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Faro's Daughter. Georgette Heyer. 1941. 288 pages.

I absolutely loved Georgette Heyer's Faro's Daughter. In the first chapter, readers meet Mr. Ravenscar (Max) as he visits with his sister, Lady Mablethorpe. She wants him to to prevent an imprudent match of his nephew with an unsuitable young woman, Deborah Grantham. This "vulgar" woman lives in a gaming house with her aunt! He goes to visit the young lady in the gaming house, even gambles with her for a while. His conclusion: she's not a good match for a gentleman, certainly, but she might be easily bought off. Instead of talking with his nephew, he'll talk to her instead and offer her money if she promises to never marry the boy.

Readers just don't see this from his point of view, however, readers also get to meet Deborah for themselves. And Deborah finds Ravenscar's offer insulting and infuriating. How dare he assume she could be bought off! Though she hadn't any plans on marrying Adrian, she know plans to do just that. Well. If she has to. She's hoping that that won't be necessary after all. If only she could get Adrian to fall in love with someone else...

Ravenscar and Deborah hate each other so much, their interactions are so intense. They bring out the worst in each other...

I loved this one so much! It's a great read cover to cover. So many interesting characters and stories.

Read Faro's Daughter

• If you love Pride and Prejudice, North and South, Much Ado About Nothing, etc. Romance stories where the hero and heroine HATE each other before they fall in love...
• If you enjoy Georgette Heyer
• If you enjoy Regency romances, historical romances

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Corinthian. Georgette Heyer. 1940/2009. Sourcebooks. 261 pages.

 In The Corinthian, we've got a bachelor, Sir Richard Wyndham, who happens to rescue a damsel in distress, Penelope Creed. Penelope set on running away from her aunt--who is encouraging her into a loveless marriage with her cousin Fred--is disguised as a boy. Richard, while on his way home and a bit drunk at that, sees Pen climbing out her window--by way of her bed sheets of course. He "catches" her just in time. Granted, this "she" is dressed as a he. But there's no fooling Richard. A bit amused at the situation, and wanting to run away himself to avoid an unpleasant appointment the next day, he decides to help out. She wants to escape London--and her aunt--and travel to Bristol (or near Bristol anyway). She's got a childhood friend, Piers, who she fancies herself madly in love with. Five (or so) years ago, these two promised themselves to each other. Hearing this tale, Richard decides to join in the journey and ensure her safety. The two will go together. He will act as her tutor-uncle-cousin and 'protect' her along the way. (Each identity is used on their journey at various stages.) Their journey is rarely boring--they get in and out of trouble along the way.

This one is a delightful romantic comedy. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one! I love Pen Creed. I love Sir Richard. The dialogue is just too much fun in this Regency romance!

A scene between Pen and Richard:

"Were you locked in your room?" enquired Sir Richard.
"Oh no! I daresay I should have been if Aunt had guessed what I meant to do, but she would never think of such a thing."
"Then--forgive my curiosity!--why did you climb out of the window?" asked Sir Richard.
"Oh, that was on account of Pug!" replied Pen sunnily.
"Pug?"
"Yes, a horrid little creature! He sleeps in a basket in the hall, and he always yaps if he thinks one is going out. That would have awakened Aunt Almeria. There was nothing else I could do."
Sir Richard regarded her with a lurking smile. "Naturally not. Do you know, Pen, I owe you a debt of gratitude?"
"Oh!" she said again. "Do you mean that I don't behave as a delicately bred female should?"
"That is one way of putting it, certainly."
"It is the way Aunt Almeria puts it."
"She would, of course."
"I am afraid," confessed Pen, "that I am not very well-behaved. Aunt says that I had a lamentable upbringing, because my father treated me as though I had been a boy. I ought to have been, you understand."
"I cannot agree with you," said Sir Richard. "As a boy you would have been in no way remarkable; as a female, believe me, you are unique."
She flushed to the roots of her hair. "I think that is a compliment."
"It is," Sir Richard said, amused.
"Well, I wasn't sure, because I am not out yet, and I do not know any men except my uncle and Fred, and they don't pay compliments. That is to say, not like that." (68-69)

Fred Griffin in conversation with Sir Richard:

"What, sir, would you think of a member of the Weaker Sex who assumed the guise of a man, and left the home of her natural protector by way of the window?"
"I should assume," replied Sir Richard, "that she had strong reasons for acting with such resolution."
"She did not wish to marry me," said Mr. Griffin gloomily.
"Oh!" said Sir Richard.
"Well, I'm sure I can't see why she should be so set against me, but that's not it, sir. The thing is that here's my mother determined to find her, and to make her marry me, and so hush up the scandal. But I don't like it above half. If she dislikes the notion so much, I don't think I ought to marry her, do you?"
"Emphatically not!"
"I must say I am very glad to hear you say that, Sir Richard!" said Mr. Griffin, much cheered. "For you must know that my mother has been telling me ever since yesterday that I must marry her now, to save her name. But I think she would very likely make me uncomfortable, and nothing could make up for that, in my opinion."
"A lady capable of escaping out of a window in the guise of a a man would quite certainly make you more than uncomfortable," said Sir Richard.
"Yes, though she's only a chit of a girl, you know. In fact, she is not yet out. I am very happy to have had the benefit of the opinion of a Man of the World. I feel that I can rely on your judgment."
"On my judgment, you might, but in nothing else, I assure you," said Sir Richard. "You know nothing of me, after all. How do you know that I am not now concealing your cousin from you?"
"Ha-ha! Very good, upon my word! Very good, indeed!" said Mr. Griffin, saluting a jest of the first water. (124)

Read The Corinthian

• If you enjoy Regency romances
• If you enjoy historical romance
• If you enjoy historical romance with a touch of drama, mystery, and murder...
• If you enjoy Georgette Heyer

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

I love Carolyn Meyer, and I love Ancient Greece, so Beauty’s Daughter is high, high, high on my wish list. 

In stores October 2013

   

 

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Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

Okay, I have to admit that I was a Brady Bunch junky when I was a kid. I watched more than my fair share of the show, and because it was in reruns, I got a daily dose of the big, happy family.  I am curious about Kieran Kramer’s House of Brady series for that reason.   I think this cover is pretty, too, and I love the hues of blue.

This hits stores August  2013.

     

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Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

A Most Dangerous Deception by Sarah Zettel looks awesome!  Court intrigue, murder, and romance.  Who could ask for more?  I love historical settings, and wish more YA books had them, so A Most Dangerous Deception is high on my wish list.

In stores November 2013

    

 

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Please welcome Victoria Vane to the virtual offices today!  Victoria is here to talk about her historical romance Treacherous Temptations, and after the interview, you can enter for a chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack, courtesy of Entangled Publishing!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Vane] Obsessive compulsive writer, insomniac, horse lover, romantic, Georgian junkie

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Treacherous Temptations?

[Victoria Vane] Treacherous Temptations is a dark and somewhat erotic Georgian romance with strong elements of intrigue. (Think Dangerous Liaisons with Jacobite intrigue and South Sea scandal.) It is also, in essence, my personal homage to the classic novels of the 18th century in which virtue vs. vice and the seduction of a virgin were predominate themes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Vane] As noted above, it was largely inspired by the book/film Dangerous Liaisons which can be seen in the primary characters of Hadley and Barbara who are closely modeled after Valmont and the Marquise de Meurteil. The innocent Mary is actually modeled after a real historical character by the same name who was also one of the great heiresses of her time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Mary?

[Victoria Vane] Innocent and unworldly but sensible.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Hadley had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Vane] HA! I LOVE this question! I am tied between two songs:

George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone:

I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I’ll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I’m here to tell ya honey
That I’m bad to the bone

or Greg Allman’s I’m no Angel:

So you find me hard to handle … well …I’m easier to hold
So you like my spurs that jingle
And I never leave you cold
So I might steal your diamonds … I’ll … bring you back some gold
I’m no angel

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Mary is never without.

[Victoria Vane] Her common sense, although Hadley surely threatens it at times.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Hadley’s bedroom?

[Victoria Vane]  Hard to say. I don’t think anything is off limits to Hadley!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Mary’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Vane] That even though she is incredibly wealthy, she doesn’t have the freedom to live her life as she pleases.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Vane] History. Almost everything I write has a strong connection to something real that I read. This includes all of my characters.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Vane] Besides my computer? Music, caffeine, and chocolate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Vane] That’s really a tough one! I really don’t get my socks knocked off easily, but for romance, I would have to say that two similar books really stand out in my mind: Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale and The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. These are both excellent books that feature tortured heroes who are misunderstood by all of those around them. I really loved how these authors showed their respective heroes’ inner struggles. A close third on my list would be Firelight by Kristen Callihan which is a Victorian twist on Beauty and the Beast.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Vane] I have loved to read as long as I remember. I was particularly addicted to fairy tales and hors books when I was in elementary school, but when I was in the fourth grade one of my teachers read Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron aloud to the class. After that, I devoured the entire series and even read it aloud to my younger siblings. My next favorite book was Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. I still cry when I read it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Vane] I read, walk my dog, ride my horse, and play the Celtic harp.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Victoria Vane] Email: victoria.vane@hotmail.com , Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com,
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com, Facebook: Author Victoria Vane
Twitter: @authorvictoriav. I am also very active on Goodreads!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order a copy of Treacherous Temptations from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

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Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

The Trouble With Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes looks like a cute retelling of Cinderella.  I love the dreamy cover, too.  This hits stores August  2013.

    

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Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

Tempting a Devil by Samantha Kane sounds like a fun read. I’m not sure how I feel about the cover, but the premise has me intrigued. With the female model’s hand clenched in a fist, I have the impression that the male model is being too aggressive. Or maybe she’s just helping him rip his shirt off, but she’s taking a break because he is so manly and tearing his shirt off is exhausting? What do you think?

In stores July 2013

   

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Ashlyn Macnamara visited the virtual offices last week, and now Random House has an excerpt from A Most Scandalous Proposal to share with you! 

 

A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara (Excerpt)

 

If you enjoyed this excerpt, you can purchase A Most Scandalous Proposal from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below:

About the book:

About the author:

Ashlyn Macnamara writes Regency romance with a dash of wit and a hint of wicked. She considers writing her mid-life crisis but reckons producing romance novels is a lot less dangerous than skydiving or rock climbing. She lives outside Montreal with her husband, two teenage daughters and a cat. When not thinking about ballrooms and gentleman’s clubs, she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading and wasting time on the internet in the guise of doing research.

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Jennifer McQuiston is visiting the virtual offices today to talk about her book What Happens in Scotland.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am a newbie romance author/mom/scientist/veterinarian/wife/critique partner/Girl Scout troop leader. Not necessarily in that order.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about What Happens in Scotland?

[Jennifer McQuiston]   What happens in Scotland is your typical "she woke up married" Vegas story… only based in Scotland. In 1842, no less. Which made it loads of fun to write, and hopefully loads of fun to read.

Lady Georgette Thorold is a widow who survived a disastrous first marriage, and who is determined to enjoy her life now that her self-imposed period of mourning is over. James MacKenzie is a miscreant second son who is starting to build a better life with his own two hands. When the pair wake up in bed together surrounded by the evidence of a night gone wrong, each thinks the worst of the other. The truth is bound to be something unpalatable… especially as the clues start to trickle in. But was it a night worth remembering? Or a mistake they would rather forget?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jennifer McQuiston]  I decided to turn the big 4-0 in Vegas, with my husband and some close friends. As I started planning the trip in November of 2011, I was also trying to plot out a new story idea. It occurred to me in a flash of insight that modern-day Vegas was not that different from Regency and early Victorian-era Scotland, at least in terms of quickie weddings. Scotland at the time was the go-to destination for young lovers looking to elope, and more often than not they were married by a blacksmith (yup. I said blacksmith). Preacher dressed like Elvis, anyone? The two life-altering events–birthday and book proposal–merged into an indistinguishable mess in my mind, and the result was What Happens in Scotland.

The main characters spilled out of me from places unknown. I would like to say the yummy bearded hero, James MacKenzie is based on my husband… alas, while yummy, my husband cannot grow a decent beard to save his life.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Georgette?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I’ll describe them in order, as she discovers herself in the book.

Panicked. Resilient. Passionate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If James had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Oh, it would definitely be "Viva Las Vegas". And Georgette’s would be Carrie Underwood’s country tune "I Don’t Even Know My Last Name".

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Georgette is never without.

[Jennifer McQuiston] Shoes that would never be described as sensible.

She is always, however, losing her corset.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in James’ pocket?

[Jennifer McQuiston] 1) Enough money

2) Stolen goods

3) Rope (I don’t know why, I just made this one up. But I am guessing he is not into that.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Georgette’s greatest regret?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Georgette’s current panic upon discovering she may have gotten hitched during a forgotten night of debauchery is based on the fact that her first marriage (a well-planned affair) was absolutely disastrous, with a philandering, drunkard husband. She regrets having given up so much of herself, and not being the sort of wife she thought she ought to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am a scientist by training, so I need all the creative help I can get to avoid spitting out stilted dialogue and backstory that reads like Wikipedia. I love reading excellent authors, and I count Joanna Bourne, Meredith Duran, Cecilia Grant, and Ken Follet among my favorites (that last one is weird, I know. But I swear the man writes Romance).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I get very cranky in the winter when the days get short, and I swear by my Happy Light. I spend two hours every morning writing in its warm glow, and I swear it’s like an IV drip for productivity. Well, that plus the pot of tea I drink every morning. Who isn’t creative on caffeine? Finally, in order to write, I need complete quiet in my busy house, and because I am a morning person, I need that time to be on the early side of the day. Believe it or not, I set my alarm for 4am and write from 4-6 every morning. Which makes me crazy. And more than a little tired come 9pm. But this is the process that works for me, and I am sticking to it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am going with Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell. I was blown away by its incredible toughness, its no-holds-barred and unsentimental look at the heroine’s struggle. Not very romantic, of course, but it left an indelible impression on my brain. I wonder if I could work a meth lab into a historical romance… will have to give that some thought.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Without a doubt, it was Ken Follet’s Lie Down with Lions. I was traveling in Ghana, West Africa working on the polio eradication program, and had stupidly only brought 5 books to last 3 months… I ran through those books in less than a week. Luckily, I discovered a used bookstore in Accra, and this book was one of the first I bought there. I was enthralled by the gut-wrenching description of the conflict in 1980′s Pakistan, and the beautiful love story the author had crafted. I then sought out everything Follet had ever written (and his early WWII spy novels feature the most amazing, tough female leads and love stories you could ever want). But Lie Down With Lions is hands-down my favorite book of all time – if only because it saved my sanity during those long, lonely nights in Africa.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Sometimes I can’t believe how busy I am. Writing is my escape, what I do when I am not working at my day job as an infectious disease researcher or yelling at my girls to clean up their messes. My family loves to travel, and during 2012 we visited Mexico, Belize, the Outer Banks, upstate New York, Virginia, and New York City. If I have even a few free hours, my favorite thing to do is take my girls to ride their pony, Mr. Beaux Regard. (ED – Oh, my gosh! I love his name!)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I love hearing from readers on Twitter (@jenmcqwrites) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/jennifermcquistonauthor) . They can also email me via my website, www.jenmcquiston.com .

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase What Happens in Scotland from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below. Available in print and digital.

About the book:

About the author:

Jennifer McQuiston lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, two daughters (who got a pony out of mom’s book deal!) and a house full of mostly mammalian pets. A veterinarian and infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer has always preferred reading romance to scientific textbooks. Jennifer was a 2011 and a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist with two previous novels. She is signed with literary agent Kevan Lyon, and works with Esi Sogah, Tessa Woodward, and the amazing team at Avon.

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Ashlyn Macnamara is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about A Most Scandalous Proposal.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Reader, writer, mother, bilingual, cat-lover, escapist, Internet junkie.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about A Most Scandalous Proposal?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] My debut Regency begins when my hero, Benedict Revelstoke, sees his old childhood friend, Julia St. Claire, named as party to a wager in White’s betting book. Neither one of them is sure what’s going on at first, but they piece it together soon enough. Julia’s sister’s long-term crush on has set his sights on winning Julia’s hand in marriage. She only has to find a way to dissuade a man who won’t take no for an answer—which is understandable since he’s already bet a considerable sum on her saying yes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] A couple of years ago, I read two separate historical romances. One was Beverley Kendall’s debut Sinful Surrender, in which the heroine has a long-time crush on the hero. Missy, the heroine, confides a lot in her sister, and that relationship got me thinking about how the angst of a long-standing, unrequited crush might color the younger sister’s views of love and romance.

At the same time, I read Emma Wildes’s Lessons From a Scarlet Lady, which featured two romances. So that got me thinking about telling the story of both sisters in the same book. My working title was A TALE OF TWO SISTERS to reflect the duality of the story.

And then somewhere along the way I realized I was unconsciously riffing on Sense and Sensibility, but that was perfectly in line with my Regency setting, so I went with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Julia?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Loyal, headstrong, devious.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Benedict had a theme song, what would it be?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Benedict begs I not reveal this particular bit of information, lest the Upperton sisters get wind of it and insist on performing it at their next musicale. They’re certain to butcher anything they attempt. However, they’ll have a job trying to present “Wonderwall” by Oasis on Regency musical instruments. “There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don’t know how…”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Julia is never without.

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Unlike her sister, who always has her head in the clouds, Julia is never without the head on her shoulders. Well, unless Benedict gives her a bit too much wine. At that point, all bets are off.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Benedict’s pockets?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Oooh, let me think about that one.

He’d never carry lumps of sugar to feed his horses as treats. He prefers to give them carrots, as it’s better for them. Plus sugar was a bit of a luxury item in the Regency.

He would most definitely never have an invitation to one of the Earl of Clivesden’s parties. He hasn’t liked Clivesden since they were in school together, and the blow-up over Clivesden’s choice of bride only exacerbated matters.

For the third, I’m going to say a copy of Debrett’s Peerage, because while he is the (younger) son of a marquess, he doesn’t hold much with all the goings-on in London. He much prefers a quieter life in the country.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Julia’s greatest regret?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] This is going to be difficult to answer without introducing spoilers. I think Julia’s answer at the beginning of the book and at the end would be two different things. At the beginning, anyway, she’d have made reference to a traumatic event she experienced during her childhood, which colored her view of love and passionate feelings.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Odd as it might sound, J. K. Rowling. If it wasn’t for Harry Potter fanfiction, I’d never have learned I can write. When I was in school, I never wanted to get anywhere near anything that smacked of creative writing, but maybe that’s because my teachers often forced us to write poetry. Adhering to things like rhythm and rhyme schemes require far too much discipline.

For this particular book, see the reply to the concept and characters question.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] An empty house, a broken Internet connection, and at least an idea of where things are going (but I can’t decide this ahead of time—my characters have their own ideas and don’t like to listen to me).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] I’m going to go with Sherry Thomas’s Tempting the Bride, only because it’s her latest. Just about anything she writes, really. I love, love, love her lush prose style.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] I don’t know if I can pinpoint one book that turned me on to reading per se. I’ve always loved to read, and before that I loved to have stories read to me. What I recall most is a book of fairy tale we owned when I was a child. I remember asking for “Wassilissa the Beautiful” as often as possible, because, like any good Russian tale, it was the longest in the collection. It was a great way to delay bedtime.

I can tell you which books turned me on to re-reading: the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read those over and over when I was younger.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Anything that allows me to avoid the housework. I’ve got a teetering TBR pile, so I’m pretty good. If I don’t feel like reading, I’ve got a stash of yarn begging for me to knit it into something. Or I might decide to catch up with the latest goings-on at Downton Abbey.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Through my website: http://ashlynmacnamara.net

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynMacnamara

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/ashlyn_mac

Sign up for my newsletter.

And you can often find me blogging with the Dashing Duchesses.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase A Most Scandalous Proposal from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.  Available in print and digital.

About the book:

About the author:

Ashlyn Macnamara writes Regency romance with a dash of wit and a hint of wicked. She considers writing her mid-life crisis but reckons producing romance novels is a lot less dangerous than skydiving or rock climbing. She lives outside Montreal with her husband, two teenage daughters and a cat. When not thinking about ballrooms and gentleman’s clubs, she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading and wasting time on the internet in the guise of doing research.

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Victoria Roberts is visiting the virtual offices today to discuss her book X Marks the Scot. Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Roberts] First, thank you so much for having me today. I’m a hard-working mother of two, and I’m married to my own knight for almost twenty years now. Home is in western Pennsylvania, but my heart is in the Highlands.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about X Marks the Scot?

[Victoria Roberts] This story is about Declan MacGregor (Laird Ciaran MacGregor’s bad boy brother from Temptation in a Kilt) and Lady Liadain Campbell (the bloody Campbell’s sister from Temptation in a Kilt.) I think the back cover blurb says it best.

He was a Highland Rogue—Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan’s character formed while I wrote Temptation in a Kilt. He was so good at being so verra bad. I knew instantly that Highland bad boy needed to have a story of his own. I loved the idea of mixing the feuding Campbells and MacGregors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Liadain?

[Victoria Roberts] Passionate. Patient. Caring.

[Manga Maniac Café] If Declan had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] Why does the song Bad Boys suddenly come to mind?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Liadain is never without.

[Victoria Roberts] Compassion. She has to be the most caring soul ever. No spoilers here.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Declan’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan was so consumed with the idea that he was only a third son and would never amount to anything that he was blinded by sheer stupidity. He missed what was right before his very eyes. But…it’s never too late for redemption, even for an infamous rogue like Declan MacGregor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Roberts] Scotland, sword-wielding Highlanders and kilts. lol

[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Roberts] Silence. Water. My muse. It’s nice to have all three.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Roberts] Eliza Knight, The Highlander’s Conquest.

[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] VC Andrews, Flowers in the Attic. Wow and wow. I think that was the first “adult” novel that sucked me in.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Roberts] Between carting two kids around to basketball, basketball and basketball, I do like to browse through antique stores. I love finding little treasures, especially ones that come with a story behind them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

[Victoria Roberts] Thanks so much for having me today. Sourcebooks will give away one copy of X Marks the Scot to a lucky commenter.

Please fill out the widget below to enter for your chance to win a copy of X Marks the Scot.  US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win?  You can purchase X Marks the Scot from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

Praise for X Marks the Scot:

5/5 – Reviewer Top Pick
"Enthralling Highlander romance. One of the best Highlander stories I’ve ever read. This is one author who just keeps on getting better."

?Night Owl Reviews

“For a complex story brimming over with pride and passion, betrayal, trust and most of all the power to make a bad boy a hero, pick up this read."

?RT Book Reviews/4 ½ Star Review

About Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and is also a 2012 Reviewers Choice Nominee for Best First Historical novel for her debut, Temptation in a Kilt.

Her second novel, X Marks the Scot, is available February 2013 and the third, To Wed a Wicked Highlander, September 2013.

Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine, Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of nineteen years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques.

Purchase/Links:

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/x-marks-the-scot.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/x-marks-the-scot-victoria-roberts/1112689759?ean=9781402270093

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M27gsMb4Ro

Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395

Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

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Our special guest this morning is Michelle McLean, author of To Trust a Thief! Please give her a warm welcome.  After we chat about her book, you can enter for a chance to win your own copy of To Trust a Thief!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Michelle McLean] Romance and NF writer, mom to 2, degrees in history and English, total sap in love with alphabetizing, office supplies and big poofy dresses

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about To Trust a Thief?

[Michelle McLean] To Trust a Thief is about a young lady who must team up with a master thief in order to find a priceless necklace that both of them desperately need. Along the way, these enemies and rivals fall in love, and they must decide what is more important – loyalty to those who are counting on them, or the love they have for each other. If they make the wrong choice, they might lose everything.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Michelle McLean] It actually started out as something quite different. A tale of a girl healing from a broken heart who falls in love again and they are together from page one. But there was no conflict to the story, nothing really exciting going on. Then one day I was watching National Treasure and thought how fun it might be to incorporate a treasure hunt into the story. With characters who were rivals who I could pit against one another while they fell in love despite themselves. For Min, I wanted a quirky character, someone who was a bit klutzy, but still strong, determined, and intelligent enough to get herself out of her own jams most of the time. Bryant actually started out as a reformed thief trying to make up for his criminal life. But again, there was very little conflict. I needed a tortured bad boy with a heart of gold so he developed into someone much more dangerous and even more swoon-worthy

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Min?

[Michelle McLean] Intelligent, determined, passionate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Bryant had a theme song, what would it be?

[Michelle McLean] Oooo, good question. Furious Angels by Rob Dougan. I think of Bryant every time I listen to it

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Min is never without.

[Michelle McLean] Min always has a book stashed somewhere nearby

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Bryant’s pockets?

[Michelle McLean] Hmm Bryant likes to travel light so you probably wouldn’t find anything at all in his pockets lol But I’ll say a Bible, any sort of identification, or a love token of any kind.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Min’s greatest regret?

[Michelle McLean] Hmmm well answering that would be a big spoiler so I’ll just say that it has to do with feeling like she failed someone close to her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Michelle McLean] Victoria Holt is probably my greatest influence. She was the first historical romance author I ever read and I was hooked from the first page. I loved the historical settings, the danger, suspense, and mystery of her stories and above all the romance.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Michelle McLean] Goldfish crackers, the book’s “background noise” (different for every book…for my current WIP it’s the movie What To Expect When You’re Expecting which is odd For TTAT it was movie scores on Pandora), and a deadline always helps

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Michelle McLean] The Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout. LOVE those books!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Michelle McLean] I began reading very young. My mom said when I was two years old, she was reading Snow White to me and she tried to skip around a bit. I corrected her and told her word for word the lines she had missed I honestly don’t remember ever being without a book, but the first one I remember reading was that copy of Snow White. Fairy Tales in general were my first love

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Michelle McLean] I cross-stitch and play the piano, but mostly if I’m not working on a book, I like to just hang out with my kids. We have a lot of family movie and game nights and my husband is an amazing cook so we like to throw big dinner parties for the neighbors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Michelle McLean] Come visit me on my blog, website, FB, twitter, Goodreads, the Operation Awesome Blog, Scene 13, and The Naked Hero.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of To Trust a Thief?  Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can purchase To Trust a Thief from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

About the book:

Praise for TO TRUST A THIEF:

“This book has everything–chills, mystery, romance, and heartbreak. I loved every single page.” –Cole Gibsen, author of KATANA

“Michelle McLean’s debut historical romance is a wonderful read. Filled with romance, mystery, intrigue and characters I could really care about, this is a fun read.” – Christine Fonseca, author of the Lacrimosa trilogy

About Michelle:

Michelle McLean is the author of historical and paranormal novels, including TO TRUST A THIEF (Entangled Scandalous Jan 2013), a historical trilogy, BLOOD BLADE SISTERS (Entangled Scandalous 2013), and a zombie fairy tale retelling WISH UPON A STAR (Entangled Ever After Oct 2013). She is also the author of the educational non-fiction book HOMEWORK HELPERS: ESSAYS AND TERM PAPERS.

Michelle has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, and tends to be a bit of an overly organized mess with an insatiable love of books and more weird quirks than you can shake a stick at. She is also a contributor on The Naked Hero, and the Operation Awesome, Scene 13, and Scandalous book blogs as well as maintaining her personal blog.

If she’s not editing, reading or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book. Michelle resides in PA with her husband and two young children, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.

For More Info:

On Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17267147-to-trust-a-thief

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-trust-a-thief-michelle-mclean/1045656940?ean=2940016034812
Books on Board: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1457235&TITLE=To+Trust+a+Thief&AUTHOR=Michelle+McLean
Apple iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/to-trust-a-thief/id595225849?mt=11

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The Convenient Marriage. Georgette Heyer. 1934/2009. Sourcebooks. 318 pages.

"Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies. In face of the rumour which had come to her ears it would be too provoking if all the Winwood ladies were to withhold themselves."

The Convenient Marriage is one of my top Georgette Heyer novels. I've previously reviewed the book and the audiobook. The romance in this novel occurs after the marriage making this Heyer read a bit different.

Horatia is the youngest in the Winwood family. She knows that the family NEEDS to accept the marriage offer from Lord Rule because they are so in debt. (He's offered for Elizabeth, the oldest daughter). But she also knows that her sister could never be happy marrying for convenience when she's already in love with someone else. But why couldn't Lord Rule be made to understood the situation? Why couldn't he offer for her instead? The families would still be "aligned", her family would still be saved...and she'd be the one to have the good life in society. So she goes to Lord Rule secretly and explains the situation to him, making him a proposition of her own...

Her plan is quite bold and quite wonderful. By that I mean it is deliciously entertaining. The first few chapters of this one are so full of promise. Especially the second and third chapters. If there was an award for the best-ever-second-chapter-in-a-book, I'd nominate The Convenient Marriage.

I absolutely love this one. I love getting to know all of the characters: Horry (Horatia), Lord Rule (Marcus Drelincourt), Pelham Winwood (Horry's brother), Sir Roland (Pelham's best friend), Lord Robert Lethbridge (Rule's nemesis), Crosby Drelincourt (Rule's cousin). And that's just to name a few. I loved the storytelling, the dialogue, the glimpses into society life. It can be dramatic and romantic. Most of all I loved the characterization!!! These characters are so flawed and yet lovable!

This Heyer novel is quite memorable and very satisfying! I LOVED it.

From chapter two:

'Will you tell me how old you are?'
'Does it matter?' Horatia inquired forebodingly.
'Yes, I think it does,' said his lordship.
'I was afraid it m-might,' she said. 'I am turned seventeen.'
'Turned seventeen!' repeated his lordship. 'My dear, I couldn't do it.'
'I'm too young?'
'Much too young, child.'
Horatia swallowed valiantly. 'I shall grow older,' she ventured. 'I d-don't want to p-press you, but I am thought to be quite sensible.'
'Do you know how old I am?' asked the Earl.
'N-no, but my cousin, Mrs. M-Maulfrey, says you are not a d-day above thirty-five.'
'Does not that seem a little old to you?' he suggested.
'Well, it is rather old, perhaps, b-but no one would think you as much,' said Horatia kindly.
At that a laugh escaped him. 'Thank you,' he bowed. 'But I think that thirty-five makes a poor husband for seventeen.'
'P-pray do not give that a thought, sir!' said Horatia earnestly. 'I assure you, for my p-part I do not regard it at all. In f-fact, I think I should quite like to marry you.'
'Would you?' he said. 'You do me a great honour, ma'am.' (24-25)

Read The Convenient Marriage

• If you enjoy (clean) romance novels
• If you enjoy historical romance novels
• If you enjoy Georgette Heyer 

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Devil's Cub. Georgette Heyer. 1932/2003. Harlequin. 272 pages.

 There was only one occupant of the coach, a gentleman who sprawled very much at his ease, with his legs stretched out before him, and his hands dug deep in the capacious pockets of his greatcoat.

Devil's Cub is the sequel to Georgette Heyer's These Old Shades. (These Old Shades is an adapted sequel of sorts to The Black Moth. All the names have changed from one book to another, the details and characterizations have not.) Leonie and Justin have a grown son who happens to fight duels somewhat regularly: a son who perhaps doesn't value human life quite enough. His name is Dominic (Vidal). And he's something. Does he take after his mother or father more?! That is the question. Either way, he needs some taming in order to be any woman's ideal husband.

Mary Challoner, our heroine, sees Dominic as TROUBLE. She doesn't want him for herself, certainly, and if she has her way, her sister won't have him either. Or should that be if Mary has her way, HE won't have her sister. For she fears that Dominic would never actually MARRY her sister, Sophie. Does she trust Sophie to do the right thing? NO. Mary feels it's her duty to watch out for her sister's reputation. So when Mary accidentally receives a letter from Dominic (Vidal), she decides not to pass the letter on. He's asked for a secret meeting--an "elopement" of sorts, telling her the time and place to meet him. Sophie knows his destination: Paris; but Mary hasn't a clue. She goes--disguised, wearing a mask--in her sister's place. Her true identity hidden at first, and then her true character hidden even more by a few lies she tells him. Perhaps Mary is not behaving wisely, but, she IS brave, opinionated, feisty, stubborn...even if she's not strong enough to prevent the kidnapping.

Does Dominic mean her harm? Perhaps in his initial rage...but it doesn't take him long to do something he's NEVER done before: offer a lady his name. He is willing to marry her, and quickly, and do whatever he can to make sure her reputation is spared, that most of the scandal is avoided. He is not only willing to marry her, he WANTS to marry her. For the more Mary engages in conversation with him, the more he realizes how wonderful she is. The more she holds her own, the more he WANTS her for herself. Not that he communicates this well exactly. For Mary doesn't know that Dominic "wants" her for herself and not just to save a lady in distress because it is honorable.

So much drama and excitement...and that's just one of the stories in The Devil's Cub. There are plenty of characters, plenty of subplots. So many ways to be entertained. Readers get reacquainted with these characters from These Old Shades: Justin and Leonie (duke and duchess of Avon); Lady Fanny Marling, Justin's sister; Lord Rupert Alastair, Justin's brother. We also meet Lady Fanny's son and daughter (John and Juliana). In fact, there is a second romance in Devil's Cub: Juliana and Frederick Comyn.

Loved this one from beginning to end! It would be WONDERFUL if Richard Armitage narrated this Heyer classic. He's narrated three other titles: Convenient Marriage, Venetia, and Sylvester.

Read Devil's Cub

• If you like historical romances
• If you like or love Georgette Heyer
• If you enjoyed These Old Shades

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Today, we have a very special guest!  Please welcome the multi-talented Jane Ashford to the virtual offices.  Jane is celebrating the release of her first book in 10 years and I am absolutely thrilled that she was able to drop by for a chat!  

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Jane] I love learning. I practice kindness. I’m a story junkie and inveterate storyteller.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Once Again a Bride?

[Jane] It’s a double love story. Charlotte Wylde and her maid Lucy Bowman both find their perfect matches after enduring a miserable year in a cold, rigid household.

Charlotte’s father, knowing he was losing his mental faculties, married her off to an acquaintance he thought would keep her safe. Unfortunately, his judgment was flawed, and Henry Wylde cares only about Charlotte’s dowry. He treats her with contempt and allows his servants to do the same. Charlotte is determined to rebel when Henry is murdered in the dark streets of London. She’s freed from the shackles of a horrible marriage, but penniless.

Henry’s nephew Alec is amazed to discover that his unpleasant old uncle left a lovely young widow. He’s drawn to her against his better judgment, and soon embroiled in the tangle his uncle left behind. Alec’s sassy young footman finds Lucy equally entrancing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Charlotte?

[Jane] Determined, sadder and wiser.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Alec is never without.

[Jane] His sense of responsibility.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Alec’s bedroom?

[Jane] Laudanum, handcuffs and his little sister’s fearsome cat.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Charlotte’s greatest regret?

[Jane] That she didn’t understand her father’s failing mind more clearly and speak up when he was trying to settle her future.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Jane] My aunt gave me Pride and Prejudice for Christmas when I was twelve years old, and I’ve loved Jane Austen ever since. My small town public library gave me Georgette Heyer, an enduring delight. In college, I studied English literature – Beowulf to James Joyce and beyond. I was intimidated for a while by all that greatness. : ) But my longing to tell stories of my own eventually revived.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Jane] Well, my Mac laptop. A strong cup of English Breakfast tea. And the sign on the outside of my office door that says “working” and means “interrupt only for real emergencies.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  What has changed the most in publishing since you started your career as an author?

[Jane] The proliferation of resources on the Internet and in groups like RWA. There are so many new ways for writers to get stories out there and to interact with readers and each other. It’s become a wonderful community.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  How do you feel the romance genre has changed?

[Jane] I think it’s more inclusive, a larger world. There are many more kinds of love stories being told – in terms of protagonists, settings and sensibility.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jane] Folly by Laurie King.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jane] Read, of course! Get together with good friends. I love country walks. I’ve been spending some time in southern California and learning a whole new ecosystem. The blue jays look quite different from their Massachusetts kin! I enjoy going to the movies (the whole experience — popcorn, being part of an audience, previews, as well as the feature).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jane] My website is janeashford.com and my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Ashford/154028944714495. I’ll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in May and hope to see lots of people there!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready for your chance to win Once Again a Bride? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.  US and Canadian addresses only, please.

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Didn’t win? You can order Once Again a Bride from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below. Available in print and digital.

About the book:

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 led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Jane’s historical and contemporary romances have been published all over the world, and she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Eighteen of her Regency romances will be published by Sourcebooks in the near future! Born in Ohio, Jane currently lives in Boston. For more information, please visit www.janeashford.com.

To Purchase Once Again a Bride:

Barnes and Noble

Book-a-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

Sourcebooks

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Entangled Publishing is celebrating the release of All I Want For Christmas Is A Duke.  This holiday anthology is part of their new Scandalous line:

“Scandalous is a historical category romance imprint of Entangled Publishing. We’re looking for stories set between 900 and 1920s/1930s, anywhere from the lush hills of Ireland, Regency London, Renaissance Italy…or even the Viking age. These stories are bold, sexy, and heartfelt, and can be funny, action-packed, mysterious, or dramatic. “

Visit the Entangled website for more information on their other titles!

After visiting with Delilah Marvelle and Maire Claremont, fill out the widget below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, courtesy of Entangled!

 

 

About the book:

Enter to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

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Want to start reading All I Want for Christmas is a Duke right now? It’s only .99! That’s Two SCANDALOUS reads, one low price!

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Please welcome Maire Claremont to the virtual offices!  Maire also has a story in Entangled Publishing’s Christmas anthology All I Want For Christmas Is A Duke.  She is here to chat about her story, The Twelve Days of Seduction. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Maire Claremont] I am a total gypsy soul! I love to travel about and constantly see new things and new people. I’m a book and movie aholic and I’m never happier than after a marvelous play.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about The Twelve Days of Seduction?

[Maire Claremont] The Twelve Days of Seduction is a nod to Jane Eyre and features a heroine’s mother, a lady runs away with her drawing master. The heroine fights her way to a much better life, but has a number of secrets! And when her employer, the duke, finds out there is hell to pay. There’s also a whole lot of pleasure!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Maire Claremont] Delilah Marvelle and I both wanted to write stories featuring a duke and I loved the idea of doing a story up in a isolated castle where the romance is all part of the landscape too. My heroine, Adriana, insisted on being a cheeky young woman who’d been masquerading as the perfect young woman. I loved creating her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Adriana?

[Maire Claremont] Clever. Resourceful. Loyal

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Alexander had a theme song, what would it be?

[Maire Claremont] Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Adriana won’t leave the house without.

[Maire Claremont] A BOOK!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Alexander’s greatest regret?

[Maire Claremont] Not taking a chance on love when he had the chance. It has haunted him for years.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What did you enjoy most about writing this story?

[Maire Claremont] I loved exploring Victorian Christmas traditions! And I adored bringing two characters who couldn’t dare to express their desire, even though they had secretly wanted each other for so long.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is  your favorite holiday themed book?

[Maire Claremont] With out a doubt, A Christmas Carol by Dickens. I try to read it every year.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Maire Claremont] I LOVE to hear from readers, especially since I’m recently published. Its fun! You can find me at my website, Maireclaremont.com, on twitter @maireclaremont, and Facebook!

I look forward to meeting you all!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Check back for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, courtesy of Entangled Publishing!

Want to start reading All I Want for Christmas is a Duke right now? It’s only .99! That’s Two SCANDALOUS reads, one low price!

About the book:

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Pamela Sherwood’s debut novel, Waltz With A Stranger,  recently hit store shelves.  Pamela dropped by the virtual offices to answer a few questions about her first release, so please give her a warm welcome! After the interview, enter for your chance to Waltz with a Stranger!

[Pamela Sherwood] Hello, everyone, and thank you, Julie, for having me at Manga Maniac Café!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you! Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Pamela Sherwood] Historical enthusiast, lifelong reader, & writer of “romance plus”: romance + mystery/adventure/family saga, the stories that made me fall in love with the genre.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Waltz With a Stranger?

[Pamela Sherwood] Set in late Victorian England, Waltz with a Stranger is the story of twin American heiresses–one beautiful and ambitious, one crippled and shy–and the man caught between them. Amy, the ambitious twin, intends to make a brilliant marriage to an English lord, thus improving her “new rich” family’s social status. Aurelia, the shy twin, has come mainly as a companion to her sister. But one night, while hiding in the conservatory during a ball, she meets a handsome stranger who coaxes her out of her shell by asking her to dance. For the first time since the riding accident that scarred and crippled her, Aurelia feels beautiful and desirable. After a year abroad to recover her health, she returns to England–and finds to her shock that her dance partner is now an earl, and engaged to Amy.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Pamela Sherwood] I’ve long been fascinated by the transatlantic marriage market, in which wealthy American heiresses married financially strapped English aristocrats, bringing new money and new vigor to the “ruling class.” Some of these marriages were deeply unhappy, but others developed into enduring love matches.

I’d toyed with the idea of writing such a story, but I’d always assumed that, if I did, there would be one hero and one heroine. When I began plotting out the first chapters, I never expected the hero to walk out of the ballroom, where the ostensible heroine was holding court, wander into the conservatory, and meet the actual heroine dancing by herself in the moonlight. But there they were: James, Aurelia, and Amy–a triangle in the making.

Another important influence was Tennyson’s poem, “The Sisters,” in which a man inadvertently courts identical twins, with tragic results. The story stayed with me, over the years, and after James and the Newbold twins sprang into being, it attached itself to them as though they were made for each other. Three decent people, making a powerful amount of trouble for themselves as they try to reconcile their desires with their sense of honor. The resolution in Waltz with a Stranger is much happier than in Tennyson’s poem, however!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Aurelia?

[Pamela Sherwood] Loyal, resilient, and determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Aurelia had a theme song, what would it be?

[Pamela Sherwood] She has one in the novel: “Aura Lea,” a popular love song written in the 1860s. The song gave her her first name. Although if we’re considering a more modern song relevant to her situation, I’d have to go with “This Must Be Love (For I Don’t Feel So Well)” from the musical The Boys from Syracuse–the heroine, Luciana, has just realized to her horror that she’s fallen in love with the man she thinks is her sister’s husband!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing James won’t leave the house without.

[Pamela Sherwood] Other than his clothes? Money–he worked for his living before inheriting an earldom, and he understands better than most gentlemen how important it is never to be caught short of funds.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in James’ pockets?

[Pamela Sherwood] A cigar, a flask, or the address to a brothel!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Aurelia’s greatest regret?

[Pamela Sherwood] Riding too recklessly one certain day three years before the story begins–disaster for her and her poor horse.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Pamela Sherwood] Poetry–sometimes a line or an image sticks in my mind, and then comes out in an unexpected way. Or the poem tells a story that I want to explore further, or wish to approach from a different angle, as with “The Sisters.”

Music. If poetry supplies me with ideas, music provides me with emotional fodder. A song will evoke a particular mood or atmosphere that I want to recapture in my writing.

Random details that my imagination seizes upon. And those can be pretty much anything–an obscure historical fact, a bit of trivia, an unexpected insight that, on tweaking, germinates into a plot.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Pamela Sherwood] Privacy, relative quiet, and an uninterrupted stretch of time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Pamela Sherwood] In the romance genre: Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne. I love the world of Napoleonic espionage as she portrays it, which is as much John LeCarre as it is Ian Fleming. She doesn’t downplay the grunt work of intelligence gathering, and her characters–male and female–are ferociously competent and vividly drawn.

Out of the romance genre: Book of Days by Deborah Grabien, a contemporary mystery set in the music world. She captures the excitement of live performance, the no less potent thrill of musicians playing and creating together, and the details–glamorous and mundane–of life as part of a touring rock band.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Pamela Sherwood] Just one? I’m not sure that’s possible! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been turned on to reading. That’s what happens when you have a mother who’s a teacher and former children’s librarian! But I remember being enthralled by Beatrix Potter’s books and Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child when I was a kid, so my passion for reading may have started with those.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Pamela Sherwood] Read! Or cook, because that is a creative process too, in which you’re working with concrete objects that don’t shift and morph constantly (unlike writing!)–and if you get it right, the results are delicious!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Pamela Sherwood] My website at pamelasherwood.com

My twitter addy; http://www.twitter.com/pamela_sherwood

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

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Title: Stepping on Roses V 8 Author:  Ueda Rinko

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Every volume of Stepping on Roses just gets better and better!  Each one leaves me dismayed when I reach the last page because I have to wait for the next release.  Rinko Ueda knows how to build  the suspense and the drama so that by the time you reach the last page, you are a quivering mass of emotions.  Some volumes that means being upset by the injustices Sumi has to overcome, and some leave you with an adrenaline rush, cheering Sumi on as she manages to stay true to herself and deal with adversity.  This volume left me pumped for Sumi – she’s finally had enough, and she is going to try to turn the tables on Nozomu.  You go, girl!  I only hope she can wage a battle against the crafty, unscrupulous Nozomu without compromising who she is.

Just when it seems as though things can’t get any worse for Sumi and her family, things do.  They get monumentally worse.  After being thrown out of their home by Nozomu, they are without shelter, have no money, and even less food.  They have lost everything.  Nozomu has poisoned the ears of most of Soichiro’s acquaintances, and nobody will hire him for fear of Ashida Product’s reprisals.  When Soichiro becomes ill and the doctor refuses to treat him because they have no money,   Sumi knows that she must give in to Nozomu’s demands.  She sells herself to him in order to help her family.  Poor Sumi!  Her desperation is palpable.  She will do whatever is required to keep her loved ones safe, and it’s not going to be easy for her.

What I enjoyed most about this volume is how Sumi begins to subtly exert her will against Nozomu.  She is passive on the surface, but underneath, she is learning the fine art of subterfuge  from her new fiancé.  He doesn’t care about anything but getting the best of Soichiro, and his single-mindedness is actually making it easier for Sumi to stage quiet rebellions.  With her reputation in tatters and her family’s well-being on the line, she doesn’t have much to lose.  I loved seeing her plans begin to bear fruit, and finished the last page with a feeling of elation.  I finally started to believe that things will work for her in the end, and I haven’t felt that positive about Sumi’s future in a while.   

One person  I would like to see more of is Komai, who I always liked, even when he turned traitor.  What is his deal?  Is he a traitorous scum?  Or does he somehow think he is doing what’s best for Soichiro?  Because there is no way that Nozomu, who is clearly psychotic,  could be a better employer than spoiled and over-indulged Soichiro.  I think?  Unless he really is evil?  Maybe we’ll find out in February, when the next volume is released!

Grade: A-/B+

Review copy provided by publisher

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These Old Shades. Georgette Heyer. 1926/2008. Harlequin. 384 pages.

These Old Shades has a lively, impulsive, honest heroine in Leonie.  The hero, Justin Alistair, is equally unforgettable, a man with a horrid reputation with the ladies. (Among other things, he's even KIDNAPPED a lady in an attempt to get her to marry him.) He's not called 'devil' for nothing. But try telling Leonie that Justin is anything but an absolute angel! You see, he rescued her from her mean brother, he bought her. Of course, even that isn't quite what it appears to be. For Leonie was then posing as, Leon, a young man. (She'd been living as a boy since she'd turned twelve.) So Avon first meets Leon, likes the red hair and dark eyebrows, and decides the boy would be a good page. It would be useful to him to have the boy in his household...

These Old Shades has an intriguing opening and a marvelous conclusion. (The last seventy-five pages or so are just wonderful!) There are some lively conversations in between, of course. As Leon is taken to England and transforms into Leonie. As Avon tries through two women (his sister, his cousin) to teach her how to be a lady, how to dress, how to walk, how to talk, what to say, and most importantly what NOT to say. Readers are introduced to Justin's family: his sister, his brother-in-law, his brother, his neighbors, etc. Rupert, Justin's brother, becomes a playmate of sorts for Leonie. Both being immature, teasing, silly.

There are also hints of villainy throughout These Old Shades as Justin prepares to use Leonie as a weapon against one of his own enemies...

I enjoyed elements of These Old Shades. I certainly found the characters interesting. But I didn't love, love, love this one.

Read These Old Shades

• If you enjoy Georgette Heyer
• If you enjoy historical romances set in the Georgian era
• If you enjoy books set in England and France (there's some French phrases)
• If you enjoy lively, unforgettable couples 

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Catherine Hemmerling is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her book, Taming Her Forbidden Earl.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Catherine Hemmerling] I am a tall blond woman with a wicked sense of humor and a love of telling stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Taming Her Forbidden Earl?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Taming Her Forbidden Earl is a sweet love story wrapped around an intriguing case of smuggling and blackmail. You will meet fun and intelligent characters and one detestable villain. There is danger and conflict; flirting and sexual tension; sarcasm and witty rejoinders … and a couple of meddling mothers. If you are looking for a book that will keep you interested until the very end, this is the one for you!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters
for the story?

[Catherine Hemmerling] The concept is basically Charlie’s Angels meets Jan Austen. I loved the idea of strong intelligent women being the heroes in a time period where most women were seen and not heard. The idea to use an actual historic event as the catalyst for the story was just a way to keep me honest to the time period. No flights of fancy with creative revisionist history, for me. Besides, the best stories always start with a grain of truth, don’t you think?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Hannah?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Smart, pretty, stubborn.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If William had a theme song, what would it be?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Wow, great question! “One is the Loneliest Number” springs to mind immediately. He is so afraid of getting close to people he pushes them away. Eventually (with the help of Hannah) he realizes that life is better with friends, family, and love.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Hannah won’t leave the house without.

[Catherine Hemmerling] A book. Much like me!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in William’s pockets?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Lint (there is no way William’s valet would allow such a thing!), a lost wager note (William would never bet if he didn’t intend to win), his hands (William would never need to keep himself from fidgeting by sticking his hands in his pockets; more likely he would have his arms crossed and eyebrow raised).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is William’s greatest regret?

[Catherine Hemmerling] His estranged relationship with his brother.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Interpersonal relationships. I love to observe those around me. What makes people laugh, cry, empathize, or vilify? Learning these things and building my characters from real emotions and reactions allows me (and hopefully you readers) to identify with what my characters say and do. I am also inspired by history, nature, great literature, and the laughter of children.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Catherine Hemmerling] Diet Dr. Pepper, silence, something to write with (pen/paper, computer, typewriter, etc.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Catherine Hemmerling] I was pleasantly surprised by the Hunger Games trilogy. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Catherine Hemmerling] The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Catherine Hemmerling] I have recently begun dating again and am really enjoying it. I also like to design jewelry, paint, knit, and play Words with Friends (a game you might think I would excel at … you would be sadly mistaken, but I keep trying!).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Catherine Hemmerling] The easiest way to connect with me is through my website, www.catherinehemmerling.com or by email, ch@catherinehemmerling.com. I love hearing from my readers and will happily respond to any question or comment.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

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By Mike Rapport

The Duke of Wellington always has a traffic cone on his head. At least, he does when he is in Glasgow. Let me explain: outside the city’s Gallery of Modern Art on Queen Street, there is an equestrian statue of the celebrated general of the Napoleonic Wars. It was sculpted in 1840-4 by the Franco-Italian artist, Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867), who in his day was a dominant figure in the world of commemorative sculpture. Amongst his works is the statue of Richard the Lionheart, who has sat on his mount and held aloft his sword outside the Houses of Parliament since 1860.

Yet Glasgow’s lofty monument has been a magnet for pranksters –  ever since the 1980s, according to the BBC – who regularly scale the pedestal, Copenhagen’s (the horse’s) flanks and then, clinging onto the Iron Duke himself, crown him with an orange traffic cone. This has caused some controversy: the police warn that the acts of intrepid, late-night climbers (who, to be frank, may also have enjoyed the hospitality of the local hostelries) is an act of vandalism and is downright dangerous. The government-funded agency that oversees the care of the country’s historic buildings, Historic Scotland, acknowledges that embellishing Wellington with a modern piece of traffic paraphernalia is now a ‘longstanding tradition’, but emphasises that the statue is A-listed and so needs to be protected from damage – and there has indeed been damage: on different occasions, the general has lost a spur and his sword. Others argue that the ‘coning’ of Wellington is a worthy expression of the people’s sense of humour and that it is as much a part of the cityscape as its historic buildings and monuments. And indeed the statue has become iconic – not because it is a likeness of the Duke of Wellington, but because the general has a cone on his head: postcards proudly depicting this symbol of Glaswegian humour are easy to find.

This controversy sprang to mind when I was first putting together a proposal for writing a Very Short Introduction on the Napoleonic Wars. One of the reviewers very helpfully suggested that the book might consider a chapter on the conflict in historical memory and commemoration. When I came to write this, the final chapter, I considered opening it with an account of the ‘coning’ of the Duke of Wellington, but in the end I felt that such irreverence and jocularity sat rather uneasily with the content of the rest of the book, which tells a tale of aggression, international collapse, and human suffering. Yet the fact that the Duke still sits, as ever, with a garish point on his head – gravity making it lean at a jaunty angle – did make me wonder about how far the Napoleonic Wars (including, by extension, the French Revolutionary Wars from which they emerged – collectively the wars lasted from 1792 to 1815) have left a legacy that is embedded, visibly or otherwise, in our European cityscapes.

This might well be more obvious on the continent than in the British Isles, since there was a direct impact as armies rampaged across Europe – and there were therefore more sites clearly associated with Napoleonic conquest, European resistance to it, and later commemoration of the conflict. In Paris, the very same Marochetti was responsible for one of the reliefs on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the one depicting the Battle of Jemappes (one of the French Revolution’s early victories over the Austrians in 1792). The Arc was completed under the July Monarchy (1830-48), which worked hard to appropriate the Napoleonic legacy for its own political purposes. The same regime nearly awarded Marochetti the commission to create Napoleon’s tomb in the Church of the Invalides when his body was repatriated from Saint Helena. The sculptor, in fact, was producing models for this work as he was busy on Glasgow’s Wellington statue (giving the latter a pedigree that surely reinforces Historic Scotland’s mild-mannered point). Yet British towns and cities are also embedded with places that are connected with the French Wars – as barracks, as headquarters, as places of exile and refuge, as naval dockyards, as depots for PoWs, as sites of popular mobilization. Sometimes the associations are long-forgotten, sometimes they are commemorated.  The conflict is remembered in the monuments that ask us not to forget the carnage and in the individuals who are commemorated in stone and bronze. These may, like Glasgow’s Iron Duke, have become so much part of our urban environment that they are almost unnoticed unless they have a cone on their head, but the traces and memory of the French Wars in Britain’s towns and cities… now there’s a project!

Dr Mike Rapport is Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Stirling. He is the author of Nationality and Citizenship in Revolutionary France: The Treatment of Foreigners 1789-1799 (OUP, 2000), The Shape of the World: Britain, France and the Struggle for Empire (Atlantic, 2006), 1848, Year of Revolution (Little, Brown, 2008), and The Napoleonic Wars: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2013).

The Very Short Introductions (VSI) series combines a small format with authoritative analysis and big ideas for hundreds of topic areas. Written by our expert authors, these books can change the way you think about the things that interest you and are the perfect introduction to subjects you previously knew nothing about. Grow your knowledge with OUPblog and the VSI series every Friday!

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Image credit: Statue of Wellington, mounted. Outside the Gallery of Modern Art, Queen Street, Glasgow, Scotland [Author: Green Lane, Creative Commons Licence via Wikimedia Commons]

The post The legacy of the Napoleonic Wars appeared first on OUPblog.

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There are many exciting moments in the months ( or years) between writing a book and finally seeing it in print. There's the moment when you write (literally or otherwise) the words 'The End' (And, of course, it should be said that this may happen multiple times for the one book, as each new draft and set of edits is completed) There's the moment when you are offered a contract, the moment you

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Please give Sharon Cullen a warm welcome! She’s visiting the virtual offices to chat about her new Loveswept release, The Notorious Lady Anne.  After the interview, enter for your chance to win a digital copy of her book!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Sharon] Taxi driver to 3 busy kids, chef, laundress, mediator, beauty addict (eyeshadow and lip glosses are my vice) & historical romance author.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about The Notorious Lady Anne?

[Sharon] The Notorious Lady Anne is about a strong-willed lady pirate bent on vengeance against the father who left her destitute. Her revenge has been eleven years in the making and nothing will stand in her way. Except for an arrogant, sexy nobleman who is trying to regain his life after a near fatal accident. He doesn’t believe in vengeance. She doesn’t believe in the goodness of people. Together they will prove the other wrong.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Sharon] When I first started writing Lady Anne, there weren’t many stories out there about strong-willed, alpha heroines. I wanted to explore the concept. Except Nicholas refused to be put in the role of the beta hero. He became just as headstrong and obstinate as Anne. That’s when the story really took off and the sparks flew.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Anne?

[Sharon] Headstrong, obstinate, dangerous

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nicholas had a theme song, what would it be?

[Sharon] Shipping off to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys. While Nicholas didn’t lose his leg, like the sailor in the song, he did almost lose his life in a naval battle.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Anne is never without.

[Sharon] Her dagger

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nicholas’ pockets?

[Sharon]  This was a tough question. I’ve never really thought about what he would have in his pockets let alone what he wouldn’t have. So I asked my kids the question and this is what they came up with: iPhone, iPod and makeup. I laughed so hard that I thought I’d share with you.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Anne’s greatest regret?

[Sharon] That she was never enough for her mother. After Anne’s father left them, her mother’s health and mental well-being were never the same. Anne always believed that she was never enough to keep her mother alive.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Sharon] Reading is a great influence. My family and my fellow writers are my other influences.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Sharon] Time, time and more time. LOL. Seriously, I can write with pen and paper, chalkboard and chalk, computer, whatever. But what I really need is the time to write.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Sharon] Ken Follett’s Winter of the World. I love, love, love that series–the historical wrapped around the fiction as he follows the lives of a few families–and am sad he can’t write faster so the next book will come out

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Sharon] Black Beauty. When I was ten I read the entire series and fell in love with reading. I was unstoppable after that, grabbing anything that had words in it. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Sharon] I like spending time with my husband and kids. The kids are getting older now and aren’t home as much so a lot of the time its just my husband and I. It’s like we’re dating all over again.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Sharon] I’m addicted to social networking. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, my website and my blog

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Cullen-Author/243329341691

Twitter – http://twitter.com/SharonCullen

Website – http://sharoncullen.net/

Blog – https://sharonwritesromance.wordpress.com/

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

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About the author:

After earning a degree in journalism from Ohio University, Sharon found the stories inside her head were more interesting than what was going on in the world around her. Yet, it wasn’t until years later that she decided to pursue her secret dream of writing a romance novel. Since then she’s been published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance and historical romance.

Sharon’s other job descriptions include chauffer, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.

If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her at her blog or her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.

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