Category: Giveaways

Posts in which we or our guests offer a giveaway.

Regency Masquerades Ball ~ The Earl’s Revenge and a Giveaway

Updated on October 14, 2014 by Elena Greene

Meet the hero and heroine of The Earl’s Revenge by Allison Lane, Book #3 in Regency Masquerades, six sparkling Regency romances in one ebook–currently 99 cents!

At the ballroom door…

Master of Ceremonies: Ah, the next guests are arriving. A tall, broad-shouldered gentleman, impeccably dressed, but without any hint of dandyism. I’m sure I know him, but his half-mask makes recognition difficult. Behind him is a lady in a green gown at least two years out of date. No jewelry at all. Her figure is good but her mask obscures so much of her face that I can’t tell if she is beautiful. A provincial unless my eye is completely out. And poor. I wonder who invited her. Obviously these two are not together. The gentleman’s eyes are already scanning the ladies in the ballroom.

Smiles at the guests. “Welcome to our masquerade. You are…”

Gentleman, aloofly: The Earl of Bridgeport.

Master of Ceremonies: “Ah, the famous Corinthian. Your latest bout against Jackson remains on every tongue – planting a facer on so skilled a pugilist is beyond wondrous. Estimates of the amount of money that changed hands that day have reached five figures.” Now I understand the scanning. Bridgeport is also a renowned rake who has probably bedded every bored matron in London under the age of forty and is likely seeking his next conquest – not that I can mention that aloud. The lady must already know his reputation, though. She flinched when he revealed his name.

Bridgeport, shrugging: “It was a good match. I trust you were not among the losers?”

Master of Ceremonies: “I’ve learned never to bet against you, my lord.” Time to move on. Bridgeport is also infamous for protecting his privacy. He dislikes talking about himself. “And you, madam?”

Lady: Elaine Thompson of Cornwall.

Master of Ceremonies: Definitely provincial. Even her accent screams country, and uncivilized country at that. So why is Bridgeport suddenly on the alert? Does he know the name and consider her a potential bedmate? She’s a stranger to me so I can’t tell if she is married or not. Her gloves cover any rings. But it’s not my place to pry, more’s the pity… “Welcome to our masquerade.”

Elaine: “Thank you.”

Bridgeport, holding out his arm: “Allow me.”

Elaine: Hesitates as if wanting to refuse, then accepts his escort with a small sigh.

Master of Ceremonies as they walk away: Odd. Very odd. Nothing in common that I can see, though he’s turning on the charm. She’s gauche at best – strides along like a man, ignoring his words. Or is she trying to escape him? If they remain until the unmasking, we might see some fireworks…

From behind a bank of flowers…

I’m Allison Lane, author of The Earl’s Revenge, and I know what these people are hiding and why the lady’s voice puzzles Bridgeport. He last heard it eight years ago just before she left him standing at the alter while she fled to Cornwall and changed her name to avoid the resulting scandal. She now supports herself illustrating children’s books under the male pseudonym M.E. Merriweather. But if anyone discovers that Merriweather is female, she can kiss her independence good-bye, for despite her very real talent, no female can command enough compensation to live on… Bridgeport is hiding his own secrets. Under various pseudonyms, he has published several books of poetry and contributes regularly to newspaper columns featuring political commentary, military analysis, and social satire. The latter could get him drummed out of society if his authorship became known for he’s pilloried everyone he knows at least once. He is currently furious at his publisher because the man only now got around to telling him that the renowned artist who was supposed to illustrate his upcoming volume of poetry died two months ago, to be replaced by an unknown named M.E. Merriweather…

earlsrevenge

“Ms. Lane is a formidable talent who hits her stride perfectly in this witty and intelligent diversion.” (Romantic Times)

The Earl’s Revenge is just one of six sparkling Regency romances in Regency Masquerades, an ebook set which also includes books by Brenda Hiatt, Lynn Kerstan, Gail Eastwood, Alicia Rasley, and Elena Greene. Now on a 99-cent special, Regency Masquerades is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo Books. Buy now for just 99 cents!

For updates and news on Regency Masquerades and the authors in the set, like us on Facebook.

And now for a giveaway!

At first glance, Lord Grayson is everything a man should be – handsome, wealthy, heir to an earldom. Yet his elegant façade hides deep loneliness. Estranged from his father, his fortune tainted by trade, he is under society’s censure for supposedly defiling a high-born innocent, driving her to suicide. And Lady Luck has truly deserted him. Every day she inflicts a new accident or aims yet another voracious fortune hunter in his direction… Shy Mary Seabrook would rather study birds than frequent the Marriage Mart, but she must accompany her sister this Season. To escape boredom, she often slips away to sketch. But who could expect to meet the most notorious rake in the realm hiding behind a screen of palms. To her surprise, Gray shares her interest in birds. Too bad talking to him could get her ostracized… Gray vows to avoid the intriguing Mary, but fate has other ideas. Wherever he goes, she is there – uncovering his secrets, saving his life, and deflecting the most scheming miss yet. It is Mary who recognizes that his accidents are not accidental. Someone is trying to kill him, and Mary holds the key to the culprit’s identity. Can they unmask the villain before Gray suffers one accident too many? (Winner: Holt Medallion for Best Regency)

“Its innovative plot, vivid characters, and lovely, tender romance mark The Rake and the Wallflower as one of the outstanding Regencies of the year.” (The Romance Reader)

What sort of fireworks would you expect to go off when two secretive people discover they have to reveal their secrets and work together? Post a comment for the chance to win a digital copy of Allison Lane’s The Rake and the Wallflower for Nook, Kindle, and other devices. All winners will be announced on Sunday.

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Posted in Giveaways, Guest | Tagged Allison Lane, Regency Masquerades, The Earl's Revenge, The Rake and the Wallflower | 15 Replies

Regency Masquerades Ball ~ Gwen’s Ghost and a Giveaway!

Updated on October 14, 2014 by Elena Greene

Meet the hero and heroine of Gwen’s Ghost by Alicia Rasley and Lynn Kerstan, Book #5 in Regency Masquerades, six sparkling Regency romances in one ebook–currently 99 cents!

At the ballroom door…

Master of Ceremonies: Well, this is an interesting pair! They must not be a couple, I note. They don’t even seem to acknowledge each other, though they’ve arrived together. And they are not well-matched. The gentleman is impossibly handsome and impeccably dressed—perhaps too impeccably. I doubt I have ever witnessed a more opulent cravat arrangement. And the stickpin! My word.

The lady, well, she is properly attired. Quite properly. Quite primly. Though her lilac-gray silk gown already has rather a high neck, she has added a white fichu to conceal any glimpse of bare skin. Now she raises her assertive chin, and I can see a spray of freckles across her cheeks, and a militant light in her large hazel eyes.

He stretches out a hand. “Welcome to our ball. My lady. Sir.”

Lady and Gentleman: The lady gives a sniff, and after a moment the gentleman makes the introduction.

Gentleman: “This is Miss Gwendolyn Sevaric. And I am…” A pause. ” Jocelyn Vayle.”

Lady: “So you say.” She turns to the Master of Ceremonies. “He also says that he has no memory of his past. He took a blow to the head—well, that much is true–”

Gentleman: “As I recall, the blow came while I was—” pause for effect—”saving your life.”

Lady: “You remember that, but nothing else, such as who you are and what sort of scandal you are escaping? Rather convenient, isn’t it?”

Master of Ceremonies: “You think he is lying?”

Gentleman: “Balderdash! Why would I lie about such a thing?”

Lady: Casts a scornful glance at him. “Yes. Why? That is what I would like to know. I do not even credit that name—Jocelyn Vayle—is your own.”

Gentleman: “Struth, if I were to invent an identity, why would I choose such a name? Surely I’d choose something more dramatic, more epic. Valerian, for example. That is a name with resonance.”

Master of Ceremonies: Interposes before Miss Sevaric can riposte. “Miss Sevaric. Miss Vayle. Welcome indeed! Ah! The orchestra is striking up. I like nothing so much as seeing handsome young persons like yourselves whirling out on the dancefloor.”

Lady: “I don’t dance.”

Gentleman: “Well, I do. Quite well, in fact.”

Lady: “Oh, that you remember, do you? Not your past, not your purpose, not your intentions towards my family and fortune… but you remember how to dance.”

Gentleman: “Yes, and if you’d like, I’ll teach you.” Holds out his arm. She regards it skeptically, then glances about them, taking in the interested gazes of the dancers moving past.

Lady: Takes his arm. “Oh, very well. At least it will give me an opportunity to step on your feet.”

Gentleman: “You are so very bloody-minded, my petit mignon. But then, you are a Sevaric after all. Or should I say, a savage?” Laughs and grips her hand as she tries to pull away.

Master of Ceremonies: I surely hope they can make it to the dance floor without doing violence to each other. I wonder—what is between them? They seem so familiar, so easy with each other, and yet they feud like enemies! And she clearly has no trust in him. She is an intelligent lady—a bluestocking, certainly—and perhaps she is right to suspect him. Mr. Jocelyn Vayle is so smooth, so charming, and yet he is just a bit, oh, out of place. What is he hiding? And how is it that she, among all these people, is the only one who senses that he is not what he claims to be?

Behind the chinoiserie screen…

I’m Alicia Rasley, co-author of Gwen’s Ghost with Lynn Kerstan, and I must confess to be a bit seduced by that gentleman’s charm and good looks. Yes, Mr. Jocelyn Vayle is out of place in Regency London. He is just a bit too extravagant, too amused, for this grim time of war and unrest. But he is so charming! His smile is generous and his voice has a most pleasant undercurrent of laughter. But I have to admit that Gwen is right to suspect that “Mr. Jocelyn Vayle” is masquerading. She is even correct when she hazards that this is not his real name and is just pretending to have lost his memory. However, as skeptical as she is, she will never guess the truth. Mr. Vayle isn’t just out of place; he is out of time too—in more ways than one. He is in the wrong time, and he is out of time to save himself from a dire fate. And only Gwen—who doesn’t like or trust him one bit—can help him find his way home.

RITA winner for Best Regency!

“A delicious, delightful romp!” (Literary Times)

Gwen’s Ghost is just one of six sparkling Regencies in Regency Masquerades, an ebook set which also includes books by Brenda Hiatt, Allison Lane, Gail Eastwood and Elena Greene. Regency Masquerades is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo Books. Buy now for just 99 cents!

For updates and news on Regency Masquerades and the authors in the set, like us on Facebook.

And now for a giveaway!

A renegade rare-books dealer and a heiress-in-waiting must embark on a sham betrothal for the loftiest of literary aims– to prove that Shakespeare really was… Shakespeare.

John Dryden is on the trail of the greatest acquisition of his checkered career– a play manuscript written in Shakespeare’s own hand. Between him and his prize is an obsessed librarian who wants to destroy it… and the heiress who can lead him to it, but only if he’s willing to risk his life, his freedom, and his loner’s heart.

“Poetic Justice is extremely enjoyable with a perfect blend of adventure, humor and romance.” – Nonesuch Reviews

Do you enjoy Regencies with a paranormal element? What are some of your favorites? Comment for the chance to win a copy of Poetic Justice for Nook or Kindle. All winners will be announced on Sunday.

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Posted in Giveaways, Guest | Tagged Alicia Rasley, Gwen's Ghost, Lynn Kerstan, Poetic Justice, Regency Masquerades | 25 Replies

Regency Masquerades Ball ~ The Redwyck Charm and a Giveaway

Updated on October 13, 2014 by Elena Greene

Meet the hero and heroine of The Redwyck Charm by Elena Greene, Book #6 in Regency Masquerades, six sparkling Regency romances in one ebook–currently 99 cents!

At the ballroom door…

Master of Ceremonies: Ah, I see the first guests are arriving. A tall gentleman, impeccably dressed, with a slight limp. And a flame-haired beauty wearing a peacock-colored dress in a peasant style, but with a tighter bodice and scandalously short skirt. Both are striving to seem disinterested, but cannot stop stealing glances at one another.

Smiles at the guests. “Welcome to our ball. I have not the pleasure…”

Lady and Gentleman: Look at each other briefly, then the gentleman bows, allowing her to introduce herself first.

Lady: “Bon soir! I am Juliette Lamant.”

Master of Ceremonies: “Ah, the famous dancer! All London is raving about your dancing, Mademoiselle.” Even while the bucks are taking bets as to how many mistakes you will make, and also which of them you will choose as your protector.

Lady: Looks momentarily surprised, then her eyes dance. “Monsieur, you flatter me! De vrai, everyone has been very—very welcoming.” She glances toward the gentleman beside her.

Gentleman: “Mademoiselle Lamant and I have just met. I am Lord Dare.”

Master of Ceremonies: “The same Lord Dare who has recently returned from the Continent? I suppose we cannot ask if the rumors are true that you had something to do with the intrigues surrounding the peace negotiations?”

Gentleman: Short pause. “No, I was—I was merely indulging a wish to travel more widely.”

Master of Ceremonies: “Then of course you must have seen Mademoiselle Lamant on the stage in Paris.”

Gentleman: Another short pause. “No, I regret I had not that pleasure.” His eyes linger briefly on Mademoiselle Lamant.

Master of Ceremonies: I wonder why they both look so flustered? “Be that as it may, now you may have the pleasure of dancing with her.”

Gentleman: Brief glance at his leg. “I regret to say I cannot dance.”

Master of Ceremonies: “Nonsense, your limp is very slight—barely noticeable! Perhaps you would be willing to attempt the waltz, if Mademoiselle Lamant were willing to teach you?”

Lady and Gentleman: Look at each other, both blushing a little. They nod and head into the room.

Behind a potted palm tree…

I’m Elena Greene, author of The Redwyck Charm, and I happen to know these people are not who they claim to be. Lord Dare is Marcus Redwyck, the Earl of Amberley, a hardworking young man who has reluctantly decided to try to restore the family fortunes by marrying an heiress. But when that heiress is indisposed (to see him, he thinks) he decides to enjoy himself for once, and visits the Green Room at the opera. To avoid gossip, he uses an assumed name, not realizing that the fascinating Juliette Lamant is actually his intended bride, Juliana Hutton, who longs for adventure and has run away in order to avoid the arranged marriage.

“I highly recommend The Redwyck Charm. Regency fans will adore this story, as will all readers who enjoy entertaining, well-written romances with marvelous characters and a dash of intrigue.” — Susan Lantz, in Romance Reviews Today

Read Marcus and Juliana’s story in The Redwyck Charm, just one of six sparkling Regencies in Regency Masquerades, an ebook set which also includes books by Brenda Hiatt, Lynn Kerstan, Allison Lane, Gail Eastwood and Alicia Rasley. Regency Masquerades is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo Books. Buy now for just 99 cents!

For updates and news on Regency Masquerades and the authors in the set, like us on Facebook.

And now for a giveaway!

Lord Langdon returns from war to find his family in debt and his brother courting Nell Ashley, the vicar’s daughter, whom he suspects of social climbing. His attempt to expose her backfires, creating a tangle of hearts that only true love can unravel.

“Lord Langdon’s Kiss is a fine Regency romp that will satisfy lovers of the genre like ice-cold lemonade on a hot afternoon. This is what Regency romance is all about.” (Four hearts) — The Romance Reader

Do you enjoy stories with characters in disguise and why? Comment for the chance to win a copy of Lord Langdon’s Kiss for Nook or Kindle. All winners will be announced on Sunday.

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Posted in Giveaways, Risky Book Talk | Tagged Elena Greene, Regency Masquerades, The Redwyck Charm | 17 Replies

Risky guest Caroline Warfield + Contest

Updated on October 13, 2014 by Janet Mullany

Since I’m going to be messing around on planes and stuff today (off to the JASNA AGM in Montreal, which I’ll tell you all about next time) I invited debut author Caroline Warfield to visit. You’ve gotta love a writer whose tagline is “love is worth the risk.” Caroline will be giving away a kindle copy of her book Dangerous Risks (many choices of entering below) and I’ll announce a winner on Monday.

Find out more about Caroline on Twitter @carowarfield, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Here’s a snippet of what the book is about:

Lady Georgiana Hayden has struggled for years to do scholarly work in the face of constant opposition and even outright derision from the scholarly community at Cambridge. Her family ignores her as long as she doesn’t draw attention to herself.

A little Greek is one thing; the art of love is another…

What brought you to writing romance?
Like most writers, I read. I read omnivorously, but I usually have a non-fiction (almost always history or biography) and a romance in process. What you read finds its way to what you write, and historical romance became inevitable.

What was the idea behind Dangerous Works?
I began with a “what if.” Women’s history and women’s literature have been much studied in recent years. I wondered what would have happened if a woman had tried that line of study in 1815. I pushed the year forward to give the hero, Andrew, some time after Waterloo. He is weary, wounded, and looking for meaningful scholarly work.

Your storyline is obviously influenced by Persuasion. What are your other inspirations?
It tickles me when people make that comparison. I had no thought of that when I was writing, but Persuasion has always been my favorite of the Austen books. My big influences are writers that explore the emotional growth of mature, complex, but damaged or imperfect characters: Mary Balogh, Carla Kelly, Mary Blayney. Can I brag a little? When Ms. Balogh read the book she said. “Bravo! …a day of happily absorbed entertainment.” That was super affirming.

Tell us about something interesting you turned up in your research.
Of course I spent some time looking for women poets in ancient Greece. In the midst of it I was very intrigued to learn about Locri, a Greek colony in what later became Italy. It was the center of a women’s cult around a temple to Aphrodite and also Persephone. In Dangerous Works, The heroine, Georgiana, struggles to translate epigrams by Nossis of Locri for two reasons. One is her lack of an understanding of some of the names and images. The other is her inexperience in love. Faced with a choice between ‘love’ and ‘eros’ to translate a particular word, she chooses ‘desire’ instead.

Nothing is sweeter than desire
All other pleasure is second to it.
Even honey I spit from my mouth.

Images in the rest of the poem about Aphrodite and those whom she does not or has not loved are full of possible double meanings and improper implications she has to puzzle out.

Tell us about the Dangerous Series. How are they linked, other than by title?
The heroes of the books grew up together, went to war together, and are all now trying to make a life for themselves. Dangerous Works will be followed by Dangerous Secrets, scheduled for Winter 2015. It tells the story of Andrew’s good friend Jamie Heyworth, a down on his luck former major. He longs to please and worships his friends, but a huge mistake fills him with shame so great he has run off to Rome to hide from them. Dangerous Weakness, still in process, covers Georgiana’s brother and Andrew’s good friend, the arrogant, interfering Marquess of Glenaire who thinks he can control everything. He is Mr. Perfect and I’m having fun tripping him up and leading him into folly. He will chase the heroine across the Mediterranean to Constantinople. Those two stories will be followed by a Christmas novella about their cheerful friend Will, an earl who would rather be a farmer.

What’s the last great book you read?
So many books; so little time! The last great book I read was probably The Island in the Center of the World, a history of New York. I’m hesitant to list the fun books I’ve read recently (aka historical romance) for fear of leaving someone off.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
My husband and I recently moved to the Philadelphia area to be near our grandson. We’re able to indulge the things we love most: time with the grandbuddy, history, and genealogy. We have along list of houses, museums and battlefields to tour that keeps us anchored, but Europe and more exotic locales are calling.

What’s risky about your book?
Love is risky! In the case of Dangerous Works, the heroine Georgiana has to overcome her fear of losing her independence and learn to trust a man who hurt her in the past. The hero, Andrew, risks his hope of a scholarly career by helping a despised amateur; he also risks his heart, trampled once before when he dared to love Georgiana. Family interference looms over them both. She is the daughter of a duke; he is a schoolmaster’s son.

Wow! Scholar heroines, exotic settings (in future books, not Cambridge!)–tell us what you like about those tropes.

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Posted in Giveaways, Guest, Interviews | Tagged Caroline Warfield |

New book Day!

Updated on September 29, 2014 by Amanda McCabe/Laurel McKee

It’s almost October—that means it’s new book day for me!!!! Betrayed By His Kiss is (almost) available now (see it on Amazon here or at my website for more info)–and you can win a signed copy by commenting on today’s post. Here’s a little sneak peek at the history behind the book….

I was first inspired to write Isabella and Orlando’s story when I had a yucky cold and spent the weekend lounging around on the couch, having an epic viewing of all three seasons of The Borgias! The sumptuous costumes, the luxurious palaces, the passion and murder and danger. (Not to mention Cesare’s eyes…). I’ve always loved the Italian Renaissance, the beauty and intrigue of it. And I loved finding the characters of Isabella and her Orlando among the palazzos and riverbanks of Florence.

The pinnacle of danger in the Renaissance came with the famous Pazzi Conspiracy of 1478. It was an attempt by a few members of the ancient Pazzi family, along with some powerful allies (including the pope!) to displace Lorenzo de Medici as the de facto ruler of Florence. On April 26, 1478, they rose up in the midst of a crowd of 10,000 at Mass in the Duomo to assassinate Lorenzo and his handsome younger brother Giuliano. Lorenzo escaped; Giuliano did not.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica:

In league with the Pazzi were Pope Sixtus IV and his nephew Girolamo Riario, who resented Lorenzo de’ Medici’s efforts to thwart the consolidation of papal rule over the Romagna, a region in north-central Italy, and also the archbishop of Pisa, Francesco Salviati, whom Lorenzo had refused to recognize. An assassination attempt on the Medici brothers was made during mass at the Cathedral of Florence on April 26, 1478. Giuliano de’ Medici was killed by Francesco Pazzi, but Lorenzo was able to defend himself and escaped only slightly wounded. Meanwhile, other conspirators tried to gain control of the government. But the people of Florence rallied to the Medici; the conspirators were ruthlessly pursued and many (including the archbishop of Pisa) were killed on the spot.

The failure of the conspiracy led directly to a two-year war with the papacy that was almost disastrous for Florence. But the most important effect was to strengthen the power of Lorenzo, who not only was rid of his most dangerous enemies but also was shown to have the solid support of the people.

I always love incorporating real historical figures into my fictional stories. Botticelli is one of my favorite artists! Isabella’s cousins Matteo and Caterina are not real, though Giuliano de Medici certainly might have been in love with the beautiful, fragile Caterina, who is loosely based on his real love Simonetta Vespucci, who died young of tuberculosis and was the model for many of Botticelli’s paintings. . Fiencosole is also a fictional town, but based on some of the many walled, beautiful fiefdoms of Renaissance Italy.