Aloha to ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE'S KISS with Julie Johnstone, Katherine Bone, Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal, Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas, Lauren Smith, and Victoria Vane

USA Today Best-selling author, Julie Johnstone, joins best-selling, award-winning authors, Katherine Bone, Collette Cameron, Jillian Chantal, Samantha Grace, Alanna Lucas, Lauren Smith, and Victoria Vane in this delightful limited edition, containing eight tantalizing kiss-and-tell stories. Meet dashing, wildly charming rogues, spies, pirates, rakes and their extraordinary, intrepid heroines as they whisk you along on sweet to sizzling romantic romps in these wickedly entertaining historical romances.

AFTER FOREVER by JULIE JOHNSTONE

Lady Julia is hired to turn a rogue into a gentleman and receives lessons in love and desire.

Widowed Lady Julianna Barrows never wants to fall in love again. But when the notorious former boxer Nash Overton hires her to transform him into a gentleman, Julianna quickly becomes the student, learning more about passion than she’s ever known, and more importantly, learning how to love again.

THE PIRATE’S DUCHESS by KATHERINE BONE

A duke masquerading as a pirate to "rob from the rich and give to the poor" sheds his darkest-kept secrets to keep from losing the duchess his wife has become.

Duty forces him to take on the pirate code, but honor brings him back.

Prudence, Duchess of Blackmoor, has one desire—to be happy again. After struggling to overcome the horrifying death of her husband, she accepts an earl’s offer of marriage, confident she’s taking a step in the right direction. But demons, refuse to die, and Prudence finds herself caught in an intricate web of deceit that threatens the very foundations of all she holds dear.

Tobias, the Duke of Blackmoor, crosses the line when an assassination attempt on him fails. To restore the reputations of friends under attack by the same villain, and ensure his wife’s safety, he stages his own death, becoming The Black Regent, a notorious pirate bent on brandishing justice, never thinking he’d survive. But to his amazement, he has, and now the darkest-kept secrets are not worth losing the duchess his wife has become.

HER SCANDALOUS WISH by COLLETTE CAMERON

A marriage offer obligated by duty . . . an acceptance compelled by desperation.

Philomena Pomfrett is resigned to spinsterhood, but to ease her dying brother’s fretting, she reluctantly agrees to attend a London Season with one purpose—to acquire a husband. Stumbling upon her hiding in a secluded garden arbor during a ball, Bradford, Viscount Kingsley doesn’t recognize his first love, yet something about the mysterious woman enthralls him, and he steals a passionate, moonlit kiss.

Caught in the act by Philomena’s brother, Bradford is issued an ultimatum—a duel or marry Philomena. He offers marriage, but even impoverished and with no other decent prospects, she rejects his half-hearted proposal until her brother collapses. Now, Philomena’s faced with marrying a man who deserted her once already.

MILADY AND HER SPY by JILLIAN CHANTAL

A lady, a spy, a traitor… a battle of wills.

Raised in the country after her mother’s death with only the company of three unruly brothers, Lady Augusta Covington is more proficient at fencing, riding and playing cards than being prim and proper. Myles Cuthbert, a spy in His Majesty’s service on a mission to find and expose a traitor, crosses paths with Lady Augusta when she rides to the aid of her brother, believing him to be injured. With the assignment at risk, Cuthbert agrees to accept the assistance of the troublesome lady eager for intrigue. As they move forward, his sense of obligation to her and the danger involved stir his soul.

KISSED BY A SCOTTISH ROGUE by SAMANTHA GRACE

Scottish land steward Fergus McTaggert calls a temporary truce with his employer's companion only to discover their passionate battles have been masking their hidden desires.

His Mother Insists He Needs a Wife.

Fergus McTaggart, Aldmist Fell’s land steward, has no time for wife hunting. Any day his employer's sisters will be arriving at the Scottish castle for a long overdue reunion. Fergus is determined to make their stay memorable, but all anyone is likely to recall are the loud rows between him and his employer’s cheeky paid companion.

She Insists He Needs a Good Knock to the Head.

Edith Gallagher has been charged with watching over her employer’s youngest sister while the family winters in Scotland, but the stubborn land steward interferes at every turn. Eventually, she and the Scot call a truce for the sisters’ sakes only to discover their passionate battles are masking hidden desires.

STOLEN KISSES FROM THE VISCOUNT by ALANNA LUCAS

A rake, an heiress, and stolen kisses...this seduction could be his last.

Desperate times call for drastic measures as Miss Aveline Redgrave enters her third season. Fearful of fortune hunters, she attempts to stay clear of Lord Leybourne, a rogue who is not to be trusted. But his seductive smile and enticing kisses awaken a passion that threatens her common sense. No stranger to scandal, Leybourne is determined to save his family from ruin whatever the cost, even marrying an heiress he doesn’t love. But an unexpected desire and need to protect threatens his plans. Will past heartaches and a devastating wager destroy their future or will true love’s kiss triumph?

TEMPTED BY A ROGUE by LAUREN SMITH

Gemma never planned on falling in love with her childhood sweetheart’s best friend, Jasper, when he returns home, but she can’t resist the naval officer’s brooding charm.

Gemma plans to marry James, her childhood sweetheart. With every letter written between them while he's been off at sea, their love has grown. Now they will be reunited with his return to England. But the man whose words she'd fallen in love with isn’t James...

Jasper, a gentleman rogue of the first order, is trapped. Talked into a scheme by his friend, he pretended to be James for eleven years while writing to Gemma. He’s promised James he’d break it off. But when he returns home, his secret will come out – and he’ll lose the one woman he can’t live without.

THE REDEMPTION OF JULIAN PRICE by VICTORIA VANE

She gave him a chance to bury his past… but the price would be his heart…

Burdened by the past…Orphaned at a young age and left to run wild, at eighteen Julian Price joins the fight against Napoleon in the hope of attaining honor. Devastated when his best friend, Thomas, is killed in battle, Julian returns home burdened with guilt, only to find his wastrel uncle has squandered his inheritance.

Desperate to live her own life… Facing a future of drudgery caring for her aging mother and raising her brother’s children, Henrietta Houghton believes her chance at a real life died with Thomas, the only man who ever wanted her. But Henrietta is still full of dreams. When her wealthy aunt, offers her a gift of ten thousand pounds, Henrietta finally has the chance to choose her own destiny.

Everything has a price...With a fortune at her command, Henrietta offers Julian a marriage of convenience, unaware that she really offers Julian a means of salvation—not just his fortune, but his very soul.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

JULIE JOHNSTON is an USA TODAY best-selling author of edgy Regency Romance. She feels she’s living the dream by working with her passion of creating worlds from her imagination. When not writing, she’s chasing her precocious children around, cooking, reading or exercising. Julie loves to hear from her readers. To connect with Julie or learn more about her books, visit juliejohnstoneauthor.com.

KATHERINE BONE is an Amazon #1 best-selling Historical Romance Author passionate about history since she had the opportunity to travel to various Army bases, castles, battlegrounds, and cathedrals as an Army brat-turned-Officer's-Wife. Now she lives in the south where she writes about Rogues, Rebels and Rakes, aka Pirates, Lords, Captains, Duty, Honor, and Country and the happily-ever-afters every alpha male and damsel deserve. To connect with Katherine or learn more about her books, visit katherinebone.com.

JILLIAN CHANTAL is a 2015 RONE Finalist and lives on the beautiful coast of Florida, and even though she loves her little slice of paradise, she’s an Anglophile at heart. Writing in a variety of romance genres makes her happy, but she has a particular fondness for the Georgian/Regency era as it was the age she adored as a teen and as her introduction to the world of happily-ever-afters. Living on the gulf coast also reminds Jillian, daily, that even though she loves the past, she needs the present. Air conditioning is vital for her survival. To connect with Jillian or learn more about her books, visit JillianChantal.com.

COLLETTE CAMERON is an Amazon #1 best-selling and award-winning Historical Romance Author of more than ten Scottish and Regency Romances featuring rogues, rapscallions, rakes, and the intrepid damsels who reform them. Mother to three and self-proclaimed Cadbury chocoholic, she makes her home in Oregon with her husband and five mini-dachshunds. You'll always find animals, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels. To connect with Collette or learn more about her books, visit collettecameron.com.

SAMANTHA GRACE is an Amazon best-Selling, RITA-nominated Historical Romance Author who discovered the appeal of a great love story at the age of four, thanks to Disney’s “Robin Hood”. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience, and she wanted the warm fuzzies to go on forever. Now that Samantha is grown, she enjoys creating happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publisher’s Weekly describes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever. To connect with Samantha or learn more about her books, visit: samanthagraceauthor.com.

ALANNA LUCAS is an Amazon best-selling author and grew up in Southern California, but always dreamed of distant lands and bygone eras. From an early age she took interest in art, history, and travel, and enjoys incorporating those diversions into her writing. However, she believes that true love is the greatest source of inspiration and is always an adventure. Alanna makes her home in California where she spends her time writing historical romances, dreaming of her next travel destination, spending time with family, and staying up too late indulging in her favorite past time, reading. To connect with Alanna or learn more about her books, visit alannalucas.com.

LAUREN SMITH, an attorney by day, is an Amazon best-selling, award winning author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat, and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being a New England Reader’s Choice Winner, Greater Detroit Bookseller’s Best Award Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. To connect with Lauren or learn more about her books, visit laurensmithbooks.com.

VICTORIA VANE is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of smart and sexy romance. Her works range from comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance and have received over twenty awards and nominations to include: a 2015 Red Carpet Finalist for Best Contemporary romance (SLOW HAND), 2014 RONE Winner for Best Historical Post Medieval Romance (Treacherous Temptations), and Library Journal Best E-Book romance of 2012 (The Devil DeVere series). Victoria also writes romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee. She currently resides in Palm Coast, Florida with her husband, two sons, a little black dog, and an Arabian horse. To connect with Vicki or learn more about her books, visit victoriavane.com.

I am giving away a digital copy of ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE'S KISS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite type of hero - rogues, spies, pirates, or rakes.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 2, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 3.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore 

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Samantha Grace and THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES

 

Hi, everyone. I’m Samantha Grace, RITA-nominated author of the historical romance series, Rival Rogues. Today I’m very happy to be joined by Benjamin Hillary, the hero of my latest novel, THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES, his younger brother Daniel, and his good friend Crispin Locke, Viscount Margrave. Ben’s younger sister, Lady Lana Forest, has graciously agreed to act as the interviewer.

Ben: She has always been a busybody.

Lana: I do not gossip—but I do tell my husband everything.

Daniel: And our brother, Jake.

Lana: Well, yes. Jake likes to keep abreast of the news.

Ben: And Jake’s wife, Amelia.

Lana flicks her hand dismissively: If I didn’t tell her, he would.

Daniel: And then there is our oldest brother, Nicholas. I understand that you write to him and his wife.

Lana: I only tell family.

Ben: So mother and father, too.

Lana: Of course! I did say family.

Viscount Margrave: No one tells me anything.

Lana: You poor, dear man. I will add you to the list of essential people with a need to know all Hillary family matters. Should I write to you at your London address?

Viscount Margrave: Yes, I believe that would be best. I travel much of the time, but my butler collects the post for me to read upon my return.

Ben to Daniel: Thank goodness, she doesn’t gossip.

Lana sniffs: Let’s begin the interview. What if you woke up one day and were able to read minds? Whose would you want to read and why?

Ben: Yours, of course. It’s only fair that I should know all of your secrets, too. Would you like me to write down Lana’s thoughts to be delivered to your London address, Margrave?

Margrave grimaces: No, thank you. She probably thinks about her husband too much for my taste, and I’ve never cared for the arrogant prig.

Lana’s mouth pinches: Consider yourself removed from my list of essential people, Lord Margrave.

Ben to Viscount Margrave: You’re still on mine. After all, you did help me sneak into Miss Eve Thorne’s betrothal ball.

Lana glowers at Margrave: Congratulations. You, sir, are back on a list. My bad list!

Viscount Margrave: What did I do?

Ben: You foiled her plan for keeping me away from the ball.

Viscount Margrave: I messed up a plan?

Lana: You most certainly did, and don’t think I will forget it.

Viscount Margrave grumbles: No one tells me anything. 

The worst thing Mr. Benjamin Hillary ever did was abandon his bride-to-be on their wedding day.

The hardest thing he will ever have to do is watch her marry another man.

After two long years abroad, Ben finds Eve every bit as captivating as she was the first time he saw her, and he vows to set things right.

Lady Eve Thorne has a new man in her life, and Ben is nothing but trouble. She is no longer a starry-eyed young woman, and now that he’s back, he can go hang for all she cares. At least that’s what she keeps telling herself…

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Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney’s Robin Hood. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn’t want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publishers Weekly describes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.

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Excerpt from THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES by Samantha Grace

Ben made a slow circle of the brightly lit ballroom, stopping occasionally to study the couples as they sashayed past, their cheeks pink from exertion. After several moments, he was satisfied Lord Wellham wasn’t among the dancers, not that Ben was surprised. If his memory served, the earl favored gambling over gamboling.

Reaching a secluded corner near a dark alcove, he paused to check once more for his quarry before he sought out the card room.

“What are you doing here?” a voice hissed. “You are not on the guest list.”

“Pardon?” Ben spun toward the speaker and came up short. His eyebrows veered toward each other. “How do you know?” he whispered back to the mass of green palm fronds.

“Because I helped make the list.” The plant’s fronds parted, and Eve Thorne’s stern glare greeted him. What the devil was she doing?

Her frown deepened when he simply stared, at a loss for words. “Do you have a death wish, Mr. Hillary?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Let me guess, you’ve been attacked by a man-eating plant. Are you in need of rescue, Kitten?”

She growled softly and the fronds snapped back into place. Ben checked the surrounding area to be certain they hadn’t earned any unwanted attention, then peered around the massive greenery. Eve was wedged against the wall, her yellow chiffon skirts crushed against the large pot. Her chest rose and fell in rapid movements, drawing his attention to the modest swell of her breasts peeking above her lacy neckline. A rosy glow infused her ivory skin, making the sprinkling of freckles across her cheeks almost unnoticeable.

God, he had missed her – her freckles, her pouty lips, her soulful brown eyes. He had been smitten from the moment he had spied her at the theater during the little Season, and two years on a faraway continent had done nothing to cool his ardor.

“What are you doing back there, Miss Thorne, and shouldn’t you have a chaperone?”

She crossed her arms as if erecting a wall between them. “God only knows why, but I am trying to save your skin, Benjamin James Arran Hillary.”

Damnation. He had almost forgotten he’d been burdened with so many names, and that she had a habit of invoking every one when she was perturbed. His smile expanded. Despite her pretense of indifference, she was worried for him. “Am I to conclude your skulking about means you still care?”

“I care about Lady Eldridge, and I do not want to see her ball ruined by you and Sebastian coming to fisticuffs. You really must leave before he sees you and demands another meeting on the field.”

Crossing paths with Sebastian Thorne didn’t concern Ben. Her brother’s need to defend her reputation after Ben jilted her had been satisfied three weeks earlier in a duel, and Thorne would not issue a second challenge for fear of losing. Ben suspected neither of them wanted to risk looking like fools again either. Instead of dueling with pistols or swords as any other normal men would do, they had allowed Eve to choose the weapons. She had chosen gloves.

He scowled. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous it looked for two men to engage in a slapping match?” The gents at Brooks’s hadn’t stopped talking about the duel for days, and Ben had endured the brunt of the teasing since he’d followed his youngest brother’s advice and allowed Thorne to win.

Eve’s smile radiated with self-satisfaction. “Since no one died, I would say I made an excellent choice.”

H grudgingly admitted her cleverness had managed to resolve the conflict without bloodshed – or much, anyway. Ben had walked away with a cut on his cheek and a nasty bruise, thanks to her brother filling his glove with pebbles. But bruised pride and a bruised mug were small prices to pay to see Eve’s position in Society restored.

Aloha to Samantha Grace and RETURN TO YOU

 

She will never forget their past...

He can't stop thinking about their future...

James Montgomery has achieved everything he'd hoped for in life...except marrying the girl of his dreams. After a terrible accident, Selena Ainsley left ten years ago. She took his heart with her and she's never coming back. But it's becoming harder and harder for him to forget their precious time together, and James can't help but wonder what he would do if they could ever meet again.

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IndieBound: link

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

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Samantha is hosting a giveaway at this link ...

... and an excerpt from RETURN TO YOU:

It was near midnight and Selena’s eyes felt heavy. With her head resting on James’s shoulder, she tried to focus on the ending of The Philadelphia Story. Back when they were dating, they used to enjoy watching classic movies, and finding one on the television seemed like the perfect way for them to relax after such an emotional evening.

James looked over at Selena and smiled to himself. If he could freeze this moment in time, he would. For years he had wondered if he’d ever find a woman he could come home to, with whom he could sit like this and simply relax. The woman half-asleep beside him was the only woman he wanted to fit that bill. The credits were beginning to roll, and he gently nudged her with his shoulder. “Hey,” he said softly, “are you still awake?”

“Mmm…barely,” she whispered and then yawned. As much as Selena knew that the bed would be a far more comfortable place to sleep, she didn’t want to leave the security of James’s side. She jumped when he shifted beside her to stand up. A wave of panic hit her as she prayed that he wasn’t getting up to leave. Before she could even voice her concern, James turned off the television and then scooped her up into his arms. “Oh!”

“Don’t get me wrong. I was completely enjoying being curled up with you on the sofa, but I had a feeling your neck was going to kill you tomorrow.” He walked through to the bedroom and carefully held her close as he pulled back the comforter and gently placed Selena down. Without a word, he walked back out to the living room and locked the door and turned out the lights before returning to her.

He didn’t ask permission.

She didn’t extend an invitation.

Neither seemed necessary.

Aloha to Samantha Grace and IN BED WITH A ROGUE - Book Review

He's the Talk of the Town

The whole town is tittering about Baron Sebastian Thorne having been jilted at the altar. Every move he makes ends up in the gossip columns. Tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes, Sebastian vows to restore his family's reputation no matter what it takes.

She's the Toast of the Ton

Feted by the crème of society, the beautiful widow Lady Prestwick is a vision of all that is proper. But Helena is no angel, and when Sebastian uncovers her dark secret, he's quick to press his advantage. In order to keep her hard-won good name, Helen will have to make a deal with the devil. But she's got some tricks up her sleeves to keep this notorious rogue on his toes ...

Colonial bed at the Montpelier Mansion
Laurel, MD (link)

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. - Benjamin Franklin

Helena and her four sisters lived just above poverty outside London. Then her father, a worthless gambler, gave Helena away to Laird Prestwick to pay his debt. The Scottish lord wedded Helena, making her her healthy, wealthy, and wise. With the laird’s death, Helena became a young widow with financial independence. She leaves the comforts of Scotland to search for her family in London. By day, she is a demure member of the ton.  By night, she searches Whitechapel for her eldest sister, intending to rescue the entire family. Instead, she rescues a drunken Lord Thorne from thugs. Helene delivers Thorne to his residence, never again expecting to see him. Alas, fate brings them together in an unexpected place. After realizing Helena is the “white angel” who saved him, he questions her about her Whitechapel visits. Touched that she is searching for “a beloved sister of a servant”, Thorne hatches a plan for Helena to launch his sister back in society after a broken engagement. In turn, he offers to use his “rogue” reputation to search the brothels.

IN THE BED OF A ROGUE is Book 2 in Grace’s Rival Rogues series. It picks up after Thorne’s own broken engagement – the reason he was drowning his sorrows in a disreputable tavern. His family’s bad luck leads society to think the offspring are as mad as their father. Instead, their father suffered from PTSD following combat duty in the British Army. Helena helps to melt Thorne’s hardened heart while paving the way for Eve’s reintroduction to the ton. Although they share a few passionate kisses, Thorne and Helena do not get into bed – a plot point I appreciate from Grace. She allows them to fall in love through mutual admiration. Grace also delivers several humorous scenes, demonstrating her unique touch to Regency Romance.

I received a print copy from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

Another colonial bed at the Montpelier Mansion

I am giving away special Regency swag to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about beds - do you like them hard or soft?  With or without headboard/footboard?  Poster Bed or  Sleigh Bed?   

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 13, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in  Charm City 

Aloha to Samantha Grace and IN BED WITH A ROGUE

Last week, I pulled a back muscle and spent several hours in best rest with Samantha Grace and IN BED WITH A ROGUE, Book 2 in the Rival Rogues series. From Samantha's bio,

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney's Robin Hood. She didn't care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn't want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publisher's Weekly describes her stories as "fresh and romantic" with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.

Part-time hospice social worker, moonlighting author, and pilates nut, she enjoys a happy and hectic life with her real life hero and two kids in the Midwest.

Samantha Grace | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Samantha joins us today with a guest post to celebrate the release of IN BED WITH A ROGUE ...

Aloha, everyone! I’m Samantha Grace, regency romance author, and I’m very happy to be back at SOS Aloha. Let’s all imagine we are in Hawaii now sipping a cup of Kona coffee and enjoying the breeze off the ocean. Ahh… That was nice. Okay, now it’s time to jump in the Delorean time machine and travel back to 19th century England.

It’s the start of the London Season and young debutantes are flooding the marriage mart hoping to make a fortuitous match. Marriage is serious business when an entire family’s welfare could depend on (1) gaining status by marrying into nobility - female (2) gaining access to a large dowry to save entailed property - male (3) producing an heir to inherit the entailed property - male.

When a property was entailed, lands and often contents of the house couldn’t be sold off even if the property was falling into ruin. Everything was part of the estate and reserved for the next male heir. If there wasn’t an heir, the Crown could take the land, leaving the living females with no home. No pressure!

Even though it seems like a lot more responsibility is falling on the gentleman, he definitely has the advantage. There just aren’t enough gentlemen to go around, which means there’s a lot of competition when it comes to capturing a gentleman’s attention, so you have to be on your game! You’re going to need a…

Debutante Disaster Preparedness Plan

#1 Being presented at Court is nice, but your true ticket to success comes in the form of a voucher to Almack’s, the hottest dance club in 19th Century London. If you have any hope of making a marriage match, you better be at the Marriage Mart on Wednesday evenings. Almack’s is one of the few places single gentlemen and debutantes can mingle, so you better make nice with someone influential if you want that voucher. And if you aren’t dressed to the wow, you’ll never get past the bouncers aka the Lady Patronesses, so dress for success.

#2 On that note, you must have lots and lots of gowns. In fact, you better build up your stamina, because you’re going to be changing clothes several times a day. If you are lucky, the most sought-after modiste will take you on as a client. You must be the most fashionable lady in London if you expect to gain a gentleman’s attention, or that of his mother.

#3 A sweet disposition and sterling reputation will go a long way in helping you to bring a gentleman up to scratch. After all, you know how some mamas are. They only want the best for their sons, and someone who won’t challenge their position at home. To that end, be sure you’ve studied the “Etiquette Survival Guide”. One faux pas could mean ruination is nipping at your heels.

Poor Eve Thorne, my hero’s sister from IN BED WITH A ROGUE, had a disastrous first season when her betrothed jilted her at the altar. It’s not fair, but everyone believed her groom must have found out disturbing news about her and that’s why he took off suddenly and escaped to India. But big brother Sebastian is determined to make things right for Evie and he has stumbled across the perfect solution: Lady Helena Prestwick. When he discovers a secret about Helena, he has no plans to spill the beans. He has never cared for the gossipmongers who’ve hurt his sister, so why should he toss them a juicy bone? He sees an opportunity to for Helena and him to help each other out, however. On Helena’s behalf, he will search the fashionable brothels for a young woman who is obviously important to her, and Helena will use her reputation and influence to help his Evie reenter Society. It’s the perfect arrangement that neither suspect could lead to a permanent partnership.

We had a lot of fun at my recent release party posting photos of dresses we wanted to be wearing. Some partygoers really got into the spirit with changing their dress every time a new guest author showed up. So many pretty colors! Of course, if you were a debutante during the Regency period, you didn’t get to wear all those vibrant colors. You had to stick to white or pastels, but let’s throw caution to the wind! What color gown would you wear to shock the ton? I’m choosing royal blue.

Dido Elizabeth Belle and Lady Elizabeth Murray
enjoyed a shocking friendship 

Mahalo, Samantha, for sharing the Debutante Disaster Preparedness Plan!  Sourcebooks is giving away a copy of IN BED WITH A ROGUE ... 

He’s the Talk of the Town

The whole town is tittering about Baron Sebastian Thorne having been jilted at the altar. Every move he makes ends up in the gossip columns. Tired of being the butt of everyone’s jokes, Sebastian vows to restore his family’s reputation no matter what it takes.

She’s the Toast of the Ton

Feted by the crème of society, the beautiful widow Lady Prestwick is a vision of all that is proper. But Helena is no angel, and when Sebastian uncovers her dark secret, he’s quick to press his advantage. In order to keep her hard-won good name, Helen will have to make a deal with the devil. But she’s got some tricks up her sleeves to keep this notorious rogue on his toes…

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aloha to Samantha Grace and IN BED WITH A ROGUE

Today is overcast ... perfect to stay IN BED WITH A ROGUE, available September 2 from Sourcebooks Casablanca:

He’s the Talk of the Town

The whole town is tittering about Baron Sebastian Thorne having been jilted at the altar. Every move he makes ends up in the gossip columns. Tired of being the butt of everyone’s jokes, Sebastian vows to restore his family’s reputation no matter what it takes.

She’s the Toast of the Ton

Feted by the crème of society, the beautiful widow Lady Prestwick is a vision of all that is proper. But Helena is no angel, and when Sebastian uncovers her dark secret, he’s quick to press his advantage. In order to keep her hard-won good name, Helen will have to make a deal with the devil. But she’s got some tricks up her sleeves to keep this notorious rogue on his toes…

Buy: Amazon | B&N | BAM! | IndieBound | Indigo | iTunes

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney’s Robin Hood. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn’t want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publishers Weeklydescribes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever. 

Website: samanthagraceauthor.com
Facebook: link

Twitter: twitter.com/SamGraceAuthor
Goodreads: link

Sourcebooks is giving away a bundle of Samantha's book:

· Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel
· Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half
· Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie
· Lady Vivian Defies a Duke
· One Rogue Too Many
· In Bed with a Rogue

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Aloha to Samantha Grace and ONE ROGUE TOO MANY

Samantha Grace joins me today, National Chocolate Cake Day, to chat about her new series, Rival Rogues, with Book 1, ONE ROGUE TOO MANY.

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney’s “Robin Hood”. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn’t want the warm fuzzies to end. Now that Samantha is grown, she enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publisher’s Weekly describes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.

Part-time hospice social worker, moonlighting author, and Pilates nut, she enjoys a happy and hectic life with her real life hero and two kids in the Midwest. 

Kim:  I am fascinated by the dynamics of group blogs - how do you balance your writing, your own promo, and then your contributions to Lady Scribes (link)?

Samantha: It can become a juggling act at times, but I love everything I do related to writing. It’s my dream job! I structure my writing days very similarly to my day job. I have certain tasks I need to accomplish, and I take a few minutes in the morning to figure out in what order I’m going to do them. I’m a list-maker.

Since you mentioned Lady Scribes, I’d love to tell you what we have coming up in February. We are undergoing a revamp, and we’re excited about the changes. We’ll have more sneak peeks at what we’re writing—look for author video readings too from the BRAVER authors. (We’ll see if I fall in that category. One of my goals for 2014 is to get over my camera shyness.)

We’ll have more giveaways and chances to interact with each other, such as What’s Up Wednesdays where we’ll talk about what everyone is reading/watching/listening to/etc. & High Five Fridays where everyone shares their top 5 of whatever the topic of the day is. And of course, we’ll have more guest bloggers and interviews. Look for a couple of new authors to join us too.

Kim:  I enjoyed your Beau Monde Bachelor series with fun titles! What did you learn about yourself, your writing, and your readers after a four book series plus the blog tours to promote them?

Samantha: Thank you! It’s always a boost to hear someone say they enjoy my books. Keeps me motivated to stay in the chair and keep going.

This is a great question. I think what I learned about myself is I’m happiest when I’m following my instincts and writing for me. There are people with good intentions who will tell an author to change a story this way or that, and in the beginning, I thought maybe I should listen since they had more experience. When I didn’t stay true to my vision and followed someone else’s suggestions, even though they didn’t feel right, I regretted it. Now I’ll consider suggestions, but I trust my gut and have no trouble speaking up for my story.

From the blogging tour, I learned that romance readers are incredibly kind and optimistic. They want a good story, and they want to believe they’ve picked up a good one every time they select a book. I do my best not to disappoint them! I also learned I’m not every reader’s cup of tea, and I’m okay with that.

The best part of the tours, however, has been getting to know some of the readers. I even had a chance to meet a reader I got to know well once we connected on Facebook. My husband and I met her and a friend in Atlanta, and it was such a pleasure. Plus, she provided me with a great description for my writing: humorous stories with heart. I love that!

Kim:  I am looking forward to your new series, Rival Rogues. What inspired it?

Samantha: The idea for a younger sister/brother’s best friend romance came from watching the interactions between my daughter and her older brother’s friend. Sometimes the friend would be nice to her. Then other times he would pull pranks on her.

One day I was very irritated with him for hurting her feelings and I thought, ‘Some day she is going to grow up to be a beauty and you’re going to want her attention, but she won’t care a thing about you.’

Then my imagination took over and created a story about two neighbors who grew up together and fell in love as adults, but their shared past creates a obstacles to trusting one another. I needed more conflict, however, and what better way to do it than to add competition for her heart? I needed another rogue! As readers have pointed out, “Is it really possible to have too many rogues?”

Kim:  Tell us about ONE ROGUE TOO MANY - why should Lady Gabrielle wait for the Earl of Ellis?

Samantha: Here is a summary of the story:

From the betting book at Brooks’s Gentleman’s Club: 


Wager: £2,000 that Lord Ellis will throw the first punch when he discovers Lord Thorne is wooing a certain duke’s sister.

All bets are off when the game is love

Lady Gabrielle is thrilled when she learns Anthony Keaton, Earl of Ellis, wants to ask for her hand in marriage. She’s not so pleased when he then leaves the country and four months pass without a word. Clearly, the scoundrel has changed his mind and is too cowardly to tell her. There’s nothing to do but go back on the marriage mart…

When Anthony returns to Town and finds his ultimate rival has set sights on Gabby, his continual battle of one-upmanship with Sebastian Thorne ceases to be a game. Anthony is determined to win back the woman who holds his heart—but he’s not expecting Gabby herself to up the stakes…

It’s really a second chance at love/friends to lovers/younger sister & brother’s friend story. Three of my favorite tropes mashed together.

Lady Gabrielle should wait for Ellis, because true love is always the best choice. But I understand the reason she has doubts. If love came easily, perhaps we wouldn’t value it as much.

Kim:  What's next for Samantha Grace?

Samantha: I just finished revisions for In Bed with a Rogue, which is the second story in my Rival Rogues series. It’s a love story for the jilted rogue, and I’m very excited to share it, but it won’t be released until September 2nd. In the meantime, I have book coming out in February that I worked on with four other authors—Olivia Kelly, Christi Caldwell, Robin Delany, & Aileen Fish.

We had so much fun collaborating on the plot and creating our characters.

Here’s a little bit about The Heart of a Duke:

Five friends receive a pendant from a gypsy along with a prophecy that whoever wears the pendant will win the heart of a duke. With varying expectations, each girl accepts her turn with the good luck charm and a chance at happily-ever- after—secretly fearing the gypsy’s tale may be nothing more than a plot to sell them a worthless piece of jewelry.

Thank you Kim for hosting me today. It’s great to be here, and I look forward to chatting with everyone. 

Mahalo, Samantha, for making National Chocolate Cake Day that much better with ONE ROGUE TOO MANY! 

Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of ONE ROGUE TOO MANY to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite storyline trope.   

2.  This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, February 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To connect with Samantha, find her at:

Samantha Grace Author | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | 

Lady Scribes