Today, I'm hosting a little different type guest post on Georgian-era jewellery by author Elizabeth Ellen Carter as a part of the VBT. Also find a complete promo and an excerpt of her recently released historical romance, Moonstone Conspiracy, for your enjoyment.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour
Georgian Jewellery
When it comes to labelling the late 18th and early 19th century there is a little bit of confusion.
Quite correctly, one could say that the Georgian era lasted from the reign of George I in 1714 until the death of George IV in 1830. Equally you’d be correct if you included in the Georgian era, the seven year reign of William IV which then ushered in the Victorian era with the ascension of the eponymous Queen.
On the other hand, it could be said the Georgian era ended with the Regency era with George IV taking on the full responsibilities of his father from 1811 to his death in 1820 when George IV became king in his own right.
However, if you’re talking about literature and architectural design or politics and social reform, the Regency era actually begins in 1795 – it’s all so confusing!
In that case, let’s have a look at some beautiful jewellery instead.
The Georgian era put an end to sumptuary laws where only the rich and noble could wear particular items of clothing or jewellery as a display of their title. The rising merchant class (some of whom were more wealthy than the nobility) could afford fine jewels and they weren’t shy about flaunting their success.
There was jewellery for daytime – necklaces, earrings, bracelets and chatelaines for women, rings and bejewelled shoe buckles for men, studded in coral, garnet, agate, pearl and turquoise – and at night diamonds (or at least very high quality paste stones) sparkled, aided by silver and gold foiled backs to create a diamond riviere – a diamond river around a beautiful woman’s neck.
Drop and chandelier earrings in beautiful cut stones designed to complement the necklaces and shockers were sold in beautifully fitted cases.
Fashion and styles criss-crossed the English Channel with trends and designs in England as much influenced by the taste of Louis’s court as much as the French kept a watchful eye on the Georgian fancy.
Sadly, all good things have to come to an end and with the American Revolution and the French Revolution taking a toll on the wallet as well as the mood, the over the top style became more classic and subdued during the Regency period.
Moonstone Conspiracy
Elizabeth Ellen Carter
Revolution in France, rebels in England, and one woman caught in the crossfire...
For her unwitting participation in a plot to embezzle the Exchequer, Lady Abigail Houghall has spent the last two years exiled to the city of Bath. A card sharp, sometime mistress, and target of scandalous gossip by the London Beau Monde, Lady Abigail plots to escape her gilded cage as well as the prudish society that condemns her. But the times are not easy. France is in chaos. The king has been executed, and whispers of a similar revolution are stirring in England. And because of her participation in the robbery plot, the Spymaster of England is blackmailing her into passing him information about the members of London’s upper crust.
When the dashing English spy Daniel Ridgeway takes a seat at her card table and threatens to expose her for cheating, she has no choice but to do as he demands: seduce the leader of the revolutionaries and learn what she can about their plot. As she’s drawn deeper into Daniel’s dangerous world, from the seedy backstreets of London to the claustrophobic catacombs of a war-torn Paris, she realizes an even more dangerous fact. She’s falling in love with her seductive partner. And the stakes of this game might just be too high, even for her.
Buy Links:
An Excerpt from Moonstone Conspiracy:
Daniel picked his moment carefully. He watched Sir Percy’s wife leave with another group soon after the announcement was made. And although he made no especial effort to hide, he nonetheless remained in the shadows. He pulled out a cigar and lit it on a nearby taper.
As soon as he heard the footman call for Sir Percy’s carriage, he stepped forward into the carriage and waited for Blakeney to join him.
“Send me to France, Percy,” he said as soon as the carriage jolted into motion.
“I’m not going to do that,” Blakeney replied.
“You can’t just leave Jonathan there!”
“He signed on knowing the same risks as you.”
“He has a wife and children!”
“And you seem inordinately fond of them,” Sir Percy snapped back. “You saw the list you gave me tonight. A dozen good men and women dead because of the Jacobins. I’m not prepared to risk more. Not until we know what we’re up against.”
“It could be too late!”
“You took an oath when you joined the League, Ridgeway. One to command, all to obey. Bear that in mind.”
Daniel leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees and exhaled long and sharp.
He felt Percy slap him on the back.
“Just wait a week until we know the lay of the land. I haven’t studied the documents you gave me and Parliament hasn’t even prepared a response to the National Committee’s declaration of war.”
“A week is a long time, Percy,” Daniel warned.
“So is eternity, dear chap. Don’t lose your head. As you well know, those Frenchies have a devilish way of parting you from it.”
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author:
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s debut novel, Moonstone Obsession, was published in 2013 by Etopia Press. Earlier that year, the Regency adventure romance had been shortlisted in the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Awards for Best Unpublished Manuscript. Set in England and France during the French Revolution, it was heralded as ‘edge-of-seat adventure and intrigue’ and ‘a rollercoaster of love, blackmail, ill-gotten gains, treason and trickery’ with Carter described as ‘a writer worth keeping an eye on’ with ‘a hint of classic suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier’. Her second novel, Warrior’s Surrender, was published by Etopia the following year.
In 2014, the short story Moonstone Promise, spinning off from Moonstone Obsession as part of Etopia’s Valentines Heat anthology, followed the fortunes of one of the supporting characters back home to 18th century Pittsburgh in a tale of ‘second chance romance’.
Warrior’s Surrender (now in print as well as eBook) was named Favourite Historical Fiction at the 2015 Readers & Writers Down Under Readers Choice Awards in March this year. And another Moonstone Obsession character, the sinful Lady Abigail Houghall, features in the full length novel Moonstone Conspiracy, coming from Etopia Press in 2015.
The author lives in Australia with her husband and two cats. A former newspaper journalist, she ran an award-winning PR agency for 12 years.
Author Links:
Brought to YOU by:
(Note: I received this guest post (with pictures) + giveaway info from Goddess Fish Promotions. ~Punya)
12 comments:
Thank you very much for having me as a guest!
Thanks for hosting!
I must read the rest of that series :)
Would love to win this! Thanks for the chance.
I enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.
I enjoyed the interesting post and following the tour and learning all about The Moonstone Conspiracy, sounds like a great book, thanks for sharing!
This sounds like my kind of book. Loved the excerpt
Thank you very much everyone. I've so enjoyed sharing some of my research into late Georgian England and the politics behind the French Revolution.
I enjoyed the excerpt and also the post on jewelry-beautiful pieces! This has been a great book tour and I have enjoyed following along! Good luck with your writing!
Thank you so much Betty, it's been so lovely to meet you on tour. :D
Great post - thanks for sharing!
Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Best of luck to those who entered the giveaway. :)
Post a Comment
◈Thank you for visiting :)◈