An Indecent Proposal . . .
When Douglas Eston arrives at the home of the Duke of Herridge, he expects to leave with an investment—not a wife! With his brilliant ideas attracting attention all over London, Douglas does not need to rely on the duke. But when he meets Lady Sarah Baines, the stubborn beauty whose virtue her father would willingly sell, Douglas finds himself utterly entranced and desperate to protect her.Lady Sarah Baines always knew her father was cruel. But this time he’s gone too far. Demanding that she marry a complete stranger—even an absurdly handsome one with eyes the color of a dawn sky—is utterly ridiculous. She swears she’ll never submit to the wanton delights of the marriage bed. But soon Douglas’s considerable charms prove impossible to resist… and the decadent ecstasy he offers shows Sarah that an affair that began with business can end with the ultimate pleasure.
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When I was trying to come up with an idea for my guest blog here on Novel Thoughts, I dismissed the idea of being clever. Sometimes, when you think you’re really cute, you’re not. Then, I thought I’d be academic but overly fussy language can sometimes distance you from people. Then, I considered talking about Scotland, since most of my books take place in Scotland. Frankly, I’ve been talking about Scotland a lot lately, and people are probably tired of it. Then, I decided I would just let it all hang out and talk about something real and honest and very close to my heart: love.
It is my deep and unswerving belief that love can heal.
When I was in one of my darkest hours – I had just lost my husband – I began to read like a maniac. I read to keep myself from thinking, because when I thought, I cried and my eyes needed a break. Books became an opiate to me. I’m not certain exactly what I read in the first few months, only that when I finished one book, I started another. Gradually, I began to surface from my terrible grief only to realize that what I was reading was involving me. I was being sucked out of my real world into this magical place where people went through bad things but had a happy ending.
A happy ending.
Somehow, through serendipity – or Fate – I had stumbled onto Romance and I didn’t even know it. I read everything, and I do mean everything, I could get my hands on and discovered that I loved historical romance.
I was entertained, inspired, amused, and thoroughly engrossed.
These books gave me hope.
Throughout my reading binge – and binge it was – I realized that there was a common theme in all the books I read, and it coincided with what I wanted to believe about my own circumstances. People can go through horrible events in their lives, survive them, and come out stronger.
Love can heal.
Love for other people.
Love of oneself.
Love for life.
When people write me now, and tell me how much one of my books got them through a difficult time, it is the most wonderful compliment they could ever give me. I am propelled back through time and space to when I picked up a book and it got me through the darkness.
Now, here’s where I segue to the new book (I just wanted to warn you – see how I reverted to being clever?).
Sold to a Laird is about a woman who is going through the most terrible time of her life and the hope she finds is in the person of her new husband – a husband she didn’t want, by the way. There are moments of darkness in her life, too, but through it all is a skein of love. I truly hope you enjoy Sarah and Douglas’s story.
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Many thanks to Karen for being our guest today. Leave a comment for the chance to win a copy of SOLD TO THE LAIRD and a totebag from Karen. For more information on Karen and her books, check out her website here. Follow her at Twitter here or visit her blog here.
The book sounds interesting and entertaining, but I esp. enjoyed Karen’s comments about reading – overcoming grief. And her comments on the power of love. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Your book sounds like a really good read. Thanks for the great post.
I understand all about books getting you through difficult times. I am a divorced mother of 4 children and if it wasn’t for my books, I don’t think I could keep my sanity – LOL. Being drawn into the world of happy endings has given me hope that things will change soon.
Thank you Karen for sharing your wonderful talent with us and allowing us to enter your “world” of HEA!!!
Ms. Ranney- I’ve been a fan of your work since TAPESTRY. TILL NEXT WE MEET is one of my favorite historical romances.
The connection you made between darkness, loss and the healing power of reading rung true for me.
I came across Joan Didion’s, A YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING a couple of months prior to my father’s sudden death, having been a fan of Ms. Didion’s writing for years, I had picked it up on a whim – not knowing what a salve to my soul it would become- it was that book, her stark words, her shared experience of grief and death that pulled me through.
Romances. Love for life.
Thanks for posting such heartfelt words.
Sounds like a very good, and I do like love as a theme, well ok it is romance, but I mean the things you said. Oh and that title is so cool
Love and HEAs are my favorites things about romance… no matter how difficult things are or whatever obstacles are in the way, they find a way to be together and have their happy ending! 😀
Great post! Your book sounds like a fantastic read and I would love to read it! I love reading books set in Scotland and its a place I would love to visit someday. Right now I have to visit in my books. Thanks for sharing with us today!
Karen – I couldn’t agree with you more. I learned very early in life that I could hide away from the hurts of the real world in books and when things get tough – that’s where I still go to this very day. I definitely believe that love can heal and experiencing – even as indirectly as observing someone else receive or offer love – it can have long lasting, positive affects. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed the post sounds like my kind of read!
The book sounds fabulous, count me in!
Getting lost in a good book can really ease you through life’s pain, stress, and challenges. Life isn’t worth living if we can’t believe in love, hope, and happy endings. I only read romances because it is essential to me to have a HEA ending.
Sounds good. I love the premise.
Karen Ranney, I read all your books and can’t wait to read StaL!
I have been reading for over 50 yrs and I can relate to books helping you through troubled times. I can’t recall (its old timers) at this moment the names of any book but I was reading 1 or more books per day and working full time. Sometimes looking back I wonder if I would have made it through without my wonderful books. You get caught up in the story and forget you problems or they seem smaller and easier to handle when you read. Thanks to you and all the other wonderful authors I made it..
Hi Karen!
loved your post – thank you!
unfortunately I havn’t read your books yet, but I put them on my wishlist now!
have a great day 😀
Ina
Congrats on the new release, Karen. I’m so glad that you stumbled into romance. Maybe it was fate.
Great post.
Books are great healers in the form of escapism.
Karen, thank you for sharing today–I read because of the hope I find in romance stories, that reminder that love’s out there and what a lovely thing it can be. I’m glad you came to romance–it’s a richer world for your writing!
Ms. Karen Ranney,
What a lovely post, I can always count on you for total honesty, you always shoot straight from the heart.
Thank you for giving us a peek into your life about your writing.
This is one of the reasons you are a favorite author of mine.
I have read the majority of your books and own a good portion of them. I always go back to reread them, they make me feel good.
I love how I can fade away from present time and wind up in Scotand for a couple of hours. Escaping from the real world is always fun for me!
Here’s to Love and HEA!!!
Continue making magic!
Congratulations on the release of STAL!!
book sounds amazing, would really like to read it! books really do take me away from the world
I know it’s true for me that reading has helped me through problems big and small. Congratulations on your new book.
Like many of the posters, books do help me when I’m in the dumps. It’s wonderful to be able to escape from the “real world” for a bit and get lost in a book.
Thanks.
this book sounds great!
Thanks for sharing your real life story with us Karen. And my reasons for reading are very similar. It’s an escape and a respite from the bad things going on around me.
That was a really, really great post 🙂 And your book sounds great!
Great post! Sounds like a really good book.
Reading can serve so many purposes. Thanks for the intriguing words.
Karen, thank you for sharing. The first book I read of yours was My Beloved. Love truly heals. . . what a wonderful message!
Beautiful post! Love is really all powerful!
Books have saved my sanity on many occassions!! The book sounds like a really good read.
I have been married and divorced twice. To be honest with you, my romance books are the only happily ever after I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been reading romance books since the late 1960’s and I hope to continue for a long time. I would love to read your book. It sounds like a great story.
Great blog. I’ve always turned to reading for solace, as well as entertainment, fun, and comfort. I don’t know what my life would be without books, and I don’t want to find out!
Karen’s book sounds very good!
You put into words how I feel about romance. I am a long time fan of the genre but have never thought to put into words why I love it so.
Congrats on your new book, Sold to the Laird. It certainly sounds diverting.
Books are my saving grace, I am a soldier’s wife and I need any escape I can find being mom and dad 8 months out of every year that my DH is deployed. This time he is gone for a 12 month rotation… yughhhh Have a great holiday and I look forward to the read. Thanks
I’ve loved everyone’s comments – thank you so much for your kindness and welcome – but I think there is a special place reserved for the families of our servicemen and women. Thank you for your husband’s service, Angela, and for yours.
Thank you for the wonderful post!
I’ve read the excerpt for SOLD TO A LAIRD and it sounds amazing!
Thanks for the great post! I love your books and I’m looking forward to every new release!