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Kimani - When Mother Nature Matchmakes!
by Wayne on June 7th, 2009, 11:00pm
This month the authors of the Mother Nature Matchmaker continuity joins us to chat about the delightful books in this series.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Celeste O. Norfleet
National bestselling author Celeste O. Norfleet was a late bloomer to romance. But as soon as she picked up her first romance novel, she was hooked. Celeste devotes all of her time to writing and creating romance, letting her artistic imagination flow through the computer keys. Her romance novels—realistic with a touch of humor—depict strong, sexy characters, unpredictable plots and exciting storylines. Her young-adult novels delve into dramatic fiction, reflecting current issues facing African-American teens. With over fifteen novels since making her first sale in 2002, she is still excited about writing. Celeste continues to gain critical acclaim and stellar reviews, including nominations for The Rose Award and Romantic Times Bookclub Reviewer’s Choice Award. Celeste currently writes for Harlequin’s Kimani Press Arabesque and Kimani Press TRU lines. Celeste lives in Virginia with her husband and two teenagers. Contact her at conorfleet@aol.com.
Carmen Green
Carmen Green was born in Buffalo, New York, and had plans to study law before becoming a published author. She sold her first novel in 1993 and since then has sold more than twenty novels and novellas, and is proud that one of her books was made into a TV movie in 2001—where she had a cameo role. Carmen In her spare time Carmen likes live music concerts, gardening, vacations in quiet tropical places and long cruises that don’t require her to do anything but read, sleep and eat. Her first novel for Harlequin Kimani was the May 2008 release This Time for Good. You can contact Carmen at carmengreen1201@yahoo.com.
BOOKS IN THE MOTHER NATURE MATCHMAKER SERIES
Welcome...
First let me welcome Celeste and Carmen to our forum. This week we'll be discussing the Kimani series, Mother Nature Matchmaker, a new continuity which features books from Celeste Norfleet, Carmen Green and Brenda Jackson.
So feel free to ask any questions, leave comments and lets generally have fun.
wj
Each of the books in the
Each of the books in the series has received wonderful reviews from Romantic Times magazine.
SENSUAL WINDS (4.5) by Carmen Green: An intriguing story with lively, risk-taking characters, splashes of comedy and a somewhat unusual plotline for seduction will keep readers enthralled. Green doesn't disappoint with the final installment of the Mother Nature Matchmaker trilogy. Lucas McCoy has been working with his fiancee's assistant, Doreen, for months, renovating his dream home for Emma. Doreen's led him to believe that she's relaying Emma's wishes. But Emma is no longer interested in her fiance and sends Doreen to Key West to end things. When they're forced together because of a tropical storm, Lucas and Doreen's feelings for one another intensify. But will it be enough when Emma realizes she's made a mistake?
SULTRY STORM (4.5) by Celeste O. Norfleet: Mia James risks her life driving into a tropical storm to stop the foreclosure of her inherited home, her last link to her deceased father. Deputy Sheriff Stephen Morales pulls Mia over and realizes she's the woman he's fallen for even though he's never met her face to face. Stephen knew Mia's father, who talked to him for hours about her -- to the point where he seemed to entrust her future to Stephen. When the two are stranded at her father's home during the storm they get to know one another, and Mia gets to know her father via his journals. But Stephen has secrets that could destroy their love. Excellent characters, a terrific storyline and an almost perfect continuation of the first book in this series make this a great book.
Sultry Storm
Hi ~Thanks Wayne for that great welcome. It’s always a pleasure to chat on the Kimani Forum. I’m so excited about participating in the Mother Nature continuity. Working with Brenda and Carmen was a delight and writing my first Kimani Romance, Sultry Storm, was a joy. I love this story. It’s hot and sexy and very emotional – everything I love in a romance. I’ve been receiving great reviews and wonderful reader comments. Thank you all for your positive feedback and encouragement. I also saw that my hero character, Stephen Morales, was named to Harlequin’s Top Ten Men To Bring Home list.
I’m currently working on Stephen's cousin Natalia's story. Believe me when I say that it's even hotter than Sultry Storm. The book is tentatively entitled, Cross My Heart and is scheduled to be released in May 2010. Definitely watch for it!~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
I am loving this series so
I am loving this series so far and I know I will definitely read this series again. I have read the first two books in this series and I am really looking forward to reading the last book in this series.
Tiffany
My Shelfari Page
My Twitter Page
Celeste/Carmen Thanks for
Celeste/Carmen
Thanks for dropping by. How difficult/easy is it to work on a series like this? Are the books connected by characters and events or only because of the theme?
wj
Sultry Storm
Hi Wayne,
This was my first continuity and working with Brenda and Carmen made it real pleasure. To answer your question, our three books are fully connected by character, events and theme. We decided early on that each of our hero characters would be college friends and that they would appear in all three books. The stories are often and at times completely synchronized. ~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Hi Tiffany, I'm delighted
Hi Tiffany,
I'm delighted to hear that you're loving the series!
~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Sultry Storm
Hi Celeste,
How are you doing. Well as you said this book is hot, sexy and steamy...and I just love it when the characters are right for each other. Oh yea I fell totally in love with Stephen and once you beging reading this book you will not want to put it down until the end.
Glad to see the cousin story is coming I can't wait for that one and all of you other books that I know that will be coming out this year.
Smooches
Louise
Sensual Winds
Hi Carmen,
Seem like I just talk to you but it is all good. I just rec'd your book so I will be reading it this week and I can't wait to see how you bring it all home. Now I did read "The Perfect Solitaire" and love, love, love those "Hood Men". I am telling you if you haven't read this book READ IT, READ IT, READ IT. Now off to start Sensual Winds so I can get back on here before I go on vacation...........
Smooches
Louise
Love the series
I just wanted to drop in and say that I love the Mother Nature Matchmaker series. I've read Brenda's & Celeste's story, and can't wait to read Carmen's. I love connecting stories.
Renee Williams
All the Buzz
Sultry Storm
Hi Louise and Renee!
I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed reading Sultry Storm.
~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Hi Celeste I’ve read
Hi Celeste I’ve read sultry storm and I loved the story Stephan definitely deserved to be on the top ten lists for men to take home. looking forward to your next story
michelle
Love the Series
Hi Celeste
I love the Characters you all came up with and the fact that the guys are college buddies and stayed close I have been a fan of both of your books. Celeste you mentioned that this was your first continuing stories, I’m sure your fans are looking for more (Mama Lou's match making) I know I am. Also will you continue on the Hamilton brothers? I look forward to your future publishing and continue blessings and much success.
Sensual winds
Hi Carmen
I’m waiting on my copy of sensual winds I just finished reading the perfect solitaire also loved the story can’t wait to read more about them.
Michelle
Sultry Storm
Hi Ce-Love
One of my favorite parts about writing is coming up was great characters. Creating Mia and Stephen and the other characters in Sultry Storm seemed to work perfectly. I’m currently working on Natalia’s story and introducing the “donor.” She’s definitely another cool character. Yes, Sultry Storm is my first book with the Kimani Romance line and also my first continuity. I really enjoyed writing it and working with Brenda and Carmen.
As for Mamma Lou, she’s back this November with the release of Love Me Now, Trey Evans’ story. If you haven’t read any of the Matchmaker series this is the perfect book to start and if you’re a long-time Mamma Lou fan you’re gonna love this one. There’s a major surprise coming and that’s all I’m saying. As for the Hamilton brothers, Mamma Lou will be headed back to Crescent Island and she’s taking Jordan Hamilton with her. She definitely has something in mind for him. ~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Carmen I notice you have
Carmen
I notice you have a Silhouette Special Edition out in September. Are there more in the works? Tell us a bit about it?
Celeste
Any plans on branching out to other Harlequin lines?
wj
Branching out
Wayne,
I’d definitely like to expand and write for other lines, but right now my schedule is pretty tight. I currently write for Kimani Arabesque, Kimani TRU (young adult) and Kimani Romance. ~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Celeste I know exactly
Celeste
I know exactly what you mean...and you are definitely stretched.
wj
Finally getting the chance
Finally getting the chance to stop here...every other time I tried I got pulled away.
I loved the first two books and can't wait to read the last. I love the wandering "rolling stone" dog. The books are different from other continuities since they are written around the same storm and timeline. Interesting concept.
This will be my first book by Carmen and I also ordered Perfect Solitaire.
Celeste - After reading your Kimani TRU books, this one was different. Very steamy...Stephen and Mia couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other.
Well I gotta run...
Claritta
Star's Reading Lounge
www.myspace.com/kimanipress
www.myspace.com/kimani_tru
Claritta I've always
Claritta
I've always believe that continuities should be like that; if it is a continuity in the true sense. It's good to see Kimani with this kind of continuity and not just stories linked by a theme.
wj
Wayne, I just made a
Wayne, I just made a similar comment in another thread. Themed books are nice, but I love the continuities...whether one books takes up where the other ends or in this case things happening at or near the same time. This was the first I have read where things were happening at once. True to life...I loved the parallel scenes. I hope to see more of this kind.
Claritta
Star's Reading Lounge
www.myspace.com/kimanipress
www.myspace.com/kimani_tru
Sultry Storm
It was so cool to write a continuity like this. I think that the parallel story lines really enhanced the urgency of Hurricane Ana and the three stories. The flow worked really well, even the covers flowed. Notice that on Brenda’s cover the storm clouds are heavy and ominous, on my cover the storm hits full force with the palm tree blowing and on Carmen’s cover the clouds begin to brighten as the storm prepares to move on. ~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
Almost Finished with Sultry Storm
Hi Celeste -
I was trying to wait to finish the book before commenting but work and a week of graduations have left me no time to finish. I am so enjoying the story and hope to finish this weekend.
Not reading all of the comments -- as I do not want to know any spoliers but between Brenda's book and yours - it seems like Key West during a hurricane is the place to be.
I hope that Carmen's book arrives next week in my montly shipment.
I will be back once I finish the book.
Take care - Beverly
I so enjoyed
What more can I add that has not been said. This continuity just follows together so well. All of the details match from book to book.
I am gald that we will get to read Natalia's story - just sad that I will have to wait a year.
I would also like a story of Nya - would like to see someone stop her in her tracks.
Take care - Beverly
Sultry Storm
Hi Beverly,
Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Mother Nature Matckmaker series. It was so much fun to write. Yep, I'm currently writing Natalia's story and already it's heating up to be a hot one.
~ Celeste
Celeste O. Norfleet
www.celesteonorfleet.com
that is interesting. Im
that is interesting. Im looking forward on your book.