Historical Hookup Giveaway – Hoyt, Dreyer, Delamere, Barton, and Dalton

“Do you have a historical romance novel that you read that inspired you to write in the genre?”

Elizabeth Hoyt, DUKE OF MIDNIGHT:

No, but I remember being blown away by Stephanie Laurens’s DEVIL’S BRIDE.

 

Eileen Dreyer, ONCE A RAKE:

Not one. I’ve been reading historical romance, especially Regency historical romance for years before I decided to write in it. I can tell you that one author inspired me to write the kind of historical romance I write, which I call historical romantic adventure. That would be Patricia Veryan. She wrote three series in which the heroes find themselves beset by history and the world of nefarious spies. She was also an author who loved wounded heroes. And yes, if you read any of my books, be they historical romance contemporary romance or suspense, I’m pretty tough on my heroes(it’s a great stress reliever).

 

Jennifer Delamere, A LADY MOST LOVELY:

My inspiration comes from a mix of sources. For starters, there are the classic novels of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell (whose North and South was made into a wonderful mini-series with Richard Armitage). I try to blend those sensibilities with the more intense focus on the romance between the hero and heroine that today’s readers expect. My hope is to engage readers’ minds as well as their hearts.

 

Anne Barton, ONCE SHE WAS TEMPTED:

There’s not one particular book, but Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series captivated me. How I longed to be Bridgerton! (Still do.) I’d change my name to Isabel in a second—to be next in line after Hyacinth. If only I could be an honorary sibling…

 

Lily Dalton, NEVER DESIRE A DUKE:

Shanna, by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I did not start reading romance until I was out of college, married and on maternity leave with my first child. My mom gave me that one to read and yowza! It was completely different than anything else I’d ever read. So passionate and exhilarating! I felt as if I’d been set free. That book got me started reading romance, and thinking about writing my own.

*****

A LADY MOST LOVELY by Jennifer Delamere

September 24, 2013; Forever/ Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1896-8

Socialite Margaret Vaughn agrees to marry a rich man to save her family’s estate, but then her fiancé turns out to be just another poor social climber. Even after amassing a fortune, Tom Poole hasn’t forgotten his humble beginnings. Taken with Margaret’s beauty and grace, Tom offers her financial assistance—but his interest is not strictly business. Can he convince the proper, refined lady that they despite their social differences, they are a match made in heaven?

*****

NEVER DESIRE A DUKE by Lily Dalton

September 24, 2013; Forever/ Mass Market; $6.00; 978-1-4555-2401-3

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, the Duke of Claxton, who has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined their marriage. After nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he’s ever truly loved. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves—and the passionate lover she desires. Can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

*****

 

ONCE SHE WAS TEMPTED by Anne Barton

October 29, 2013; Forever/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1330-7

In desperate need of money for her sick mother, Daphne Honeycote had posed for two scandalous portraits. Now she must hide her secret to save the Honeycote family name. Benjamin Elliot recognizes the stunning beauty from the beauty the instant he meets her. His possession of the painting makes him an insufferable thorn in her side—and yet he may be her best chance at finding the canvas’s companion. As she becomes drawn to the dark-tempered earl, can Daphne risk laying bare the secrets of her heart?

*****

 

DUKE OF MIDNIGHT by Elizabeth Hoyt

October 15, 2013; GCP/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-0834-1

By day Maximus Batten is the Duke of Wakefield, a powerful member of Parliament. But by night he is the Ghost of St. Giles, prowling the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the man who brutally murdered his parents twenty years ago. When he rescues Artemis Greaves and her cousin, the fiery young woman discovers his secret and threatens to expose Maximus unless he uses his influence to free her imprisoned brother. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire—or the temptation of his embrace?

*****

 

ONCE A RAKE by Eileen Dreyer

October 29, 2013; Forever/Mass Market; $8.00; 978-1-4555-1932-3

Accused of trying to kill the Duke of Wellington, Colonel Ian Ferguson is now a fugitive—from the law, the army, and the cunning assassin who hunts him. Wounded and miles from his allies, Ian finds himself at the mercy of an impoverished country wife. Lady Sarah Clarke knows she should turn him in, but a single, delirious kiss shatters her resolve…and awakens a passion that neither of them can escape.

*****

 

For the chance to win all five books, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

*Giveaway open to U.S. residents only

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Exploring a Piece of History by Jennifer Delamere

A youthful indiscretion has cost Lizzie Poole more than just her honor. After five years living in exile, she’s finally returning home, but she’s still living a secret life. Her best friend Ria’s dying wish was for Lizzie to assume her identity, return to London, and make amends that Ria herself would never live to make. Bearing a striking resemblance to her friend, and harboring more secrets than ever before, Lizzie embarks on a journey that tempts her reckless heart once again . . .

A committed clergyman, Geoffrey Somerville’s world is upended when he suddenly inherits the title of Lord Somerville. Now he’s invited to every ball and sought after by the matchmaking mothers of London society. Yet the only woman to capture his heart is the one he cannot have: his brother’s young widow, Ria. Duty demands he deny his feelings, but his heart longs for the mysterious beauty. With both their futures at stake, will Lizzie be able to keep up her façade? Or will she find the strength to share her secret and put her faith in true love?

 

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Have you ever read about a time in the past that sounded so fascinating that you wished you could have experienced it for yourself? I enjoy reading books about history, and so this happens to me a lot!

 

That’s why I love writing historical fiction—it’s a way for me to immerse myself in the details of a time and place and imagine myself there—to step into that world, so to speak.

 

I chose 1851 London for the setting of An Heiress at Heart because during that year an event took place that was one of the high points for England in the nineteenth century. That event was the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, now generally referred to as the Great Exhibition of 1851. Sometimes it is also described as the very first world’s fair.

 

Imagine taking a summertime stroll through Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London. You are walking along a path by a long and narrow lake known as the Serpentine, enjoying the sight of ducks swimming at the water’s edge. You come around a bend in the path and see something truly startling in the distance: it is a giant building made of glass! It is the length of six football fields, and yet the park is so large that there are still open stretches of green all around it—plenty of room for the many people who are coming and going from the building. Its roof is three stories high and trimmed with colorful flags, and one section is arched to accommodate the 90-ft elm trees inside.

 

When you walk inside, sunlight pours through the glass onto plants, statuary, and bright banners. Birds twitter in the live trees. The building is filled with engineering marvels of all kinds, from steam engines and cotton spinning machines to the “latest” invention: photography! You can also find displays of fine art and gaze at the Hope Diamond. You can spend a whole day here and still not see all of the thousands of items brought in from around the world. It’s no wonder it captured the imagination of the people of the time. Charlotte Bronte visited the Exhibition and later wrote, “It seems as if only magic could have gathered this mass of wealth from all the ends of the earth.” It captured my imagination too, which is why several scenes in An Heiress at Heart are set at the Great Exhibition. I hope you will enjoy visiting 1851 London as much as I enjoyed writing about it.

 

How about you? Is there some time or place in history that you would love to see for yourself if you could? Would you want to stay there permanently, or simply visit?

 

Jennifer Delamere

http://www.jenniferdelmere.com

Twitter: @JenDelamere

http://www.facebook.com/Jennifer.Delamere

 

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For a chance to win HEIRESS AT HEART by Jennifer Delamere, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

 

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Scrumptious Scarred Heroes! By Anna Campbell

Will a week of seduction…

Desperate to save her sister’s life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

 

…Spark a lifetime of passionate surrender?

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

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Hi Mad! Thanks so much for having me as your guest today on Romance Reader @ Heart. I love visiting your site to talk about a new book – although it’s been a while since I’ve had something new out! Which makes it doubly exciting for me to talk about SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED, the first in the “Sons of Sin” series, which comes out today!

I was thinking the other day – I know, it’s dangerous, I’ll hurt myself. But it strikes me as odd that while romance readers are in general an extremely nice bunch of people, you know, kind to animals, would help old ladies across the road, eager to assist a lost child to find its parents, there’s one area where we positively wallow in someone else’s suffering.

Yup, the tormented hero!

We all seem to love the guy who’s had a really rotten time of it and has reacted by withdrawing into grumpy isolation or by hiding his wounded soul under an appearance of nonchalance or harshness. We adore the rake with the broken heart or the recluse with the awful past or the arrogant stick-in-the-mud who uses outward control to hide his inner demons from the world.

Think about the classics. The Scarlet Pimpernel, masking what he thinks is a hopeless love for his beautiful wife under foppishness and wit. Sigh. Mr. Rochester who really goes through the wringer both before and after he meets Jane Eyre. Heathcliff? He’s scarred to the point of being a psychopath, but somehow he still manages to gather fans. Even if he doesn’t get the girl! Mind you, Cathy’s a cow. He’s better off without her. But he just wouldn’t listen to me!

For some reason, my books seem to make a bit of a fetish of the scarred hero, the guy life has done wrong. In fact, quite a few of them are literally scarred. Kylemore. Matthew. Gideon. Poor Tarquin bears scars by the time he finishes winning Diana and doing down the villainous Burnley.

Adding to that long roll of cicatriced honor, I introduce my latest scarred hero, Jonas Merrick. Frankly he’s pretty messed up outside and in at the start of the book. He’s been disowned as a bastard, he’s made lots of money through ruthless dealings, his face is a mess, and he lives to revenge himself on his cousin William (who is a genuine baddie, no spark of redemption there). Not only that, he’s sarcastic and cranky and a bit of a recluse. There’s a glimmer of goodness in him that becomes a blaze by the time he’s finished falling in love with his heroine Sidonie. However it takes most of the book for him to get to that point!

So are you a fan of the tormented hero? Why do you think readers love to see our male characters suffer so appallingly before they get their happy ending? Do you have a favorite tormented hero?  I’ve got a signed copy of SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE’S BED for a commenter today so good luck.

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For more information, including an excerpt, visit www.annacampbell.info. And don’t forget to comment here for a chance to win. Good luck!

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Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis – Guest blog and giveaway

LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

 

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Dear Reader,

 

Ever feel like you’re drowning?  In FOREVER AND A DAY, my hero Dr. Josh Scott is most definitely drowning.  He’s overloaded, overworked, and on the edge of burnout.  He’s got his practice, his young son, his wheelchair bound sister, and a crazy puppy.  Not to mention the weight of the world on his shoulders from taking care of everyone in his life.  He’s in so deep, saving everyone around him all the time, that he doesn’t even realize that he’s the one in need of saving.  It would never occur to him.

 

Enter Grace Brooks.  She’s a smart smartass, and thanks to some bad luck, pretty much starting her life over from scratch.  Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor working as Josh’s dog walker.  And then his nanny.  And then … before he even realizes it, his everything.  In truth, she’s saved him, in more ways than one.

 

Oh how I loved watching the sure, steady rock that is Josh crumble, only to be slowly but surely helped back together again by the sexy yet sweet Grace.

 

And don’t forget to pick up the other “Chocaholic” books, LUCKY IN LOVE and AT LAST, both available wherever books and ebooks are sold.

 

Happy Reading!

Jill Shalvis

 

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For more information about Jill Shalvis, visit jillshalvis.com. And for a chance to win Forever and a Day, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

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Moonglow by Kristen Callihan – A Review (kind of)

Once the seeds of desire are sown…
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy’s door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors…

Their growing passion knows no bounds…
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Once again, I’ve found a book I can’t review without sounding like a gushing fan-girl so…

Dear Ms. Callihan,

Earlier this year, a trusted book friend told me I had to read Firelight, the first book in your Darkest London series. I didn’t want to. Historical is not my genre of choice, I prefer contemporary. Add in paranormal? Oh, no. That is not for me. I eventually caved to peer pressure and one-clicked on Amazon. I would give it a shot but I wouldn’t enjoy it. I finished it at 3am and was heartbroken that you didn’t have a backlist for me to glom that very instant. I immediately started following you on twitter and, oh happy day, you announced that your publisher was giving away early copies of Moonglow on Goodreads. The joyful screams echoed across Romanceland when I won one.

I really liked Firelight but Moonglow blew me away. Daisy was such an amazing heroine. A tough outer shell hid her vulnerable side and she wasn’t afraid to embrace her sexuality. She was fierce! And Ian *happy sigh* I want an Ian of my own. A unique combination of dark, tortured, sexy and fun, he just flat-out did it for me.

Honestly, there wasn’t anything about this book that didn’t do it for me. It was gritty, sexy, angst-filled and had a brave ending I never saw coming. I didn’t just love Moonglow, I want to have book babies with it. This may be my favorite book of 2012. Because of this, I refuse to read the excerpt at the end for Winterblaze. I’m afraid I’ll shrivel up into a withered shell of myself before it is released. I can’t wait to see where else this series goes!

 

Sincerely,

The Unexpected Fangirl

 

5 stars, recommend read, whatever you want to call it, this isn’t a series to be missed.

 

Genre: Paranormal Historical Romance
Release Date: July 31st, 2012
Format: Print and digital

Preorder:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 

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