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This is not your typical royal love story.

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It’s been such a wonderful week of release fun since The Anti-Cinderella debuted on May 15th. What better way to celebrate than with a real royal wedding! How nice of Harry and Meghan to schedule their big day when they did. I really appreciated the boost and the nod.

Did you get your copy yet of the book yet?

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You can read teasers right here and here.

And you can check out the play list here!

What reviewers are saying . . .

“I enjoyed (it) that much that I read it in one sitting. Through the book I felt everything they were feeling, laughed with them and felt sad with them as well.”

“This story made me have all the “feels”.”

“The characters are strong and the story flows smoothly. This is the first book of the series and I will be watching for the next one.”

“The book has real emotion, characters with depth, humour, sadness, romance, love, supportive friends and family. I couldn’t put it down.”

“With powerful, realistic emotions, sweet love, drama, humor and passion this is a pleasurable and entertaining read.”

“The book has real emotion, characters with depth, humor, sadness, supportive friends and family, romance, humor and love. I was thoroughly invested in the characters and could not put the book down once I started it.”

***

More news!

I’m thrilled to share that this book is only the beginning of the fun! There will be two more installments in the main Anti-Cinderella story: The Anti-Cinderella Takes London and The Anti-Cinderella Conquers the World. 

You can preorder the London book exclusively on iBooks . The preorder will go live on Amazon, Nook, Kobo and Google in the fall. And if you want to see the amazing cover, it’ll be revealed later this summer on my Temptress group. 

The Anti-Cinderella Takes London

Falling in love with a prince wasn’t something I planned . . .

When I reconnected with the first guy I ever kissed, I never dreamed I’d end up moving to England to be closer to him. But Nicky and I are in love, and living together was the next logical step. 

If I thought dating royalty was a tough gig when I was living in the USA, I’m learning that it’s even more challenging now that I’m in London. Every move I make, every word I say, is under the microscope. Becoming part of Nicky’s family while staying true to who I am isn’t easy. 

Nicky makes everything worthwhile. The hours when we’re alone together are paradise. And if the press and the pressure are the price I have to pay for him . . . I’ll choose Nicky, every single time.

After all, London’s just another town. Right? 

Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books include young adult and new adult paranormal romance, new adult and adult contemporary romance and adult paramystery romance. She lives in central Florida with a husband, kids, sweet pup and too many cats.

And yeah, she rocks purple hair.

You can follow Tawdra on Amazon to receive updates on her releases. You can also visit her website for more information, and subscribe to her newsletter  for sales announcement, special exclusive content and promotions!

If you enjoy Tawdra’s books, join the Naughty Temptresses!

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Songs Fit for a Princess: THE ANTI-CINDERELLA Play List

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When I began writing THE ANTI-CINDERELLA, I began looking for the right songs. It wasn’t easy. For the Love in a Small Town books, I go country without fail. For the football books, it’s usually contemporary alt-rock. For the Perfect Dish romances, Jersey rockers and crooners have been the go-to.

But what kind of music best epitomizes a non-traditional royal romance?

The very first one that jumped to mind was something by Ed Sheeran. He’s not only one of my favorite musicians, but he’s British. I’ve been listening to his latest album for a solid year, and one of my favorite songs is Perfect. When I heard him sing it in concert last August, I knew that I wanted it for this book. It captured the romance and simple beauty of an important scene in the book.

The second song was a gimme. With the battle Kyra wages with the media, Bonnie Raitt’s Something to Talk About was exactly the wry poke at rumors and gossip that I needed.

The ABBA songs were a nod back to the days when I was young and dreaming of what it would be like to be part of a royal romance. I was a huge ABBA fan, and these few songs brought back sweet memories.

While writing this book, I was also binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy, one of my favorite series of all time. The music Shonda Rimes uses on that show lent me a few ideas, including Brandi Carlile’s The Story. 

Enjoy all of THE ANTI-CINDERELLA tunes . . . and be sure to follow me on Spotify to keep up with all my bookish music.

Preorder today!

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Confessions of a Royal Lover

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Frankly, it’s not a surprise that I’ve written a book about royalty. It’s actually more surprising that it’s taken me this long in my authorhood to do so.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother used to tell me stories. Later I realized that many of those stories were actually books she’d read. One of those was about the little princesses of England, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose. I was astonished to realize that those ‘little princesses’ were actually adults, as the stories from Nana had taken place over thirty years before my birth.

But I was intrigued, and I began reading. I devoured Robert Lacey’s biography Majesty about the Queen, and then I branched off into the books in his bibliography. I loved all the detail about the Royal Family. I was well and truly hooked.

I was thirteen years old and babysitting one evening when I was flipping through a Newsweek magazine. There was a picture of a young woman who had been photographed with the light shining through her skirt and an accompanying brief article about the Prince of Wales’ current love interest, the daughter of an earl. Lady Diana Spencer was only nineteen, and although she was pursued by the British media, the Americans weren’t paying much attention right away. In the age before the internet and social media, that meant I didn’t see a lot of coverage of their courtship.

The day their engagement was announced, though, everything changed. Suddenly, the news was filled with pictures of the two, and from the date of the announcement through the actual wedding, the frenzy built.

I was the perfect impressionable age to fall in love with what appeared to be a classic romance. I clipped newspaper and magazine articles, I saved my money and bought the books and the paper dolls (still have them!), and I watched every show that might have a little blip about the couple.

On their wedding day–July 29, 1981–I was up early and glued to the television to drink in every detail. The carriage! The dress! St. Paul’s! The guests! I also recorded the wedding so that I could back and watch it at my leisure. I had my hair cut in a Diana do–and that was a big deal, since I’d had quite long hair.

In the years that followed, I didn’t lose my enthusiasm, even as I grew up and had my own romances. I was sad when details of Charles and Diana’s marriage were revealed, but by then, I too was married with little ones.

On Labor Day Sunday, I awoke to the horrifying news that Diana had died in a terrible car accident in Paris. I’ll never forget that day; the sense of loss over someone I’d never known in person but who had been part of my life, my growing up, was devastating. Once again I was glued to the TV, but this time, there was no happy ending.

For years, my own version of a royal romance and how it might play out had lurked in the back of my writer’s brain. And then last year, the image of a cover and a title flashed in my head, along with bits and pieces of the accompanying story. And that’s how The Anti-Cinderella was born.

Kyra isn’t Diana–she’s older, for one; she’s American, and whereas Diana struggled with demons from her childhood, Kyra grew up in a loving, nurturing family. But there is no doubt that Diana’s shadow is on this book, particularly in Kyra’s interactions with the press. And although Diana isn’t mentioned by name and probably will not be in subsequent books, she is very much on my mind as I write.

For all of her missteps and mistakes, Diana changed the face of the Royal Family as we know it–for the better. It makes me happy to see her sons continuing this trend. As a royal devotee, I hope that the Windsors stay strong for generations to come.

Preorder today!

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The Anti-Cinderella releases May 15th!

How many girls can say their first kiss was with a prince in the British royal family? 

I was fourteen and he was sixteen, and yes, it was magical. But that kiss didn’t exactly change my life. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even think about it-or Nicky Windsor-for the next ten years . . . until fate, in the guise of my grandparents, brought us back together again.

Now everything has spun out of control. I’m ducking reporters and photographers when I try to leave home. My friends act as if I’m someone they don’t know anymore. The whole world seems to be watching me, wanting to see some kind of modern Cinderella story. 

But trust me, I’m no man’s princess. I’m more comfortable in tennis shoes than in a tiara, more likely to rock a bucket than a ball gown, and more liable to fall on my face than to pull off a graceful wave.

The only thing that keeps me from running away and hiding is Nicky. He’s all I’ve ever wanted in a man: hot, hunky and head-over-heels in love with me. I think I feel the same way. I think I want to be with him forever. 

But the idea of life with the royal family terrifies me. Even if I have found my one and only, can I handle what comes after our happy ending? 

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Teaser Tuesday: The Anti-Cinderella (One Week Out)

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Preorder today!

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The Anti-Cinderella releases one week from today!

You can preorder everywhere. 

Nicky turned over my hand and as I watched, my pulse quickening, he pressed his lips into my palm. “I’m honored that I was your first.”

I swallowed over the lump rising in my throat. “You were a hard act to follow. Pity poor Steve Callway, who had to be my second. He didn’t stand a chance.”

“Steve, huh?” Nicky snorted. “Sounds like a loser.”

“No, he was nice,” I protested. “But I was fifteen and not that interested. He took me by surprise, and I hauled off and hit him. So you definitely got the better response when it came to kissing me.”

Nicky tossed back his head, laughing. “You punched a boy who kissed you? Why?”

“Like I said. I was surprised. He didn’t ask me first.” I lifted a shoulder. “The next time, he knew. He asked, and I didn’t hit. It was a much more satisfying experience for both of us.”

“Ky?” He played with my fingers, his touch on the sensitive skin between them making me shiver. “If I kiss you, will you slug me?”

I was very still, almost afraid to move. “You’d have to take your chances and find out, I guess.”

“The first time . . . I didn’t ask permission, did I? But you didn’t hit me the way you did, uh, Steve.”

“No, you didn’t.” I gave the barest shake of my head. “And I didn’t.”

“When I kiss you again, Ky . . . and I plan to do that . . . I won’t ask. I’ll take you by surprise.” A crooked smile curved his mouth. “And I bet you won’t punch me.”

“You’re willing to take that risk?” I smirked. “I’d watch out. I have a mean right hook. Just think how mortifying it would be to have to explain to the press why you have a black eye.”

His gaze never leaving my face, Nicky moved across the space that separated us until he was looming over me, one arm braced on either side.

“I’ll take my chances.” Lowering himself just slightly, he touched his lips to my forehead. “When the time is right—and it’s not going to be tonight, so you can relax—but at the right time, you won’t even think about swinging at me.” He smiled, but his eyes were filled with intense heat. “You won’t be able to think about anything but me. I promise you that.”

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Teaser Tuesday! THE ANTI-CINDERELLA is coming in 2 Weeks!

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Preorder today!

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The Anti-Cinderella releases TWO weeks from today! And the preorder is wide today–which means you can preorder everywhere. 

I think this calls for a celebratory teaser excerpt! Are you ready  . . . to get royal?

~~~***~~~

When Nicky stopped the car and switched off the lights, I added, “Do you want to come in? Shelby’s home, but I’m sure she’d be, uh, accommodating, too.”

After the briefest hesitation, he shook his head. “I want to, but I’m not going to. Not tonight. My flight leaves very early in the morning, and we have to drive back to Bangor tonight. As much as I’d like to meet your Shelby, it’ll have to wait until next time.”

“She’d probably have a heart attack if you came walking in with me.” I giggled. “She knew I was going out tonight, but I didn’t tell her about you. Not at all.”

Nicky regarded me with surprise. “You never told her you knew me? About our epic first kiss? I’m hurt, Ky. I thought girls shared all those deep, dark secrets with their best friends.”

“They do, and I did, but I never said who it was. I always referred to you as Nicky, the boy next-door in the summers. I never let it slip that your other grandmother is the head of the British Commonwealth.”

“Hmm. I think I like the idea of being Nicky, the boy next door.” He unbuckled his seat belt and turned to face me. “Come here, girl next door, and let me kiss you one more time—for now. Let me give you something to remember until the next time I can kiss you.”

We didn’t have much space to maneuver in the small front seat with the console between us, but I managed to get up on my knees and face Nicky, who tugged me forward until we were face-to-face. When he kissed me this time, it was with a new sense of urgency and a ton of restrained desire.

“If I wasn’t getting on a flight tomorrow, I’d take you inside, and I do what I’ve wanted to do all night.” He trailed his lips over my jaw and down my neck.

“What’s that?” My voice sounded drugged and sluggish.

“I’d find out what you have on beneath that teasing skirt. It’s just short enough to make me think that if you bent far enough, I might get a tempting peek of what I want to see.” He sucked gently at the hollow in my throat where my pulse thrummed erratically. “And of what I’m dying to touch.”

“Would you?” I laughed softly. “If you weren’t leaving tomorrow, I’d peel off this shirt of yours and lay beneath you, just to see the muscles in your arms when you brace yourself over me.”

“Ughhhh.” Nicky closed his eyes, banging his head into the back of the seat. “Damn the office that made my travel arrangements. I wish they’d built in a few more days. And a few more nights.”

Framing Nicky’s face in my two hands, I smiled into his gorgeous blue eyes. “Next time, right? This isn’t all the time we have. There’s going to be a next time.”

He sighed deeply, his answering grin huge. “Yes. Yes, in fact, there will be. I’m going to make that a priority as soon as I’m home and settled. But hearing you say it—knowing you believe it—that’s enough for now. That makes me very happy, Ky.”

I ducked my head, shy now all of a sudden. “Believing it isn’t easy—but I believe in you, Nicky. Don’t make me sorry about that, okay?”

He gazed down at me, all humor gone now. “I won’t. You can trust me, Kyra. I promise.”

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