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Jeannie Lin Debuts with Butterfly Swords

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

It’s debut week on Blog! Please welcome Jeannie Lin today. Jeannie is debuting with her Golden Heart winning manuscript, BUTTERFLY SWORDS! I was lucky enough to read her Harlequin Historical Undone, THE TAMING OF MEI LIN and it is fabulous. I devoured it in one sitting. I have BUTTERFLY SWORDS on deck to read next and I have no doubt that it will be relegated to my ‘keeper shelf’. Jeannie is definitely an author to watch.

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Tell us a little about Butterfly Swords.
It’s a story about a Tang Dynasty princess and a swordsman from Dark Age Europe who’s travelled across the silk roads. It takes place in the later part of the Tang Dynasty after what’s commonly thought of as the fall of the Golden Age. Ai Li is a young woman who’s been betrothed to a warlord, but she fakes her own kidnapping when she learns that the warlord is plotting against the throne. Ryam steps in to rescue her as she’s trying to make her way back to the capital, so they form a bond as they venture together through the countryside.
It’s a travel adventure with political intrigue, honor, and romance of course!

How much of the story is historically accurate?
I believe the historical setting and customs are accurate. The places are all real, from the imperial city of Changan to the western frontier of Gansu. I tried to envision the feel of the landscape in this time. However, the actual people are not historical figures. The figure of Emperor Shen is very loosely based on a warlord who seized the throne in this time of unrest and Ai Li’s character is also inspired by several notable princesses of the Tang Dynasty, however she’s not meant to be a depiction of any one person.

As to the question of westerners in China during this time, there’s some conjecture about visits from Roman envoys and European merchants such as the Radhanites throughout the Tang Dynasty. There are also legends about a Roman legion that made it all the way to the western frontier of Gansu, but centuries earlier. The East meets West elements of the story are a bit of alternative history twist, though there are records that indicate China knew of the West and thought favorably of it, calling it ‘Daqin’ which meant Great China; an empire as magnificent as its own.

Click to read 9.5 Top Pick Review

What sort of responses did you get when submitting such an unusual setting?
It’s funny, I always got a lot of interest, but also a lot of rejections citing the risky setting and premise. I think the story was high concept enough that people wanted to take a peek, but once they did, they had to decide if there was a market.

I sincerely believe that Butterfly Swords was rejected mainly because my writing wasn’t strong enough yet. The historical market is competitive for a debut author trying to break in with any setting. It just took a little more work for Butterfly Swords to be considered. The Golden Heart nomination came at a critical time and I think it gave the story a fighting chance. I was almost ready to set it aside, and query with the follow-up book, The Dragon and the Pearl.

Your book has received some buzz prior to the release date. Does any of it surprise you?
It’s all a little overwhelming, but for once it’s nice to stick out like a sore thumb, right? I really didn’t know what to expect, but I knew people would talk about the setting and perhaps the multicultural romance. I’m so grateful and relieved that the response has been so positive and supportive. The one thing that has surprised me is how people have responded to Ai Li. I didn’t realize how much she would seem to overshadow Ryam.

What’s next after Butterfly Swords?
The sequel is already at the end of the revision stage, though there’s no publication date set yet. Without too many spoilers, it’s tentatively titled, The Dragon and the Pearl and starts where Butterfly Swords left off. It features several of the secondary characters from Butterfly Swords, but is written as a complete standalone.

Other than the setting, it’s a very different book. First of all, there aren’t any of the big sword fights you’ll see in Butterfly Swords. After seeing how much people liked the fights, I’m a little worried about that. Butterfly Swords centered around martial arts and honor culture, whereas The Dragon and the Pearl focuses on the political underworld.

Jeannie Lin writes historical romantic adventures set in Tang Dynasty China. Her short story, The Taming of Mei Lin from Harlequin Historical Undone is available September 1. Her Golden Heart award-winning novel, Butterfly Swords, was released October 1 from Harlequin Historical and received 4-stars from Romantic Times Reviews—“The action never stops, the love story is strong and the historical backdrop is fascinating.”

Join the launch celebration at http://www.butterfly-swords.com for giveaways and special features. Visit Jeannie online at: http://www.jeannielin.com

One lucky commenter is going to receive a copy of BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Comment to enter to win!

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Posted in Giveaways, Harlequin | 36 Comments »

Ashley March debuts with Seducing The Duchess

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

Please welcome debut author, Ashley March to the blog. Ashley is joining us today to talk about the appeal of the reconciliation story, which just happen to be one of my favourites and is the premise of her historical SEDUCING THE DUCHESS.

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The Appeal of the Reconciliation Story

Every so often, one of the numerous romance novel blogs or sites will run a poll on readers’ favorite romance tropes.  From what I’ve seen, along with wallflowers and marriages of convenience, the reconciliation story seems to be one of the top-ranked preferences for historical romances.

Although I can’t speak for other romance readers, of course, I can tell you why I like reading about reconciliations between husbands and wives, and also why writing a reconciliation story for my debut novel, Seducing the Duchess, appealed to me.

The Characters Have a History.

Not only do the hero and heroine know each other in terms of their daily habits, likes, dislikes, and have an in-depth opinion of what makes the other tick, but they also intimately know each other’s flaws.  They’ve been through courtship, the wedding, the wedding night.  Because they’re now separated—for whatever reason—they’ve most likely seen each other at their worst.  If they were in love at the beginning of their marriage, the first state of post-coital bliss has now waned, and they have to face the realization that the spouse who once fulfilled every dream may have suddenly become more like a nightmare.  Because all pretenses have been stripped away and reality has set in, the reader knows that when the hero and heroine interact in the future, they will see each other for the person they truly are—not a knight in shining armor or a pretty princess waiting to be rescued.  We trust that if the characters reconcile, it is due to a love which is far greater than the powers of physical attraction or the excitement of the moment.  No matter their flaws and past history, we will know that these characters belong together.

Click for book details

The Characters Have Emotions.

Not just the happiness that comes from a mutual attraction, nor the jealousy of insecure love.  In reconciliation stories, the reader is assured a much more evolved array of emotions.  Yes, there is likely to be happiness toward the end, and jealousy somewhere in the middle, but there might also be anger, melancholy, desperation, loneliness, distrust, fear, disappointment, remorse, contempt, longing, and much more.  As a reader of romance, I want to know the characters can have all of these emotions and still come through together at the end.  As a writer, I want my readers to experience these emotions along with my hero and heroine, to feel my characters not only fall in love, but also see them turn to each despite these feelings.  To know that, in the end…

There is Hope for the Future.

Romance readers love our happily-ever-afters.  We want to know that, despite the many internal and external conflicts and issues a relationship brings, the hero and heroine will always stay together.  This is why we turn the last page of the last chapter and look for an epilogue.  We want to know that one year, five years, or twenty years down the road, the characters will still be happy together and in love.  Reconciliation stories are different from other romances in that they are the epilogues.  In these books, the hero and heroine have already married, yet something has happened to force them apart.  By showing the reader the struggle between the characters to make their marriage work and the reconciliation that comes despite their past troubles and mistakes, I as a writer can assure you that this couple can now make it through whatever else that comes their way.  You can know that their happily-ever-after didn’t end when the hero proposed, when they got married, or when the first baby arrived.  Every day is their happily-ever-after, and because they love one another, there will always be hope for the future.

Are you a fan of reconciliation stories?  I’d love to hear what you love most about this oft-used plot that keeps you reading it over and over again.  I want you to fall in love with Philip and Charlotte in their reconciliation story, and to see that you do, I’ll be giving away a copy of Seducing the Duchess to one lucky commenter (open to both US and international participants).

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Posted in Authors, Berkley | 54 Comments »

And the winner is…

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Congratulations Karen! Please email your snail mail address to Tiffany at Tiffany at TiffanyClare dot com to receive your book.

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Posted in Giveaways, St. Martin's Press | 5 Comments »

Tiffany Clare debuts with The Surrender of a Lady

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Debut author Tiffany Clare is joining us on the Blog today. I’ll be very brief with my introduction. There are two very good reasons you want to read THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Reason number one…it’s a fabulous book. I could end it right there and say that alone is reason enough but I’m going to add in the second…which is Tiffany is a fellow Canadian. Okay, so you may not be a Canadian yourself but haven’t Canada and the US always shared a wonderful, supportive relationship. I see you all nodding your heads in agreement. And voila, I’ve given you two good reasons. :D

But seriously, please extend a very warm welcome to Tiffany. She’s a fantastic writer and has written a heart wrenching first book.

Hi Tiffany, THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is your debut. What was it like finally seeing it in print, holding the book in your hand? Was it better than getting ‘The Call’?

It’s kind of surreal to see it out there and available for purchase. As I type this, I’m still waiting for the release, but I remember getting my advanced readers copies (ARCs) and getting all teary eyed and excited. It still didn’t feel like it was real, like my book was going to be available for public consumption just a few months from that point. I don’t know if it’s better than getting ‘The Call.’ But it’s pretty damn close :)

THE SURRENDER OF A LADY is a dark book dealing with very serious and a somewhat disturbing subject matter. First tell us a little about the premise of the book and then what inspired the story.

Ah, you must be referring to the fact that my heroine is a slave. The book opens with her being sold to pay off her husband’s gambling blunders and then she finds herself in a harem (to save her infant child) where she will be taught to please men for the rest of her life.

It’s so strange reading and seeing Jinan ’s book being called dark, I’m thinking I’m totally desensitized to what’s considered shocking and risqué! LOL. To me the book just feels like a grand scale love story. Rothburn and Jinan are truly star-crossed lovers. They cared deeply for each other when they were younger and were more or less forced apart and then they get another chance to be together, only the time is all wrong, their lives are all wrong (at least Jinan’s), but once Rothburn see’s Jinan again, there is no walking away from her.

I don’t know what inspired the story to form in my head, but once it was there, there was no not telling it.

THE SURRENDER OF A LADY Book Blurb:

THE PRICE OF PASSION…

Sold. With one word, Lady Elena Ravenscliffe’s destiny changes forever. Forced into Constantinople’s slave market to pay off her late husband’s debts and save her son, Elena reinvents herself as Jinan—a harem girl adored by the rich lords who bid on her favors. But one man instantly sees through her façade.

…IS COMPLETE SURRENDER

Griffin Summerfield, Marquess of Rothburn, let Elena slip through his fingers years ago. When he recognizes her on the auction block, he pays an outrageous sum to possess her even if it is for a short period of time. But when his deadline looms, Griffin will risk all in a desperate bid to make her his—and his alone…
.

I believe that as writers, we write what we love but we’re also aware too, of the audience our stories are targeted to. Who do you believe THE SURRENDER OF A LADY will appeal to?

I think lovers of Anna Campbell will adore this. My publisher compares me to Mary Balogh and Stephanie Laurens in style.

The majority of your book is set in Constantinople/Isle of Corfu ( Greece ). Was the research of Constantinople and the Isle of Corfu particularly arduous?

I’m always the first to admit I’m geographically challenged. I knew nothing about that part of the world. I read a lot. Looked at tons of pictures and thank God they are both tourist destinations. There was a lot of information to be found and most of the tourist sights I went on had history about the place, too.

Can you give us your ‘Call’ story?

My agent emailed me to say we had an offer on the table. It was the first offer and the first we’d heard back from editors. I was a bit shocked not to get any rejections first! There was much silent squeeing and happiness as the other editors/houses made their decisions as to whether they wanted to put an offer in for THE SURRENDER OF A LADY. Another house was interested, and bidding commenced.

I was a nervous wreck for the subsequent two weeks. I couldn’t tell anyone (because of the nature of bidding, the houses don’t know who they are bidding against, just another house) and I had to wait. I even got to talk to both editors before the bidding commenced. That was scary and exciting all at the same time. When St. Martin’s put in their final offer, we were glad to except.

Describe your perfect fictional romance hero.

I love Rothburn. Like, LOVE him. I would probably want to kill him in real life, because he’s all domineering and has to have his way, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing him. It’s funny, I’ve not been able to replicate his character traits since writing this book. There is just something special about him that will have me loving him for the rest of my days, no matter how many characters I create.

You received a wonderful quote from Lisa Kleypas for your cover quote. In short she says, “The Surrender Of A Lady is a riveting and spectacular debut by an exciting new author.” What does a quote like that mean to a debut author?

The world! It’s an authors every dream getting quotes from the authors they love most. Lisa Kleypas is my favorite historical romance author. I know I cried when I saw the quote come through from my editor. I kind of stared at the screen dumbfounded and teary, goosebumps along my arms and all. Having other authors basically endorse your work shows book buyers (and readers) that someone who is known and loved believes in your work.

February 2011 will see the release of your second book, THE SEDUCTION OF HIS WIFE. Can you tell us a little about that book?
My marriage of convenience turns into so much more when my hero decided to make a reappearance in my heroines life.

Back cover blurb:

AN INCONVENIENT SCANDAL

Emma Hallaway has not seen her husband in twelve years—and that’s fine with her. As a young girl, she’d agreed to a simple marriage of convenience, allowing her to pursue her private passion for painting. And though unknown to the rest of polite society, Emma is now one of the most daring and sought-after artists in London. However, when her secret is threatened to be exposed, Emma is forced to open her heart—and her home—to a total stranger: her husband…

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

Richard Mansfield, Earl of Asbury, is all too familiar with danger. As a matter of fact, it is hard on his heels when he returns to England. Still, even he is shocked to learn of his wife’s scandalous double life as an artist. But once he sees the vibrant grown woman she has become—so passionate, so strong, and so alluring—his undeniable attraction to Emma stuns him. Suddenly Richard is determined to turn their sham of a marriage into a true and lasting love. But how exactly does a gentleman seduce his own wife?

Where on your blog tour are you off to next?
A ton of places, a couple not even listed yet (toward the end of October), but I’ll have those dates confirmed soon.

Thursday September 30th, Interview at Novel Thoughts & Book Talk

Friday October 1st, Interview at Lovestruck Novice

Monday October 4th, Interview at Romance Writer’s Revenge

Tuesday October 5th, Interview at Vicky Dreiling’s Blog

Wednesday October 6th, Interview with Anna Campbell on Romance Bandits

Thursday October 7th, Blogging on Lila DiPasqua’s Blog

Wednesday October 13th, Interview on Seductive Musings

Thursday October 28th, Blogging on Sarah Maclean’s Blog

Links can be found on my website here:
http://www.tiffanyclare.com/news/

Tiffany has generously offered an autographed copy of THE SURRENDER OF A LADY to one lucky commenter.

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Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews, St. Martin's Press | 64 Comments »

Lila DiPasqua debuts with new Fiery Tales

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

I’ve written a historical romance anthology for Berkley.  It’s rather scandalous.  My summer debut, AWAKENED BY A KISS, is a Fiery Tales collection – steamy retellings of three classic fairy tales in the one book.  I love it when historical heroes are sinfully seductive bad boys. In AWAKENED BY A KISS, I’ve created three of them.

    HISTORICAL HEROES!

There is something about seeing an unrepentant rake fall hopelessly in love with the heroine that I find downright delightful. And in AWAKENED BY A KISS, my three heroes do fall for them – hard.

AWAKENED BY A KISS was inspired by the father of the modern day fairy tale, Charles Perrault.  He was the creator of The Tales of Mother Goose.  Taking folklore that had been passed on verbally for generations, Perrault was the first to write it down and add morals to his tales – thus creating the genre of fairy tales!

I’m ever so grateful he did!  Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty were the first romances I ever read.

So, who are these heroes, these seasoned roués who surrender their hearts in AWAKENED BY A KISS?

Well, now, in the first Fiery Tale, Sleeping Beau, the hero, gorgeous Adrien d’Aspe, is the bastard son of the King, and quite the infamous rake.  Legitimized by His Majesty, Adrien is treated like royalty.  Awakened by a sensuous kiss, his night of raw passion with a mysterious woman has haunted him for five years.  In the morning, she was gone.  When at last he spots his mysterious seductress years later, he wants to know her name.  He wants to know everything about her.  Hell, he just plain wants her.  But try as he might, Adrien can’t keep to his usual level of detachment during their amorous encounters.  Everything about Catherine de Villecourt stirs tender feelings, tossing him onto unfamiliar ground. Catherine is a kindred spirit, a painter, a sexual soulmate and his one and only heart’s desire.

The next Fiery Tale, Little Red Writing, features a very ambitious hero.  Handsome Nicolas de Savignac is confident.  He’s focused.  He’s earned the nickname le Loup, “the wolf”, for his cunning.  And he is intent on gaining a promotion in the King’s private Guard.  On a mission for the Crown, he’ll stop at nothing to uncover the identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful men in the realm, and arrest this notorious satirist.  His suspects have been narrowed down to the three sisters/writers living at his grandmother’s house.  Anne is among them.  A redheaded beauty who takes his breath away from the moment he lays eyes on her.  Though his plan was to seduce her to gain information, Anne manages to do something no other woman ever has.  She slips past his defenses and leaves him ultimately torn between love and duty.

In the final Fiery Tale, Bewitching in Boots, we have the sinfully beautiful former commander of the King’s private Guard, Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel. Though he’s been forced to relinquish his distinguished position in the Guard due to an injury he suffered in the line of duty, Tristan can still command a woman’s attention and ignite her senses—reducing her to some gawking unsophisticated ingénue – by doing nothing more than walking into a room. With his confident manner, his tall and powerful body, he exudes authority. And—gracious God—such potent sensuality. He makes Elisabeth ache. Heart and body.  She’s been in love with him for years.  But Tristan wants nothing to do with the King’s favorite daughter.  That is, until he’s forced to spend time with her.  She isn’t a coquette or the spoiled royal brat he thought her to be.  She’s passionate, loving and loyal. When he sees the real Elisabeth, he can’t help but lose his heart.


Awakened By a Kiss
Author: Lila DiPasqua
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pub. Date: August 3, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0425235560
Retail: $15.00
Pages: 368

Three classic fairytales—“Sleeping Beauty,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—cleverly retold with enough sensual twists to prove wickedly ever after does exist…

Sleeping Beau: Five years ago, the notorious rake, Adrien d’Aspe, Marquis de Beaulain, was awakened by a sensuous kiss—and experienced a night of raw ecstasy that was branded into his memory. Years later, he spots his mysterious seductress—and this time, he has no intention of letting her go…

Little Red Writing: Nicolas de Savignac, Comte de Lambelle, has been assigned by the King to uncover the secret identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful courtiers. He never expected his investigation would lead to his grandmother’s house, or to a ravishing woman who would stir his deepest hunger…

Bewitching in Boots: Elisabeth de Roussel, daughter of the King, is accustomed to getting what she wants—and she wants Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel, an ex-commander of the King’s private Guard. A recent injury has forced Tristan to leave his distinguished position, but Elisabeth is determined to make him see he’s every bit the man he once was—and more than man enough for her…

**Click the cover to read excerpt

QUESTION: Since we’re discussing heroes —Who would you like to awaken you with a kiss?  I know the list can be long, so try to keep it to no more than three.  *smiles*

My list (aside from hubby): Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper. *sighs*

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS!

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Posted in Authors, Berkley, Giveaways | 50 Comments »

Review: Wild Heart

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

I’m giving away 2 copies of Wild Heart. Just comment to enter to win!

Wild Heart
Author: Lori Brighton
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: November 3, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1420108651
Retail: $4.99
352 pages

Wanton. . .

Leo Roberts is next in line for an earldom and the power and fortune that come with it, but he is uncultured, unrefined–and completely untamed. . .until governess Ella Finch arrives upon the scene. Can so young and inexperienced a woman tutor him in the manners and mores of his class? Leo’s mysterious past has rendered him an outsider, too wild for polite society. But he finds her innocence most intriguing. . .

Willing

What manner of man he may be, Ella does not know. Yet he fascinates her and she must know more. Capturing Leo’s reckless heart is about to free her in ways she never dreamed of. . .and his sensual touch releases the deepest yearnings of her body and soul. . .

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Ella Finch is a governess hired by Lord Roberts to teach his grandson, and future Earl, Leo how to behave in polite society. Ella is surprised to learn that Leo is not a child but a full-grown man. When he was a child living in India, Leo witnessed the murder of his parents. He spent years in the wild trying to survive but now he is back in England and looking for revenge against the people who killed his parents. He’s wild and “uncivilized” according to his family, and Ella must try to tame his wild ways.

Ella is not some ordinary miss. She has had a rough life growing up. Her parents died when she was young and she went to live with her grandfather. When he died she was sent to an orphanage. Ella also has a special gift. She can feel animals’ emotions and uses her ability to calm them. She has never been able to read the emotions of humans until she meets Leo. She feels a connection to him and is determined to help him any way she can. Ella is innocent and at times naïve but also there are some times when she throws that prim and proper demeanor away and allows Leo to unleash her wild side.

Leo is my favorite kind of hero. He’s tortured and broken. He witnessed a terrible tragedy as a child and was forced to do things that disgusted him to survive. When you first meet Leo, all you see is this wild man who doesn’t speak. He has already sent countless others fleeing with his uncontrollable ways and wants nothing to do with learning proper behavior. As far as he’s concerned the only reason he is back is to find the people responsible for killing his parents. He has no plans to stay and he sees Ella as a hindrance to his mission but he can’t seem to let her go.

I fell in love with Leo almost from the beginning. Although there were times when I wanted to throw something at his head and then there were times when I just wanted to hug him. He’s been through so much and his family couldn’t seem to understand that. I liked that Ella wasn’t a quick fix for Leo. It wasn’t like he woke up one day and everything was better. He struggled with his anger and his past throughout the whole book. Leo is broken and while it appeard  he knows what fork to use and how to dance, he is not a true gentleman as Ella thinks.

I like that Ella did not give up on him when it seemed that everyone else had. No matter what, she was there for him even when he didn’t want her there. When she discovers he really doesn’t need her help on how to behave like a gentleman, she decides to help him find the people who killed his parents. Through the twist and turns, she remains loyal to him no matter what they uncover.

Wild Heart is categorized as a paranormal historical romance. Reading it I found the paranormal aspect to be light, in a good way. It wasn’t in your face and it didn’t take away from the characters or the romance. While it plays an integral part in the plot, it is woven perfectly into the story without being overpowering. You are able to focus on the relationship between Leo and Ella without being overwhelmed with the supernatural aspect. If you’re not a fan of the kind of  paranormal that is ‘ in your face’ , I recommend giving Wild Heart a try.

Wild Heart had me on the edge the whole time. There are twist and turns that kept me reading well into the night. There is romance, suspense and mystery. Also, one must comment on the sexual tension throughout the book. The anticipation gave me butterflies in my stomach. I will not give it all away, you must read the book for that, but I will say one of my favorite scenes takes place in a field of wild flowers where Leo is painting Ella.

We are introduced to some noteworthy secondary characters throughout the book including Akshay, Leo’s friend and confidant from India, and Colin, Ella’s cousin who has a special gift of is own. Colin will be getting his own book next, Wild Desire, but won’t be out until March 2011. *sigh*

Wild Heart is a brilliant debut from Lori Brighton. She has a voice all her own and I cannot wait to read her next book.

Rating: 8 (Very Good) ~ A must read for someone who likes a little mystery thrown in with their romance.

Heat-Level: 4: (Hot) ~ One must love an untamed man in the bedroom and Leo does not disappoint.

Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $4.98 | Amazon Kindle ~ $3.19

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Posted in Giveaways, Reviews | 38 Comments »

Review: Mistress By Mistake

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Mistress By Mistake
Author: Susan Gee Heino
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Pub. Date: December 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0425231517
Retail Price: $7.99
368 pages

Viscount Randolph Dashford isn’t a bad person; he’s simply pretending to be one to avoid matrimony.

Heiress Evaline Pinchley isn’t usually a sotted wanton; she’s merely celebrating her birthday.

One full moon and one empty Madeira bottle later, Evaline wakes to find herself in Dashford’s bed!

While Evaline tries to salvage what dignity she can from this colossal blunder, family secrets and would- be fiancés run rampant around her. Just when it seems she might find a way out of the mess she’s made, Evaline realizes things are worse than imagined.

She’s lost her heart to Dashford, and that could be the biggest mistake of them all.

~*~*~

How many of follies can be summed up to a night of too might drinking and to be left in the morning with a feeling of “what the hell did I do last night”. This is pretty much what happens to heiress Evaline Pinchley. Evaline, who has playboy bunny blood flowing through her veins, indulges in bunny hood for one glorious night with the help of some wine. Too bad she can’t remember who her Hugh Hefner is in the morning when she wakes up in a stranger’s bed.

Lord Randolf Dashford is in a bind. In his grief over his father’s death years ago, he gets himself engaged to a Miss Claudia Graeley. Now he will do anything to get out of the engagement. His grand plan for this—made when he is drunk—is to make himself so wholly undesirable that Miss Graeley will call off the engagement. He spends years making himself appear a first class rogue, womanizer, and a very money poor one at that. Unfortunately for him, his plan is not working too well and his fiancée still wants to marry him.

“Imagine what he could have come up with if he was sober when I was thinking of how to ditch the girl without getting shot.”

Lord Dashford’s mother calls him back home for an “emergency”, which he later learns is her “up to her ears in shame and here is a nice young lady to marry” lingo. Dashford, in an effort to avoid the new heiress his mother has caught for him, decides to take a trip to the gardens where he meets a very drunk servant—or so he believes.  The servant, being no servant of course,but Miss Pinchley. Thus the story truly begins.

I have to admit this book was quite an effort to read. The author had me hooked at the beginning, but the never ending talk of sex got old. Fast. Thoughts of sex and anything to do with sex shows up in almost every single chapter. I don’t see myself as a prude, but it was too much for my tastes.

Between Miss Graeley, Miss Pinchley’s ex-fiance, Miss Pinchley’s grandmother (who is a courtesan), a book about sex that is repeatedly found in the library,  and another young man we later learn has eyes for Miss Graeley, and you got a lot of sex. Talk of sex really drags down the main story and became so annoying, I got tired of reading the book.

I will give Ms. Heino her due and say she is quite capable of writing humorous scenes. There are many times in the book when I found myself laughing out loud. I will also give props to Ms. Heino because when she was not writing about the “s” word she can write very entertaining dialogue. There is also an entertaining side story about a lost “Dashford” treasure that I really wished she had spent more time on. Instead it felt a bit rushed. All in all, Mistress by Mistake was not really my cup of tea. Far too much spice in it and not enough sugar.  Those who like spicy tea will enjoy this book immensely though. Those who like sweeter and more subdued teas, will probably not.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory) For those who like their teas spicy.

Heat Level: 4 (Hot)

Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $6.73 | Amazon Kindle $6.39

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Posted in Reviews | 10 Comments »

Sara Lindsey ~ Promise Me Tonight

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

February saw several  debut authors, one of whom is the fabulous Sara Lindsey.  Her historical Promise Me Tonight features one of my favourite plotlines– heroine in love with her brother’s bestfriend. So to celebrate Sara’s release, I’m giving away a copy of Promise Me Tonight.

~*~*~

Promise Me Tonight
Author: Sara Lindsey
Publisher: NAL/Signet
Pub. Date: February
ISBN-13: 978-0451229373
320 pages

Isabella is determined to marry James…

Isabella Weston has loved James Sheffield for as long as she can remember. Her come-out ball seems the perfect chance to make him see her in a new light.

James is determined never to marry…

James is stunned to find the impish girl he once knew has blossomed into a sensual goddess. And if he remembers his lessons, goddesses always spell trouble for mortal men.

A compromise is clearly necessary.

When Izzie kisses James, her artless ardor turns to a masterful seduction that drives him mad with desire. But, no stranger to heartbreak, James is determined never to love, and thus never to lose. Can Isabella convince him that a life without love might be the biggest loss of all?

~*~*~

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