Peeking Between the Pages

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Guest Post & Giveaway with Robin Kaye, author of Breakfast in Bed

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I’m pleased today to welcome Robin Kaye, the author of Breakfast in Bed, her newest book out! back to Peeking Between the Pages. I’ve been lucky enough to read the first two books in this great contemporary romance series: Romeo, Romeo and Too Hot to Handle and enjoyed them immensely. They all center around the Ronaldi family and they’re funny, full of hanky panky and just a great way to spend the afternoon. I look forward to reading this one of her’s as well. In the meantime, let’s sit back and relax and see what Robin has to say in regards to the question – Does she know any Domestic Gods?…

A queston I get asked a lot about my series is if I know any Domestic Gods—men who cook and clean and take out the trash and LIKE doing it (and they just so happen to be the heroes of my books!)… Of course I know real Domestic Gods, heck, I’m married to one. Some of the things he does show up in my books. He’s my own personal hero, but he’s definitely not a hero in any of my books.

My husband is a passable cook, cleans like nobody’s business, does the laundry, takes great care of the kids, and can build/remodel a house, a football stadium, or anything in between. I have to admit he looks just as good in an apron as he does in a hardhat and tool belt.

There was one scene in Romeo, Romeo when Rosalie awoke to find Nick lifting her couch to vacuum under it. That came from real life. When my husband and I were dating, he lived 60 miles away, so under the watchful eye of my mother, he would spend every weekend at my house sleeping on the couch. Saturdays were my cleaning days and Stephen would always help. Okay, I’d help him since he did a much better job than I ever would. One day my mother and I walked into the living room and caught him holding up our huge couch with one hand while vacuuming under it. My mother turned to me and said, “Marry him.” So I did.

A few years later, my mother, a marriage and family therapist, met George, another Domestic God. He would invite himself over to fix things around her house, cook her dinner, and generally made himself indispensable. They fell in love and my mom took her own advice and married George. He does all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry, and is her part-time secretary at the office. Needless to say, she’s a very happy woman.

In Breakfast in Bed, the third book in my Domestic Gods series, coming out in December, Rich Ronaldi, the hero, is the anti-Domestic God. He’s the only son of a very Italian family and is the prince his mother raised him to be. When his girlfriend dumps him because he’s not marriage material, he takes a page from his brother-in-laws’ books and decides to become a Domestic God to win her back. All he needs is a coach.

When by some fluke, Becca and Rich sublet the same apartment, the two find themselves fighting over who is the rightful tenant. Rich offers to let Becca and her three-legged killer cat stay for a few months until her brownstone apartment is remodeled on one condition: She has to coach him on becoming more domestic. Becca accepts the deal figuring that she could live with anyone for a couple months and since Rich is so interested in learning, she’d get out of cooking and cleaning for as long as it lasts. All she has to do is put up with Rich Ronaldi who has three post-secondary degrees and can’t figure out how to cook a grilled cheese sandwich. He’s cocky, arrogant, and too good-looking for words, and worse, he’s completely adorable every time he makes a fool of himself. It’s a good thing Becca doesn’t like him, because she thinks a man like him should come with a warning sign. Danger!

All but one of Rich’s foibles came from real life. The only one that didn’t took some research on my part. I called a friend who trains Maytag Repair Men to ask how to start a fire in the drier. He just laughed at me and told me that most people try to avoid that but since we’ve been best friends since I was 15, he wasn’t surprised. He gave me several possibilities and one was perfect! Now you have to read the book to find out exactly what happened. And let me tell you, the dryer fire was nothing compared to the sparks flying between Rich and Becca.

So, do you know any Domestic Gods? I’ll be checking in to hear your fabulous stories in the comments!

Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye—in stores January 2010
The third funny, sexy, contemporary romance from a fresh new voice in romance fiction

Rich, the epitome of “anti-domestic,” can’t cook to save his life, and his idea of cleaning his apartment is to invite his mother over. But he’s ready to settle down, and he can’t stop thinking about the ex-girlfriend who got away. When he notices that his soon-to-be-married friends cooked and cleaned their way into their women’s hearts, he asks his friend Becca to help transform him into a nurturing man to win back his ex.

Rich is the only guy who’s taken the time to know Becca for herself. She decides she’ll give him the makeover he’s asking for, though she’ll be damned if she’s going to turn him into a domestic god for another woman. She wants Rich for herself, but how can she convince him that her kitchen and her bedroom are the only domestic locales he desires?

About the Author

Award-winning author Robin Kaye is a professional writer and winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award for her first novel, Romeo, Romeo. Once it was published, Romeo, Romeo won the 2008 Best Contemporary itRom (Italian Romance) Award by Romance B(u)y the Book, the 2009 HOLT Medallion Contest First Place Winner for Best Romantic Comedy and the 2009 NJRW Golden Leaf Award Winner for Best Single Title. Her romantic comedies feature sexy, nurturing heroes and feisty, independent heroines. She lives with her husband and three children in Mt. Airy, Maryland. For more information, please visit Robin Kaye’s website.

Thanks so much Robin for this terrific guest post! I could sure use one of those wonderful Domestic Gods!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have 2 copies of Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye courtesy of Danielle at Sourcebooks to share with my readers! To enter…

  • For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • For 2 entries follow my blog. If you do, thank you and let me know so I can enter you for the extra entry.
  • For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I’ll be drawing for the winners on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Good luck to you all!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. This sounds like a fun book. My husband will clean without me having to ask for his help, though he doesn't like it. Who does? But he really enjoys cooking for me and our daughter. Just last night, he had an idea for dinner and went off to the store to get ingredients, while we lounged on the couch reading.

    Thanks for the great giveaway.

    I'm a follower!

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric
    diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

  2. Hi Anna~ I've always said enjoying cleaning is a sign of a sick mind. Still, it's worth hanging around people with that kind of sick mind. My DH does all the cleaning and laundry. He doesn't enjoy it, but he enjoys a clean house. He cooks when he has to, but really appreciates when I cook, he is also a great sous-chef.

  4. My hubby works a mean grill year round. Cold weather and snow don't stop him from trying a new rib rub! Looks like a great book, thanks for the chance to win!

    I'm a follower.

    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  8. Sounds like a fun one. I would love to be entered. I am a follower.

    carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com

  9. Robin, as I look around my filthy house eating cold pizza because it's just too much trouble to cook, I am beyond jealous that you are married to a Domestic God!

  13. Oh what a nice giveaway and a lovely place you have. I am a new follower and as soon as I get home this evening, I will be posting this contest on my side bar. So I will be back with a link for to you check it out if you want!!!
    Hope you have a great day!

  14. Robin

    Love your blog. You are a lucky woman to have a domestic god of your own. I have to say my husband is a much better housekeeper than I am. And he also lifts the couch to vacuum. He does the laundry too, and vacuums the entire house. I love the story of your mother and her new love. Good luck with your books.

    Carolyn Matkowsky/Cara Marsi
    cmatsky@aol.com

  16. My husband is definitely a Domestic god, thanks to his mother-who trained him right, lol! We split most chores except the cooking, he's not really a great cook but he does a wonderful job with the dishes ;- )

    I'm a follower!

    cheryl(dot)mcinnis@yahoo(dot)com

  17. Oh my, I could use a domestic god! My husband works so much he certainly doesn't have time to do housework too. Although, if I'm sick he will help out as much as he can 🙂

    I am a follower 🙂

    jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

  19. Hi Carla~ Thanks for joining me!

    HoldenJ- I love a man who can grill. Good luck on the give away.

    Debbie F~ Thanks for stopping by, Good luck!

    Carmen~ A good cook is great to have around even when you know hot to cook. Every woman wants a man who is as good in the kitchen as he is in the bedroom.

    Kara~ Thanks for dropping by!

    Carol~ Good luck with the give away. I hope you'll check out Breakfast in Bed.

    Hi Miriam~ Yeah, he is pretty great. I still like cold pizza though. Enjoy!

    Fredamans~ I hope you'll check out the Breakfast in Bed.

    Cecile~ Thanks for getting the word out.

    Carolyn~ Thanks so much for visiting. Good luck on the giveaway.

    Cheryl~ Congratulations on having your own Domestic God! They are definitely keepers.

    Jane~ Thanks for stopping by. A husband that helps out when you're sick is nice to have.

  24. Sounds like a wonderful book. My late husband was not much of a "domestic" type, but all three of our sons are great help around the house. Thanks for the giveaway.

    And I am a follower.

  28. My hubby is great about staying home with the kids (without complaint!) if I need an evening out alone or with friends. He is also more creative in the kitchen than I am, but doesn't really cook often. He does a mean BBQ, though! Thanks for the entry!

    jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com

  30. I don't know any domestic gods but my teenaged son was cooking some chicken today so maybe he could become one.
    I am a follower
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

  34. I enjoyed Robin's Too Hot To Handle– it was like a guilty pleasure! I would love to read its follow up as well. And since we are on the subject.. My husband is a domestic god twice a year.

    I am a follower.
    MarieBurton2004 at yahoo dot com
    thanks so much!

  40. No need to enter me. If I read about this domestic God thing.. I might end up divorced. ha ha.. I really enjoyed your guest post. Yup.. if he is holding up the couch vacuuming under it.. Marry him. LOL

  42. I've been following Ms. Kaye around the blogs, would luv to read this.

    +1 jenma76(at)hotmail(dot)com
    +1 follower of your blog

    Thank you!

  43. Don't know how I missed this Robin.
    Don't enter me as I've read all your books. Just wanted to tell everyone how awesome your books are. Funny, emotional & sexy. Not everyone can combine all three.

  46. This sounds like a book my husband needs to read…if he doesn't he may loose my heart. lol j/k

    Lacey914[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

  55. This sounds like a fun book to read. Especially since there are no Domestic Gods in my family. It's unheard of around here. Heh. Count me in, please! :0)

    I subscribe with google reader.

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

  56. I have Romeo Romeo on my TBR pile. I'd love to win a copy of this book

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

  57. I'm a follower on google friends connect and google reader

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

  60. Sounds like a book I should read!

    I'm a follower

    alternate email other than blogger
    magenta 2 red [at] gmail [dot] com

  61. Great Guest Post! This books looks fun. Thank you for this nice giveaway and please count me in.

    chinook92 at gmail dot com

  72. I would love to read this book . I dream of a domestic God coming to my house or my husband suddenly turning into one.

  83. Dar this sounds wonderful! Please count me in – I am a follower of your blog 🙂

    journey through books @ gmail dot com