Liliana, Lady Stratford:  And thank you for the generous donation to our foundation.

Geoffrey, Lord Stratford:  Indeed.  Your contribution will do much to further employment opportunities, and ensure proper medical care and support for ex-soldiers and their families—a cause very dear to both of our hearts.

HS:  Yes, well, we’re happy to help…particularly as that was the only way you would let us into your home. (clears her throat) You know, my Lord, the Ton was all atwitter when only the best families with eligible daughters received the coveted invitation to a house party at your estate, Somerton Park—presumably so that you might pick a bride.  Almost before the first seal was cracked, the betting books were filled with wagers on who would come away with a betrothal ring when the fortnight was through.

Geoffrey:  (snorts) I’ll wager fortunes were lost on that bet.

Liliana:  And months’ worth of pin money, too!

Geoffrey:  (puts an arm around Liliana’s shoulders) Who do you suppose was the forerunner?

Liliana:  Most assuredly Lady Jane.

Geoffrey: (frowns thoughtfully) Was she Mozart or Beethoven?

(Lady Snow’s head turns between the two, twin furrows forming between her auburn eyebrows)

HS: Mozart?  Beethoven?

Liliana:  (waves a dismissive hand) No matter.  It was simply a theory a friend of our voiced about how to judge what type of wife one would be by what composer’s work they chose to play at a musicale…forgive us.  You were saying?

HS:  Well, everyone wants to know what your stratagem was to win Lord Stratford’s hand when you were clearly up against the crème de la crème of society?

Liliana: Oh, I had no stratagem at all.  At least, not about winning Geoffrey’s hand.

HS:  Do you mean to say you weren’t trying to snag the earl?

Liliana:  (laughs) Far from it.

HS:  Then…it was just luck?

Geoffrey:  (Hugs Liliana closer to him) Providence, I’d say.

Liliana:  Just so.  (One corner of her mouth tips up in a secret smile, one Geoffrey returns.)

Geoffrey:  Well, now that we’ve satisfied your curiosity on that matter—

(Lady Snow purses her lips as if their answers have done anything but)

Geoffrey: What can we tell you about the house?

HS:  (bites her lip as if she’d like to say more, but ultimately chooses not to press) Of course.  The manor house is rather impressive, and we’ve very much enjoyed the tour.  Tell me, do either of you have a favorite room here at Somerton Park?

Liliana and Geoffrey both answer simultaneously:  The library.

HS:  Oh?

Liliana:  Yes.

Geoffrey: Absolutely.

HS:  I suppose you have quite a collection then, if it is the favorite spot of both of you.

Liliana:  An extensive one.  But that’s not why we answered thus.  The library…

Geoffrey:  Is where we first spoke alone.

Liliana:  Where we first argued.

Geoffrey:  Where we first kissed.

Liliana:  Where you first asked me to marry you…

Geoffrey:  Where you broke my heart.

Liliana:  Where you broke mine.

Geoffrey:  And where I asked you to marry me again…

Liliana: (smiles and nods her head at Lady Snow) Most certainly the library.  Though I do have a second favorite place—my laboratory.

HS:  Laboratory?

Liliana:  Yes.  It’s located in the folly near the lake.  Geoffrey gave it over to me to use as my lab as a wedding present.

(Geoffrey’s eyes turn a deeper shade of blue as he gazes upon his wife):  We’ve certainly conducted some…interesting experiments in there, haven’t we, my love?

(Liliana flushes a delicate pink)

Geoffrey:  In fact, I should think I’d like to visit there now…without an audience.  (He snags Liliana’s hand as he strides towards the door)  Lady Snow, feel free to explore the rest of Somerton Park to your heart’s content.  My butler will be happy to show you around.  My wife’s laboratory, however, is off limits…at least for the next few hours.

(The newly-weds depart, leaving a chagrined Lady Snow in their wake.)

Sweet Enemy…
A Veiled Seduction Novel ~ Book One

“Historical intrigue and heart-pounding passion make Sweet Enemy a great read.  Romance fans will love it.” ~#1NYT Bestselling Author JULIE GARWOOD

Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates.  His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs.  When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford.  But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess.  If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge.  However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula.  But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can’t control…

Heather Snow is a historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she much preferred creating chemistry on the page, rather than in the lab.  She is forever trying to wrangle her left and right brain to work together (some days with more success than others!), but if her two sides had to duke it out, left would win every time—which can be a creative challenge.  Luckily, she loves challenges…she just goes about solving them analytically.

Heather lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat.  She sincerely hopes you find her stories have just the right chemistry…

Please visit her at www.HeatherSnowBooks.com, on Facebook www.facebook.com/authorheathersnow or on Twitter www.twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW

Sweet Enemy is available wherever books are sold and at these fine retailers,but you can also take a chance here and win a copy (open internationally) by answering Heather’s question: What’s your favorite place in the world (could be a room in your home or really, anywhere else) and why?

Rainy Day Books (Heather’s local Indie)

Amazon (Kindle Edition)

Amazon (Paperback Edition)

Books-A-Million
     
Indiebound

When A Scot Loves A Lady

Kitty is a wonderful, fun character.  She’s overcome so much and done it with such class, I found myself drawn to her character, drawn to see what she might do next!  She is worldy and wise beyond her years- she really has no choice with some of the things that have happened to her.  Kitty stands up for herself and avenges her reputation, she is fierce, loyal and a wonderful, strong female lead.  And of course, more importantly, she knows a good looking man when she sees one!  The instant chemistry between Kitty and Leam is just about tangible and the passion is there from the moment the two characters set their eyes upon one another.

Leam is a Scotsman like no other.  He is all at once all of the things that I love in my romance hero.  He is alpha and brooding and sexy and passionate.  His character is complex and he has his own set of secrets and demons that make him that much more intriguing.  And though he is alpha male through and through he knows how to love a woman, and there is no limit to the steamy, sexy happenings in When a Scot Loves a Lady!

Lovers of historical romance will love this new offering by Katharine Ashe.  Very well written, When A Scot Loves a Lady keeps the reader suspended in time while we journey to a different time and place with these lovely and provocative characters.

Katharine Ashe: Thanks for hosting me today, Kristal. I’m honored to be here!

K: At what age did you know that writing was what you wanted to do?  Did you have an “AHA” moment or was it something that you always knew?

KA: Even when I was a small child writing fiction made my heart sing. The thing is, history made my mind dance. And as I grew up I got this Really Silly Notion that the mind’s interests were more impressive than the heart’s. You see? Really silly. But not only silly… Tragic. Because that is CLEARLY NOT THE CASE.

So as it happened, I went to graduate school for my PhD in History, and became sad because my mind danced day and night while my heart only occasionally smiled. Late in graduate school I started writing stories again — historical romances — and my heart declared, “Finally!!!” That was my “Aha!” moment. I could do both at once! I finished my PhD, got a job as a professor and started a family, but through it all I kept writing. It gives me joy and energy and profound happiness.

K: So I’m loving the first book in The Falcon Club Series.  “When A Scot Loves a Lady” is so exciting, there is so much going on in the story, every single page is something new to discover. Is it difficult to write a story that has so many great elements and get them all just right?

KA: Thank you!! As a reader my favorite kinds of books have intricate plots, rich emotional landscapes, and mysteries that keep me turning pages. So that’s where my imagination goes when I begin to develop one of my own books. It’s true, sometimes this gets me into trouble as I’m writing; I occasionally end up in places I didn’t anticipate. But that’s the great fun of writing a love story: the hero and heroine always set me straight when I try to take them places they don’t want to go. At the center of everything are those lovers careening delectably toward their Happily Ever After.

K: Let’s talk Scotland, Scottish men to be precise.  I LOVED Leam.  I felt like he had all the right stuff- everything that I look for in a hero.   Did you do a lot of research on Scotland and Scottish men to make Leam’s character true to form?

KA: I’m so glad you loved Leam! It was so much fun writing him — a combination of alpha lord and thoroughly skirt-whipped male.  I’d been reading history books about Scotland for years. Then I finally took a journey to Scotland… and I fell in love. It is a land both gorgeous and dangerous, hospitable and harsh, rustic and sublimely sophisticated. The green hills, the castle ruins, the heather waving on the hills, the fields of sheep, the art and music and busy cities were all fabulous, but the people were even more wonderful. I felt entirely at home, completely welcomed, and utterly happy. After that, writing a Scottish hero seemed the most natural thing in the world. And I do love a hero with a secret identity, so that was great fun too.

K: The chemistry between Leam and Kitty was great, right from the very beginning!  Can you tell us a little bit about how these characters came to be?  Maybe share a secret or two about your writing process?

KA: I set out to write a story about a man and a woman who believe they are unquestionably wrong for each other but who, from the moment they meet, can’t keep their hands off each other. It happens sometimes, that chemical whatever that crashes two people together, and it can be earth shattering. I’d known Kitty for a while; she’s the sister of the pirate-earl hero in my “Captured by a Rogue Lord“. She’d been hurt as a young woman by a very bad man, and I wanted her to find happiness with a very good man. But the walls she erected around her heart over years were going to take a powerful force to knock down. Unanticipated, unwanted, and uncontrollable lust was that force!

But not just lust. For just because Kitty thinks she and the Earl of Blackwood have nothing whatsoever in common doesn’t mean they actually don’t. But Leam knows the truth, and their passion scares him to death. I loved playing with their consternation over their desire, and their absolute unwillingness to admit to something a whole lot bigger than lust between them.

K: Can you tell us a little more about your other series, The Rogues of the Sea series?  How many of them are there?  How many more will you write?

KA: My rogues of the sea are powerful men — peers on land as well as lords upon the ocean. They are driven not by wealth or status or even duty, but by conviction that their mission is noble. Their heroines are daring women, strong and brave enough to win these men’s hearts. I’ve written three Rogues of the Sea novels and one novella (“Swept Away by a Kiss“, “Captured by a Rogue Lord“, “In the Arms of a Marquess“, and “A Lady’s Wish“). The heroes of the novels have secret identities to protect the people they help, and my novella features a Navy war hero, whom I adored writing. The books are all stand-alone and very loosely tied.

K: Last but not least and along those same lines can you tell us what is next for the Falcon Club series?  You have two more books scheduled to come out this year, can you tell us a little bit about them?

KA: Book #2 of the Falcon Club series, How To Be a Proper Lady, has a seafaring hero too! Captain Jin Seton is a former pirate with a very dark past and a lost lady in his sights, and he’ll stop at nothing to find her. The moment I wrote the first lines about Jin in “Captured by a Rogue Lord”, I knew I had to tell his story, and I knew precisely who his heroine would be — Viola Carlyle, kidnapped by smugglers fifteen years ago and fighting mad to be dragged back to England now. Jin is sublimely confident and totally caught off guard by his quarry. Also, I really love writing about men who can command the sea — the most dangerous, unpredictable force of nature there is. Or… come to think of it… that’s love!

In book #3, “How a Lady Weds a Rogue”, a hardened spy meets his match when a country miss demands that he play the role of hero in her quest. But the road may prove more dangerous than she imagined when her wanton desire for her Knight in Shining Armor and his intoxicating embrace turn out to be the real adventure…

“How To Be a Proper Lady“ is coming June 26, and “How a Lady Weds a Rogue” on September 25!

K: Thank you so much for stopping by to visit with us!  I am so excited to see what our readers think of your new book, “When a Scot Loves a Lady” and get a peek at my review!

Thank you, Kristal. I’ve had a wonderful time!

Kristal here! Ms. Ashe is giving away an autographed copy of her award nominated novel

“Captured by a Rogue Lord” to one of you! Who’s it gonna be?

“Indulge in Our Favorite Authors”

Epic Book Giveaway Contest!

If you haven’t already heard, five romance authors are holding an epic book giveaway contest of *their* five favorite romance authors’ books. But they’re not just giving away a few books—they’re giving away complete, SIGNED backlists of the following authors:

Julia Quinn (sponsored by Shana Galen)

Lisa Kleypas (sponsored by Elise Rome)

Julie Garwood (sponsored by Heather Snow)

Elizabeth Hoyt (sponsored by Lila DiPasqua)

Cynthia Eden (sponsored by Vanessa Kelly)

Yes, it’s an epic contest, and it’s being held on Facebook right now. All you have to do is visit the Facebook pages of Shana Galen, Lila DiPasqua, Vanessa Kelly, Heather Snow, and Elise Rome, and enter the favorite book (the hint is given on the contest tab) for each of these authors.

At the end of February the contest will be over—so hurry!—and five lucky winners will win a backlist of one of the amazing authors mentioned above. Elise has said that Lisa is even signing her books after the winner is chosen for her backlist, so if you win Lisa Kleypas’ books, they’ll be personally made out to you. Also, the five authors are giving away books of their own, too.

Good luck to everyone who enters,

and don’t forget to tell your friends!

UNDER THE SAME SKY is your debut novel.  Can you tell us a little bit about how this novel took place in your head?  How did this wonderful story come to life for you?

GG: Hi Kristal! Thank you so much for inviting me here today. And thanks for saying that – it’s causing a buzz? I didn’t know that! Yay! I think people are finding it’s a different kind of romance, something unexpected, and they like that.

I never planned on being an author, and it didn’t happen until I was over forty. I was an obsessive reader, picking up anything and everything ever written by Diana Gabaldon. I absolutely love her writing, and have read the series at least four times (and listened to it an additional three times!). When I’d finished it the last time, I felt kinda lonely, kinda deflated after all that adventure was done … so I told my husband I was going to go off and write my own. I still remember the way he shrugged and said, “Okay. See you later.” Like it’s an everyday thing, right?

When I started to type, I had no idea of what I wanted to write. None. I just sort of sat there, staring at the screen. Then … it was almost as if I heard a voice telling me what to write, except it wasn’t that exactly. It’s was more like I felt what I was supposed to write. I felt Maggie, and I let her take over. She didn’t ask. She told me, showing me the dark details of her life, letting me in on her little secrets. I felt badly for her, because she’d obviously had a rough time of it, and I just knew things weren’t about to improve anytime soon.

Then I started to get a picture in my head of a quiet, dark warrior in a kilt, a man with a deep need inside him that he told no one about. No one but me.

Three hours later I came upstairs and plopped about twenty pages on my husband’s lap. He looked surprised, read them, than looked surprised again. “Hey, that’s not bad,” he said. And he’s supported me every step of the way since then. I’m so lucky.

K: I am hearing so many good things about UNDER THE SAME SKY!  People are writing that they can’t believe it is a debut novel because it is so wonderfully written.  It has been called EPIC…  Epic is a pretty big claim!  How does that make you feel, to hear that people love this book so much?

GG: I know! Epic! The book came out a month ago, and I’m still wandering around in a fog. I have to say that it’s very surreal; first of all, just knowing people are reading what I wrote. Then to realize they like it? I feel awesome, Kristal. Like there’s a part of me I never knew existed until all this happened, and that part of me is having a wonderful time.

K: I love to ask this question, because I’m a nosy girl.  And I’m always curious about how the mind works.  How do you get in the “mood” to write?  Is there something special that inspires you?  Music, lighting?  Somewhere special in your house that inspires you or lends itself to some solitude?

GG: I like to write every day if I can, though my other business is editing, so I’m often working on other people’s novels instead of my own. I have a quiet little office in my house, and I usually burn candles and sip on herbal tea while I write. If I can, there’s no noise at all, and definitely no music. It’s kind of strange, because my university degree is in Music Performance and I love classical music. Maybe it’s because I think too much when I hear it. I need quiet so I can disappear into the story without distraction.

K: UNDER THE SAME SKY is very, very well written.  I was hooked after the first sentence.  I was in awe of your ability to have these characters know and love one another from afar and yet make it work so beautifully.  How did you research for a story that spanned continents?  The Highlands and colonial America are wonderful, vast, wild places that I’m sure conjured up some wonderful romantic ideals but did it require a lot of research on your part to put it all together?

GG: Thank you, and yes. I had no idea how to research for it, but I knew it had to be right. Initially I wrote this book just for my own enjoyment, and if I’d put in bogus facts I would have disappointed myself. I loved using tiny details – for example, the name of the ship, the “Boyd of Glasgow”, and its captain are the actual real names for that date and port of departure.

I began by researching in the library, but I have the attention span of a gnat, so that didn’t work out. I started googling different topics and came up with all different kinds of answers. Eventually I ended up working with some incredible people online. For the Highlander information (among other sources), I worked with a terrific man named Guy from www.HistoricHighlanders.com, and he nitpicked about the tiniest—and yet incredibly significant—details. And for the Cherokee knowledge, I went to a man named Ironhead Vann, who is the great-great-great grandson of ‘Chief’ Rich Joe Vann of the Old Cherokee Nation. Ironhead’s gorgeous site is www.CherokeeByBlood.com.

K: Can you tell us a little bit about your next novel, SOUND OF THE HEART, which is coming out May 1, 2012?  I will say, it looks wonderful, but let you describe it for our readers.

GG: I don’t want to give too much away, but SOUND OF THE HEART focuses on Dougal, the brother of the hero in UNDER THE SAME SKY. The brothers were separated at Culloden Moor in April 1746 and both assumed the other had been killed in the battle. But Andrew escaped, and Dougal had a far rougher time of it. Along the way, though, he discovers true love … then loses it when the love of his life is stolen by the English and shipped to the new world as a slave. When I was researching for this book I discovered that white slavery, especially among Scots of that time period, was rampant. We never hear about that. The truth is that some of the transported Scots were called “indentured servants”, but others were actual slaves. I found that to be both horrifying and fascinating, and I plan on learning more about that. Anyway, the book follows both Dougal and his beloved through their own separate adventures, and we all just have to hope for a reunion … heh heh

K: What are your plans for after SOUND OF THE HEART?  Are there other books in the same vein as these two?

GG: Yes again. The third book, OUT OF THE SHADOWS features Maggie’s sister, Adelaide, and is already on my agent’s desk. I’m just waiting to see what will happen with it. This is a tough economic time for publishers and they have to be really careful signing debut authors. I have my fingers crossed! And … book #4 (untitled so far) is under way. It’s about Janet. So many readers said she deserved a book, and about a month ago she told me she had a great story to tell, so what else could I do?

K: Can you tell us who some of your favorite authors are?  What kinds of books you enjoy and genres that you prefer?

GG: I prefer what I call “Historic Adventure” over “Historic Romance” in many cases. I lose myself in heart wrenching suspense, gritty adventures, and the dangers that these people had to face. I think my favorite aspect of writing Historic fiction is that, well, who is to say those stories never happened? When I write, I feel like I’m “channeling”. Doesn’t that mean those people have passed?

I love anything by Diana Gabaldon, Sara Donati, Penelope Williamson, and Jennifer Roberson, and recently I’ve really been enjoying the work of Kaki Warner and Joanna Bourne. To hold my attention, a story has to be compelling, intelligent, emotional, and unpredictable … is that asking too much?

K: Thank you so much for stopping by and chatting with us and our readers!  We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to spending time with us!

Kristal here. For one copy of UNDER THE SAME SKY please tell us when was the last time you read a debut novel that knocked your socks off?!

The writing is superb and I never would have believed that it was a debut novel if I hadn’t been told.  The characters are vivid, alive in a way that I rarely see in a book.  From the first sentence of the first chapter I was hooked.

UNDER THE SAME SKY has the feel of a movie, the writing is that superb.  The way the story flows and is told, the way I felt like I was right there, inside the book for every moment from the very first sentence.

This book has depth, substance and character and I felt so many different emotions while I was reading, I cannot even name them all.  It is not a typical romance, and yet it is a stunning story of two lovers and all the pain, hurt, turmoil, joy and happiness imaginable.

It is a strong love, a fierce love, a love fraught with obstacles and many beautiful moments.

A love that spans space, time and country.  Andrew and Maggie are wonderful characters, with an amazing story to tell.  I fell in love with their story, with the idea that a love like theirs could span countries and planes and still make everything alright.

Outstanding work by Genevieve Graham.  Stunning, beautiful, EPIC.

UNDER THE SAME SKY will not soon be forgotten and will be going on my keeper shelf to be re-read as many times as I can manage.

Review by Kristal

How many of us have just sighed at Tom Cruise when he said “I love you. You complete me…” (Jerry MaGuire) or when Colin Firth said “No, I mean I like you very much. Just as you are.” (Bridget Jones’s Diary)?

Can you imagine someone looking deeply into your eyes and saying “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”?

No?! How about “You must know, surely you must know, it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I’d scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I would have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love… I love… I love you. And I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”

When this brave hero spoke his vow “I will love you my whole life. You and no other.”  I had tears in my eyes.

I know I’m more likely to believe these lines “…I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn’t know this either — but love don’t make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren’t here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves, and to break our hearts, and love the wrong people, and die. The storybooks are bullshit! Now I want you to come upstairs with me and get in my bed!”

I’m sure most of you romantics out there just went nuts over the scene that needed no words spoken aloud, but a simple poster board was quiet sufficient in helping this man’s declaration of love.

And then, just a simple “Ditto!” can accomplish and convey this man’s love that went beyond life…

We’ll be happy to giveaway THREE books to three winners who can ID the recipients of these declarations of love.

Tell us about your favorite declarations of love and you’re welcome (ENCOURAGED) to include yours as well!

Now, this novel starts off a bit slow, but if you, like I, stick with this read for about a hundred or so pages, you will discover a story that is fascinating, fast paced and very, very well written.

This is Marguerite du Georges’ (Ashby) story, a character that was first introduced in the prequel, and a woman that now owns Claudette’s doll shop. As her story opens, she is struck with a tragedy and now must fend for herself, away from London. She finds herself working with Madame Tussaud, who is now in a need of an apprentice. As she enjoys her work and lets Madame Tussaud guide her while she applies her old and develops new skills, she gets commissioned by the Prime Minister on a secret project which will take her on an unexpected adventure of a lifetime.

And that is where the book takes off. Real historical figures and events add a wonderful and exciting pace to this story. Our heroine might be ‘addled’ at times and she might get into some scrapes, but the woman was strong and courage’s. It was a pleasure to watch her grow and come into her own while she lives through some tragedies life throws her way.

‘A Royal Likeness’ was a treat to read and I found it one highly entertaining story that weaves historical figures and events with fictional ones with a perfect precision and wonderful prose. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will want to read this story that is full of political intrigue, mystery, tragedy, high sea adventure and a touch of romance as our heroine Marguerite is pursued by couple of suitors, fictional and historical. I found her refreshing and bold; talented and creative; adventures and witty. Once you meet her, you won’t be able not to like her. Ms. Trent made sure to have all of her characters as three-dimensional as possible. She did an outstanding job researching and bringing to life an era in history that is not just exciting but intriguing as well. She takes us on a journey, along with our heroine, from England to Scotland and gives us a look at France in a time of French Revolution, a time in history that was perilous to all, not just the French.

I highly recommend this story to all you history buffs, romance and adventure seekers and bestow upon it all of my four quills!

*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine*

This is the story of Katherine Champernowne from Devon, daughter of a beekeeper, who like all girls has a dream that one day she would leave her simple life and find herself at King’s court. Her dream is realized and she ends up in that court as one of Cromwell’s spies and later one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies. She quickly learns to navigate the court’s life as she is well aware that even though one day you might be ‘in’ the next step you make it just might take you ‘out’. In time of uncertainty, she fights to stay ‘in’ and after Queen Anne’s execution, she’s given a position of Princess Elizabeth’s tutor/governess and eventually becoming First Lady of the Bedchamber to the Queen Elizabeth I. She’s given credit by many, and especially Elizabeth, for taking excellent care of her and being the mother of her heart if not blood, and for turning her into an intelligent, clever and capable woman. I was surprised by how close they became in spite of her raising her. For some reason I always thought that it wouldn’t be allowed for her to be so close to her charge.

I wanted to like this novel better and in spite of this author’s excellent and very detailed research, well developed characters and only a touch of romance, it left me wanting and I’m still asking myself why? Why couldn’t I connect more to Kat, or even Elizabeth? It left me questioning too many things, and that just might be the reason for me not liking Kat as much as I should have. Her interfering nature was very off-putting and made her unlikable. Was she really a spy for Thomas Cromwell? Was her relationship with Thomas Seymour as she depicts it? I did like her love story, if you could call it that, and the relationship between her and John Ashley. The choice that the author made of telling us the story from Kat’s prospective and in ‘her ‘ voice, also made for the story to come off more personal, and I liked that as well, but I still got the impression that at times this read more like history book, rather than historical fiction.

In the end, if you are a huge fan of Tudor era, you will find this book informative and at times enlightening, so you will probably read it. I on the other hand hoped for less of a history lesson and just a bit more of a romance novel so, sorry to say, I give only three of my quills to it.

*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine*

“Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates. His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs. When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford. But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a Countess. If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge. However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula. But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can’t control…”

It tells you exactly who the main characters are and aims to pull you into the story without giving much away, yet hinting at the plots mystery as to who really killed our heroine’s father. I was very impressed with it, and it was a very good sign that the story within would be if not great, at least good. Well, let me tell you, this was not ‘just good’. This is a debut novel that should be talked about, re-read and remembered for some time. This book blurb should be included as one of the best out there.

Miss Liliana Claremont is one smart girl and chemistry is in her genes. It is her fervent wish and a dream to one day be allowed to enter the hallowed halls of the Royal Society as its member. At twenty four years of age, she is considered a spinster, and she has no intention of ever marrying. She likes her life of solitude and study and her life’s work and goal is to continue her father’s legacy as a chemist. Her beloved father was a man she revered and deeply loved until one day someone betrayed him by ending his life. She is determined to solve and finally put to rest the mystery as to who was behind her father’s death, and with only one clue to guide her, she sets on a path that will bring her much heartache and love she never could have imagined possible. All at the same time.

Geoffrey Wentworth, Earl of Stratford is a war hero who really never wanted to be an Earl, but after his father and brother die, he has no choice. With that title Geoffrey knows his duties are many and taking a wife and siring an heir is not on his priority list. His life’s work lies in Politics of the day and his passion is helping fellow soldiers that need work and housing so garnering support to pass the Poor Employment Act is foremost on his mind.

Well, try and tell that to his mother, who without his knowledge plans and invites the cream de la cream of debutante society to his home for a fortnight of entertainments. To assure his cooperation, she manipulates him by also including some of the men and their daughters that he will need in order to pass the legislature. One thing our hero most abhors is sneaky, manipulative and deceiving women, and he vows never to fall in love with such a woman. He knows that if he ever marries, the woman he chooses must be compatible with him his political aspirations, and be a good hostess as well as his partner.

From their first meeting, these two totally opposite people, and one of them with a secret that could blow in their faces, sparkle and shine. The ‘chemistry’ (pun intended) is so palpable, and sparks fly and fires ignite. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed their ‘courtship’ and the witty and humorous dialogue brought me to tears laughing.

If you’re in a mood for an entertaining, sensual and witty historical with a mystery element that will keep you guessing as to whom the ‘bad guy’ is, look no further than this fresh, exciting and very delightful novel.

‘Sweet Enemy’ gets my five quills, and I urge you to find it as soon as it hits bookstores on February 7, 2012. Welcome to my keeper shelf, Heather Snow.

*This review posted on Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews eZine*