Extra Scene from Confessions from an Arranged Marriage

For lovers of Sebastian Iverley - or simply if you'd like to see a glimpse of his feud with Blake coming to an end - I've posted an extra scene that was cut from the book. Contains spoilers so better enjoyed if you've read Confessions. Here it is! I'd love to know what you think.

Ladies Make Passes at Viscounts in Glasses

Sebastian Iverley, the hero of THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT, is not your average romance hero.

1. He wears spectacles.
2. His clothing fits badly and it’s years out of fashion.
3. His hobby is rare book collecting.
4. His favorite means of communication is the grunt (which might be OK in a caveman romance but this is a Regency)
5. He despises women. That’s not so unusual but…
6. He has never had anything to do with women. Nothing. Nada. In fact he’s a [whisper] … virgin.

So what happens to this unpromising male specimen? He falls in love. He takes one look at Diana Fanshawe’s accidently exposed leg and he’s a goner. But sadly for Sebastian, Diana wants to be a duchess and she bets Sebastian’s detestable cousin Blake (a ducal heir) that she can get Sebastian to kiss her.

Poor Sebastian! When he finds out he’s devastated, he’s miserable, and hell hath no fury like a bookworm scorned. With the help of his buddies in the Burgundy Club he gets an extreme makeover and the fun begins.

Sebastian cleans up really well, and Diana can’t help noticing that he’s really quite the hunk. On the other hand she kind of misses the clever, inarticulate guy he used to be…

So romance readers. Are you ready for a nerd hero? Would you love him even if he didn’t get cleaned up?

[this blog has also been posted at avonromance.com]

My New Cover

I finally got the go-ahead to reveal the cover of THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT, which will hit the shelves September 28, 2010. When I saw that gorgeous blue I let out a big, happy "aaaah!" (Given the lack of control we authors have over the covers of our books, it's always a relief when we get a good one.)

Readers of THE WILD MARQUIS may remember Sebastian Iverley as a bespectacled, woman-hating book collector, not the most obvious hero material. To put it bluntly, he's a Regency nerd. When he falls in love, he falls hard, only to discover that the lovely Diana is trifling with him. Hell hath no fury like a bookworm scorned, so he's determined to get back at her. Not only does he conveniently inherit a peerage, he also cleans up very well indeed.