Thursday, July 31, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Historical Romance Edition #46

Happy Thursday, everyone! And welcome to a new feature on Buried Under Romance and Love Saves the World.

What is Throwback Thursday?
Traditionally, Throwback Thursday celebrates nostalgia, asking participants to post a personal photo or an image from their past -- usually from 5 to 10 years ago. There are a lot of book blogs that also do a book-related Throwback Thursday.

The Historical Romance Edition:
Since Mary of Buried Under Romance and I are unapologetic lovers of historical romances, we've decided to focus on our beloved genre.

Here are our rules:
1. It must be posted on a Thursday.
2. It must be a historical romance novel published before October 3, 2008.


The Hazards of Hunting a Duke by Julia London, published June 2006

Blurb:
USA Today bestselling author Julia London, "a gifted and versatile author" (Publishers Weekly), introduces a sexy, wildly romantic and emotionally charged new trilogy in which three aristocratic young ladies, upon discovering they are destitute, resort to desperate means to keep up appearances ... and find the husbands of their dreams.

When the young ladies of the Fairchild family learn that their stepfather has absconded with their late mother's fortune, Ava, the eldest, hunts down the notoriously wealthy rakehell Jared Broderick, the Marquis of Middleton and heir to a dukedom. Much to her shock and delight, the marquis sweeps her into a whirlwind romance and proposes marriage. But after their passionate wedding night, Ava discovers Jared has ulterior motives of his own. Not only does he expect her to deliver an heir while he continues to enjoy a rogue's life, but Ava also suspects she is a pawn in her husband's quest for revenge. Marriages of convenience work for some, but for Ava a loveless bond won't do. So she devises a bold plan to confront her husband's demons so that he might be free to choose to give her his heart for the right reason: because she is the only woman he will ever truly desire.

This was my first Julia London, and I followed her books up to The Secrets of Hadley Green series. My favourite is her Scandalous Series, and I really wanted to feature A Courtesan's Scandal, but it was published in 2010. I have the first book in her latest series (Cabot Sisters), The Trouble with Honor, and hope to read it before the year ends. ^_^

To find out more about Julia London and her books, click below:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Goodreads

Head over to Mary @ Buried Under Romance and Ki Pha of Doing Some Reading for their picks for Throwback Thursday.^_^

Fellow historical romance readers are welcome to join us. Enter your link below so we can visit your TBT: HR Edition post for the week! (Then go here to copy the Link code to your blogs.)





Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Review: In the Heart of the Highlander by Maggie Robinson


Click here to buy the book on Amazon
Click here to buy the paperback at The Book Depository

Fellow romance reader and blogger, Maria (Austen Student on Tumblr), mentioned on Goodreads that, when she wants to laugh, she reads Maggie Robinson and I agree with her: there's a really light-hearted/fun (but not funny) quality to Robinson's books. What makes Maggie Robinson stand out, however, is that she infuses her stories with a unique and surprising element that elevates her stories.

Alec Raeburn is wealthy, titled and incredibly handsome -- but he's also larger than the average gentleman and is also suspected of killing his wife. The theory of Alec is he should be one of those sought-after bachelors, where matchmaking mamas and their daughters should be scrambling to get his attention -- but, the reality of Alec is that he is a bull in a china shop -- awkward and unwelcome in society. He's the man mothers warn their daughters about.

Mary Evensong was such a strong and dynamic character in In the Arms of the Heiress and I was very curious how Robinson would develop her story. The revelation in In the Heart of the Highlander is that Mary is weary of pretending to be her aunt. She is chafing under the wig of grey hair and against the heavy clothes she wears as Mary Evensong, proprietress of the Evensong Academy. Mary yearns for a life of her own, and Alec's plan seems to be the opportunity that Mary is looking for.

Mary Evensong was tired. Tired of wearing smoke-gray spectacles that covered her hazel eyes. Tired of wearing an itchy gray wig that covered her russet hair. Tired of the problems that came in by the sack loads every time the mailman rang her doorbell.
- Opening paragraph, Chapter 1

To the world, Alec is responsible for his wife, Edith's, death -- either he pushed her out the window of Raeburn Abbey or drove her to suicide. But Alec believes it is Dr Josef Bauer of the Forsyth Palace Hotel (spa) in Scotland that is responsible for Edith's death and is out to prove it in an entrapment scheme, involving Mary Evensong.

Alec doesn't factor in the possibility of being attracted to his "hired actress", but, from the very first moment he meets her, he knows there is something there for them to discover. Mary, on the other hand, has always been drawn to Alec and this seems to be a good-enough moment to indulge.

There is a clear split in how this story is told, and two plots in place. The first involves Mary pretending to be a sickly and unpopular spinster who is seeking treatments at the ..., hoping to catch Dr. Bauer's eye and then exposing his fraudulent/lascivious behaviour. I loved this part of the story: the question of whether they would pull off this plan successfully kept me turning the pages.

It's what happens after that, I think, ruined this story for me.

Mary changes as the story progresses, and not for the better. My first impression of Mary is that she is a practical, no-nonsense, capable woman who has successfully run a business in her aunt's stead. As Mary Evensong, she had effortlessly solved a number of problems for lords, ladies and wealthy people. She struck me as unflinching in the face of adversity and admired her greatly for it. At the start of her own story, I see these same qualities come into play as Mary, herself, agrees to become the bait in the trap Alec has set for Dr. Bauer.

But, then, as Mary Arden, she becomes foolish and loses her head over Alec -- even propositioning him "to relieve her of her unwanted virginity" -- when they decamp to Raeburn Abbey, Mary loses even more of herself as we find her comparing herself to Alec's late wife and conducting herself in a very unprofessional way (reading Edith's diary).

Mary stuck her tongue out at the painted Edith and felt no better.
- Chapter 25

The entire "Raeburn Abbey" storyline was problematic for me. From the beginning, we are all convinced that Alec is the aggrieved party in his previous marriage and suffers the tragic consequences of his late wife's death. But, when the Raeburn Abbey story unfolds, Robinson casts doubts on the whole premise. Was Dr. Bauer really responsible for Edith's death? From the passages in Edith's journal, and from Alec's own recollection, it becomes uncertain. There's the whole factor of Edith's controlling parents to consider. And Alec, himself, gets tarnished by his own admission.

Mummy says I should give the place a try, and since it is so close, I just might. I am so tired of her lecturing me about my duty.
- Edith's diary, Chapter 26

* * *

I left her while I amused myself in London, and then even after I returned, we lived separate lives. She breakfasted by herself. Dined by herself. I'd stopped trying. We barely spoke, and when we did talk, to was to argue.
...

"We could have managed in a white marriage. People do. People whose desires are kept under control. But I didn't have any self-control. I thought with my cock, I'd fuck anyone available. Maybe I'm still doing that."

...

"She tried to tell me, but I didn't pay proper attention. We quarrelled as usual over something stupid -- can you believe I can't even remember what? I've tried and tried, and it's a blur, just accusations and recriminations running together like a jerky movie reel. She ran away from me, came up here, and jumped."
- Chapter 31

Was the whole entrapment scheme just a grieving man's backlash against his perceived enemy? I could not shake the feeling that the whole world that the author had established so carefully at the start of the story had all been turned upside-down.

It seemed pretty clear that Edith had not accidentally stepped out her window into the void. Somehow Mary couldn't see a disgruntled servant pushing her, no matter how demanding she'd been. Alec would have moved heaven and earth to discover the culprit who was responsible.

And he had settled on Bauer.
- Chapter 25

I know that the point of the sojourn at the Abbey is to give Alec and Mary's relationship to blossom a bit more, but the "I love you" admission after four days is a bit unbelievable coming from Mary, who I had credited with a bit more sense than that.

What saves this story is the humour, and the introduction of the Raeburn brothers (Evan and Nicholas), the latter being the hero of The Reluctant Governess, the next instalment in the Ladies Unlaced series. These two excerpts, in particular, are really wonderful:

Now Mary understood what all those silly romance books Harriet loaned her meant when they used their ellipses. Mary dot-dot-dotted, her hands on Alec's shoulders, her eyes fluttering shut. She didn't need to watch him anymore, only feel his mastery over her as he overcame his scruples and kissed her like she was the only woman in the world.
- Chapter 11

* * *

"Mary's up there. Miss Arden. Miss Evensong," Alec amended.

"You have three women in your chamber? A regular harem! By God, Alec, I'm proud of you! I thought you'd lost your touch when Edith died. We were all so worried about you."
- Alec talking to Evan, Chapter 29

In the Heart of the Highlander is Book 2 in Maggie Robinson's Ladies Unlaced series. To find out more about Maggie and her books, click below:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
Monday, July 28, 2014

Blog Tour: Tempted by His Touch: A Limited Edition Boxed Set of Dukes, Rogues, & Alpha Heroes Historical Romance Novels (Interview + iPad Mini Giveaway)


I'm so, so pleased to be part of the Tempted by His Touch blog tour.

This is such a great collection of historical romance novels from really amazing authors and, it will only be available for a limited time (July 27 to September 21) for $0.99 -- and then it's gone forever.

For this tour, the authors are giving away an iPad Mini (16GB) with surprise bonus print books (US/Can only). To follow the rest of this tour, click here.

* * *

Q&A with Darcy Burke

What’s your favorite historical romance? Sooo many to choose from. Classic: Seaflame by Valerie Vayle (I was convinced I could write it into a screenplay when I was in high school), “Modern:” Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas and The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

What is the first romance novel you ever read? Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Ashes in the Wind

Would you want to live in the time you write about? What would you love? Hate? No, I don’t think I’d like to live there. I used to, but then I had children. I’m not interested in nineteenth century childbirth, thank you! But I do think I’d love to spend some time during those simpler days, when receiving a letter and writing a response was a highlight of your day.

If given the choice between a duke, a rogue, or an alpha hero, which would you choose? An alpha, roguish duke of course!

What tempts you? (Chocolate, caviar, long walks on the beach ...) My family (not terribly sexy, but true!), salted dark chocolate caramels, a really good margarita

Rapid fire round:
Designer purses or Target special? I’ve tried to buy designer purses and never end up liking them!
Heels or flip flops? Flip flops
Rich or famous? Rich, please
American hottie or sexy Brit? Sexy Brit!
Where’s your happy place? Anywhere with my family (especially Denmark with my cousins), Disneyland, and Labor Day Weekend at the Gorge with my hubby and the Dave Matthews Band

* * *

A boxed set with ten sizzling historical romances from ten bestselling historical romance authors. Fall in love with fabulous tales of intrigue, suspense, wit, and passion featuring dukes, rogues, alpha heroes ... and the women who can’t resist them.

JUST 99 CENTS from July 27 - Sept. 21 -- then it disappears FOREVER!

Scoundrel Ever After by Darcy Burke - Once upon a time there was a very bad boy who met a very nice girl ...

Lady of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle - Educating a man in the art of love takes time. Lots of it.

Sonata for a Scoundrel by Anthea Lawson - Passion and secrets simmer against the glittering backdrop of 19th century musical celebrity.

To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield by Bronwen Evans - What's a lady to do when a notorious rake wins her estate in a game of cards?

Undone by Lila DiPasqua – One steamy, emotionally charged retelling of Rapunzel ... Rescuing this beauty from the ‘tower’ is only the beginning ...

The Problem with Seduction by Emma Locke - Elizabeth Spencer needs a man. She doesn't need to like him -- because while she needs a man, she doesn't particularly want one.

A Dangerous Invitation by Erica Monroe - Daniel O'Reilly returns to win back Kate Morgan’s heart and prove he's innocent of murder.

Once Upon a Duke by Eva Devon - A widow looking to get seduced. A duke more than willing to oblige.

Great & Unfortunate Desires by Gina Danna - A marquis with a guilty past takes a bride in a world where love is fatal.

Dark Surrender By Erica Ridley - Trapped in darkness ... Their passion burns bright!


Excerpt from SCOUNDREL EVER AFTER:
In repose, Mr. Locke looked younger. His ink-dark hair was thick and in need of a trim. His beard was longer still, and Audrey was surprised to find she still found it attractive. Despite the growth of hair, his chin was squared and strong. He might look youthful in sleep, but he also exuded a power and magnetism that was undeniable. At least to her.

Mr. Locke’s eyes shot open and he was suddenly on top of her. He’d rolled like quicksilver, pinning her to the mattress.

She gasped -- both with surprise and with the shock of his masculine body pressed atop hers. He was hard and muscular, and for the first time in her life she felt dainty and impossibly feminine.
His gray eyes focused on her, but she couldn’t immediately discern what he was thinking. Then his brow arched and he drawled, “Good morning” without sounding the least bit apologetic.

Buy Links:




iTunes: coming soon

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About Darcy Burke:

A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and two Bengal cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge.

Website: http://www.darcyburke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darcyburke
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823441.Darcy_Burke
Newsletter: http://www.darcyburke.com/newsletter/

About Bronwen Evans:

USA Today Bestselling Author Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes.

Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon Readers’ Crown Best Historical 2012, and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. Her first self-published novella, To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield, was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012 and a finalist in the RomCon Readers’ Crown Best Historical 2013. Her first contemporary released December 2012, The Reluctant Wife, won the RomCon Readers’ Crown Best Category 2013.

Website: http://www.bronwenevans.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwenevansauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bronwenevans_NZ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4331713.Bronwen_Evans
Newsletter: sign up at the top of Bronwen’s website

About Lila DiPasqua:

Lila DiPasqua is a multi-published, national bestselling author of historical romance with heat. Her novels are published by Penguin/Berkley, as well as having self-published works.

She is best known for her critically acclaimed Fiery Tales series. Her books have been featured on Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs.

She lives with her husband and three children in Canada and is a firm believer in the happily-ever-after.

Website: http://liladipasqua.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilaDiPasquaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/liladipasqua
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3234450.Lila_DiPasqua
Newsletter: sign up on the sidebar of Lila’s website

About Delilah Marvelle:

Delilah Marvelle is the winner of the Reviewer's Choice for Best Sensual Historical Romance of the Year and had Booklist name her historical romance 'Forever and a Day' one of the TOP 10 Romances of the year. When she isn't writing, she's digging through inappropriate research books that include anything in history having to do with courtesans, brothels, sexual contraptions that were never properly used and other fascinating forms of dirty history that didn't make it into college textbooks. She includes all of her research in her books to ensure countless hours of entertainment and continues to take pride in knowing more about dirty history than most people feel comfortable with.

Website: http://www.delilahmarvelle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delilah-Marvelle/73234401876
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DelilahMarvelle
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1423331.Delilah_Marvelle
Newsletter: http://delilahmarvelle.wordpress.com/

About Erica Ridley:

Erica Ridley learned to read when she was three, which was about the same time she decided to be a writer when she grew up.

She is the author of three Gothic romances, Too Wicked to Kiss, Too Sinful to Deny and Dark Surrender, the vampire romance "Never Been Bitten" in the paranormal romance anthology Born To Bite, contemporary paranormal romances Charmed and Midwinter Magic, and the holiday fantasy romance Let It Snow.

When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.

Website: http://www.ericaridley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericaridley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricaRidley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3087787.Erica_Ridley
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EricaRidleyVIPs

About Emma Locke:

Emma Locke is a writer and engineer living in the Pacific Northwest, where she loves hiking with her dog, hot yoga and riding out the annual 330 days of rain. Hiking and yoga give her time to plot, the lack of sun makes for perfect writing weather, and as for her day job, the dichotomy seems to work: her analytic side ensures her passionate, satisfying love stories don't mulch under her bed, and her author side forces her to keep writing more.

Website: http://www.emmalocke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEmmaLocke
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaLockeAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6749632.Emma_Locke
Newsletter: sign up at the bottom of Emma’s website

About Gina Danna:

Gina has spent the better part of her life reading. History has been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, dreaming of writing one of her own. Years later, after receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, writing academic research papers and writing for museum programs and events, she finally found the time to write her own stories of historical romantic fiction.

Now, under the supervision of her three dogs and three cats, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other life long dream -- her Arabian horse -- with him, her muse can play.

Website: http://ginadanna.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinaDannaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinaDanna1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7141882.Gina_Danna

About Erica Monroe:

Erica Monroe is a bestselling author of emotional, suspenseful romance. Though she has a Bachelor's degree in writing, she's been a secretary, a barista, and a retail assistant. Now Erica spends her days crafting lovable rogues and feisty heroines for her historical and new adult series. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina, and the Beau Monde Regency Romance chapter. When not writing, she is a chronic TV watcher, sci-fi junkie, lover of pit bulls, and shoe fashionista. She lives in the suburbs of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.

Website: http://ericamonroe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricaMonroeWrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericajmonroe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7280359.Erica_Monroe
Newsletter: sign up on Erica’s website sidebar

About Eva Devon:

Author of sexy and laugh out loud funny Regencies, I'm also Maire Claremont, creator of dark and angsty Victorians!

Website: http://www.maireclaremont.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eva-Devon/1464806663776356
Twitter: https://twitter.com/evadevonauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8333263.Eva_Devon
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/YoZbD

About Anthea Lawson:

Anthea Lawson, called "a new star of Historical Romance" by Booklist, has won readers with her combination of spicy love scenes and elegant prose. Her first novel, PASSIONATE, was a Best First Book finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA awards.

Anthea also writes award-winning YA Urban Fantasy under the pen name Anthea Sharp.

Website: http://anthealawson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntheaLawson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntheaLawson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2436762.Anthea_Lawson
Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/AntheaLawson

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FACEBOOK PARTY
Wednesday, July 30th
6PM-11PM EST

Chat with the authors and win prizes!

Also, be sure to like each author’s Facebook page so you’ll see the WEEKLY GIVEAWAYS they have going on while Tempted by His Touch is on sale. You don’t want to miss an exciting moment of this extravaganza!

* * *

Giveaway!

Grand prize: iPad Mini (16GB) with surprise bonus print books [Open to US/CA]

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sunday, July 27, 2014

Free and Discounted Historical Romance Novels

Happy Weekend, all!

It's an exciting weekend as many of our beloved authors are in San Antonio for the Annual Conference of the Romance Writers of America.

ARe (All Romance eBooks) is offering a 25% rebate on Harlequin titles and 25% rebate on Carina Press titles (until the end of July).

Kobo also has a selection of titles that you can get a 75% off discount with code: dis75last. Click here to see the selection. (Robin Schone and Sylvia Day are part of the list!)

For Kobo readers, there's also an unlimited use 30% off code right now: TGIFSAVE30

Now for this week's featured freebies and discounted books:

The first two books in Maya Rodale's Wallflower Trilogy is on sale for $1.99 each:




The first two books in Cathy Maxwell's The Brides of Wishmore series are also on sale for $1.99 each:




This is Book 1 in Glynnis Campbell's The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch series. (Also, have you noticed that someone is selling a "NEW" version of the paperback for $138.02?)


This is the Book 1 in the Muses of Mayfair series and Sara Ramsey's debut novel.


This is Book 1 in The Stolen Brides series by Eliza Knight. (209 reviews on Amazon with 121 5-star and 61 4-star reviews.)


Book 1 of Elizabeth Johns's Loring-Abbott series and her debut novel.




Eva Devon is the alter-ego of Maire Claremont, whose Mad Passions series I read and loved. This is her first book writing as Eva Devon and, from what I understand, it's a comedy. I'm very curious. This is on my reading list. ^_^

Happy Reading~

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