I have to laugh...

Some of you know that I'm writing another full length time travel... and because I love the MacCoinnichs so much, I thought I'd go ahead and write Simon's book. While the plot twists in my head and I spin things on the page, I laugh every time I start to write, "Simon said." I mean... hello! As an author I've been told that a reader doesn't see the word said in a book. I can agree with this to a point, but with a my hero's name being Simon, I'm guessing my reader is gonna laugh quite a bit if I say "Simon said" too often.

Your thoughts?

Thank you - True Jennifer -

I found this amazing reader review on Amazon today. It's posted under Redeeming Vows but it really does a wonderful job of talking about the entire trilogy~

I love days like this!

I can't believe I nearly missed the conclusion to the MacCoinnich Time Travel Series! I just had no idea it had been released but I'm so glad I snatched it up in the nick of time! So many times, I encounter series' where one or a few books don't hold the same type of magic that the first had, and I'm pleased to say, this is not one of them! The three books in the series, Binding Vows, Silent Vows and now Redeeming Vows, read as a seamless piece of work, where characters stay true to the first time we encounter them and if changes do occur, they still remain true to character.

This book finally tells the story of Tara's sister (from Binding Vows) Liz and Duncan's brother (also from Binding Vows) Fin. The two first encounter each other in Silent Vows and I remember being drawn to them from the very start! The chemistry between these two were intense in the beginning and remain that way. Supporting characters in Redeeming Vows also have such strong personalities that I'd love to read more about them. Including Liz's son Simon, and the youngest MacCoinnich's, Cian and Amber. There is an art to being drawn to characters who don't take center stage in a book and Ms.Bybee definitely knows that art form well. From first encountering Fin in Binding Vows and then being introduced to Liz in Silent Vows, I have always wanted to see their story unfold, either separate or together, the same goes for the younger cast members in Redeeming vows. I feel they each would have interesting stories to tell. I'm trying not to give away too much, but this conclusion in the series has one final story with Grianna who has been the constant villain since we first encountered her in Binding Vows. Character powers unfold more in depth.

This book has an incredible amount of action and of course romance that keeps you wanting to know what's going to happen next. This was definitely a fitting conclusion and Catherine Bybee, I'm dying to read more of your work!

Let's talk promo!

So... you sold a book. You had a publisher give you the nod, the e-mail or the call... right? Now what? You need to promo the heck out of your masterpiece and get noticed in this huge pie.

Eliza March and I are talking about the success of promotion and how important it is to get noticed so your work sells.

Stop on over to Eliza's blog by clicking HERE.

5 Star Review from Affaire de Coeur

What author doesn't love a 5 star review from a well known review magazine? Not this one... Take a look at this. Link HERE.

This is what the reviewer said about Myra and Todd's story:

Silent Vows is a fascinating time-travel tale of ancient Druids and modern heroes that pulls the reader in from the very first page. Ms. Bybee has created a myriad of characters who immediately forge a bond with the reader and take them back into the 16th century with skillful ease. Her combination of time-travel, ancient magic and 16th century Scottish culture with a 21st century male macho law enforcer hero is absolutely brilliant and hilarious. And Todd quickly discovers that his modern machismo doesn't hold a candle to a 16th century Scottish warrior's. This is the second book of a trilogy, but easily stands alone. This trilogy is hot and definitely a keeper!

Lani Roberts

Will this ever get old?

I'm just so all over myself these last few days... I jumped onto Amazon today, to see how Myra and Todd are doing... and I found that Silent Vows is on the top 100 of time travel twice, and Binding Vows is on there once!

So I ask all you writers out there... Does this ever get old? The happy giddy feeling that I'm doing something right, will it get old?

Anyway... thought I'd share some joy when I find it.

Amazon Reader Review of Binding Vows

I love waking up to a review like this.

Thank you True Jennifer for your kind words and taking the time to post them where others can see them.

Pleasantly Surprised, September 13, 2010
By
True Jennifer (New York, ny United States) -

This review is from: Binding Vows (Kindle Edition)

This book had me pleasantly surprised! I loved the way Tara and Duncan's story unfolded in modern times and traveled back in time. The author did not skirt over issues of a modern woman adjusting to medieval times nor did Tara simply forgive Duncan for bringing her to the past and just fall into his arms. The story tackled the problems and never took the easy way out. I definitely felt the draw to finish the book and never wanted to put it down. Tara was feisty and modern, Duncan was a true romance hero. Even supporting characters like Myra (who I believe the next book is about) and Duncan's brother Fin, were enjoyable but they weren't just people on paper, they felt real. Bybee definitely has a fan in me. If you love Highlanders, the magic of Scotland and the need to ground a fantasy in something relatable (like starting a fantasy in modern times before taking it back) then give Binding Vows a try.

Live at Bitten By Books ~ Stop by Now!!

I'm live at Bitten By Books. I'm giving away 2 Amazon Gift cards... all you have to do is show up, make a comment or two, or follow any of the other rules for more chances to win.

Click HERE to link on over.

A small add I wanted to share with Duncan and Tara

I sat across the room from Lord Duncan and Lady Tara feeling more than a tad out of place. Sure, I'd written their story, but they were the ones who told it to me.

In the great hall of the MacCoinnich Keep I found myself fidgeting with the clothes they asked me to wear. I sat under more layers of material than I ever had before and reminded myself to buy more cotton garments once I returned home. The wool itched my skin something fierce, but I wasn't about to complain. I wanted to be invited back in the future so I could keep the fans of Binding Vows current on all that was happening in Tara and Duncan's world.

Duncan sat in a massive high back chair, while Tara sat on a smaller couch at his left. I placed the 1960's advertisement into Duncan's hand.

He lifted one eyebrow in my direction before turning to his wife. "See, lass. Even in your time husbands take a firm hand with their wives." Duncan slid the picture into Tara's hands.

"Don't get any ideas. Take a better look at the picture."

"What am I to look for?"

"Look at the dress. Did you notice the woman was wearing a dress?"

"Aye, what of it?"

"Duncan, when you met me, was I wearing a dress? Ah, wait... don't answer that. All of the women at the Faire were in dresses," she said more to herself than to him. "Remember the clothes I brought with me? The clothes I have hidden in the trunk in our room?"

Duncan leaned his massive frame further into the chair. A smile played on his lips. "Aye. I like the shorts best," he offered.

Tara rolled her eyes. "Does your mind ever leave the bedroom?"

"Why should it when we have so much to enjoy there?"

Grasping the advertisement from his fingertips, Tara waved in front of his eyes. "Well, let me warn you now, love. If you think you're going to get away with anything like this and keep all the fun in the bedroom going, you've got another thing coming. This add was printed about thirty or forty years before my birth. The woman is wearing a skirt, which you know I didn't do in my time. Husbands spanking their wives was done away with a long time ago." Tara waved her hand toward a candle sitting on the table in the room and called a flame. The tiny light flickered as she casually lit the advertisement and then left it on a silver platter to burn to ashes.

When she reached over the table to lift a glass of water to her lips, Duncan grasped onto her wrist and swiftly pulled her onto his lap. Strong warrior fingers fanned over her backside and kept her from retreating.

"Duncan, what are you doing?"

His lips found her throat and showered it with long lingering kisses.

Tara squirmed in his lap. Her hand reached into his long hair as her eyes drifted close. "Ms. Bybee is still in the room, love."

The words no sooner left Tara's mouth when Duncan lifted his hand from her bum and gave it a hearty smack.

Tara gasped and attempted to pull away. But her lips were spread into a grin that was anything but mad. "What are you doing?"

"That, my love, is for ever implying that I won't have my way with you in our chambers."

"Men don't spank their wives," she said firmly.

The two were silent for a few moments. My guess is they were talking to each other with their minds, something Druids who married the way they did do from time to time. I waited to see if they were going to reveal their thoughts to me.

Tara glanced over her shoulder to me briefly and her face lit up more shades of red than I'd ever seen. Duncan had returned to kissing her neck and the wool of my dress was really starting to heat me up.

Duncan nudged Tara off his lap and they both stood. "If you'll excuse us, Ms. Bybee. We seem to have something we need to discuss in private."

"Of course. Thank you for letting me stop by."

The two of them were walking from the room, heads together and not saying a word that I could hear. Just as Tara turned up the stairs, she whacked Duncan on his ass so hard the dogs by the doors jumped.

Lifting her skirts, Tara ran up the stairs laughing.

"Ye'll pay for that, lass."

Tara laughed harder and disappeared from my sight.

I thought of the other questions I had for the two newlyweds. I guess they'll have to wait until later.

Release Day!

The long awaited release of Silent Vows is officially here. Yes, the print has been out for a few weeks but so many of my readers are die-hard e-readers so here ya go folks... Click HERE to link over to The Wild Rose Press and download your copy of Myra MacCoinnich's story today.

Book Two the the MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy:

Silent Vows:

Myra, a medieval virgin druidess, flees five hundred years into the future to escape death at the hands of a cursed witch and lands in the arms of a handsome but cynical twenty-first century cop.

Officer Todd Blakely knows Myra is hiding something , but can't resist her innocent charms. Destiny throws them both into a world of intrigue and mysticism. Can Todd be the true white knight she needs? Or will magic and the winds of time tear them apart?

Excerpt:

“I want you,” he whispered in her hair, not willing to break their contact.

She stiffened when his words registered. “I don’t—”

“You want the same thing, Myra. Don’t try and deny it.”

“I don’t know what I want. I’ve not ever...” She didn’t finish her sentence.

“Not ever what?”

“No one has ever kissed me the way you do. Let alone anything more.”

A virgin? Was that even possible? “You mean you’ve never...?”

“Never.” She lowered her head and removed her hands from his shoulders.

“Hey.” He caught her gaze. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” He kissed her again, briefly, then placed a protective arm over her shoulders and walked her home. “So are the men in Scotland blind?”

She laughed. “Nay.”

“What then?”

“My father is very protective.”

“Does your father know you’re here?”

“Much to his dismay, but we had no choice.”

Interesting, a protective father who sent his daughter away to a different country without any money. Something wasn’t lining up.

They were within a block of his home when Myra stiffened, and all color washed from her face. She stopped and spun in a slow circle.

“What is it?”

“Someone is watching us.”

“Some of the neighbors are busybodies.”

“No, Todd. The one who watches wants more than to gossip.”

Now the hair on his neck stood on end.

REVIEWS:

Affair de Coeur 5 Stars ~

Silent Vows is a fascinating time-travel tale of ancient Druids and modern heroes that pulls the reader in from the very first page. Ms. Bybee has created a myriad of characters who immediately forge a bond with the reader and take you back into the 16th century with skillful ease. Her combination of time-travel, ancient magic and 16th century Scottish culture with a 21st century male macho law enforcer hero is absolutely brilliant and hilarious. And Todd quickly discovers that his modern machismo doesn’t hold a candle to a 16th century Scottish warrior’s!
This is the second book of a trilogy, but easily stands alone. I haven’t read the first book, Binding Vows, but definitely plan on it now and can’t wait for the third, Redeeming Vows. This trilogy is hot and definitely a keeper!
Lani Roberts ~ Affair de Coeur

Romance in the Backseat

I enjoyed the interactions between the medieval family of druids and the twenty-first century men and women they fell in love with. In Silent Vows, the reactions of the characters to both the technology and people of the future (or the past) were entertaining and insightful without straining the limits of believability. For an interesting, unique, and engaging read, Silent Vows by Catherine Bybee is a sure bet.

Pepper ~ Romance in the Backseat

There's a real sense of danger and suspense to the story, a well-crafted, well-paced plot that keeps you turning pages, enough sexual tension to set your desk or e-reader smoking, wonderful secondary characters and Ms. Bybee's wry sense of humor underpinning it all.

5 Stars ~ Angel Martinez, Author of Finn

It is a light, fun, absorbing read that disappoints only because it ends. My one caution would be not to pick it up without an afternoon to finish, the result would be extreme frustration!

5 Stars ~ Tammy Schneider, Goodreads Review

Silent Vows ~ Amazon Top 100 Time Travel Romance August 2010

Wednesday Welcome - Lauri Robinson

Sometimes in the business you stumble upon someone you are simply tickled with from the first day... Lauri Robinson is one of those women. We met through a critique group through The Wild Rose Press and we hit it right off. A writer of western romance, Lauri is a wife, a mother and a grandmother with her most recent grand baby born just over a week ago.

Welcome Lauri Robinson...

LR: Thanks, Catherine for having me over today.

CB: Tell us a little bit about you. How long have you been writing? How many books and what genre have you written?

LR: I sold my first book in 2005, (but have always dabbled in writing). Currently I have 15 novels and/or short stories on the market and two set to be released yet this year.

CB: That is a tone of books. Tell us about the book you’re highlighting today on my blog?

LR: Today I’d like to tell you about my latest release, Wish Craft, a short, sensual time travel. The idea for this story came about while checking my Google account one day and saw an ad for Quantum Leaping.

CB: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Time Travel!!! Tell me, what do you love most about this job?

LR: Everything. I’ve always loved reading once upon a time and happily ever after stories, and believe nothing could be better than writing them! I love the research, the plotting, and even the editing and re-writing.

CB: If there was one thing you could change about the writing business, what would it be?

LR: Well, I guess I wish e-book readers were cheaper so everyone could afford them. I hear so many people say when they get below $100, they’ll buy one.

CB: That is the first time anyone has answered that question that way. I agree, that it would be nice if everyone who read romance owned an e-reader. What do you say when someone says…”Oh, you write THOSE kinds of books.”

LR: I’ve never really had someone say that. More often I get people who say, “You should right a book about me…” and then they launch into a story about an incident that happened to them.

CB: *I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has had that happen to me! Give us a taste of your latest masterpiece:

LR: Here you are:

Blurb:

After intensive studying of Quantum jumping, Jayden White embarks on a journey one hundred and twenty years in the past for two reasons—to aid her sister’s financial crisis and to meet the man she’s come to know through an old family diary. The night Levi Grimshaw asks his long time sweetheart to marry him he arrives home to discover a strange young woman sleeping in front of his fireplace—trouble is she’s not a stranger to his heart.

And an excerpt:

She was back in a few minutes and headed straight to her coffee cup.

He leaned a hip against the sink. “Is your husband due back today?”

Settling on a chair, she frowned. “I’m not married. Yet.”

His stomach flipped. The eeriness he’d experienced yesterday hung on his shoulders like a winter coat. “Do you need a ride to Russell Springs? I could hitch up the wagon. It’s only about half an hour from here.”

“I know. Russell Springs hasn’t changed much the past century.”

“Century? Russell Springs was founded twenty years ago. It was the main stage stop for the Butterfield Overland Dispatch—”

“I know,” she interrupted. “The stage line ran through Indian Territory and connected the gold mines of Colorado with Fort Riley. That is until the Kansas Pacific Railroad was built in the eighteen seventies. The town itself was named for the natural springs in the area.”

His spine stiffened. “What exactly do you want, Miss White?”

She met his gaze eye for eye, not showing a hint of apprehension. “I’ll tell you, Levi, but perhaps you should sit down first.”

“No, I’m fine right here.”

She stood and began to lift her skirt. His eye sockets stretched, making him blink. Displaying her underclothes for the world to see, she pulled something out. Since when did petticoats have pockets? Perhaps they all did, and he just didn’t know it. The skirt fell back in place, and she moved forward, handing him the object.

A wooden frame held a picture. His breath stalled. “That’s you,” he choked, “and me.”

Click on this link to pick up your copy~ http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wish-craft-p-4068.html

CB: Needless to say, I'm already clicking over and getting my copy to download to my Nook! Where can we find your books? Where can we find you on the net?

LR: My books are available from The Wild Rose Press and Harlequin, Mills & Boon.

Here are Lauri's links~ Friend her and follower her
Blog:

Facebook:

Twitter:


CB: Thank you for joining me today. I look forward to doing this again with your next release.

LR: Thanks for hosting me, Catherine. I had a great time.

If you are a lover of western romance, Lauri is an author you simply can not pass up. Check out her books at TWRP and Harlequin.

Fun Friday

Okay... I'm so excited about this book... and I think I did a darn good job on the trailer.

What do you think?





Silent Vows will be here in print and e-book September 3rd 2010 from The Wild Rose Press.

Covey Trailer Awards + Binding Vows

Okay folks... I'm up for another trailer award. This time with the New Covey Trailer Award site. I could use your vote.

Click HERE for the link. Binding Vows is #8. By all means, check out the other entries and vote with your heart. But do vote.

Because their site takes quite a bit of time to load, I'll post my trailer here for you to watch. But you need to go to their site to vote.

Happy Summer Everyone!

~Oh the Cover Gods~

I can't hold back... I should wait... but I just can't!

Rae Monet - When we meet, m'dear, I'm going to cover you with kisses. It will be embarrassing for both of us, but I'm gonna do it anyway.

And yes... that is Jimmy Thomas, don't you just wanna run your fingers all over that chest, Jimmy Thomas. *fans self*

Here is the cover for the third and final book in my time travel trilogy.

Redeeming Vows is the story of Fin and Lizzy. You've met Fin in Binding Vows - and you'll meet Liz in Silent Vows, due out September 3rd.

But is this not the bomb of book covers? Like award winning! And this will be in print and E-book... So I get to slobber all over this hunk!

Book Club Pick ~ Binding Vows

Binding Vows has been picked by the Romance Book Club to read and discuss. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheRomanceBookClub/
If you've read, or plan on reading Binding Vows, come on over to the loop and join in the book club discussion!

BLURB:

Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister. Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both.

Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock Hand-fasting binds them.
When Duncan whisks her to his home in Scotland she could accept that. But, can she forgive him for taking away her modern life when she finds herself in the sixteenth century?

"I finished your novel in one day."

These are the best words an author can hear! Okay, maybe next to... "We want to publish your novel."

But after...

Once the work is done and you're waiting for feedback from readers...

"I finished your novel in one day." Followed by, "When is the second book coming out?"

Music to this authors ears. Binding Vows isn't exactly a short story either. 300 pages takes a bit of time to consume.

So tell me, authors... what is music to your ears? What do you live for in terms of feedback from your readers?

Save the Date...

I've been given my release date to my second book in my highlander time travel trilogy.

September 3rd, 2010. Save the date, folks. This one is as yummy as the cover.

Here is my official blurb and excerpt:

Myra, a medieval virgin druidess, flees five hundred years into the future to escape death at the hands of a cursed witch and lands in the arms of a handsome but cynical twenty-first century cop.

Officer Todd Blakely knows Myra is hiding something , but can't resist her innocent charms. Destiny throws them both into a world of intrigue and mysticism. Can Todd be the true white knight she needs? Or will magic and the winds of time tear them apart?

Excerpt:

“I want you,” he whispered in her hair,
not willing to break their contact.

She stiffened when his words registered. “I
don’t—”

“You want the same thing, Myra. Don’t try and
deny it.”

“I don’t know what I want. I’ve not ever...” She
didn’t finish her sentence.

“Not ever what?”

“No one has ever kissed me the way you do. Let
alone anything more.”

A virgin? Was that even possible? “You mean
you’ve never...?”

“Never.” She lowered her head and removed her
hands from his shoulders.

“Hey.” He caught her gaze. “It’s nothing to be
embarrassed about.” He kissed her again, briefly,
then placed a protective arm over her shoulders and
walked her home. “So are the men in Scotland
blind?”

She laughed. “Nay.”

“What then?”

“My father is very protective.”

“Does your father know you’re here?”

“Much to his dismay, but we had no choice.”

Interesting, a protective father who sent his
daughter away to a different country without any
money. Something wasn’t lining up.

They were within a block of his home when
Myra stiffened, and all color washed from her face.

She stopped and spun in a slow circle.

“What is it?”

“Someone is watching us.”

“Some of the neighbors are busybodies.”

“No, Todd. The one who watches wants more
than to gossip.”

Now the hair on his neck stood on end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure and pick up your copy of Binding Vows and catch up. Click here for the links.

Silent Vows is DONE!

FINAL GALLEY IS APPROVED!

Is this not the most amazing cover or what?

Rae Monet~You Rock!

Thanks Fran, I couldn't have done it without you!

Binding Vows - 4.75 Stars

Binding Vows has it's first review from a review site:

Here is what they said -

Cathryn Bybee brings together past and future holding them together with magic and romance and just a small touch of comedy in Binding Vows. The story was full of all things that I love action, romance, history and the knight in shining armor saving the damsel in distress bit. Bybee makes everything work together smoothly with a wonderful story anyone would love.

The entire review contains spoilers so I won't post all of it here.

Here is the link: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5372

Amazon Top 100 Seller in Time Travel Romance

Yes, I can boast this now... Take a look!

Paperback: 290 pages Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (November 6, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1601546076

ISBN-13: 978-1601546074

Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first. Amazon.com

Sales Rank: #163,187 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)


#96 in Books > Romance > Time Travel



Did ya see that? #96 in the Time Travel Romance Catagory. Yeah me!

Notice there are NO reviews for Amazon? If you purchased your copy throught Amazon, go on over and tell them what ya think.



Happy Dancing!

And the award goes to...

Hollywood isn't the only place giving awards out this time of year. Preditors and Editors Reader polls are now open for voting. It's time to give the P&E site your two cents on who's books you've enjoyed and which authors made you smile throughout the year. They have categories for just about everything. So take the time and look over the nominees. If you don't see someone there that you feel deserves to be, add in your nomination.

I've found my name in two of the categories this year, which both humbles and flatters me.

Binding Vows is up for best romance novel. Click HERE for the link.

And I've been added as a nominee for Author published in 2009. Click HERE for that link.

I'm simply happy to see my name in the polls. Vote however you like, but vote. These polls need participation in order to work.