Friday, January 27, 2012

Aloha to Victoria Alexander and MY WICKED LITTLE LIES


Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage. 
 ~Catherine Douzel

Victoria Alexander is like a cup of tea - warming, comforting, and fulfilling.  Today's post explores my love affair with Victoria Alexander's books.

First book I read from Victoria Alexander:  THE HUSBAND LIST (at this link).  It introduced me to Victoria's humor and her entertaining Effington Family.



Favorite book before her recent release:  THE LADY IN QUESTION (at this link).     Favorite passage from this book (contains spoiler):

"Calm? You wish me to be calm! Bloody hell, my housekeeper just killed my husband! I've married my butler, and all of my servants are spies! Spies! " Fury shot from her eyes. "I shall never be calm again."



My husband's favorite book from Victoria:  THE PRINCE'S BRIDE (at this link).   He read it while waiting for me - he chuckled at the heroine's reluctance to wear glasses!



Entertaining meal with Victoria:  At the 2011 RT Booklovers' Convention - from my blog (at this link).

Cathy Maxwell and I joined Victoria Alexander for lunch. The home baked cookies were literally "hot" items which disappeared quickly from the buffet. We mentioned it to a passing sous chef who delivered a tray just out of the oven for us ... talk about personal service! Victoria shared tidbits about her upcoming books ... I can hardly kiss and tell. But I did squeal with glee (and so will you).

Dressed as a Saucy Siren

And one of those books was MY WICKED LITTLE LIES - available January 31:

Evelyn Hadley-Attwater has it all—a genteel Victoria life replete with loving husband, ball gowns and elegant parties. No one, including the man she married, suspects that she was once “Eve”, a spy for England’s most enigmatic intelligence agency. Summoned for one final assignment, the excitement of her former life and memories of her mysterious, flirtatious boss “Sir” prove too tempting . . .

Adrian Hadley Attwater is a respectable, dignified gentleman. But even the most proper gentlemen have secrets of their own. Secrets from the rest of the world, from their families, from their wives. Secrets that have a price. Now, as the veil of secrecy frays, a tantalizing game of cat and mouse will test the bounds of unfailing love . . .



You can read my thoughts on MY WICKED LITTLE LIES on Goodreads at this link.   I am giving away a print copy of MY WICKED LITTLE LIES to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  What do you enjoy for an afternoon treat - tea or coffee?  sweet or salty?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 28, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

The Langham
london.langhamhotels.com

To learn more about Victoria, check out her website at this link.

To learn more about Sinful Family Secrets series, check out Victoria's interview with  Helena, the Dowager Countess of Waterston, at this link.   Naturally, Victoria served tea.

To reserve your room at the The Langham, use this link  (I recommend Room 327).  For afternoon tea, use this link.

Afternoon tea at The Langham
londonhotelsinsight.com