Love Romance Passion » Bride Stealing http://www.loveromancepassion.com Because Books Don't Fall Asleep Afterwards! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Get into Bed with Mia Marlowe (Author Interview) http://www.loveromancepassion.com/get-into-bed-with-mia-marlowe-author-interview/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/get-into-bed-with-mia-marlowe-author-interview/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:21:11 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13783

Mia Marlowe Interview, Co-Author of Sins of the Highlander with Connie Mason

Keira: You worked with Connie Mason on Sins of the Highlander, so I have to know, is it easier or harder to write with a partner? Did either of you ever want the story to go one way, but couldn’t take it there because the other wanted something else? Was there a lot of compromise?

Mia Marlowe: I found writing with a partner very liberating because I knew if I went down the wrong alley, Connie would reel me back in. Fortunately, that wasn’t ever necessary. Working with Connie is such a joy. She’s a very gracious lady. Honestly, I can’t remember a time when we had any sort of tension between us while crafting the story.

Keira: How did you both go about writing the novel? I know you didn’t meet up in person as you live in Massachusetts and Connie lives in Florida! lol Was there something each of you did? Did you write back and forth, scene by scene? Or each write from one character’s POV? Did you find that you both played to your strengths?

MM: We actually have met in person but it was years ago, in 2006 when my debut book came out. She agreed to give me a cover quote—the first one she’d ever given. Connie chose the setting and time period for Sins of the Highlander. Since I’d never written a Scottish set story, I had some researching to do to get up to speed. Connie and I kept in touch via email as the story progressed and fortunately, since our writing styles are very similar, the result is pretty seamless.

Keira: I love bride stealing plots and this one quite literally has the hero steal the bride away from his nemesis. What made you decide on this plot trope? What do you like best about it?

MM: Honestly, I never thought of it as a trope. My approach to story-telling is to get to know the characters deeply. Then I figure out what they want. Lastly, I decide how to keep them from getting it until they really deserve it. Once we knew Rob was mad with grief over his wife, it was a short step to realize he’d want revenge. Stealing a bride from the man he blames for Fiona’s death was only logical, in a crazy sort of way. Plot has to flow organically from the character’s flaws, needs and wants. If it does that with honesty, I don’t see how it can be a cliché.

Keira: A widower hero… sigh… love it. Tell me more about him – give us the good stuff – the toe curling good stuff!

MM: Rob MacLaren is an uber-alpha, a warrior, a clan leader, and all things we love in a man. He’s decisive, courageous and wickedly handsome. The man can rock a kilt. But he’s also damaged. At the outset of the story, he deserves the nickname “Mad Rob.” He still loves Fiona so deeply, she visits him nightly in dreams so vivid, he hates to wake and find he’s lost her afresh. But the fact that he knows how to love gave me hope that he could learn to do it again. If you’d like a taste (and a ‘toe curl’), visit http://miamarlowe.com/books/sins.php#excerpt for an introduction to “Mad Rob.”

Keira: Do you and Connie plan to write another novel together? If so, tell us what you got cooking!

MM: Yes we do! In fact, we have another release this year. Look for Lord of Fire and Icein August! Connie steered us into a Viking story for this one and I added a sparkle of magic by making our hero a fire mage! Brandr the Far Traveled and Katla the Black have a pretty fiery start to their relationship, but my money is on Brandr to melt her icy heart.

We’re also working a trio of Regency set stories for 2013 called “The Royal Rakes.” Readers who remember Connie’s Rogues series will love these new heroes! We just turned in the manuscript for Waking Up with a Rake (Jan. 2013)

In addition to our Sourcebooks novels, I have two more releases with just my name on them coming this year from Kensington Brava—Touch of Rogue (Feb. 28th) and Touch of a Scoundrel (July 2012). These adventurous, sensual Victorian stories have characters who are blessed—or cursed—with the “gift of touch.” They glean secret information when they touch certain objects, but it’s not always something they want to know.

I’m also planning some eBook only releases for readers looking for quality stories at a budget-pleasing price.

If you’d like to be notified of all my new releases, I invite you to enter my website contest. The Grand Prize is a NEW KINDLE! http://miamarlowe.com/contest.php Plus you’ll be automatically signed up to receive my short timely newsletters. I only send them out when I have a new book or special contest to share, so your email inbox won’t be inundated.

Thanks for having me here today, Keira. I have a question for your readers: Do you think it’s possible to fall deeply in love more than once?

SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER BY CONNIE MASON & MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2012

Abduction

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled between his trong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only she could ease.

Obsession

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his, forever.

With two clans against them burning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath and soul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sins of the Highlander.

Buy: Sins of the Highlander

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together, they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca, the first of which will be in stores in early 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.

GIVEAWAY: I have 2 copies of Sins of the Highlander. Open to US and Canada only. Enter by answering Mia's question at the end of the interview. Last day to enter: January 27, 2012.

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What If: After six months had passed from the first proposal/letter and Elizabeth received another proposal from a gentleman of modest means, one she knew from childhood, and she said yes?

Summary: Elizabeth accepts a childhood friend’s proposal, knowing she was fond of him, but not in love. She accepted for mercenary reasons, knowing she could no longer hope for Jane to make a good match when she was still so obviously in love with Mr. Bingley. If only she had known Darcy and Bingley were right around the corner! But how was she to know they would show up at Longbourn looking to court the ladies who stole their hearts?

Good:

  • That Darcy worms his way into Longbourn as Bingley’s companion and doesn’t give up even though Lizzy is very off the market.
  • Darcy’s possessive, jealous side. It’s hot. Like burn your sheets up, hot. Favorite quote coming up.
  • That Lizzy learns her own heart and is willing to risk all for her own liberty and happiness.
  • That Lizzy has a deeply valid concern for refusing Darcy when he proposes again (pg 147 for those who care to know)... and that Darcy figures out how to get around Lizzy. (Love how Mr. Bennet uses Mrs. Bennet to advantage, bwuahaha!)
  • That Darcy has a rival!

On the Other Hand:

  • Of course Mr Covingon is not much of a rival. He’s a valid choice for marriage with a comfortable home, quazi gentry, a land owner, a farmer, good to his mother, interested in Lizzy, etc. But he lacks passion, depth, and his interest can’t stand up to reputation breaking scandal. He may have Lizzy’s hand but her heart is not such a sure thing.

Bad:

  • The awful petnames. “Best beloved?” What’s wrong with a simple “Darling” or just plain Elizabeth or Lizzy?

Favorite Quote:

Darcy was silent as he wrestled with his own demons. He had never intended it to go so far; he knew full well that he would have taken her if she had not asked him to stop. His toying with her responses at the end, provoking her and demanding verbal submission to replace the physical one he craved, revealed an uncontrolled part of himself he had always harshly repress. But, by God, it had been gratifying to hear her say she wanted him, and to see her helplessly entangled in the pleasure he was giving her. There was, he thought, less of the gentleman and more of the predatory tiger in him than he cared to admit... (page 208)

The bolded part is my doing - it's also my favorite part of the quote. Seriously hot, and I do mean hot! Love it!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Mr. Darcy's Undoing

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bookreview

This story by Kleypas is an exciting adventure from start to finish. It all starts with a manhunt… or should I say a woman-hunt? Nick Gentry is looking for the wily Charlotte Howard. He has a small portrait of her in his pocket and his brother-in-law’s backing to get him into the Earl of Westcliff’s home where he’s tracked Charlotte. The Earl notices something fishy about the Viscount John Sydney and sets about unveiling the man’s secrets.

Meanwhile, John Sydney aka Nick Gentry, is prowling the premises for Charlotte and comes upon a young lady on top of a stone wall starring out across the grounds. Her foot is caught in her dress and Nick springs into action to save her… only to find the appealing woman in his arms is the very woman he’s been paid to track down.

Against all better judgment, Nick decides he can afford to stay and watch the lovely and lively Lottie. He comes to the startling conclusion that he wants her for himself and Lord Radnor can go hang before he’d ever bring to the obsessed creep a treasure such as her. Just as passion is sparking between Nick and Lottie, Westcliff pounces with the truth of Nick’s identity.

Frightened but determined, Lottie vows she will never go back to Lord Radnor. Westcliff offers to marry her to keep her away from Nick and provide protection, but Lottie turns him down. Instead she offers herself up to be Nick’s mistress which he refuses because he’d also rather have her as his wife…

I’m classifying this novel under virgin hero, not because Nick was a virgin in his relations to Lottie but because we see him lose his virginity to the Prostitute Gemma, well I suppose she was the Madam of the brothel.

This book would be rated higher, but I was a little disturbed by Radnor’s obsession with trying to break Charlotte as if she were a horse. I also didn’t like learning that her parents were okay with her being locked in a room alone with Radnor while he forced her to sit on his lap and answer to him while he touched her inappropriately… and while there was no full blown rape in the story, this qualifies to me as rape and is marked as such.

Luckily for readers Nick is a dominating force and dispels upsetting Radnor’s presence pretty easily. Oh and this is the first time I’ve seen a shower scene in a historical but Kleypas explains in her author notes why she included it based on her research. It’s solid so don’t let the idea of inaccuracy turn you away from reading this book.

Interesting term found within the prologue: buttock-and-file whore which is an old term for a street prostitute who was in connection with a pickpocket or also pickpocketed her customers. So you would pay, pay again involuntary, and perhaps gain a new venereal disease. Cool.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)

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bookreview

First off, thank you to Katiebabs for recommending this book in her post, Those Wonderful Comfort Reads. It’s taken me a while to acquire my own copy, but boy oh boy was it worth the wait. This novel is definitely one of those where you wonder why you never heard of it sooner!

The biggest gossip in town is that spinster Hattie Colfax is going to be courted for the very first time by widower Ancil Drayton. He even has special permission from the preacher due to the fact that his wife hasn’t been dead very long, but the Lord will understand his need for a new woman. He has seven kids after all and a farm to maintain.

The minute the news reaches Reed Tyler’s ears he’s annoyed. That man is the worst farmer in the county and Hattie deserves better. Hattie on the other hand is very excited by what appears to be a man for the first time looking past her face and interested in her. This just annoys Reed even more.

Hattie goes to Reed, her 'Plowboy', for help. She doesn’t want to appear completely pathetic to Ancil by having him be her first kiss. She’s afraid it will put her on unequal ground; that Ancil will always look down on her and think she should be grateful he wanted to marry her. Reed agrees to teach her. There are three kinds of kissing that he teaches her that night, and that MhoFho and D.D. will teach you tomorrow, plus a fourth he teaches her later in the novel. Very hot and sexy scenes!

Really this was just a fantastic novel, though it would have benefited from less smoochy-smooches and Ancil. The man was made for a sexual harassment suit and he’s just plain unlikable and cruel. I felt bad for two of his seven children. I wanted Hattie to adopt them.

Rating: 4 Stars

Buy: Courting Miss Hattie

Find and Buy More Pamela Morsi Books.

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arcrev

I'll be the first to tell you I'm not a fan of the love triangle for many reasons. The first and foremost reason is because I feel it's just a ploy by an author to fuel the angst and drama of a mediocre story. Haymore proves me wrong. She does not do this. The love triangle is a valid part of the plot and wholly integral with the storyline. She approaches the love triangle in a very unique manner. I don't want to spoil anyone, because it's so different than anything I've encountered before in my readings.

Another reason I have trouble with the love triangle situation is the waffling. I simply don't get it. I'm told this is because I haven't been in one and until I have triangles are hard to appreciate or sympathize with. If you're like me you probably think it's very black and white and very little gray. In my head, I know it's gray. I know that it is possible to love two people at once, but the Grinch side of me feels that if you can't make a choice between them then you don't love either one enough and should let both go. Haymore made me feel the conflict that Sophie, who is in the middle, goes through. I appreciate her position and I sympathize with her, something that is way out of the norm with me.

I have a feeling that a second read through will make it a better read, because I know where it's going. I was looking at all the wrong things in the book the first time and therefore was anxious and worried about how the plot was developing, certain that Haymore was going to bungle it. I just couldn't see how it was going to work out.

Haymore surprised me, the ending surprised me, and that says something. It made me reevaluate the whole book and all my complaints and worries held no weight.

A fan of the love triangle will be placing this novel on their favorite shelf. Someone who like me, needs a little persuasion about the loving the love triangle can read this and appreciate it. Who knows, it may hook you so completely you can't wait to grab a hold of another love triangle!

A brief summary:
Sophie loved Garrett since she was 16 years old and was devastated when he didn't return home from Water-Loo. Tristan is her best friend and together over many years they healed from their mutual loss. One night after their marriage Garrett returns. Everything as they knew it is changed from property to titles, from money to marriages--Haymore explores Regency law and Regency hearts.

Rating: 3.5-4 Stars

Buy: A Hint of Wicked

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Story: Peter Crawford first spies Lisa Robbins as she’s attempting to return an unused wedding gown. The groom? His arch rival Pembrooke Hastings. Peter is determined to take her out on a date to see what kind of gal could rope in the state’s most confirm bachelor. Finding out she jilted Pembrooke is just icing on the cake. Little does Peter know that Lisa’s going to get the state’s second most confirmed bachelor down on bended knee faster than he can get out his proposal!!!

Favorite Scenes: I really enjoyed how the two originally agree to go out to make Pembrooke jealous, but end up trying to avoid him on these beginning dates... especially the double date with Peter's brother and his girlfriend. I also liked when Peter takes care of Lisa and makes her food, his proposal, and when they first make love.

Least Favorite Scene: Lisa is a strong heroine and can handle her own, but on the eve of her wedding to Peter, his ex shows up at her apartment and because her best friend and Peter’s brother’s girlfriend invited the ex in, Lisa lets her… and she lets the trio bash on men and Peter too. I had a huge problem with that, because who in their right mind would allow that? Even drunk I wouldn’t allow that. It made me mad, but Peter handled it all with aplomb.

Review: You’ll love what Terry Spear has whipped up! Exchanging Grooms is a cute contemporary romance that’s fast to read and will give you a tooth ache, it’s so sweet! I heard about this book from following Terry Spear’s blog. I thought the title was extremely clever and catchy and I had to read it. I even made fanart for it:

Rating: ★★★★½

Buy: Exchanging Grooms

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by Sandra Scholes, guest reviewer

Greek myth and Celtic myth meet in this novel of passion and sexual attraction. Although the Greek myth and god part it taken lighter than expected as Ares has quite a list of personality traits to deal with, or more is the case, what other women have to deal with, and being a god who is largely well-built, well-endowed and has a sex drive that would flay most puny humans, the readers will wonder where he will find his new lady love next.

Alena is a runaway bride, one who is supposed to be kept for one man or one god if you prefer, and the god in question is Cernunnos, and he is very angry at her leaving his side after she meant so much to him. She in turn falls for Ares, the god of war, and wanting his protection strikes up a bargain with him using her virginity as bait. Ares is like her in many respects as he is in hiding from the gods for the rumour he has killed Psyche; though whether he has or not is up for debate. Even though he enjoys her in his bed, he would like to think that he has no emotional ties to her at all, even going so far as to consider giving her over to Zeus as his afterward.

He doesn’t realize how much has enjoyed her company, her personality, their similarities, both runaways, and misunderstood. Even having to choose between handing himself over to Zeus, and be judged accordingly, or spending the rest of his life with Alena seems to be a no-brainer to most readers who will notice how saucy and well-written the erotic scenes are in this hot and romantic story is.

I like the way the title is taken from that infamous novel The Art of War by Sun Tsu, and the way there is a little humour in it to take away some of the serious parts of the story. Katarina is the woman he is with at the beginning, but she might not be there at the end. The myth of both Greek and Celtic mixes well with the overall story, and readers will be in for a treat. Ares proves what kind of man he is both in and out of the bed, and Alena has a lot to offer him, both finding they are similar souls in the romance.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buy: The Heart of War

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by Sharon S., guest reviewer

Across the Veil is a wonderful little short story. I usually don’t read short stories unless they are by an author I know, about characters I know. There is just not enough time to slip into a new world and care about the characters.

Lisa Kessler was able to capture my interest in this world (I want to know about it) and write a romance that felt real. It made my heart go a pitter-patter <G>. It is less than 26 pages, but there is a lot of story in there.

The story is about a Fae princess that leaves her home (in another dimension) to escape having to marry Faldo, who she doesn’t love. She also left behind the one man she did love, his brother Keth.

Keth and Talia shared a moment of passion and Faldo found out. It was within his right to have her put to death because she was betrothed to him. So to protect Talia, Keth pushed her away thinking she would marry Faldo and be safe.

It has been 5 years since she left and Faldo tracks down Talia, looking for Keth. He never forgave his brother for the betrayal and has grown hateful and bitter. Talia and Keth must work together to save each other.

Kessler is a talented writer and I look forward to the release of her first novel. Keep an eye out at LRP for an interview with Kessler as well as a review of Night Walker.

Here is the blurb for Across the Veil

Princess Talia from Summerland has been hiding across the veil in the human world for the past five years.

Starring in a hit television show as human actress, Natalie Thurmont, her charmed new life is shattered when the past comes knocking on her door.

You can visit her at: http://lisaslair.com/

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: Across the Veil

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Lisa Kessler has offered an ecopy of Across the Veil to one lucky reader. Leave a comment to enter! Last day to enter: June 18, 2011.

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Beauvallet is one of my top favorite Georgette Heyer romances. It’s one I would recommend for a guy to read because of how daredevil the hero is and how much action and high jinks take place.

Sir Nicholas Beauvallet is a dashing pirate with a rakish charm. He’s the bane of the Spanish empire and good friends with other famous privateers such as Sir Francis Drake. He’s gallant, courageous to the point of foolhardiness, and full of confidence. His ego is adorable because it’s so over-inflated and lighthearted.

Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva is a gutsy heroine. When captured she steals Beauvallet’s dagger and waves it at his nose. When forced aboard Beauvallet’s ship she snubs him, flirts outrageously with another officer, and ignores him. Obviously she’s just hiding her true feelings—the instantaneous crush, the deepening attraction, the utter fascination. The more she pushes him the more under his spell she falls.

When he promises to win her hand in marriage, she scoffs. Not likely! When he says he’ll pursue her right to her doorstep in the heart of Spain, she laughs. Impossible! When he says, “Risk not!” she begins to hope. But can it be done?

Some of the funniest scenes are Beauvallet flaunting his presence under the Spanish aristocracy and nobody being the wiser. I’m so happy that Heyer kept it in mostly Beauvallet’s point of view because we got to his side of the story and laugh at the supposedly mystical and magical escapes he managed to execute under Spanish noses.

It’s also an unusual historical I feel because of the monarchs and events happening.

Relative Time Period – Tudor:

  • Spanish Inquisition – 1478 to 1834
  • Henri III – 1551 to 1589
  • Elizabeth I – 1533 to 1603
  • Phillip II -  1527 to 1598
  • Sir Francis Drake – 1577 to 1580 – around world trip

The references to the Spanish Inquisition are just cloying and realistic enough to make you shudder with all the “infinite kindness of the church” and whatnot. I’m not an expert of anything, but the way the dialogue happened almost made one think that King Phillip had no idea what truly happened during the churches inquisition sessions. Does anybody know if he did or not?

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Beauvallet

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Background: Greek mythology is reinvented and romanticized in Aimee Carter’s start to a new young adult trilogy. What if the Hades and Persephone story wasn’t as it appeared to history? Instead of stealing her from her mother, they had an arranged marriage. Hades loved Persephone, but Persephone didn’t love Hades. She falls in love with a mortal and asks Hades to take her immortality away so she could die to be with the mortal in the afterlife, leaving Hades without a wife and co-ruler.

Summary: Kate isn’t ready to say goodbye to her mom, a long time sufferer of cancer. The doctors and her mother feel that there isn’t much time left. At her mother’s behest, Kate moves them back to Eden, the mother’s childhood small town home. Kate isn’t worried about a new school or even making friends. She wants to spend all her time with her mother, but in an effort to please her mother she attends a party which ends with a deadly prank and a deal with a handsome devil.

Henry offers to keep her mother alive (not healed) in exchange for Kate’s agreement to live the winter with him in his home. The catch is that she also has to pass seven tests and it could get deadly. Eleven girls have tried to pass, but most end up dead before they can complete them. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's wife, and a goddess.

Review: I was surprised that the seven tests are hidden within the text. Kate is told she will be tested, but she’s not told how or even what these tests are. They’re designed to test her character. I wonder if you can spy them on your first read through the book. I know I didn’t. I also didn’t recognize the testers, which is the point. We, the readers, are like Kate in the story, clueless to these facts.

I adored how the relationship between Henry and Kate developed. It was slow, it was thorough, and it was delicious. I loved the Beauty and the Beast aspect to it and the Greek mythology reinterpretation. It’s young and fresh. Henry is a fabulous tortured hero. I can’t wait for the sequel, Goddess Interrupted.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: The Goddess Test (Harlequin Teen)

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