This recommendation comes from Sophie Jordan, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author (and one of my faves). She told me how much she adored THE MAKING OF A DUCHESS. So that is how the name of Shana Galen came to my attention. And because of Sophie’s recommendation, she is this month’s Author Under the Radar.

In doing this post I learned several things about Shana:

1. She was first published in 2005 with HarperCollins. That book was WHEN DASHING MET DANGER.

2. Shana also wrote contemporaries for HarperCollins under the name of Shane Bolks, the first of which was THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY MEN I’VE DATED (Hehehehe. Come on, you gotta chuckle over that title).

3. Her historical, BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE was nominated for a RITA in 2008.

Currently, Shana is writing a new historical romance series for Sourcebooks, the first of which is the aforementioned THE MAKING OF A DUCHESS. I also see her tweeting on Twitter but I’m told that’s part of her job…you know, networking. In all seriousness, not only did I pick Shana because of Sophie’s recommendation, I did so because her new series sounds great as well as her back list, and because she’s a real sweetheart. All of which go a long way to courting me as a reader.

The Making of a Duchess
Author: Shana Galen
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: June 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1402238659
Retail: $6.99
Pages: 384

Twelve years after fleeing their burning chateau, Julien Harcourt, Duc de Valère, searches for his lost twin brothers. His frequent travels between England and France at a time when the exiled Napoleon is reported to be marshalling his troops raises the suspicions of English authorities who set secret operative Sarah Smith on his trail. A risky game of cat and mouse leads the two from the ballrooms of London to the prisons of Paris and into a fragile love that neither dares to hope for.

The first in a trilogy of three brothers struggling to reconnect and restore their noble heritage in the aftermath of the French Revolution, each losing his heart along the way.

In October, the second offering in Shana’s Sons of the Revolution series, THE MAKING OF A GENTLEMAN, will be out in the book stores. And I, being as impatient as one can be, have already scored the eARC for this one while waiting impatiently for USPS to deliver THE MAKING OF A DUCHESS to my mailbox. As I know it’s a series, I must read them in order.

The Making of a Gentleman
Author: Shana Galen
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: October 5, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1402238666
Retail: $7.99
Pages: 384

Twelve years in a French prison have left the once dashing Armand Harcourt, Comte de Valere a hollow shell of his former self. Though safely back on English soil, Armand remains locked in a prison of his mind, unable to interact with the glittering social world that was his rightful place.

When his family hires the beautiful and determined Felicity Bennett to teach Armand, he is shaken by the onslaught of desire Felicity awakens in him. As Felicity slowly helps reclaim Armand, their passion begins to blossom into a transcendent love capable of healing the scars of both their pasts.

Shana has generously offered an autographed copy of THE MAKING OF A DUCHESS to a commenter. If you have questions for Shana, ask away as she’ll be stopping by. And don’t forget, comment and you will double your entries to win 5 books from Wednesday’s selection of The Season One Year Anniversary Giveaway.

The winner of The Season’s Best Historical of 2009 is Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Stay tuned for a wonderful book giveaway for all those who haven’t had a chance to read this fabulous book!

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Congrats ladies! Sourcebooks will be sending you a copy of your book.

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In other news, the Valentine’s Day Basket Giveaway is in full swing. Books, chocolate, You’ve Got Mail DVD, and 2 (two) tickets to see the romantic comedy Valentine’s Day–this can all be yours for Valentine’s Day. Entry details here.

Polls are up! Yes, we’re voting again over on The Season. Make sure you cast yours for the Best Historical Debut of 2009 and Readers’ Top Pick for January releases.

Finally, I know I’ve been remiss in my duties. I promised you Authors Under the Radar last week and didn’t post. Look out for that post tomorrow.

Her return has been long awaited and her book much anticipated. Yes, I’m referring to the super-talented, New York Times bestselling author Laura Kinsale. And she’s giving us Lessons in French. Parlez-vous français, anyone?

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Question
Laura, tell us about Lessons In French.

Answer
Do you love those stories where the shy, plain girl gets the hot dashing guy in the end?  Lady Callie ought to be quite a catch–she’s the wealthy daughter of an earl–but she’s been left standing at the altar by three different men.  She’s washed her hands of gentlemen, and her greatest desire is to win the silver cup at the agricultural fair with her prize bull, Hubert.

That’s until Trev d’Augustin waltzes back into her quiet life.  The son of French émigrés, he was run out of town by Callie’s father years ago for stealing a bit more than a kiss from her.  Callie and Trev share quite a past, in fact, full of secret adventures and harebrained antics that no one else knows about, not even Trev’s very shrewd mother.  On his return, Callie is drawn willy-nilly into scandal and deception–the sort of deception that involves trying to hide a huge bull under the bedsheets.  She goes from having no suitors to having more than she wanted.  And in the midst of these escapades, she finds herself falling in love again with the worst possible man for her.

Question
If you could compare Lessons In French to your other books, how would you say it’s different?

Answer
I’ve always had touches of humor in my books, but I’m better known for writing dark, intense book.  I wanted to write an entire book in a light vein.  Readers can expect that this book will be just as emotionally wrenching as any I’ve written–but in a jollier sort of way!

I think this is the perfect time to publish a feel-good story.  All I want for readers with Lessons in French is to sit back, read it and smile.

Question
After your time off from publication how is the entrance back in?

Answer
I’m been enjoying re-connecting with my readers.  I’ve often chatted with readers on the internet, so the social sites like Twitter are familiar ground to me.  Also, I’ve opened a completely re-designed website www.laurakinsale.com where readers can talk about my books and ask me questions.

Question
Which do you think is more important in romance writing, voice or story?

Answer
For me as a reader, both of them are important.  If it was just a plot, then a synopsis would suffice.  But even the most evocative writing doesn’t go anywhere without a good story.  I find that the two things, the words and the story, build and play off of one another.

Question
Who is your favourite author?

Answer
I have a number of favorites, so many that I have a special page www.laurakinsale.com/love on my website to list them.

Question
Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Answer
Definitely a pantser.

Question
Your covers from Sourcebooks are stunning. Did you have any say so in them?

Answer
I asked Sourcebooks to create elegant and colorful covers.  I think they came up with some of the prettiest colors I’ve seen.

Question
What is next for you, and when will readers expect to see it out on book shelves?

Answer
I’m working on several different ideas, but I don’t want to jinx anything by describing them too soon!

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Lessons In French
Author: Laura Kinsale
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1402237010
480 pages

Laura Kinsale’s unique and powerfully written love stories transcend the romance genre. In this, her first new book in five years, she delivers a poignant, funny, sexy, Regency romance sure to delight her many fans and attract a whole new readership.

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can’t give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.

For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he’s determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them.

About the Author

Laura Kinsale, a former geologist, is the New York Times bestselling author of Flowers from the Storm, The Prince of Midnight, and Seize the Fire. She and her husband divide their time between Santa Fe and Dallas. For more information, please visit www.laurakinsale.com

I want to thank Laura so much for taking the time to talk with us today and Sourcebooks for generously offering 8 copies of Lessons in French today. Details to enter to win are here. Winners will be posted January 31, 2010.

Lately, I’ve been blogging about some of my favourite plotlines. Well, Robin Kaye’s BREAKFAST IN BED definitely falls in my top five. Actually, it combines two of my favourites; friends to lovers, and a heroine who has secretly always had a ‘thing‘ for the hero. Of course now I can’t read BREAKFAST IN BED until I read ROMEO, ROMEO, and TOO HOT TO HANDLE, as BREAKFAST IN BED is the third in Robin Kaye’s Domestic Gods series.

It’s the kind of book I’d like to share with the visitors of my Blog and that’s why Sourcebooks is giving away 10 (ten) copies of BREAKFAST IN BED. To enter to win, email your name and address to theseason@historicalromancereleases.com or click the image below to go to the entry page on The Season website. Winners will be announced Friday, January 15^th.

**Open to US residents

So tell me, do you like, want, or have a man who knows his way around the kitchen and does housework? If you comment AND enter to win BREAKFAST IN BED, you will also eligible to win 1 of 2 copies of my debut historical, SINFUL SURRENDER.