Saturday, December 8, 2012

The Winter Wife by Anna Campbell ~ author interview and review

The Winter Wife -A Christmas Novella
by Anna Campbell
Published: November 29, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance
Purchase: Amazon


Will a chance meeting on Christmas Eve…
Alicia Sinclair, Countess of Kinvarra, cannot believe that fate has been so cruel as to strand her on the snowy Yorkshire moors with her estranged husband as her only hope of rescue. During their rare encounters, the arrogant earl and his countess act like hostile strangers. Now that Alicia has fallen into Kinvarra's power, will he seek revenge for her desertion? Or does the dark, passionate man she once adored have entirely different plans for his headstrong wife?
..deliver a second chance at love?
Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra, has spent ten wretched years regretting the mistakes he made with his young bride, but after long separation, the barriers between them are insurmountable. Until an unexpected encounter one stormy night makes him wonder if the barriers of mistrust and thwarted desire are so insurmountable after all. When winter weather traps Sebastian and his proud, lovely wife in an isolated inn, could the earl and his headstrong countess have a Christmas miracle in store?

I am very excited to have the chance to interview Anna and want to welcome her to the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. As many of you know I loved her novel Seven Nights in A Rogue's Bed, if you missed my review you can check it out here.
Interview
Welcome Anna please enjoy some delicious hazelnut coffee or peppermint tea and try a cookie.


These are delicious and I am happy to be here, the tea smells heavenly 


    In your bio it states that you began writing your first novel in the third grade. Was there ever anything else you wanted to be?

Nothing sensible. There was the stage where I wanted to be a prima ballerina! And even then, I always thought I’d write romance once I hung up the ballet slippers.

Your heroes are all swoon worthy and slightly flawed and I adore them. Are they inspired by real people?

Thank you for saying that about my heroes. They’re so real to me when I’m writing the books. I think there are elements of real people in all my characters and certainly I use my experience of life to create them. On the page, though, they tend to become very much their own people. I like flawed characters – they’re more interesting and more real and it gives me somewhere to take them as they develop through the story. If they’re perfect already, where’s the character arc going to go?

I loved flawed characters and they become very real to me too :)

Did you always want to write romance fiction?

Pretty much. I read THE WOLF AND THE DOVE by Kathleen Woodiwiss when I was in my early teens and that pretty much sealed my fate. I love that in a romance you can concentrate in such minute detail on that dance of the growing relationship (usually one step forward and two steps back!). I also love writing happy endings so I guess romance was it for me!

What book are you working on now and can you share anything?

I’m currently writing the third installment in the “Sons of Sin” series which started with SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED. Title and release date to be confirmed, but I suspect some time in 2014. It’s the story of Camden Rothermere, the Duke of Sedgemoor, who has devoted his life to restoring the family name after it’s tarred by scandal. What happens when fate matches him with a woman who can’t play by the rules? I’m having great fun with this story. Cam is a man who pretty much arranges everything to suit him and when he falls in love with his headstrong wife, his nice organized world falls to pieces in a big way. 

Wahoo! I cannot wait for book two and am delighted you are working on the third. 

Since it’s December I have to ask- what is your favorite holiday tradition?

My favorite holiday tradition is taking the time off between Christmas and New Year to loll around and read and watch TV and swim. Last year, sadly, I was on deadline and I missed my break. This year, let me at that TBR pile! Other traditions include lots of bubbly! ;-)

We take the week off between the holidays too and enjoy the downtime with our family. Enjoy and I hope you catch up on some reading *eyes TBR pile *

Quick and easy:

Coffee or tea? Tea

Salty or sweet? Salty

If you could have a super power what would it be? Flying

Book on your nightstand? The Regency Country House from the Archives of Country Life by John Martin Robinson (gorgeous!)

Favorite song at the moment? Do you mean current song? I like Mumford and Sons’ “I Will Wait”. Favorite classic at the moment is “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” by Franki Valli.

Well I can agree on all of those Anna, except the tea over coffee *hums Franki Valli song*  

Thanks so much for stopping by Anna!
Now it's time to review her newest release, a tale that is near and dear to her heart; The Winter Wife.
My Review of The Winter Wife
The Winter Wife: A Christmas Novella offers a tale of love and second chances. Anna Campbell has long wanted to do a Christmas novella and I quite enjoyed her first one. It’s the tale of an estranged couple either too proud or too stubborn to work things out and their chance encounter on a deserted Yorkshire road in the middle of a snowstorm. Maybe it was the magic of Christmas or fate that brought them together but the tale that unfolded was delightful.

This was a quick, entertaining read that I consumed in a single evening. Alicia Sinclair, Countess of Kinvarra has been ruined for any other man by her husband. After a series of misunderstandings and foolish pride, they separated and have lived apart for the past ten years. Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra has been plagued by the memory of his estranged wife and the mistakes he has made. Circumstances force them to spend the evening at an overcrowded in and I adored every snarky, romantic, passionate moment of this tale. My only complaint is that I would have liked this to be a full length novel.

If you are looking for a quick historical romance with a little Christmas magic then The Winter Wife is sure to delight. Campbell’s novella gave us a strong sense of the characters and an understanding of their troubled past. Filled with passion and second chances this is sure to get you in the holiday mood. My hope is that the author will deliver a full length Christmas novel next year. *hint*

Four cups of hot cocoa out of five
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Labels: , , ,

50 Comments:

At July 17, 2013 at 10:12 PM , Anonymous Aurian said...

Thanks for the lovely interview ladies. I enjoyed reading it.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:07 AM , Anonymous Diana Leigh said...

Nice interview! The blurb had me at "snowy Yorkshire moors." I wasn't going to buy any books for myself this month, but I really need this one for the holidays!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Thanks for swinging by, Aurian!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Sharon, I just love, love, love that song. I think it's mega romantic. There are worse things that could run through your mind - Gangnam Style for a start! ;-) Thanks for saying you're looking forward to Richard's story.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Oh my goodness Sharon I have been humming and singing that song for the last few days too!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Sharon Archer said...

Fun interview, Anna and Kimba! I'm "tea" person too... though I must confess that the hazelnut coffee sounds divine... perhaps I could just inhale!



Anna, you know that I've got the words from "Can't take my eyes off you" running on repeat in my head now! LOL


I'm looking forward to more of your Sons of Sin!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Thank you Aurian, have a great day :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

thanks Michelle :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Thanks for swinging by, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the interview!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

I could live on coffee, thank you for stopping in and commenting. It was wonderful!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Love a good chat about books! And cookies! ;-)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Kimba, I was once a mad coffee drinker (hmm, perhaps I was once mad but as above, that's a whole nother ballgame!) but these days, it's tea all the way. Drink it by the bucketful.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kindlemom1 said...

Great interview!


This sounds like it was another great read for you! I love it when an author can do that with each book. I have several favorites that never disappoint and it sounds like for you, Anna is one of those authors.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

Awww, I think every girl wants to be a prima ballerina at some point! (Except my kid... she dances ballet, but desperately wants to be a fireman. Go figure). and that time between Christmas and New Year is my favorite too. I loved this interview.
Also, I want cookies.
Also, Kimba, you keep throwing Christmas reads my way and I love you for it. :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Aww I think your daughter would be a wonderful fireman! Glad you are enjoying all the holiday reviews, I love them and am delighted to share!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

by all means enjoy some cookies and thank you Vanessa :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Annie West said...

Ooh, nice quick interview. Thank you! Loved the review too. I've read this novella and had a ball with it. Just the thing for an evening's read, especially with Christmas around the corner. i'm looking forward to the next in the Sons of Sin series, Anna. Can't wait to see what you do with that.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hiya Annie! Thank you for saying you enjoyed The Winter Wife. I agree with you that at this time of year, it's nice to have something bite-sized to stick your teeth into! Thanks for saying you're looking forward to A Rake's Midnight Kiss. It's out at the end of August next year - I had fun writing Richard's story. He's nowhere near as tormented as most of my heroes and that made a nice change.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Vanessa Barneveld said...

Hi, Kimba and Anna! Do you mind if I have a nibble of those cookies? They look divine...


Anna, I loved the Winter Wife. I'm with Kimba in saying it would make a great full-length novel. I liked Alicia's spirit.



Great interview and review! :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:08 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, wow, thanks, V! So glad you enjoyed The Winter Wife. I really enjoyed revisiting both these characters. And yeah, I'm with you on the cookies!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

That's Great Kim, I really enjoyed this one :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous Turning the Pages said...

Lovely review and interview! I'm going to add this one to my wishlist.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Kimba, thanks so much for hosting me today and for the great questions and lovely review. Thanks also to everyone who swung by to chat. Wishing you all Happy Holidays!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Thanks so much for swinging by, Diana! Hope you enjoy THE WINTER WIFE and all those snowy moors!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

O.o you do and it's easy to read since it's a novella :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:10 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Kimba, I couldn't have put that better! LOL!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Christy! High fiving back! And an English breakfast chaser! ;-) Thanks for saying you enjoyed the interview. I loved the questions!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

tea is good and has it's place..like when you are sick or eating butterscotch krimpets.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Christy (Love of Books) said...

*high five* to the tea drinker! :) Love the interview and review, you two.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Aww bummer Heidi, my husband always takes it off and we do nothing but hang out with the kids, feast, catch up on tv shows, watch movies and play games.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

I have a fresh batch coming out of the oven now :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

You are so welcome Lisa <3

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hi Pnrirnfantasyreviews! Glad you enjoyed the interview and the review. Thanks for swinging by.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Blodeuedd said...

Sounds good :)
and lucky Anna who gets cookies and tea

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Nom, nom, nom. I'll answer you once I finish the cookies. Unless Kimba gives me some more? Hint, hint! Hi Blodeuedd. Lovely to see you!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Heidi said...

I am with Barbara where is the peppermint mocha lattes? Sigh for me that week between Christmas and New Year's is my least favorite I get depressed that the holidays are over....swimming? Well perhaps if I were still in Phoenix. Does any kid really think sensibly when they are deciding what they want to be when they grow up as a kid? Fun questions and a sweet little novella for Christmas. Sounds like fun! My Christmas read yesterday wasn't exactly warm and cozy....

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:12 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Heidi, I definitely think The Winter Wife falls into the sweet category - I was so pleased that the cover gives that impression. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia so Christmas is our big holiday for families to get together. Most of the country closes down between Christmas and New Year - it's our midsummer as well. Because I live in a really hot part of the country, swimming is majorly appealing! ;-)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

you are welcome Julie I love tales like this that can sweep you away for an evening.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Kimba, I love tales that sweep me away too - one of the reasons I always come back to a good historical.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Thanks for swinging by, Julie. I love Kimba's review!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Bella, this time of year for me a novella just hits the spot. Gives me my romance fix in a short time! Thanks so much for saying you enjoyed 7 Nights and for picking up The Winter Wife. Hope you enjoy it too! Kimba's all out of pepermint mocha, sadly! Next time! ;-)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Yes, I would agree I love Campbell's writing style and her characters are memorable.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks so much, Kimba!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hi Kindlemom! Yeah, I have favorites who never disappoint. Susan Elizabeth Phillips springs to mind - I love her stuff. Liz Carlyle. Sarah Mayberry. Annie West.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Maja! I can't tell you how desperately I wanted to be a ballerina! Still love going to the ballet! Laughing at your daughter wanting to be a fireman - how cool is that? Thanks for saying you enjoyed the interview. Kimba asked some fabulously interesting questions.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

thanks Annie and I am anxiously awaiting the next Son of Sins book too!

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Anna Campbell said...

Hey, thanks, Kimba! Late August seems forever away but there's a novella out before that (Cam's sister) so there will be lots of Sons of Sin stuff around next year.

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Julie H. said...

Sounds like a great holiday read! Thanks for sharing :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous kimbacaffeinate said...

Aww, sorry next time I will have some peppermint mocha just for you and I hope you enjoy this one :)

 
At July 18, 2013 at 1:13 AM , Anonymous Bella's Shelf said...

It seems to be a Christmas Novella day around here. You didn't have my peppermint mocha latte though. I read an awesome one this week too. Seven nights in a rogues bed rocked. This is the 2nd book this week, no third I bought because of you. * grabs some cookies* I'll forgive you for the peppermint mocha snaffu..lolz

 

Post a Comment

This blog is an award free zone..however your comments are welcome, needed and loved! I try to respond to all comments via email. Tell me what you think...

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home