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Countdown to Countess!

By MaggieRobinson · Comments (2)
Friday, February 15th, 2013
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captaindurantscountess-200x300Captain Durant’s Countess comes out next week on February 21st! CDC is an e-book, priced affordably, and is the second book in the London List series.

I’m thrilled to introduce Reyn Durant to the world. He’s an unusual hero who’s had grave difficulty in school but success on the battlefield. His heroine Lady Maris Kelby is a bluestocking who needs a lesson in love, and Reyn Durant has been hired to provide just that.

Here’s an excerpt of that first lesson:

Captain Durant was here too, and he was naked. No dressing gown for him. His hair was a bit rumpled and he smelled of tooth powder and sandalwood. Had she brushed her own teeth? She couldn’t remember. He lifted the blanket from her, tugging a bit before she released her grip on it.

“Maris.”

She couldn’t think of a thing to say. Then she remembered she wasn’t going to say anything.

His kiss made speech a moot point. Again, he was gentle. Tender. His moves were not abrupt or startling. He touched her with the barest contact and kept his body away from hers.

He was close enough to touch, though she wouldn’t. Maris felt the heat of him, was aware of every lazy lick of his fingers and tongue. He seemed to be spelling something on her lawn-covered shoulder, but she couldn’t make out the letters. She concentrated on the faint whorls as if they were a sort of code.

Maris expected the stroking and kissing to stop soon enough. The captain was in no apparent hurry for the main event, however. The inventory. The reckoning of her body. Maris hoped he permitted her to keep her night rail on. She was not ready to be inspected, dim firelight or not.

The kissing really was very nice. Nearly relaxing. Maris tried to give in to it, to accept its claim on her. She was thinking too hard to do so.

What was he thinking about?

Could a man rise to any occasion? Maris had been taught their appetites were insatiable. Duchess or dairy maid, it made no difference—their male equipment knew no impediment, no class distinction. All cats were gray in the dark. She had discovered Captain Durant in the midst of perversion in a heightened state of excitement. Would this gray darkness be enough to rouse him?

Good heavens. Why was she worrying about him? He was being well-compensated for this night and all the other days that would follow.

His fingers stopped their spiraling. Belatedly Maris realized his mouth was still on hers, but his tongue had stopped dancing as well. He drew back.

“I can practically hear the gears grinding in your head. This won’t work if you cannot accept it. Focus on just the physical. The pleasure. Stop thinking.”

“I cannot stop thinking, Captain.” She sounded querulous even to herself.

“Reyn.”

“Whatever.”

“Remember, this was your idea. I was willing to wait for tomorrow.”

He was right, damn him. Maris was not giving this her best effort. But she had no best effort, no real experience of how it was meant to be between a man and a woman. While Henry had given her a measure of satisfaction, she’d been hopeless at doing the same for him.

And David didn’t bear thinking about.

“I’m sorry, Captain. Reyn. I don’t know what to do.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “You don’t have to know. You only have to do.”

“I’m sorry if I cannot distinguish the two.”

“Am I not sweeping you off your feet just a little?”

Maris realized she still had her worn needlepoint slippers on. “Obviously, I’m off my feet.”

“And in my bed, yes. Some progress has been made, I grant you. But you’re coiled as tightly as a clockwork spring. You are not kissing me back.”

“I certainly was!”  What had her tongue been doing then if not touching his? Tasting wine and tooth powder and his Durant-ness? Kissing was an intimacy she’d had very little practice with.

It almost seemed more important than the other thing they would do once he stopped arguing with her.

“I know when you really kiss me. When you lose yourself. When you toss all those rules you’ve lived by away. When you let that beautiful body of yours have its way for once.”

Pretty words. He couldn’t mean them. Maris sat up.

“Perhaps you’re right about the wine. Go fetch some. Please,” she added. She had sounded exactly like a Countess of Kelby ordering a minion about. Maris didn’t do that, and no one in their right mind would think Reynold Durant was suited to be a minion, even if he was in her husband’s employ.

Deep down she knew the wine wouldn’t help, but it would get rid of him for a few seconds. His insistent nearness confounded her. He wanted something she couldn’t give.

He padded across the room and opened the door to the sitting room. When he returned with the glass of wine—no bottle, wasn’t he optimistic?—his rangy body was limned with light, his erection unmistakable. The captain pushed the door closed with his bare arse and the bedroom returned to dusk.

“Here you are.”

Maris took the goblet from him, her hands brushing his. “Th-thank you.” She took a tentative sip. It was very good, but then everything at Kelby Hall was of the finest quality.

Even Captain Durant.

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Categories : General, Maggie Robinson

My First Contemporary – Why Italy? Why a Conte?

By Bronwen Evans · Comments (6)
Sunday, January 27th, 2013

It’s a brilliantly warm summer’s day here in New Zealand. I’m on holiday but I’m doing some writing this morning, then I shall hit the pool for a few lengths, and finish the day with a stroll through the grape vines at sunset. Sounds beautiful doesn’t it?

It’s the type of day I imagine my hero and heroine from my latest release, THE RELUCTANT WIFE, experience all the time. Why? Because my story is set in Italy, in a Tuscan villa, and the hero is a Conte.  Conte Dante Lombardi who is the sexiest thirty three year old head of a Corporate Empire, on two legs. Unfortunately he’s also married. To Abby Taylor.

Their marriage started off pretty rocky, but they both learned what’s truly important in life- the time we spend with our loved ones…

Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother’s heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.

Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him.

As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.

…an intense, passionate rollercoaster of a love story—just perfect!
- USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson

This is my first contemporary. As you all know, I usually write historical romances (and I still do), but I wanted to write something that was personal to me and I couldn’t set it in the Regency era (read the book to see why). For a long time I tried to ignore Dante and Abby as they stormed about in my head, but eventually I realised I wanted to tell their story. As it happens, it was very cathartic.  I went on a journey along with my characters.

It’s a story about love – surprise! Not really that much of a surprise as it’s a romance. But it’s a story about what we will sacrifice, what we will hide from, and what we are scared to face when it comes to love, especially if what we know can hurt the people we love.

I set my story in Italy when I saw a picture of the Italian football (soccer) team. Dante came roaring into my head and proclaimed himself an Italian Conte – what was I to do? He was so handsome, a lot arrogant, but with such a big heart I couldn’t bring myself to make him leave. Then when he told me about his troubles, I just wanted to hug him.

Dante was thrown into responsibility at the age of twenty. His father died young and suddenly he had a huge corporate empire to manage, a large extended family to take care of, and a mother who was distraught with grief at a relatively young age-39. He saw what the death of his father did to his family and when his latest test results indicate an abnormality, he fears he might die young like his father and grandfather before him. What would that mean to his family? If he dies without an heir, the family loses the title and the estate that goes with it.

What would you do if faced with this situation? You’d want to protect your family and the people you love.  He is so used to shouldering everyone’s troubles he forgets that those who love him would do the same. Instead, he decides to ensure his estranged wife comes back to him and provides him an heir. But he thinks it would be selfish to make her fall in love with him again. He saw what his father’s death did to his mother. Abby is still in her twenties. He wants her to be able to move on with her life and marry again.  He’ll sacrifice his own happiness to ensure her future happiness.

So silly, but then that’s men for you. They put their family’s needs first and want to fix everything themselves! Here’s an excerpt which highlights Dante’s way of dealing with his private life…

When the knock on the door came, she was prepared. She stayed on the balcony and hardened her heart. There was no way she’d waste one tiny piece of her heart on a man who categorically stated he didn’t “do love.”

“Come in, Dante.”

She heard his footsteps across the bedroom tiles. Then large, warm hands massaged her shoulders. “You didn’t run far this time, cara.”

“I wasn’t running.”

She felt a sense of loss when Dante removed his hands. He took off his sunglasses and put them in his jacket pocket. “Interesting choice of hotel.” He looked over at the bed. “Abby,” he said with corrosive lightness, “I remember many pleasant hours spent in a bed similar to this.”

“Obviously not pleasant enough or you would have come looking for me.”

“Frankly, I was too bloody angry. If after everything I’d given you… You didn’t even leave me a good-bye note.”

Guilt crushed her tension-filled shoulders. “I didn’t think you’d care. Actions speak louder than words. You didn’t even care enough to call my grandmother to find out if I was all right.”

“I did call, Abby. I called every day for weeks.”

“Nana didn’t pass on any messages.”

“At first your grandmother told me you didn’t wish to speak with me. Then she told me you’d gone traveling and she didn’t know how to contact you.”

A shiver chilled her spine, and she closed her eyes momentarily. If only she’d known…

“There was a time I thought that if I gave you your space, you might come back on your own. That living with me, sharing my life and my bed, wasn’t so terrible.” His clear blue eyes met hers. “But obviously I was mistaken. You only returned when you needed something from me. ”

I hope you pick up THE RELUCTANT WIFE and follow Abby and Dante’s struggle to work out their marriage.  The HEA is worth the journey.

Giveaway: Leave a comment telling me where in Italy you’d love to visit and why, and I’ll draw one lucky winner who’ll receive a copy of my May 2012 Regency historical, Invitation to Scandal, in book or eBook format.

Amazon http://amzn.to/VdnXzK

B&N http://bit.ly/UCy4Rp

About Bron:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence released Dec 2012, The Reluctant Wife.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

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London List News!

By MaggieRobinson · Comments (13)
Friday, January 18th, 2013
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The London List series features three delicious heroes whose lives are changed forever by the London List, a Regency newspaper. I just got the cover for the third book, Lady Anne’s Lover, and once again the Kensington art department has outdone itself! I’m posting all three below. Which is your favorite? Leave a comment and one winner will have their choice of any book in the Courtesan Court series (4 books, 2 novellas in anthologies)!

Lord Gray’s List is now only $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. What a deal! It’s boosted LGL into the top 100 Regency romances. Lord Gray is pretty happy. :)

Not to be outdone, Captain Durant is waiting for his turn on February 21. Captain Durant’s Countess is now available for review on NetGalley. It’s a full-length e-book exclusive with an unusual hero and his very risky mission.

And last, Lady Anne’s Lover, comes out in August. Here’s the back cover copy:

Lady Imaculata Anne Egremont has appeared in the scandalous pages of the London List often enough. The reading public is so bored with her nonsense, she couldn’t make news now unless she took a vow of chastity. But behind her naughty hijinks is a terrible fear. It’s time the List helped her. With a quick scan through its job postings and a few whacks at her ridiculous name, she’s off to keep house for a bachelor veteran as plain Anne Mont.
 
Major Gareth Ripton-Jones is dangerously young and handsome on the face of it, but after losing his love and his arm in short order, he is also too deep in his cups to notice that his suspiciously young housekeeper is suspiciously terrible at keeping house. Until, that is, her sharp tongue and her burnt coffee penetrate even his misery—and the charm underneath surprises them both. Trust the worst cook in Wales to propose a most unexpected solution to his troubles…
Pick your favorite cover! I think I like Captain Durant’s Countess the best of all of my covers. There’s something about a guy with a sword…
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Categories : General, Maggie Robinson

Happy Holidays!

By MaggieRobinson · Comments (2)
Friday, December 21st, 2012

Here’s a Christmas scene from Lord Gray’s List, which Fresh Fiction said is “sparkling with wit and humor.” Enjoy, and have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones!

Evangeline has been masquerading as a gentleman in order to run her newspaper. Here, she and Ben are walking home from the office.

***

The Sunday streets seemed even more deserted than usual. No doubt everyone was getting snug by the fire, readying themselves for their family festivities tomorrow. Evangeline had Christmas envelopes for her small staff, knowing that in these hard times money was preferable to a badly-knitted sock. Thanks to Ben, the envelopes were thicker than they might have been.

A donkey cart a quarter-filled with kissing boughs and branches of holly rumbled by them, then stopped. “Oi, gents! Some fresh greenery for your ladies?” the driver asked. From the looks of his limited wares, he’d had a successful day so far.

Ben looked at Evangeline and nodded. “We’ll take what we can carry. Deliver the rest to this address.” He pulled out a silver case and handed his card and an obscene number of notes to the man.

“Ben! Are you mad?”

“It’s Christmas, Evie, or near to. I reckon this fellow wants to go home before the snow flies, and I haven’t so much as a leaf on the mantel at home. My mama usually takes care of all that, but she’s been busy with Lady Applegate. I expect you’re in a similar fix. What harm can a bit of mistletoe do you? Here, stretch out your arms.” He heaped a mixture of branches onto her coat sleeves, then took twice as much for himself.

“Mistletoe is poisonous, is it not?”

“Hazardous, but not deadly, I believe. We’re not going to eat it, Evie, just kiss under it.”

“We are, are we?”

“Oh, yes. There are just seven days left to our bargain. We are going to decorate your parlor, and then your bedroom.”

“You can’t come into my bedroom!” Evie gasped.

“Oh? And why not? Afraid of your servants? They work for you, not the other way around. One mustn’t worry what the lower classes think.”

“Ben, I am one of the lower classes.”

“Nonsense. Your father comes from a perfectly respectable family. Isn’t he cousin to some marquess or other? And your mother was the daughter of a baronet.”

“He’s never laid eyes on the Marquess of Sandiford. And my mother was disowned when she married. The only reason my father still has Ramsey House is that it is entailed and he couldn’t gamble it away.”

“No matter,” Ben said airily. “Do you inherit it or is it all to go to some chinless nephew thrice removed?”

“It goes to the first-born Ramsey child regardless of gender.” Not that it would do her any good. The house was missing some strategic amenities, like the greater part of the west-wing roof.

“See? Then you are an heiress.”

She snorted and tripped over a curb that she couldn’t see because of the prickly bundle in her arms.

“Steady. We’ll make up some sort of excuse for your servants. Perhaps I’ve come to measure the windows for new drapes as a Christmas present.”

She could use some household refurbishment, but Ben was a very unlikely interior decorator. “I’ll have to live with them after you and I are finished,” she reminded him.

“Well, that puts us in a pickle, then. Where are we to go?” Ben sighed. “I suppose it will have to be tea in your parlor again, then.”

“That would be best,” she agreed. They had managed extraordinarily well on the floor doing that extraordinary thing. Seven more days of it, and she’d be dead of pleasure.

They trudged on, dropping the odd berry onto the frosty pavement. Patsy opened the door at once, something else that was extraordinary. The maid relieved them of their twigs and boughs and dumped them on the floor, where more berries scattered. Perhaps the greenery was not quite as fresh as the seller had promised.

“What do you want me to do with all this mess then?” she asked, looking at the mess she herself had made.

“Don’t worry, Patsy,” Ben said as he handed her his coat. “I’ll take care of it. Your  mistress and I are going to decorate the parlor and don’t wish to be disturbed. It might take us a while to get everything just so. You’ll all have a lovely surprise when we’re done.”

Evangeline watched as the maid struggled to keep a straight face. Lord, the girl knew, probably had known from the first time Ben had taken her on his study floor.

“Certainly, my lord. Will you be wanting any refreshments to keep your strength up as you deck the halls?” Patsy winked right at him, removing any vestigial doubt Evangeline might have harbored about fooling her maid for one blasted instant.

“That would be delightful, Patsy. Some tea and whatever Cook has handy. I’m not fussy.” Ben gave her one of his never-fail smiles.

“Aye, you’ve got your mind on other things, I expect. Indulge me, my lord.” Patsy bent to retrieve a sprig of mistletoe and held it over her evil little head. “I haven’t been properly kissed in an age, not since Miss Evangeline rescued me from the streets, and then there weren’t really much proper about those kisses. Give a girl something to dream over, do.”

Ben’s mouth had dropped open, whether from Patsy’s bold flirtation or the realization that Evangeline had a prostitute for a maid. But then he laughed and gave her a kiss, not quite quick enough to suit Evangeline, but longer than Patsy expected or deserved.

Patsy looked stunned, as well she might. Evangeline sympathized entirely—Ben’s kisses were explosive.

“Tea, Patsy,” Evangeline reminded her, snapping fingers in front of the girl’s love-struck face.

“Yes, sir. I mean miss. I’ll be right up with it.” She scurried down to the kitchen and Evangeline gave Ben her dirtiest look.

“That was not sporting of you.”

“It was just an innocent kiss,” Ben shrugged. “Not her first, I take it.”

Evangeline grabbed some branches from the hall floor. “Not her first. The poor girl has been kissing since she was eleven. I hope she doesn’t murder me in my bed tonight to clear a path to you.”

“If you let me sleep over, I could protect you.”

Evangeline swatted him with holly. “Be serious.”

“I am. I’m told I don’t snore much.”

“I’m told I do. Get the rest of this, will you?”

***

 

 

 

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Interview with heroine, Amy Shipton…

By Bronwen Evans · Comments (14)
Monday, November 26th, 2012

I released my latest Regency historical romance this month. It’s the final story in my Wicked Wager’s trilogy, TO CHALLENGE THE EARL OF CRAVENSWOOD. For those of you who don’t read eBooks, I’m putting all three eBook stories into book format in late December early January 2013. What do you think of the cover? Isn’t it beautiful?

To celebrate the release of TO CHALLENGE THE EARL OF CRAVENSWOOD, my wonderful helper Kati, has organized a Wicked Wagers Blog Tour for me. The tour runs Monday to Friday for the month of November, and you can WIN copies of all my ebooks and $30 Amazon or B&N giftcard (International)… Simply visit each blog post and follow the instructions…

Today I thought I’d let Amy Shipton, the heroine, tell you a little about TO CHALLENGE THE EARL OF CRAVENSWOOD.

Bron: Welcome to the Brava Authors Blog, Amy

Amy: Good afternoon. Thank you for having me. I’m a bit nervous as I’ve never been interviewed before.

Bron: Relax. It will be fun! Tell us a bit about yourself. What’s Lady Amy Shipton’s life like?

Amy: Well, (licks her lips nervously), I’m twenty-one and the only legitimate daughter of my father the duke, and I have an older brother. I also have several half siblings from the relationship my father has with his mistress. I have obviously never been formally introduced of course. I’m not supposed to mention them but they have a bearing on my story. I pretty much live a life of balls and parties because my father is parading me like a virgin sacrifice to any man with a title and money. He wishes to see me married off as quickly as possible without it causing raised eyebrows and scandal.

Bron: Marry you off—quickly? Are you a bit of a trouble maker then?

Amy: Unfortunately no. I’m the proverbial good girl. My father wants me married so that he can retire to his country estate and move his mistress and other family in. He can’t do that with an unmarried daughter. Sigh, I’m a nuisance he wants swatted aside like a fly.

Bron: Is there a man who interests you? Surely you fancy someone.

Amy: Yes, I do think one gentleman is perfect. He’s an absolute dream. Henry St. Giles, Lord Cravenswood. My next door neighbor. He’s tall, broad shouldered, regal in his posture, with hair the color of dried barley. His eyes sparkle brighter than my emeralds, and his lips, one smile turns my insides to mush.  (Sigh). But he’ll have none of me. He still sees me as a young girl.

Bron: I’d do something about that. Make him notice you.

Amy: Easier said than done in my world. I have the eyes of the ton following my every move. I did dance with him at Lady Skye’s ball. I moved scandalously close to him and I think it had the desired effect. But it all went wrong later that night in his garden.

Bron: ohhh- there’s a story here. Please do share…

Amy:  (blushing furiously). Needing fresh air after Lady Skye’s ball, I found myself wandering in Henry’s garden at about three in the morning. I never expected to find anyone and I was startled when I came across Henry, lying face down by his fountain. He had a large gash on his forehead and naturally I went to his assistance.  The poor man wasn’t quite with it and he… and he… well, read for yourself what happened next…

Amy dropped to her knees next to Henry’s prone body. The sounds of his groans of pain were sweet music; it meant he was at least alive.

She smelled the brandy fumes and noted his hip flask lying discarded nearby. Henry had often seemed worse for drink on his late night ramblings, but when she lift his head to cradle it on her knees she saw the ugly gash on his head. He must have hit the side of the fountain.

She dipped her handkerchief in the water and bathed the gash, wiping the small specks of gravel out of the wound. “Henry,” she scolded softly, tenderly wiping a stray golden lock away from his wound. “What am I to do with you? You can’t let your brother’s death destroy you with sorrow and guilt. Richard would have wanted better for you.”

She gazed spellbound at the beauty of the man she tended. His long lashes were dark crescents smudged over his pale cheeks. His brows, the planes of his face, looked oddly relaxed; his lips, full and beckoning, were gently curved in a child like smile. Her heart expended under an emotion she didn’t wish to face.

She pressed the cloth to his head until the wound stopped bleeding, all the while gently singing to him.

Amy didn’t know how long they’d sat there, but now that the blood no longer flowed, she decided to move and find help. She tried to lever him off of her but Henry groaned deeply and snuggled deeper into her lap, wrapping his arms around her hips, anchoring her to him.

Despite her precarious situation, Amy’s lips lifted at the corner. He was so atrociously handsome, the silky locks of his gold-kissed hair feathered his chiseled cheeks, his long-fingered hands gripped her hips as if he didn’t ever wish to let her go, his long body lay boneless across her lap. She resisted the urge to kiss his wound-just.

What now? Amy looked toward Cravenswood Court. She’d have to summon help to move him. She couldn’t leave him out here with a head injury. She bit her lip and considered the trouble she was in. How would she explain being alone with Henry in his garden—Henry had no idea she often kept him company. All right, she growled under her breath, he had no idea she spied on him. Besides, her reputation would be tarnished and her father might insist on Henry doing the honorable thing. A shudder of delight raced along her nerve endings. That didn’t sound too terrible a fate.

Her smile died as a very large hand suddenly molded her breast and a thumb and finger tweaked her nipple through her clothing. She gasped. Fire danced low in her belly. She should stop him. She closed her eyes and let his hand roam her breasts. His touch was like fire—hot and dangerous. Better than she’d dreamed.

No, it would not be terrible to become his wife.

She heard him mumble and she bent lower to hear his words. His face lifted from her lap and his lips brushed her mouth. He moaned again, the sound was not of a man in pain, more in pleasure. His hand cupped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. His lips teased hers and encouraged her to allow him access. She didn’t even hesitate, but opened for him. He swept into her mouth as if he’d been there before. He tasted of brandy and cheroots, a masculine combination that saw her surrender to the passion his clever tongue provoked.

So caught up in the magic of the kiss, she did not notice his hand expertly freeing one breast from the bodice of her gown until the cooling morning air brushed across her heated skin. She broke from his kiss and sat back on a gasp. He levered himself up and on a deep groan, crawled up her body, gently pushing her down onto the path.

She’d never experienced the weight of a man on top of her. It was thrilling and scary all at the same time. Before she could decide what to do, his mouth found her bare, taut nipple and the hot moistness of his mouth stifled any protest. This time the moan came from her.

She heard a rustle and felt his hand glide seductively under her dress and up her trembling thigh. He stroked her leg while devouring her breast with his mouth and wicked tongue. She let the magic of his love-making consume her. She knew she should protest. She knew Henry would be mortified at what he was doing. He wasn’t in his right mind.

Bron: He’s certainly noticed you all right. So what happened? Why are you actively discouraging Henry’s pursuit of you?

Amy: Here is why. It’s mortifying…

His mouth left hers and trailed a molten path toward her ear. His hand sunk deep into her hair, holding her head at an angle while he nipped at her ear lobe. She struggled for air, panting, urgently seeking some kind of release from the slow building torture of pleasure.

“How I love your responsiveness to my touch, Millicent. Come for me, I’ve missed you so much…”

Amy froze. Pain lanced her chest. How stupid could she have been? Of course he thought she was someone else. Henry never noticed her—not in this way. Why, only last year he’d been more than instrumental in arranging her ‘almost’ engagement to his friend, Marcus Danvers, the Marquis of Wolverstone.

“What’s wrong my love?” He noticed her lack of response because he stilled, his hand leaving her.

Amy was thankful it was dark, but with such a starry night he might not be so drunk that he couldn’t recognize her. Panic took hold. She put her hands on his chest and pushed him sideways with all her might. He rolled off her with a grunt of surprise. Too mortified for words, she pushed clear and jumped to her feet. As she righted her clothing, covering her naked breasts, she barely glanced over her shoulder to ensure Henry would be all right before she raced for the safety of the darkness and her home.

Bron: OMG – he thought you were someone else…

Amy: See? And it gets worse. He has one of my earrings and he’s trying to trace the owner. If he learns it was me he fondled in his garden he’ll offer marriage and my father will make me accept-

Bron: So, he’s very handsome, rich and obviously knows how to—pleasure a woman…

Amy: But he’s in love with this Millicent. How can I possibly marry him knowing that? To be married to a man who loved another- (she’s shudders) it would be like my mother and father all over again. No. I have to stay hidden. I’ll do anything at all to ensure that happens. The first thing to do is get my earring back.

Bron: Good luck with that. You’ll need it. Let us know how it all works out.

Amy: I will. Thanks for lending me your ear. I did need to vent. Now I’m off to a house party at Lord and Lady Wolverstone’s country estate. Henry will be there too. I feel it’s the perfect time to steal back my earring.

Bron: Come back and tell me what happens, I have to know.

If you’d like to learn how Amy got her earring back, leave a comment below and be in to Win an eBook copy of TO CHALLENGE THE EARL OF CRAVENSWOOD Open internationally.

The Wicked Wagers Blog Tour runs Monday to Friday for the whole month, and you can WIN copies of all my books and $30 Amazon or B&N gift card (International)… Simply visit each blog post and follow the instructions…

About Bron:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence release in late 2012, The Italian Conte’s Reluctant Bride.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

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Categories : Bronwen Evans, General

Read All About It!

By MaggieRobinson · Comments (22)
Friday, November 16th, 2012

Carol L is the winner! Please e-mail me at maggie@maggierobinson.net!

Lord Gray’s List, the first in the London List trilogy, has been on shelves for a couple of weeks and seems to be doing well. It’s been in the Top 100 Regency Romances for Amazon Kindle, is a Top 100 bestseller at the Rhapsody Book Club, and has gotten some great reviews. My favorite, from Kirkus, ends like this: “A charming, fun Regency romp that combines an innovative, compelling plot with characters that jump off the page and a hot, captivating romance that will tug at heartstrings.” Whee!

For those of you who don’t know, the fictional London List is a weekly Regency newspaper. Everything you want and want to know about is right there in black and white. You can find a job, a lover, or an umbrella stand. And on the front page is all the racy stuff, in this case, whatever my hero, bad boy Lord Benton Gray has been up to.

My late mother-in-law was addicted to tabloids like the National Enquirer. She lived with us for the last three years of her life, and I used to be ashamed on the grocery line as I put those papers on the conveyor belt. I’d always tell the cashier, “They’re not for me, but my mother-in-law.” I’m sure I wasn’t believed, and I’ll confess I sometimes skimmed them quickly before I put them in the recycling box. But I’ve never been attracted to gossip or gossip rags–People Magazine is about as low as I’ll go. I’ll admit to my share of schadenfreude when some hypocrite gets his or her comeuppance, but generally I try to avoid the train wreck culture.

That’s really hard to do with 24/7 media exposure. I think we’ve seen just this last week that Washington, D.C. truth can be every bit as ridiculous as a Desperate Housewives storyline.

Do you pay attention to gossip? What’s your favorite source for dirt? Can you keep a secret better than a C.I.A. guy? I’ll give away a signed copy of Lord Gray’s List to one commenter!

 

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Categories : General

That Magical HEA

By Susan Fox · Comments (7)
Wednesday, October 10th, 2012
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If you’re a romance reader, you probably know that “HEA” is short for the “happily ever after” that true romance lovers expect at the end of a love story. But what kind of HEA should it be?

I’ve had readers tell me that they prefer romances to end with at least an engagement and maybe even a wedding. I’ve had others tell me that they often don’t “buy” that kind of ending because they don’t find it believable that the heroine and hero are ready for that level of commitment.

Of course preferences depend in part on the reader. For example, for those who grew up reading the romances of the 1950s and 60s, marriage was pretty much the only true happy ending, and I imagine a lot of those readers still feel the same way. For others, in today’s uncertain world, I’m guessing they love to see the security of wedding vows at the end of a book. But for others – and I’m one of them – the wedding vows may not always seem realistic.

For me, it’s all about what rings true for the characters. If a book takes place in a short time frame, and if the heroine and hero didn’t previously know each other, I just don’t buy that they’ll be engaged at the end of that short timespan. Or, if they are, it’s going to take a lot to convince me as a reader that they know each other well enough, and have done the necessary hard work, to ensure their love will last. Or that it’s even love, not just lust, hormones, pheromones, or whatever you want to call an initial passionate attraction that may very well fizzle before long.

For whatever reason (I guess it’s part of my writer’s “voice”), a lot of my stories take place in a week to two weeks. And of course my heroines and heroes have some personal issues to deal with, some growing to do. So, as they speak to me through my fingers on the keyboard, they don’t tell me they’re ready to leap into marriage by the end of the book. What they say – and what I believe – is that they’re coming to care deeply for their new love, deeply enough to make a major commitment and to begin talking about a possible future together.

Now of course I have written stories that have ended with a higher level of commitment, for example in a reunion story where the couple knew each other previously. It’s all about being true to the characters.

In my upcoming Brava, Body Heat (which will come out at the end of November), Jesse Blue and Maura Mahoney meet for the first time when he rides his motorbike down the lane of pink-blossomed cherry trees in front of the seniors residential facility where she works. She’s a buttoned-up accountant; he’s the bad boy on the Harley. Care to speculate how this book ends? Well, I won’t give away the details, but you can bet there’s a HEA for this “attraction of opposites” couple!

How about you? If you read romance, what’s your ideal ending for a book?

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Categories : General, Susan Fox
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too hot to handle

By Heidi Betts · Comments (7)
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Last month, I offered to send out autographed cover flats for the mass market paperback reissue of MUST LOVE VAMPIRES (September 2012), “I (Heart) Vampires” sticky note pads, & vampire bite chocolates as part of my Vampire Prize Pack Giveaway.

And then…the heat wave hit.
And everything started to melt…including me.

There’s no way chocolate was going to travel well…I’m not sure paper will travel well right now…so I decided to hold off putting together the Vampire Prize Packs until the weather gets a little nicer.

But never fear!  I’ve still got all of your names & addresses, & will be filling these requests as soon as I think it’s safe to mail chocolate again.

In the meantime, please add the paperback re-release of MUST LOVE VAMPIRES to your Pre-Order/To Buy/To Read lists & do what you can to stay cool, knowing that one of these days (hopefully soon!) the weather will break & your Vampire Prize Packs from moi will arrive safe & sound & yummy.  :mrgreen:

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Categories : General

Lost in Translation

By MaggieRobinson · Comments (12)
Friday, July 20th, 2012
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(Winner below post!)

I am in absolute awe of people who are fluent in more than one language. My mother was from Vienna, and pretty much taught herself to speak English. My new daughter-in-law is from Poland, and is trying to make sense of what my son says (Good luck, Magdalena). I took French and German in school and am okay reading signs, but cannot ask for directions in either language. So it stuns me that my books are being translated into Russian, Thai, Turkish and Japanese, four languages that have completely different alphabets.

I found out recently that Mistress by Midnight (January 2011) will be published in Japan, and just a week later got some copies of the Japanese edition of Mistress by Mistake (May 2010). Here’s the cover–isn’t it gorgeous?

The book is smaller than a regular paperback, and has a removable dust jacket. Flipping through it is awesome but incomprehensible.

There’s a running joke in the book–the heroine Charlotte comes from a small village, Little Hyssop. The hero Bay keeps teasing her and calls it other things: Little Sickup, Little Muckup, Little Dustup. I wonder, how can that be translated? I’ll never know, LOL.

Do you speak another language? Have you ever traveled to a country where you’re completely clueless? I think I know why I like to go to England so much. I’ll give away an English version of Mistress by Mistake to one commenter. (unless you’d prefer it in Japanese!)

AND THE WINNER IS BETTY HAMILTON! PLEASE CONTACT ME AT MAGGIE@MAGGIEROBINSON.NET

 

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Categories : General, Maggie Robinson

Villains, love to hate or simply hate! GIVEAWAY of Invitation to Scandal.

By Bronwen Evans · Comments (22)
Sunday, May 27th, 2012

The winner is ……. CatS! I’ve emailed you privately CatS. You’ve won a copy of Invitation to Scandal.

I’m talking about villains – those characters we love to hate.  There are villains and then there are villains. For instance, you would have to call both Salvatore brothers (Vampire Dairies) villains, they are in fact killers. But Damon in particular captures my heart. He’s so torn. He never wanted to be a vampire. Stefan turned him against his will, and yet, of the two brothers, he became the most evil. He tries hard to be good and to win Elena’s heart, yet falls at every turn, only to redeem himself and repeat the cycle.

Then there are truly evil villains with no redeeming characteristics at all, such as Darken Rahl from Legends of the Seeker. He is simply about power, money and greed. He doesn’t care who he has to hurt, kill, or destroy to achieve his aim of ruling the world. He’s totally unlikeable, in fact, very easy to hate. You are rooting for him to get his comeuppance and are right there with the Seeker shoving the blade through his dark heart.

I must admit I’m partial to both types of villains (if the story is done well). Let’s face it; most of us ladies love the bad boy. The man we can still see a glimmer of good in if only we could love him he might reform. However, I do love a story where it starts with a man very evil, like Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in the Gladiator. He was creepy, a bit disturbed and evil to his core. I loved watching him get beaten.

My villain in INVITATION TO SCANDAL (May 2012) is truly evil. You don’t learn his identity until near the end of the story, and I did that so it would be more fun and interesting for the reader. I always find hidden evil is far more interesting in any story, be it a movie, TV program or book! I love being able to try and follow clues or hints from the writer as to who the baddie might be and I’m extra happy when I’m surprised.

Then again, sometimes I like knowing who the villain is from the start so I can take satisfaction from watching him be destroyed. Rufus Swell’s character in A Knight’s Tale, was like that for me. I loved watching him get beaten at the end. Having seen how he treated everyone from the beginning made me really want him to lose.

In Invitation to Scandal, I don’t promise to surprise you, but I hope you are at least unsure of the villain’s identity for most of the book.  Drop me a line and let me know at which chapter you guessed who the spy in Invitation to Scandal is.

Today I’m giving away a copy of Invitation to Scandal. Tell me who you think is the sexiest villain (male or female) and which villain you’d like to personally redeem. I pick Damon Salvatore. I’ll draw the winner on Sunday 3 June and its open internationally.

PLUS – don’t forget my Invitation to Romance blog tour is still on. You still have a chance to collect all the clues and win a $200 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N, as well as a collection of 30 signed books from various historical romance authors. Visit my website www.bronwenevans.com for more details.

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