If you like sinful heroes who fall hard for that perfect woman who pushes all his buttons, you should be reading Alexandra Hawkins‘ Lords of Vice series. The Notorious Lord is Vane, Earl of Vanewright, and he’s as sinful as they come, as Isabel is about find out once she engages him in a game she soon discovers can’t be won.

Vane has never been quite this fascinated with a woman before, he doesn’t know what hits him until it’s too late. Isabel finally acknowledges feelings for the man, even though he’s supposed to be someone else’s.

But fire and passion keep flaring between them, and they become lost in each other  – until secrets begin to unravel the dream that almost comes true.

Summary:

Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright—known around London as “Vane”—is the very picture of a rich, handsome ladies’ man. Why shackle himself to just one lady when he’s free to sample them all? In spite of his own mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Vane has sworn to stay single. Until he has a chance run-in with Miss Isabel Thorne…

A modest and refined beauty, Isabel is a lot more brazen than she appears. When a pickpocket tries to make away with Vane’s bejeweled snuffbox, Isabel attempts to thwart his escape…and manages to steal Vane’s heart. But the harder he tries to seduce the sharp-tongued, strong-willed Isabel, the more she resists. Now it’s up to this tried-and-true bachelor to find a new way to play the game…or risk losing the one woman who’s ever captured his heart.

Enjoy the teaser of their banter, just to whet your appetite for more sin….

“Merciful heavens, what happened to you?”

Isabel smiled wanly at their housekeeper as Lord Vanewright carried her over the threshold and into the small front hall.  “Good afternoon, Mrs. Allen.  It appears you were correct when you warned us that shopping on Bond Street was fraught with peril and unsavory characters.”

Delia focused on what mattered most to her.  “Oh, Mrs. Allen, you should have seen the lovely evening dress we found!  I vow I shall perish if it is sold before we have the opportunity to return to the shop.”  She gave her sister a side glance, disgusted that Isabel had ruined the afternoon by tangling with a pickpocket.

Isabel sighed.  There was no point in reminding Delia that they could not really afford the expensive dress.  Such details mattered little to her sister.  Isabel started when the earl murmured in her ear, “Shall I carry you to your bedchamber?”

A wordless exclamation was uttered by the housekeeper.  Surprised by the brazen suggestion, Isabel turned her face toward Lord Vanewright’s, resulting in her nose brushing against his chin.  “No you shall not!  The drawing room will suffice, my lord.”

Trailing after the trio, the housekeeper said, “Miss Thorne, forgive my impudence, but who is this gentleman?  And why is he carrying you about town as if he has the right to put his hands on you.”

“Not a word from you,” she warned him sternly.  With her arms wrapped about his shoulders, she could feel his body quaking with laughter.  “Mrs. Allen, allow me to present Lord Vanewright.  My lord, this is our housekeeper, Mrs. Allen.  She is looking after us during our brief stay in London.”

“Mrs. Allen, would you mind opening the door to the drawing room?  Miss Thorne had a terrible fright with a pickpocket and I want to see her settled comfortably before the surgeon arrives.”

“The surgeon?” Isabel echoed, struggling in the earl’s arms to be released.

Mrs. Allen stepped around the couple and opened the door.  “A pickpocket?  In a dressmaker’s shop you say?  Is no place safe, I ask you?”

“Isabel stumbled into the thief and rescued Lord Vanewright’s snuffbox,” Delia explained as she retrieved a pillow from a chair and placed it on the sofa.

Isabel marveled that the earl was not winded by his efforts.  He carried her to the sofa with an ease that suggested he appreciated the outdoors and had a casual familiarity with manual labor.  She was almost disappointed when he lowered her onto the sofa.

“When did you have time to summon a surgeon?” she demanded, annoyed by the unexpected expense.

“I ordered my coachman to fetch him.”  His look was inscrutable as it rested on her grim features.  “Are you in pain?”

“As I have told you over and over again, I am fine,” she said through clenched teeth.  “Ow!  Stop that.”  She slapped his hand away when he deliberately probed her wrapped ankle to prove that she was lying to him—again.

“Uh-huh,” he said, his tone suspiciously flat.  He glanced at the housekeeper.  “Mrs. Allen, would be so kind as to fetch a shallow basin of warm water for Miss Thorne’s ankle and a pot of tea to settle her nerves.”

Eyes blazing, Isabel glared at the presumptuous man.  “See here, Lord Vanewright.  You have no right to bully me or my staff!”  Before she said something that she would come to regret, Isabel cleared her throat.  “Yes, Mrs. Allen, I believe a cup of strong tea would benefit us all.”

Rudeness was clearly not the way to get rid of the man.  From the sparkling glint in his eyes, the earl was having too much fun baiting her.

“Nothing else to say, Miss Thorne?” he asked, sitting down in the chair to her left even though no one had invited the arrogant man to remain.

“Not at this time,” Isabel said haughtily.  “I am saving my strength for the surgeon.”

It’s funny how good intentions, routines, and healthy habits seem to fly right out the window when I’m on deadline.  I’d like to blame the sinus infection I was fighting last month when I turned in my latest manuscript; however, I don’t have much of an excuse for the other four books in the Lords of Vice series.  On New Year ’s Eve, I was reflecting on the pattern that always seems to emerge around deadlines.

1)   Slacking off at the gym.  It starts out innocent enough.  I begin to stress about the how much time I have left before I turn in a manuscript.  In those final weeks, every hour counts.  I calculate that I’m spending five hours at the gym a week.  Double that amount to factor in the time it takes me to drive to and from the gym and the shower afterward.  That’s ten hours a week I could be writing!  Forty hours in a month.  I finally convince myself that a brisk walk around the neighborhood a few times a week will suffice, but soon I’ll find a good excuse not even do that.  Last month, I had a pretty good excuse.  I was on antibiotics for two weeks and I had to reduce my exposure to the sun.  Even my husband couldn’t debate me on that one.

2)    Eating healthy is history.  Most of the time, my diet is very healthy.  Lots of fruits and vegetables and lean cuts of meat.  When I’m on deadline, I want carbs.  Bring on the junk food!  Chips, pretzels, sandwiches—anything that’s quick so I can get back to the keyboard.  I also get a weird craving for licorice.  I know I’m close to finishing a book when I have to buy Twizzlers.

3)    Sleep is optional.  When the story is flowing, I begin to cut corners on my necessary eight hours of sleep.  I find myself mentally writing scenes instead of sleeping, and insomnia kicks in because I don’t want to forget all that great dialogue.  I do keep a notebook next to my bed for random inspiration, but if I’m committed to an idea, I usually just get back up and write it.

4)    Pleasure reading.  This one is a difficult one to give up, and it explains why my TBR pile has turned into a small mountain.  When I’m on deadline, the only books I crack open are research-related.

5)    TV and movies.  This sacrifice tends to annoy the family because there are several shows we watch together.  Over the Christmas break, my youngest daughter and I finally made it to the theater to watch Breaking Dawn.  Naturally, when we stopped at the concession stand, the one candy she had to have was—you guessed it—Twizzlers!

Now that I have a little breathing room until my next deadline, I’ve returned to my healthier lifestyle.  I’m back at the gym.  Ugh, that first week was painful.  That should be incentive enough not to slack off again.  These days, I’m eating good carbs.  Twizzlers are off my grocery list.  The insomnia is gone, which is a relief.  I’ve missed my bed.  And over the holiday break, I was able to catch up on some of my pleasure reading and TV shows.

This has all the makings of a New Year’s resolution, doesn’t it?  I’d agree, but I know all my good intentions are going to slip away when that next deadline approaches!

[Ed. Alexandra is giving away two books today - first winner will receive a copy of Sunrise with a Notorious Lord and the second will get their choice of any other Lords of Vice novel - so be sure to leave a meaningful comment or question for her!]

Sandy M’s review of Sunrise with a Notorious Lord (Lords of Vice, Book 4) by Alexandra Hawkins
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 3 Jan 12

These Lords of Vice only get more and more interesting as the series goes on. Each man is so different from the other, with only their sin in common. They make sexy and sinful feel like satin sheets you want to roll around in until you’re sated and exhausted. And then there’s that tender side of them, the humorous side, the protective side, even the fiery and explosive side. But when it’s all for his heroine, well, sexy and sinful take on a rather different tone. I’d love to be wrapped up in any one of these men, to be the recipient of such devotion. And sin.

Isabel has been the lady of the house since her father’s death and her mother’s incapacity to get beyond her grief. So when fate smiles on her and her sister, Delia, in meeting a lady of the ton who then invites them to London for the season, Isabel is hopeful, albeit slightly, that Delia might make a good match after all, something the family desperately needs. Delia has other thoughts about marriage, however; she’d rather flirt with every man who steps in her path.

Vane, as the Earl of Vanewright is known to his friends, revels in sin just as the other Lords of Vice, though several of them have settled down recently. There’s too many lovelies and other earthly pleasures to be had for him to ever think of marriage. But when he’s going through a very public breakup with his current mistress, he spies the Thorne sisters in the dressmaker’s shop and moves on to those other pleasures. As beautiful as Delia is, it’s Isabel who garners more interest from Vane, and when she deftly steps in front of the pickpocket who helped himself to Vane’s snuffbox, he’s amazed and irritated she would take such a chance. But she’s all the more fascinating for it.

Thus begins Vane’s attempt to woo Isabel into his bed and her attempt to marry him to her sister. But then Isabel finds her attraction to Vane hard to resist, especially with his onslaught of attention. Plus, her role in his life is not all it seems to be, so how will he react when he finds out what she’s done? Vane takes a little longer to realize his feelings go just as deep. He can’t figure out why it is this particular woman seems so much more to him than any other woman or mistress he’s ever had. I enjoyed watching these two come to the same conclusion, starting from very different beginning points. However, it isn’t as easy as all that. They do hit bumps in the road, but they work it out. Except for those fears Isabel has about Vane learning the truth.

Vane does go ballistic. Through all they’ve shared, she’s lied to him. But when he learns her ruse began closer to home, he has to look at her “lies” differently. I like that he works this out on his own, he doesn’t need help or platitudes to know what he feels for Isabel is real. That’s why it hurts so darned much. He realizes he doesn’t need all those other women any longer. All the sin he needs is in one petite package.

While my favorite book in the series is still Till Dawn with the Devil, Vane is a very close second, despite no deep-seated tragedy or the like in his past. But I have a feeling that both of those may lose their standing to either of the next books, most especially Frost. There’s just something about that man. It’s probably his total devil-may-care attitude, what-have-I-got-to-lose look at life. He takes sin to a whole new level, and I am very anxiously looking forward to his story.

Grade: A

Summary:

FOREVER THE BACHELOR

Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright—known around London as “Vane”—is the very picture of a rich, handsome ladies’ man. Why shackle himself to just one lady when he’s free to sample them all? In spite of his own mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Vane has sworn to stay single. Until he has a chance run-in with Miss Isabel Thorne…

NEVER IN LOVE—UNTIL NOW…

A modest and refined beauty, Isabel is a lot more brazen than she appears. When a pickpocket tries to make way with Vane’s bejeweled snuffbox, Isabel attempts to thwart his escape…and manages to steal Vane’s heart. But the harder he tries to seduce the sharp-tongued, strong-willed Isabel, the more she resists. Now it’s up to this tried-and-true bachelor to find a new way to play the game…or risk losing the one woman who’s ever captured his heart.

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series:

We’d like to thank Alexandra Hawkins for joining us for the release of her latest Lords of Vice book, After Dark with a Scoundrel. Also, thanks to all of you who shared your vices, both good and bad, with the romance community. Books, print and electronic, and chocolate – why is that not a surprise to me? – seem to be the top vices for most of us. I’d say that’s a pretty good combination!

And now for our winners, if I may have a drum roll, please…

I used that handy-dandy random number generator, and here’s what it told me:

~ No. 6: Amy

~ No. 7: Linda Henderson

~ No. 19: Snowi Brume

~ No. 18: Audrey

Congrats, ladies! Please send your snail mail addresses to Lighthousetagger at gmail dot com and I’ll pass on your info to Alexandra.

These Lords of Vice by Alexandra Hawkins have been a lot of fun to read. Underneath their vices – the excesses, the debauchery and quite a bit more – however, they each have a somewhat tortured soul that only their heroine can soothe.

I think Dare is my favorite so far. He’s a man who feels everything so deep, but he plays everything close to the vest because of a family he’s still loyal too, despite the hurt they heap onto him. He tries to do the right thing, especially when it comes to Regan. But she’s the one good thing in his life he has to have no matter the cost.

So let’s have some fun today. Alexandra is diligently working on the next book in this series, but she’s going to take a few minutes here and there throughout the day to check in with us. What’s your worst vice? Or the opposite, your best vice?    Go whichever way you’d like! Four copies of After Dark with a Scoundrel are up for grabs, so be creative and be honest!

In the meantime, here’s the book summary:

One Stolen Kiss…

Young, tender, and highly impressionable, Lady Regan can’t help but be intrigued by her brother’s wayward friends—the wickedly charming Lords of Vice. One man in particular, the dashing Lord Hugh Mordare, known simply as “Dare” among the ton, utterly captivates her—in spite of his reputation as a notorious womanizer. But when she steals an innocent kiss from Dare, Regan is swiftly packed off to boarding school, safely away from danger…and desire.

One Sweet Seduction…

Five years later, Regan returns—a proper lady and ravishing beauty. Miss Swann’s Academy for Young Ladies has taught her how to behave in polite society. But all the training in the world cannot extinguish her love for Dare. Now, she hopes to beat the master of seduction at his own game—by daring Dare to love her in return. This time, both of their hearts are on the line…and winner takes all.

And now the excerpt:

London, April 25, 1822

“Is Lord Chillingsworth pleased that you will be able to join him in London this season?”

Regan blinked, distracted by the innocent question.  All she wanted to do was rend the paper in her hand into dozens of illegible pieces and scream.  Instead, she carefully folded Frost’s letter and smiled demurely at her friends’ expectant expressions.

“Of course.”  Her fingers tapped the paper lightly.  “While it has only been four months since I last saw Frost, I have not had the pleasure of visiting London in almost five years.”

And if Frost has his way, another five years will pass before he grants me his consent.

“Our first social season in Town!” Nina sighed.

Miss Tyne was nineteen and possessed an overly optimistic view on life.  The daughter of a baron, Nina was expected to make a good match for her family.  It was a laudable goal, and the young woman was amendable to her family’s wishes.  Regan was confident that Nina would soon have a dozen suitors vying for her affections.

Perhaps some of Nina’s optimism had rubbed off on Regan while they were in school, after all.

“Well, I say it is high time Lord Chillingsworth does his duty by you, and gives you a proper season, Regan.  I will have you know that Mama agrees as well.”

She did not have the heart to remind Thea that her mother was the person responsible for Regan’s banishment from London in the first place.  Frost would have never thought to send her away to school if it had not been for Lady Karmack’s meddling.  He had been too busy pursuing his own amusements to be bothered with giving his sister the education and polish befitting an earl’s daughter.

Lady Karmack, on the other hand, had taken one look at Regan and feared that under the care of her notorious brother, she was destined to become a famous courtesan or, worse, the wife of one of the Lords of Vice.  As a distant cousin, the older woman felt it was her Christian duty to remove Regan from her brother’s ghastly influence.

It still hurt that Frost had not fought harder to keep her.

In the beginning, Regan had not appreciated Lady Karmack’s keen interest in her welfare.  She had been disrespectful, outrageous, and oftentimes deliberately obtuse when it came to her lessons.  The first year away from Frost and the men she considered her family had been the worst, and Regan had not been shy about displaying her anger toward the people who sincerely believed that they were saving her from a life of depravity.  It was at Miss Swann’s Academy for Young Ladies that she gradually became friends with Thea and Nina.

Instead of looking down their noses at Regan’s outlandish behavior as many of the other girls had, the two young women had been in awe.  No one dared to challenge Miss Swann or speak her mind, yet Regan often did both.  The trio had banded together by the end of their first year, and had been nearly inseparable.  When Regan had not been sequestered at school, she often spent her summers visiting her friends.  If Frost was in residence at the family’s country seat, she joined him.  However, their weeks together were usually strained, and, in hindsight, Regan acknowledged that she was often to blame.

In those early years of what she had come to view as her banishment, she had written her brother dozens of letters, begging him to relent and come for her.  She missed her old life.  She missed Nox and the Lords of Vice.  She had often wondered if Dare might kiss her again if she returned to London.

Frost never gave her a chance to satisfy her curiosity.

He always denied her requests.  Not one for sentimentality, the only time her brother wrote to her was to tell her that she could not return to London until Miss Swann had transformed the hoyden into a lady.  His casual rejections had taken their toll on their relationship, and Regan could not quite forgive Frost for sending her away.

However, she was willing to let bygones be bygones if her brother was willing to be reasonable.

She intended to spend the entire season in London with or without his blessing.

With Lady Karmack on her side this time, Frost was going to find it difficult to dismiss her polite request.

“Will you be remaining at our house or will you join Frost at his town house?” Thea asked.

“My brother undoubtedly will want me to reside with him,” Regan brazenly lied.  “However, it might be prudent to remain here until I have had a chance to speak to him.”

Nina shut the book that she had been readin—g and placed it on her lap.  “Good heavens!”

Regan tried to appear innocent.  “I beg your pardon?”

Her friend rolled her eyes heavenward.  “I cannot believe your audacity.  Now tell us the truth, is your brother aware that you are in Town?”

Thea gasped.  “But you told Mama—–”

Regan gave her friends an exasperated look.  “Be sensible.  Our recent travels have added to the delays in my correspondence with my brother.  While Frost is looking forward to seeing me”–she crossed her fingers behind her back and prayed that her words were true–”he most likely has not received my last letter.”

There was no reason to tell Thea and Nina that Frost was expecting to see her in August when he returned to the family’s country estate.

Her arrogant brother had not mentioned London at all.

Thea thought Regan’s explanation was sound.  “Should we send a messenger to his town house?”

Unconvinced, Nina glanced at Thea and then Regan.  She nodded, silently agreeing to whatever plan Regan had concocted.  “Or that club he frequents.  Oh, what is it called?”

“Nox,” Regan absently replied, rising from her chair.  With Frost’s letter in her hand, she gracefully strolled over to the small fireplace.  “I do not believe that will be necessary, ladies.  Some messages are best delivered in person.”

Regan bent down and dropped Frost’s letter onto the burning coal embers.  The folded paper quickly caught fire, the flames greedily destroying the letter.

Her banishment was finally over.

Dare smoothed his hair back before he pulled the crimson drapery aside and entered the private theater box that Hunter had rented for the season.  His late arrival would likely provoke a few comments from his friends.

Frost did not disappoint him.

With his chair positioned at an angle to accommodate his long legs, the earl grinned up at him.  “Why, a good evening to you, Lord Hugh!”

Dare stepped over his friend’s legs and nodded to Hunter and Saint, who had yet to take their seats.  “Keep your nasty wit to yourself, Frost.  I know that I am late.  It could not be helped.”

Frost pivoted, pulling his legs in as he faced Dare.  “How kind of you to join us this evening.  I must confess when I espied Lady Pashley sitting alone in her box, I feared that your honorable nature might rear its ugly head and put an irreparable blight on our promising evening.”

“If true, Dare’s honor might not be the only head rising this evening,” Saint muttered to Hunter as he nudged the duke.

Dare acknowledged his friend’s ribald comment with a low chuckle.  He peered out into the sea of private boxes in search of his brother’s marchioness.  He spotted her one tier down.  Another couple had joined Allegra, and with luck they would remain at her side for the evening.

“Unlike you, Frost, manners and duty may dictate me to stop by Lady Pashley’s private box to pay my respects.  Nevertheless, I have no inclination to tarry.”

Frost snorted, making his disbelief apparent.

“While you may find this difficult to believe, another lady has engaged my attentions this evening. ” Dare was in too good a mood to be annoyed with Frost.  “Mrs. Randall has invited me to call on her after Lord and Lady Quinton’s ball.”

Frost’s eyebrows slid upward as he nodded with begrudging approval.  Hunter and Saint offered their congratulations.  The lovely twenty-eight-year-old widow had come out of mourning last season.  She had rejected all suitors and, as far as anyone knew, all potential lovers.  The young widow had even been impervious to Frost’s charms.

“I assume you expect us to join you at Lord and Lady Quinton’s ball?” Frost said, casting a sly glance in Lady Pashley’s direction.

Dare braced his palm against the back of his friend’s chair and stared directly into Frost’s turquoise-blue eyes.  “Mrs. Randall never mentioned me joining her at the ball.  Nor would she approve of me bringing the likes of you along to her town house.”

“Widows are daring creatures.  She might be agreeable with the proper enticement,” Frost said, bringing his gloved hand up to the apex of his trousers to make his vulgar point.

All four men laughed, earning them several curious looks from the nearby boxes.  Dare sat down beside Frost.  He was looking for another subject to distract his friend when Saint came to the rescue.

“Has anyone heard from Reign or Sin this evening?”

Hunter slid into the seat in front of Dare.  “Sin will join us later.  His wife decided to sit with her mother and sisters this evening.”

A noncommittal noise rumbled in Frost’s throat.  He did not exactly approve of Lady Sinclair, and the lady did not hide the fact that she was merely tolerant of Frost for her husband’s sake.

Hunter gave their friend a bemused glance.  “Show some respect, Frost.  Lady Sinclair is expected to deliver the Sinclair heir sometime in September.  Sin is just protective of his lady.”

“And Reign?” Dare prompted.

“Worse than Sin, now that he is a father.”  Saint crossed his arms across his chest and braced his stance by bending his left knee.  “He left London five days ago to collect his wife and infant daughter.  Reign did not want them traveling alone.”

Dare could not blame Reign.  He had never seen a gentleman so besotted.  Last season, when Reign had encountered Lady Sophia Northam at a ball, he had fallen hard for the demure blonde.  Reign had the lady wedded, bedded, and with child before the season had ended.

“Another good man . . . ,” Frost mumbled, the rest of his sentence unintelligible, but his meaning was clear to his friends.

Frost enjoyed ladies as well as any other gent.  He just did not view them as anything permanent in a man’s life.  As far as the earl was concerned, marriage had ruined Sin and Reign.

To some degree, Dare silently agreed with Frost.  His older brother’s marriage to Allegra was a miserable union, and Reign’s first marriage to Miss Roberts had been an unmitigated disaster.  Still, both Reign and Sin seemed happy in their recent marriages.  Dare did not begrudge his friends their newfound bliss.

While Saint regaled them with Vane’s latest mischief, Dare idly observed the lords and ladies from private box to private box.  He immediately spotted Lady Sinclair.  Seated beside Lady Harper, the marchioness was engrossed in a discussion with one of her sisters.  Sin was nowhere in sight.

Dare moved on to another private box, recognizing some of the patrons as he let his gaze continue to wander.  It meant nothing if his attention lingered on Allegra.  After all, she was a beautiful woman.  If his heart ached, it was his own damn business.  Before his older brother had stolen her from him, Allegra had been his.
Frost often teased him about Allegra, but his friend did not understand Dare’s inner conflict.  While a part of him would always love the lady, he also hated her.  His familial obligations kept him tethered, and he seemed doomed to never be quite free from her.

And his brother enjoyed Dare’s torment.

Before he could dwell further on his dark thoughts, a glint of amber caught Dare’s eye, distracting him from Allegra’s private box.  One tier up and two boxes to the right, a dark-haired lady in an amber evening dress presented him her elegant profile.  Captivated, he watched as the silken fabric of her dress gleamed like the sun while the candlelight from the chandeliers played across the angles of her puffed sleeves and skirt.  Her dark tresses had been pulled high, and only a few curls near her hairline had escaped.  The lady’s pale creamy complexion was untouched by the sun, yet even in the dim interior of the theater, her skin glowed with health and vitality.

Dare watched as she extended her gloved hand to a gentleman who had slipped into their private box to pay the woman and her female companions his respects.  Slightly envious that the gent had discovered the lady in amber before he had, Dare leaned forward as he watched the silent courtship play out before his eyes.  The young woman smiled and gestured as she formally introduced her friends.  The gentleman bowed, his eyes remaining on his amber prize.

Arrogant bastard.

The gentleman was older and possessed a weak chin.  Possibly two.  A lady of wealth and beauty could do better.  The three gentlemen entering the crowded box must have thought the same thing.

Dare stood when the young woman brought her hand to her heart, and then practically threw herself into the arms of one of her would-be suitors.  His gaze narrowed as recognition flooded his envious heart.

“What the devil–is that Vane?” Dare said his voice infused with such fury that Frost, Hunter, and Saint ceased speaking and stared at him with varying degrees of amazement.

He could not blame them for their curiosity.  Dare did not understand his reaction himself.  A small part of him was still tempted to leap from box to box until he reached Vane so he could have the pleasure of tossing the rogue headfirst into the pit.

What spared him was that the woman in amber released Vane and stepped back.  At Vane’s urging, she looked across the interior of the theater.  Dare inhaled sharply as his hungry gaze drank in her beauty.  Familiarity tickled his senses, but it was elusive.  Unexpectedly their gazes locked, and the dark-haired beauty seemed almost as startled as he was by the impact.

Recognition popped in his head like miniature fireworks.

The last time Dare had seen her endearing face, it had been sullied by soot and grime.

“Gents!” Sin said, bursting through the closed curtains at the back of their private box.  He was grinning from ear to ear.  “Why did no one tell me that our little Regan has come home?”

Sandy M’s review of After Dark with a Scoundrel (Lords of Vice, Book 3) by Alexandra Hawkins
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s 1 Feb 11

I love a good scoundrel story, especially when the scoundrel is more than what he seems, has a conscience meter despite what the ton thinks or believes about him. We get to see that other side of him and still enjoy his scoundrel-ness before he gives up all for love. It’s always fun to watch him realize little by little he no longer wants his previous way of life any longer, that that life isn’t worth losing the best thing to ever happen to him. Alexandra Hawkins has given us Dare in this latest edition of her Lords of Vice series. He’s faced with a number of losses in this book, and I enjoyed watching his realizations come to fruition when he least expects it.

Because Regan is the younger sister of Frost, another of the Lords of Vice, she’s grown up unsheltered when it comes to all the goings-on at Nox, the lords’ club. She’s seen it all. The men do protect her when her needed, teach her a host of unorthodox elements of life, along with the ordinary; she’s the sister they never had. It’s during a swimming lesson when all her newly attained womanly assets become apparent to Dare for the first time. He promptly ends the lessons and tries to put distance between them. He’s successful to a point, but years later when Regan is injured during a failed fireworks display, his protective instincts kick in, followed by those of a carnal nature. The next thing they all know, Regan is being sent to a girls’ school, no matter how much she objects and rebels.

Needless to say, it’s the ensuing years that is the most detrimental to Dare and Regan. She’s tired of being kept away from home after years of learning to be a lady, so she takes matters into her own hands and returns to London without Frost’s approval. She has seduction on her mind, and Dare doesn’t stand a chance. He’s lost the moment he sets his eyes on her, even before he knows it’s Regan. Their attraction has survived her absence, and though Dare tries to continue to do the right thing where she’s concerned, there’s no keeping them apart, no keeping them from falling even further for the other.

In between their dance of seduction, we also learn a great deal about Dare and why he’s the man he is. I’m surprised the man has turned out as well as he has considering his family. His loyalty, however, is one of the things I love about him. His honor, as well as that of all the lords, is another. He stands tall and lets Frost have a shot at him when necessary. And when it comes to Regan, Frost is constantly taking a shot at Dare!  But I like that it’s because they are friends that their honor means that much more to them.

I did enjoy Dare’s jealousy when either Regan flirted with another man – even another of Dare’s friends – or someone flirted with her. The poor gent tries to stay away, but near Regan is one place his honor takes a backseat, though he still does what’s necessary despite his refusal and vow not to. Dare is a very sensual and sexual man and Regan brings that out in him. Of course, that’s her aim when she decides to go back to London, and at first she’s not sure whether she’s made a mistake when Dare takes her up on her offers. I still vividly remember their love scene in the library. But it’s a scene later when Frost acknowledges their love to himself, Dare’s protection of Regan, and wonders if they realize the depth of their love. Wonderfully done.

This is an intriguing series and Ms. Hawkins knows just how to pull the best from her characters to make you care for them, love them, get irritated with them, and all those other delicious emotions we romance readers need in our books. There is much more to come in this series and I’m looking forward to every last bit of it.

Grade: A

Summary:

ONE STOLEN KISS

Young, tender, and highly impressionable, Lady Regan can’t help but be intrigued by her brother’s wayward friends—the wickedly charming Lords of Vice. One man in particular, the dashing Lord Hugh Mordare, known simply as “Dare” among the ton, utterly captivates her—in spite of his reputation as a notorious womanizer. But when she steals an innocent kiss from Dare, Regan is swiftly packed off to boarding school, safely away from danger…and desire.

ONE SWEET SEDUCTION

Five years later, Regan returns—a proper lady and ravishing beauty. Miss Swann’s Academy for Young Ladies has taught her how to behave in polite society. But all the training in the world cannot extinguish her love for Dare. Now, she hopes to beat the master of seduction at his own game—by daring Dare to love her in return. This time, both of their hearts are on the line…and winner takes all.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Till Dawn with the Devil (Lords of Vice, Book 2) by Alexandra Hawkins
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s 3 Aug 10

This is the second book in Ms. Hawkins’ Lords of Vice series, and sometimes second books are a bit of a letdown after a great start by the first out of the gate. Not so in this case. I actually like this book better than the debut of the series, All Night with a Rogue. The characters are intriguing and I really like the storyline behind our hero and, thus, our heroine as it’s unveiled how they are unfortunately connected through tragedy.

Reign is tired of being shunned and gossiped about since his wife’s death years before. Her parents have never believed their daughter accidentally died, that Reign had to have been involved, and they keep the gossip alive. So taking his life back during a ball, a blue-bowed dress catches his fancy. Finally spying the woman and her bows, he finds her in conversation with a nobleman he despises, getting rid of the man in short order to have the beauty to himself.

Nearly losing her sight in an accident when she was very young, Sophia has grown up as normal as possible, considering her disability. Dancing is not one of her favorite things, and when the Earl of Rainecourt ushers her to the dance floor, their encounter goes awry from the beginning. Sophia leaves him behind with a sigh of relief, because of his high-handed behavior and because she knows who he is.

What Reign doesn’t know is Sophia is the lone survivor of the horrible night her parents died at the hands of his father, who then ended his own life. Vowing to keep his distance at his realization, he discovers that’s easier said than done, Sophia is a woman a man just can’t forget.

Unbeknownst to Sohpia, her brother has made marriage arrangements for her, not allowing her to choose her own husband, all to take care of his gambling debts. Refusing to be used in such a way, Sophia turns to Reign instead, the lesser of two evils for her at that point. But that changes very soon.

Reign and Sophia are an intriguing pair. They come together despite their common past, an attraction between them neither can deny. Trust comes early, which is a breath of fresh air, because trust and love usually come very late for heroes and heroines in romance.

Reign thinks he will never marry again, his first wife’s deceit and anger more than enough to entice him to remain single for so long. But Sophia sneaks into his heart before he realizes it; her intelligence and zest for life making him look at her much differently than any other man before. And she just inherently knows he never could have murdered his wife, feels his pain and frustration at how society has viewed him over the incident.

Just when love is in the air, life deals them another blow, and Ms. Hawkins throws in a curve ball you don’t see coming. The intertwining of Reign’s and Sophia’s lives is much more complicated than anyone thought, and it’s a doozy when all is revealed.

TDwtD is a terrific second book in this series. I had it read in a day and then bemoaned the fact it was over. And now waiting for After Dark with a Scoundrel, out sometime next year, is going to be torture.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Few women can resist a man like Gabriel “Reign” Housely, the Earl of Rainecourt. With divine good looks, delectable charms, and delicious wealth, he would seem to be every marriage-minded mother’s dream match for their daughters. But not so, given the mysterious death of his first wife. Fortunately for Gabriel, he has no plans to seriously court any of the London ladies ever again. That is, until he shares one unforgettable dance with a mysterious stranger…

Exquisitely beautiful though decidedly modest, Lady Sophia usually shuns the festive ballrooms of London society. But when a man who calls himself “Reign” enters her life—seemingly from out of nowhere—and shows her true kindness, her wary young heart begins to melt. Of course, Sophia would be shocked to learn the truth about Reign’s past. But when scandal strikes, this devilish stranger may be her only salvation…

No excerpt found.

Other books in this series:

Now that you’ve met Alexandra, it’s time to delve into her new book All Night with a Rogue. I think you’ll see right off the bat that both Juliana and Sin are unique and you’ll have a lot of fun with them.

So here’s a sneak peek into the first chapter for you. Meet naughty Sin and the innocent but daring Juliana.

Something to get you started:

Notorious, handsome, and decadent, the Lords of Vice prowl the glittering ballrooms of Regency London— breaking rules and hearts with equal aplomb. But even the wildest rogue must eventually meet his match…

Seduce Lady Juliana Ivers and then cast her aside: Those are his sister’s instructions. Alexius Braverton, Marquess of Sinclair—known as Sin to the ton—is happy enough to oblige, especially when he catches a glimpse of his target. Juliana is completely unlike the empty-headed chits who barely hold his attention for a week. A true gentleman would leave her to find a worthy suitor. But then, a Lord of Vice would never claim to be a gentleman.

Juliana is expected to marry well to improve her family’s finances, even if she secretly longs to make a living through her musical compositions. A dalliance can only complicate matters, though not even practical Juliana can help succumbing to the aptly named Sin. But one unforgettable night will draw her into a scandalous affair—and a seduction begun as sport will soon become deliciously, dangerously real…

CHAPTER ONE

London, May 27, 1820

Seduction was not foremost in Lady Juliana Ivers’s thoughts.  However, the same could not have been said for her escort, Mr. Engelheart.  The moment she had agreed to step out onto the upper garden terrace with him, her amiable supper companion at Lord and Lady Lettlecott’s prestigious ball had turned into a lecherous, brutish knave.

So naturally Juliana ended up in the Lettlecotts’ hazel tree.

Juliana pressed her lips against the comforting trunk and uttered a brief prayer of appreciation for the beautiful old tree that had been coppiced in its youth.  Four distinct trunks radiated out from the ground at thirty, fifty, and seventy-degree angles.  In spite of the hindrance of her evening dress, she had managed to use one of the opposing low-lying trunks as a step as she carefully inched her way high enough for the foliage to conceal her.

Her beautiful dress was ruined.

The stylish frock of white satin with pearl and jet beads dangling from the short sleeves was now etched with smudges of dirt and lichen from the trunk of the tree.  The higher confusion of corkscrew branches and spiky serrated leaves caught at the jet beads and flounces adorning the bottom of her skirt and her upswept hair. Even her sandal slippers and white kid gloves had not been spared the abuse.

Maman would likely despair over the loss.  The tumultuous five years following her husband’s unexpected death had cast their family on the precipice of financial ruin.  Maman had done her best to provide for their basic needs and the considerable investment needed to launch Juliana and her two older sisters, Cordelia and Lucilla, into polite society.  When Maman had summoned a modiste from London to their rather unassuming house in Norfolk, the widowed Marchioness of Duncombe had vowed to see each of her daughters married and their future secured.

She would undoubtedly be shocked to see Juliana perched in a tree as she tried to escape the potential suitor.

“Lady Juliana!”

She froze at the sound of Mr. Engelheart’s voice.  In the distance, Juliana could hear the merry tempo of string instruments and a tambourine as the musicians in the ballroom played the old ballad “Blow the Candle Out”.  It was a cautionary tale of a young lady and her apprentice lover.  Without a doubt, the song added a certain irony to Juliana’s predicament.  One that would be likely lost on her lovelorn supper companion.

Juliana had hoped Mr. Engelheart would have given up by now.  After she had broken free from his unwanted embrace, she had spun around and escaped down the polished stone steps that led into the Lettlecotts’ expansive back gardens.  The moonlight and flickering lanterns that lit up the meandering paths had bolstered her nerve.  She had assumed that the gentleman would have surrendered with dignity.

Sadly, the man’s head was as thick as his hands were clumsy.

Her illuminated path to freedom also fired Mr. Engelheart’s passion to catch his slippery quarry.  She veered off the gravel paths into a small thicket.  The time had come for drastic measures.

Hence the hazel tree.

“Lady Juliana?”  Mr. Engelheart was close enough that she heard the fine tremor in his inflection.   “You have nothing to fear from me.  I just want to escort you safely into the ballroom.”

He paused and listened to the night sounds for some clue to her whereabouts.

Juliana’s lips thinned as she wondered how long would she have to remain in the tree?  Minutes?  An hour?  The rest of the evening?

Juliana shifted her body in an attempt to scoot down from her perch.  A faint hiss escaped Juliana’s lips as the sharp point of a broken branch punctured her stocking and scratched her left calf.  Leaves rustled a warning as she struggled to free herself.  Her struggles only made matters worse.  Portions of her skirt were snagged, and the more she moved, the higher the hem crept up her legs.  She was soundly caught by this wretched tree!

Then soft feminine laughter floated like pollen on a spring breeze, and Juliana came to a halt at the throaty sound.

“Catch me if you dare,” the unidentified woman called out to someone, probably her lover, as she unknowingly raced toward the tree Juliana was starting to view as her own.

There was the sound of multiple footfalls on the gravel path and a brief tussle.  It was followed by a high-pitched burst of laughter.  Clearly the lady had been caught by her male companion.

However, sheer panic set in when a dark-haired woman adorned in a black bombazine dress carelessly brushed against the nearby shrubbery and staggered toward the bench next to the hazel tree.  She slipped onto the bench and extended her outstretched gloved hand to the man casually strolling into Juliana’s line of vision and for some reason her heart immediately began to pound.

This gentleman was no Mr. Engelheart.  He moved stealthily, like a well-fed predator in his prime.  His dark hair was long and straight.  Most of the length was tied in a queue at the back of his nape.  However, some of the dark, glossy ends had escaped during his playful romp with his lover and the ends curled slightly at his jawbone.  Juliana could only see intriguing glimpses of his face.  Her elevated position and the shadowy thicket deprived her of details, but Juliana sensed his gaze was fixed on the lady beckoning him to join her on the bench.

“I have been waiting all evening for this,” the woman purred.

Juliana’s forehead furrowed in puzzlement.  The woman’s voice sounded dreadfully familiar.

“Half the fun is the chase,” the man said, his low, smooth tones trailing down Juliana’s spine like phantom fingers.  He clasped his companion’s wrist, drawing her up so that her breasts were flush against his chest.  “Besides, I doubt you want an audience when we fuck.”

Juliana’s breath caught and she found her eyes locked on this depraved gentleman in fascination.

He lowered his head and claimed the woman’s lips.  For a few minutes, the only sounds were breathy gasps and moist sucking sounds of fervent kissing.

“Or maybe you do,” the man chuckled with something akin to admiration in his silky, rich tone.  He tugged on her full sleeve and bared her left shoulder.  The woman clutched him tightly and moaned when he put his mouth on the exposed flesh.

Juliana peeked down as the woman uttered a wordless sound of need.  She slipped her hands into the man’s coat, her fingers splayed over his inner waistcoat.  From her perch, Juliana recognized the bird egg-sized diamond pinned to the front of the woman’s gown.  Juliana’s lip curled into a sneer.  She had been wrong about the color of the dress.  It was a dark blue rather than black.  The gaudy diamond winked at her.  The amorous lady below was her hostess, Lady Lettlecott.  The same odious woman who had cheerfully paired Juliana earlier with the lecherous Mr. Engelheart.  She did not recognize the lady’s companion, but he was not Lord Lettlecott.

“Sin, it has been too long since our last meeting,” the countess said breathlessly, losing her concentration when he cupped the swell of her right breast and worshiped the flesh with his mouth.  “I—I was beginning to feel . . .”—she sucked in her breath—“undesired.”

Sin paused in his sensual ministrations and touched Lady Lettlecott’s cheek with undisguised affection.  “If you move your hand lower, you can feel my desire, Abby.  All the same, let’s not complicate our friendship with messy sentiment that neither one of us wants.  Our needs are pathetically basic.  Fortunately for you, I’m in the mood to accommodate you.”

Juliana blinked at the man’s detached bluntness.  She hugged the tree trunk, watching Lady Lettlecott struggle about in Sin’s embrace as if she was trying to raise her hand to slap him.  The man seized the lady’s wrists with one hand as he delivered a firm swat to her backside.

“Behave!” he growled.

Juliana grinned at the countess’s well-deserved comeuppance.  This was more entertaining than any drama Juliana had ever witnessed in a ballroom, and the ton was notorious for public spectacles.

“Do you really want to fight me, Abby?”  Sin separated the countess’s hands and nipped one of her palms with his teeth.  For chastisement, it was mild and oddly sensual.  Juliana’s stomach fluttered in response.

Lady Lettlecott evidently agreed with Juliana’s private assessment.  The lady ceased her futile struggles and leaned heavily against him.  She moaned, signaling her surrender to his overwhelming dominance.

“You are so wicked, Sin.  If I had any sense, I should leave that preening cock you are so proud of stiff and aching.”

Sin released her wrists and stepped back.  “Then leave,” he replied, sounding almost bored by her threat.  He sat down on the bench, resting his left arm casually on the back of the bench.  “This quiet spot and my hand are more than enough for the delicate chore, my dear.”

Juliana’s eyes widened in shock and she craned her neck to glimpse even more of the gentleman who Lady Lettlecott thought was worth the risk of inciting her husband’s wrath.  She could not see Sin’s face at all from this angle, though she deduced from his confidence and movements that he was undoubtedly handsome.  She had met the Earl of Lettlecott on her arrival.  He possessed an admirable face, and Juliana doubted his wife would settle for an inferior specimen of manhood.

“There was a time when you claimed that you liked it best when I used my hands on your flesh,” the countess said, edging close enough so that her skirts brushed his knee.

“Did I?” he said, his soft patronizing tone was enough to make Juliana grit her teeth.

Sin had slumped down into an informal sprawl on the bench, his long legs spread out in front of him.  Lady Lettlecott seemed to be staring between his legs intensely.  Juliana conceded that she was curious, too, about this so-called magnificent testament of maleness concealed within his trousers.  As she had lived a sheltered life, her knowledge of the male body was woefully incomplete.  What was it about Sin that warranted such rapt attention from Lady Lettlecott?

To Juliana’s surprise, Sin did not seem troubled by the countess’s frank perusal.  In fact, Juliana sensed that he was enjoying his companion’s brazen actions.  Without making a sound, Juliana lifted her upper torso slightly to the left of the sturdy branch.  She ignored the burning sensation in her eyes as she strained to see beyond the enigmatic shadows just above the man’s muscular thighs.

Lady Lettlecott slowly moved into the V created from Sin’s outstretched legs.  Wordlessly she knelt down between his legs so her upturned face was inches from the buttons adorning the front of his trousers.  “Perhaps a demonstration is in order, my lord.”  Her hands lovingly stroked the intimate contours on display.

Here?  No!  She would not dare!. . .Would she?

Not trusting herself, Juliana clamped her hand over her mouth.  Egad, this was not happening!  The faint sounds of fabric sliding over fabric and the countess’s sigh of appreciation at what she had uncovered confirmed that Juliana was about to become the unwilling spectator of a lovers’ tryst.  It took an immeasurable amount of inner fortitude to quell her mounting panic.

“Oh, Sin, my love, I will perish if you deny me a taste!”

Juliana cringed, unwilling to dwell on what portion of Sin that the countess wanted to taste.  Juliana had never kissed a man, let alone examined his—what had the countess called it?—his preening cock?  Lady Lettlecott, conversely, seemed to have an unnatural obsession and familiarity with it.

If she and Sin discovered Juliana, what would they do to her?  Offer payment for her silence?  Threats?  Violence?  She felt her throat constrict as half a dozen choices flashed through her mind like repeating lightning strikes on her skull.

A murmur of encouragement rumbled deep from Sin’s throat.  Juliana shivered at the wild masculine sound of abandonment.  She rubbed the sudden ache in her breasts.  The poor constricted flesh was mashed by her corset and the unyielding hardness of the trunk.  She yearned for the moment when her maid would free her from her clothing to ease the tightness that she felt all the way down to her stomach.  Below, Sin widened his stance, giving the kneeling woman better access to his defining attributes.

Juliana bit her lips to suppress her soft groan.  Her legs instinctively tightened around the trunk of the hazel tree, pressing the hard roughened surface against her feminine core.  In spite of the coolness of the evening, she felt hot and light-headed.  If she did not calm her rattled nerves, she was going to do something to give herself away like fainting and falling out of the cursed tree!

In an agitated gesture, she dragged her hand from her hair, causing the unexpected to happen.  One of the tiny white plumes tucked into her upswept tresses slipped free.  Without thinking, Juliana reached out to grasp the errant two-inch curl of fluff that was destined to be her downfall.  The lissome plume evaded her fingers, dancing on the breeze created by her frantic motion.  It silently drifted down to the couple.

Juliana brought her fist to her mouth and silently prayed.  Both Lady Lettlecott and Sin were distracted for the moment.  Perhaps the tiny feather would remain unnoticed.  The husky moans and disconcertingly wet smacking noises coming from below heartened Juliana.

Until the fragile white plume landed on the top of the countess’s dark tresses.  Even in the moonlight, it was a stark beacon.  Juliana held her breath.  She mentally willed the plume to catch another breeze and disappear into the inky blackness of the ground.

Fly!

Any hope she harbored was dashed when Sin’s fingers moved from his lover’s shoulder to the lady’s hair.  To the traitorous plume.  His shoulders stiffened as he held up the feather, rubbing the light down between his fingers as he wordlessly contemplated its origins.  Then without warning, Sin tipped his head back and stared directly into Juliana’s troubled gaze.

Sandy M’s review of All Night with a Rogue, (Lords of Vice, Book 1) by Alexandra Hawkins
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s 2 Feb 10

I love finding new authors to read. Not that my old favorites don’t cut it anymore, there’s just nothing wrong with new blood being pumped into the market. And Alexandra Hawkins is making a big splash with her new Lords of Vice series about seven friends, rakes and rogues all of them, who challenge their lady loves to take them as they are. Her debut book gives us the first of these really bad boys, and imagine his surprise when he comes up against something he truly wants and for the first time in his spoiled life he can’t have it.

I love the way this book starts out. It’s unique but fun. The heroine is literally up a tree, trying to get away from an annoying dinner partner, and she trades one trap for another. But this second trap teaches Juliana a few things about sex and the feelings it can arouse in a person even if they aren’t one of the participants; teaches her something of how women can please men in ways she never imagined; teaches her spying on others in compromising positions, however innocently, may not end the way she expects.

Sin has grown up getting anything and everything he’s wanted, by fair means or sinful. Thus his nickname. As he’s being pleasantly pleasured by his current mistress, he discovers a beautiful voyeur in the tree above them. Gamely distracting the current woman in his life, he takes on the next as he becomes more intrigued with his beautiful tree fairy. Innocent though she may be, Sin is determined to have her and he always gets what he wants. It just so happens she’s the very same woman his sister wants ruined, and she asks Sin to do the honors. In need of a new pastime, he agrees and is shocked to learn Juliana is also his tree-climbing spy.

Thinking she’s easily gotten out of an embarrassing situation, Juliana is surprised when Sin returns to aid her from her perch and then begins his seduction of her on the spot, though she doesn’t know it yet. When she does realize what he’s up to, she really doesn’t have a chance against his charm and her seduction is complete in no time. Juliana knows when the season comes to an end and she and her family return to their home, Sin won’t even remember her name next year. But in the meantime she’s going to enjoy this dalliance for all it’s worth.

And then things begin to go wrong in a very big way. Her mother’s gambling to keep the family afloat takes a nosedive and Juliana is the one to pay the price. Forced to leave Sin and unable to tell him so, when he finds her in the company of another man, harsh words are said, punches are thrown, Sin drinks himself into a stupor and Juliana awaits a night of horror. It seems there’s no way for these two to come together ever again.

In the beginning, Sin’s arrogance and selfish ways worried me. Though he’s full of fun and sin, I wasn’t sure he could be turned around into the hero he’s meant to be. I should have known better. Once he learns what Juliana is going through after their public fight, he turns into a very dangerous rogue and goes after what he hopes will be his. And a little groveling never hurts. Juliana is a strong lady. She’s the one to suffer for those she loves. I admired her when she walked away from it all with her attitude intact, especially toward Sin.

The only thing I wanted more of was another love scene or two with these two. They’re a dynamic couple together and they sizzle when making love. A couple more scenes would have added a little more to their allure. I did enjoy all of Sin’s friends, the other Lords of Vice. We are introduced to each, get to know them enough to anticipate their books in the future. It will be quite interesting to see what Ms. Hawkins does with them all.

A very nice start to an intriguing series. I’m looking forward to every one.

Grade: A-

Summary:

Notorious, handsome, and decadent, the Lords of Vice prowl the glittering ballrooms of Regency London— breaking rules and hearts with equal aplomb. But even the wildest rogue must eventually meet his match…

Seduce Lady Juliana Ivers and then cast her aside: Those are his sister’s instructions. Alexius Braverton, Marquess of Sinclair—known as Sin to the ton—is happy enough to oblige, especially when he catches a glimpse of his target. Juliana is completely unlike the empty-headed chits who barely hold his attention for a week. A true gentleman would leave her to find a worthy suitor. But then, a Lord of Vice would never claim to be a gentleman.

Juliana is expected to marry well to improve her family’s finances, even if she secretly longs to make a living through her musical compositions. A dalliance can only complicate matters, though not even practical Juliana can help succumbing to the aptly named Sin. But one unforgettable night will draw her into a scandalous affair—and a seduction begun as sport will soon become deliciously, dangerously real… Read an excerpt. (click excerpts page)

Other books in this series:

So glad you could make it back to Duck Chat!

Alexandra Hawkins joins us today, so sit back and enjoy!

Starting off strong with her Lords of Vice series, Alexandra is a new voice in the historical romance genre. All Night with a Rogue, her debut book, kicks off the three-book series that will hopefully expand to cover all seven of the fascinating rakes she’s given readers in ANwaR. So if you love a bad-boy hero, you’re going to have a heck of a time reading these books.

Alexandra is married and lives with her family in Georgia. Like the rest of us, she discovered romance at an early age. That helped fuel her already fanciful imagination, and now her first book is published. A dream come true all authors can attest to.

Be sure to leave Alexandra a question or comment, because she’s very graciously offered up a copy of All Night with a Rogue to one lucky reader.

Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Welcome to The Good, the Bad and the Unread, Alexandra. Let’s start off by talking about your new series, Lords of Vice, generally and then we’ll get to those handsome lords individually. Would you tell our readers about the series overall, where the idea came from, and did it turn out as you originally envisioned?

ALEXANDRA HAWKINS:   Thanks for inviting me to stop by, TGTBTU!

I came up with the general concept for the Lords of Vice series first.  I have a weakness for bad boys, and the Regency rake has always been one of my particular favorites.  My short pitch for the series was:

Notorious, decadent and outrageously handsome, the Lords of Vice prowl the glittering ballrooms of Regency London’s polite society, breaking rules and setting hearts aflutter while they indulge every carnal whim . . . every desire . . .

Just reading it again, gives me all sorts of ideas!  I decided to give my rakes their own private club so there was a constant in the series that connected the seven men while each book focused on a different hero.

I only have one book out, but I’m happy with the results so far!

DC: If you could retire any interview question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

AH:  That’s an easy one.  Where do you come up with your ideas?  It’s a fair question but it’s not like there’s an idea spring in my backyard.  Ideas for stories come to me at odd times.  I might be vacuuming the living room when a scene pops into my head.  Or I might see something on TV that inspires me.  I’ve even used ideas that I’ve culled from my dreams.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

AH:  Often.  I usually just go with it.  I’ve come up with some interesting scenes because I’ve let my character have his or her way.  Other times, it’s frustrating.  Frost, in particular, was a very difficult character because he didn’t want to cooperate.  I remember emailing one of my friends and telling her that Frost was a complete ass and I was tempted to kill him off in the first book.  I didn’t.  Now that I’m working on book three, I’ll admit that his quirky sense of right and wrong has grown on me.

DC: The first book in your series is All Night with a Rogue, which was just released yesterday. We meet Sin and Juliana in this book. Would you tell our readers about them and give them a sneak peek into their story?

AH:  When the story opens, Sin has begun to question his life.  He’s bored, cynical, and he craves a challenge.  He initially thinks his host’s wife will cure his ennui until he glances up and sees the heroine perched in a tree.

For Juliana, this is her first visit to London.  Her mother has brought Juliana and her sisters to town in hopes of securing solid matches for them because the family is in a financial fix.  Juliana has doubts about her mother’s plans, and longs to explore her secret dream of having her musical compositions published.

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

AH:  Sometimes.  It’s usually the male characters that cause trouble.  I wish I could say that I win all the arguments, but twenty-one years of marriage have taught me the art of compromise.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

AH:  A really bad migraine.

DC: What is it that draws you to write historicals, especially the Regency era?

AH:  The first romances that I glommed were traditional Regencies.  I fell in love with the country houses, the costumes, and elegance of the period.  That world seemed so perfect.  So much so, I didn’t quite trust it.  As a writer, I longed to pull off those polite masks and ferret out everyone’s dark secrets.

DC: Till Dawn with the Devil is due out in August. This is Gabriel and Sophia’s book. Would you give us some insight into their relationship?

AH:  Gabriel, known as Reign, hasn’t been very lucky when it comes to love.  His first marriage was a loveless, grievous debacle.  When his pregnant wife was found dead at the foot of her bed, many people believed he had murdered his wife in a drunken rage.

Lady Sophia has felt like a burden her entire life.  A terrible childhood accident left her visually impaired so her independent spirit has been battered by her limitations.  Her wastrel brothers ignore her, which usually suits her.  However, she’s lonely and longs for some excitement in her life.

Then Lady Sophia meets Reign, and her adventure begins!

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

AH:  Within the romance genre, I wouldn’t mind trying my hand at romantic suspense or something paranormal.  Outside the romance genre, I’d lean toward horror.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

AH:  Trust your instincts.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

AH:  She looks before she leaps.  She also draws diagrams.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

AH:  Dark and edgy with a splash of humor.

DC: The next book in the series is After Dark with a Scoundrel. Can you give us just a hint of what to expect when it’s released in 2011?

AH:  Book three is Dare and Lady Regan’s story.  Lady Regan is Frost’s younger sister, and let me tell you, she can be just as unpredictable as her brother.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

AH:  Good question.  I need a creative outlet, so I probably would have started my own business.

DC: Do you have any works in progress you can tell us about?

AH:  Till Dawn With the Devil is in production.  I’m also working on the first draft for After Dark With a Scoundrel.

DC: What else is on the horizon for Alexandra Hawkins?

AH:  I hope to write more Lords of Vice stories.  If not, I’ll move on to another project.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Dark

- smooth or chunky peanut butter?    – Chunky

- heels or flats?     – Flats

- coffee or tea?     – Tea

- summer or winter?      – Summer

- mountains or beach?      – Beach

- mustard or mayonnaise?      – Mustard

- flowers or candy?    – Flowers

- pockets or purse?      – Purse

- Pepsi or Coke?     – Coke, preferably Cherry Coke Zero

- ebook or print?     – Print

And because we still enjoy the answers we get:

1. What is your favorite word?    – Yes

2. What is your least favorite word?   – Whatever

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – Music

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – In-laws

5. What sound or noise do you love?     – Laughter

6. What sound or noise do you hate?     – That beeping sound the garbage truck makes

7. What is your favorite curse word?    – Crap

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?      – Archeology

9. What profession would you not like to do?     – Animal Artificial Insemination Technician

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?   – “You did good, kid.”

DC: We’re so glad you were with us today, Alexandra. Thank you!