Ten Reasons to Love the Regency Period by Maya Rodale!
Let’s see…
Men in sexy, fitted suits, girls in pretty, to-die-for gowns, romance, courtship, fans, pearls, finding Mr. Darcy, the thrill of being caught in a compromising position, carriages, balls, dancing, witty banter, large estates, dukes, lords, ladies and gentlemen… Did I miss anything?
Here are Maya Rodale‘s Top Ten Reasons to Love the Regency…
Part 1:
http://www.mayarodale.com/2011/03/28/top-ten-reasons-i-love-the-regency-era/
Part 2:
http://www.mayarodale.com/2011/03/30/top-ten-reasons-i-love-the-regency-era-part-two/
Final Trailer for The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander!
And now that all 3 pieces have been released, I give you the complete three part trailer for the highly anticipated release, The Perfect Mistress!
Part One
Part Two
And at last, the final, recently released sizzling preview…
Part Three
And *sigh*, that was one heck of an ending! Too bad they couldn’t have dragged it out a lil bit longer 
Now how badly do you want to read this book?
New Trailer for The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander
Due January 25, 2011
I am now officially dying for this book! A gorgeous cover, a too-sexy stepback, an intriguing trailer–This has all the makings of HR stardom! Check out the newest trailer for this much anticipated release! Can we say steamy?! 
Look for the third and final trailer coming soon!
And in case you missed it, here is the first trailer again:
TV Rave: The Pillars of the Earth
Summary:
The Pillars of the Earth is set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles which tears lives and families apart. In that time, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop, love-stories entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, the sadistic Lord William, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone work and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. Follett masterfully weaves these stories through political turmoil of 12th century England, creating a relevant and viable world for today’s audience and for generations to come.
Cast:
- Ian McShane as Waleran Bigod
- Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder
- Matthew Macfadyen as Prior Philip
- Eddie Redmayne as Jack Jackson
- Hayley Atwell as Aliena
- Donald Sutherland as Earl Bartholomew
Review:
Oh. My. God.
When I first heard of this show through a fansite for the actor Matthew MacFadyen, I was a bit blah about it. My preferred time period is the 18th and 19th century and this was a medieval drama. On top of that, it looked too gory for my taste.
So, a year went by… and my mother ended up buying it on DVD. She had watched the book and loved it and recommended the series to me. I wasn’t ecstatic but I thought why not? It was time I expanded my historical timeline. I also needed something to watch at that time so it seemed a perfect fit. So I popped it in my laptop and decided to be open-minded. Hey, at least I got to see Matthew MacFadyen again right?
Oh. My. God.
I couldn’t have imagined how much I would end up loving this show! I still cannot believe I discovered this show so late! Seriously, I cannot believe I deprived myself of the pleasure of this epic historical masterpiece!
The 8 hour show is set around the building of a fictional cathedral admidst a time of long drawn out war for the throne of England. But it’s not about the building so much as the lives of the people who are affected by it and the war for power. We are given multiple complex characters, some of whom are devoted to the building of the cathedral and others who are determined to see it fall.
From the first moment when it was announced the Prince was dead and there was no heir to the throne, I was hooked. And the plot didn’t let up for a minute. I was plunged into the lives of these people. I rooted for them, I cheered for them, I cried for them-I was totally, completely absorbed. That first night I was up until 4am to watching the first few episodes-The next night I abandoned all other plans to finish the whole thing up-it was just too addictive!
The plot was complex and I was in awe at the genius of the writer who came up with it! It unfolded so well and just worked on so many levels! It didn’t go right over the viewer’s head and you felt you were really seeing these people and living their lives. The acting was top-notch with some real great actors to be seen! Even the action scenes didn’t bother me as much as I thought they would. I got introduced to a new time in history which was fascinating although I definitely wouldn’t want to live in such a bloodthristy period.
This show really had it all-action, romance, passion, betrayal, murder, greed, ambition, sorrow, joy… I could go on! I don’t care if it’s 8 hours long! I’m definitely seeing this one again!
Historical Drama Rating: 5 stars out of 5!!!
Sexiness Rating: 5 out of 5
Ladies, we’ve got the delicious-voiced Matthew MacFadyen, the scruffy sexy Rufus Sewell and the-too-cute for words Eddie Redmayne who sports some seriously sexy red hair and plays a romantic lead. *Swooon* 
Guys, Hayley Atwell is really too gorgeous for her own good and you’ll get to see more than her pretty face, wink wink
Like this:
Anticipation-The Perfect Mistress by Victoria Alexander
START THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG!
There’s nothing like discovering a new delicious sounding romance, especially when one has spent days away out camping in limited comfort and isolation. Coming home to discover this little gem has made my welcome home even warmer!
Summary:
A dazzling new romance in which one otherwise proper lady discovers the passion that is her legacy…
Widowed Julia, Lady Winterset, has inherited a book—a very shocking book—that every gentleman in London seems to want. For a charismatic businessman, it’s a chance to build an empire. For a dashing novelist, it could guarantee fame. But to a proud, domineering earl, it means everything…
Harrison Landingham, Earl of Mountdale, can’t let the obstinate Julia release the shameless memoir that could ruin his family’s name. But the only way to stop her may be equally sordid—if far more pleasurable. For his rivals are intent on seducing the captivating woman to acquire the book. And Harrison isn’t the sort to back away from a competition with the stakes this high. Now the winner will claim both the scandalous memoirs and the heart of their lovely owner…
Due out January 25, 2011
Excerpt and more info (including a too-sexy stepback):
http://www.victoriaalexander.com/books/the-perfect-mistress/
And to stoke the fires of our anticipation even more, we have an exciting trailer!
Show to Watch!
Downton Abbey
Being such huge fans of historical romance which most of you are, I thought I would let you know about a great new series that just recently started airing on itv1, in case you hadn’t heard.
Downton Abbey is a magnificent drama focusing on the lives of a upper class family and their servants, during 1912 in England.The heir of Downton Abbey has died, leaving the estate to a distant cousin (who is nothing like his glamorous relatives) who soon comes to live at the home, sparking all kinds of delicious drama
The characters are well acted, the sets are grand, the costumes are gorgeous, the plot is thrilling-This is a first class period drama and no worries to the romantics out there-There are definitely some major romantic plotlines in this one
I’m three episodes in and am well and truly hooked. The characters are all interesting and there isn’t a dull moment as you watch the servants scuttle to and fro doing their jobs, while the aristocrats are busy with dramas of their own. I find it intriguing, focusing on how the servants keep the house running. It seems behind all that lounging around on sofas and that languorous luxury is a lot of hard work and pairs of hands! And so many of them! Butler, lady’s maid, cook, upper housemaid, footman, butler, valet, lower housemaid, scullery maid to name some of the more prominent ones.
Everyone’s got their secrets and some of them are downright scandalous! I say that anyone with a taste for historical detail and slowly building tension/romance is sure to find this drama brilliant. I know I do 
The Trailer-
Interested? Tons of information, including cast interviews and a gallery of pictures, are available at this site-
http://enchantedserenityperiodfilms.blogspot.com/2010/02/downton-abbey.html
