Showing posts with label THE BRIDE INSISTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label THE BRIDE INSISTS. Show all posts

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Aloha to Jane Ashford and THE BRIDE INSISTS


Earlier this week, Cornwall celebrated St. Piran's Day.   St. Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall and the tin miners who make a living in this remote corner of England.   Oh, Cornwall!  It is a treasure in Southwest England ... and the setting for Jane Ashford's newest release, THE BRIDE INSISTS.  Jane joins me for a cozy chat ....

Kim:  From your bio, you have traveled widely in Britain and Europe - can you share a memorable sight, smell and sound from your travels.

Jane:  Walking in the west of Ireland, we stumbled on a path that led to an ancient circle of mossy stones. Trees bent over them, with bushes behind. The place felt hushed and secret. The sight, and the silence, were profound and felt like such a gift. 

A wonderful scent I recall came floating across a park in Oxford, England, near one of the colleges. It was rainy (‘cause, England), and the damp air intensified the flowery smell. I think it was lemon verbena, but I’m not sure. I do know it was lovely.

Kim:  Also from your bio, you discovered Georgette Heyer in Junior High School. If you could cast yourself as a "background character" from a Georgette Heyer novel, tell us about the character and which novel!

Jane:  I love this question. Hmmm, so many to pick from. I think I’ll choose Kitty’s companion Miss Fishguard from Cotillion. She’s amusingly dotty, but she also uses her wits and finds a future for herself when things look bleak.

Kim:  How do you create the names for your characters, especially those with titles? 

Jane: Okay, I should have a clever system. But as far as I am aware, I just pull them out of the air.

Kim:  Tell us about THE BRIDE INSISTS - what inspired it?

Jane:  It was that Regency phrase we’ve all probably read, “the marriage mart.” I got curious. What if I took it sort of literally? What if a woman set out to “buy” a husband? What would her circumstance be? And how would that go? The story developed out of those questions.

THE BRIDE INSISTS BY JANE ASHFORD – IN STORES MARCH 2014

She Thinks She's Bought a Compliant Husband

Although Clare Greenough has inherited an unexpected fortune, her money is in the hands of a trustee until she marries—everyone knows a woman is incapable of managing funds. What she needs is an easygoing husband, right away...

They're Both in for a Shock

She makes a deal with impetuous young James Boleigh, seventh baron Trehearth: they will marry, Clare will get control of her money, and Jamie will get the funds he desperately needs to restore his lands. To stave off ruin, Jamie agrees, believing Clare will soon become a proper, submissive wife. But to expect a serene, passionless marriage was only their first mistake...

Praise for The Bride Insists

“Perfectly delightful Regency romance... Remarkably executed.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ashford captures the reader’s interest with her keen knowledge of the era and her deft writing…a charming plot and just the right amount of sensuality.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“…a marvelously engaging marriage of convenience tale, and Ashford's richly nuanced, realistically complex characters and impeccably crafted historical setting are bound to resonate with fans of Mary Balogh.” – Booklist


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. She has written historical and contemporary romances, and her books have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Born in Ohio, she now lives in LA. For more information, please visit janeashford.com.

To purchase The Bride Insists:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Chapters/Indigo

I posted my five star reivew of THE BRIDE INSISTS on Goodreads (link).  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of THE BRIDE INSISTS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Cornwall - what do you know about it?

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

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Restormel Castle,
former stronghold of the Duke of Cornwall

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Special Sourcebooks Giveaway - Aloha to Jane Ashford and THE BRIDE INSISTS

 

 On this day in 1559, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey.   She was never a bride and became known as the Virgin Queen.   Her successor, 218 years later, led a more scandalous life.  Yet Prinny remains a charismatic figure in a beloved era of historical romance - The Regency Period.

One of the beloved authors of Regency Romance, Jane Ashford, joins us today to chat about the Regency Romance in advance of her new release, THE BRIDE INSISTS, available March 4 from Sourcebooks.   Welcome, Jane!


Some of my Favorite Things about the Regency Period

Prinny! The Prince Regent was a royal like no other – extravagant, petulant, charming, pathetic, artistic, unreliable. His outrageous behavior made its mark on society as a whole.

The language. Wit was highly valued. People wrote letters and kept diaries. The slang was colorful and diverse. All this makes for lively narration.

The manners. There was less swashbuckling than the eighteenth century perhaps. But a certain freedom and eccentricity were accepted. The more restrictive Victorian mores hadn’t taken hold. Society could be fun!

The clothes. The styles were far more free and easy than the elaborate toilettes of the previous generation or Victorian bustles and corsets to come. I find the empire waists and puffed sleeves very appealing. And so easily slipped out of!

The rules. Restrictive laws, particularly for women, create many opportunities for romantic complications.

The science. The Regency was pre-industrial, yet right on the cusp of gaslight and many other innovations. Explorers were visiting new parts of the world. Lots of material here for interesting plots.

The women. Regency females were reading more (those pesky novels) and starting to receive more education. They were writing books themselves (Austen!) in what Nathaniel Hawthorne called “a damned mob of scribbling women.” Many fascinating characters to be found among them.

The romance. This was the heyday of the Romantic Period in English literature. Byron, Shelley, Walter Scott, Wordsworth and Coleridge spoke of the romance of nature and love. Marriage began to be seen as a place for passion and fulfillment as well as legal status. So many love stories to tell!



Mahalo, Jane, for being my guest today.  Indeed, we look forward to reading your love stories!    Three of Jane’s beloved backlist titles are now back in print! Look for MAN OF HONOUR, THE THREE GRACES, and THE MARRIAGE WAGER in stores now!

For a chance to enter to win a prize package of all three of these wonderful backlist titles, leave us a comment below—tell us your favorite thing about the regency time period, or leave a question for Jane. Open to US and Canada only.   Comments are open through Saturday, January 18, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 19.  



Jane Ashford also has a BRAND NEW book coming out in March 2014: THE BRIDE INSISTS

Sparks fly in this sexy, fast-paced Regency romance by acclaimed, bestselling author Jane Ashford

When governess Clare Greenough learns she’s inherited a fortune, the good news comes with a catch: it will be held by her cousin until Clare can find a husband. To stave off ruin, Jamie Boleigh, the seventh Baron of Trehearth, agrees to marry Clare under the condition that she controls the money, a provision he hopes to overturn. Their passionate relationship becomes a battle of wills. When the cousin tricks Jamie into betraying his wife, he’ll have to prove the truth or lose her forever.


To Preorder The Bride Insists:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Chapters/Indigo
IndieBound
iBooks
Sourcebooks
Discover a New Love


Join me on March 3 for my review of THE BRIDE INSISTS!  

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Jane and her books, check out her website at janeashford.com.

The Bride insisted on a Hawaiian wedding!