Unusual Historicals: Regency

Showing posts with label Regency. Show all posts

01 March 2015

Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Charlotte Brentwood on THE VAGABOND VICAR

This week, we're welcoming author Charlotte Brentwood, whose latest title is THE VAGABOND VICAR. One lucky visitor will get a free e-book copy of The Vagabond Vicar; this giveaway is offered worldwide. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.

William Brook is an idealistic young cleric, desperate to escape dreary England for a mission adventure in exotic lands. It's his worst nightmare come true when he is posted to a parish in a small backwater village, populated with small-minded people and husband-hunting mamas. He’s determined not to form any ties and to escape the country as an independent single man.

A free spirit, Cecilia Grant is perfectly content to remain in her family home in Amberley village - when she's not wandering the countryside at all hours painting. Marriage options are few, but that won't stop her mother from engineering a match with one of the ruling family's sons. Cecilia attempts to win the man, but what is it about the new vicar and his brooding ways that is so appealing? Could he be the only one who has ever really understood her, and can she discover what he is running away from?

As William struggles not to fall in love with the lady's intoxicating beauty and mysterious eccentricity, he finds himself drawn into the lives of the villagers, despite their best efforts to alienate the newcomer. When he makes it clear he's not sticking around, Cecilia strives to restrain her blossoming feelings for him. Just when it seems love may triumph, dark secrets are revealed in Amberley and a scandal from William’s past may see the end of not only his career, but his chance at finding an everlasting love.

**Q&A with Charlotte Brentwood**

Many thanks to Unusual Historicals for hosting me today. I’m delighted to introduce my debut novel, The Vagabond Vicar. If you love Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, can't get enough of Downton Abbey or Cranford, or just prefer old-fashioned boy-meets-girl stories, this story should appeal to you.

How would you describe the genre of THE VAGABOND VICAR?

It’s a traditional regency, which means it’s a clean/sweet read (no sex on the page) with the focus on character development and verbal exchanges between the hero and heroine. This book sits somewhere between straight historical romances and historical fiction.

What inspired you to feature a vicar as the hero of this book?

Vicars are often much-maligned in historical literature - either snivelling, pompous, hypocritical, or just plain boring. I created a vicar character for another book, but he wasn’t very interesting and I soon gave up on that book. While writing something else, the character of William began forming in my mind. He kept telling me tales of his mercy missions in the seedy parts of London. He told me about how he was given a living in a small village, but that he would much rather be sailing the seas to adventures in exotic lands. I was moved by his compassion, his earnestness, and his heart. I knew I had to give him his own story.

I set out to create a vicar who was not only true to his convictions and compassionate, but also heroic, bold and downright swoon-worthy. I think this quote from a reader sums it up nicely: “I’ve never been one to “fall” for a religious man, but William Brook is likely to get fans fluttering and cheeks flushing. Dare I say he’s a strong contender against the famous (and my literary love) Mr. Rochester?”

Despite William’s occupation, I tried to keep the novel away from being “inspirational” or preachy. The story is primarily about a man and his ambitions, and the great love which consumes him.

It’s unusual for a Regency to be set away from the ballrooms of London. Why did you choose a small village as your primary setting?

It’s true, there isn’t any mention of Almacks in this novel, and no dukes either! Inspired by the likes of Cranford, Emma and other novels with small village settings, I wanted my drama to play out on a stage where there are long-held loyalties, beautiful country settings and all the politics that come along with a small town. The small village was also the perfect place to strand William, to make him face his demons away from the distractions of London or locations overseas.

Jane Austen gave this advice to her niece on writing novels: “Three or four families in a country village is the very thing to work on…”

How long have you been writing?

Although THE VAGABOND VICAR is my first published novel, I have completed two other full works in my writing “apprenticeship” along with many other uncompleted works. I wrote my first multiple-page story at the age of six and the bug has stuck with me throughout my life. As a teenager I composed many melodramatic poems. I was in my twenties before I seriously set my sights on pursuing publication.

What are you working on next?

I am working on the two follow-up books to THE VAGABOND VICAR in tandem, as the stories of Amy Miller and John Barrington are related (though separate). I already have a lot of scenes drafted for each and I’m about to knuckle down to plot out all the details. I hope to get these stories out in the coming year.

Learn more about author Charlotte Brentwood

Charlotte developed serious crushes on a series of men from age fifteen: Darcy, Knightley, Wentworth and Brandon. A bookworm and scribbler for as long as she can remember, Charlotte always dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. The Vagabond Vicar is her debut novel.

She lives in beautiful Auckland, New Zealand. When she's not toiling at her day job, writing or procrastinating on the Internet, Charlotte can be found snuggling with her cat Sophie, warbling at the piano, sipping a hot chocolate or enjoying the great outdoors.

26 February 2015

Excerpt Thursday: THE VAGABOND VICAR by Charlotte Brentwood

This week, we're welcoming author Charlotte Brentwood, whose latest title is THE VAGABOND VICAR. Join us again on Sunday for an author interview, with more details about the story behind the story. One lucky visitor will get a free e-book copy of The Vagabond Vicar; this giveaway is offered worldwide. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's post or Sunday's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.

**An Excerpt from The Vagabond Vicar**

Cecilia slipped out after breakfast on Saturday, intent on painting the late summer wildflowers. On her way back home, she saw a distant view of the churchyard, and some movement caught her eye near the vicarage. There appeared to be someone working in the pottage garden next to the house. She moved closer, with the intention of striking up a conversation with the worker, asking about what he was planting.

She walked down around the base of a mound, and through a grove of trees. Upon emerging from behind a large oak, she gave a start. It was Mr Brook working in the garden, furiously tilling the hardened soil. He hadn’t seen her, and though she felt she shouldn’t disturb him, she found herself stealing closer, pressing herself behind another oak only about twenty feet from the plot. She couldn’t help but examine him closely, as the sight of him was unlike she’d ever seen a gentleman before.

William had worked up a sweat. His dark hair was tousled across his forehead, and dirt was caked on his cheeks and neck. His torso and arms were only clad in a shirt, with no coat, cravat or waistcoat. Apart from her father and brothers, Cecilia had only ever seen gentlemen in jackets or coats. And she had never seen a shirt, or the man within it, in such a state as this. He had torn it open at the neck, and she could see a broad chest speckled with hair. The damp fabric clung to his shoulders and well-formed arms. Cecilia watched him drive his hoe into the soil again and again, breathing hard with the effort. She swallowed, realising she had been gaping with an open mouth, which had suddenly dried out. She knew there was no way she could talk to him, her agitated mind flitting from one thought to the next. She emerged from the tree, intending to creep past the vicarage and on her way home. Her heart beating wildly, she began to shuffle through the grass.

William chose that moment to pause in his work, stretching backwards and causing his shirt to pull out from his breeches. The glimpse of the muscles of his stomach made Cecilia gasp, and she clamped a hand to her mouth, too late. He bolted upright, and instantly his eyes were on her, freezing her steps. He held her stare for just a moment, before conflicting emotions washed across his face. First he smiled, then frowned, and then mumbled something as he looked down at himself. Even from her distance she could see colour creeping up his neck to his face, and she felt remorse for embarrassing him. He was working his own land, after all. She had no business spying on him.

“Oh Miss Grant, I do apologise…” William looked about the yard frantically, locating his coat hanging on a fencepost. He started towards it, but did not advance two steps before he landed on his rake. The instrument jumped up and smacked him squarely on the nose.

“Mr Brook!” Cecilia started towards him, coming to the low stone fence and hesitating for only a moment before sitting on it and swivelling into his plot. “Oh my goodness, you are bleeding!”

He touched a hand to his nose then observed the thick red liquid on his fingers. With dazed eyes he took in her advancing frame.

“I am so sorry, Mr Brook. I was on my way back home from the meadows and elected to cut through the glebe. I never thought… oh do let me help you.” She hovered close to him as he produced a handkerchief and held it to his nose. She regarded his injury pitiably, her eyes widening at the sight of the blood in close quarters, before her gaze drifted irresistibly lower.

“Really Miss Grant, I am quite all right. You should be on your way immediately. I did not consider female passers-by when I reduced myself to this state.”

“Well, I shall go then,” Cecilia said reluctantly, her eyes clinging to the tail of his shirt. “But are you sure you will not let me attend to your wound? I feel terrible for causing you pain.”

William stifled a laugh. “It will only bleed for a few moments more, I am sure. Then I will resume my work. Your concern is most kind, but I am afraid it is wasted. And I must be grateful to you for teaching me a lesson about leaving my rake lying on the ground.”

Cecilia went back over to the wall, pausing as she sat.

William averted his eyes as she swung her legs over, and said, “Good day, Miss Grant.”

She turned back as his eyes met hers. He looked a little woozy, but magnificent. “Goodbye,” she breathed.

As Cecilia looked up at the vicar in church the next morning, she tried to keep her mind on the words he was saying. But it was no good. All she could see was the dishevelled young man she had encountered the day before. Instead of the confident authority which masked his eyes at this moment, she remembered the shy sparkle she had glimpsed, and the dark curls which had strayed across them.

Mr Brook pressed his fists on to the lectern as he spoke passionately about Jesus being every person who needs help. The message impacted Cecilia for several minutes and she was moved by his kind spirit and conviction. Then she also remembered the toned arms that had worked the earth, and as she watched his fists she was sure his muscles must be flexing under his jacket. When his eyes connected with hers, heat washed over her body. As the crimson rose over her chest and crept up her neck, she yanked her eyes away from him.

She blinked hard and looked down at her hands. Cecilia! she scolded herself. You cannot have impure thoughts about a man of God! This must be a sin.

Learn more about author Charlotte Brentwood

17 July 2012

Fashionable People of the Regency: Beau Brummell

By Jennifer Deschanel

I don’t know what the runways would think of him today, but during the Regency George Byron “Beau” Brummell was the man to watch for fashion. While not of aristocratic birth, Brummell moved in circles envied by the socially minded Regency.

In his youth, his literary talent and wit brought him second place for the Newdegate prize, but the blow hit Brummell hard. As a result he developed an aversion to books and the literary minded, and chose instead not to exert himself in any manner. However, he did have the foresight to join the Tenth Hussars, a move which would launch him into the Prince Regent’s favor.

The Prince, impressed by Brummell’s influence over men while he served in the military, and his sharp wit, kept him in his favor even after his service ended. Brummell quickly entered the Regent’s royal society where his elegant, understated, and simple manner of dress, an oddity to begin with, became a sensation.

Brummell promoted the trouser over knee breeches and looked down on the bright colors, dusted wigs, and powdery make-up on men. His colors were muted to blacks, dark grays, and shades in brown—much like we see in men’s fashion today. His morning toilette exerted such an influence on the ton that many began to follow suit. Brummell put a fastidious amount of attention into cleaning his teeth; he shaved often and bathed daily. The Prince Regent, enthralled by this, would spend hours in Brummell’s dressing room watching him complete his morning routine.

Brummell had a lot of admirers emulating his fashion sense, but not a lot of common sense financially. His debts were high, but due to his association with the Prince, was still able to float a line of credit. That changed when his arrogance got in his way. Brummell often moved in circles not approved by the Prince. During a masquerade at Waiter’s private club where he was a host with Lord Alvanley, Henry Mildmay and Pierrepoint, the Prince, who did not favor Brummell’s choice of company, openly cut Brummell. The Prince addressed Alvanley and Pierrepoint but cut Brummell and Mildmay which prompted Brummell’s famous comment of “Alvanley, who is your fat friend?”

Obviously this ended Brummell’s association with The Prince.

However Brummell was so popular with the aristocracy that his fashion sense and company was still sought. He had no need to control his popularity, but did have a need to control his debt—which he failed miserably at. The credit he was once able to float ended when the Prince cut him, and Brummell, unable to pay off gambling debts immediately as debts of honor, fled to France to escape debtor’s prison. There, due to the influence of Lord Alvanley, he secured an appointment to the consulate at Caen and therefore a small annuity. Nothing like how he lived when he was the fashion mogul of the Regency.

Brummell died in 1840, penniless and insane from syphilis.

A great film, Beau Brummell: This Charming Man stars Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey) as The Prince Regent. I recommend it for anyone curious about the life of Brummel and how he influenced the fashion of the Regency era.

Jennifer Deschanel's passion lies in crafting stories from forgotten pieces of history and setting them in locations outside the expected. She writes unusual heroines with unique challenges in the Regency and Victorian eras. Her other books, expanding Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera are written under Jennifer Linforth and are available now.

10 July 2012

Fashionable People of the Regency --Time for a Re-assessment?

By Michelle Styles

It may seem odd on a blog devoted to Unusual time periods to even mention the Regency but when I was researching my latest His Unsuitable Viscountess, I came across an interesting fact — there are no modern biographies of the women who ran the Ton (i.e. The Lady Patronesses of Almack’s) during the point when the Regency was at its height. When I started investigating the lives of these women my views of fashionable women in the Regency were turned upside down upside down and my jaw was literally on the floor.

It would be tempting to take them at face value and consider them to be the Regency equivalent of Paris Hilton orany number of modern celebrities who were famous for being famous. I will admit to doing this prior to doing the research. After all I have read countless Regency romances and such women had to be there because of an accident of birth. And everyone knows that women could not vote et etc. However the more I dug, the more interesting they became. These are the women who single-handedly changed the nature of men’s fashionable evening dress (Brummell is generally given the credit, but if the Lady Patronesses had taken against his attire, they would have not allowed in Almacks. Equally Dorothy Lady Nevill disputes it was Brummell in any case.) and introduced a variety of dances such as the quadrille, waltz and polka as well as a number of Scottish reels. Who were they really? Fashionable for being fashionable? Women of privilege, certainly but they were also influential beyond mere fashion. I would argue they are ripe for more serious consideration.

The first quadrille at Almacks,
Lady Jersey 2nd left

Lady Jersey was the senior partner in one of the leading London banks, Childs which she had inherited from her grandfather. She served in this position from 1806 -1867 and therefore would have been privy to rumours about certain members’ financial situation. She was also an active political hostess and regularly held salons. She is credited with introducing the quadrille. If someone deserves a proper biography, Lady Jersey certainly does.

Countess (later Princess) Lieven was the wife of the Russian ambassador and is credited with introducing the German waltz.. She was tireless in promoting Russia’s interests in the United Kingdom. She was considered much more influential than her husband. Her salon was reputed to be the listening and observational post of Europe. She played a key role in the establishment of modern day Greece and Belgium. Again, there is no modern biography. In fact the whole role that Britain and Russia played in the establishment of Greece is an under researched area of 19^th century history.

Lady Castlereagh, the woman who famously shut the doors of Almack’s on Wellington was the wife of the British Foreign minister who was responsible for holding the coalition which ultimately defeated Napoleon together. She travelled everywhere with her husband and was a noted political hostess. She was also related to most of the Irish aristocracy.

Princess Esterhazy was the wife of the Austro-Hungarian ambassador to London. Like Countess Lieven, she did have political influence which went beyond her husband’s position. Also she had intimate knowledge of the Austro-Hungarian and middle European aristocracy.

Mrs Drummond-Burrell was a prominent member of Scottish aristocracy. A number of Scottish reels bear her name.

Margaret Craven, Lady Shefton was the wife of the one of the founders of the infamous Four In Hand Club. Among other things, she sponsored Mrs Fitzherbert (George IV’s secret wife) in society. She was an intimate of the Prince Regent’s set.

Lady Cowper (nee Lamb) was a member of a prominent political family. Her brother was Lord Melbourne, the prime minister and she had a long affair with and later married Lord Palmerston.

As you can see the women had extensive knowledge of the political scene and were more than simply pretty faces. They were not fashionable simply because they had pretty faces, foreful personalities or knew how to manipulate the media. They had connections and were not afraid to use them to advance their various causes. It is through their influence, rather than in spite of it, that Almack’s was able to command such a place in Regency society. It is about time there were modern biographies of these women which re-assess their place in shaping modern British society.

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance in a wide variety time periods from Roman and Viking to Regency and Victorian. Her latest, His Unsuitable Viscountess which features a successful Regency businesswoman whost make a marriage of convienence in order to safeguard the family bvuiness under the terms of her step-father's will is published in August by Harlequin Historical in the US and Mills and Boon in the UK. You can read more about Michelle's books on www.michellestyles.co.uk

06 February 2011

Guest Author: Beth Elliott

This week on Unusual Historicals, we're welcoming Robert Hale author Beth Elliott, whose latest Regency romance, APRIL AND MAY, is set in Constantinople. Here's the blurb:

In Constantinople, 1804 Rose Charteris comes face to face with Tom Hawkesleigh, who broke her heart four years earlier. And now she is forced to work with him on a secret mission for the Ottoman Sultan.

The tension rises further when Kerim Pasha, the Sultan's chief and very handsome minister, falls for Rose's English beauty. A spirited heroine, two handsome suitors, danger everywhere...

***

'Plenty of wit, gusto, flair, charm and warmth! An unmissable treat for Regency fans everywhere!' ~ Single Titles

'An enjoyable read.' ~ The Historical Novels Review

' A sparkling romance.... Dive in and enjoy.' ~ Myshelf

***

A "yali", a waterside mansion where wealthy Turks spent the summer months.
Can you explain what the title APRIL AND MAY refers to?

Rose, the heroine, has her early romance cut off short, so her April comes to a frosty end. Later, she gets a second chance to blossom and we leave her as she reaches her May.

Tell us why you set this story in Constantinople.

Constantinople is a fascinating city, a blend of Eastern and Western elements. It has many exotic buildings and a long and rich history so it makes a wonderful setting for a story in any period. I also love the fact that the city is divided into three parts by the sea. Each part has a very distinct character yet they are tightly interlinked.

When I researched the history of the late Eighteenth Century I found that both the British and the French were desperate to have the Ottoman Sultan as their ally. Selim III, the Sultan at that time, knew that to save his empire from being swallowed up by the Russians, he had to modernise his army, even though his generals wanted to carry on in the traditional way. He was very pro-European and was seeking help either from Napoleon's French officers or from the British. That gave me a suitable reason for Tom to be in Constantinople in 1804. He is the secret agent advising on modern methods.

On a personal level, having a Turkish husband, I experienced much Turkish hospitality and came to understand their way of life. It is incredible how honoured a Turkish family is to receive a guest. I wanted to convey that in the story. My husband had worked as a tourist guide in his student days so he loved taking me to visit important historical sites. And when he showed me round these famous places, including the Harem in Topkapi Palace, he was always full of anecdotes to make the visit even more colourful.

The newly restored Fruit Room in the Harem.
So is this story based on your own life?

Only in showing Turkish customs from an outsider's point of view. Rose, the heroine, is interested in the Ottoman way of life, but not even the powerful and handsome Kerim Pasha, the Sultan's chief minister, can tempt her to stay in Constantinople. I like my heroines to have a choice of men but the truth is that Rose and Tom have never resolved the issues from their earlier romance. Until she can do that, she is not interested in any relationship.

I also turn the idea of being an outsider on its head, when Kerim Pasha comes to London and we see him observing the English way of life with eager curiosity. Rose and Tom have to unite their efforts to look after him, which draws them together again.

Are you planning any more stories with exotic settings?

THE RAKE'S CHALLENGE, which comes out in July, is set in Brighton. The Royal Pavilion there is about as exotic as you can get! And the hero is fascinating…

And I'm currently working on another Regency-set novel which opens the door onto the Eastern side of life in Constantinople. There are feasts in exotic palaces and festivals of Ottoman style events--and a drop-dead gorgeous oriental hero.

***

Thanks for stopping by today, Beth! Readers, Beth is giving away signed books to two winners. Just tell us which qualities you like to see in a hero. I'll draw the winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

03 February 2011

Excerpt Thursday: Beth Elliott

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming Robert Hale author Beth Elliott, whose latest Regency romance, APRIL AND MAY, is set in Constantinople. Join us Sunday when Beth will be here to talk about this fascinating setting, and give away a copy. Join us then! Here's the blurb:

In Constantinople, 1804 Rose Charteris comes face to face with Tom Hawkesleigh, who broke her heart four years earlier. And now she is forced to work with him on a secret mission for the Ottoman Sultan.

The tension rises further when Kerim Pasha, the Sultan's chief and very handsome minister, falls for Rose's English beauty. A spirited heroine, two handsome suitors, danger everywhere...

***

Rose draped the white silk shawl over her shoulders to cover the low neckline of her flimsy tunic. She grimaced as she ran a hand over her hair, pulled back in a long, thick plait. But no, she was not going to cover her head. That would give the messenger the wrong impression and cause alarm at the embassy. Feeling weary and cross, she followed Fatma down two floors to the reception room. She padded silently over the soft rugs that were spread everywhere. The elderly maidservant led her across a wide central hallway and pushed open the double doors at the far side.

'Salon,' she said, giving Rose's bare head a disapproving look as she stood aside for her to go in first.

A tall figure Rose recognised at once was pacing back and forth in the opulent room. His hands were clasped behind his back. His face seen in profile was rigid. Sudden alarm made Rose forgot all the awkwardness of confronting Tom again.

'H-have you had bad news from Cairo?'

At the sound of her voice he whirled round and stood as if turned to stone. For a long moment he simply stared. At least it gave her time to find her composure. Her unruly heart was beating at a terrible rate. It must be due to her bitter anger at having to see him.

There were subtle changes in him from the eager young man he had been. This was a man who had faced danger many times and triumphed, a man who carved his own path through life's hazards. And the years had made him even more handsome, his face so chiseled, his hair bleached blonder by the hot Mediterranean sun. His dark eyes, always expressive, were scorching her as he looked her up and down and down and up. His face darkened.

'So they have put you in the harem!' he growled at last.

She raised her brows. 'If you are referring to my garments, our kind hostess has given us fresh clothes while our own are laundered.'

'Yes but...' he opened his hands in an impatient gesture. He glanced around and seemed to listen. His gaze came back to her. Rose understood. Of course, someone was listening to their conversation.

02 January 2011

Guest Author: Alix Rickloff

This week on Unusual Historicals, we're welcoming Pocket author Alix Rickloff as she celebrates the release of her latest historical romance, EARL OF DARKNESS, set in 1815 Ireland. Not only is the Irish setting unusual, but this romance integrates paranormal elements. Here's the blurb:

Born a lady, but reduced to surviving in the slums of Dublin, Catriona O'Connell has been hired to steal a mysterious book from Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan. But Cat is secretly Other, an age-old mixture of Fey and human--something Aidan recognizes immediately when he surprises the lovely young burglar in his library, about to steal a magical diary.

From the moment Aidan sees her, Cat's spirited beauty enchants him, but her uncanny abilities are what he truly needs, for Cat can understand the mystical language in the diary he inherited from his murdered father. So Aidan makes an offer: translate the book or be thrown in prison as a thief. And as Cat slowly deciphers each page, she and Aidan are drawn together by passion...and into the violence of the Other world that is the Kilronan legacy. Can they defeat those who seek the book, or are their lives in even greater danger than their hearts?

***

Top Pick! "...a tangled tale of good and evil, magic and mystery, passion and desire --one that won't be easily forgotten." ~ RT Book Reviews

Top Pick! "This book is magic personified." ~ Janalee, Night Owl Reviews

"A sexy and intense tale packed with dark passions and even darker magic." ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Caridad Pineiro

***

The unusual aspect of your historical is obvious. What made you decide to blend paranormal into a regency?

I've been an avid reader of historical romance since high school, but my second literary love has always been fantasy. The more high adventure swashbuckling, the better. In 2007, I finaled in the Golden Heart with a manuscript that contained an element of the paranormal. This decided me once and for all to try my hand at blending the two genres. Thus my fabulous alternate universe of magic-wielding men and women who live within the elegance of Regency Society was born.

Tell us a little about the world you've created in EARL OF DARKNESS?

The Other are a race of men and women who bear the blood of the Fey. This magical inheritance can manifest itself in something as subtle as the gardener with the amazing green thumb to the sorcerer who wields great power. But in a superstitious time where magic is seen as evil, the Other must hide what they are. It's into this dangerous world the Earl of Darkness opens as the remnants of a shadowy group of Other unite in one last bid to turn back the clock to the Lost Days and regain their supremacy.

Do you find it more difficult to research the fantasy elements of your story or the historical details?

The historical details, definitely! Readers of historicals know their stuff and they're not afraid to let you know if you get it wrong. I try very hard to research the period I'm writing about. I have a library full of books on the Regency era as well as a fabulous group of scholars and writers of the time period who are there when I need that niggling fact I just can't lay my fingers on.

The fantasy in my stories is my own invention, and while I may call on Celtic elements as a premise, I feel free to branch out everywhere and anywhere my imagination takes me. The trick there is to be consistent. As I continue to write stories set in the universe, I have to be careful I don't make a mistake with my own invention. I've begun a notebook that I reference as I write which has been really helpful.

What's next for you?

LORD OF SHADOWS, the second book in the series, is due to be released in July, with the final book whose title is TBA set for a January 2012 publication. At this point, I'm also hard at work on my next project which will introduce a whole new facet to my paranormal-regency world.

***

Readers, other than her website, you can visit Alix at her blog, on her Facebook author page, and as part of the collaborative network for Pocket authors and fans, Pocket After Dark.

If you'd like to be entered to win a copy of the delicious EARL OF DARKNESS, leave a comment or question for Alix. Maybe: Does the idea of Celtic-inspired paranormal elements appeal to you? How about this exciting Irish setting? I'll draw a winner at random next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

30 December 2010

Excerpt Thursday: Alix Rickloff

This week on Excerpt Thursday, we're welcoming Pocket author Alix Rickloff as she celebrates the release of her latest historical romance, EARL OF DARKNESS, set in 1815 Ireland. Not only is the Irish setting unusual, but this romance integrates paranormal elements. Join us Sunday when Alix will be here to answer questions and give away a signed copy. Here's the blurb:

Born a lady, but reduced to surviving in the slums of Dublin, Catriona O'Connell has been hired to steal a mysterious book from Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan. But Cat is secretly Other, an age-old mixture of Fey and human--something Aidan recognizes immediately when he surprises the lovely young burglar in his library, about to steal a magical diary.

From the moment Aidan sees her, Cat's spirited beauty enchants him, but her uncanny abilities are what he truly needs, for Cat can understand the mystical language in the diary he inherited from his murdered father. So Aidan makes an offer: translate the book or be thrown in prison as a thief. And as Cat slowly deciphers each page, she and Aidan are drawn together by passion...and into the violence of the Other world that is the Kilronan legacy. Can they defeat those who seek the book, or are their lives in even greater danger than their hearts?

***

Cat O'Connell's intelligent gaze fell everywhere at once as she stepped lightly across the floor. Took in the blank walls where selected artwork had been sold off. The mantel cleared of its most expensive items, the spaces where prized family pieces once stood. The rest of Kilronan House was much the same. A sad witness to all that had been lost.

Aidan motioned to a chair near the fire. "Have a seat, Miss O'Connell."

"Cat works well enough."

She was right. It did. She walked with a feline, sinuous grace only intensified by those damn trousers. He shook his head. Thank the gods women wore gowns. Men would be reduced to blabbering idiots if they spent every day subjected to the spectacle of women's legs. The male species wasn't up to that kind of continuous temptation.

First thing on his to-do list. Something to cover those long legs and that sweet, round ass. A solution? Doubtful. She'd need a damn sack to completely disguise that lissome allure. But it would definitely help. "Who are you, Miss O'Connell? And what were you doing in my library?"

Uncertainty flickered over her face before hardening to stubborn resolve. And from the porcelain elegance emerged the steely features of the thief who'd broken into his home and fought like a tigress. Two sides of a very interesting coin.

"It's not Miss O'Connell. Not anymore. It's Cat now. And I'm whatever I have to be to survive."

"No angry father beating the streets looking for you? No brother with a blunderbuss and priest in tow?"

Her lips compressed until white lines bit into the hollows of her cheeks. "No one."

"Fair enough." He shrugged, reluctantly letting his curiosity go. A burglar who spoke and carried herself like a queen tantalized with possibilities, but he'd reached his quota of mysteries already.

"As for your library," she continued, "I was stealing." She crossed her arms. "Now are you going to send for the Watch or not?"

He bit back the retort on the tip of his tongue. Settled for, "Not."

The answers he sought were in the diary. They had to be. Why else would it have been hidden away and not with Father's other personal papers? And not just hidden away but warded and written in a language every scholar he'd contacted had labeled gibberish? The diary contained the keys to finally understanding the truth about his father's death. Perhaps even clues to his brother's disappearance.

And he sat across from the only person he'd found who could decipher it. Newgate would wait. Cat belonged to him now.

21 November 2010

Guest Author: Kate Allan

This week at Unusual Historicals we're featuring author Kate Allan, who Regency romance, KRAKOW WALTZ is partly set in Poland. It's Regency elegance with an exotic locale!

The Honorable Miss Annabel Wells needs to marry to save her reputation. Yet even in her dire straits she cannot bring herself to accept Mr. Henry Champion, an ordinary English gentleman without property or pedigree, no matter what she feels about him. She marries a Polish count but when her husband is killed in a duel and Henry comes all the way across Europe to her rescue, can there be a second chance for love? Leaving behind the drawing rooms of High Society London where he's feted as a Waterloo hero, Henry Champion finds more danger lurking in the dark streets of the city of Krakow than he bargained for.

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"KRAKOW WALTZ is a tender love story with an engaging hero and heroine and a diversity of secondary characters. It has an intriguing plot with some delightful touches of humor, and Ms Allan's choice of setting in Krakow provides a refreshingly different background for her story." ~ CarolAnn, The Romance Reviews

"An intriguing plot, a wonderful atmosphere and some lovely touches of humour." New York Times bestselling author Nicola Cornick

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Your book, KRAKOW WALTZ, is set mostly in Poland. Why write an historical romance set in Poland?

My family on one side are Polish so I have always had an interest and affinity with Poland and wanted to learn more about Polish culture and history. I was intrigued when I read that following Napoleon's defeat in 1815 the city of Krakow was actually designated as a self-governing free city. As the rest of Poland was under the control of Russia, Prussia and Austria, Krakow became the harbour for a growing national identity movement. This shapes some of the background and attitudes to the Polish characters in the story but at its heart Krakow Waltz is a romance. Regency readers will discover that much of Regency fashion and culture were similar across Europe but the Polish background also provides castles, old medieval streets and buildings, beautiful churches, forests, wolves, wild boar hunts and hunters' breakfasts!

Tell us a bit about the hero and heroine.

Henry Champion is a hero of Waterloo: he's brave, selfless but as an only child he finds himself alone in the world after his parents die and foolishly falls into some of the typical pursuits of a young man about town including gambling loses his fortune. But he has good friends who are willing to help because he's always been a good friend.

Annabel Wells, the heroine, is somewhat of a typical flighty English debutante and spurns Henry because he's not an aristocrat and marries a Polish Count but he is the wrong man for her. Should she pay for that mistake for the rest of her life? I believe in second chances and so Annabel and Henry get their second chance when they meet again nine years later.

KRAKOW WALTZ is your sixth novel. Tell us about you previous novels.

My previous novels are all historical novels set in the Regency period, mostly in England, but I liked to include unusual period details when I can. In FATEFUL DECEPTION, Lucinda, the heroine, travels by canal barge after I discovered that passenger packet services were actually run on canals. In THE SMUGGLER RETURNS, which is set at the very end of the 18th century in Cornwall, the real historical background to smuggling in the period was vital to the story: indeed Jane, the heroine, "invests" the small sum of money she has in smuggling hoping to save her family from ruin.

THE LADY SOLDIER, which was co-written with Michelle Styles, is about to be re-released early in 2011 by Embrace Books. It has the unusual setting of Spain and Portugal and the unusual subject matter of a lady who joins the British Army dressed as a man and manages to get away with it... until she meets the hero.

What's the best bit about writing a novel and what's the worst bit?

The most enjoyable is when you know your characters so well and you're completely involved in the story that the writing becomes as addictive as watching the next episode of your favourite TV drama. The worst bits actually when you have the story developing in your head but you don't have time to write it down! I have a small son whom I've love dearly but finding time for writing has been a bit of a challenge since he's been born!

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Thanks for stopping by today, Kate! Readers, are you interested in Regency-era books with locales other than England? Why or why not? We'd love to hear your opinions. Leave a comment or question for Kate and you'll be entered for a free copy of KRAKOW WALTZ. I'll draw the winner at random next Sunday. Best of luck!

18 November 2010

Excerpt Thursday: Kate Allan

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're featuring author Kate Allan, who Regency romance, KRAKOW WALTZ is partly set in Poland. Join us Sunday when Kate will be here to discuss this mix of traditional Regency elegance and exotic Polish locale. She'll also be giving away a copy. See you then!

The Honorable Miss Annabel Wells needs to marry to save her reputation. Yet even in her dire straits she cannot bring herself to accept Mr. Henry Champion, an ordinary English gentleman without property or pedigree, no matter what she feels about him. She marries a Polish count but when her husband is killed in a duel and Henry comes all the way across Europe to her rescue, can there be a second chance for love? Leaving behind the drawing rooms of High Society London where he's feted as a Waterloo hero, Henry Champion finds more danger lurking in the dark streets of the city of Krakow than he bargained for.

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London, 1807

Henry Edmund Champion found it easy to envelope himself in the idle conversation of a group of young bucks. All he had to do was hold a glass of champagne, sip it elegantly, feign that expression of perpetual ennui that fashion required and make a suitable lively crack now and again as the occasion demanded.

Yet Henry, only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Champion of Sevenoaks, Kent, could not shake off his awareness that he shouldn't be here at all. It was only by the good graces of his old friend from school, Lord Brockleton, that he had secured an invitation to the Farringham's ball.

Henry pushed his shoulders back so his jacket sat squarer, titled his chin slightly upwards and to one side and with an urbane expression swept his gaze over the room. Had it been a mistake to come?

Not when he saw her.

Barely ten feet away from him.

The usual hot stab at the sight of an attractive woman was completely expected. But not the rest: the stilling of every sinew in his body, pulled tight as over wound violin strings; the misting out of every other person in the room so that there was only her. The compulsion to believe that there had ever existed only one woman. That he never before had been so violently and wholly struck with desire.

Fustian! as his late aunt used to delight in saying. He noted attractive women all the time. Less frequently when he'd been on campaign, he admitted, but here in London, why they even dampened down their dresses to save gentleman having to strain their imaginations too far.

Yet his gaze skimmed across her form, noting and calculating each inch and every angle. He followed the flare of her dress over her hips and to the floor, and then up, tracing the line of her décolletage; her neck, her oval face, the sweep of her dark eyelashes and the curve of her smile as she spoke to the dowager Lady Grantley.

And then, as if she knew, she caught his gaze. Her eyes widened, lips parted and brought a moment when ten feet between them disappeared. He might have been standing right next to her, able to reach out and touch her ebony curls. He might have smiled.

With a flick of her head she looked away.

He was still standing there, still holding his glass, still Henry Champion. The only person in the room not among the Upper Ten Thousand of high society.

She'd recognized him. Of course she had.

Or was he clinging onto some kind of effervescent hope that she remembered. That she had considered him more than simply a casual flirtation?

"Brockleton," Henry said. He could not help himself. "Who is that lady over there with the dark hair conversing with Lady Grantley? I believe I have met her before."

Brockleton spluttered. His eyes swivelled and bulged out of their sockets. He managed to swallow his mouthful of champagne. "That's the Honorable Miss Annabel Wells. Champion...." He lowered his voice to an urgent whisper. "Are you in jest?"

28 February 2010

Guest Author: Erica Ridley

This week we're welcoming Kensington author Erica Ridley as she celebrates the release of debut novel, TOO WICKED TO KISS. Although set in Regency England, TOO WICKED TO KISS has a tasty kick of Gothic suspense to set pulses racing. Look below for details on how to win a signed copy.

His Touch Holds Her Captive...

From the ravens circling its spires to the gargoyles adorning its roof, Blackberry Manor looms ominously over its rambling grounds. And behind its doors, amid the flickering shadows and secret passageways, danger lies in wait...

To His Every Dark Desire...

Evangeline Pemberton has been invited to a party at the sprawling estate of reclusive Gavin Lioncroft, who is rumored to have murdered his parents. Initially, Gavin's towering presence and brusque manner instill fear in Evangeline...until his rakish features and seductive attentions profoundly arouse her.

But when a guest is murdered, Evangeline is torn. Could the man to whom she is so powerfully drawn, also be a ruthless killer?

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"Snappy dialogue, passionate scenes and a dead body move the story along at a swift pace. If this debut is a sign of books to come, then I hope Ridley has a prolific career. This one is a gem!" ~ Romance Junkies

"TOO WICKED TO KISS is one of those delicious gothic-style historical romances that will have you turning pages as quickly as you can." ~ Enduring Romance

"For anyone who is looking for a great mystery and poignant love story, this is a story not to be missed." ~ Smokin' Hot Books

"TOO WICKED TO KISS is a captivating page-turner that tests one's puzzle solving skills while tapping into a whole gamut of emotions. Super love story and so much more!" ~ Long and Short Romance Reviews

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What's so unusual about Evangeline Pemberton?

Evangeline is cursed with a psychic "gift" she can't turn off: visions of other people's memories overwhelm her every time she has skin-to-skin contact, which come accompanied by vicious migraine headaches. Or worse. She grew up without basic experiences most of us take for granted--playing with children, dancing, a hug when we need it most. Instead, more than one opportunist seeks to use her for their own gain. This is a woman who aches to reach out... and almost literally cannot.

What's so unusual about Gavin Lioncroft?

There are those who say Lioncroft has killed before, and would cheerfully do so again. (Lioncroft himself has been overheard uttering this very statement.) Unfortunately for him, the one person he'd most like to help to an early grave gets murdered before Gavin has an opportunity to do the honors--and he finds himself the obvious suspect. He must earn the trust of the one person who trusts no one, lest he find himself hanging for murder.

Have you ever been somewhere like Blackberry Manor?

Yes, in the sense that I drew heavily on my experiences and impressions of various Gothic castles and churches I'd visited. And no, in the sense that my imagination took the skeleton of an idea and ran with it. If Blackberry Manor really did exist, I would love to visit. Particularly if there were a chance of meeting a man like Gavin!

Did you get some special news this week?

Why yes, yes I did. I'm delighted and honored to discover that Too Wicked To Kiss is a March book club pick for Barnes and Noble! I'll be hanging out at the book club forums all month, so please stop by! The link is here.

That's fabulous! And you're giving away a copy to a commenter?

Absolutely. If you'd like to win an autographed copy of TOO WICKED TO KISS, just click here to get your very own Madlibs-style psychic vision, then paste the result in the comments.

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Thanks for stopping by, Erica!

Erica will be around all week to answer questions and giggle with you over your do-it-yourself psychic visions, so please comment! I'll draw the random winner next Sunday. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

25 February 2010

Excerpt Thursday: Erica Ridley

This week on Excerpt Thursday we're welcoming Kensington author Erica Ridley as she celebrates the release of debut novel, TOO WICKED TO KISS. Although set in Regency England, TOO WICKED TO KISS has a tasty kick of Gothic suspense to set pulses racing. Join us Sunday when Erica will be here to answer questions and give away a signed copy. Don't miss it!

His Touch Holds Her Captive...

From the ravens circling its spires to the gargoyles adorning its roof, Blackberry Manor looms ominously over its rambling grounds. And behind its doors, amid the flickering shadows and secret passageways, danger lies in wait...

To His Every Dark Desire...

Evangeline Pemberton has been invited to a party at the sprawling estate of reclusive Gavin Lioncroft, who is rumored to have murdered his parents. Initially, Gavin's towering presence and brusque manner instill fear in Evangeline...until his rakish features and seductive attentions profoundly arouse her.

But when a guest is murdered, Evangeline is torn. Could the man to whom she is so powerfully drawn, also be a ruthless killer?

***

As the heavy iron doors closed behind her with ominous finality, Evangeline Pemberton came to a dead stop inside the entryway to Blackberry Manor.

Despite the tall arched ceiling with its bowed wooden beams curving at the creases like so many rib bones, the air was thick, heavy, oppressive, as if she had not stepped into the foyer of an aristocrat's mansion, but a long forgotten sepulcher untouched by anything but death.

At Lady Stanton's unveiled glare, Evangeline forced her feet further into the echoing anteroom. The cold marble floor spreading from her battered boots to the edges of every wall might have been ivory or alabaster or cream in color, had there been more light than the occasional flickering sconce. Instead, the murky pattern was a foggy, swirling gray, as though a thundercloud had hardened beneath her feet.

Were there no windows? Evangeline craned her neck to peer upward, just beneath the rafters. Ah, yes. Several. But not the kind to let in light.

The narrow slashes high above her head were the sort suited for medieval castles, for skilled archers to aim their deadly arrows at those who would trespass below, not for illuminating entryways for members of Polite Society. This evening, no archers crouched at the ready, just as no sun hung in the sky. Only the slipperiest, blackest of shadows filtered through the thin cracks to fall upon her upturned face like the cool caress of ghostly hands. The wisps of damp hair on Evangeline's neck fluttered nervously, touched by a breeze she could not feel.

Lady Stanton, for her part, was momentarily nonplused. Gone was the calculating gleam to her eyes, replaced by...not fear, precisely. Wariness. Miss Susan Stanton stood in the very center of the room, perhaps determined not to edge too near to the shadows seeping from the corners.

Whispers came from an adjacent hallway, then footfalls, followed by a beautiful blond lady, four spindly-limbed footmen, and three cowering maids.

The lady did not look at home in the mansion, despite her fancy dress. She looked frightened. After a jerking peek over her shoulder at the vacant marble staircase curving up from the anteroom's furthest shadows, she hurried into the foyer to greet them.

"That's Lioncroft's estranged sister," Miss Stanton whispered to Evangeline. "The countess."

The other two ladies beckoned to Miss Stanton, then began to murmur amongst themselves. Evangeline did not join them. A sudden chill descended upon the room and her every sense tingled with danger.

Impossibly, she felt him before she saw him.

Although she seemed to be the only one affected thus, she didn't doubt the prickling sensitivity along her bare neck for a single moment. While the three ladies conversed quietly, gesturing now and again at a maid or a footman, Evangeline lifted her gaze upward once more.

And there he was.

He stood at the landing above the spiral stair, cloaked in shadow. Tall. Unnaturally so. Was it the angle, the skewed perspective of being so far beneath him? Or was his towering stature undeniable, evident in the width of his shoulders, the muscular length of his legs, the long pale fingers curved around the banister?

The shadows made discerning features difficult. Evangeline could not tell if he were truly as savage as he appeared, or if a trick of the light--or lack thereof--caused the slatted darkness to undulate across his form. Almost without realizing it, she began to back away.

He continued down the spiral stairway, silent, sure, the leather of his boots making no noise on the cold marble. Although shadow obscured his face, his eyes glittered like those of a wolf loping alongside a lonely carriage. Thin fingers still curled lightly around the gleaming banister, he took another step forward. When there were as many steps behind him as there were before him, a brief flicker from a nearby sconce lit his face.

Evangeline swallowed a gasp.

Not because of the obsidian eyes framed by equally black lashes. Nor because of the angry slash of cheekbones, the flash of bared teeth, or the scar just above the edge of his jaw. Those things, though separately terrible, together formed a face of cold, cruel beauty. A face for statues, for frescoes, for--

Another flutter of orange light as he reached the final stair, and Evangeline could no longer breathe.

He was angry. Horribly angry. Livid. Enraged. Furious. His eyes glittered like a wolf's because he was a wolf, a beautiful, powerful, violent wolf, prowling toward his unsuspecting prey. His dark hair slid across his face, snapping Evangeline from her trance just as his long, gloveless hand fell atop the countess's shoulder.