Sandy M’s review of A Thoroughly Compromised Lady by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Historical 18 Jan 11

What I always love about reading Bronwyn Scott books is that her heroes and heroines usually work together to resolve whatever conflict but still stay the course when it comes to their relationship. They have their disagreements and quibbles, but they still stay true to each other and to themselves. Such is the case with Jack and Dulcinea in A Thoroughly Compromised Lady. They stole my heart early and never once broke it.

Dulci is the toast of the season – actually, she has been for several seasons after making the decision to never marry to retain the freedom she’s got being the sister of an earl. She enjoys the witty banter and innuendo exchanged with Jack, Viscount Wainsbridge – something the ton enjoys just as much. They’ve known each other forever and Dulci’s feelings for the man have grown over the years, but his job with the Crown takes him away for unknown periods of time, usually at all the wrong times. Dulci is a fascinating woman, into history and fencing – more reasons to keep her atypical freedom.

Vowing to never marry because he knows a marriage would never last due to the frequency the King needs his services, Jack continues to do his duty while looking forward to his verbal dueling with Dulci when he’s in London. As much as he’d like more with her, his best friend, Dulci’s brother, would kill him for taking advantage. But when he’s given his next assignment, she’s right in the middle of it with South American artifacts that include a hidden forged map that could start a war between England and Venezuela. Figuring out what it all means, Dulci refuses to stay in the background where it’s safe, much to Jack’s frustration.

When the villain learns Dulci has his map, he takes no prisoners in his haste and greed to get what he wants. Jack is sly and a step ahead, so he and Dulci escape to South America to clear Jack’s name against  fraudulent accusations and to reaffirm English claim to British Guiana. It’s the adventure of a lifetime for Dulci and she takes to it like a duck to water, even despite the danger. She keeps her head when that danger does hit, and she does the same when it comes to confronting Jack with her feelings as well as his.

Even at the end Jack tries to protect Dulci, and I wanted to shake him silly! He acknowledges she’s the perfect partner for him, but he can’t get past something happening to her. He’d rather die than have that happen. It takes facing natives with their own laws to bring home how life without her would be. I like their honesty with each other, even in dire circumstances. They’re an intriguing couple, and I had fun with them and enjoyed them immensely.

As an aside, though I like the cover of this book, I’m a tad disappointed Harlequin has stepped away from the plate when in comes to Ms. Scott’s books. Her previous covers have been different and simply a lot of fun, Pickpocket Countess being my favorite. That cover tells the story before you even start reading. I think the art department could have had a bit more of a good time with Jack and Dulcinea.

I always enjoy Ms. Scott’s action and mystery as well as her characters and storylines in her books. She pulls you into the story quickly, plays on your emotions frequently, and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end. A Thoroughly Compromised Lady is a very satisfying read.

Grade: B

Summary:

When it comes to fencing, be it with words or weapons, Dulci Wycroft considers herself more than the equal of any man. Only once has she ever met her match….Jack, Viscount Wainsbridge, is all charm and quick wit in the ballroom, but his impenetrable green eyes hint at darkness underneath. His dangerous work leaves no space for love—yet Dulci’s voluptuous figure is impossibly tempting.

He’s sure it won’t take him long to discover if her sharp tongue can have other, more pleasurable, uses!

Read an excerpt.

He might be the future King of England, but Prince George seeks a marriage that’s more than a mere political alliance. Masquerading as a lowly nobleman, George heads to the court of Ansbach to woo the renowned beauty, Caroline!

Caroline has no knowledge that he’s the most sought-after bachelor in Europe. But however much she’s charmed by the mysterious gentleman, her duty is to accept a blue-blooded proposal… Still, she cannot deny she’s wickedly tempted by his red-hot proposition!

“Then it is settled. I will go in secret to win my princess.”

The more George thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. The medieval romance of it intrigued him. It would be in part a rescue to save his protestant princess from the clutches of the Catholic king. But mostly, it would be an adventure; a prince in disguise off to seek out a woman capable of honest love.

The very stuff of legends.

Exactly what he wanted.

The intensity of that want had caught him at unawares. Slowly, George closed the lid of his traveling trunk, letting the realization sweep over him. He stared out the long windows of his chambers into the gardens contemplating what it meant.

He absolutely did not want Caroline swayed by the enormity of his future prospects. He wanted her to love the man, not the future king. He wanted her to be different from the myriad women who traipsed through his bedchamber awaiting the pleasure of his royal prick so that he might give them something in return. Not that that was the only reason women came to him. After all, he was reasonably assured he had some skill in the bedchamber that had nothing to be with being a king.

When had he become so incredibly bored with the routine exchange of sex for favors? It wasn’t as if he hadn’t understood the game. He simply wanted something different, something more than a sex-based negotiation between the sheets.

Well, he’d find out soon enough. They were set to depart that night. For all his thoughts about this being a princely quest for the virtue of love he had no illusions about the fairy tale nature of his journey. He hoped Caroline was likeable. He hoped he would be able to see potential for genuine regard as they weathered the years together. He was not expecting love at first sight only the hope that affection might grow from mutual appreciation of one another as real individuals, not merely titles. Still, from where he stood, that was hoping for quite a lot.

Prince Charming in Disguise!

Caroline of Ansbach and Prince George, later King George III of England

A real life love story, that’s what I wanted to do when I got the call to be part of Harlequin’s Royal Wedding series.  We were given a choice: find a British royal wedding in history and build a fictional relationship around the setting of an actual royal wedding OR do a royal couple themselves.  I wanted to do a real royal couple. I was convinced there must have been a happy wedding out there somewhere.

That was the hard part. Royal weddings in history, being what they were, were inevitably politically driven by a number of factors, romance not necessarily being one of them. But I did find intriguing accounts of the courtship of Caroline of Ansbach by Prince George and I was hooked.

It was a courtship made for a romantic tale—a lovely princess known for her beauty and intelligence but from an obscure German house, struggles to make a marriage on her own terms although her guardian, the powerful King of Prussia, has other ideas about a suitable match. So good so far, right? Who doesn’t love an independent heroine in distress as she fights against the system?  Well, that was Caroline in a nutshell. Charles of Spain is mad for her, all she has to do is convert to Catholicism and the riches of the world will be laid at her feet.

Enter George. He’s got a hero’s background. Courageous and stubborn, up until now he’s led a standard German prince’s life — he hunts and flirts and beds half the court. His every wish is granted, until he goes wife hunting. Refused by Hedwig Sophia of Sweden, he is the perfect case of once bitten, twice shy. It’s time to marry but he needs a bride! He hears of the lovely Caroline but is reluctant to show his cards before he’s sure he’ll be well received. He can’t risk being turned down twice — people will start to wonder what’s wrong with him. So he goes to Ansbach in disguise as a ‘common’ German baron. He spends a few days being entertained at Ansbach by Caroline and her brother, where he is stricken with a case of love at first sight. Caroline is all that he hoped. According to one dispatch, during his days at Ansbach he had to ‘restrain his ardor,’ so overcome was he by Caroline. He returns home and demands the betrothal process be put in order at once.

Of course, Caroline does not know she’s entertained a prince in disguise until his messenger returns to Ansbach and reveals all. She is stunned but willing. She too had developed feelings for the ‘baron’ during his stay. She makes all haste to George’s side and the rest is history.

Yes, there were problems later and like any marriage, even in today’s world, the fairytale can’t last forever. George had mistresses throughout his life, as was expected by custom and by Caroline. Yes, George was short of stature, but the history books suggest that even if he wasn’t tall, in his younger years he was attractive enough to pass muster. I think one report put it that the George Caroline looked upon at Ansbach had not yet begun to show his flaws and was quite the golden charmer.  To his credit, George stayed by her side during a smallpox epidemic when she was close to death. She recovered, but George did get smallpox for his efforts. To her credit, she bore him several children and never once sided against him in political matters. She was often regarded as the real brain behind the throne and served as Regent on several occasions while George was off traveling.

The Royal Wedding is just weeks away! To celebrate, Harlequin is offering a digital Royal Weddings series to commemorate the event.

In April, Harlequin will release five royal wedding stories that feature British weddings throughout history. Some of the stories are about fictional characters involved in historic weddings and some are about real royal couples.

Take time to appreciate seven new exciting stories from Elizabeth Rolls, Ann Lethbridge, Terri Brisbin, Michelle Willingham, Bronwyn Scott, Lucy Ashford, and Mary Nichols.

Throughout the day we will have guest blogs from these Harlequin Historical authors telling you how they chose their heroes and heroines for this exciting new series, plus a excerpts from some of the books.

Have a royal day!

Di’s review of Untamed Rogue, Scandalous Mistress by Bronywn Scott
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Historical 1 Jul 10

If ever a couple were made for each other, it would have to be Aurora Calhoun and Crispin Ramsden, from their first kiss just after meeting to their last one. These two very independent individuals spend a great deal of time learning they can work together. Neither is after love and commitment, but it just seems to be falling in place without either of them realizing.

Aurora is making it on her own as a horse breeder/trainer and also providing a riding school for ladies. With the backing of the Earl’s wife, hence the Earl himself, the success of her stables is assured. Yet there is always at least one egotistical joker who can’t respect or endure the right for a woman to succeed on her own. With trouble under foot at her stables, Crispin walks a fine line trying to be a supportive and helpful gentleman without undermining her responsibilities.

Crispin, the Earl’s brother, comes home from his government position to settle an estate he’s inherited from his Aunt. He has no intention of keeping the property and is looking forward to his next assignment. He had once dreamed of owning his own stables, but his desire for adventure has won him over. It does not stop him from being very impressed with the Calhoun stables and its lovely owner, who thinks he kisses better than he sits a horse. Having much to prove to the beautiful Miss Calhoun, he insinuates himself into her daily life and discovers a villain after her and her stables.

I just love this story. It’s very refreshing after all the other stories of conflict between the couples themselves. Our heroine and hero find themselves pulling together, fighting other greater issues than love and sexual tension.

Once more I started reading at the end of a series. I now have to backtrack to Crispin’s brother Peyton’s story, The Earl’s Forbidden Ward, and his other brother Paine, Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady. I look forward to more of Bronywn Scott’s highly romantic and sensual tales.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Self-made Miss Aurora Calhoun has always possessed an uncommon amount of sense when it comes to men. However, within minutes of colliding with Lord Ramsden’s carriage, she finds herself kissing the incorrigible rogue! Crispin Ramsden feels restrained by the shackles of his unwanted inheritance. Especially when he is faced with a woman whose impetuous nature ignites a passion that is as uncontrollable as it is scandalous! Society is rocked by this outrageous couple. Can these two wild hearts find a place to belong?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Untamed Rogue, Scandalous Mistress by Bronywn Scott
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Historical 1 Jul 10

I so love a story that has a hero and heroine working together to overcome conflict instead of having that conflict break them up, keep them apart, and make them snarl and snip at one another. Bronwyn Scott does that beautifully in this book, all the while giving us strong characters and a very interesting backdrop with steeplechase racing.

Crispin Ramsden has finally come home. He’s a military man, combing England and other countries for the good of his homeland. Giving up his dream of owning his own stables one day has been taken over by his wanderlust; he craves adventure and new places. He’s received an inheritance of an estate that would give him his dream from long ago, but knowing he can’t stay put for long, he’s determined to sell and be on his way again after visiting family. At least if it weren’t for that intriguing miss he met on the road on his way home, the one he kissed and now can’t get out of his head.

Forging a friendship with the backing of an influential name, Aurora Calhoun has found success — again — with her stables, which includes lessons for women and also horse breeding. She’s an independent woman on her own, with her own ideas, doing what she wants when she wishes. As Aurora has learned from her past, however, all good things do come to an end, because men aren’t able to deal with the success of women, especially when said women are free thinkers and do as they please.

She also doesn’t need the complication of Crispin Ramsden doing her fighting for her, but the man refuses to back down. Deciding instead to enjoy him for the moment, she becomes his lover. He’s an equine expert just as she is and sits a horse quite well, so they do get along famously having so much in common, if it weren’t for his protective behavior.  As the steeplechase race she covets draws closer and more mysterious and dangerous happenings occur, Aurora finds she is rather happy and relieved Crispin is in her life.

I really enjoyed Crispin and Aurora so much. They both stay away from commitment and marriage, living for the moment until something makes them move on in life. But being together gives them a whole new perspective on what they want to make it through and perhaps have someone by their side.

They work together to discover who’s behind the near ruination of Aurora and her business. Their love scenes are intense and filled with a love neither of them recognizes until much later in their relationship.

I also like that we get a glimpse of Crispin’s brother, Peyton, who is the earl, and his wife. I have yet to read their book, The Earl’s Forbidden Ward, though I have read brother Paine’s, Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the family aspect of these books a lot.

Ms. Scott is becoming a favorite of mine for her rich historicals and wonderful characters.

Grade: A

Summary:

Self-made miss Aurora Calhoun has always possessed an uncommon amount of sense when it comes to men. However, within minutes of colliding with Lord Ramsden’s carriage, she finds herself kissing the incorrigible rogue! Crispin Ramsden feels restrained by the shackles of his unwanted inheritance. Especially when he is faced with a woman whose impetuous nature ignites a passion that is as uncontrollable as it is scandalous! Society is rocked by this outrageous couple. Can these two wild hearts find a place to belong?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of The Earl’s Forbidden Ward by Bronwyn Scott
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Mar 10

I now see the light. Or at least, a glimmer of it. I know Sybil and Wendy love Harlequin Historicals. My feelings toward them aren’t quite as warm, but now I think I’ve been unlucky in my choices. I decided to read this book, yes, based on the premise. Amazon suggested it, I love these story lines despite the fact that I think they’re hilariously wrong, and I bought it. I took a gamble that paid off, and now I want more. A lot more.

Tessa Branscombe is a model heroine, in my mind. I think that’s also why I liked the book so much. She’s a diplomat’s daughter, and has been acting as her father’s hostess for a number of years. Tessa is very sensible and intelligent. She knows she’s in danger, and nothing is as it seems. Essentially everything Tessa did made sense to me. It may not have been the best possible choice, but given what she knows and her circumstances, it’s the only available choice for her. I like that she didn’t blindly trust Peyton, even though her affections are engaged much more quickly. Tessa is protective, and capable as well. No, she couldn’t have saved herself, but that’s also an integral part of the story.

Peyton Ramsden, the Earl of Dursley, really makes me think “cold fish” from the outset of the book. As I read, however, he began to grow on me. Peyton has a lot more depth than one would think, but at the same time he’s flawed. He’s rather arrogant, but needs to be when he first took over the estate. Over a decade later he’s realized that may not have been ideal, but it was his way of coping. Peyton doesn’t think he’ll marry – and part of him is still a mystery to me. I didn’t think him entirely developed, but all the essential points are covered. He’s rich, smart, experienced, and desperately in love with Tessa. He’s also trying to protect his country’s interests and not let anyone know anything about whatever secret plans or ulterior motives he might be embroiled in.

I think there is a nice balance between plot and character focus. Events happen that put Tessa and Peyton together, and while no, not everything is believable, it works for the story. I like that Ms. Scott writes about Tessa’s frustrations in feeling bowled over and then Peyton’s determination to be the hero. It’s rather gripping.

I really like this story. I don’t even know what it was about this book – because when I think about it, the romance doesn’t particularly make sense. We are just supposed to believe that the hero and heroine fall in love… well, because they’re supposed to. Maybe I’m overthinking. (Then again, with more thought, I guess it works. She’s incredibly beautiful, smart, and capable – as well as being a novelty, and then he’s handsome, eligible, and incredibly protective and responsible. Okay, so it works.) I think I also like it because I’ve been in a horrendous reading slump, and I still managed to read this book in a day. Considering I’ve been reading next to nothing, that’s significant in my book.

I’m definitely interested in reading more books by Ms. Scott – I just wish she’d update her web page. Anyway, if you like historical romances, I definitely recommend this one. It’s sweet, but there’s enough intrigue and sophistication to keep it from being trite. The characters are definitely the focus, and it’s very well written. I have an inkling that the next book may be about Crispen, Peyton’s younger brother, and Petra. For once, I hope so. They seem to be “opposites” that would mesh perfectly. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for that story.

Grade: B-

Innocent debutante Tessa Branscombe senses that underneath her handsome guardian’s cool demeanor there is an intensely passionate nature. The arrogant earl infuriates her—yet makes her want to explore those hidden depths….

Peyton Ramsden, Earl of Dursley, has no time for girls—especially those who are suddenly given over to his care! Miss Tessa Branscombe, in particular, is trouble. She tempts this very proper earl to misbehave—and forbidden fruit always tastes that much sweeter.

Wow, what a day we had with Bronwyn Scott during her Duck Chat here at the Pond! We’d like to thank Bronwyn for her graciousness and willingness in taking the time to spend the day with us. It’s appreciated!

Are y’all ready to find out who’s won a book or two from Bronwyn? I knew you would be! Here goes!

Using my trusted friend, the handy-dandy random number generator, we have two winners! Drumroll, please!

** Maered (5)

** CrystalGB (8)

Congrats, ladies! Send your snail mail address to lighthousetagger (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll let Bronwyn know to get their books on their way to you!

Welcome to another fun day of Duck Chat!

Harlequin Historical author Bronwyn Scott is joining us today.

Bronwyn’s first book with HH is the one with a really fun cover, Pickpocket Countess. She followed that up with Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady, Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss, which is a Harlequin Undone!, and The Viscount Claims His Bride. Harlequin is also releasing a Regency Bundle of her books, exlcuding the Undone!, in January 2010. Her latest book, The Earl’s Forbidden Ward, available in both print and e, is out this month through Mills & Boon.

She also enjoys success writing as Nikki Poppen through Avalon Books. The Romany Heiress, The Heroic Baron, and The Dowager’s Wager are a few of her titles under that name. Bronwyn is married; she and her husband have three kids and live in the Puget Sound area of the U.S.  She is an instructor of speech communications at her local community college, loves traveling, and considers Italy her second home. Bronwyn will be talking to us today about all of her books and then some.

Be sure to leave that meaningful comment, ‘cuz Bronwyn’s giving away a book or two! Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Bronwyn, I’d like to first chat about your covers. Most of yours are, of course, romantic, but you have had one really fun cover, which is my favorite, Pickpocket Countess. I know there was some flack about it here and there by some readers, but I don’t think they got the point of the cover. What was your reaction when you first saw it?

BRONWYN SCOTT: I loved it! Pickpocket Countess was my first cover at Harlequin Mills and Boon. I thought it suited the mood of the story and the characters well. The appeal of the book from the start was always Nora, the heroine. She’s strong, sexually confident, and bold in all aspects of her life. I thought the idea of the heroine grabbing (or caressing if you prefer) the hero’s backside was quite apropos. The colors are gorgeous and there’s enough detail to let the reader know at first glance that this will be a Regency era story.

Right now, I’m working on Jack and Dulci’s story (they’re both secondary characters in Pickpocket Countess) and I told my editor I wanted another cover of that caliber for them. I was so disappointed to hear that Pickpocket Countess was a one-time shot. There will never be another cover like that. Honestly, I don’t really get what’s not awesome about the cover. It was different, but I didn’t think it was that controversial…apparently it was. It was great publicity, though, for my debut novel. Even over a year later people at conferences say, “You’re the one who wrote the butt cover book.” I say “Yep, and the story’s pretty darn good too.”

DC: Pickpocket Countess is also my favorite book of yours so far (followed closely by Notorious Rake, Innocent Miss). Where did the idea for the story come from? Would you tell our readers about Brandon and Cat?

BS: The original title for the manuscript was the Cat of Manchester, but that didn’t have enough marketing cachet to it. Marketing really grabbed on to the line that ends one of the later chapters which used the phrase pickpocket countess.

I got the idea of a female Robin Hood over dinner and wine one night talking about potential story lines. I’m a big fan of twisting iconic story lines and fitting them to new time periods or tweaking them around in substantial ways. I’ve always liked Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare work like Love’s Labors Lost where he puts the story in a time period outside its original intention.

Over dinner the Robin Hood story line came up and I kept thinking about a time in more modern English history when the poor were especially at the whims of the rich. I kept going back to the earlier parts of the Industrial Revolution and thinking that would be a great time period. Then I went back and more fully investigated the Reform Act of 1831 and knew I’d found the right time. But I still thought the plot sounded too ordinary, so I decided to make the Robin Hood character a female. Once I did that, I felt I had something a bit different—there would be no debut balls for her and none of the story is set in London. This made research fun. It was great to get out of London and away from tonnish personalities and lifestyles.

There were two challenges with the story. One was the pacing. The story starts out with action and it has to keep escalating. It was a great mental exercise to figure out ways Brandon and Nora would be able to one-up each other. I am very proud of how the plot and pacing turn out. The story is a fun, energetic romp, a good adventure. I enjoy reading adventure stories where I get sucked into the plot. I forget about whether or not the hero and heroine are in bed all the time, I’m more interested in how they play each other. I loved reading reviews that picked up on the adventure energy, and the sharp dialogue. Romantic Times loved it and gave it a four-star review. Most people loved it for those reasons. But I got disappointed with readers that said there wasn’t enough sex, or that they skipped ahead to the sex. I think they missed out, although the sex scenes were pretty steamy since the characters are two older, mature, consensual adults.

The second challenge was making sure that Brandon and Nora respected each other at all times. They one up each other in the course of their game, but they don’t do it in hopes of embarrassing the other or humiliating the other. They had to make their point and do it without crossing the line of respect. Otherwise, it seems unbelievable that they’d develop any kind of relationship where affections would be honestly engaged. For instance, in the scene where she ties him to the bed, I’m quick to note as the next chapter begins that the ropes weren’t tied so tight that Brandon has to call for his valet to come untie him. Because that would be awful!! How embarrassing to be naked and tied up and have to rely on your valet. However would he explain that without losing face? And it would say that he couldn’t trust her, let alone love her. Few of us love people who embarrass us or use us for their own personal gain.

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

BS: Nothing really annoys me, so it’s hard to answer. But perhaps the question “how long have you written and how did you get started?” would qualify. I think my answer is fairly typical of what many authors say. I’ve always written. I liked to write. By third grade I’d written a Nancy Drew mystery play I had my class perform (I made up my own mystery, not a ‘stage adaptation’ (smiles) and by fourth grade I was writing for young author conferences. But I never finished a full-length manuscript or even attempted one until after my son was born in 1999. I used to play the piano a lot and I even had a piano job at a coffee shop that I was very proud of. But babies napping and piano practicing don’t go together well. I picked my writing back up as something to do that was relaxing and personal while the baby slept. It took two years to finish the manuscript, mostly because I didn’t outline it, I didn’t know what the characters were doing and because I had no particular discipline. I might go a whole month without writing anything. I think that was because I was pretty sure this book would end up like all the others—unfinished. But then I starting re-reading it and it was good. That made me get serious. I finished it and went to RWA in New York in 2003 and that was the start.

I didn’t sell that first manuscript, but I came home from New York with a plan and wrote a Regency because I thought everyone in historical romance should be able to do a Regency, it’s a staple like every piano player worth their salt can whip out Fur Elise or Moonlight Sonata. I wrote the Regency as a repertoire builder, an exercise. But this time I had discipline. I wrote it in three months and sold it a year later. It’s called The Dowager’s Wager and it became my first book.

DC: You’ve also written a Harlequin Undone!. Are those shorter stories easier or more difficult to write?

BS: They’re a blast to write. I love doing them. They’re a bit harder because you have to cut down on detail and background. These stories are only 15,000 words, even shorter than a novella. But the stories are fun because there’s a chance to use different locations. I’ve used the coast of Spain, Vienna, and Florence so far and I have plans for three more, one of which will be set in Vienna and the others will be somewhere in Italy. The stories are also fun because you can be a bit more explicit and bold.

DC: I enjoyed Julian and Sophie’s Undone! story. Can you give us a little insight into their relationship?

BS: They recognize a kindred soul in each other almost from the start. They both have chosen paths outside of society. Even though Julian is the brother of an earl, he’s the second son and he’s chosen a path out of the limelight of the ton. Sophie is accustomed to relying only on herself and she’s stumbled on to the path of being a jewel thief almost by accident, but she discovered she was good at it and she’s able to justify most of her thefts as ‘returns’ to legitimate owners.

Immediately, they have some fundamentals ideals in common. They both justify their actions in terms of ethics. Neither one of them think of themselves as particularly criminal, just officers of justice of a different sort. I think this imbues them with a code of ethics and a sense of respect. They’re also both people who enjoy game playing. Like Brandon and Nora, they like sparring because their wits are so equally matched and challenged. They’re also careful not to take things too far and hurt the other. Julian is a gentleman and he has his code of honor when it comes to Sophie. Once he realizes she’s in danger, he is quick to protect her even though it might make his job easier if she were out of the picture. Finally, they’re both flirty and bold which made it fun to write about. Neither one of them are shrinking violets or afraid of their passions.

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?

BS: No, I am an absolute control freak. They don’t do anything I haven’t planned for them. I outline, I think ahead. I get most of my research done ahead of time so I don’t have to stop and go find something. Once I start writing, I write almost nonstop until the book is done.

As for dialogue, I know what kinds of things the character would say and how he/she might say them; some characters are funny, some are sharp, some are cutting. Nora, for instance, was sharp and she’d pick up on word play. Valerian wasn’t so much sharp as he was insightful. He would say things that would make the heroine stop and think about something profound.

I like to play with words and innuendo, so I think quite a bit about how the characters might say certain things.

DC: Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady was also a fun read. Paine and Julia are a great couple. Would you tell us about them?
BS: I liked them. They were a lot different than other character couples I’ve done. Nora and Brandon, Sophie and Julian, Grayson and Elena, Phillippa and Valerian, Andrew and Olivia are all mature people who have either been married, widowed (in the case of the heroines) or had mistresses (in the case of the heroes). But Julia is an innocent debutante and Paine hasn’t been innocent for a very long time. They’re my only couple that meets each other on sexually uneven ground. In fact, Julia and Paine were such an interesting couple that they became the dominant part of the story. Originally, I’d thought to spend more time developing the seedy-side of London aspect of the story and make the story more of a sensual awakening tale. I’d originally called the story “the Lady Awakes.” But it ended up in a different place, a much more character driven story than I’d thought it would be when I laid it out.

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

BS: I always win. But they don’t argue too much because I’m such a fan of outlining. Jack has been the hardest character so far. He does a turn in Pickpocket Countess as a man who dresses as a fop but works for the king as a private agent. But when I sat down to write Jack and Dulci’s story, the fop part didn’t work out like I had intended, so Jack has been recrafted. After all, their story is set four years after Pickpocket Countess. It is now 1835. But I did write three different opening chapters before ending up with a first chapter that worked. I finally took some advice Claire Delacroix gave a few years back when she said she would write three chapters and then end up throwing them out because they’d be too much back story. She started to realize that chapter 3 usually ended up being chapter 1. That worked for me in this case.

DC: I know I gave you a little bit of a hard time in my review about less action in The Viscount Claims His Bride, but I did enjoy the story and I know other readers really liked this book for that same reason. Do you even think of things like that when writing? Are you surprised at the reactions you do get from your readers on this type of issue?

BS: I usually feel like I know what people will appreciate ahead of time. I’ve noticed I have two pretty distinct readerships out there. I have a lovely historical readership that just adored The Viscount Claims His Bride. They got into the setting, the descriptions of the weather, of Cornwall and its wildlife, the cool bit about visiting Trist House while it was under restoration (which it really was that year), the banking issue that plays a small part in the story, the conversation Beldon and Valerian have about the Bickford fuse, all of that had enormous appeal for them. Romantic Times even noted the excellent overview the book provides about post Napoleonic Europe, which tickled me silly because I am a double minor in history and foreign policy. These readers liked Viscount, and I knew they would. They’re the readers that also liked Pickpocket Countess for the maps of Manchester and the reform politics. They’re not the readers that liked Notorious Rake, which was too sexy for many of them and not very deep on plot or historical relevance.

On the other hand, the Notorious Rake readership loved the two Undones but found Viscount too slow for their tastes. The second Ramsden brother book (Peyton’s story), The Earl’s Forbidden Ward, will probably appeal more to the Viscount group, but the last book, Crispin’s story and currently untitled, is sizzling hot and sexy and will appeal to the Notorious Rake group. Crispin spends plenty of time in bed with the unconventional heroine, Aurora Calhoun. Still, for history lovers out there, I do have some interesting historical background. Aurora is set on racing in the premiere steeple chase of the time; St. Albans. I found great documentation of the 1835 St. Albans steeple chase; the list of riders and horses, who finished, who fell, which horse had a fatal accident on the course, the controversy about the starting line and the controversy over who wins, even information on the hotel the riders stayed at. As you can see, I was very excited about that part of the book.

DC: Would you tell us about Val and Phillipa, please?

BS: I wanted to explore the whole ‘return of the childhood sweetheart’ aspect of relationships. 20/20 did a special a few years back about how people are turning to old high school sweethearts for their second significant relationship (after a divorce, after a death, these are people we seek out to reconnect with). It was also interesting to me that scientists think we have a love radar that is pretty accurate up until the age of 18. This makes sense to me. When we’re 18, people start hounding us “what do you want to be?” “What are you going to do after high school?” They also start stressing what kind of qualities we ought to be looking for in a mate and all this crowds our love radar. The pre-18 love radar for most of us, draws us to people who are like us, value the same things, see the world the same way. I wanted to explore that with Val and Phillippa. He’s loved her since he was 15 and she’s loved him, but the world gets in the way and pulls them apart for several years. When he returns, she’s been widowed, she’s been a duchess and now she’s running a huge estate/mines, etc. on her own. She wants to believe her initial instincts about Val were right years ago before the world got in the way, but she’s struggling to trust her own love radar in regards to Valerian. In this story, the villain is a perfect foil for the love radar theory. On the surface, Lucien is everything society says she ought to respect in a man and a second husband, but beneath the surface the reader learns he is very corrupt.

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

BS: Home improvement projects like rearranging furniture , cleaning up the kids’ bedrooms, and a good Macy’s sale.

DC: You also write under the name of Nikki Poppen. Would you tell us about the books you’ve published there?

BS: Under my own name, I write for Avalon Books. They were the ones who bought my first manuscript The Dowager’s Wager. I have written six books with them since 2005. There’s a regency series which starts with The Dowager’s Wager, followed by The Heroic Baron and Romany Heiress. I also have a Victorian series which starts with Newport Summer (came out February 2009) and “The MadCap,” which comes out in December, and another book that isn’t under way yet. The books for Avalon are for the public library system, so they have to adhere to a certain code: the hero can’t drink excessively, have mistresses that we know about, flaunt his sexual prowess, or smoke. The Heroine is absolutely a virgin or the issue of her purity never really comes up and there are no explicit love scenes. Essentially, PG or PG-13 rated romance books. My editor over there is Faith Black and she’s hilarious. I love working with her.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

BS: I have learned to make them more three dimensional, but that’s always a work in process. I’ve only been writing since 2005 so there’s lots to learn. The big difference I can see these days is the style of revisions my editor at Harlequin sends. Early on there were comments about how realistic it would be for a character to think certain things at certain times. These days I’ve gotten a lot better at placing introspection in more logical places. I’ve also gotten better at working in back story tidbits. Instead of paragraphs of back story or a big self-disclosure chapter, now I try to work in the bits and pieces through dialogue tags. You can check this out by comparing The Dowager’s Wager to The Viscount. But I think readers will really see it in Crispin’s story and with Jack and Dulci.

DC: The Earl’s Forbidden Ward from Mills and Boon is due out this month. Can you give us a sneak peek?

BS: I like this story so much! The heroine, Tessa Branscombe, is a diplomat’s daughter from Russia. Her father, a British diplomat, dies in St. Petersburg and she and her sisters return to London. Unknown to her, the Russians believe she is in possession of a list her father compiled of British businessmen who’d be willing to fund a rebellion against the Czar in exchange for guaranteed water rights in the Dardanelle Straits. The British want this list and so do the Russians. The race is on. Enter Peyton Ramsden, the Earl of Dursley (and Paine’s brother). The Foreign Office asks Peyton to masquerade as the Branscombe girls’ guardian in order to get the list, but he falls in love with Tessa Branscombe in the process.

Peyton and Tessa are both sharp, sophisticated adults who understand their political world. I had a great time with their history. There’s also some nice scenes with Crispin to keep him in the forefront of the reader’s mind! If you read The Earl’s Forbidden Ward, you get a solid sense of where Crispin’s coming from and the kind of battles he wages with himself.  [Ed. click here for an excerpt]

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

BS: I like 19th century history, so I am very happy there. I would like to do more American fiction. I have great hopes of doing American history stories along the lines of what Philippa Gregory has done with English history. I would also like to write American centered historical romance. I’ve not yet figured out why there’s such a small market demand for 17th-19th century American romantic fiction because I love that time period.

DC: How long does it usually take for a UK publication to make it over to the U.S.?

BS: It really depends. My North American releases came out in the UK within a couple months of their release here. But The Earl’s Forbidden Ward is my first UK release where the UK release has preceded a North American release.

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

BS: Keep writing! I took several years off of fiction writing (from age 24 to about age 32) and I’m not sure why I did that. I did spend a lot of time writing at work. I am a college professor, so there’s plenty of nonfiction writing to do. But I didn’t do anything significant with fiction writing after grad school.

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

BS: Well, I’d still be teaching college because that’s what I do in ‘real life.’ But I’d probably be playing the piano in some kind of semi-professional way.

DC: What’s next for Bronwyn Scott?

BS: I am thrilled to be the historical faculty member for the South Carolina Writer’s conference this October in Myrtle Beach (so if you’re looking for conference to attend where you get a lot of hands on time to write and work with writing professionals, come check us out).

I am looking forward to finishing Jack and Dulci’s story in July and starting Beldon and Lilya’s story in late August.

I’ll be celebrating Crispin Ramsden’s hot story the first part of 2010 (approximately, there’s no hard core release date set yet) Then, I’ll be free to start a new set of characters. It’s all under wraps right now, but I’ve got two great series coming up and I can hardly wait to get to them!

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Dark!
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?    – Smooth
- heels or flats?    -  Heels (I’m only 4”11 ¾)
- coffee or tea?    – Tea (herbal, no caffeine here except in chocolate).
- summer or winter?     – Usually winter but this year I can hardly wait for nice weather
- mountains or beach?     – Mountains
- mustard or mayonnaise?      – Mayo!!!
- flowers or candy?    – Candy but I like both quite a lot.
- pockets or purse?    -  Purse
- Pepsi or Coke?     -  Pepsi (but caffeine free of course).
- ebook or print?     – Print.

And just because:

1. What is your favorite word?    -  Penchant and hence (my students crack up when I say “hence it follows that ….”)
2. What is your least favorite word?    – The F word.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Great music. For me this is anything from Mi Caro Bambino to Meatloaf to the sound track from highly underrated Broadway musical Martin Guerre.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Quitters and the whole concept that you can get ‘burned out.’ It’s absolutely true that winners never quit and quitters never win.
5. What sound or noise do you love?    – Harp strings and the hammered dulcimer. Steel drums. My kids laughing. Birds in the early, early morning around 4:30.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?    – My kids fighting in the car.
7. What is your favorite curse word?    – I love it when my heroes say “Lucifer’s Balls!”
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?    – Television News Anchor!
9. What profession would you not like to do?    -  Anything in health care. Yuck.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?    – “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That would be the best review ever.

DC: Thank you so much, Bronwyn, for spending the day with us!

Sandy M’s review of Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 May 08

I gave Ms. Scott a hard time in my review of her latest book, The Viscount Claims His Bride, in that I wanted more action than I got. I was comparing that book to the previously related book, Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss, where there was plenty of action going on. I’m happy to say that Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady goes the way of LLPM with little action to be had, but this time around I loved the storyline and the characters immensely. The only thing I’m sorry about is that I waited so dang long to read this one.

I really loved the characters in this book. Though Julia usually does as her uncle and aunt ask, when they try to force her into a loveless marriage for their gain, she’s having none of it. That the proposed groom is one of those leering, disgustingly arrogant men only spurs her on toward a decision that will cost her much, but if the only consequence of that is to live her life in the country, so be it. Thus, she seeks out the most notorious rake in London to help her in her plan to ruin herself so that said groom will no longer want her.

Paine Ramsden is a third son, one who drove himself into the deserved reputation that has followed him for years. Even a stint in America hasn’t caused the ton to forget what he’s done in the past. So when the lovely Julia lays her plan and herself before him for the taking, he forges ahead with no qualms at all. It’s only during her ruination that foreign feelings emerge in Paine, urging him to keep Julia sated and safe. Realizing who is behind her forced marriage, Paine knows far better than anyone how dangerous the man can be. He calls on his honor, about the only thing left to him, and goes home to his brothers for the help he’ll need to reclaim respectability for both himself and Julia, hoping she’ll want to stay with him when all is said and done.

There’s really not a lot of action in this book, relying on its characters to pull you in and make you want to follow along in their story, and that’s done quite well. I found myself cheering for Julia and Paine every step of the way. For a woman of her time, and knowing what would happen to her if she truly followed through with her plan, Julia bucks the restrictions on women and does what she needs to for herself. And though the cliche a man needs the love of a good woman, it fits perfectly here for Paine. It’s his honor and love for Julia that pull him out of his rakish ways to see her safe and cared for. Going to his brothers for help was difficult for him, but it was all worth it for the homecoming he receives.

I really liked those brothers myself. I checked Ms. Scott’s site to see if, by chance, those brothers might get books of their own. My hopes haven’t been totally dashed, there’s nothing there at all for anything coming soon. So, Ms. Scott, hear my plea. Especially now that Paine is home and married, those Ramsden brothers would make great heroes. I know in your capable hands those stories would be just as wonderful as this one.

(Did I suck up too much?)

Grade: A

Summary:
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Determined not to enter into a forced marriage, Julia could see no way out–unless she were to become a ruined woman! Notorious rake Paine Ramsden was reputed to have no qualms about seducing innocents, so maybe he would help with her…predicament.
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Certainly, Paine deserved his rakish reputation, yet Julia was so achingly pure, one night with her might just ruin him! Awakening Julia’s sensuality aroused unfamiliar feelings in him–was it too late to make them both respectable?
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Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of The Viscount Claims His Bride by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance released by Harlequin 1 Jan 09

Bronwyn Scott is becoming a favorite author for me. While I enjoyed this book, it doesn’t have the flare that, say, Pickpocket Countess has. The characters are very likable and well written. It’s just the story itself that doesn’t quite live up to her earlier titles.

I remember how much I liked Valerian, Viscount St.Just, in Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss and really looked forward to his story. Compared to the storyline in that book, I think that’s why I’m just a tad disappointed in this one. There isn’t the action, the same connection between the hero and heroine as in the previous story. I’m not sure if that’s because of the friends-become-lovers factor or what. I actually liked that part of the story, though. The opening pages gives us some wonderful emotion when Val must break Philippa’s heart as he steps aside for her marriage to another that will save her family financially.

Val leaves England that night, becomes a spy and diplomat for the next nine years before he’s had enough and wants to come home.  Philippa does marry her duke, whose money saves her family, and she enjoys a nice but passionless marriage until his accidental death. Once Val finds upon his return home that Philippa is free, his goal is to win her love again. He plans to tell her the circumstances surrounding his previous behavior, but things keep getting in the way, the worst of which is another suitor of Philippa’s. He finally does tell her and that’s when things begin to perk up. So the first half of the story just doesn’t move like Ms. Scott’s previous books.

The second half is much better, Val and Philippa getting to know one another again, their love re-blossoming, but unexpected danger lurks in the form of her former suitor, who hatches a plan to remove Val from the picture. He does a credible job of that, but I was a little irritated with Philippa’s lack of faith in Valerian. A man she’s known most of her life, even though he’d been gone for nearly a decade, a man who is honorable to the core, a man who’s just confessed his love for her while her doubts are instigated by the man she’s known only a few years and who has more to gain with Val gone, which she acknowledges only a few pages later. The only thing that kept me from really going to town on Philippa is she doesn’t let doubt cloud her logic when working out for herself the difference between Val and a madman. This state of mind doesn’t go on forever as it does in some books, so I forgave her a little for that.

Even though things do pick in this part of the book, it still doesn’t shine as much as Ms. Scott’s aforementioned books. Though Philippa is a fairly strong heroine, I enjoyed Nora from Countess and Sophie from Libertine Lord much more. I wanted more out of Val’s trial; Lilya and Constantine’s testimony would have been heartwrenching in that scene. We do get back to the emotion felt in the first chapter when the villain is finally taken down, but it was a long wait. But this is still a nice story.  And I will still be reading Ms. Scott in the future.

Grade: C+

Read Wendy’s review here.

Summary:

For years Valerian Inglemoore, Viscount St. Just, lived a double life as a secret agent on the war-torn Continent.

Returning home, he knows exactly what he wants—Philippa Stratten, the woman he gave up for the sake of her family….

But Philippa isn’t the naive debutante he left behind. His rejection stung deeply, and now she is suspicious of his intentions. Valerian realizes he must wage a tough battle if he is to finally claim her, once and for all, as his bride!

Read an excerpt.

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Pleasured By the English Spy by Bronwyn Scott
Historical romance eBook short story released by Harlequin Historical Undone 1 Feb 09

Besides being a fan of tasty bite-size morsel reads, another thing I really enjoy about the Harlequin Historical Undone short stories is that it allows authors to explore multiple characters and story arcs within their created universe. I can’t be the only reader alive who has gotten burnt out on series. At some point it happens to all of us. But when the series gets fleshed out using the quicker and faster short story format of the Undone line? It’s hard for me to get burnt out. Especially when the author keeps it lively with steamy love scenes and interesting locales.

Bronwyn Scott’s second Undone short story takes place in Italy, and she really makes it shine in what could have been a run-of-the-mill English spy story. It’s this setting, and the lushness that Scott is able to convey that really stood out for me.

Andrew Truesdale lived in Italy until he was 15, so when his superiors are looking for someone to go to Italy and ferret out information about a potential nationalist revolution, they naturally tap him. His job is to get close to a widowed contessa, Olivia di Montebaldi , and discover what she knows about the plot. Is she the one in charge? Or is she just protecting someone else? Andrew figures this will be an easy task. He assumes Olivia is middle-aged widow, lonely for companionship, and she’ll be more than susceptible to the charms of a dashing Englishman. Then he arrives at the villa to discover his assumptions were way off. Olivia is young, vivacious, beautiful, and knows exactly who he is and why he’s there. Oh, she’s not opposed to an affair with the man, but it’s not like she’s going to willingly cough up her secrets during pillow talk!

The common complaint about short stories is that they’re “too” short, and the reader is often left wanting. Scott does an amiable job with her short word count. I never felt this story was rushed or lacking, and the author ties up all her loose ends to a satisfactory conclusion. Some readers might see the traditional happy ending as a bit of a rush job, but it worked for me because the author does a nice job of showing the passion between Olivia and Andrew.

My one quibble is that I wished there was a bit more dialogue in this story. This is mostly for selfish reasons, since after reading one full-length novel and another Undone story by Scott, I’ve discovered she’s quite talented with dialogue. Her characters have been known to engage is some delightful verbal sparring matches. But this is only a minor, and mostly selfish, “complaint” on my part. All in all, this is a nice story with an interesting and lovingly depicted Italian locale. A perfect afternoon read, preferably with a glass of wine by your side.

Grade: B

Summary:
English spy Andrew Truesdale has been sent to Florence on a mission–to befriend widowed contessa Olivia di Montebaldi and discover if she’s plotting a nationalist revolution in the aftermath of Napoleon’s defeat. Andrew expects the assignment to be easy. After all, his job with the British Diplomatic Corps required him to perfect the art of flirtation and become a consummate seducer of women.

Everything changes, however, when he arrives at Olivia’s villa. Instead of the middle-aged woman he expects, Andrew finds a vivacious young beauty who piques his interest…and his lust.

But while Andrew may be taken aback by the contessa, Olivia knows exactly who Andrew is…and that he is dangerous. She may let him claim her body, but can she trust him with her secrets?

No excerpt found.

Other books in this series:

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Viscount Claims His Bride by Bronwyn Scott
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Jan 09

After years of suffering from crippling burn-out on the subgenre, I’m just now starting to dip my toes back into the English historical waters. I’m finding the return visit with our comrades across the pond to mostly be refreshing. However, every now and then a certain plot device turns up to remind me of why I suffered from the burn-out in the first place.

Valerian Inglemoore, Viscount St. Just has finally returned home to England after serving abroad as a diplomat for many years. When he learns that the girl he left behind is now a widow, he quickly formulates a plan to win back the heart of Philippa Stratten. Their family estates neighbor each other, so naturally Val and Philippa grew up as friends, which quickly blossomed into full-fledged love by the time Philippa was of age for her first Season. Many stolen moments and passionate kisses followed, only for Val to have his hand smacked when he approached her father for her hand in marriage. The Stratten family was in dire financial trouble, and Philippa needed to marry well. A prospect with a worthy title and even worthier wallet was already on the hook. Val needed to step aside; and he does so by breaking Phillipa’s heart. Now with her husband and father dead, Val sees this as his chance to start anew with his long lost love. However it’s not smooth sailing. For one thing Phillipa hasn’t forgotten her broken heart, plus there are secrets and a villain lurking in the background.

The problem with this sort of conflict is that it doesn’t hold much water. All the misunderstandings between Val and Phillipa could be cleared up with a five minute conversation. “Your daddy made me step aside, so sorry, I still love you.” That’s it. Of course, this being England, and everyone being so bloody proper, no one can actually talk to each other. Heaven forbid! This is why I tend to gravitate towards plain-spoken cowboys.

Luckily the author doesn’t wait for the final chapter for this misunderstanding to be revealed. Still, the reader has to wade through the first half the novel. That leaves our dastardly villain to fill the conflict void, and this was actually pretty interesting. The man wants to gain control of Phillipa’s mining interests and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.  The problem is that the villain conveniently turns inept towards the end when Phillipa uncovers extremely convenient evidence of his treachery. It’s more Scooby Doo than Agatha Christie.

The best part of the story is easily the second half, after the reason behind Val breaking her heart is revealed to Phillipa. Prior to that I just wanted to shake him senseless for not telling her immediately once he sets eyes on her again. I also enjoyed quite a bit of dialogue. The propriety that kept the characters from effectively communicating about their pasts did have a way of breeding some interesting confrontational scenes between Val and Phillipa.

Unfortunately between my impatience with Val’s inability to immediately blurt out the truth to Phillipa, along with an easily thwarted villain during the final chapters, The Viscount Claims His Bride was only a lukewarm reading experience. That said, the author appears to be setting quite an interesting stage for Phillipa’s brother to get his own romance in a future book.

Grade: C

Summary:

For years Valerian Inglemoore, Viscount St. Just, lived a double life as a secret agent on the war-torn Continent.

Returning home, he knows exactly what he wants—Philippa Stratten, the woman he gave up for the sake of her family….

But Philippa isn’t the naive debutante he left behind. His rejection stung deeply, and now she is suspicious of his intentions. Valerian realizes he must wage a tough battle if he is to finally claim her, once and for all, as his bride!

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance published by Harlequin Undone 1 Nov 08

I have a feeling these new Undones by Harlequin are going to be as addictive as the Nocturnes were since I’ve just read my first one.  The Undones are shorter reads, but they’re full of intrigue, fun, and, of course, romance.  I do admire an author that can give the same impact of emotion, that can make me love the characters, and keep me interested with a lot fewer pages than the norm.  It’s not easy and very few can do it well.  I’m happy to say my first Undone scores high all the way around.

Julian is a spy of sorts, one with sticky fingers to return historical/important items to either Britain or their true owner.  His current assignment is a diamond necklace that’s been long lost to the crown and that is also being coveted by an Italian count. Julian is a lover of women and delights in the sensual aspects of his occupation with aristocratic European ladies who don’t hang on and cause a scene when he must move on.  But the night he thinks to get his hands on the necklace is the night he meets Miss Sophie DuPlessy, a woman after his heart and his jewels.  From the moment they meet, not only do sparks fly, but witty banter and repartee are zinging off the pages.

Sophie is beautiful, intelligent, and, on this last job that will finally help free her, she’s in big trouble.  And she doesn’t know it yet.  She tries to concentrate on the job at hand, but memories of Julian keep interfering, and then the man himself keeps her from her goal.  Even when danger is all around them, when they’re together you can feel their mutual respect, their want for each other, and you hope Sophie will see her way clear to give up a little of her independence to rely on Julian to keep them away from the violence suddenly cropping up everywhere around them.

Besides the fun to be had in this book, I also enjoyed the fact that Julian and Sophie worked together to parlay any conflict the story needed, instead of being separated while danger abounds and then finding their way back to one another after all is said and done.  They are a likable and complementary couple.  I also liked Viscount St. Just, Julian’s friend and co-operative and who has some secrets back home in England, and look forward to his story in The Viscount Claims His Bride due out in January.  I think Harlequin has done it again, and we can expect more compelling yet fun books in this new line.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Julian Burke’s reputation as a libertine was famous throughout Vienna. Few people know his debauchery is merely a pleasant way to mask his true mission: to recover jewels stolen from the British monarchy by a French comte. When he spots Sophie DuPlessy at the comte’s party, he thinks the vivacious beauty is just another debutante who can help his charade. But Julian soon learns Sophie is no innocent young miss – she’s a passionate, daring woman who challenges and arouses him like nobody else. A woman playing a dangerous game of her own…

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss by Bronwyn Scott
Historical romance eBook released by Harlequin Historical Undone 1 Nov 08

One of the more recent authors to join the Harlequin Historical universe is Bronwyn Scott; who gives readers a spicy Regency era story of spying and thievery for her first story for the new Harlequin Historical Undone line.

Julian Burke is in Vienna to recover a diamond necklace that was stolen from the English crown years ago. While ferreting out the information he needs, he spends his time making a name for himself in ballrooms and drawing rooms by bedding every willing aristocratic woman who bats her eyes at him. He finds European women so refreshing. They know the game, the dance, and there are no bothersome tears when the affair runs its natural course.

However he’s done for the minute he spies Miss Sophie DuPlessy. She’s, simply put, a breathtakingly beautiful woman, with brains and wit to match. He intends to only use her as a distraction before he steals back the necklace, but imagine his surprise when he discovers the lady has her own motives and she too, is after the necklace. A battle of wills and wits is most certainly in the cards.

For readers who love snappy dialogue and bantering couples, this is the story you. Scott excels during the verbal sparring scenes between Sophie and Julian, both of whom are charming, intelligent, and not above using their wiles to get what they want. Naturally they cannot both have the necklace, and by the end, it’s up to Julian to save Sophie, who finds herself in a spot of trouble.

While a quick, engaging read, with sparkling dialogue and plenty of chemistry, I did feel the author rushed through her ending a bit. The last ten pages are positively frantic, with the reader running along just to keep up. That being said, the author ties it all up quite well, and readers have an upcoming sequel to look forward to. The Viscount Claims His Bride, featuring Julian’s friend, Viscount St. Just, is due out in January 2009.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Julian Burke’s reputation as a libertine was famous throughout Vienna. Few people know his debauchery is merely a pleasant way to mask his true mission: to recover jewels stolen from the British monarchy by a French comte. When he spots Sophie DuPlessy at the comte’s party, he thinks the vivacious beauty is just another debutante who can help his charade. But Julian soon learns Sophie is no innocent young miss – she’s a passionate, daring woman who challenges and arouses him like nobody else. A woman playing a dangerous game of her own…

In honor of her launch title for the Harlequin Historical Undone line, Bronwyn Scott has stopped by the pond to tell us all about her novella, Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss.  A hero on a secret mission, a heroine with plenty of secrets of her own, and plenty of witty banter to go around!  What could possibly go wrong for the intrepid romantic couple?

Sophie DuPlessy has everything to gain. Julian Burke has nothing to lose.

Vienna of the 1820′s is Europe’s new glittering capital both in culture and in politics. No one knows the potential of such a setting better than Sophie DuPlessy. Europe has been ravaged by Napoleon’s wars and re-structured by the Vienna conferences and Europe’s premier statesmen. In the aftermath, kingdoms have been absorbed, national boundaries have been redrawn. In the wake of such upheaval, heirlooms have been lost. In certain circles of dubious repute, Sophie DuPlessy has earned a reputation for discreetly recovering such objects. Now, she’s been hired by an Italian count to retrieve a set of jewels, a supposed heirloom of the family. This will be her last job. The reward promised for recovering the jewels guarantees her the financial resources to re-make her life as a horse breeder. But she’s not the only one looking for them.

Julian Burke, second son of an earl, has been sent on crown business to Vienna to ferret out the truth to the rumors that an heirloom once part of the royal treasury during the time of Charles II has surfaced in Vienna. When the Crown wants something badly, Julian Burke is the man for the job. Julian is the most dangerous of men; a man with nothing to lose. No wife to protect, no estate to risk, a fortune so large he cannot be bribed, no care for his reputation and according to most-no heart to break. He is unassailable when it comes to blackmail and other forms of traditional leverage.

But Sophie DuPlessy is about to change that!

One interesting research tid-bit I enjoyed working with for this story was the neighborhoods of Vienna. The neighborhood Sophie lives in is still marked with a lantern today. In her time, the neighborhood housed bakers and other middle working class citizens.

Readers, be sure to visit the Bronwyn’s blog starting November 1 for links to a few of the research sites she used for the story!

by Michelle Styles
The end of September and beginning of October has been taken up with doing workshops for the National Year of Reading, writing and helping my eldest navigate the shoals of applying to universities. Why oh why was it so much easier when I was a student? And why did I think going on holiday at this time of year was a good one — Sorrento, Italy in case anyone is interested.

The BIG news is that November sees that launch of Harlequin Historical Undone. This is a short ebook line and is HH’s most sensual series yet. I was able to catch up with the four launch authors and find out more. Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss author Bronwyn Scott said:

The Undone e-book series is a great opportunity to take Harlequin Historical into the electronic age and reach a new population of reader. It’s also a great chance to show readers how much historical romance has changed over the past two decades.

Nicola Cornick added:

I’m very excited about the whole concept of the Harlequin Historical Undone e-books because I love reading and writing hot historical short stories! My launch title, The Unmasking of Lady Loveless, is a humorous and very sexy Regency tale and I’m really looking forward to reading the other launch stories too–they sound fabulous!

Michelle Willingham (whose entry, The Viking’s Forbidden Love-Slave, is connected to her full length novel Her Warrior Slave) explained:

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Harlequin Historical Undone launch. The new line is meant to be short, very sexy historical stories that sweep you away, and when I wrote my story, I intended it to be pure fantasy. I have three children, all under the age of seven, and there are times in my life, when I desperately need an escape!

And finally, Amanda McCabe said:

I’m so excited to be part of the launch of the Undone line of ebooks for Harlequin! There are always stories I have a hard time letting go of when I reach “The End,” and my full length Harlequin Historical January 09 book High Seas Stowaway was one. I loved the setting (the Caribbean in the 1530s) and the characters–and I wondered what Carlos de Alameda’s story was. He seemed so mysterious and dangerous! In my Undone Shipwrecked and Seduced, I got to find out what that story was, and revisit Santo Domingo with the heroine Maria (a maidservant masquerading as a contessa). It was great fun to create a fantasy for her–and myself. I hope to get to do more of these stories in the future, and that readers enjoy them, too!

Across the pond, Mills & Boon is now releasing all of its front list as ebooks. You may purchase them through the Mills & Boon website.

Entering Harlequin Presents Instant Seduction writing contest proved a winner for Lynn Raye Harris. After being awarded an editor for a year, working hard on revisions, she received the Call in October. Her book, Spanish Magnate, Red Hot Revenge, will be released in North America next summer.

The winner of the Feel the Heat competition was Lucy Roberts and she will now work with an editor. Fingers crossed that she is able to emulate Lynn.

November also sees the re-release of Ida Cook’s (aka Mary Burchill) autobiography Safe Passages (previously published as We Followed Our Stars). For those who are not familiar with her life story. Ida Cook and her sister used the proceeds from Ida’s romance writing to help rescue Jewish people from Nazi Germany. There is a new foreword as well as some previously unpublished photographs. Besides writing well beloved romances for Mills and Boon, Ida Cook was a true heroine in her own right.

The Christmas season at Harlequin/Silhouette always starts in October/November. I love Christmas themed books. Harlequin Historical has two anthologies out this season: The Magic of Christmas by Carolyn Davidson, Victoria Bylin and Cheryl St John and One Candlelit Christmas with stories by Julia Justiss, Annie Burrows and Terri Brisbin.

Until next month, when hopefully there will be news about Harlequin’s upcoming 60^th anniversary celebration as well as more on the holiday season, Happy Reading!

Sandy M’s review of Pickpocket Countess by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance published by Harlequin on 1 Mar 08

This book is so much fun. Not only do the hero and heroine of this story enjoy the witty repartee between themselves, but the reader does too. Plus the mystery of the heroine’s alter ego is an added twist. Then, toss in the hero’s dichotomy of desire between love and justice, blended with the romance that develops between two of the unlikeliest of people, and you end up with a smile in your heart.

The very night The Cat sneaks into his home to steal what she can is the night Brandon Wycroft is meeting with his townspeople to come up with a way to stop the thief who is making a fool of them all. Thinking to catch The Cat at “his” own game, Brandon corners the thief in his bedroom, but the surprise is more on Brandon than the burglar — The Cat is a woman. An intelligent woman and one who does the unexpected every time he thinks he has her figured out.

After just a few meetings between them, and although she is working against him and his new factory he hopes to build, Brandon finds himself attracted to this daredevil who knows how to take care of herself, and how to kiss to make him wish for more. He tries to tell himself it’s his duty to bring her to justice, but how can he put a woman with such heart behind bars. The more of herself she shows him, the more he understands her need and her drive to stop the industrialization his community, and others like it, needs. Should he go with what’s right? Or with his heart?

Nora is driven to stop new factories from being erected, to stop the rich from becoming richer by exploiting children, and to stop people from being killed in those factories because of unsafe conditions. People like her parents. Since their unnecessary deaths she has moved from town to town, donning her masquerade of “The Cat,” the notorious thief stealing from the rich to help the poor widows and children affected by men who care for nothing but themselves. Deciding to finally make the Earl of Stockport her victim may be her downfall, however. The man affects her as no other ever has and as much as she tries, she can’t keep her mind off of him to concentrate on her own nocturnal activities. Showing him the other side of town is the first step in making him see what his new business will wreak if he goes ahead with it. Or has she shown him too much? Will he turn on her when she least expects it and send her to prison?

I just loved Brandon and Nora together. Even when he knew her only as “The Cat” there was something between them, something that grew each time they were together, whether that was bantering back and forth to the point of ravishing each other or sharing the Christmas spirit with the less fortunate, thus a lesson learned no matter which way it went. The whole situation is a double-edged sword for Brandon, one of his own making when begins to fall for his little thief, but Nora is determined to save him from himself and from the men who would take him down if they find out his duplicity. I also loved that you never knew what Nora would do next, especially when she was cornered and had to escape being captured.

The humor is fun. The villain gets what’s coming to him. The romance is delightful. And the cover is one of the very best to look at, frequently, just for the heck of it!

Grade: B+

     From the back cover:

     It’s Brandon Wycroft’s duty as the Earl of Stockport to catch “The Cat,” a notorious thief who is stealing from rich local homes to feed the poor. Discovering that The Cat is a woman, he changes his plan of action to a game of seduction!

     Mysterious and tempting, she teases him. And, as the net closes around The Cat, Brandon realizes he wants to protect her as well as bed her. But the only way to catch her is to spring the parson’s mousetrap — and make her his countess!

     Read an excerpt.