Shana Galen and Five Fun Facts from …

Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend

1. I didn’t come up with the titles for any of the books in the Jewels of the Ton series. After When You Give a Duke a Diamond was titled I knew the other books would have gems in the titles too, but I didn’t know which gem until I’d already written all of If You Give a Rake a Ruby and most of Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend. I had to go back and include the gem in the title in the story.

2. I named the hero’s friend Flynn because Flynn Rider from Tangled is my favorite Disney hero. But then I liked him so much I had to write a story for him too. It will be out in January and is titled The Viscount of Vice.

3. When Lily turns up at the end of If You Give a Rake a Ruby as a spy, I was as surprised as anyone else. I didn’t know she was a spy, and it wasn’t what I was planning for her book. Fortunately, my editor gives me a lot of leeway when I write synopses, since my books are generally nothing like the synopses I turn in.

4. I had to research sapphires when I was writing this book. I found out that sapphires come in more than just blue. They can be purple and pink and other colors too. I have some pictures of various colored sapphires on my Pinterest board for Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend.

5. Lily rides a horse several times in the novel, and I had to research riding habits to make sure she was dressed appropriately. I always find it so amazing that women did everything men did on horseback, but they did it sitting sideways!

Who’s your favorite “supporting actor” in a book, movie or TV show? Does s/he deserve a story of his/her own?

Giveaway: print copies of When You Give a Duke a Diamond

&

 If You Give a Rake a Ruby. (U.S./Canada only)

‘Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend’

Careful, gentlemen—there’s more to this courtesan than meets the eye

What better disguise for a secret agent than that of a courtesan? Lily Dawson, dubbed the Countess of Charm, is a spy working for the Crown to uncover a traitor.

Andrew Booth-Payne, Earl of Darlington, wants to hate Lily for taking up with his father, but something about Lily intrigues him. When he discovers there is more to her flirtation than greed, he knows he must help her uncover a traitor. Even if that traitor is his own father…

*Connie’s review here.

*Excerpt here.

Buy Links: Amazon / B&N / iTunes

Author Bio: Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Booklist says, “Galen expertly entwines espionage-flavored intrigue with sizzling passion,” and RT Bookreviews calls her “a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.

Social Media: Website

 

‘The Bride Says No’ by Cathy Maxwell

STORY: Lady Aileen never thought she’d be in this position—falling in love with her sister’s betrothed! Of course, her sister did run away rather than marry him, and he doesn’t seem to be all that interested in her sister either, but even so, such a match is impossible…isn’t it?

Aileen is certain she must turn away from the man she loves in order to protect her sister’s reputation. However, he’s not one to give up without a fight, and now that he’s met a woman he wants to marry, nothing on earth could convince him to let Aileen go

REVIEW: It is 1816, and Lady Aileen Davidson is a divorced woman living in her childhood home of Annefield in the countryside of Scotland.  Truth told, her husband has abused her many times when led her to seek the friendship of another man.  After the scandal went to court, now, she is a ruined woman.

Her lovely half-sister, Tara, is a young gal making her début in London.  She decides to flee to Annefield to escape the promise she made to marry the wealthy, illegitimate Blake Stephens, the “recognized” son of a Duke.  However, Blake follows her to Annefield and although they do not truly love each other he is unwilling to call off the wedding to make Tara look bad in the eyes of society.  Being the brat that she is, Tara refuses to call off the wedding.. 

When Tara left Annefield some years ago, she left her childhood sweetheart, Raury Jamerson, a groom who has worked himself up over the years to be a very talented man with horses.  He is now engaged to a local girl named Jane.  Tara is a spoiled young woman and is intent on getting Raury back as she fancies herself in love with him.  

As Blake and Aileen get to know one another, attraction and love blooms leading them to have an affair.  In the meantime, Tara is chasing around after Raury trying to get him to come back to her.

As the wedding nears and although they love each other deeply, Aileen and Blake feel the only honorable thing to do is for him to marry Tara after which Aileen and Blake will no longer be intimate.  On the wedding day, there are some real surprises that will leave the reader wanting more.

I enjoyed this book immensely and so look forward to reading “The Bride Says Maybe” which the next book of this new The Brides of Wishmore series.

*Connie for b2b.

*Book provided by my library [& Edelweiss]

 

Barbara Monajem Returns Discussing Two Harlequin Novellas

Bookworm:

Another post I couldn’t pass up today and hope you take the time to read.
HUGS!
Mel

Originally posted on BOOKTALK WITH EILEEN:

Before we get started talking novellas I thought you might like to see a picture of Barbara not working, but out and about. She and her husband are standing on Derry Peace Bridge in Northern Ireland. The Peace Bridge is a cycle and footbridge across theRiver Foylein Derry, Northern Ireland. It opened on 25 June 2011, connectingEbrington Squarewith the rest of the city centre. Ireland is one of the places that inspires Barbara.She tells me she gets knots inher stomach when she thinks about all the strife in Ireland over the years. She has long wanted to write a historical about Ireland but not sure she has the emotional stamina to do it.

As I’m getting to know Barbara’s work better I asked her why her Regency stories are novellas. She’s written nine of them.

She wrote, “The Regencies are novellas because I was writing them for the Harlequin Undone line of short historical novellas. I have written several full-length Regencies, but all of them need work! One of these days I’ll get around to revising them. The Undone line is being phased out, so I am writing longer novellas now.

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I turn my blog over the the lovely Christy English who is talking Finding Joy in Romance Novels

Bookworm:

Now How can I pass up on Reblogging this one?! I love LOVE the cover of Ms. English’s new book so much! Paul Muron/Jack is too damn handsome for his own good!
Stop by and say hi!

Mel

Originally posted on Rakes Rogues and Romance:

If you don’t already know, I adore Christy. Not only is she a fabulous writer, but she is a lovely person as well. So today, while I have to go do lawyer-ly work like things for my job, she has graciously agreed to come take over my blog and talk about the joy in romance.

She is graciously giving away a signed copy of Much Ado About Jack, US Only

I find a lot of joy in romance novels. I love watching my characters find each other, and figure out ways to stay together. They are usually separated by social barriers like class, as Captain James “Jack” Montgomery and the Countess of Devonshire, Angelique Beauchamp are in MUCH ADO ABOUT JACK. A captain of the line who is the son of a baronet should not be able to marry a countess, even a dowager countess, no matter how much money he made in the war. Of course, as a fiction writer, I can overlook that barrier and watch gleefully as my characters climb over it. It turns out that Angelique is the daughter of a sea captain, and in spite of the lofty company she has kept since her marriage (Earl of Ravensbrook, Duchess of Hawthorne, the Prince Regent), she is not a snob.

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Regency Customs: Using the Social Call to Change a Story Line

Bookworm:

Hey Bookworms!
This is a great post for all of you out there that are aspiring authors. Hope you take the time to read and join the conversation

Mel

Originally posted on ReginaJeffers's Blog:

In the 1800s, morning calls or visiting upon a household developed a certain protocol, and those who broke protocol were often shunned. First a calling card was presented to the household’s servant. It was common for those who came to London for the Season to drive about with a footman in tow to present one’s cards to acquaintances. Do you recall Mrs. Jennings doing so in Sense and Sensibility ? “The morning was chiefly spent in leaving cards at the houses of Mrs. Jennings’s acquaintance to inform them of her being in town.”

One would leave three cards with the servant: one from the lady for the house’s mistress; one from the caller’s husband for the house’s mistress and another for the house’s master. Displaying cards of those who had called was commonplace. It gave one social status to display cards from those of the nobility. In Persuasion, the Elliots took care to display “…the cards of the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple and the Hon. Miss Carteret, to be arranged where they might be most visible.”

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‘The Consequences’ by Colette Freedman

STORY: In the riveting follow-up to her acclaimed debut novel, Colette Freedman explores the aftermath of infidelity from three different perspectives–husband, wife, and mistress. The end of an affair may be only the beginning. . .

Over the course of one tumultuous Christmas Eve, Kathy Walker confirmed her suspicions about her husband’s affair, confronted his mistress, Stephanie, and saved her marriage. She and Robert have eighteen years, two teenagers, and a film production business between them–plus a bond that Kathy has no intention of giving up on. Yet though Robert is contrite, Kathy can’t quite silence her doubts.

While Robert reels from his wife’s ultimatum and his mistress’s rejection, Stephanie makes a discovery: she’s pregnant. Her resolve to stay away from Robert wavers now that they could make a real family together. And in the days that follow, Stephanie, Robert, and Kathy must each reckon with the intricate realities of desire, the repercussions of betrayal, and the secrets that, once revealed, ripple through lives and relationships in thoroughly unexpected ways

REVIEW: This novel is the follow on to the book “The Affair.”  As I have not yet read the first novel, I can say that the second book can stand alone without having read the first.  (Gosh, I hope that makes sense.)

The novel is about a love affair between Stephanie Burroughs and Robert Walker.  It is told in three points of view:  Stephanie, The Mistress; Robert, the Husband; and Kathy, The Wife.  

Robert and Kathy have been married for a several years and are the parents of two teenagers.  They started a film production business which has grown into a successful entity enabling Kathy to keep her part-owner status yet be a full-time Mom at home with their children.  However, the business has hit a few rough patches recently and Robert is somewhat perturbed that Kathy has not elected to help at the office.

Robert has had an affair with Stephanie for over a year now.  They both have tried to keep it as secret as possible going out of their way to meet up without anyone finding out.  But Christmas is coming up again and Stephanie knows she is going to have to face it alone.  After an argument with Robert, she elects to fly to spend the holiday with her parents and siblings. While there, she discovers that she might be pregnant and, sure enough, her test comes back positive.  Determined to keep the baby, she is furious that Robert wants her to abort the baby and is now backing away from divorcing Kathy and marrying her.

The different characters with whom the three of them interact over the holidays reveals a lot about their lives and plans for the future.

I enjoyed the book and found it to be a great summation of what happens during an affair and the “consequences.”  My only problem with the book is that some of the dialogue is repeated three times in the book as it comes from each narrator.  

*Connie for b2b.

*Book provided by my library.

‘Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend’ by Shana Galen

STORY: She Wants Him… She Wants Him Not…

Lily Dawson, dubbed the Countess of Charm by the Prince Regent himself, plays the role of the courtesan flawlessly while her real purpose is spying in the service of the Crown. Her mission now is to seduce a duke to test his true loyalties. She’ll do it, even though the man she really wants is Andrew Booth-Payne, Earl of Darlington—the duke’s son.

Andrew is furious when he finds himself rivaling his father for Lily’s attention. When he uncovers Lily’s mission, Andrew is faced with impossible choices. It seems he is destined to betray either his family, his country, or the longings of his own heart…

REVIEW: Lily Dawson, is known as the Countess of Charm.  She passes herself off as a courtesan when she is truly a spy for the government.  At present, she has been tasked with trying to cozy up to the Duke of Ravenscroft to find if he truly is or isn’t loyal to his country.  The Duke is known to be a hard drinking, old lecher.  He is suspected of being in possession of some rubies that he is using to pay for assassins to kill government spies.  Lily is staying at his home looking for chances to search the place to see if the suspicions are true.  Lily is finding things difficult for she is constantly being thrown together with Andrew Booth-Payne, the Earl of Darlington and son of the Duke of Ravenscroft.  Her growing attraction to him is throwing her off her game.  Knowing that his father is also lusting after Lily makes for some great confrontations and a good story.

This is the third book of Shana Galen’s Jewels of the Ton series and stories of each of its three members.  The first book is “If You Give a Rake a Ruby” which features Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery.  The second book is “When You Give a Duke a Diamond” which features Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance.  And now, we have the third book, “Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend” which features, Lily, the Countess of Charm.  There you have the three books of the series and I do hope that readers will get a copy of all three of them so you have the whole series and know the entire story.

I loved the book and as always with Shana Galen’s novels, she has once again proven herself to be the master of the romance spy novel.  No one writes them as well.

*Connie for b2b

*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

FEATURING AUTHOR BARBARA MONAJEM

Bookworm:

Come check out this new to me author on my friend’s blog
Mel

Originally posted on BOOKTALK WITH EILEEN:

Each month I will feature an author presenting what they’ve written along with their bio. I will review at least four of their books within the month, an interview with the author and a guest post where the author can discuss any topic she/he chooses. I chose Barbara Monajem for March. She’s an accomplished author who is apparently comfortable writing in several genre.

This is what’s said about her Bayou Gavotte series:
“…a fresh and sultry voice joins the paranormal romance genre…”– Romantic Times

“…charming, offbeat characters…” — Patricia’s Vampire Notes

“A breath of fresh air, in the spirit of Charlaine Harris’s Dead Until Dark.” — New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Squires

About the author in her own words

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A Special Giveaway!

Bookworm:

Come & check out a brand new blog from some of my fave authors! Great Giveaway too

Originally posted on Embracing Romance:

Inauguration Week Giveaway!!!

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‘Before the Larkspur Blooms’ by Caroline Fyffe

STORY: Thomas Donovan spent eight long years in prison, convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Finally released, he returns home to Logan Meadows, Wyoming, to discover his parents long buried and his neighbors wanting nothing to do with him. Suddenly the fresh start Thom longed for seems downright impossible until a spirited beauty from his past becomes his unlikely champion, and the walls around his injured heart begin to crumble?

Hannah Hoskins was brokenhearted when Thom Donovan was sent away. While the rest of the town was quick to brand him a no-count thief, Hannah always knew better. Now the boy she once loved has returned home a man whom Hannah’s suitor, the town’s deputy sheriff, is determined to destroy. When a crime spree starts anew, suspicion immediately falls on Thom, and it’s up to Hannah to prove his innocence, earn him a second chance at life and win them both a second chance at love.

REVIEW: The first time I got introduced to Ms. Fyffe’s work was reading ‘Montana Dawn’ and ever since then I’ve become a fan of her writing voice.

What I love about her stories the most is her heroes. They are all without a doubt Alpha, yet their vulnerabilities hide many shades of Beta men who are always honorable and ready to defend that which they love and matters to them the most, be it their women, land or their honor.

She also never fails to entertain me with smart and witty dialogue between her characters and equally balancing sweet romance with action.

This is a sequel to ‘Where the Wind Blows’, and both are a part of her Prairie Hearts series which is set in Wyoming wilderness.

Thomas Donovan is such a hero. He’s been in prison for eight years for a crime he hadn’t committed and he decides to return to his family and a town that despises him. Thom is in for a rude and painful awakening to find out that there is actually no one to welcome him back, unless he counts Hannah, who was so very young when he was taken to jail.

Hannah (then Brown) and now his best friend Caleb Hoskins’ widow and a mother to a young boy, had always had a special bond with both boys and is now running her own little establishment she inherited from her husband.

She is the only one that is happy to see him back and hopes that maybe they might have a future together.

You don’t have to be a lover of western romance to enjoy this well-written, well-paced and very sweet romance. I highly recommend not just this story but every one of this author’s books. You’ll love them all and want to keep rereading them.

*Melanie for b2b.

*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.