The winner of Cathy Maxwell’s THE MARRIAGE RING is…
JM LANGE
Congrats JM! Please email me your contact information at historicals at historicalromancereleases dot com.
AND
The winner of Miranda Neville’s THE WILD MARQUIS is…
KAREN H.
Congrats, Karen! Please email your mailing address to Miranda at miranda at mirandaneville dot com to receive your book.
As promised, today I’m giving away 3 copies of Jennifer Ashley’s, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, The Season’s 2009 Best Historical recipient. I have to say that I bought this book because of all the great buzz it was getting when it was released. I was a tad squeamish because the hero had been in asylum due to his ‘rages’. Premises like that usually don’t appeal to me, but I was in the mood to try something different, and I’m so happy I did. I completely understand why this book won. It’s the first book in Jennifer’s Mackenzie series and I’m anticipating the second book, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage with bated breath. No, seriously, I’m not kidding. You will too once you read this book. So, if you don’t win a copy today, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is definitely worth a visit to an online book store.
Speaking of the Best of 2009, which book(s) made your list?
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The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Leisure Books
Pub. Date: April 28, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0843960433
320 pagesThe youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He’s also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.
Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama–an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.
And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.
If you’re a writer, you’ve experienced it at one time or another. If it was a disease, we’d all be wiped out by it. Thank goodness it only makes us human. Today please welcome Miranda Neville to the blog as she discusses the writers she most envies and celebrates the release of her sophomore book, THE WILD MARQUIS (You know you wouldn’t have your marquises any other way 
).
Writer Envy: Who Do I Wish I Was?
I just read (I know, years late) The Smoke Thief by Shana Abé. One reason I knew it was a good book was that I kept thinking “This is so good. I should write a book like this.”
Of course I can’t. Abé’s prose is lyrical and lush and her subject matter is paranormal. My own writing style is more earthbound and ironic. But that doesn’t save me from committing the sin of writer envy. Certain writers regularly inspire me with jealous torments.
I love the way Liz Carlyle sets a scene, especially a sordid scene. The opening of Tempted All Night, for example. Without going into a lot of description, she makes you see the shady pub – and incidentally tells you a whole lot about her hero.
“It’s generally said that a man can be known by the company he keeps, and Tristan Talbot was likely the only fellow in London who went dicing with his manservant. That his servant disdained the Three Shovels as beneath his dignity served only to further illuminate the level to which Tristan sometimes sank. And illumination was direly needed at the Shovels, for the place was dark as a den of thieves.
Actually, it was a den of thieves. And rogues and sharps and bawds—even the occasional gentleman out for a low-class lark. From somewhere deep inside the low-ceilinged alehouse, raucous laughter rang out….”
I’m always telling people Janet Mullany is the funniest historical writer around, though why I bother to qualify the statement I don’t know. Can’t think of any funnier in any genre. Only Janet—in the Rules Of Gentility– would set her marriage proposal in the bathroom.
“What are you doing in there?”
“It’s a water closet. What sort of question is that?”
“Well hurry up. I want to propose to you.’ He thumps on the door again and mutters something about women taking so long in there. It must be all the petticoats.
My papa comments that he’s always thought it so too.
The Wild Marquis
Author: Miranda Neville
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: March 9, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061808708
384 pagesHe is notorious for his wretched morals and never received in respectable houses. The ladies of the ton would never allow him in their drawing rooms . . . though some of them have welcomed him into their bedchambers. Rejected from his father’s house at the age of sixteen, he now lives a life of wanton pleasure. So what could the Marquis of Chase possibly want with Juliana Merton, a lovely, perfectly upstanding shopkeeper with a mysterious past?
A moment’s indiscretion?
A night’s passion?
Or a lifetime of love?
Even the wildest rakes have their weaknesses . . .
I envy Eloisa James’ ability to effortlessly convey romantic deliciousness, as in this random page from Desperate Duchesses, perhaps my favorite Eloisa.
“Damon was well aware he was consumed by lust. It was a dangerous state. He’d never before experienced it as a sort of waking fever dream, as the past few days when he walked the halls of Beaumont House merely so that he could catch a whiff of Roberta’s perfume, or see the flutter of her dress retreat around a corner.”
Anna Campbell’s dark sensuality leaves me gaping. How does she do that?
“He told himself her body was all he wanted.
The declaration sounded laughably hollow. The feverish encounter had bitten more deeply than the fleeting demands of flesh alone ever could, however much he wished it otherwise.
She took a shuddering breath as he settled at her side. He fought the urge to stroke the damp black hair back from her brow. She wouldn’t welcome his tenderness, he knew with piercing regret. (Claiming the Courtesan)
Among the many things I envy in Susan Elizabeth Phillips is her ability to construct a big multi-character ensemble scene. The most fun may the one where a horde of giant professional sportsmen invade the heroine’s house (“Get your big-ass shoes off my sofa cushions.”) My favorite is the dinner party in Ain’t She Sweet when Sugar Beth turns an event designed to humiliate her into a triumph. We see her emerge with grace and dignity and Colin’s emotions turn from revenge to shame to love. There’s nothing I find more satisfying than seeing the tables turned.
And then there’s Loretta Chase. I’d kill to write like Chase. All I can do after devouring one of her books is to pray that some of her genius rubs off on me.
Among your favorite authors, can you pinpoint exactly what aspects of their work you like the most? One answer will win a signed copy of The Wild Marquis.
The Marriage Ring
Author: Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061771927
Retail Price: $7.99
368 pagesThe woman who will one day wear Richard Lynsted’s ring will be genteel, dainty, and well-bred.
This eliminates Grace MacEachin on all three counts. A hellion of the first order, the alluring, infuriating woman would be nothing more than a passing temptation to an upstanding gentleman like Richard—if it weren’t for the fact that she’s trying to blackmail his father!
Or, as Grace sees it, trying to get justice—and maybe just the slightest hint of revenge on the family that tore her life asunder when she was just a girl. And as for Lynsted, well, the stuffy, humorless man wouldn’t suffer for time spent in company more exciting than that of his company ledgers. Only when Richard gets Grace alone, she discovers he may know a thing or two about excitement after all . . .
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The Marriage Ring is a touching story about love and trust between two people very much alone in the world. This book takes an overworked, stoic man and pits him against an independent, experienced woman— and let me tell you… the sparks are going to fly!
The Marriage Ring is an interesting tale of discovery, matching two very unlikely characters in a battle of stubborn wills. But this battle turns to a love that neither expects and a story that leaves the reader with a pleasant smile on their face. It is an odd romantic story, no less sweet, but a strange progression to love and perhaps a little rushed. You do feel the characters getting to know each other better – something I liked about this book. I often read books where you don’t get a sense of growth between the leading characters and their love then seems too forced. Cathy does not let us down with her loving tale.
Richard, our hero, is a rare breed; a celibate man with a hidden sensual side, a mix of naivety and daring. He is intelligent and hardworking but possesses an air of innocence about him that I have never seen before in a romance novel. I had a hard time warming up to him… just my personal taste as I like the strong, dominant male types in my stories.
He is a good match for our bold, independent heroine Grace. She is full of fire and spunk and takes nonsense from no one. But a troubled past and a lot of heartache has left her unable to trust, just the ticket when she is traveling in a carriage with a straight-laced man who keeps telling himself he wants nothing to do with her… but we all know what he is really thinking…
The love scenes in this book are tame but loving, great for those who don’t like the graphic descriptions found in some other books.
Overall, this story was a mild tale that missed the mark on my excitement scale. If a book is “light on the love” it needs to be strong in plot to hold a reader’s interest. That being said, I would still recommend Cathy Maxwell as an author. I have read at least half of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Rating: 7 (Good)
Heat Level: 2 (Mild)
Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $6.49 | Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ $5.59
Comment to enter to win your own copy of The Marriage Ring.
Congratulations, ladies! Please email your contact information to me at historicals at historicalromancereleases dot com.
Stay tuned, next week I’ll be giving away 3 copies of Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.
The Hellion and the Highlander
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: February 23, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061344794
Retail Price: $7.99
416 pagesOnly one man could set her heart ablaze . . .
Lady Averill Mortagne learned to control her fierce temper as a young girl. But if her father insists on parading her before one more English lord who looks askance at her flame-colored hair, she’ll simply scream! Her only respite is the time she spends with Kade Stewart, the wounded Scot her brother brought home from the Crusades. Who could have imagined a Highland warrior would be the only gentleman around?
Lady Averill helped save his life, and for that Kade is truly grateful. She is also almost unbearably beautiful, but he could never subject such a sweet and gentle lady to the rough life of a Stewart laird’s bride . . . or could he? When she braves an unexpected danger by his side, Averill will prove to Kade that her heart is as fiery as her hair . . . and that submitting to their scorching passion would be heaven indeed.
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The Hellion and the Highlander is a fast-paced highland escapade with some great twists and turns to keep you flipping through the pages.
Book #1
I am not regular with Lynsay Sands, having only read a selected few of her historical novels and none of her more well known paranormal contemporary books like her Argeneau Vampire Series. I have read the other two books in The Devil of the Highland series – Devil of the Highlands and Taming the Highland Bride – and enjoyed them both. However, this book lacked that little something extra that would make me want to keep it on my book self. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the read, it just wasn’t one of my favorites.
The plot moved quickly, getting right into the story, which is an element I liked about this book. Too often you look up, its page 212, and you are just getting into the main theme or plot of the book. The love story is nice, a lukewarm kinda nice, but not the fan-myself heat you get with other books and that is not a bad thing. I think it was well suited to the storyline and the characters.
Book #2
Our hero Kade is a sensitive, caring man yet still the strong Scottish warrior we expect. It is not often that we find a leading man who works hard to raise the self-esteem of his lady. Averill, our heroine, is a pleasant mix of the shy and unsure paired with a backbone of steel and some hidden depth. That being said however, I did not feel the character development made you want to become part of the story. You did not really feel any empathy for the characters or their plight.
The intimate scenes in this book are very few but still a little steamy.
Overall, this was not a book I would read again but would recommend to anyone who enjoys a historical set in Scotland.
Rating: 6 (Satisfactory)
Heat Level: 3 (Sensual)
Buy Links: Book Depository~$6.49 | Amazon (Kindle ebook) ~ $5.59
Comment to enter to win your own copy of The Hellion and the Highlander.
As promised, to celebrate the first book to win The Season’s 2009 Best Historical Debut, I’m giving away 3 copies of the winning book, GODDESS OF THE HUNT.
I read GOTH and loved it! It features one of my favourite tropes: heroine in love with brother’s bestfriend but with a twist–wrong best friend. If you haven’t had an opportunity to read Jeremy and Lucy’s story, comment to enter to win a copy of Tessa Dare’s debut novel today.
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Goddess of the Hunt
Author: Tessa Dare
Publisher: Ballantine
Pub. Date: July 28, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0345506863
Retail Price: $6.99
Pages: 384Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion—one that could send all her plans up in smoke.
Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past, full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart, and claim her for his own?
Question:
Who is the Armstrongs’ housekeeper (answer on page 304)?
Answer:
Mrs. Delacroix
The winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate for answering the above question from SINFUL SURRENDER is…
Sue Ahn
Congrats, Sue Ahn! I will be contacting you my email.
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Readers’ Top Pick for February is
Congratulations Lavinia!
AND
Congratulations, ladies! Please contact me at historicals at historicalromancereleases dot com with your contact information to collect your book.
The first time I ever saw the name Claudia Dain was when I happened upon the cover of How to Dazzle a Duke. The seductive look on the heroine’s face intrigued me. Then I noted that it was a trade. I don’t generally buy trades so I pushed my curiosity aside and moved on.
Several weeks ago I discovered that How to Dazzle a Duke was part of the Courtesan Chronicles series. Have I ever told you how much I love series? Generally, I’m not a huge fan of the heroine being a courtesan and initially, I balked at even looking further into the series because of that. Then I decided to give it a little peek, and lo and behold, the heroines were not in fact courtesans. And yet even better news, the books also came in mass market paper back. That, of course, was music to my ears. So this weekend, I ordered the first book in the series, The Courtesan’s Daughter.
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Book #1
The Courtesan’s Daughter
Author: Claudia Dain
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: October 7, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0425224229
320 pagesYoung Lady Caroline’s prospects for a suitable match are severely limited by her mother’s infamous past. Before Lady Sophia Dalby entered London society, she was a highly desired courtesan. What man of title, position, and wealth would marry a courtesan’s daughter?
Sophia’s solution is to purchase a husband for Caroline-the Earl of Ashdon-agreeing to settle his gambling debts if he will take her daughter’s hand. Insulted, Caroline refuses to have a husband who was bought for her.
But after meeting the fiery Lord Ashdon, she wonders if it wouldn’t be satisfying to have him pay for her, perhaps with a priceless pearl necklace? With Sophia pulling the strings, Lord Ashdon may get more than he bargained for and Caroline may get just what she wants.
~~~
After The Courtesan’s Daughter found her happily ever after, Claudia gave us The Courtesan’s Secret and The Courtesan’s Wager.
Book #2
Lady Louisa fell in love with Lord Dutton exactly three years ago and never fell out. It was past time for him to fall in love with her. Long past time. What was wrong with Dutton? Couldn’t he see that she was the very ideal sort of wife for him? The picture of ginger haired beauty and sparkling wit? And her bosom was quite nice, too.After watching the speed with which Caroline, Sophia’s daughter, managed to snag a husband, Louisa has come to the logical conclusion that if she could only have Sophia help her then Louisa and Dutton would find themselves quickly married. With Dutton as her goal, Louisa swallows her pride and asks Sophia for help in acquiring the man of her dreams.
Sophia is more than happy to help a woman get the man of her dreams, but is Dutton that man? Lord Henry Blakesley seems a much better match for the fiery Louisa. And Sophia, an ex-courtesan, has no qualms at all in arranging things so that Louisa sees Blakesley in a new light. But it’s a secret…no one can know that Louisa sought help in snaring a man from a former courtesan.
But in London, secrets are as rare as hen’s teeth.
~~~
Book #3
Lady Amelia is the daughter of a duke and, unlike her cousin Louisa, is not at all distracted by a rakish wit or a pair of seductive blue eyes. She is going to be a duchess, which means that she must marry a duke. In the three years that she’s been out in Society, she has, to her complete dismay, not found a single duke who appears even slightly interested in her. Being a sharp girl of a very determined nature, Amelia cannot ignore that both Caroline and Louisa made very quick and very happy marriages. It was beyond obvious that Sophia Dalby had a firm hand in each match. Swallowing her considerable anxiety about approaching a former courtesan, Amelia asks Sophia for help in snagging a duke.Sophia is delighted to help. But, as is becoming obvious to even the most casual observer, Amelia gets more than she anticipated from her alliance with Sophia. Will Amelia marry a duke, after all?
~~~
And finally, we come full circle to the most recent installment in the Courtesan Chronicles, How to Dazzle a Duke, whose mass market paperback edition will be released in June 1, 2010.
Book #4
Miss Penelope Prestwick wants a duke for a husband and clearly the dashing Duke of Edenham is the best choice. Just as Lady Dalby is clearly the best person to arrange the match. But how exactly should Penelope go about dazzling a duke? Surely a show of cleavage never hurt anyone. Perhaps a kiss or two, just to make a lasting impression. And a bit of competition usually helps move things along.
To that end, Penelope approaches the Marquis of Iveston with a request. Would he kindly appear interested in her so that the Duke of Edenham will take note of it? Alternately amused and annoyed, Lord Iveston agrees; he even places a wager on White’s betting book to draw attention to the fact that he is pursuing Penelope.
Soon, it’s wagers and counter wagers as all of Society tries to determine who will actually marry Penelope. Edenham she’s been hotly pursuing or Iveston she’s been hotly kissing? Who will claim the lady’s heart…all in all it’s the most entertaining—and most contested–dance to the altar Sophia has yet choreographed.
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I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to immerse myself in this series and ‘discover’ Claudia Dain. If you’d like to read excerpts from the respective books, I’ve linked the covers to the excerpt page on Claudia’s website. Okay, so who else is ready to join me? Comment and you’ll be entered to win the first book in the series, The Courtesan’s Daughter.
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Katiebabs
The Romance Dish
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