I'm very excited about this week's contest. The Lady's Secret is a debut novel by Joanna Chambers and it's a winner. Seriously, I loved this book. Here's the blurb:

London, 1810

Former actress Georgiana Knight always believed she and her brother were illegitimate–until they learn their parents were married, making them heirs to a great estate. To prove their claim, Georgy needs to find evidence of their union by infiltrating a ton house party as valet to Lord Nathaniel Harland . Though masquerading as a boy is a challenge, it pales in comparison to sharing such intimate quarters with the handsome, beguiling nobleman.

Nathan is also unsettled by Georgy’s presence. First intrigued by his unusual valet, he’s even more captivated when he discovers Georgy’s charade. The desire the marriage-shy earl feels for his enigmatic employee has him hoping for much more than a master-servant relationship…

But will Nathan still want Georgy when he learns who she truly is? Or will their future be destroyed by someone who would do anything to prevent Georgy from uncovering the truth?

Great set up! I've always enjoyed books when one or other of the protagonists is disguised as a servant. Better still when it's a woman dressed as a man. It's so much fun for the reader to know things the characters don't. Chambers fully exploits the delicious sexiness of the situation, as Georgy has to take care of Nathan's intimate needs. (Not those ones! At least at first). The way she begins to have feelings for her employer reminded me of Olivia and Orsino in Twelfth Night, one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Nathan is a smoking hot, adorable hero and Georgy absolutely worthy of him.

The downside, for some readers, is that the book isn't available in print. But that means the contest is open internationally since there's no postage involved. One lucky winner will receive a copy of the ebook, your choice of format (as long as I am permitted to gift a book to your country).

Do you have a favorite book involving a cross-dressing disguise and/or one where the H or H pretends to be a servant? Either make a comment here (include your email address) or use my contest entry form.  I’ll select the winner at random on December 2nd, no earlier than 8 am EST.

Contest ends December 2, 2011 8 am EST.  Void where prohibited.  No purchase necessary. All my contest subject to these contest rules. 

This was one popular contest. I got a ton of entries, both in the comments and through the contest entry form. Just for fun, I decided to tabulate the votes on the most popular fairy tale.

Cinderella was an easy winner, which I expected. Beauty and the Beast came second, which I also expected. I adore that story and the Disney movie is one of my all time favorite movies, period. A lot of people cited Eloisa James's recent version.

What did surprise me was that Sleeping Beauty came third - only one vote behind Beauty and the Beast. Someone needs to write a Sleeping Beauty romance novel, quick. It won't be me, however. The heroine spends most of the story asleep, for pity's sake. My heroines are way too mouthy! They wouldn't put up with it. (Or rather I wouldn't, on their behalf.)

I had a few votes for The Little Mermaid, with everyone admitting the difficulty of using it as the basis of a romance. You could do it as a paranormal but otherwise the tail is really a problem. Snow White, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, and The Princess and the Pea all had a little support. Whoever voted for the last is in luck: Eloisa James's next is based on that story. I can't wait to see how she deals with the mattresses.

Oh yes. The winner. Julie G gets the signed copy of Lila diPasqua's A Midnight Dance. Congratulations, Julie! I know you'll love it.

Fairy Tale retellings always appeal to me. I guess I'm not the only one, given the success of Disney! Lila DiPasqua is making quite a career out of those princesses, though her versions are anything but PG. Her Fiery Tale series offer smoking hot versions of our childhood favorites.

This week I have a signed copy of Lila's A MIDNIGHT DANCE up for grabs.

Inspired by the tale of Cinderella, Lila DiPasqua weaves a steamy historical romance that offers a glass slipper, a dangerous deception, and an impoverished beauty determined to find her handsome prince...and make him pay.

Born into wealth, Sabine Laurent and her twin sister lived a life of luxury, their father's prestigious theater frequented by royalty and aristocracy alike. And Sabine dreamed of her own prince charming--the devastatingly handsome Jules de Moutier.

That was before the loss of her sister and her family's fall from grace--a disaster Sabine blames on the Moutier family. Now, with her father's death, she's inherited his sizable debt and the responsibility of caring for his spoiled long-time mistress and her two wastrel daughters. But with the help of Sabine's eccentric friends--the balance of her father's acting troupe--she plans to get very close to her old infatuation, seduce the rake--and make away with a fortune.

Resisting Jules's skillful mouth and tantalizing touch is not as easy as Sabine supposed. And soon she must decide whether her desire for vengeance is greater than her desire for her one and only prince... 

This gorgeous trade-sized paperback (retails at $15!) will go to one lucky entrant. What's your favorite fairy tale? Has it been transformed into a romance novel you love? Either make a comment here (include your email address) or use my contest entry form.  I’ll select the winner at random on November 25th, no earlier than 8 am EST.

Contest ends November 25, 2011 8 am EST.  Void where prohibited. Sorry, US only, no international entries. No purchase necessary. All my contest subject to these contest rules. 

Thanks to all who entered my Kate Noble contest. In addition to those who commented on the blog, entrants through the contest form came up with some lovely romance writer names. My favorite was Colleen's Ellie Cloud. Such a pretty name. Colleen didn't win the drawing so I'm going to send her a signed cover flat for Confessions From an Arranged Marriage. And the winners, drawn at random are ...
Diane S. and Bridget K. The Summer of You and Follow My Lead, respectively, will be winging their way to you both.

Confessions From An Arranged Marriage (coming in the spring) now has a cover. I'll be posting it here soon, but in the meantime you can get a sneak over at The Ballroom Blog. I'm also looking for ideas for future stories involving some of my secondary characters. There are three lades over there, each in need of a hero.

Kate at the RWA Conference
book signing in New York.

Kate Noble is witty, talented, funny, kind, and has naturally curly hair. Because her name begins with "N", I often sit next to her at book signings and that makes me happy. She's a wonderful neighbor. She also writes wonderful books (with beautiful covers) which are definitely not the run of the mill historicals. Her settings and characters will surprise and charm you every time.


Here's the blurb for THE SUMMER OF YOU.

Lady Jane Cummings is certain that her summer is ruined when she is forced to reside at isolated Merrymere Lake with her reckless brother and ailing father. Her fast-paced London society is replaced with a small town grapevine. But one bit of gossip catches Jane’s attention – rumors that the lake’s brooding new resident is also an elusive highwayman.

Jane must face the much discussed mysterioso after he saves her brother from a pub brawl. She immediately recognizes him from London: Byrne Worth, war hero and apparent hermit – who she finds strangely charming. The two build a fast friendship, and soon nothing can keep this Lady away from Merrymere’s most wanted. Convinced of his innocence, Jane is determined to clear Byrne’s name – and maybe have a little fun this summer after all…

I loved this book. And who can resist a hero described as a "mysterioso." Did you notice the "reckless brother." Aha! A reckless brother needs a books of his own and he gets it.


FOLLOW MY LEAD

Jason Cummings, Duke of Rayne is feeling the weight of his responsibilities – one of which is to get married. Being the most sought after bachelor in London can be trying, so who can blame him if he seeks refuge from the voracious hordes of young debutantes at the decidedly female-free Historical Society? Female-free, that is, until Winnifred Crane marches up to the door, demanding entrance.


Despite her prowess as a historian, Winn is denied membership to the Society. So she daringly offers an unusual bargain: if she can prove the authenticity of a certain painting, she’ll be granted recognition, fame, and respect. But to do that, she must go abroad. And to go abroad, she must have an escort, even a stubbornly unwilling one…


Jason has no desire to accompany Winn on her adventure across Europe, but even he is not immune to Winn’s passion for her profession. As the journey proves more difficult than planned, they must work together to stay one step ahead of their rivals… and the closer they get to the proof Winn seeks, the closer she and Jason become. But as their adventure turns dangerous, can Jason keep this headstrong bluestocking safe? And what will become of their growing bond when the adventure ends?

A duke and a bluestocking. Sigh.


I have signed copies of both these books to give away. I'll also throw in a signed cover flat of my next book, CONFESSIONS FROM AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE, and a selection of gorgeous bookmarks from other historical authors.

In addition to Kate's other talents, she has a brilliant name. How can you resist a historical written by someone whose name is NOBLE? What would your romance novel name be? Either make a comment here (include your email address) or use my contest entry form. If you have a preference for which book to win, let me know. I’ll select the winner at random on November 18th, no earlier than 8 am EST.


Contest ends November 18, 2011 8 am EST.  Void where prohibited. Sorry, US only, no international entries. No purchase necessary. All my contest subject to these contest rules. 

I awoke in the middle of the night screaming. The Trial of Queen Caroline was in the summer! 

That seminal event of 1820 may have given some people nightmares: the peers who had to spend August listening to scurrilous testimony in the stuffy Lords chamber, instead of relaxing on their country estates. But why did I care? Why did I rush with trembling hands to my history books praying that I’d remembered the date wrong, or the date in my book was wrong, or somebody else was wrong.

The Trial of Queen Caroline by Sir George Hayter. All my characters missed it.

Alas, no. I was wrong. The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton is set in summer 1820 and a good part of the action takes place at a very grand political house party. In July/August 1820. When the entire English political establishment was stuck in London.

 How did I come to make such a mistake? I’d written the book, revised the book, gone through copy edits and galleys. And it never occurred to me. Ouch.

To be fair, national events don’t impinge on the plot. The story could equally well have been set a year or two sooner, or later. The opening bears the date 1820 because it follows on from two books in the same series, the first of which was set in 1819 for a reason I cannot now remember.

I passed from shock to resentment. Why do we have to put dates in our books anyway? Jane Austen didn’t. Georgette Heyer didn’t. Unless one includes a real event, like the Battle of Waterloo, the exact year doesn’t matter.

I was already working on the next book which has a political setting. Looking at the events of that year I came up with “the great cabinet reshuffle of 1822,” not words to thrill anyone but the most dedicated political history geek. Also, I’d invented a family (loosely based on the dukes of Portland) at the very center of English politics. So I decided to liberate myself from the day to day reality of history and select a few broad themes around which to weave my romance. I didn’t even name the family's political party, though the savvy reader will spot them for Whigs. 

In Anthony Trollope I have an illustrious example. His novels feature a couple of politicians whom contemporary readers certainly identified as Disraeli and Gladstone. No, the Duke of Omnium was never Prime Minister. Heck, Trollope even invented the entire county of Barsetshire.

I’m thinking of omitting dates from future books. Meanwhile, my mistake really irks me.

P.S. The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton was published over three months ago and not a single person has pointed out my mistake.

I have to admit I wasn't much of a fan of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I didn't enjoy the movie and it resulted in the relationship of its stars Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie, from whose faces/dramas/children no trip to the grocery store is safe.

But I love Shana Galen, so when I heard she'd written a book pitched as a "Regency Mr. and Mrs. Smith" I knew I was in safe hands.

Here's the blurb:

No man can outsmart him...
Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England's most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn't the only one with secrets...

But one woman almost certainly can...
Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he's not who she thinks he is after all...

Shana Galen's brilliant Regency world features two noble spies who cross swords and meet their match in a fast-paced, witty love story full of excitement and heart.

Hard to resist and worth every minute you spend reading it. You may learn more and read an excerpt at Shana's website.

I have a signed copy of LORD AND LADY SPY to give to one lucky reader.  Can you think of any romances that were inspired by famous movies? If so did you enjoy the movie of the book more? If you can't think of one that's OK. You may still enter the contest. Either make a comment here (include your email address) or use my contest entry form. I’ll select the winner at random on November 11th, no earlier than 8 am EST.

Contest ends November 11, 2011 8 am EST.  Void where prohibited. Sorry, US only, no international entries. No purchase necessary. All my contest subject to these contest rules.  

Congratulations to Melissa from Ohio, the winner of A Night to Surrender. New contest later today!