First Page of Sarah MacLean’s Eleven Scandals!

In retrospect, there were four actions Miss Juliana Fiori should have reconsidered that evening.

First, she likely should have ignored the impulse to leave her sister-in-law’s Autumn ball in favor of the less-cloying, better-smelling and far more poorly-lit gardens of Ralston House.

Second, she very likely should have hesitated when that same impulse propelled her deeper along the darkened paths that marked the exterior of her brother’s home.

Third, she almost certainly should have returned to the house the moment she stumbled upon Lord Grabeham, deep in his cups, half-falling down, and spouting entirely ungentlemanly things.

But, she definitely should not have hit him.

It didn’t matter than he had pulled her close and breathed his hot, whiskey-laden breath upon her, or that his cold, moist lips had clumsily found their way to the high arch of one cheek, or that he suggested that she might like it just as her mother had.

Ladies did not hit people.

At least, English ladies didn’t.

***

Look for the new novel out April 26th

The Hottest Debut This Month…

 

Click on the cover for more info…

If you haven’t read it already, be sure to pick up Lecia Cornwall’s new book, which is being talked about EVERYWHERE. Not to mention being praised to the roof by readers, critics and even the publishers at Avon!

Here’s what the editor at Avon Romance has to say about the new novel…

And after that, go and check out Lecia’a list of the Best (and Worst) Reasons to Live in the Regency Period and score a chance to win her book…

http://www.fictionvixen.com/2011/03/guest-post-giveaway-author-lecia-cornwall.html

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/

Elizabeth Boyle’s new excerpt! :D

*Squeal!*

The third book in Elizabeth Boyle’s new series has an excerpt!!! Enjoy the sneak preview below…

http://elizabethboyle.com/books/langley.php#excerpt

The Perfect Scandal by Delilah Marvelle

Setting: 1828, Regency

Summary:

If there is anything Tristan Adam Hargrove, fourth Marquis of Moreland, has learned to avoid, it’s scandal. For the dark and dashing lord is not only an honorable gentleman who would never seduce a woman for his own gain, he is also the author of How to Avoid a Scandal, the infamous red book that has swept like wildfire through the better part of London society.

When a raven-haired beauty arrives as his new neighbor, he knows better than to succumb to the desire he feels. He knows little about her—only that she is high born, a protégé of the Crown and completely unsuitable for the base passions he hides from the world. If only he had never glimpsed the vulnerable beauty one fateful night. If only her lips were not so ravishingly red. If only it were not already too late to save her and himself from the untamed passion he is about to unleash in the name of love.

Click on cover for more info

*This is Book 3 in the Scandal series*

Review:

And a brilliant series has come to an end! I’ll admit this was the book I was most looking forward to, because the hero was the mysterious writer of How To Avoid a Scandal and he was hiding a dirty secret. 😉

This book was really unique in a lot of ways and very refreshing. The hero and heroine aren’t what you expect and the plot is intriguing, full of twists and so not like a typical historical romance. I really enjoyed the fast-paced, funny, steamy plot. Better yet, I enjoyed learning some history that I previously did not know about.

Our hero is Lord Moreland, who was introduced in the last book as one of that book’s heroine’s suitors. Right from the start, it’s clear he’s a real gentleman, only we soon discover he’s hiding his true self behind that civilized exterior. Won’t spoil the secret, but let’s just say our hero likes it ‘rough.’ *ahem* He might be a difficult hero to like (cause of his little secret) but essentially he is the perfect hero, ready to risk it all for his woman.

Our heroine on the other hand is openly bold, daring, feisty and in short, everything a lady isn’t supposed to be. The first time she meets our hero, she boldly announces her intention to marry him. But you gotta love a heroine who’s strong and independent. She’s also got her own little secret she’s hiding, which makes her even more lovable. She’s also Polish which is a major part of the storyline, as she wants to be able to help her country liberate itself from Russia.

This was the other thing I enjoyed about this book-the history. I felt like I learned some interesting things about Poland being under Russian rule and it was fascinating as this isn’t usually done in romances.

All in all, I’ll have to say, that this is a great romance. It’s addictive, witty, funny as hell, with real characters you can’t help but adore. The plot will keep you guessing as it jumps from point to point. The only problem I had with it, was that the hero’s ‘problem could have been explored more. I also felt like there wasn’t any closure on that point. Other than that, the book was an awesome read and you all should pick it up!

Sensuality Rating: HOT (Love scenes are explicit!)

Verdict: Great ending to a great series!

Rating: 4 and a half out of 5 stars

Pearls of Elegance…

This is yet another example of what happens when you give a modern Regency addict a camera and some bonus time… 😛

What do you think?

Could I make a romance cover? 😉

Nicola Cornick-Covers to Drool Over…

Nicola Cornick is back with the last two books of her acclaimed series, The Scandalous Women of the Ton. Last year saw the release of Whisper of Scandal (Oct 2010), One Wicked Sin (Nov 2010) and Mistress by Midnight (Dec 2010).

This year look out for Book 4, Notorious (July 19) and Book 5, Desired (November 29).

 

NOTORIOUS

Summary:

When the ton’s most notorious heartbreaker…

Dangerously seductive and sinfully beautiful, Susanna Burney is society’s most sought after matchbreaker. Paid by wealthy parents to part unsuitable couples, she’s never yet failed to accomplish her mission of diverting a groom-to-be. Until her final assignment brings her face-to-face with the man who’d once taught her an intimate lesson in heartache….

Meets London’s most disreputable rake…

James Devlin has everything he’s always wanted: a title, a rich fiancée and a place in society. But the woman who’s just met his eyes across a crowded ballroom threatens it all. Not because she’d once claimed his heart, or that every sinuous swirl of her ball gown takes his breath away. But because the secrets she carries could cost him everything. To put the past to rest once and for all, Dev just might have to play Susanna at her own wicked game…

OUT JULY 19, 2011

***

DESIRED

Summary:

Tess Darent’s world is unravelling. Danger threatens her stepchildren and she is about to be unmasked as a radical political cartoonist and thrown into gaol. The only thing that can save her is a respectable marriage. But when it comes to tying the knot Tess requires a very special husband – one who has neither the desire nor the ability to consummate their marriage.

Owen Purchase, Viscount Rothbury cannot resist Tess when she asks for the protection of his name. But he has no intention of making a marriage in name only. Will the handsome sea captain be able to persuade the notorious widow to give her heart as well as her reputation into his safekeeping?

OUT NOVEMBER 29, 2011

Anticipated Release: Emma Wildes-New Series!

Summary:

Lady Cecily Francis is resigned to become the wife of Lord Drury, the man she suspects her sister is pining for. But upon her first scandalous encounter with the exotic Earl of Augustine-the American whom everyone is whispering about- Cecily is intrigued by the possibility of a more exciting life. If only she could contrive some way to marry the unconventional earl instead….

Around town he’s known as Earl Savage. Although he inherited his title legitimately-and, with it, responsibility for his three half sisters-Augustine is half American and part Iroquois. He can’t wait to settle his father’s estate, marry his sisters off, and return to his native soil. Until charming Lady Cecily has him considering a prolonged stay in England…

COMING MAY 3, 2011

Site Update

Hey folks 😉

Just added a minor update to my site to make things more convenient for you guys. Now when you click on a cover in my review section, April’s list of romances, and the book in my Currently Reading section, you will be taken to the page on that author’s website where you can read an excerpt and otherwise find out more about the book.

Published in: on March 21, 2011 at 6:51 PM  Leave a Comment  

Romances Coming in April 2011!

New month, new romances… ENJOY! 😀

1 ) Out April 5 *DEBUT*

Summary:

Miss Eva Black spent her life concealing her mother’s past as a courtesan. Now a spinster, her beauty hidden away under a dour disguise, Eva spends her days schooling courtesans to be suitable wives. But one vengeful duke does not appreciate Eva turning his mistress into a lady. He plans to seduce Eva into becoming what she detests: a courtesan. But he doesn’t expect her to be a woman of such beauty and so many secrets.

Click cover for excerpt and more details


2 ) Out April 5

Summary:

Only Victoria knows the truth about dashing, dissolute, dangerous Saber Lawrence—that he is a renegade prince plotting to seize control of his country. To ensure her silence, Saber kidnaps Victoria and carries her away to his castle deep in the woods. There they hide the truth about their past: a glittering ball, angry words, a passionate kiss. He vows to vanquish her reserve … but soon finds an English governess is not so easily seduced …

Between persuasion and passion, they realize that only together can they defeat the enemies determined to destroy them. But will Saber discover too late that a woman’s heart is a treasure more priceless than any kingdom?

Click cover for excerpt and more details


3 ) Out April 5

Summary:

One look at the towering ocean-side manor that is to be her new home, and exiled socialite Susan Stanton knows: This is a place haunted by secrets and riddled with menace.

For Susan, there is no escaping it. At best she can stay clear of the most dangerous element of all–dark-haired smuggler Evan Bothwick, a man whose shaded countenance cannot hide his wicked intent.

But Susan has a secret of her own–a special gift that renders her privy to the darkest mysteries lurking within the walls of the manor and in the labyrinthine cellars beneath. And the only man who can help her make sense of it all is Evan, the very scoundrel and rogue she would do anything to be able to resist…

Click cover for excerpt and more details


4 ) Out April 26 *Third and final book in Love by Numbers trilogy*

Summary:

She lives for passion
Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips…and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.
He swears by reputation.

Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening–risking everything he holds dear–he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety.She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove
that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

Excerpt coming soon!

Click cover for more details

 

5 ) Out April 26

Summary:

The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister – now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas’s vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe’s unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue-banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie-Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is, and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes…

Click cover for excerpt and more details

6 ) Out April 26 *Fourth book in Rarest Blooms series*

Summary:

The Duke of Castleford has been so bad for so long that scandal can’t be bothered to rise up around him anymore. To alleviate the boredom of his privileged life, he occupies himself with drinking and whoring, not to mention the occasional duel. When something piques his interest, however, he has been known to emerge from his ennui and employ his considerable mental faculties to finding answers to the questions that fascinate him.

When Daphne Joyes rejects this notorious hedonist’s seduction, she assumes that he will forget about her and continue on his path to hell. Instead her beauty, grace and formidable composure captivate him, and she becomes one of those fascinations to him. That he intends to have her, and soon, is actually the least of the dangers that his pursuit of her presents. More troublesome is his interest in her past and her history, and the way he keeps poking his nose into the secrets behind the distant relative’s bequest that gave him ownership of the property where she lives.

Click cover for excerpt and more details


7 ) Out April 26 *Third book in The Impossible Bachelors series*

Summary:

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 real happily 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…

Click cover for excerpt and more details

8 ) Out April 26 *Second in Writing Girl series*
Summary:
Lord Simon Roxbury is a godsend to gossip columnists everywhere. this notorious rake has recently been caught in an extremely compromising position by none other than The London Weekly‘s Lady of Distinction. Rumor also has it that Lord R received an ultimatum: be wed or be penniless.

As A Lady of Distinction, Lady Julianna Somerset typically reports on other people’s scandals, but soon she finds herself embroiled in a very public battle with an irate Lord Roxbury–one that leaves her reputation in tatters and her position at The Weekly on the line.

With no other choice available, these two enemies unite in a marriage of convenience to rescue both their reputations and secure his fortune. With their rivals intent on revealing the charade, Lady Julianna and Lord Simon inevitably surrender to temptation. It may just be a love match after all…

Click cover for excerpt and more details


9 ) Out April 26 *Third book in Lost Lords series*

Summary:

Damian Mackenzie us a bastard and a gambler and society’s favorite reprobate. But to Lady Kiri Lawford he’s a hero—braver than the smugglers he rescues her from, more honorable than any lord she’s ever met, and far more attractive than any man has a right to be.  How can she not fall in love…?

But Damian Mackenzie has secrets that leave no room in his life for courting high-born young ladies—especially not the sister of one of his oldest friends. Yet when Kiri’s quick thinking reveals a deadly threat to England’s crown, Damian learns that she is nowhere near as prim and  respectable as he first assumed… and the lady is far more alluring than any man can resist…

Click cover for excerpt

HAPPY MONTH OF READING!!! 😀