The current crop of historical romances got you down?  Tired of being stuck in a Regency ball room, or on the back of a horse with a cowboy who hasn’t had a proper bath in two weeks?  Well, Amanda McCabe‘s launch title for the Harlequin Historical Undone line is the cure for what ails you.  In honor of the novella’s launch, Amanda agreed to swim by the pond to give readers the scoop on her intrepid Spanish heroine’s determination to start a new life.

A terrible shipwreck gives the maidservant Maria the chance to taste life as a wealthy countess in exotic Santo Domingo. But what will happen when her deception is discovered by the sexy, mysterious-and very dangerous-Carlos de Alameda?

Santo Domingo in 1535 is full of exotic treasures, and perilous secrets. Maria hopes to leave her old life behind in Spain when she travels there as a maidservant, only to see her hopeful plans destroyed in a shipwreck where she is the only survivor. When she is mistaken for Contessa Isabella, she makes the hard decision to go on with the masquerade-until she is faced with Carlos de Alameda.

Spanish nobleman, official at the island’s royal fortress-and spy for the King-Carlos has battled against every danger in the New World. But he has never met anyone like the beautiful contessa, and he is determined to discover her every secret, by any means necessary-even seduction…

My January ‘o9 book, High Seas Stowaway, features Carlos de Alameda as a minor character.  I was very intrigued with him, and happy to get a chance to tell ‘his’ story! I got to a do a lot of fascinating research for these stories, and only some it involved tropical beaches! I had to learn about ships, caravels in particular, navigation and mapmaking, the early history of the Spanish in the New World, pirates, and, er, rum.

Readers, intrigued by Amanda’s research?  Be sure to check out more at the “History Behind the Book” section at her website.

So how’s everyone enjoying Undone week so far?  Hopefully you all are having as much fun reading about it as I did putting it together!  And to whet your appetite even further?  We have news on upcoming Undone titles for your consideration.

December 2009 brings Notorious Lord, Compromised Miss, a Regency by Annie Burrows.

Debutante Katherine Malahithe has come to London determined to resist the fortune hunters only interested in her money. Her efforts to appear unattractive successfully ward off most suitors–except for Viscount Maldon, a man who wants to avoid marriage as much as Katherine. The handsome, provoking Viscount becomes an unlikely ally, but can either of them escape the altar when friendship turns to passion…and scandal?

Ooooh, doesn’t that sound delicious?  Harlequin is still working on finalizing titles and plot descriptions, but here’s what’s on tap after the new year:

In January 2009, readers will have The Rake’s Intimate Encounter by Ann Lethbridge to look forward to!

Anthony Darby thinks he is ready to give up his life of pleasure–until finds himself at an exclusive club where ladies of the ton indulge their secret desires…and he spies the most alluring woman he’s ever laid eyes on.

Lately widowed, Margaret is determined to savor some of the joys she missed while married to a cold-hearted Russian count. After paying her dues as a dutiful wife, she’s ready to begin living for the moment–starting with a night of passion with Anthony.

Squeeeeee! I can’t wait!

Nicola Cornick is quickly becoming one of my favorite “new-to-me-where-the-heck-have-I-been” authors.  To celebrate the launch of the Harlequin Historical Undone line, she’s stopped by the pond to tell us all a little bit about her Undone title, The Unmasking Of Lady Loveless.

The Unmasking of Lady Loveless is set in the same fictional Yorkshire village, Peacock Oak, that I used for the background for my July HQN release Unmasked and also features some of the same characters. I wanted to write a Christmas story and the idea of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside under the snow seemed the perfect setting!

Research Tidbit:

Being a Yorkshire girl by birth I feel very happy when I write books that are set in that county. It’s like going home! One Christmas tradition I particularly liked when I researched the story was the idea of the Standing Pie. This was a huge pie filled with turkey or game, which had a separate pastry crust that stood up on its own! Apparently the pies were huge and one made for the Lord Chancellor in 1832 was so big that it collapsed under its own weight! When I read about this I remembered that my grandmother used to make pies and cook the pastry crust separately. She must have been following this very ancient tradition.

Summary

Erotic author Lady Loveless is scandalising the Ton with her shocking tales that are based on the real life high jinks of society. Engagements are being broken, inheritances lost as a result of her wicked pen and the gentlemen decide that enough is enough – she may spin the most naughtily seductive tales, but Lady Loveless must be stopped!

Lord Alexander Beaumont is convinced that the outrageous Lady Loveless is none other than his estranged wife Melicent, for the manuscripts are coming from the Yorkshire village where Melicent took refuge after the end of their brief, bitter marriage. Alex travels to Yorkshire determined to unmask his errant wife and put a stop to her wicked ways. But when he reaches the beautiful village of Peacock Oak, Alex finds that Melicent – and Lady Loveless – are not what they seem. Will Christmas in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside reunite Alex and the bride he lost years before?

Readers, ever lament that they don’t publish medieval romances like they used to?  Are you like me and ever wondered why Ireland isn’t used as a setting for historical romances more?  Well have no fear, because Michelle Willingham is busy killing two birds with one stone!  And with her latest novella for the Harlequin Historical Undone line, she’s hit the jackpot with a title that would make any Harlequin Presents author weep with jealousy.  In honor of it’s release, Michelle stopped by the pond to give us the scoop behind her story’s inspiration.

Upon a trip to Dublin two years ago, I had visited the archaeological museum in order to research medieval artifacts. But while inside, I found an amazing display of Viking lore. With further reading, I learned that a Norse King, Magnus the Barefoot, attempted to take over Dublin in 1101. Such a daring move made him a fascinating historical figure, and as I plotted my Viking story, I imagined that such a king might indeed be a ruthless and an interesting foe for a Viking warrior.

One of the more tragic stories that I learned about was the massacre at Dunmore Cave, in Kilkenny. During a Viking raid, over 1000 of the Irish were killed, including women and children. The tribesmen and women fled to the cave, where they were caught and killed. It led me to understand the fear that the Irish held for these raids, and how a young woman might feel if a Viking warrior took her.

The Viking’s Forbidden Love-Slave tells the story of Tharand Hardrata, a member of the Norse warrior class who steals an Irish noblewoman from her clan. He intends to trade Aisling Ó Brannon for his sister’s life, after she was taken by King Magnus. If Aisling succeeds in pleasing the king with her body, Tharand believes Magnus will let his sister go. But the Irish captive enslaves him with a pleasure he’d never before known.

Fortunately for my heroine Aisling, Tharand is a man of honor, and with each forbidden moment they share, she learns how very different he is from the stories she heard of Viking warriors, long ago. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be carried off by an amazingly hot Viking, then I hope you’ll enjoy this fantasy story!

At the end, Aisling asks Tharand to help her discover what happened to her brothers during the Norse raid. Readers can learn about both brothers in Her Warrior Slave, the story of Kieran Ó Brannon, which is on sale now from Harlequin Historicals.

Readers, for more behind-the-scenes details, be sure to visit Michelle’s fabulous website.

Just in time for our spotlight on the Undone line here at TGTBTU, Harlequin has a sale going on all this week!

Enjoy a little romance in the afternoon? Based on feedback from customers and bloggers who love getting a quick fix with our short eBooks www.eBooks.eHarlequin.com is doing something a bit special in November-Afternoon Delights. This week-long promotion runs from Nov 3rd – 7th, from noon to 3pm EST, and celebrates not only the Undone launch, but our other sizzling short eBooks-Spice Briefs and Nocturne Bites. Every day, several Spice Briefs and Nocturne Bites, along with our four launch Undone titles, will be just 89¢. Just think, a guilt-free afternoon snack can be yours for the same price as a chocolate bar!

Visit http://eBooks.eHarlequin.com/AfternoonDelights for details.

89 cents?! What a steal!

Continuing to offer more digital content than any other traditional print publisher out there, Harlequin launches their brand new ebook-exclusive Harlequin Historical Undone line this month. Much like the successful Nocturne Bites and Spice Briefs lines, Undone are short stories, set in a variety of historical locales, and are spicier reads than what can traditionally be found in the regular Harlequin Historical line.

Harlequin is giving Undone a big push in November, with four launch titles to tantalize readers. After that, the normal publishing schedule will take hold, with one new Undone title being offered a month.

As some of you know, Sybil and I are both massive fans of the Harlequin Historical line, and to celebrate the launch of Undone we’re shining the spotlight all this week. We’ll have reviews for all four launch titles, guest posts, and even some news on upcoming titles. So sit back, relax, and be sure to have that wish list handy.

Contest Alert! 

In honor of Undone Week, we have some goodies to give away to readers!  Sybil’s been busy cleaning her house and recently uncovered a horde of delectable Harlequin Historical goodies.  One grand prize winner will receive a bundle of books, and other assorted HH inspired goodies.  Three runner-up winners will receive a coupon code for a free Undone title at eHarlequin’s eBook Store.   To be eligible to win, simply comment on any of our Undone Spotlight posts this week.  Winners will be drawn at random on Monday, November 10.  Good luck!

Two things I love about the continuing erotic romance boom? Anthologies and naughty, naughty historicals. I love them both, and the Private Places anthology, out now, is happily sitting on my Must Buy This On Next Trip To Borders list. Lucky for all of us, anthology contributor Claudia Dain is here to give us a little taste of her story, A Night At The Theater. Enjoy!

E-X-C-E-R-P-T

The dark Duke of Aldreth lived without hope, she was instantly and intuitively certain of it. Of all the things she did not have, she still had hope. Let them share that, at least.

“No, your grace, I am speaking of you,” she said in a near whisper of raw emotion, “and of me. Of us. Of what we might share between us. Of what we might find together.”

It was an odd, unexpected moment between them and it seemed to grow straight out of the ground, entwining them, catching them up. It was tender and fragile and almost completely unwelcome. She did not want to feel tenderness towards this man.

Zoe had never before felt any such emotion for a man. Men did not require tenderness. What would they do with it? It had no currency for them. They wanted only beauty and power and if a woman would not feed those indulgences, she had no value at all.

Certainly he knew that as well. He was not an uncultured man. He knew and would follow the rules regarding affairs such as these.

But the look in his eyes, for just a moment or two, was so unguarded and so full of longing that she did not quite know what to make of it. She could only hope that she had not been so unguarded with him. Men did not like that. Men did not like to think of anyone but themselves in moments such as these. Had she not learned that? Had she learned nothing since leaving France?

“You are not speaking of a meal, are you, Miss Auvray? You look very much in need of a meal, shared or not,” he said with a small dose of sarcasm, shielding his vulnerability, shifting his gaze to the crowd around them.

“Are you offering a meal, your grace?” she said, matching his tone, both saddened and comforted by the return to the normal sort of bantering that went on between men and women who spoke together without revealing anything of import. But she knew she was telling him something more, something about not betraying his unguarded moment, and she did not quite know why she was being so careful of this very powerful duke. He did not need protection and she could provide none. He was supposed to be offering protection to her, which was the entire point of this exercise.

Why did she have such trouble remembering that? Certainly Sophia would not be so distracted by a pair of pain-soaked blue eyes.