It’s always a pleasure to drop by, TGTBTU. I’m honored to be your guest blogger today!
With the recent release of my two ebooks: The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton and The Scandalously Bad Mr. Milroy, I’m finally able to share more details about my earlier books that I wrote under the pen name, Barbara Pierce.
For those who haven’t heard of my other pen name, I debuted in February 2000 with a Zebra Splendor, A Desperate Game. Haven’t heard of it? Most readers haven’t. Six months before the book’s release, the Splendor line was discontinued by the publisher and the print runs for the remaining books scheduled were cut in half. It wasn’t an auspicious beginning for my publishing career.
However, I’d come too far to allow one setback derail my enthusiasm. I wrote two more historicals for Kensington before moving to St. Martin’s Press. To date, I have published sixteen Regency historicals. Needless to say, since my Kensington novels have been out-of-print for more than twelve years, I was thrilled when SMP picked up Tipton’s and Milroy’s books and had me update them.
The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton and The Scandalously Bad Mr. Milroy are part of the Bedegrayne family series. There are two other books in the series: Tempting the Heiress and Courting the Countess. They are currently available only in ebook.
The Bedegraynes will always have a special place in my heart because they were my first series. In fact, my debut is my only standalone book, though that wasn’t my original intention. I had a companion book planned for that book as well.
My original idea for The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton began with a television documentary. I had been watching a program on the history of resurrection men and people’s fears of being buried alive, and from there the idea for Tipton began to take form. What if a young man was buried alive and lived to tell the tale? What if the experience made him an outcast, even to his own family? What sort of man would he become?
The origins of Keanan Milroy came out of the research I had done for Tipton’s book. I had wanted a hero who was distinctly different from my first two books. While I was hunting for research books, I had come across some wonderful old books on pugilism, and the idea of tough, streetwise hero emerged. He was precisely the sort of man who could handle the prim Miss Wynne Bedegrayne, who, to her father’s chagrin, had been turning away all suitors.
I loved revisiting these books. It also gave me a chance to compare my first series with my current one, the Lords of Vice. After sixteen historicals, it’s fairly obvious that I have a predilection for the bad boys and outcasts of the Regency. My love affair with roguish heroes began when I picked up my first traditional Regency as a seventeen-year-old, and it hasn’t waned.
The hero in my upcoming November 26release, Twilight with the Infamous Earl, believes he is the ultimate Regency bad boy. From the amount of email I receive on his behalf, fans of the series concur. Vincent Henry Bishop, Earl of Chillingsworth—affectionately known as Frost—has captured readers’ attentions and hearts from the very beginning.
Honestly, I had a few doubts about Frost. While I was writing the first draft for All Night with a Rogue, I worried that he was a little too over-the-top. He was too arrogant, too pretty, and possessed a devilish nature that made it almost impossible (especially in the beginning) to decide if he was friend or foe. Oftentimes, he was a difficult character because he had a bad habit of ignoring my carefully plotted scenes while he took me in a different direction. This wasn’t always a bad thing. Frost has always been something of a trickster, and I was willing to let him have his way because with each book he began to reveal more of himself—Well, besides his gorgeous backside and sharp wit. As the series progressed, he proved to be a loving father-figure to his younger sister, a loyal friend to the Lords of Vice, and a complicated man who preferred to flaunt his wickedness but rarely spoke of noble qualities.
In Twilight with the Infamous Earl, Frost meets Miss Emily Cavell, a young lady who stubbornly sees only his notorious reputation and she is determined to keep her distance. Frost is confident that he can change Emily’s opinion of his character, but if he hopes to succeed in winning her trust, he will have to overcome old prejudices and risk something he never thought he possessed—his heart.
When I had originally pitched this series to my editor, I had set out to write seven books for seven friends. Finishing Frost’s book has been bittersweet, since I have reached the end of my journey with these wonderful men and their ladies. I will miss them.
What’s your favorite romance series? Share your favorites (it doesn’t have to be historical) or post a comment. I’m giving away two ebooks: The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton and The Scandalously Bad Mr. Milroy (sorry, U.S. readers only). I’ll let the winners pick their prize. I’m also giving away three Lords of Vice books, winners’ choice from the seven LOV books (international readers welcome).
My favorite historical series are Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton’s, Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series and Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflowers
I love your Lord of Vice series. I also loved Lisa Kleypas’ Hathaway series, and Mary Balogh’s Huxtable series, and of course Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series. It seems like Crystal and I have almost the same “loves”. I love your books, and am keeping my fingers, toes and everything else crossed that I get lucky. I’ve missed a couple of your Lord of Vice books, so this would be a fantastic opportunity. Thank you for this chance to win.
You know I’ve followed you since the beginning of the series, I gave your series to my book club and we all love your work, I’m a frost fan since day one it’s the one I’ve been waiting for the most, ( I’m re-reading all of them again currently at Sunrise with a Notorious Lord ><) weather i get the prize or not i'm buying your books I've love you're work and I cant wait to see the rest of it. I'm a huge Brenda Joyce fan Elisa James twisted fairy tales and my list goes on an one. As this series comes to an end all I can say is thank you for you're hard work 🙂
Thanks, Diane! Mary Balogh is another author I haven’t read. Writing puts a serious dent in my pleasure reading.
I should add that Frost’s book is included as a possible prize choice. However, if you pick Frost’s book, there will be slight delay. I’m still waiting for author copies.
I am so excited for Frost’s book to come out! I just need a few more weeks of distraction for it. I have too many series…most of them being historical romance. Lairds’ Fiancées series by Julie Garwood, Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt, Lords of Vice series by you, Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas, Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, The Sullivans series by Bella Andre and more.
Gosh there are so many series I LOVE. This one was one of my favorite and I loved Kleypas’ Wallflower series. I also love Quinn’s Bridgerton’s .
I’ve recently read “series” books by Lorraine Heath, Amanda Quick, Jeaniene Frost, Sophie Jordan, Larissa Ione, and Lora Leigh.
It’s so hard to choose, but I think Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series is one of the best out there.
Hi Alexandra, I will sorely miss your Lords of Vice. They were each such different characters. I can’t wait for Frost! As for favorite series, I do love Lorraine Heath’s Temptation series starting with She Tempts the Duke as well as the Jennifer Ashley’s MacKenzies and Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons. Congratulations on the upcoming release!
Favorite series: I have all your Lord of Vices so far; Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane, Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons, Stephanie Laurens’s Cynsters.
I love the Lords of Vice series! I have to get the last few because I got into reading other books while I was waiting for the next books in the series to come out. I have to go back and check to see which ones I still need. I also really enjoy Bella Andre’s Sullivan’s series. I love to read several books in a series so that I can check back in on favorite characters. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love this series. I cannot wait to get Frost’s book. CI have been waiting for it.
hard to pick a fave series as there are so many that I’ve enjoyed over the years (sometimes repeatedly) one of the 1st series I fell in love with was Lindsey Mallory’s so it of course holds a special place for me
Gamistress66–I haven’t read all of the Malory books, but Anthony and James are still my favorites heroes from that series.
Julie–I have Lothaire sitting on my bookshelf. Maybe I’ll get to it over Thanksgiving break.
Hi Melissa–My editor tweeted a pic of Frost’s book. It looks fantastic. I can’t wait to get my author copies. 🙂
Ellen–I haven’t read Bella Andre yet. I’ll have to check out her Sullivan series.
Hi Winnie–I’m loving everyone’s recommendations. I’m adding Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series to my wishlist.
Thanks, Nancy. I loved Ashley’s The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. I really need to make more time for pleasure reading!
I adore Frost and can’t wait for his story. I hope you don’t leave the Lords of Vice forever! Maybe a spin off?
Frost is the best one of them all. I can’t wait for this story. I hope you still do a spin off of this series
Biz, I’m open to expanding the LOV world, but I wanted closure for these heroes.
My favorite historical series are Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower (love “The Devil in Winter), Jenna Petersen’s The Ladies Spies Series and of course, your Lords of Vice series. I also like Susan Elizabeth Phillips contemporary novels as well.