Showing posts with label Historical Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Romance. Show all posts

Monday, May 26, 2014

3 DIGITAL GIVEAWAY & GUEST POST - AUTHOR VIVEKA PORTMAN'S NOVELLA HISTORICAL ROMANCE BOOKS - ESCAPE PUBLISHING - BOOK BLITZ




Today on Novels On The Run I have a fantastic giveaway of  3 digital novellas by Viveka Portman, from Escape Publishing, an imprint of Harlequin.

I also have a wonderful Guest Post from Viveka, titled, Disrobing Historical Romance.

Check out the blurbs for each novella below and enjoy the guest post. 



THE SECRET DIARY OF LADY CATHERINE BEXLEY

Released : 1st July 2013

Lady Catherine Bexley is new to marriage and the marriage bed, but surely there must be more to it than this? Her husband is proper and perfunctory — treating her with careful respect but leaving her aching for more.

When she witnesses a gentleman disciplining a maid at a house party, the ache explodes into ravenous desire. She finds herself no longer willing to wait for her husband’s stiff and passionless attentions — and soon develops a naughty plan to finally get what she wants.





THE WICKED CONFESSIONS OF 
LADY CECELIA STANTON

Released : 1st December 2013

When faced with a rakish, lusty husband, what is a proper English wife to do but educate herself in the art of bedplay?
“Marriages are strange things, none stranger perhaps than this betwixt me and my lord husband.”

Lady Cecelia is married to the dashing and philandering Lord William Stanton, a situation that would distress even the most composed and refined gently-born lady. However, Cecelia has a secret balm to her dissatisfaction: her maid, Bess Miller.

Cecelia’s inexperience and William’s insatiable appetites fuel her desire to learn, and Bess is a willing teacher. Then, when Cecelia blossoms into pregnancy and can no longer accommodate William’s needs, he distances himself, and Bess becomes her only solace and comfort — and the channel for her most intimate desires. As Cecelia struggles to understand her own feelings, gossip begins to spread. William starts asking questions, and wicked confessions must be made...



THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF LADY JANE FIELDING

Releases : 1st June 2014

In the world of Regency England, only one thing matters — the begetting of an heir…

There is one fact I cannot hide nor deny. I have borne my husband no sons…

When Lord Jacob Fielding suffers a traumatic injury denying him more children, it devastates both his present and his future. He and his wife Jane have only daughters, and the brother in line to inherit his title and lands is a disgusting reprobate, a man who should never have power over anyone.

In desperation, Lord Fielding formulates a wicked plan. He invites his distant cousin Matthew to come and share their home…and possibly more. Jane is shocked, but cannot deny her curiosity. She loves her husband, and their situation is desperate, and Matthew is a kind, gentle, attractive man. But what can this situation bring, but tension and jealousy?

Emotions and libidos run high as the Fielding men search for a way to satisfy the need for an heir, their own lusts, and, most importantly, the desires of Lady Jane, before time runs out.


GUEST POST by VIVEKA PORTMAN

Disrobing Historical Romance

The genre of Historical Romance is traditionally quite prim and proper with love scenes largely relegated to closed doors.

Yet, I wanted to know what happened after Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s wedding in Pride and Prejudice. I wanted to know if any peculiar sounds came from Mr and Mrs Collins’ room when Elizabeth stayed at their house.

 I confess to feeling a little ripped-off when a love scene fades to black.

Things however, are changing.

When I wrote my first erotic Regency romance, The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley, I didn’t know if any publisher would buy it. I hoped they might, but I wasn’t confident. Most of the historicals I’d read were much more traditional. The Secret Diary, however, was anything but your traditional Regency Romance.
Firstly, it was a diary, written by the heroine herself, lamenting her arranged marriage to a much older and stuffier husband.  She writes of her dismal first sexual experience, and expresses her concerns to a diary, because societal limitations on the behaviour of women prevented her from broaching them with him. I wrote the story considering how it might feel to be a Lady in that era – behind closed doors, with all the gritty bits, and without the benefit of ‘romance coloured glasses’.

As it turned out, my publisher loved it and it became a bestselling title, and my Regency Diaries series grew from there.

For me, there is something utterly exhilarating about erotic historicals. They focus on a time when sensuality and the relationships between men and women (or same sex couples for that matter) were subject to strict rules and codes, and explore how sexuality is affected by those same rules. They detail how men and women negotiated pleasure in a time when negotiations between sexes weren’t as explicit or as open as it is now. Done well, an erotic historical story can create beautiful simmering tension and conflicts for the reader to revel in.

And then there is the language! I rather dislike the ‘frank and graphic’ prose of contemporary erotic writing. If I’m not prepared to call my own genitals by that name, I really don’t want to hear my heroine to do it either. In historical romance however the range of descriptive language and euphemisms is massive. For example, you can’t imagine a contemporary character referring to her privates as ‘her womanhood’ nor would she admire a ‘ruddy headed staff.’ A historical character, however, may indeed do just that.

A well written historical with an erotic edge can be an utterly sensual read. So if you’re looking for a little more dirt on those squeaky clean gents and ladies you’ve fantasised about in Pride and Prejudice why not seek out an historical erotic romance? I’m sure you’ll find it enlightening.



About the Author:


Viveka Portman is an author of romantic erotic fiction, and has a fascination about times past. With a bachelor degree in anthropology, Viveka weaves historical fact into fiction to create lively, realistic and thrilling tales, sure to titillate and engage the most discerning reader. Considered an upstanding member of society, Viveka does not make a habit of eavesdropping, gossiping or making vulgar displays of impropriety — except, that is, in writing.




GIVEAWAY 

The lovely Polina at Escape Publishing is giving one person the chance to win these 3 digital novellas by Viveka Portman.



Entry Requirements

1 WINNER GETS ALL 3

Leave a comment below with your contact addy.

It can be twitter, facebook, email. 

Answer this Q : Have you read any Escape Publishing books?
If so , which ones? If not no worries :) 

If you want to , you can go 'like' Viveka's Facebook page.

INTERNATIONAL

STARTS NOW

ENDS 2ND JUNE 2014



GOOD LUCK!!

Michelle

Sunday, July 14, 2013

BOOK BLITZ - EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY - AUTHOR LIZ NEWMANN - THE NEW ORLEANS WAY - HISTORICAL ROMANCE - SECRET CRAVINGS PUBLISHING


Today on Novels On The Run I have a Book Blitz for author Liz Newmann and her book , The New Orleans Way. You can read her synopsis, and an excerpt, plus she has a giveaway for you to enter. I have added the book trailer too.


Michelle



 The New Orleans Way
Genre: Historical Romance 
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing.

The New Orleans Way has made Our USA Magazine's Summer Must Read List!




SYNOPSIS

Everything comes at a price. Love. Security. Even happiness.

On the day of her debutante ball, Rosemarie Kuhn is heralded at "The Next Great Lady of New Orleans." Despite her love for the lowborn private detective Michael Hennessy, she is betrothed by her mother to marry General George C. Boas. Spurned by the general and a false marriage certificate, she guns him down in front of his favorite tavern at St. Anthony Street. With her family's income in jeopardy, her home is turned into a casino for high class patrons funded by the first families who brought The Mafia to the United States. As her love for detective Michael Hennessy grows, she is torn from her desire for him and the promise she made to her dying mother.




EXCERPT:

"Mr. Hennessy. Wait." The bourbon and champagne emboldened Rosemarie, and relaxed her at the same time. The moist humidity of the air, the sensual fragrances of jasmine and honeysuckle from the gardens, and the flush of Michael's lips caused her to throw care to the wind. She gazed into his eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Perhaps we can call upon each other as good friends. I take my tea in the afternoons and would enjoy your company." Her mouth parted slightly, even as she tried to smile.

"Yet there still leaves the enormous possibility that your mother will say no and that we shall never be alone like this again. If that indeed comes to pass then I suppose I will never get the chance to tell you that this morning I wanted to climb the walls of your home when I saw you looking down at me and..."

"Yes," Rosemarie prompted. "Do go on."

"For a slap?" Michael teased. "Or a kiss."

"That all depends, Mr. Hennessy, on what you are about to say."

"Times like these I wish I had mastered my Shakespeare. I would have climbed the wall and asked you for your hand in marriage, at which point your governess might have shut the window and I'd have fallen to the ground, limped into the party, and danced the same as always. Only you would have run into the house screaming as soon as I jumped over the wall with my tattered flowers. I suppose we're much better in meeting this way for a few fleeting moments, alone. Dare I ask you, Lady Rosemarie, have you ever been kissed?"

"I had my portrait drawn yesterday and the artist was very much like you," she giggled. "He asked me to think of the most daring thing I would ever do and I thought of a kiss. I am as the old saying goes, 'Never been kissed.'"

"And did you meet anyone at the ball today that you would like to kiss? I'm only asking because I'm extremely curious about the new friend I will hopefully be taking tea with soon. It appears I have been placed in an awkward position. Should I leave and never be allowed to see you again, I have absolutely nothing to offer you in memory of me. Unless you should allow me a memory. Will you, Lady Rosemarie?"

"Perhaps your dancing is memory enough," Rosemarie giggled. She drew back her shoulders and gazed at him challengingly. "What other memory did you have in mind? Do remember, I am a lady."

"The lady. The only lady I shall ever see behind my eyes," he said. Her heart swam with joy at the utterance of the words from his lips. "Am I too forward in asking if you'd like to be kissed?" he said as he drew closer and caressed her cheek with his fingers.

"Most definitely, Mr. Hennessy," she murmured. "Far too forward." Her eyes were soft and doe-like as she gazed into his and sighed. He set his hat down by his side with one hand and brought her closer with the other pressed between her shoulders. She drank in the nearness of him, of his enticing smell of spring rain and fresh linens. She leaned towards him with her eyes half-closed, and the moment his lips touched hers, she landed in a place so glorious only one word popped to her mind. Heavenly.


AUTHOR BIO



Liz Newman holds an MA in Clinical Psychology, and a BA in Mass Communications with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. Liz Newman worked as an intern at KTVU Broadcasting Station in Oakland, California. Liz has also worked as a crisis counselor, a community health counselor, and a staff psychologist at a local elementary school. Liz also contributes anonymously to several texts published to assist children and teens struggling with social and domestic issues.

Several novels and novellas by Liz Newman have been contracted for publication by Breathless Press, Lycaon Press, Devine Destinies, an imprint of Xstasy Books, and Secret Cravings Publishing.

Connect with Liz 



Facebook: LizRNewmanAuthor

My Space: lizrnewman

Twitter: Liz_RNewman

Goodreads: lizrnewman


GIVEAWAY TIME


Leave a comment and you might win some free stuff! Tour participants are eligible to win one of three five dollar Amazon gift cards, a signed eBook of The New Orleans Way in trade paperback, an eBook of The New Orleans Way, bookmarks, pens, and other fun stuff. All tour stops are listed on Liz Newman's website. 


Winners will be announced on November 15th.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: VENOM by FIONA PAUL


VENOM
by
FIONA PAUL

RATING:  4 GRAVE RAIDING STARS
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Format:  Paperback 435 pages
Acquired:  From publisher for review

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION:
Beauty, romance, murder... A novel as stunning and seductive as Renaissance Venice itself.

Cassandra Caravello is part of Venice′s wealthy elite. Her world is one of fabulous gowns, society parties and privilege, yet she longs for something more. While her fiancé is away studying in Paris, she has a chance meeting with an artist called Falco. He is attractive, audacious...and highly unsuitable.

When Cass stumbles upon the body of a murdered woman - with a bloody X carved across her heart - she′s drawn into a dangerous world of secret societies, courtesans and killers. Falco is quick to offer his assistance, but then another body is found and Cass starts receiving death threats... Is Falco more involved than she imagined? And will she be able to stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for someone she′s not even sure she can trust?


MARISSA'S REVIEW:
I've not read too many historical romance novels lately, so it was a nice change of pace to pick up Venom by Fiona Paul, especially as I just loved the cover (thanks to Laura at HarperCollins Australia).

Love triangle.......Check!
Arranged marriage......Check!
Bad Boy....Check!
Boring Boy turned Hotty Hubby to Be.......Check!

If you get my drift - Venom has the ingredients for a very enjoyable YA drama/Romance.  Fiona Paul's first novel, Venom (The Secrets of The Eternal Rose #1), dishes up some wonderful, visually entertaining pages. 

Within a few pages I was in the world of Cassandra Caravello (Cass).  A place where young women had a chaperone even to walk to town, arranged marriages were normal and fraternizing with young artists was just not done in Cass's social circle!

Cobblestone streets and rivers/waterways congested with gondola's.  Stone buildings, palazzo's, bridges and Venice.....descriptions throughout were well done and made the imagery so easy. 

So when Cass meets Falco, a secret relationship forms and helps to mould Cass into a young woman torn between family and social obligations....and the desire to find herself. 

Included in this story are murders, revenge and a secret society. And some grave robbers! Who can Cass trust?  Will she marry her betrothed Luca - the boy she hasn't seen for 3 years...or run away with young artist Falco - the one who has her all heated up?

Personally, I'm rooting for Luca!  There's more to him than just a boring young man who now just happens to have become somewhat hot!  He's hinted at a secret society.....and I am sure we will find out lot's more in the next installment Belladonna. 

ENJOY!
MARISSA