Set against the backdrop of Regency England comes a scorching new novel about a perfect gentleman and the imperfect woman who makes him forget all his good intentions.
Forbidden desire is the hardest to deny…
Eden Emery is no stranger to sin. To keep her sister safe from harm, she’s paid a steep price with her body—and very nearly lost her soul. But when Baron Ivor Hartford, the very Devil himself finally dies, her troubles are far from over.
Major Stuart Hartford, the late baron’s nephew, is in the market for an honorable wife, but first he has to take care of the matter of his Uncle Ivor’s ward—a young woman who makes him question the virtue of being proper. For the passion she incites burns away his inhibitions and inflames his heart.
But Eden has vowed to never again cede her destiny to a man. And Hart is left with no choice but to tempt the temptress herself, to show the woman he longs to possess forever that passion can heal, that the sins of the past can be overcome, and that submission can be the greatest power of all.
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Although Maggie Robinson’s Mistress by Mistake is my official “debut” book (May, Kensington Brava), the first book I sold was Margaret Rowe’s Tempting Eden (June, Berkley Heat). Tempting Eden began its life as Paradise, an edgy, erotic Regency Noir that was entirely different than anything I’d written before. I pushed my limits, my comfort zone, almost my sanity, but that was nothing to what I put Eden through. J
I’ve been asked what prompted me to write about the issues dealt with in this book, and I have no answers. Once the prologue came to me, I was compelled to give Eden her happy ending no matter what. But I wasn’t sure there was an audience for a book that took considerable risks with a heroine who both sacrificed for and betrayed her family and herself so thoroughly. One August night I found out otherwise—my fabulous agent Laura Bradford called me to offer representation.
We both knew Tempting Eden would not be an easy sell. It had been rejected by another agency with a letter that began “The evil sexiness of this dark, twisted tale drew me in, BUT…” While it was out on submission, I pushed it out of my mind and began the Courtesan Court Trilogy, which was much, much lighter. Laura e-mailed me now and again to update me—a lot of people loved the writing but were uncomfortable with the plot. I knew the feeling. 😀
But then she called and said Berkley was interested and it was being passed around to several editors, and we should know something soon. I kept my fingers crossed, and one afternoon she called me at work. Now, I work in a high school library, where Tempting Eden will never be shelved. And libraries are supposed to be quiet places. My cell phone rang and I fished it out of my bag. Laura told me I had a two-book deal. I couldn’t scream, or jump up and down, or even say much of anything. I still have the piece of scrap paper I wrote the dates and figures on, but I can’t really read it, I was shaking so hard.
When I got off the phone, one of the girls asked me what was wrong. I told her everything was right—that I’d sold my first book!
So, a year and two months from that call in the library, I’m still shaking. I’m fulfilling contracts for six books and two novellas and pinching myself almost daily. I hope readers will like them and know how very much I appreciate having this incredible opportunity to have a dream come true.
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Thank you for sharing such a thrilling moment with us, Ms Rowe!
Ladies and gents, leave a comment to enter the drawing for one signed copy of Tempting Eden, courtesy of Ms Rowe’s generosity–and don’t forget to visit her website to learn more about her and her alter ego, Maggie Robinson.
This book sounds really really intriguing! I can’t wait to read it! Thank you for the interesting post! 🙂
Giada M.
fabgiada @ gmail.com
Good morning, everyone. I actually slept in today so am still not entirely with it, LOL. I’ll be back, but I forgot to ask a question at the end of my post—do you live in a town with a public library? Does it have a good collection of romance books? Talk to you later!
Your book sounds great .I am lucky enough to have two public libraries withen 15 minutes of my house and they both have good collections of romance books though there are times I cant wait for my turn to come in line to get a book so I go out and buy it but thats just the addict in me hehehhe
This book sounds very interesting! I love the cover… very alluring! Thanks for this great chance to get our hands on it!
alliwantandmorebooks@gmail.com
OH and to answer your question… my town does have a little library… but a little one is better than none. And I am not sure about our romance section as they put all the books together.. so you have to go from a to z t o find what you are looking for. So… most of the time I just buy the book I want instead of going to the library….
Sounds good, I wonder what she had to go through, and if he is enough to tempt her 😉
Ha, romance books, nope my library has none, well ok perhaps a few, I did spot a Barbara Cartland once. But nothing like this
I love call stories, yours was wonderful! I live in a very small town, but the tiny library has a healthy romance section! I do a lot of my reading from there.
A quick question, you have two separate names with two separate publishers, was that your idea, or is it required to have different names with different publishing house, or is it by genre?
All the best for your release, sounds like of hot read!
This book sounds like a fantastic read and I can’t wait to read it. Love the cover!
What a great call story. Tempting Eden sounds good. I love the cover.
Thanks for the cover compliments. I was so lucky to have Alan Ayers design both TE and MBM—from 2 different publishers! His work is really distinctive and exquisite.
Karyn, to answer you specifically, my agent and Berkley editor felt I should set myself apart from Maggie’s lighter stuff, thus Margaret was born. Margaret is my real name, and Rowe is my son’s middle name, so there’s a chance I’ll remember it, LOL. A wonderful reader in Hawaii found both Mistress by Midnight and Tempting Eden shelved next to each other and sent me the picture! I was, as you can imagine, thrilled. The picture can be found on http://www.maggierobinson.net/blog
Hi, Maggie! I really admire you for staying true to your author’s voice and not giving up on “Tempting Eden”. I have always believed that the key to happiness is to follow your heart and remain committed to your personal beliefs. Be yourself, the best you can be. When you write what is valid for you, it will also be valid for your readers. Congratulations! I wish you much happiness and success : )
Congrats on your two releases and your contract! Tempting Eden sounds like a wonderful read! Where I live, there are a few libraries… but I travel a little distance to go to the one I prefer…
Hi Maggie, it’s me again! I love your writing and have become really picky so I’m so happy you’re a prolific historical romance writer. Light or dark, you’re inspiring — the best!
great cover, I think I would pick this book up on the cover alone. Something about it makes me really intrigued
echoing the others,Tempting Eden sounds like a really good book. thanks for the chance to win it
Sounds like a great read.
The evil sexiness of this dark twisted tale——I can’t wait to read it!
Estella, I had to save that rejection—it still make me laugh. But I just moved, and out went the folder of rejection letters. No need to try to bring myself down, because I’m having my happy ending. 🙂
Happy Release Day, Maggie and congrats on your success.
Congrats Maggie, on your first Margaret Rowe release. What a cool story about getting the call in the library – having to hold your tongue must have been hard, LOL.
Congrats on the release of Tempting Eden. Loved your call story. It must have been incredibly difficult to remain so restrained upon hearing the news!
Oooh this sounds like an interesting read! I loev stories where the hero has to convince the heroine to love him!
Glad you stuck with it and got the contract, Maggie. Regency Noir, darker and edgier definitely appeals to me. I still like the lighter reads (have Mistress by Mistake in the TBR now), but both appeal to me equally, like to mix it all up as to tone depending on my mood of the moment. It’s good to see some pubs going for something different.
I’ve been looking forward to this book for what seems like forever! Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks so much for all the responses! I hope you all enjoy both books—they’re a great outlet for me and my demented mind, LOL. I got my box of author copies yesterday—we moved and they went to our old house last week. Seeing 30 of them in a box was kind of exciting, let me tell you. Happy reading and happy endings!
I want to find out how Hart sways Eden to take a chance on him …seduction?caring?, love?
AHH TEMPTATION!!
I’d also like to try your REGENCY NOIR. I’m always open to something different. It spices up my reading world.
These both sound like books I’m going to read!
johnslake@usa.com
Thank you for sharing your story.
I admire authors that can take taboo situations, tortured heroes or heroines with their heartbroken souls, and create a heartfelt story in the journey of finding their HEA.
These stories tend to stay with the reader long after the book is finished.
Congratulations again on both your releases.
Congrats on your releases; you must be excited!
What is your opinion on book trailers? Do you think they help in book sales?
Thanks.
Laurie, curtains have something to do with it.;)
Thanks, Armenia. I hope Hart and Eden have some staying power.
Tracy, I think book trailers can be an asset. I tried to make my own for Mistress by Midnight, but I’m pretty low-tech so it’s not anything I’ll ever post. l wouldn’t want to spend a ton of money, tho—most romance authors don’t seem to be convinced they really sway sales a whole lot unless they have some terrific twist.
I hope the rest of you don’t think I’m ignoring you! I’ve had trouble with my Internet provider for 2 days and my access is super-limited, so my commenting is hit and run!
I love a sizzling Regency!!! Been looking forward to this one since I heard it was coming out! I love the uniqueness of this story and so glad you went with it. I love reading my favorite themes in regency but too love reading a new theme too. Congrats again on getting that call!
this book sounds fabulous…thanks for the chance to read it 🙂
Congratulations Maggie!
Tempting Eden is definitely a book I’d like to read because it sounds like you really explore the heroine’s character even if it is on the darker side. I love it when you get to take an emotional journey with a character, but so often the tortured ones are the heroes that we love to find redemption…I think that is why Eden’s story is so intriguing to me since it seems to be about a heroine.
Can’t wait!
Margaret I hope you’re not black and blue from pinching yourself daily, congratulations on realizing your dream! I think having worked around books like you have it must be a little extra special to think of your own books on the shelves in a library.
Hooray, Maggie! How exciting for you (and for us readers!) Thanks for sharing that moment with us! And here’s to many more such calls in the future (maybe minus the pinching :))
Hi Maggie,
Congratulations on the release of your ‘2nd debut’ book. What a wonderful call story you have. Looking forward to reading the work of this alter ego too!
I live in a small town adjacent to a large city and yes, we do have a library. I’ve visited a few times and it looks like they have a pretty broad selection of romance books. I’m hanging my head in shame here that I don’t have a library card and haven’t actually used the library to get my books. Sadly, with talks of budget cuts all over the place, it is in discussion to close this branch of the library. Even though I am not a practicing patron, I hope that doesn’t happen. To me, that is the equivalent of burning books.