I’m pleased to announce that my contemporary romance novel, Carolina, is now available at the Amazon Kindle Store. Here’s a little information about the romance ebook, as well as a five-star review from the Romance Studio.

If you’re looking for the perfect juicy romance novel for this spring, look no further! Visit the Kindle Store and get your instant download…today!

About the book…

Carolina is a sweeping, epic romance…it tells the story of Carolina Evans, a young woman from Maine who is cursed with a tortured past and an uncertain future. After becoming pregnant as a teenager and being abandoned by her boyfriend, Daniel, Carrie is sent to a relative in Tennessee…to have her child and give it up for adoption.

Once in Memphis, Carrie rebels, deciding to keep her child and defy her religious family. Many struggles await the young woman as she tries to build a new life. Poverty, depression, and a terrible marriage are the price she must pay to keep her baby…in time, Carrie discovers she has a unique gift - a voice from God. As a child, she was too neglected to discover the beauty of her own singing voice…noone knew…

Her new Memphis friends hear her sing and they are dumbstruck by the beautiful, dark-haired Carrie’s perfect voice. They arrange for her to compete in a new Country Queen competition, sponsored by a huge record company in Memphis. Once Carrie agrees to compete, she is thrown into a glamorous whirlwind; at the center of the storm is the smoldering alpha male Jacob Goldman, CEO of Spur Records International. Once the two meet, sparks fly, and Carrie’s world changes forever…but Carrie isn’t sure she’s ready to trust again…

A Five-Star Review From The Romance Studio…read it to learn more about why you should read Carolina…

Romance novels take us away into another world. They provide us with a sense of passion and longing that lingers long after we turn the final page! If you adore romance novels, from Jane Austen to modern day chick lit, you will enjoy this list.

Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones

The Scullery Maid - Hot New Historical Romance E-Book

Look for my next print novel, The Secret Of The Emerald Sea (magical adventure for young readers) this spring/summer…

Forbidden love is the most passionate of all…

The Scullery Maid by Heather Matthews

Bonnie worked in the back kitchens of a Scottish castle, scrubbing pots and pans. Since she was a child, she’d been fascinated by Lord Adam Campbell, her master, and as she grew into a beautiful young woman, she sensed he returned her feelings. But they could not be together…he could not permit himself to love a mere Scullery Maid…

In time, the longing between them grew so strong that neither could deny its power…but what hope could there be for happiness when all of society frowned upon their love?

Buy the e-book download now at Sugar & Spice Press. Click HERE to order!

Look for the book at the Amazon Kindle Store - it will arrive early next week! You will also be able to grab a copy at Fictionwise, All Romance E-Books, etc.

I love to read, and I have to admit, I’ve read my fair share of true crime novels. From Anne Rule’s sensitive, richly-detailed novels (such as The Stranger Beside Me) to the work of attorney Vincent Bugliosi (Helter Skelter), I’ve been a student of human psychology, in its most mutated forms, for many years.

If you also enjoy reading true crime, you’ll enjoy my latest top ten list at www.Toptenz.net. Top 10 Deadliest Female Killers tells the stories of notorious women who’ve given in to the darkest elements of human nature. From Karla Homolka, whose role in the murders of three young women is cloaked in controversy, to the Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, whose cruel acts were conducted in a Slovakian castle…these stories are indictments of narcissism, selfishness, and sadism.

Visit this link to read the full article.

If you enjoy my writing, consider clicking on the book cover at the right, and picking up a copy of my first novel, Carolina, on Amazon.com You’ll find the book goes much deeper into human nature than many romance novels.

My whole life, I’ve lived to read. I was lucky enough to grow up with a father who studied history at University. Our den was always filled with all sorts of literary delights, and I devoured them from a very young age. From Lytton Strachey’s biography of Queen Victoria, to Inside The Third Reich…I read them all, and learned so much from each of them.

My greatest love is fiction. I consider myself lucky to have enjoyed the work of authors like George Orwell, Martin Amis, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Shakespeare and Frank Herbert (among so many others). I also adore the non-fiction musings of P.J. O’Rourke.

Aside from the enduring pleasures of reading and re-reading brilliant books, I also have great passion for art and music. There is nothing I love more than touring galleries and museums and drinking in the beauty. I never write without some form of musical accompaniment, and I could play classical music on the piano for hours without stopping.

When it came time to write a new top ten list for www.toptenz.net, I decided to focus on the life stories of authors, painters, and musicians. I chose to tell the stories of the ones who truly suffered for their art. I hope you visit the bolded link and read the list. Every person on my list meant something to me and always will. Their pain did not stop them from creating masterpieces of human ingenuity.

enjoying the Star Wars convention in LA

I love being a freelance writer, and I’ve built some great relationships with my clients. I write about all kinds of topics: cults, fashion, phobias…you name it. I’ve been doing all sorts of writing lately and branching out a little bit. I recently published a couple of e-books under a pen name. I enjoyed writing about darker, edgier subject matter under my new alias. I also ghostwrite for clients, writing radio scripts, blogs, and a lot more. Here are some highlights of my current work.

Click on the direct links to view:

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-cults.php http://www.toptenz.net/celebrity-train-wrecks-atragedies.php http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-famous-monkeys.php http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-traitors.php http://www.fearofstuff.com/humans/fear-of-puppets/ http://www.fearofstuff.com/color/fear-of-the-color-black/ http://www.guidetobetter.com/blog/american-idol-is-it-political http://www.guidetobetter.com/blog/i-heart-dwight-schrute

I hope you enjoy visiting these great websites. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming work and my second novel, Below The Sapphire Sea.

I was thrilled to receive a great review for my first romance novel, Carolina, from The Romance Studio! I’m posting it here so you can check it out. I hope you get a chance to read the novel! Visit the Romance Studio for more great romance reviews.

Carolina - hit the bolded link to order your own copy!

This book was most unusual. The author, Ms. Matthews, followed the lives of several uniquely different individuals throughout their struggles and successes in life. How she brought them together was a phenomenal feat. I was spellbound and unable to put the book down. Considering the fact that this was a plus-sized novel, it wasn’t easy.

Jacob Goldman, founder and CEO of Spur Records International in Memphis, Tennessee, was a 34-year-old workaholic who was enamored with his superstar, Stella Davis. Stella struggled with alcohol and drugs. Their sexual relationship suffered in relation to Stella’s addictions. He worked with a partner to have a contest for “Country Queen” for a new artist who could write music and who was a beautiful songbird.

Caroline Evans, from Calais, Maine, ran away from her dysfunctional home when she told her parents she was pregnant. They insisted she go live with her aunt and have the baby adopted. The father, Daniel, ran away to Canada and refused to help her. She went to Memphis but slipped away before her aunt found her. She found a job, married the boss of the grocery store, and had her baby girl, Elizabeth.

These two main characters lived roller-coaster lives before they ever met. I loved the way Matthews delved into the realistic lifestyles of these two. Their families and friends, as well as some less savory people, created some in-depth storylines. Each was fascinating on its own. There were sexual scenes, but were not offensive. There were many tears and much suffering. This added to the mesmerizing book.

There was so much going on in the book, but I don’t want to give away any of the surprises which kept me captivated. All I can do is encourage you to read it for yourself. I’m at a loss as to how to assure readers of the magnetism of the book. I highly recommend it to all. There is so much involved that everyone will find things to love about the story

Overall rating: Five Hearts =Five Stars
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
May 7, 2009

Hi,

Thanks for dropping by my website. I just did an interview about my romance novel, Carolina, with Nikki Leigh. Hit the bolded link to check it out.

New Review For Carolina!

Carolina has been awarded 4 Cups (out of 5) by Coffeetime Romance & More. The book was described as “a dramatic story the reader will definitely enjoy.”