#FitReaders Check-In: May 27, 2016 and Historical romance x3

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Artemisia Dalrymple Pelham-Smythe doesn’t give two figs for the ton’s opinions on propriety. She wants to be taken seriously as an artist, so the widowed Duchess of Southwycke is painting the entire Roman pantheon in glorious nudes. The man who arrived to pose for her is far too muscular and virile to fit her vision of a cherubic Cupid, so she’ll simply turn him into Mars.

Trevelyn Deveridge never expected to pose naked to serve Queen and country, but the trail of the elusive Mr. Beddington leads right to the door of the duchess. Unless Trev retrieves Beddington’s key, a whole string of operatives in India are in danger of discovery. Since he’s convinced Her Grace can point him in the right direction, he's left with little choice but to play along with her artistic endeavors.

Besides, when a lady asks a gentleman to disrobe, how can he refuse? 

My thoughts:

Oh those spies in historical romance ;)

Artemisia is an artist and paints nekkid men, fine, nudes ;) They are still naked whatever you call it missy. So you can understand if the Ton is shocked, but she is a Duchess and she does not give a F*ck what they think.

Trevelyn is a spy, a second son, and at the moment posing naked in front of a Duchess and pretending he is a nobody. He was rather cocky, I mean hello, she only paints men! She does not sleep with them, and he is all I know you want this! *eyeroll* She should have slapped him and sent him on his way. But alas this is a romance so she gives in.

But oh no, drama!

Oh no, there is a key and people after it.

And then they lived happily ever after.

Nice 

Kindle Edition, 230 pages
Published April 9th 2012 by Ten Talents Press (first published February 26th 2008)
How to #1
Historical romance
Own

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

My thoughts:

I do like Tessa Dare, but, it was ok, just ok. This was one of those examples where it should have been a book.

I did not really get the way he acted with her.

She was too nice.

I did not really get why the truth was just not told. Someone could have died!

And even though it takes place during just one night there was still passion....no, too fast!

Just ok

ebook, 113 pages
Published November 15th 2011 by Samhain Publishing
Spindle Cove #1.5
Historical romance
Own

The lives of Sir Bartlett Crosby and Hannah Chandler have been marked by fierce competition between their elite families...the perfect breeding ground for a mutual attraction neither can deny.

Bart hopes to conquer "the turf" through victory in a much-touted match. Should his heavily-favored colt win, the Crosby reputation and fortunes would be revived. Bart's plan seems poised for success until the lovely Hannah Chandler, daughter of a noted rival trainer, turns up claiming ownership of the colt. When Hannah insists on claiming her purchase, the prize colt disappears from Bart's stable. Theft or treachery? As Hannah and Bart rush to solve the mystery before race time, they uncover a scandalous truth about their families' pasts-a truth that has the potential to either destroy both their futures, or to guide them to a love they never imagined. 

My thoughts:

I was having a bad novella day. See, I like her books, but no, this one was just ok. It was a case of should have been a book.

Hannah and Bart meet, they are enemies, but look at that. They will fall fast in love.

While looking for a horse

Horses and races are boring...yup

It was too fast! I wanted more drama,

Ok

Kindle Edition, 120 pages
Published November 3rd 2015 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Romance of the Turf 0.5
Historical romance
Own

Author Interview and Giveaway: Mia Marlowe

Today I am interviewing Mia Marlowe :)

Welcome!

1. Tell me about yourself.

Mia:  I’m a wife, mother, dog lover and word drunkard. I adore the art of telling stories, in whatever form that takes. I can’t watch a movie without ticking off plot points. It’s really irritating to anyone sitting near me. 

Oh! You mean tell you about myself as an author. Well, my work was featured in the Best/Worst of 2010 PEOPLE magazine. I’ll let you guess whether it was a best or a worst. ;-) One of my books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands next to the Johnny Depp memorabilia. My recent Plaid Tidings is up for Best Scottish Historical 2013 RTBOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. Between a Rake and a Hard Place is my 24th book and I have ever so many more stories buzzing in my head!  

2. Your new book is called Between a Rake and a Hard Place. Tell me about the book too :)

Mia: Lady Serena has made a list of forbidden pleasures—sort of a Regency bucket list—of things she’d like to do before the accepts the proposal her father is certain will be forthcoming from the Duke of Kent. Sir Jonah Sharp has been tasked with making sure she’s out of the running for royal duchess, but ends up helping her tick items off her list of pleasures instead. The story starts with Lady Serena, chafing in male attire and sneaking into Boodles, an exclusively male coffee house. If you’d like to try a bit, here’s a link to an excerpt: http://miamarlowe.com/books/hard-place.php#excerpt 

3. Will there be more books in the series?

Mia: No, this is the last. The underlying premise of the books is the very real “Hymen Race Terrific.” No joke. That’s what the tabloids called it at the time. In 1818, when the succession was in doubt, 3 royal dukes went a-courting to see who could be first to present King George III with a legitimate grandchild. So, the Royal Rakes series called for 3 royal dukes, 3 eligible young ladies and 3 rakes to interfere with the royal wooing. The other titles are: Waking Up with a Rake and One Night with a Rake. I hope you’ll love them all!

4.How is it writing a book with someone else (Connie Mason)?

Mia: When it’s someone as gracious as Connie Mason, it’s wonderful. She and I first met at the 2006 RT Convention. I was totally star-struck and never dreamed I’d be collaborating with her only a few years later. Between a Rake and a Hard Place is our final book together and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been paired up with Connie.  

5. What is coming next from you?

Mia: Once Upon a Plaid (October 2014, Kensington) is a story that was inspired by my sister, who served as a gestational surrogate for a childless couple. Her experience got me thinking about how couples dealt with childlessness before IVF procedures, surrogates or even legal adoption. At the beginning of my story, Lady Katherine has abandoned Lord William, convinced she needs to seek an annulment so he’ll be free to find a wife who can give him the heir he needs. William, however, has other plans…   

Then in November 2014, I’m starting a new series with Sourcebooks called Somerfield Park. In A Rake by Any Other Name, Lord Hartley’s family insists he must marry Sophie Goodnight, a fabulous heiress, for the good of his father’s crumbling estate. Unfortunately, neither he nor Miss Goodnight are the biddable sort.  

If you’d like to be notified when my next book comes out, please sign up for my newsletter, follow my blog by email or find me on Twitter and Facebook!

Giveaway

1 copy of Between a rake and a hard place

1. US and Canada

2. Ends Feb 8th

3. Just enter :)

*New rules. If your account leads to google+ then please leave your email or twitter name or you will not be entered. I am tired of being led to a google+ account and finding no contact info. Get back to me withing 48 hours

BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE BY CONNIE MASON AND MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2014 

Lady Serena's List of Forbidden Pleasures

Attend an exclusively male club.

Smoke a cigar.

Have a fortune told by gypsies.

Dance the scandalous waltz.

Sir Jonah Sharp thinks Lady Serena Osbourne will be just like any other debutante, and seducing her will be one of the easiest services he's ever done for the Crown. Then he catches her wearing trousers and a mustache in his gentleman's club and she demands he teach her to smoke a cigar. But what will truly be Jonah's undoing is finding out he's an item on her list too, which makes him determined to bring her all the forbidden pleasures she can handle.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS 

Mia Marlowe is the award winning historical romance author of the Touch of Seduction Series and various Rock*It Reads. She lives in Boston. Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Together, Mia and Connie have written Sins of the Highlander, Lord of Fire and Ice, Lord of Devil Isle and the other books in the Royal Rakes Series: Waking Up with a Rake and One Night with a Rake. For more information, please visit http://www.miamarlowe.com.

To Purchase Between a Rake and a Hard Place:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

Chapters/Indigo

iBookstore

IndieBound

Discover a New Love

Sourcebooks

Review: Between a rake and a hard place - Mia Marlowe and Connie Mason

Wealthy heiress Serena Osborne feels like her father is determined to sacrifice her on the marriage altar. The Duke of Kent is negotiating for a bride, and the wickedly appealing Sir Jonah Sharp is sent to woo the Lady Serena on the Duke's behalf. It only muddies the waters when she succumbs to Jonah's charm. Repeatedly. But Jonah has a secret agenda—to prevent the marriage at any cost. 

My thoughts:

I can't say I was a huge fan of the premise, it's a dastardly thing to do. It's one thing if he is just an ass, but because some told him to seduce her he sets out to do that. Not cool man. But for some reason it did work anyway...

Serena wants to live a bit before maybe becoming a royal duchess. The Hymen race as the papers have dubbed it is on. She knew what she wanted to do and she was sure to get it. I liked her spirit.

Jonah is meant to seduce her cos he is being blackmailed. I was a bit torn between poor guy and don't do it! But since this is a romance it was obvious that he would fall in love with her and when he did seduce her it was cos those ants in his pants told him to.

These two lead each other on a merry dance. But all the time there is that darkness in the background, he must ruin her or be ruined himself.

Conclusion:

A fun and passionate romance.

Cover

Nothing wrong with it, I just..sorry Sir Jonah, I think your mother had an affair with someone not so English ;)

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Published January 7th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
The Royal Rakes #3
Historical romance
for review

Interview and Contest: Mia Marlowe - Sins of the Highlander

Today I have Mia Marlowe over for an interview and at the end you can win her new book, Sins of the Highlander.

Welcome!

1. Could you tell me a little about yourself?

MM: I’m a travel nut. My bags are always half-packed. If my DH has to take a business trip to an interesting place, I’m tagging along to play tourist. When I’m not writing, I’m playing with my neurotic terrier, Mack the Wonderdog, and Prince Harry, my rescue wire-haired dachshund. 

2. Your newest book is called Sins for the Highlander? What it is about?

MM: Sins of the Highlander is about a man’s plan to take revenge for the death of his beloved wife by kidnapping his enemy’s bride right from the altar. However, things don’t go as “Mad Rob” MacLaren planned. Elspeth Stewart is not one to go quietly. We had a wonderful time writing the twists and turns of their turbulent relationship.   

3.  You have written this book together with Connie Mason. Is it hard to write with someone else?

MM: I think it might be hard if I wasn’t working with such a gracious lady. Connie Mason is a romance legend. I grew up reading her books. Imagine what a thrill it is for me to actually work with her now! I’m pleased to share that in addition to Sins of the Highlander, we have another release coming this summer called Lord of Fire and ICe. We’re currently working on our new Regency series called The Royal Rakes.

4.  Why do you think Highlander romance novels are so popular?

MM: I think it’s the accent. I’m such a sucker for a fabulous male voice. Forget Sean Connery’s age. Is there anything better than his deep whisky timbre? If a guy calls me “lass,” that’ll do! 

When I read a Highlander story, I hear the hero’s voice in my mind. Of course, an accent is tough to convey in written form. I avoid odd spellings and try to convey the sense of Rob MacLaren’s voice with syntax and word choices. 

5.  Could you give me 3 reasons why “Mad Rob” is the man to fall in love with? ;)

MM: First, he already knows how to love deeply. He adored Fiona, his first wife. Two years after her death, he’s still crazed with grief. Second, he’s blessed with an abundance of physical courage. Check out this excerpt on my blog where he faces down a wolf pack: http://miamarlowe.com/blog/2011/12/exclusive-excerpt-from-sins-of-the-highlander/ Third, Rob MacLaren really does justice to a kilt. ‘Nuff said.

6. What’s next up for you?

MM: Touch of a Rogue, the 2nd book in my Touch of Seduction series, will come out on February 28th. My hero in this story, Jacob Preston, has the “gift of touch.” When he touches anything metal, he receives psychic information about the item’s owner. It comes in handy when he’s conducting one of his private investigations, but is a bit of a hazard at a dinner party. Silverware is so very chatty.   Here’s a taste of this story: http://miamarlowe.com/books/rogue.php 

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there?

MM: Join your local RWA (Romance Writers of America) Chapter. If you’re serious about writing, this organization can help you learn the nuts and bolts of the craft, as well as offer insight into the change sea of publishing today. 

I’d like to invite aspiring writers to volunteer for my Red Pencil Thursday. When I have a volunteer, I host an online critique group on my blog for the first 500 words of a story. My queue of victims . . . er, I mean volunteers . . . dried up over the holidays, but I’d like to start up the feature again. The point of this gentle critique is to offer construction suggestions. No snark is allowed. I’ve had writers from every end of the career spectrum in my hotseat, from total newbies to New York Times Bestsellers. More than one of my Red Pencil Thursday volunteers have gone on to be published. If anyone would like to take part in the program, please check out the details here: http://miamarlowe.com/blog/red-pencil-thursday/  

And while you’re at my website, please be sure to enter my contest! The Grand Prize is a new KINDLE! http://miamarlowe.com/contest.php 

Thanks so much for having me here Book Girl!

Giveaway:

Sourcebooks is offering 2 chances to win a copy of SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER. (USA/Canada only.) To be entered, simply leave Mia a comment or question. To get the conversation started, how about sharing your favorite Scottish surname? Mia calls dibs on MacLaren!  

Thanks for visiting with us today!

Ends: Jan 19th

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER BY CONNIE MASON & MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2012

Abduction...

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger  charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his trong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease. 

Obsession... 

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever. 

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel, Touch of a Thief, released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together, they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, the first of which will be in stores in Fall 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.