Aloha to Ella Quinn and DESIRING LADY CARO

First, thank you Kim for having me back on your blog! It’s a thrill to be here.

Desiring Lady Caro is book #4 in my series, The Marriage Game. The story takes place mostly on the road from Venice to Paris. I have a good deal of familiarity with the route, and my research mostly dealt with what things looked like at the time. Having been to Austria through Switzerland, and knowing how difficult a route that was, I decided to take my Caro and Huntley through the Brenner Pass, which was a much easier way to go, and links northern Italy (South Tyrol) with Austria (North Tyrol). However, imagine my excitement when I discovered that in 1777 Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, had a carriage way built, which was a great improvement on the old path. I also discovered many hotels and restaurants had been around for at least a couple of centuries.

So, because I know how much Kim likes to travel, I thought we’d take a short trip through the pass.   Caro and Huntley spent the night in Brennerbad at the Hotel Kerschbaumer before crossing the pas the next morning. The hotel really did exist at the time. They also strolled around the town. The good thing for you is that many of these old towns haven’t changed much over the past couple of centuries. Here are some photos of what they saw. 

When you read the book, you’ll discover that there is a lot of food. In Brennerbad two of the dishes they ate were Gerstensuppe which is a type of barley soup.  

Caro has a weakness for chocolate, something many of us can identify with. There was no hard chocolate in the area, but they did have Baumkuchen (tree cake) which is a cake baked on a spit. The pieces that fall off are covered with chocolate.

The next morning they started across the pass, which was fairly uneventful until . . .

How do you like food in books?

Barnes & Nobel and Amazon bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. 

She is married to her wonderful husband of twenty-nine years. They have a son and granddaughter, Great Dane and a Chartreux. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make St. Thomas, VI home.

Ella is a member of the Romance Writers of American, The Beau Monde and Hearts Through History. She is represented by Elizabeth Pomada of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency, and published by Kensington. Her debut novel The Seduction of Lady Phoebe, released in September 2013

Website: ellaquinnauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Blog ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom

Ella is giving away an ecopy of DESIRING LADY CARO:

Haunted by her past, Lady Caroline Martindale fled England for the solace of her godmother's palazzo in Venice. But if Caro was hoping to escape the charms of marriage-minded men, she's come to the wrong place. And she'll resort to extreme measures to spurn the advances of a dangerously determined Venetian marquis. . .

Though most of his friends have married off, Gervais, Earl of Huntley, remains bent on eluding the parson's mousetrap. But his convictions begin to falter when he arrives in Venice and meets his match in the alluring Lady Caro. What began as a hastily concocted lie to save her from the marquis may become a chance for them both to relinquish their fear--and embrace what they can no longer deny. . .

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment to Ella's question, How do you like food in books?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 5, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 6.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Ella Quinn and THE TEMPTATION OF LADY SERENA

 

I squealed with delight as I opened an email with promo material for Ella Quinn's THE TEMPTATION OF LADY SERENA ...  as it was loaded with pictures.  I love pictures! Take it away, Ella!

It’s great to be back on your blog again, Kim!

As Kim knows, I love to travel. So it’s not surprising that my characters sometimes take off as well. In The Temptation of Lady Serena, my heroine first journeys from the Scottish Boarders, a rugged region where she was born and raised in a castle. 

To her aunt’s home just outside of York.

then down to Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London.

All that is accomplished, of course, in plush traveling coaches such as this one. 

One in London, she tools herself around in a curricle. 

Nothing unusual about that, but when Robert, Viscount Beaumont decides to take a shortcut to get her to the altar, her family and his step in and whisk her off to Paris sailing on an American made schooner.

They land in Dieppe, a lovely French port town considerably south of Calais, and stay a few days before continuing on to Paris. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Dieppe and eating in a wonderful all woman run restaurant there.

Naturally, never having been in France before, their party makes some stops along the way. One of the stops is Rouen, known as “The town with a thousand spires.” Monet was so inspired by the churches he based a series on them. It is also where Joan of Arc was tried, convicted and burned at the stake.

Once in Paris, they all stay at a house Phoebe and Marcus bought. This is how I envisioned the back garden.

Do you like travel with your romance?

Ella is giving away an ecopy of THE TEMPTATION OF LADY SERENA, available January 1 from Kensington:

Custom-made gowns…nights at the theater…and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these luxuries. But when Serena’s brother demands she finally have a Season in London, she’s thrust into a glamorous world she’s only dreamed of…

Robert, Viscount Beaumont remembers all too well what it feels like to be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He’s only felt his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer he is to falling under Serena’s seductive spell…

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Answer Ella's question - do you like for characters to travel in romance books?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 4, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 5.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Ella and her books, check out her website at ellaquinnauthor.com.

Aloha to Ella Quinn and THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA MARSH

On this day in 1665, the Oxford Gazette was first published as an official journal of the British Government - the Royal Court moved to Oxford while the plague ravaged London.  When the court returned to London, the journal was renamed the London Gazette. The London Gazette guided the peerage during the Regency Era in matters of politics ... but the waging tongues of The Ton sought the on dits of Regency fashion from other sources.  Ella Quinn joins me today to address just that .. what a Regency Gentleman Wore ... to celebrate the release of THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA MARSH. 

What a Regency Gentleman Wore

As a Regency author the topic of what a gentleman would wear is high on my list of need to know information, and it’s one of the reasons I love the Regency era so much. I morn the, relatively new, failure of men to dress for the occasion. Sometimes when my husband and I go out, it looks as if we’re going to two different places. No, no, no, when it came to dressing, there was no ‘guy culture’ during the Regency. Some men might prefer to be able to put their jackets on themselves, while others wore them so molded to their shoulders, they required help. Yet, gentlemen could be as persnickety when it came to their clothing, and who was to care for it as the ladies. Beau Brummell is given credit for the clean lines and darker colors of men’s dress during the era. 

Caricature of Beau Brummell
by Robert Dighton, 1805
Public Domain (link)

Shirts were mainly white muslin. You will see they did not button all the way down, and are quite long. That is because many men didn’t wear drawers to protect the fabric, they tucked their shirts under them.  Waistcoats, worn over the shirt, ran from plain to elaborate.

The cravat, which came next was the piece de reistance of a gentleman’s ensemble. It was a foot wide, long piece of muslin and starched ironed. Valets were never supposed to tie the cravat. It was considered a gentleman’s responsibility to get the thing exactly right. They had names such as Trone d’Amour, Mathematical, Hunting, Ballroom and many others. Some men made up their own style. Brummell was known to go through up to a dozen neck clothes when tying his cravat. Gentlemen generally changed cravats three times a day.   Here are the directions for the Mathematical.

The Mathematical Tie (or Triangular Tie), is far less severe than the former. There are three creases in it. One  coming down from under each ear, till it meets the kust or bow of the neckcloth, and a third in an horizontal direction, stretching from one of the side indentures to the other. The height, that is how far, or near the chin is left to the wearers pleasure. This tie does not occassion many accidents.The colour best suited to it, is called couleur de la cuisse d'une nymphe emue.'

Engraving from Neckclothitania by George Cruikshank
Published in 1818
Public Domain (link)

Regency jackets were cutaway style with tales. Many gentlemen had them so fitted that they required help to don them.

Moving lower, next came breeches, pantaloons, and trousers. Though trousers did not become generally popular until after 1816.    In the country and when riding men wore buckskin breeches. They were normally made of deerskin, form fitting, and said to be extremely comfortable.

C. E. Brock illustration for
Pride and Prejudice, 1895
Public Domain (link)

For regular daytime wear, gentlemen wore either breeches or pantaloons, trousers became popular after 1816. Generally pantaloons were made of a knit and cut 2 inches smaller than the mans measurements.

For the evening, although pantaloons were gaining in popularity, breeches were still required at Almacks. None other than the Duke of Wellington was turned away for wearing pantaloons.

Finally we get to footwear. Boots were worn during the day but never in the evening. For balls and all other evening entertainments, even going to ones club, pumps were required. 

The First Quadrille at Almack's
Public Domain (link)

In my Regency novel, The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, Anna is particularly fond of the way our hero dresses.  That evening she met the rest of the guests in the dining room. Rutherford started to approach more than once, but Anna stayed with a group of ladies, chatting as if she hadn’t noticed him. When it was finally time for dinner, a Mr. Matthews escorted her in. Thankfully, they were seated several places away from Rutherford on the same side of the table, so she’d not have to see him.

The best thing she could do was keep her mind busy with the problems at home and on her smuggling gang. That would keep her occupied.

After dinner, she excused herself early and went to her room. Sitting in the window seat, she tried to shake off her disappointment over Sebastian. She never really thought of him by any other name, though she called him Rutherford now. Tonight he had been perfectly dressed as always. His black jacket fit snuggly setting off his magnificent shoulders, with not a wrinkle to be seen. His shirt points were high enough for fashion but not so high he couldn’t turn his head. And his cravat. Anna wanted to sigh. No one but Brummell could tie a cravat like Sebastian.

How do you like your man dressed?

Ella Quinn lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England and Europe before finally discovering the Caribbean. She lives in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with her wonderful husband, three bossy cats and a loveable great dane. Ella loves when friends connect with her. 

Website: ellaquinnauthor.com

Facebook: facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor 
Twitter: twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor 
Blog: ellaquinnauthor.wordpress.com

Mahalo, Ella, for this excellent tutorial on how Colin Firth dressed to film PRIDE AND PREJUDICE!  I am giving away an ecopy of THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA MARSH:

Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife...

Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh…

To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite component of a Regency Gentleman's dress - the cravat?  breeches?  boots?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 9, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 10.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Ella Quinn and THE SEDUCTION OF LADY PHOEBE

I am envious of Ella Quinn.  From her bio (link),

Ella Quinn lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England and Europe before finally discovering the Caribbean. She lives in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with her wonderful husband, three bossy cats and a loveable great dane.

I will be very envious when the temperature drops in Maryland ... and the Virgin Islands will be welcoming warm!   No doubt Ella welcomes the buzz about her new series, The Marriage Game, and Book 1, THE SEDUCTION OF LADY PHOEBE. Ella prepared a special post to celebrate Release Day here at SOS Aloha!

I love to explore, and I know Kim does as well. Much of my travel was with the Army, but not all of it. I’ve never taken a tour, because I like to do it myself. In my debut novel, The Seduction of Lady Phoebe, I had to have to on the move. Fortunately Phoebe likes to travel and plan her own trips. That of course led me the question, how would one take a land journey during the Regency?

There were actually several different modes of transport.

The most basic was on foot. It could be for this very reason the English are so fond of hiking, even today. By horse. One horse could travel about thirty miles a day. Fortunately, England had a great number of inns.

If one didn’t wish to walk, or ride, there was always the stage coach. The conditions were crowded, but gentry did travel by stage. Jane Austen’s brothers traveled this way. If you were unlucky, a young blood, i.e. a well-bred young gentleman intent on mischief, who’d had a bit too much too much drink, would bribe the coachman to allow him to take the ribbons. As you can imagine, it many times led to disaster. My hero admitted to doing this when he was young. 

Stage Coach, "Behind Time"

Public Domain (link)

A bit higher on the traveling scale was the mail-coach. Mail coaches were faster than ordinary ones, though no less crowded, the rules were obeyed, and they were so timely towns set their clocks by them. As they frequently changed horses and drivers, the journey from London to Edinburgh could be made in two days. The man in the back had “the piece of tin” which was blown when approaching a toll, so the gatekeeper would open the gate.

The mail coach in a thunderstorm on 

Newmarket Heath, Suffolk, 1827

Public Domain (link)

But let’s say you don’t have your own coach, but wish to travel in a bit of comfort. Why in that case, you could hire a carriage and horses. They also came with a driver who rode on a lead horse. Called Yellow Bounders, because of their color, each time one changed horses, one also changed the driver.  The best and most expensive mode of transport was by private coach. One usually had one made to specification, or bought a used one. Occasionally, you might find one that had been ordered and not picked up. If you had the funds to set up your stable, then you’d have your own horses. You might even have the funds to keep your own horses at inns on the major posting roads so that you would not have to wait or be given inferior beasts. 

How would you like to travel?

May Morning in Park by Thomas Eakins
Public Domain (link)

Mahalo, Ella, for sharing tidbits from Regency England!  I am giving away an ecopy of THE SEDUCTION OF LADY PHOEBE to one randomly selected commenter:

LADY PHOEBE STANHOPE, famous for her quick wits, fast horses, and punishing right hook, is afraid of nothing but falling in love. Fleeing a matchmaking attempt with the only man she despises, Phoebe meets a handsome blue-eyed stranger who sends her senses skittering. By the time Phoebe discovers the seductive stranger is the same arrogant troll she sent packing eight years ago, she is halfway to falling in love with him.

LORD MARCUS FINLEY last saw Phoebe striding regally away, as he lay on the floor with a bruised jaw and a rapidly swelling eye. Recently returned from the West Indies, Marcus is determined to earn Phoebe’s love, preferably before she discovers who he is. Determined to have Phoebe for his own, Marcus begins his campaign to gain her forgiveness and seduce her into marriage.
Can Phoebe learn to trust her own heart and Marcus? Or is she destined to remain alone?

To enter the giveaway, 

1.  Leave a comment to Ella's question - how would you like to travel in Regency England?

While it would be lovely to have a private coach, imagine the adventure on a mail coach!

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 21, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Ella and her books, check out her website at ellaquinnauthor.com.  Look for more books in The Marriage Game series, coming November 4, 2013 and January 14, 2014.