I have had such a busy couple of weeks with a family reunion in California and my daughter’s college graduation (Yay!) that release day of A Reputation for Notoriety has sneaked up on me. It is tomorrow!
In honor of release day, I’m giving away one signed copy of A Reputation for Notoriety to one lucky commenter chosen at random.
The back cover blurb of A Reputation for Notoriety
Raising the stakes…
As the unacknowledged son of the lecherous Lord Westleigh, John “Rhys” Rhysdale was forced to earn a crust gambling on the streets. Now he owns the most thrilling new gaming establishment in London.
Witnessing polite society’s debauchery and excess every night, Rhys prefers to live on its fringes, but a mysterious masked lady tempts him into the throng.
Lady Celia Gale, known only as Madame Fortune, matches Rhys card for card and kiss for stolen kiss. But the stakes are raised when Rhys discovers she’s from the very world he despises…
The Masquerade Club.
Identities concealed, desires revealed…
The first review!
4 Stars! “…It’s passionate, intense and seductive. The characters are lively with pulsating sexual tension and there are enough secrets, scandals and complications to make a lady swoon with glee!” — Maria Ferrer, RT BOOKReviews (read the whole review)
I wanted to write a gaming hell story and a story about a bastard son. Thus A Reputation for Notoriety was born. The question for me was what kind of gaming house did I want? I certainly did not want my hero to run a disreputable gaming house and I wanted one that society ladies could attend. The only way I could think of that a lady could attend would be in a mask, but I’d already used that idea in The Wagering Widow. I couldn’t repeat that idea.
Or could I? I decided to use the same gaming house that appeared in The Wagering Widow and to use the hero’s memory of the wagering widow as the idea for his house. I suppose this “proves” that all my Regency people really do live in the same “world.”
I like to think of it that way. I like to think that they all really existed and lived the lives I imagined for them. I like to think that they might pass each other on a Mayfair street or choose the same books from Hachards. While characters in one book are enmeshed in conflict, I like to think that others are living their happily-ever-after.
The latest of my Regency people will begin their story tomorrow. Look for A Reputation for Notoriety on bookstore shelves tomorrow or for sale from online vendors. The ebook version will appear June 1.
Do you like to imagine the people in books are real? What has been keeping you busy these days? Comment for a chance to win a signed copy of A Reputation for Notoriety.
What a delightful idea to have him remember Wagering Widow! Now, I’ll have to go back and read it again. 🙂 I enjoy seeing little details from another book showing up. It’s like a secret language or a private nod between author and reader. The reader doesn’t HAVE to know the relationship to enjoy the story, but it’s a little bit extra for the reader who knows.
As for what I’m doing, I’m writing the rough draft for the next book due while waiting for edits on the current WIP. Keeping busy.
What wonderful problems to have, huh, Laurel!
Kids have been keeping me busy. It’s coming up to the half term and they seem to be more demanding than usual. Including of course passing on to us every single stomach bug and virus going. Cross fingers we haven’t had chicken pox. Perhaps it’s me, but this year seems to be going faster and faster. Someone slow it down please?
I’m all for slowing things down, Amanda! Here I thought I was keeping up with the blog comments and it’s Thursday already.
What a fabulous idea including a gaming house since its historically factual. I like realistic additions to novels because it makes the world so much more real. I think that’s what makes authors great and on the same hand also makes the characters more real because you can picture them in this real place living it. Fantastic!
Thank you for letting be a part of this book tour! Congrats Diane on the release and thank you Risky Regencies for hosting!
I also want to send a discreet shout out to Elena Greene for turning me onto Diane and this blog I love discovering new authors and blogs. I can’t wait to read Diane’s previous books and seeing future posts.
As for what I am up to, I am reading and reviewing books and working on my own manuscript.
krissy, we are delighted to have you be with the “Riskies”
And I hope you enjoy my books.
I’ve enjoyed your books for years (I buy them and hold on to them for “rainy days” when I need the lift of a romance) and am looking forward to this one. I l like “connected” novels (friends as common heroes), and this connection seems like an interesting one.
Thanks, Denise. What a compliment to have my books saved for “rainy days.”
I too have fond memories of the Wagering Widow — I love it when the plain sister gets her handsome True Love just as the beautiful sister did. And while I don’t imagine that the characters in books are real, I do like it when they have interconnecting links in their lives just as we do in real life. They don’t have to be sequel bait, but the idea that the hero of your new book got an idea from the heroine of an older book is appealing (not to mention I like the idea that they could all bump into each other in Hatchard’s).
I should write that scene in Hatchard’s someday, Susan/DC. Wouldn’t that be fun!
I love when an author writes a fictional character so well that they make it come alive on the page for me. To the point that I don’t want to put the book down until I know how their HEA.
me, too, froot loop!
What’s that mantra of all (romance) booklovers “In love with a fictional character”? Yes, that’s me alright.
I love fantasy romance, I’d love if some of the worlds I read were real!
I’m sorta glad the Vampire and Zombie worlds aren’t real, though!!!
I really enjoy your novels, Diane. So I’m also looking forward to reading this one. I like it when books are connected, but you can still read them as a stand-alone.
Thank you so much, Stefanie.
Congratulations on your book release 🙂
Your books sounds interesting, it´s on my TBR list now.
BTW, is this open international?
Sure, Sarah! I value my international readers. The postage is never that bad that I can’t include everyone.
Hoorah! Looking forward to reading your latest, O Divine One! Love that cover.
I love the cover, too, Louisa!
Gosh, this book sounds really good Diane! A bastard son hero is a nice change from all the Earls and such I’ve been reading 🙂 Count me in!
I’ve been doing a lot of reading, made some of my favorite foods again. Like my mustard tofu with rice and a green salad. Watched some house make-overs on TV, been inspired to change my bedroom… Haven’t done that yet, lack of funds and expensive taste 😉 Spend time with my cats, they just celebrated their first birthday & are a joy. Nothing super special but all good fun.
Awwwwww, did you give your kitties a birthday cake? um…can of tuna???
Hope you enjoy the book!
Don’t imagine that; busy reading
bn100candg at hotmail dot com