Aloha to Forever's PLEASURES TO SEDUCE - Part 2 with Nina Rowan's A STUDY IN SEDUCTION

I met debut author Nina Rowan at the RWA National Conference ... and it is my pleasure to host her today!   From her bio,

Originally from California, Nina Rowan holds a PhD in Art History from McGill University, Montreal, with a specialization in 19th century French and Russian art. She began writing when she was an undergraduate at UCLA and lived a dual life as a student and a pseudonymous erotica author. She has studied Indian and Southeast Asian art and film, worked as a curatorial assistant at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and traveled in India and Europe.

A librarian-at-heart, she also holds an MA in Library and Information Sciences, a course of study that renewed a deep-seated interest in folklore and fairy tales. In addition to being an eternal student, or likely because of it, Nina possesses an abiding love for research that involves dusty, old books. She also thinks popcorn should be one of the four food groups. She lives in Wisconsin with her atmospheric scientist husband and two children.

Red Square in Moscow by Fedor Alekseev 

Kim:  How interesting that you have an PhD in Art History! What did you plan to do with it?

Nina:  I love working in museums, so that would have been my career choice over teaching, though I did also teach for a while. My main focus, however, was on writing! I hoped to be an independent scholar or and write books and articles about 19th century French and Russian art. I suppose it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that I ended up writing novels set in the same time period!

Kim:  What's your favorite "dusty old book"?

Nina:  Alexander and the Magic Mouse by Martha Sanders. It’s an astonishing children’s picture book whose story and illustrations tell a grand, captivating tale of friendship, adventure, and loyalty.

Kim:  What inspired A STUDY IN SEDUCTION?

Nina:  The discovery of a very talented 19th century Russian mathematician named Sofia Kovalevskaya, who became the first woman in Europe to earn a doctorate summa cum laude and a full university professorship.

I thought writing about a mathematician heroine would be fascinating, especially if she had to contend with both Victorian society and a sexy, arrogant viscount. And I was right—it was a fascinating journey and most definitely a challenge!

An Elegant Soiree by Victor Gilbert

Mahalo, Nina for giving us a mathematician heroine - I have a Math degree!   FOREVER is giving away a print copy of A STUDY OF SEDUCTION:

A HEART DIVIDED

Blessed with an uncanny gift for mathematics, the lovely Lydia Kellaway can solve the most complex puzzles. The one thing she can’t figure out? How to manage the most infuriating man she’s ever encountered.

A PASSION MULTIPLIED

Alexander Hall, Viscount Northwood, has purchased a one-of-a-kind locket from a pawnshop, unaware of the priceless sentiment it holds for Lydia. The gentlemanly thing to do would be to simply return it. But Lydia sparks a desire that has Alexander curious to see just how bold this brilliant beauty will be…

A LOVE UNEQUALED

What begins as a playful wager quickly escalates into a contest of the minds, a clash of the wills—and a battle of the sexes—as their fiery attraction grows. Even a genius like Lydia can’t account for the feelings Alexander arouses with his smile, or the fire he ignites with his touch. But when a dark family secret is suddenly thrown into the equation, it just might divide them forever.

Plus a print copy of Jennifer Haymore's PLEASURES OF A TEMPTED LADY.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about a one-of-a-kind object you have ... my English granny gave me a brass "wall hanging" with swans that were hammered by her father from a WWI shell during his service in the Ambulance Corps.  

2.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 25, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 26.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

To learn more about Nina and her books, check out her website at ninarowan.com.

Continue the blog tour with Jennifer Haymore's PLEASURES OF A TEMPTED LADY at this link.