AMELIA GREY: Thank you! I’m pleased you keep asking me back. I don’t ever get tired of talking about writing. I love it and of course I love to talk about my books on your fabulous site!

I’ve always wanted to know how author’s come up with their pen names. Are they personally chosen or chosen for you? And is there a reason it’s done when the author’s picture is posted on their site or book? I’ve found many with different names BUT are clearly the same person. In your case, you’ve written romance novels under the current name Amelia Grey, previously as Gloria Dale Skinner in the early 90′s, and also as Charla Cameron from the early 90′s (I’m assuming you no longer write under those name). Was there a reason for the name changes when the genre remained the same? And is there even a reason for a pen name when an author’s picture is still used on marketing materials?

AMELIA GREY: Oh, that is a very good question. When I sold my first book I published it under Gloria Dale Skinner back in 1990. It was a historical and was being published by Warner Books. But a funny thing happened along the way to the first book coming out. I sold a contemporary book to Harlequin and at that time Warner didn’t want me using my name on a contemporary book so I had to take a pen name. My daughter’s name is Charla and my son is Cameron so that is how I took the name Charla Cameron. I only wrote that one contemporary book because I was contracted to write a historical every nine months and didn’t have the time to write more. Later, when I sold a Magnolia Road book to Pinnacale, I was still writing as Gloria Dale Skinner and once again I had to take another name so I chose the same name of Charla Cameron. I don’t think publishers are as worried about authors competing within different houses now, but at the time, if you were contracted with two houses most of them wanted you to write under different names.  When I decided to leave America Historicals and write Regency I moved to Berkley Books and my editor suggested that since Gloria was known as a writer of American Historicals why not start in a new country with a new name. It sounded like a good idea to me I suggested the name Amelia Gray. I thought it sounded very British and my editor said it will when we spell Gray the way the English do–Grey. So that’s how I became Amelia Grey and ten books later I’m still Amelia.

Let’s talk about book re-issue. As an outsider (but more an insider than the usual book reader) “re-issue” makes one automatically wonder if they call it re-issue because there was an issue to begin with? Course I’m sure that’s not really the case with most book re-issues, at least when it comes to the writing. (Sorry, my ADHD mind wanders occasionally when something makes me think about something else.)

The real question…When it comes to re-issues with new covers to suit the current time and trends, are you involved with the cover design in any way and do you and your editors revisit the story and make changes or add to it?  I would think that a re-issue is a good time to take all the previous feedback from your readers to make a story more memorable. Another question I have on the topic of re-issue- is it typical to re-issue mainly when you switch publishers? Or only if the new publisher buys the rights from the old publisher?

AMELIA GREY: You are full of good questions today!  I published five Regencys for Berkley and then had to stop writing for a couple of years for family reasons. When I started writing again, I sold to Sourcebooks. I asked Berkley for the rights back to my first five books and when I got them, I resold them to Sourcebooks. So it’s usually the author who re-sales her books to new publishers.  Now, Sourcebooks is re publishing my first five Amelia Grey books. They are publishing one new book and one reprint each year to give me two books out a year. They have to put new covers on the reprints because covers remains with the publisher, only the book is returned to the author. And, yes, Sourcebooks always asks me to give them cover ideas, even with my reprints. As in my latest book A Gentleman Says “I Do” I suggested that the heroine should be holding a piece of parchment with writing on it behind her back and that’s exactly what they did. And I need to add that Sourcebooks has given me fabulous covers for my reprints. As far as tweaking the old books, yes we can do that to some extent, but usually there isn’t the time to make large changes or to completely rewrite a book even if we wanted to. But there is always some things we want and need to change before the book is reprinted.

Have you ever thought about writing something completely different from what you’re known to write as? Or maybe you’re already or have done that under another pen name. Has it ever crossed your mind or has anyone suggested you try another genre all together different?

AMELIA GREY: I love romance. It’s all I want to write. Last year I published a nonfiction book called Fall In Love Like A Romance Writer as Amelia Grey. I asked well-known authors to tell me their own true love stories and then I made a collection of their responses. It turned out to be a wonderful book. So I enjoyed doing that but I don’t have the desire to write anything that isn’t a romance book.

OK, enough about your “multiple personalities” and book re-issues …I know we need to talk about your latest book today. So let’s make the 4th question be about that.

A Gentleman Says “I Do” comes out this month and it’s the 5th novel in The Rogues’ Dynasty series – Tell us about this particular story in the series and how you came up with the plot (I know. typical question that I’m sure you’ve answered hundreds of times…but it still has to be asked.:-)) If I was a publisher, what would your pitch be to get me excited about your novel?

AMELIA GREY: I think the best way to do that is to give you the blurb synopsis I gave to my editor. It sold her on the book and hopefully your readers will be just as excited and ready to read the book as she was:

A Gentleman Says “I Do”

Iverson Brentwood has finally met his match. Catalina Crisp heats his blood like no other in his history as a confirmed bachelor.  She is the most beautiful and alluring young lady he’s ever encountered, and her lovely countenance has stopped him dead in his tracks. But no matter how attracted he is to the intriguing Catalina, he can’t give into his desire to possess her in every way… for she is the daughter of the man he’s sworn to destroy.

Catalina’s father is a well-known poet and a writer, but wastrel whose disappearances continuously put their household one step away from destitution.  Something drastic must change, so it is with quill in hand, that Catalina completes her father’s latest parody of the twins Iverson and Matson Brentwood’s spectacular arrival in London.  When the writing hit the streets and parlors of London , it’s not long before a darkly handsome man is at her door, looking for her father.

Seeing the dashing rogue in the flesh, Catalina wishes she could write her way out of Iverson Brentwood’s life. And yet, for a bewildering moment as her heartbeat races and her throat goes dry, dallying with the rake seems like the perfect fictional escape—and it’s all she can do not to throw her arms around him and give into the madness of the intriguing man.     

And before we close…a bonus question…What’s the most unique question you’ve been asked by an interviewer? (I promise, I won’t get upset if it’s none of mine. Promise.)

AMELIA GREY: It has to be when it was a series of questions that I could give short answers about me. Let me find the interview and I’ll copy and paste some of it here. It was just a lot of fun and nothing serious about them.

My favorite book is:

Charlotte’s Web.  I know not a romance but a favorite carried over from childhood.

My favorite movie is:

“Enemy At The Gates, Braveheart, Gladiators, Dances With Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, and too many more to list here.

The author who influences me the most is:

Amanda Quick’s

If I received a free trip to anywhere in the world where would I visit:

London, England!

My favorite historical time period is:

Regency!

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Rochester:

Mr. Darcy

Chocolate or Strawberry

Strawberry

There were a few others but you get the picture. It was fun to answer 20 quick questions about me. And as you can see sometimes with movies you can’t settle on just one. Since I answered this interview a few years ago, there are movies I could add to it. For instance, I saw Hugo over the Christmas holidays and absolutely LOVED it!

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day chatting with us! It’s always a delight to have you here and I look forward to future books and re-issues I’ve not yet read. Come back soon!

AMELIA GREY: Thank you, thank you! I so enjoy being here and your questions were great!

I love to hear from readers. Please contact me at ameliagrey.com, ameliagrey@comcast.net, or find me on www.Facebook.com/AmeliaGreyBooks 

Amanda lives in the Pacific Northwest with her officer and a gentleman husband and their two remarkably active, naturally brilliant children.  They share their home with two fiendishly destructive cats and one lazy dog. {from author’s bio}

******************************************************************************************

The Book Faery Reviews: I’ve read the first 2 Highlander books and enjoyed them very much. In fact I interviewed you back in 2010 when you released The Highlander’s Sword.

Amanda Forester: Yes, I remember!  I’m happy to be back!

TBFR: To those who are not familiar with your upcoming novel True Highland Spirit, how would you describe the story?

AF: The year is 1355.  England and France are at war and tensions are high between the English and the Scots.  In an impoverished Highland clan, Morrigan McNab learned to survive with a sword in her hand.  Taking command, she is determined to protect her struggling clan, no matter the cost.  When an elusive French knight offers gold to fight against England, she joins the call to arms.  Sparks fly on the battlefield as a forbidden passion smolders between Morrigan and Sir Dragonet. Yet Sir Dragonet holds a secret that will destroy the hope for a life together, and will make them rivals on a dangerous quest for a mysterious relic.  As they fight beside each other against the English, and against each other to find the treasure, their love becomes a greater force than either can control.

TBFR: What inspired you to write Historical Romance based around the Scottish during medieval times?

AF: Writing historical romance started for me in reading historical romance.  My love for stories about relationships began with Jane Austen, and soon spread to the genre of Regency romance. I was first introduced to the wonders of the Scottish Highlands by Julie Garwood, and I was hooked.  These stories so inspired my imagination that I started to write some of my own. Preparing for my first book, The Highlanders Sword, I had in mind a particular historical scenario I wanted as the catalyst for my heroine’s adventure.  I researcher historical times and clans until I found what I was looking for in the Grahams of the 14th century.  I love medieval times because there is such a high level of drama, with war, intrigue, pageantry, and chivalry all combined with kilted Scots and knights in shining armor.  What’s not to love?

TBFR: What’s your research like when writing your novels? Is it mainly reading your research, or do you travel to various spots, and talk with other scholars?

AF: So far most of my research has been reading books and searching online resources.  However, one of my dreams is to travel to Scotland to do my own research.  I would love to explore the castles, visit the museums, soak in the scenery, and, let’s face it, drool over the sexy accents!

TBFR: Any challenges with writing the latest novel in the series, True Highland Spirit? (To those who’ve not read any of them, they can be read as standalone and not really in any particular order) Who would you say was the most difficult or most agreeable character in the novel as you wrote?

AF: True Highland Spirit posed a challenge because the heroine of the book was a formidable woman who could hold her own in battle.  She was not going to be overly impressed or easily wooed, so she had to meet someone completely different from the men she was accustomed to leading, someone who would be able to sneak past her natural defenses.  Enter Sir Dragonet, a French knight on a secret mission who was no more interested in falling in love than she was.  Since both these characters are very strong and rather obstinate in their determination to avoid romantic entanglements, I had to throw them together in ways they could not escape so that they could find their happily ever after.  They forgave me eventually, but they were cranky at me for much of the book!

TBFR: Are you working on a 4th novel and if so, could we get a peek preview?

AF: For my fourth book I am looking to try something a bit different – Regency!  Yes, the era of Jane Austen is calling, complete with Napoleonic spies, a pair of matchmakers, ballroom drama, and a duke (of course!).  I still want to go back to the Highlands, however, and I hope to go back to write more Highlander books.  Poor Gavin Patrick–I left him in France and he must find true love, which I suspect may be closer than he realizes!

TBFR: Any last words for our readers?

AF: I hope you will enjoy True Highland Spirit!  I love visitors so stop by my website.  If you are interested in reading the first two books, The Highlander’s Sword and The Highlander’s Heart, they are currently offering a special promotional discount on the e-book (they are also available in paperback too!).

TBFR: Thanks Amanda for taking the time out for this interview. I look forward to finishing The Highlander’s Spirit and of course reading any of your future work.

AF: Thank you so much for inviting me for a visit!

The Highlander’s Series represents Amanda’s first venture into writing historical fiction, so she would greatly enjoy hearing from readers.

Morrigan McNab learned to survive with a sword in her hand. Taking command, she is determined to protect her impoverished clan, no matter the cost. When an elusive French knight offers gold to fight against England, she joins the call to arms. Sparks fly on the battlefield as a forbidden passion smolders between Morrigan and Sir Dragonet. Yet Sir Dragonet holds a secret that will destroy the hope for a life together, and will make them rivals on a dangerous quest for a mysterious relic. As they fight beside each other against the English, and against each other to find the treasure, their love becomes a greater force than either can control.

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402253079
• ISBN-13: 978-1402253072

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Chapters | Powells

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Thanks to Sourcebooks we’re giving away TWO copies of True Highland Spirit this month to anyone who stops by with a US/Canadian mailing address (Sorry no PO Boxes). Winners will be notified within the a couple days AFTER the month has ended via our RSS newsletter (see sidebar to subscribe) AND on our Facebook Page (see sidebar to “Like” us). You must follow us on Facebook, follow through email subscription, or pay attention to any reply from The Book Faery Reviews within to know if you’ve won as no other notification will be sent out.

Since his brother’s death almost a year before, nothing has held Nicholas’ attention for long—not women, not booze, not even an excellent hand at cards. Nothing, that is, until he meets the woman he won in a drunken night of poker. Intrigued by his prize and her chilly reserve, he makes it his mission to crack Lexie’s cool demeanor. But even as passion explodes between them, the question remains: will Nicholas be able to take the ultimate risk…and gamble on love?

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes and Noble | SoulMate Publishing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…After discovering that her degree in English Literature/Linguistics and German didn’t lend itself to gainful employment in her hometown, Meggan Connors decided to pursue a graduate degree in the very practical field of Speech Pathology (she really liked school). However, being an author was always her true calling. She now pens novels of love and loss, of high stakes and risk-takers, and is forever being surprised when her characters decide to take control of “her” book.

Meggan makes her home in the Wild West with her lawman husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Sacramento Valley chapter. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing with her kids, hiking in the mountains, or reading a book.

Read her guest post here: A Broody Hero

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Not sure how the character’s dress really fit the book but the title was just perfect since Lexie is won as a marker in a poker game. One in which her own father put her into the pot. And again later as she continues to feel “purchased”. I don’t read many American historical novels set in the west but I’m glad I read this one. Not sure I’d say I could relate or feel as if I was the heroine in this story but I could say I felt more like a friend. Perhaps maybe a friend like Claire. Lexie has suffered and sacrificed so much since her mother’s death and in the end her sacrifice opens the heart of a man who thought he couldn’t give his heart. Connors did an excellent job in describing her characters mannerisms in each scene that I felt like I was there watching the whole incident. I felt disgust for her father and her fiance as well as warmth, protection, and love from the other characters. I’m looking forward to James’ story so I’m hoping she’s got it in the works.

I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family’s entrancing houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much as a by-your-leave. He’d like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love and man…if he can find her..

AND SHE WON’T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK…

After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hilary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman-if only they weren’t so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she’s vowed to avoid.

• Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Pub Date: February 01, 2012
• ISBN: 9781402258312

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Samantha Grace is the author of a witty new regency romance series about four debonair bachelors who have it all: immense wealth, influence, and women swooning at their feet – in the ballroom and out.

Samantha is married to her best friend, strives to stay one step ahead of their two precocious offspring, and lives in Wisconsin. She distracts herself during the bone-chilling months of winter with pilates classes and learning to belly dance.

To learn more about Samantha’s regency bachelors, visit www.samanthagraceauthor.com.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…I enjoyed the main characters Lana, Andrew, Phoebe, and Richard. What I really liked was how when I thought the story would have ended (and glad it didn’t because I would have felt empty) a new story with mystery and deceit evolves AFTER Lana falls in love with Andrew. When he realizes he may have lost her, that’s when he realizes that the old ways are no longer appetizing. He then must convince her he loves her and isn’t asking  for her hand in marriage out of “obligation” but because of true love. An enjoyable romance for anyone who enjoys a little twist and some sleuthing to tag alongside passion. The only thing I didn’t quite get was how the title fit with the book…

I received a copy of the NetGalley ebook for review from Sourcebooks, Inc in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say I really like the title for my blog. I came up with it and then just admired it for a few moments, kind of wishing it were actually true. That’s because my research process is nothing like a fine art. It’s one of those things that’s born out of necessity. Lately, my research process involves writing around the research and then going back when I absolutely can’t move the story forward without looking up some crucial information. And that was the definitely the case with The Rogue Pirate’s Bride.

Research wasn’t always thus. Once upon a time, before I had a husband and a toddler, I enjoyed research. I read whole non-fiction books on topics like Underwear in the Nineteenth Century, Regency Cant, Cooking Through the Ages. I enjoyed these books and savored them.

And thank God I read them when I did because I surely do not have time to read them now!

But as an author of historical romance, I have to carve out time for research. It’s part of the job description. And this is doubly the case when you’re writing a book about something you know nothing about. Something like sailing and ships in the nineteenth century. Something like rogue pirates.

Now you may say, Shana, why would you choose to write a pirate book when you have a small child and very little time to write and know nothing about pirates? That, dear reader, would fall under the topic of Logic, and this blog is about Research.

In all honesty, I’ve wanted to write a book with a pirate hero for years. And I went in to it thinking that I’d just research as I wrote (which is my strategy most of the time). Usually when I’m writing a scene and I come to a fact I need to look up or verify, I put XX in the text and keep writing. Later, when I have time (like at 2 in the morning), I search for all the XXes and look those facts up. I started The Rogue Pirate’s Bride this way. And pretty quickly it read like this:

Bastien hurried down the XX and walked along the XX to the XX. He nodded to the XX and stopped to inspect the XX. But his mind was on Raeven, locked in the XX. 

Not riveted by the story? Me neither. All of those lovely details are so important to set the scene and evoke the feel of the period and the setting. So I did what every great writer does.

I called my dad.

I’m lucky enough to have a father who knows a lot about sailing and ships. And I’m lucky that he agreed to sit down with me and listen to large sections of The Rogue Pirate’s Bride to help me with all those pesky details. Sure, I went to the library and checked out a stack of books on ships and sailing, but it’s not quite the same as having an expert just one text away.

So that’s it. That’s my research process. There’s nothing romantic or mysterious about it. Nothing fine-artish. It’s kind of like everything else in my life–fast, furious, and by the seat of my pants.

What about you? Have you ever gotten yourself in over your head and had to call on Dad (or someone else) to bail you out?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Shana Galen is the author of five Regency historicals, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne’s Bride. Her books have been sold in Brazil, Russia, and the Netherlands and featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She is a happily married wife and mother of a daughter and a spoiled cat and lives in Houston, Texas, where she is working on her next regency romance series! For more information please visit www.shanagalen.com, like her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

 

Revenge should be sweet, but it may cost him everything…

Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…

Forgiveness is unthinkable, but may be her only hope…

British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402265557
• ISBN-13: 978-1402265556

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Thanks to Sourcebooks, we’re giving away TWO copies of  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride. This giveaway is open to all with a US/Canadian mailing address (No P.O Boxes) will run through the month of February until 11:59pm Feb 29, 2012.

REVENGE SHOULD BE SWEET, BUT IT MAY COST HIM EVERYTHING

Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…

FORGIVENESS IS UNTHINKABLE BUT IT MAY BE HER ONLY HOPE…

British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402265557
• ISBN-13: 978-1402265556

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Shana Galen is the author of numerous adventurous, romantic Regency historicals, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne’s Bride. Her books have been sold in Brazil, Russia, and the Netherlands and featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city.

Now she writes full time. She’s happily married to an incredibly supportive man she likes to call Ultimate Sportsfan, and she has a beautiful daughter and a very spoiled cat.

Find Shana on her Website, Facebook or Twitter.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Shana Galen does it again and this time it’s filled with even more adrenalin adventure and passion. The Rogue Pirate’s Bride is the third book in the Sons of the Revolution trilogy. Each book was great alone and definitely got better with each story of the brothers. I will say though that I was a tad surprised there was little interaction with the brothers, the mother, and the women. But then again, any setting other than on a boat in battle or in love would not have made much sense for this particular brother. I absolutely LOVED the heroine. She was no sissy, pampered girl for sure! She was strong, independent, determined, sexy, and not afraid to get into action. The hero? Well, I’d do whatever for this man too! Excellent story and excellent trilogy!

Mr. Darcy. Heathcliff. Mr. Rochester. Any character as played by Jared Leto.

These are the tormented souls who populate our romance novels. Well, they populate the romance novels that populate my shelf, anyway. If we’re looking at the classics or historicals, we’re usually talking about an educated man who lives alone. He’s probably of noble stock, and, thinking he has something to prove, he tortures himself with work, sneers at societal norms and the delicate dance of courtly life, and pines for a woman he can’t have. Or the one he can have, but doesn’t think he deserves.

In the cases of Rochester, Darcy, and Heathcliff, these men could also use some serious social skills training, too. I mean, wow. One of my favorite lines in Jane Eyre is this one, spoken by Mr. Rochester,

“You—you strange—you almost unearthly thing!—I love as my own flesh. You—poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are—I entreat to accept me as a husband.”

Honestly, what kind of proposal is that? “You’re not pretty, and you’re broke and you’re short. Wanna get hitched?” That part about loving her as his own flesh would be totally romantic if he hadn’t just spent the entire book proving he loathes himself.

Yet I love that line. I can’t explain it. Something about Mr. Rochester just does it for me, and has since my sophomore year in high school. Also, Michael Fassbender playing Mr. Rochester was, quite simply, delicious. (He does tormented very well, but then, he’s half Irish, and we Irish—even mutt Irish like me—are a broody lot.)

In modern movies, the broody hero drinks too much coffee, sleeps too little, and desperately needs a shower and a shave. He listens to the likes of Evanescence, Tori Amos, or any artist that my husband would refer to as “depressed, whiny boy music.” Maybe he plays the guitar and composes his own music. Perhaps he’s a cop who has seen too much, a man who rides his motorcycle too fast in order to outrun his demons.

He is a lost soul, searching the cold, cruel world for his other half. His wounded heart just needs the love of a good woman to be whole.

And we eat it up.

But here’s my question: Would you actually want to date this kind of man?

The answer is…no.

Sure, the brush of his shadow beard against the hollows of your neck is…oh, hell’s bells, it’s intoxicating. Just hearing the roar of his motorcycle is enough to give you palpitations. He strums his guitar and he may as well be strumming his fingers against your skin. He’s not into sports of any kind, unless you count being winded from early onset emphysema as sport. Instead, the two of you will talk about Rilke or Keats or Shelley or Lord Byron. He’ll probably have something deep to say that will blow your mind.

We love a dark hero in romance novels. I certainly do. But, as it turns out, the hero of my own personal romance isn’t some dark and broody character. He watches The Simpsons and loves football. The music he listens to has far more to do with naked chicks than it does the meaning of our existence. He couldn’t play the guitar if his life depended on it. He laughs loudly and often.

At the end of the day, that’s what I want to come home to.

But gads, I do enjoy visiting the brooding hero every once in a while.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Meggan makes her home in the Wild West with her lawman husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Sacramento Valley chapter. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing with her kids, hiking in the mountains, or reading a book.

Follow Meggan… Blog | Facebook

When her father loses her in a poker game, Lexie Markland is sent to work in the household of Nicholas Wetherby for one year to pay off the debt. Innocent, but not naïve, she is savvy enough to know she must maintain her distance from this man, who frustrates her with his relentless teasing but whose kisses bring her to her knees. Because although she may be just another conquest to him, it’s not just her heart in jeopardy should she succumb to Nicholas’ considerable charms.

Since his brother’s death almost a year before, nothing has held Nicholas’ attention for long—not women, not booze, not even an excellent hand at cards. Nothing, that is, until he meets the woman he won in a drunken night of poker. Intrigued by his prize and her chilly reserve, he makes it his mission to crack Lexie’s cool demeanor. But even as passion explodes between them, the question remains: will Nicholas be able to take the ultimate risk…and gamble on love?

• Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
• Publication date: 12/15/2011
• Format: eBook

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon Kindle | Barnes and Noble Nook

On My Shelves is a weekly post at The Book Faery Reviews which shares THREE books from our personal collection. These books could be favorites, books to be read as soon as possible for our own enjoyment, as well as books to be read soon for scheduled reviews.

Books let us into their souls and lay open to us the secrets of our own.  ~William Hazlitt

The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman - For more than one hundred years, creative souls have traveled to Upstate New York to work under the captivating spell of the Bosco estate. Cradled in silence, inspired by the rough beauty of overgrown gardens and crumbling statuary, these chosen few fashion masterworks–and have cemented Bosco’s reputation as a premier artists’ colony. This season, five talented artists-in-residence find themselves drawn to the history of Bosco, from the extensive network of fountains that were once its centerpiece but have long since run dry to the story of its enigmatic founder, Aurora Latham, and the series of tragic events that occurred more than a century ago.

Ellis Brooks, a first-time novelist, has come to Bosco to write a book based on Aurora and the infamous summer of 1893, when wealthy, powerful Milo Latham brought the notorious medium Corinth Blackwell to the estate to help his wife contact three of the couple’s children, lost the winter before in a diphtheria epidemic. But when a séance turned deadly, Corinth and her alleged accomplice, Tom Quinn, disappeared, taking with them the Lathams’ only surviving child.

The more time she spends at Bosco, the more Ellis becomes convinced that there is an even darker, more sinister end to the story. And she’s not alone: biographer Bethesda Graham uncovers stunning revelations about Milo and Corinth; landscape architect David Fox discovers a series of hidden tunnels underneath the gardens; poet Zalman Bronsky hears the long-dry fountain’s waters beckoning him; and novelist Nat Loomis feels something lingering just out of reach.

After a bizarre series of accidents befalls them, the group cannot deny the connections between the long ago and now, the living and the dead . . . as Ellis realizes that the tangled truth may ensnare them all in its cool embrace.

Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie Montana by Goyer & Fleiss - Julia Cavanaugh has never left New York City. But in 1890, the young woman must head west to ensure that the orphans under her care are settled into good families. After her final stop in Montana, she plans to head straight back east. But upon arriving in the remote town of Lonesome Prairie, Julia learns to her horror that she is also supposed to be delivered—into the hands of an uncouth miner who carries a bill of purchase for his new “bride.” She turns to a respected circuit preacher to protect her from a forced marriage but with no return fare and few friends, Julia’s options are bleak. What is God’s plan for her in the middle of the vast Montana prairie?

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith - “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. Can Elizabeth vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

Today we have romance author Patricia Rice with us here at The Book Faery Reviews. She’s promoting her 49th novel, The Lure of Song and Magic which is a continuation of her Magic series. If you read all the way through to the end, you’ll find out details on how to win a copy for yourself from me.

So let’s get to the interview as I’m sure you’ll find her as much of a delight as I did.

The Book Faery Reviews: Hi Pat! Thank you for stopping by The Book Faery Reviews!

Now let’s pretend we’re in a NC coffee shop and someone out of the blue interrupts my coffee break with you (of course inside my head I’m jealous someone’s taking up my time with you…haha) asks you what you did for a living. After you mention you are an author who’ve they’ve never heard of, he asks what you write about and what you recently wrote about. How would you describe The Lure of Song and Magic to someone who’s never heard of your magic series or any of your previous novels?

Patricia Rice: Thank you so much for inviting me to visit! You have a very impressive website.

Lifting my “I’m not cynical, I’m just experienced” coffee mug and admiring the ambiance…  If that’s a “he” who is rudely interrupting us, I’ll simply tell him I write romance, and he’ll wander off and not bother us again unless he’s selling something!  But for someone genuinely interested in the romance genre—I’d tell them The Lure of Song and Magic is a contemporary romance with a hint of mystical magic from a siren’s seductive, and sometimes destructive, song.

TBFR: Without giving away too much, what was your favorite scene from the book?

PR: For angry gut punch—an early scene where Oz knocks aside all Pippa’s defenses, and she comes up fighting and nearly takes him out. For humor, when Pippa sets loose all the town’s wannabe TV stars, catching Oz in the midst of a three-ring circus of dancing grannies, lassoes, and singing cowboys.

TBFR: Last year I read Merely Magic and enjoyed it. Felt there was a nice even balance between the magic, romance, and history. Not too much of one element over the other. I hope to get a copy of book 2 and 3 of the historical Magic series to read more about the Malcolms and the Ives. The Lure of Song and Magic is the contemporary continuation of the series. Which era did you prefer writing in for the Malcolms and Ives? The historical or the contemporary? The concentrated details within the story are obviously going to be very different, but I wonder if it is harder to write within a time you didn’t exist in and experience or is it easier to pretend you were there in the past while you wrote? I will say that when I read Merely Magic, I felt as if I was actually there in that time with those people and the families in the woods. It was fabulous. I’d probably have to be in character for some time to be able to write something from the past so others could feel the realism of the time.

PR:  Thank you! That’s the finest compliment an author can receive. I’ve been writing historicals for years, and there’s just something very familiar to Georgian England so that I feel right at home. Of course, I’m not, and I had to do considerable research on many details. But the same can be said of contemporary California. While I’m familiar with the area I’m writing about, the details had to be researched and portrayed in such a way that a reader anywhere can understand the world I’ve created. That goes doubly so when dealing with the supernatural—the world has to be rock solid so the reader can believe the impossible.

The beauty of writing, though, is that an author can write and revise scenes long after the first draft is complete. That’s when those truly delicious tidbits materialize.

TBFR: I read you were a former CPA. Actually, my day job has me in the marketing department of an old non-profit organization for CPAs and I have to say that I’m surprised with all that creativity. Doesn’t exactly fit the CPA “profile” and I’m sure I’m not the first to say so. What made you change careers that are practically opposites? You sound like you’ve learned how to tap both sides of the brain well at the same time. What’s your secret?

PR: I’ve always been able to work from both sides of my brain. Had I been rich enough, I would have also earned a degree in psychology because I’m fascinated with how the brain works. (I test highest in aptitude for science!) I’ve always written stories and always kept accounting records—tracking where my meager pennies went in grade school. As time went on, it was far easier to find bookkeeping jobs than make money at writing. But I sold my first book the same week I started my first accounting job. Hard work is the only “secret” I know.

TBFR: There are some people that are in the closet when it comes to reading and writing romance novels. Myself, I’m a huge fan and definitely loud about it (just ask the people who interviewed me! haha). My friend who shares the love is quite the opposite when it comes to public display. She won’t let people see a romance cover if she’s reading one and she’d definitely never mention it if she was asked what her current read was. Makes me cringe when she tears the beautiful covers off if she’s commuting with her book and told her that she should just get an eReader if she didn’t want people to see what she was really reading. She thinks people look at reading romance novels as silly reading and it’s nothing but porn for women. (Personally, I get more out of them than a cheap tease but that’s just me. I can usually find SOMETHING else beyond just steamy scenes even though they’re definitely fun to read.) Do you think the rise in eReader sales will increase the sale of romance novels in e-format for that same reason my friend had? And when you decided you wanted to write romance novels, were you open and loud about it or where you in the closet and trying to keep it quiet until you knew you were loved by many fans?

PR: I respect every reader’s choice of reading material and how they choose to talk about it. I think it’s much more fun to openly and honestly discuss the books I’m reading. That’s how I learn about new authors. I had to tell my Southern Baptist deacon bosses what I wrote because I didn’t want them caught off guard. After that, everyone was curious and I’ve probably introduced a lot of new readers to the genre. But readers who don’t wish to tell everyone that they’re sentimental or enjoy reading about people falling in love or who maybe think they ought to be reading more intellectual material are entitled to their fears or beliefs. I don’t know how many people in this day and age of profanity and violence on TV still believe love is something to hide, but e-readers are perfect for those who do. And just to be clear—I think violence is way beyond more harmful than sex. We don’t hear about people dying from making love, do we?

TBFR: As a published author, are you involved in any of the marketing and promotions of your books? And if so, what method of marketing and promoting would you say to be the most effective in helping you sell your books?

PR: I may have many interests and abilities, but marketing is not one of them. I keep wishing for a marketing godmother to wave her magic wand. Instead, I let my publisher’s more experienced publicist do her thing, and I hire people to do bookmarks and websites and all those things. That still leaves me to write the blogs and do the social media, but I treat those like the old book tours, a way to talk with my readers. So, please, stop by and talk books because I’m truly lousy at promoting them! As for what works best—word of mouth, always.

TBFR: Other than the marketing and promoting of books, any advice when it comes to the writing process that you wish you had known when you first started writing?

PR: I wish I’d known that writing wasn’t a job where if I worked hard enough, I’d be promoted. Or a cozy little career where I could sit in my room and scribble all day. There are days when I think running a restaurant might be easier, except I can wear slippers while I work.

TBFR: Growing up in your tween-teen years, who was your favorite author and/or book series?

PR: I read as eclectically then as now. I loved the Betty Cavanna teen romances, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Ray Bradbury…

TBFR: Good authors that I too read growing up! And last but not least, what’s one question you’ve been dying to answer but have never been asked before?

PR: Where do you get those fabulous slippers? Thank you, I knit them myself.

I’d rather ask readers…Do you use Facebook to follow authors? I recently crashed mine and had to start all over (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialPatriciaRice) and I’m wondering if it’s worth the effort.

TBFR: Well, thank you again for visiting us here at The Book Faery Reviews. Hope to have you back again in the future. Happy writing to you!

PR: It’s been a pleasure and hope to visit again soon!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…With five million books in print and New York Times and USA Today’s bestseller lists under her belt, Patricia Rice’s emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards and have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories. A former CPA, Patricia Rice currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information, please visit http://www.patriciarice.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @Patricia_Rice.

 

THE LURE OF SONG AND MAGIC BY PATRICIA RICE
IN STORES JANUARY 2012 

Her voice was a curse… 

When Dylan “Oz” Oswin’s son is kidnapped, the high-powered producer will do anything to get him back. Desperately following an anonymous tip, he seeks help from a former child singing sensation called Syrene, only to find she’s vowed never to sing again. Immune to her voice but not her charm, Oz is convinced she holds the key to his son’s disappearance—and he’ll stop at nothing to make her break her vow.

Only he can make her sing…
She knows the devastation her talent can bring. There’s more than a child’s life at stake, but Syrene cannot unleash her dangerous siren’s voice upon the world, even for a man who is impossible to deny…

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (January 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402255748
• ISBN-13: 978-1402255748

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Thanks to Sourcebooks, we’re giving away TWO copies of The Lure of Song and Magic by Patricia Rice to a randomly selected commenter of this post. This giveaway will run now through 11:59pm Friday, February 3rd and is open to those with US/Canadian mailing addresses (no PO Boxes).

Three HQN Authors Talk About The Art of the First Kiss 

While Harlequin is known primarily for romance, they also offer hotter fare. Today, authors Stephanie Draven, Laura Kaye and Leia Rice are here to talk a little bit about kisses and duel for the hottest. You decide!

The Fever and The Fury…“You do want to go to bed with me, don’t you, Phaedra?”

“Yes.” It was just the one tremulous word, but it was all the permission he needed. He drew her palm to his mouth. Her hand was damp, her pulse leaping beneath his lips. She was so eager. So wanting. Still, she resisted him. “Luke, you know I can’t consent to it. I can’t give you pleasure.”

“Then stop me from taking it,” he said, dragging his teeth up the pale underside of her arm, kissing the soft spot inside her elbow. She seemed entirely undone by this tenderness: she succumbed to it with a helplessness he’d never seen in any woman. It was unfair, some part of him thought. He was taking advantage of her innocence and inexperience. Someone should stop him, because he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

“Luke,” she whispered in warning.

“Stop me,” he said, his lips working up her shoulder and fastening at the pulse just behind her ear, the silk of her dark hair tickling his nose.

When her mouth fell open to speak, his thumb traced her lips and he was rewarded with another moan. His muscles tightened, every part of him straining with the thrill of torturing her for a change and in such a delicious way. “Stop me from kissing you, Phaedra. If you can.”

Stop him, she thought. Stop him!

But as his mouth inched its way along her jawline and found her lips, his honeyed kiss filled her mouth with sweetness. If her existence depended on it—and it may have—she couldn’t have stopped him. Instead, her lips parted and she offered no resistance to the tongue that touched her own.

The intimacy of being kissed by Luke was a revelation. The unanticipated joy of it rocked her to the soles of her feet. How was it that mortals could experience this and ever want to do anything else? She didn’t return his kiss, but let him plunder her mouth. And she wished that he would go on doing it forever.

The Revolutionary Mistress…Pulling the sleeve of her dress down, Rene leaned over and gently kissed the slope of her shoulder.  He kissed the curve of her neck, the line of her jaw, and finally, his lips were on hers.  He parted Mariette’s mouth with his tongue, probing it inside and around her own.  Almost instantly, the kiss went from something soft and gentle, to something ravenous and hungry.

Mariette moaned inside of the kiss.  She moaned at the touch of his fingers over her corset, which he also pushed down so that her breast popped free of its confines, skin meeting with the chilly air.  Her nipple immediately tightened, hardening into a sensitive nub that Rene began to roll between his thick fingers.

“Now what do you want from me?” He asked after breaking the heated kiss. 

In the Service of the King…Shayla’s mind erupted into a cacophony of joyous confusion. She’d been specifically told there would be no kissing. The king did not kiss. But, holy hell! Did the king ever kiss.

His large frame bent down over her, surrounding her in his heat. His full lips sucked and pulled at hers and his tongue demanded entrance and exploration, which she freely granted. His hard muscles bunched and thrummed around her, setting her body on fire everywhere they touched. The scent of powerful masculinity filled her nose, and the exquisite flavor of his tongue in her mouth intoxicated her. And, oh God, every time she felt the passing hardness of his fangs as they kissed made her whimper and moan. Her body readied itself immediately for his, moistening, opening.

Having shielded herself from physical relationships, she was astounded to learn her body had the ability to produce this crazy, urgent euphoria. Her brain scrambled to process each new, maddening sensation. In that moment, she would’ve done anything to maintain the feeling. Was it always like this?

Kael growled low in his chest as his mouth came at her again and again, and Shayla felt the vibration of the feral sound against her breasts. She squeezed her thighs together, seeking friction to satisfy even a little of her now uncontrollable lust. Her mouth was so filled with his probing tongue it was difficult to get enough oxygen, but his kisses convinced her she could live without it as long as he continued to devour her so intensely.

Never had she imagined the expression of physical love could make her feel so wanted, so needed.

His obvious pleasure throbbed against her stomach and flooded her with unbelievable feelings of power, and just a little fear. Because they were off the grid now, outside the bounds of the rules and expectations she’d been taught during her training. And she was thrilled it might mean he was as affected by her as she was by him. Wherever the king was leading them, she was only too happy to follow. In truth, she felt powerless to do otherwise.

Sooooo, what say you? Which kiss was the hottest?

About the Authors…Stephanie Draven is a multi-published award-nominated author of myth-inspired paranormal romance. Writing for HQN Nocturne, Stephanie’s Mythica series asks the question: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth…and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies, Stephanie lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Buy Stephanie’s Books

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Laura Kaye Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of a half-dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is a finalist for the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named Grave Tells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Buy Laura‘s Books

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Leia Rice is an avid lover of everything Parisian, Ancient Grecian and Ancient Roman. She wishes that women would still wear the pretty dresses and petticoats that they did back in the 18th century, but she’s well aware how much of a pain they must have been. Leia writes historical fiction, romance and erotica in these  areas, because she cannot get enough of each respective time period.

Buy Leia’s Books

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• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (August 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402238495
• ISBN-13: 978-1402238499

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Jennifer Blake has been called a “pioneer of the romance genre”, and an “icon of the romance industry.” A New York Times and international best selling author since 1977, she is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, member of the RWA Hall of Fame, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Rita. She holds numerous other honors, including two “Maggies”, two Holt Medallions, multiple Reviewer’s Choice Awards, the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times BookReviews Magazine, and the Frank Waters Award for literary excellence. She has written over 60 books with translations in 20 languages and more than 30 million copies in print worldwide.

Jennifer and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style retreat in North Louisiana where they often entertain family and friends. Always a gardener, she spends much of her time encouraging her garden to bloom with her favorite daylilies and antique roses. She also enjoys walking her two dogs, Buffy and Lucky, and indulging in needlework, painting, and travel.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…This title was originally released in 1984 and re-released last year in 2011. In Midnight Waltz I had a feeling Julian was a “Molly” pretending to be straight from the beginning but I wasn’t 100% sure. The signs were there but you just never really know, right? Back then it was likely very common for gay men to marry for family (men needed heirs) and society sake.

Midnight Waltz like other Blake books was very detailed in land and architecture descriptions. You just can’t miss imagining the scene because she can get quite lengthy; in fact so lengthy, I found myself skimming at times over some of these parts.

I felt sorry for Amalie who was the true victim of the story and even a part of me felt sorry for Robert, Julien’s cousin. As much as I wanted to love this story however, I felt it was lacking something. I needed to see more of her real relationship with Julien and his relationship with others so I could have gotten to know him better but then again the story was more about Amalie and “Julien’s passion” in the late night.

My Book Rating: 2 out of 4 stars

I received a copy from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. No money was given for this review.

Mailbox Monday is where other bloggers write about the books they received the previous week. The Mailbox Monday is now going on a blog tour with the host for the month of January being  at At Home With Books. Visit the blog to see what books made it’s way and check out the others who are participating like me in the Monday Mailbox Meme.

I can’t remember the books that came into my mailbox this past week (I know…that sounds bad…) but I did pick up the below from my favorite local used bookstore Edward McKay in Raleigh. 

Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer (historical romance) - Every woman dreams of saying “I do.” Jilly Jones did—and years of a deeply imperfect marriage followed. Now living in London and working in a charming bookshop, the free-spirited Jilly is perfectly content with her newfound independence…until she meets a dashing naval officer who sparks her longing for a realhappily ever after.Captain Stephen Arrow is just home after years of service, and he’s in no hurry to give up his hard-won freedom. The meddlesome bluestocking Jilly Jones is exactly the kind of woman he doesn’t need…But there’s something about her that keeps drawing Stephen back to the bookshop. With her sparkling wit and understated beauty, she seems like a surprisingly real match for Stephen. But will a scandalous chapter in Jilly’s past stand in the way of their heated attraction? For this bachelor, nothing is impossible…

 

How to Woo A Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffreys (historical romance) - THE HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL

When a charming rogue proposes she marry him to meet her grandmother’s ultimatum, the Sharpe clan’s strong-willed sister makes a tempting counter-offer that preserves her inheritance and ignites his imagination.

Lady Minerva Sharpe has the perfect plan to thwart her grandmother’s demands: become engaged to a rogue! Surely Gran would rather release her inheritance than see her wed a scoundrel. And who better to play the part of Minerva’s would-be husband than wild barrister Giles Masters, the very inspiration for the handsome spy in the popular Gothic novels she writes? The memory of his passionate kiss on her nineteenth birthday has lingered in Minerva’s imagination, though she has no intention of really falling for such a rakehell, much less marrying him. Little does she know, he really is a covert government operative. When they team up to investigate the mystery behind her parents’ deaths, their fake betrothal leads to red-hot desire. Then Minerva discovers Giles’s secret double life, and he must use all the cunning tricks of his trade to find his way back into her heart.

Eva Ward returns to the only place she truly belongs, the old house on the Cornish coast, seeking happiness in memories of childhood summers. There she finds mysterious voices and hidden pathways that sweep her not only into the past, but also into the arms of a man who is not of her time.

But Eva must confront her own ghosts, as well as those of long ago. As she begins to question her place in the present, she comes to realize that she too must decide where she really belongs.

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402258585
• ISBN-13: 978-1402258589

BUY THE BOOK…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Susanna Kearsley’s writing has been compared to Mary Stewart, Daphne du Maurier, and Diana Gabaldon. Her books have been translated into several languages, selected for the Mystery Guild, condensed for Reader’s Digest, and optioned for film. She lives in Canada, near the shores of Lake Ontario.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Fascinating time-travel book with elements of love, a “magical feeling”, and a twist. The way in which the room or clothes would just change to go from the past to the present was neat. There were times I wondered where I’d end up if that were to ever happen to me and would I stay. A book I’d definitely re-read again because I’m sure there’d be something new I may have missed. Kearsley did a great job telling the story and I look forward to picking up another by her. For those who like time-travel, history, and romance, this is a book you should find.

My Book Rating:

I received a copy for review from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

Seduced by the hot sun and blinding passions of Renaissance Italy, sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de’ Medici sees a gilded life stretching ahead. Her wealthy new husband handpicked her to be his bride, and his great castle in Ferrara will be her playground. But Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara quickly proves to be just as dangerous and mysterious as he is dark and handsome, and the stone walls of the castle seem to trap Lucrezia like a prison.

Only the duke’s lover Francesca seems able to tame his increasing fury, as his desperate need to produce an heir drives him deep into precarious obsession. With her head full of heartbroken dreams, Lucrezia flees from him down a dangerous path that may cost her everything.

Step into the elegant world of the Robert Browning poem “My Last Duchess,” as imagined by Gabrielle Kimm, where she brings to life the passions and people of sixteenth-century Tuscany and Ferrara. It is a chilling story of forbidden love and dark decadence that will haunt you.

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Original edition (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402261519
• ISBN-13: 978-1402261510

BUY THE BOOK...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Gabrielle Kimm is a graduate of the creative writing master’s program at the University of Chichester. She is writing her second novel, The Courtesan’s Lover, which features one of the characters of His Last Duchess as the heroine. www.gabriellekimm.co.uk

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Excellent historical fiction about Lucrezia di Medici and her husband Alfonso II, the Duke of Ferrara. Their marriage was twisted; more that HE was twisted and she loved another who she later left for. Kimm does an excellent job making the reader feel as if they themselves are there and writes the story in such a way that you keep turning the pages as fast as you can read. I definitely recommend this to those who enjoy a good historical fiction novel about someone in history.

My Book Rating:

I received a copy for review in exchange for an honest review from Sourcebooks. 

A genius with a terrible loss. . .

Gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland, has little interest in his father’s obsession to see his sons married, and instead pours passion into his music. But when Val loses his music, he flees to the country, alone and tormented by what has been robbed from him.

A widow with a heartbreaking secret. . .

Grieving Ellen Markham has hidden herself away, looking for safety in solitude. Her curious new neighbor offers a kindred lonely soul whose desperation is matched only by his desire, but Ellen’s devastating secret could be the one thing that destroys them both.

Together they’ll find there’s no rescue from the past, but sometimes losing everything can help you find what you need most.

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140224570X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402245701

BUY THE BOOK…     

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.

It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.

While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master’s degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing…. romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. (“Mom, why doesn’t anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?”)

Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in “the call” started out: “I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing–and if that doesn’t narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought.” (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…This is my 5th novel by Grace Burrowes and I have to say that Val is my favorite “lost” sweetie. I will admit there were some moments of confusion when I saw how sensitive he was (or could be) and how close he was with the same sex. With brother and friend he and they were quite touchy at times not modest at all in the nude (something you rarely see between men). However, the passion, attentiveness, and love he showed toward both his love of music and Ellen just makes you feel giddy inside with excitement and love for them all. I very much applauded them for stripping their titles and not telling the other “who” they really were so they could actually get to know each other just as Val and just as Ellen. Yes it was a white lie they told by not mentioning the whole truth of who they were but how else could they have felt true comfort with the other without the society pressures? The Duke himself when he visits towards the end is always a pleasure to read when he pops up in the stories and his strong and warm wife is someone you wish was your own mother or grandmother. I enjoyed very much reading this brother’s story from The Duke’s Obsession series (The Virtuoso is book 3 in series) and I look forward to continue reading the Windham family stories (The Virtuoso is book 4 in series) with the girls next.  In fact, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal is next on the list to read…

My Book Rating:

I received a copy of this book for review from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.