Archive for Historical Romance Books
Excerpt from “Blame it on Bath” – Plus Giveaway!
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ur Romance Author of the Month for February is none other than the lovely Caroline Linden. If you’ve read our interview with Caroline, and our article spotlighting her The Truth About the Duke series, you’ll know that Caroline has a new book out today, Feb 28!
Blame it on Bath, the third book in The Truth About the Duke series features Gerard, the youngest de Lacey brother. He’s a military man with a penchant for acting quickly and directly. He’s got his mind set on finding the man who’s blackmailing his family, but he’s also hedging his bets. With his inheritance and noble status in the balance, Gerard is covering all his bases, and knows that marrying a wealthy bride will make sure he lands on his feet – even if the worst happens in his quest to hunt down the scoundrel who unearthed the skeleton’s in the de Lacey closet. Gerard has hardly put his plan to find a suitable wife into action, when he’s surprised by an unsolicited offer of marriage from a wealthy widow.
Katherine Howe is determined not to have a repeat of her first dreary marriage. Pressured to marry her late husband’s heir, Katherine decides to take matters into her own hands, and find a suitable husband of her own. The handsome and charming Gerard is a perfect match, and with scandal looming over the horizon for the prospective groom, she knows it’s an offer that he can’t refuse. After all, she needs a husband, and he needs her money. Add in the little detail that Kathrine’s had a crush on Gerard, and it’s the perfect start for a marriage!
Here at Best Romance Stories,we’re delighted to be able to share an excerpt from Blame it on Bath specially chosen for you by Caroline herself. It’s a wonderful scene where Gerard and Katherine meet for the first time.
Like what you’re reading? Purchase your copy of the book today… or scroll down to find out how you can get a free copy of Blame it on Bath in our special giveaway!
He must have passed inspection. More amused than anything else, he decided to stay and see what she had to ask of him. He took the seat she gestured to, in front of the fire, and she finally came forward to take the opposite chair. The old woman fluttered around the back of the room before bringing two glasses of wine. Gerard waved her off, and she shot him a disapproving look but set the glass on the table beside him. His companion took a small sip of her wine and handed it back to her servant—he couldn’t believe the old woman was anything else from the way she hovered so solicitously at the younger lady’s elbow—who retired to the back of the room.
“Your maid wouldn’t tell me your name, yet she made certain of who I was,” Gerard said. “I don’t like being toyed with, so let’s dispense with the mystery, shall we?”
“My name is Katherine Howe,” she said. “I don’t expect you to know it.”
“Or remember it after tonight, apparently.”
She looked at him oddly, almost as if she didn’t understand what he said. “I know of your family—I was raised near Lastings in Sussex. Then I was Katherine Hollenbrook. My father was Mr. Edgar Hollenbrook of Henfield. He was a wool merchant.”
He tilted his head and studied her more minutely. She had the air of a judge contemplating sentencing him to hard labor, grave and reserved and so very stiff in her chair. “I’m afraid I don’t recognize the name. I’ve not been in Henfield these last five years or more.”
“I don’t expect you to recognize it. I tell you merely to assure you that I’m familiar with your situation and am not acting capriciously. My family knew of yours—your father in particular. I decided to approach you when I heard the recent rumors in London.”
Gerard’s temper stirred. “Well, if you’ve come to stir up trouble in that regard, you’ll have to join the queue,” he drawled. “And I think that ends our conversation.” He started to get to his feet.
“Wait.” She held up her hand. “I haven’t finished.”
“Yes, I think you have.” He started walking toward the door.
“I came to make you a proposition,” she said in a rush as his hand closed on the doorknob. “One that will suit both our needs.”
He turned and flashed a disdainful smirk at her. How dare she come try to take advantage of his family’s troubles? “Unless you want to come upstairs and warm my bed for the night, I can’t think of anything you could offer me to suit my needs.”
Her jaw firmed. Her glare was withering. If she’d had a switch, she probably would have blistered his palm with it. “I came to propose a marriage, Captain,” she said coldly.
Giveaway!
Here’s a chance to win a copy of Caroline’s newest book, Blame it on Bath. Caroline’s giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter on this post. To enter, simply comment on this guest post and let us know what you love most about Regency romances (like those in The Truth About the Duke series).
The contest ends Tuesday, March 6, at midnight (EST) and the winner will be randomly chosen the next day using the Random Integer Generator software program, and the winner announced soon after.
Open to: US residents only please.
Good luck!
Surrender: Wonderful Sweeping Historical Romance!
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Title: Surrender (A MacKinnon’s Rangers Novel)
Author: Pamela Clare
Pages: 368
Genre: Historical Romance
I’m a big fan of Pamela Clare’s I-Team romantic suspense series and was surprised to find out that she had also written a bevy of historical romances, and in fact started out with that genre. Surrender, which came out just a few months ago, is a re-release of the book that was originally published in 2007, with extended scenes and new edits. I read this book in one night, and haven’t been able to stop gushing about it to my friends. As a historian, I appreciated the details and historical accuracy. As a romance book lover, I completely swooned over the wonderful hero and heroine, as well as the passion and emotion in the book.
In Surrender, Clare introduces her MacKinnon’s Rangers series and takes readers to New York in the 1750s, at the height of the war French and Indian War. Iain MacKinnon is the exiled Laird of the Clan MacKinnon. His family was forced to flee to the Colonies after the failed Jacobite uprising to free Scotland from British rule in 1745. In their years in the Colonies, Iain and his brothers Morgan and Connor have grown up to be brave strapping warriors, trained not only in the Highland ways, but also in Native American warfighting. Their formidable fighting skills make them the target of an ambitious British officer, who is convinced that with the MacKinnons’ fighting skills, Britain will prevail over France. The British officer arranges for the three brothers to be falsely accused of murder; they will all three hang if they don’t agree to fight for the Protestant British against the Highlanders’ long-time allies, the Catholic French. Left with no choice, Iain raises MacKinnon’s Rangers, a formidable force of fighting men, who (reluctantly) carry the banner of King George.
Lady Anne Campbell has been falsely accused of theft by her scheming uncle, arrested, branded as a thief, then deported to the Colonies as a bond slave. When her Master and Mistress are killed in French and Indian raid, Iain risks his own life, as well as that of his troops, to rescue Anne. Annie merely tells Iain that she’s Annie Burns, but hides her noble birth, her Protestant and Loyalist Campbell roots, as well as her conviction for theft. The two flee across the forests, eventually reaching the Rangers’ home base, where Iain is punished by the British for disobeying orders and rescuing Annie. As Annie nurses Iain after his brutal lashing, the two slowly fall in love, and look for ways to surmount their many differences.
Surrender is a wonderful love story that’s full of rich historical detail, passion, action, and intrigue. I especially loved Iain, who is an honorable, noble hero who is by turns protective of Annie, and a wonderful leader to his ragtag band of men. A wonderful book that I’ll be re-reading many times!
In the Spotlight: The Truth About the Duke Series by Caroline Linden
Posted by: | CommentsIn Part 2 in our series on Caroline Linden, our romance book author of the month for February, we’re turning the spotlight on Caroline’s The Truth About the Duke series.
Caroline’s newest book in the series, Blame it on Bath will be out on Feb 28, so if you’ve never read any of Caroline’s books, or if you’ve never read this particular series, now’s the perfect time to start!
Book 1: I Love the Earl
A single lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a suitor.Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it’s unlikely any man will court her now that she’s older, wiser, and still just as penniless. Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town.
No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand. Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret’s fortune . . . is her love.
Book 2: One Night in London
A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.
Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordonwin custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man whocan do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case… if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.
Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership… and now, each moment together feeds the flames ofhis scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But whenGeorgina disappears, fate will test them both… and leave their love hanging in the balance.
Book 3: Blame it on Bath
A marriage of convenience . . . or of destiny?
Gerard de Lacey is determined to find the man who is blackmailing his family, but with his inheritance and status at risk, a hasty marriage to a wealthy bride also seems in order—just in case things take a turn for the worse. Charismatic and capable, Gerard knows he can win the hand of any lady he chooses. Still, he’s not expecting a rich widow to find him and propose the very thing he wants: a marriage of convenience.
Katherine Howe’s first marriage was one of dreary duty. Now that she’s being pressured to marry her late husband’s heir, she’s desperate for a better option. Gerard de Lacey, with his sinful good looks, charming manner, and looming scandal, fits her needs perfectly. The fact that she’s nursed a secret affection for him only makes it better—and worse. Because Gerard will likely marry her for her fortune—but can he love her for herself, as she loves him?
My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander
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Title: My Wicked Little Lies (Sinful Family Secrets)
Author: Victoria Alexander
Pages:352
Genre: Historical Romance
My Wicked Little Lies is Victoria Alexander’s latest addition to her Sinful Family Secrets series, featuring the Hadley-Attwater family. Evelyn Hadley-Attwater is a pillar of Victorian society and married to the respectable Earl of Waterston. Adrian Hadley-Attwater. Evelyn and Adrian have been married for just two years, and are still in their honeymoon period, deeply in love and extremely happy. But what Adrian doesn’t know is that Evelyn was once a spy, codenamed Eve, for an unnamed British agency. When she’s asked by Max, her mysterious handler at the agency, to take one last assignment to retrieve a missing file which could compromise all the agencies’ operatives, Evelyn reluctantly agrees. Adrian can tell that Evelyn is distracted, and he worries that she’s become bored with him, and is cheating on him. When Evelyn finds out about Adrian’s suspicions, she’s deeply hurt. The two argue, and Evelyn moves out. Adrian then embarks on some madcap antics to prove to Evelyn how much he loves her, and to find out if she too really loves him.
Romance Book Author of the Month: Caroline Linden
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Romance Book Author of the Month Caroline Linden
I’m delighted to announce that the romance book author for the month of February is Caroline Linden! Caroline is the author of ten historical romances, including a new book in the The Truth About the Duke trilogy entitled Blame It on Bath coming out at the end of this month. As part of our romance author of the month series, we’ll be publishing an article a week about Caroline and her books.
Caroline has an impressive academic history, having earned a degree in Mathematics from the prestigious Harvard University. A little unusual for a romance book author – but perhaps that’s because Caroline never planned to write! She loved to read, but claimed to prefer solving a mathematical problem over working on a writing assignment.
Out on Feb 28, available for pre-order
Indeed, Caroline’s childhood ambitions had nothing to do with romance novels. Caroline dreamed of being either an astronaut or a fashion designer. Given the dichotomy between the two, she concluded that never the twain shall meet and focused on her ambition to be an astronaut. Caroline knew that being an astronaut would require her to either join the military or become a “serious scientist”.
Since the military was out for Caroline, she set her mind on becoming a physicist. But despite having to immerse herself in physics and calculus, and other serious scientific stuff, she still frequently lost herself in books. Caroline seemed to have an eclectic taste in books, favoring the classics by Thomas Hardy and Shakespeare, as well as other types of “classics” about Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. Then there were (but of course!) romance novels,which she read voraciously.
Upon graduation from Harvard, Caroline moved with her husband to Florida, where she worked as a software programmer for a financial services firm. While in Florida, Caroline and her husband welcomed two babies to the family then decided to move back to New England. After years of enjoying balmy Florida weather, Caroline had trouble adjusting to winter. It was tough – the toddlers were fussing and couldn’t go out because of the snow, there were random blackouts at her house, and worse still, there was nary a romance novel in sight. All Caroline had to read were the kids’ picture books!
It was in the midst of that miserable New England winter that Caroline’s writing career was born. Stuck at home with the tetchy kids and an erratic power supply, Caroline sat down and began to write. She persevered through five years of rejections, before she sold What a Woman Needs (published in 2005). The rest, as they say, is history.
Caroline's Adorable Dog
Caroline now writes full-time, and lives near Boston with her family, and an adorable dog. A rabid Red Sox fan, Caroline can often be found at Fenway Park cheering the team on. Find out more about Caroline at her website: www.carolinelinden.com
We’ll be highlighting Caroline’s The Truth About the Duke series next week on Best Romance Stories, so be sure to keep coming back to find out more about Caroline and her books!
My Ruthless Prince: Regency Romance Filled with Intrigue
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Title: My Ruthless Prince (Inferno Club)
Author: Gaelen Foley
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Romance
Regency romances are not my usual cup of tea, but I found myself being completely charmed by Gaelen Foley’s My Ruthless Prince. The book boasts a tortured hero, resourceful heroine, multi-faceted villains, and a plot filled with intrigue. While this book is the fourth book (out of five) in Foley’s Inferno Club series, it can easily be read as a standalone book.
Drake, the Earl of Westwood, had been training to be an operative for the Inferno Club since he was a boy. Ostensibly a gentlemen’s club, The Inferno Club is in fact a secret international organization of noblemen fighting on the side of God, King, and country. Their arch enemies are the members of the Prometheus group, whose thirst for wealth and power threaten the stability of England and Europe.
As the book begins, we find out that Drake, one of the more promising Inferno operatives, had been captured and tortured by the Prometheans. Their treatment of him was so brutal that he’s lost his memory. Drake is rescued, but soon runs away from London and the Inferno Club, to return to the Prometheans’ headquarters in Bavaria, where he becomes the bodyguard to a very senior official in the hierarchy.
Drake’s no traitor. He’s out to infiltrate the Prometheans to take revenge for his ill-treatment, but his colleagues in the Inferno Club all believe he’s beyond salvation and set out to eliminate him. Only Emily refuses to believe the worst of him. Emily, Drake’s childhood playmate, and daughter of his family’s woodsman and gamekeeper, had nursed Drake back to health after his rescue. The two have always loved each other, although Drake’s misplaced sense of nobility has never allowed him to even think of her in that way, as he believes he’d be taking advantage of her. Emily too, has never professed her feelings for him, thinking him above her station. However, when Emily travels from England to Bavaria to rescue him from the Prometheans, she puts herself in deep danger, and Drake is forced to confront his own feelings for her.
There were lots of plot twists to keep the reader entertained, and Foley has created in Drake an extraordinarily compelling tortured hero. He’s withstood months of physical torture by the Prometheans, and is naturally confused. But while appearing ruthless and evil, we know that he will eventually come out on the side of good. His concern for Emily while he tries to also play both sides against each other is incredibly touching. Emily too, is an amazing heroine, selfless, completely devoted to Drake, and yet so not a doormat. She’s incredibly resourceful and capable, which is always a wonderful thing to see with a Regency romance heroine. Foley has a gift with creating believable characters, and I especially liked her villains, who were all too human. A wonderful read!
The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
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Title: The Duke is Mine
Author: Eloisa James
Pages: 400
Genre: Historical Romance
English professor Eloisa James is back with yet another delightful historical romance based loosely on the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Olivia, the heroine of The Duke is Mine has been betrothed to Rupert, Duke of Canterwick, since birth. Rupert, who is intellectually disabled, is charming but has the mind of an 11-year-old. Olivia is resigned to her fate. She’ll produce Rupert’s heir, and act as his caretaker and estate manager for the rest of her life. But while Rupert is off fighting in the war against France, Olivia falls in love with Quin, the Duke of Sconce. Quin’s a brilliant mathematician, but has difficulty expressing his emotions and reading others, resulting in a failed first marriage. Quin decides to allow his mother to find him another bride. Olivia, and her sister Georgina, meet the Dowager Duchess, who immediately decides that Georgina will make a splendid bride for her son… the only problem is, Quin much prefers Olivia. The usually-logical Quin knows that Georgina is far more suitable, but still finds himself in a scandalous affair with Olivia. Full of quirky characters, witty dialogue, and (of course) a satisfying HEA, The Duke is Mine is another winner from Eloisa James!
