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Promo Spotlight and Giveaway: His Wicked Dream by Adrienne deWolfe

Friday, January 31, 2014

Scroll down to read an exclusive excerpt from Adrienne deWolfe's His Wicked Dream, book 2 of the Velvet Lies series. Find the book and the author info and a giveaway in this post. To be entered in the giveaway, you must comment.

Adrienne deWolfe will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter, a $15 Amazon GC to another randomly drawn commenter. A copy of TIN-STARS AND TROUBLEMAKERS (4 full-length ebooks in a box set by authors Adrienne deWolfe, Patricia Rice, Sharon Ihle, and Patricia Hagan) will be awarded to one randomly commenter during the tour, another randomly drawn commenter will win all 3 books of the best-selling WILD TEXAS NIGHTS series by Adrienne deWolfe. And last but not least, all 3 books in the award-winning VELVET LIES series by Adrienne deWolfe will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. A $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to one randomly drawn host.

His Wicked Dream
Velvet Lies #2
Adrienne deWolfe
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072532-his-wicked-dream

Haunted by scandal, Eden Mallory is determined to start over in a small Kentucky town.  But she won't soon forget the sexy, rugged doctor who rescued her from an outlaw, then rode off into the storm.

After losing his kid-brother to consumption, Dr. Michael Jones is obsessed with saving lives. He has no room for love or a wife. But the nights are lonely, and Eden haunts his dreams.

When Eden becomes his backdoor neighbor, she turns his world upside-down with her unconventional healing skills and sweet temptations.  Then outlaws return, forcing Michael to confront his past if he is to save the most precious life of all.

Highlander Mine by Juliette Miller

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Highlander Mine
Clan Mackenzie #3

Juliette Miller
Medieval Romance
Pub date: Jan 28, 2014 (ARC review)

H/h - Knox Mackenzie, Laird to the Mackenzies/Amelia Taylor
Setting: Medieval era Highlands, Scotland.

Read in Jan, 2014.
My rating:

                                                 [spoiler alert]

Must say, once again I enjoyed losing myself into Juliette Miller’s beautiful narratives. Since book 1 of the Clan Mackenzie series, I’ve been addicted to her writing. She created an enchanted and beautiful Medieval Highlands, occupied by burly, good-looking highlanders that only makes me wanna run there. lol I always say I find her writing excellent, however sometimes the story just doesn’t work for me.

Note that all three books are written from first person POV; the heroine of each story. Personally, first person POV doesn’t always interest me but somehow it worked for me in the Clan Mackenzie series.

Promo Spotlight and Giveaway: Her Lovestruck Lord by Scarlett Scott

Today, I'm featuring an exclusive excerpt from Scarlett Scott's Erotic Historical, Her Lovestruck Lord, book 2 of Wicked Husbands series. Also, alongside the post, find the book and the author info. To be entered in the giveaway, you must comment.

Scarlett Scott will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a Kindle copy of A Mad Passion to a randomly drawn host (enter via rafflecopter below!)
 
Her Lovestruck Lord
Wicked Husbands #2
Scarlett Scott
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18664847-her-lovestruck-lord

Book two in the Wicked Husbands series.

Abandoned by her husband on their wedding night, Maggie, the Marchioness of Sandhurst, longs for a raging passion to free her from her lonely life. A devastatingly handsome stranger at a masque ball promises just the sort of distraction she craves. But after a night of scorching lovemaking, she wakes to find him gone.

Simon, the Marquis of Sandhurst, is horrified to discover the masked siren he bedded is his wife, a woman he vowed to never touch. He shouldn’t want Maggie, but can’t resist her now that she’s been in his arms.

As the truth unravels, husband and wife are estranged no longer, spending their days and nights exploring the desire burning hot between them. But when Simon’s past comes back to haunt them both, their newfound happiness could be forever dashed.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Guest Post and Giveaway: Twelfth Night in Regency England by Regan Walker, Author of The Twelfth Night Wager

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Curious on the tradition of Christmas celebration in Regency England? Then read on the following guest post by author Regan Walker! Alongside the post, you'll also find the info on The Twelfth Night Wager, an excerpt and the author links. To be entered in the giveaway, you must comment. As many comment you make, your chance of winning increases!

Regan Walker will be awarding a copy of three (3) of her books, Racing with the Wind, The Holly and the Thistle and The Shamrock and the Rose to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  

  
Twelfth Night in Regency England

Christmastide in Regency England (1811-1820), when Prince George reigned as Regent, was a more subtle celebration than the one we observe today. It began with Christmas Eve (though the evening of Christmas Day was “First Night”) and continued to Twelfth Night, or January 5th, followed by the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th when the wise men that followed the star of the new King, arrived in Bethlehem to behold the Christ child.

Twelfth Night has its origins in ancient Rome and was a mid-winter event observing pagan fertility rites, a festival of feasting and public celebration. At some point, this tradition became incorporated into the Christian celebrations and included feasting, drinking, games, plays, dances and masked balls. Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night, which includes characters disguised as people they are not, was written to be performed on Twelfth Night.

In additional to all the revelry, there was a Twelfth Night cake, an ornate confection into which a bean, a coin or a tiny carved or cast metal version of the Baby Jesus was placed (it could also be a bean). During early evening, the cake was cut and its pieces distributed to guests who were advised to chew carefully. The person who found the icon then became the king or “Lord of Misrule,” or the Bean King. His Queen Consort or the Queen of Twelfth Night was the woman who found a dried pea in the cake. The king and queen reigned for the evening, no matter their normal status in society.

By the late 18th century, the selection of Twelfth Night's "royalty" could also be accomplished by the distribution of paper slips with each piece of cake. The slips were opened and the person holding the one with a special mark inside was declared the king.

During Jane Austen’s life time, the celebration of Twelfth Night was at the height its of popularity. Sets of “characters” were available to purchase from enterprising stationers. They were cut up into small papers and the slips were chosen from a hat. Whatever character the person drew became their identity for the evening. In my novella, The Twelfth Night Wager, the heroine hopes to play Susie Salamander.

Fanny Knight, Edward Austen Knight’s daughter and Jane Austen’s niece, wrote about some of her Twelfth Night Celebrations in Kent. Here’s her report of the Twelfth Night celebration in 1809:
…after Dessert Aunt Louisa who was the only person to know the characters…took one by one  out of the room and equipped them, put them into separate rooms and lastly dressed herself. We were all conducted into the library and performed our different parts. Papa and the little ones from Lizzy downwards knew nothing of it  and it was so well managed  that none of the characters knew one another ..Aunt Louisa and L.Deeds were Dominos; F.Cage, Frederica Flirt (which she did excellently); M.Deeds, Orange Woman; Mama, Shepherdess; Self Fortune Teller; Edward, beau; G, Irish Postboy; Henry Watchman; William, Harlequin; we had such frightful masks that it was enough to kill one with laughing at putting them on and altogether it went off very well and quite answered our expectations.

Though by Jane Austen’s time the cake may not have been used to assist in the choosing of characters, it was still an important part of the celebration. They were costly and complicated to make and, if they could afford to do so, many people bought them from confectioners’ shops.

In my Christmas novella, The Twelfth Night Wager, two men at White’s club, one of whom is known as the “red headed rake,” make a scandalous wager involving a virtuous widow. The wager, by its terms, must be won or lost by Twelfth Night. The story includes all the fall activities in London and the countryside (pheasant shooting, fox hunting and riding), as well as the Christmastide celebrations leading up to Twelfth Night.

It’s not too late to experience the season!

Carnal Devices by Helena Harker

Carnal Devices (novella)

Helena Harker
Historical Romance/Erotica (ménage- M/M/F)
Published in 2013

H/h - Phineas/India
Setting: London, 1895.

Read in Jan, 2014.
My rating:

                                                  [spoiler alert]

Carnal Devices was another short story that I was meaning to read for sometimes now. It’s my first Helena Harker read, and I liked the author’s writing. If you’re looking for smut, you’ve got it 100% but unfortunately, there’s no story with substantial plot. It’s a good thing that I found the characters very interesting.

India, the h of the story, is a prostitute. She was forced to take up on this profession due to her poverty stricken state. It’s very unfortunate that she doesn’t enjoy sex. When it’s her vocation, forced or not, disliking the act is taking its toll. The brothel owner of Carnal Pleasures who took India in from the streets is unhappy about her performance because the customers are leaving negative reviews. When the Madam comes to her to have a chat, India reveals that she hates how every encounter leaves her feeling used and discarded and how she feels disgusted by it all. Apparently, the Madam seems to understand, even having a solution for India’s ‘ailment’.

Lady Meriwyn's Punishment by Renee Rose

Monday, January 27, 2014

Lady Meriwyn's Punishment (novella)

Renee Rose
Medieval Romance/Erotica
Published in 2013

H/h - Sir Conrad/Lady Meriwyn
Setting: In the medieval era.

Read in Jan, 2014.
My rating:

                                               [spoiler alert]

Lady Meriwyn’s Punishment, an erotic medieval novella, was my first read by Renee Rose. It was a free download from the publisher a while back. Had it in my TBR for a while and been meaning to read it... Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me.

This is a short story so I’ll try my best to be precise. Lady Meriwyn has recently been married to Lord Conrad. He was a widower with an 8 yrs. old girl before they married. He’s also quite a few years older than her as I understood. The marriage has been good so far, only now, Conrad decides it’s time to introduce Meriwyn to his preference to domination and spanking.

When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries

Friday, January 24, 2014

When the Rogue Returns
The Duke's Men #2

Sabrina Jeffries
Historical Romance
Pub date: Jan 21, 2014 (ARC review)

H/h - Victor Cale/Isabella Cale
Setting: England, 1828.

Read in Jan, 2014.
My rating:

                                                 [spoiler alert]

After reading the backlist of Sabrina Jeffries I can honestly say that majority of her stories have a feel good quality that makes me return to her books again and again. The newest installment in The Duke’s Men series, When the Rogue Returns was no exception. The story got me hooked right from the start and I enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a sweet  story of a couple having their second chance at happiness.

If you haven’t read the Duke’s Men yet, you might wanna start with Hellions of Hallstead Hall as this series is somewhat linked to the Hellions. Most of the lead male characters here were introduced as secondary characters in the Hellions series.

‘Duke’s Men’ is a fancy name for Manton’s Investigation, run by Dominic Manton. Dominic or Dom’s younger half-siblings (his deceased father, the viscount’s mistress’s children) also help him running this company. Though Dom’s elder brother can’t stand the sight of either Tristan or Lisette, Dom is fond of both and appreciates having them close. Thus he has been banished and disinherited. But Dom doesn’t care a whit, he has studied and happy doing what he loves best.


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Punya
I love to read in my spare time and do reviews the books I read. My blog Punya Reviews just turned 6 in 2017 and still going strong. I love music and traveling. Sometimes, I wish I could live inside a book, having my own HEA. :)
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