale, you might be wondering how I didn’t end up as a world famous travel writer. That’s because when I was twelve, my sister and I began picking boys to go on our rafts. (We’d take turns deciding. We had to make sure no one got all the good ones, after all.) Those handsome guys began appearing in my journal as well.
But all of this meant that once I started writing historical romance, staid ballrooms and dinner parties just didn’t keep my interest. I needed action. I needed adventure. I needed sultry. So my debut novel, A Secret in Her Kiss, is set in Constantinople. There are spies, knife fights, and scandalous scenes in a bath. And although this story lacks a raft, I had to save something for next time…
So Readers, if you were sailing down the Amazon with a handsome hero, who would you pick? One lucky commenter will receive a signed copy of A Secret in Her Kiss!
Blurb for A SECRET IN HER KISS:
A rare beauty, raised in the exotic heart of the Ottoman Empire, Mari Sinclair knows it’s time to end her career as a British spy when she narrowly avoids a brush with death. Unfortunately her employers think otherwise—and they are not above using blackmail to keep Mari in the Game.
Saddled with a handsome, duty-obsessed “minder” to ensure that she completes—and survives—one last mission, Mari is incensed…for her guardian, Major Bennett Prestwood, is simply too dedicated, too unbending, and too disarmingly attractive. But in the face of dark secrets and deadly treacheries, as the true peril to Mari is slowly revealed, loyal soldier Bennett realizes that, to save and win this extraordinary woman, he will have to do the unthinkable and break the rules—rules that passion and desire have suddenly, irrevocably changed.
Anna lives with her family in Southern California. She writes sultry, adventurous Regency romances for Avon. Her debut novel, A Secret In Her Kiss, is set in Constantinople and earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, who called it a “...masterful debut…[that] spins a tale replete with mystery, espionage, and memorable romance.” When she’s not plotting fun, sexy story lines, Anna’s usually eating dark chocolate, having wild dance parties with her kids in the living room, or remodeling her house one ill-planned project at a time. She loves hearing from readers at her website www.AnnaRandol.com or on Twitter at @AnnaRandol!
About Anna:
Win a Copy of “A Secret in Her Kiss” by Anna Randol!
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This cover is visually appealing. I think it is the soft colors of the picture and the bold contrast with the title. I would definitely pick this up and take a closer look! Thanks for the chance :)
sstogner1 at gmail dot com
I really want to read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Love your cover! Congratulations on your debut novel! It sounds like you WERE meant to write historicals with lots of adventure and Oomph rather than travel write-ups (Leave those for Rick Steves... he does a great job) OMG, If I was to float down a raft with someone of my choosing, I'd probably pick the ROCK right now... he seems like a really nice guy and wouldn't get tired fighting the current, would be capable of fighting off any pirates... (his real name is Dwayne Johnson, I think...). Thanks for the giveaway!
lindalou(at)cfl(dot)rr(dot)com
Thank you for the chance to win! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
Congrats on the new release! I love the cover!!!!
This book sounds amazing. I love that you took that time period and gave it a twist.
Thanks for the wonderful post and giveaway! It definitely sounds like you were training at an early age to write amazing adventures and romance!
Happy Friday!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
Wow! Can I go on the Amazon with you next time you go! LOL What an imagination! I wish I was that creative :D I would love to read your book and want to thank you for the awesome guest post and the giveaway:) Thanks so much for both!
jwitt33 at live dot com
For me, let's see....If I were to go down the Amazon, I think I'd want to have... Jack Sparrow. :) He'd be a trip all in himself, wouldn't he? ;) Congrats on your new book, Anna! Love the unusual setting.
best wishes,
Julianne
grailmaiden08-at-gmail.com
I find it's interesting that you started writing at eight years old. The cover looks great and I would definitley take a closer look at it.
Andrea I
ainfinger@comcastDOTnet
What a gorgeous cover! I've been seeing A Secret in Her Kiss around the web, and the more I hear about it, the more I'm looking forward to reading it. I especially love the unusual setting.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
Anna,
If I was sailing down the Amazon I would want someone who wanted to protect me and fight whatever foe they "rtomantic" hero ever written - Don Quoizote de la Mancha! Since I'm probably more comparable to Dulcinea than Betty Grable or Marilyn Monroe I need a hero who doesn't see all my flaws but instead see my "inner beauty".
Best wishes with great reviews and sales of A Secret In Her Kiss - it's already on my TBR list!
jeannemiro (at) yahoo (dot) com
Action, adventure, sultry...yup sounds like your book has all that! I love the new take on regency historical. I am excited to read your book. I love balls and stuffy tea rooms, but a change of pace will be fun =)
Congrats on your book, great cover art!
eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for all the kind words! And I love the suggestions for you rafts. Jack Sparrow, the Rock, and Don Quijote, can I take all three? And Julie, can definitely come with me next time. :)
This books looks great, thank you for the chance to win =)
emilytardy @ yahoo.com
Anna -
Congratulations on your debut book, A Secret in Her Kiss! Darn, I visited your website and no mention of what's coming next!
Sailing down the Amazon must have been such a wonderful adventure! No wonder you can come up with such a spectacular idea for your first book. The closest I've come to doing anything that exciting is taking my sons out in a rowboat on our local lake and dropping one of the oars!
Reading Mari and Bennet's story is definately on my TBR list!