Former Texan, creator of Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent and one of those people you would swear is just too nice to be real – Lisa Kleypas – will be dropping by the pond today.  She is VERY close to deadline… soon to be shaking hands with her drop dead date.  The way I look at it, this should work in our favor cuz really what more does a author want at that time than distraction.

::innocent blink::

To get you started I asked her a few questions, you can ask her some more in the comments, anything that doesn’t get answered we will put together in an ‘interview’ and post after Leo is ‘Married by Morning‘ and on his way to her editor.  Until then if you haven’t already read Tempt Me at Twilight you can check out excerpts: on her site here, the ‘raw’ one here (that didn’t change much) and the new one here.

Thanks again to Lisa for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions.

**the following quotes are from Tempt Me at Twilight ©2009 Lisa Kleypas

“Well, to start with—“ Poppy tried to sound pragmatic even though her eyes watered. “I’m not a virgin anymore.”

Leo gave her a mock-shamed glance. “Neither am I,” he confessed.

A reluctant giggle escaped her.

Leo rummaged in his coat for a handkerchief, without success. “Don’t cry, darling. I have no handkerchief, and in any case, virginity is nearly impossible to find once you’ve lost it.”

How do you feel Tempt Me at Twilight turned out? Are you happy with the finished novel?



I am very happy with it!—it was a great writing experience, and I think part of that was because I finally settled in comfortably with the Hathaways. Whenever there was a group scene, it was incredibly fun to write, because I knew exactly how each character would react to what was going on.

After the previous year, when I wrote a couple of darker, more angsty novels (Blue Eyed Devil and Seduce Me At Sunrise) I felt a little worn out emotionally, and ready for some fun. So the two books I wrote after that were Smooth Talking Stranger and Tempt Me At Twilight, and I think they both reflect the sheer joy I felt in writing.

Poppy wondered what was wrong with her, that she should be amused rather than frightened by his confession. “Harry. You’re not supposed to court a girl by telling her you’re the villain.”

He gave her an innocent glance that didn’t deceive her in the least. “I’m trying to be honest.”

“Perhaps. But you’re also making certain that whatever anyone says about you, you’ve already admitted it. Now you’ve made all criticism of you ineffectual.”

Harry blinked as if she’d surprised him. “You think I’m that manipulative?”

Harry has a fabulous line, well really he has many, “In the fairy tale you mentioned last night, I would probably be the villain.” I have to admit I adore that and him.  As you know I have a fondness for Sebastian (Devil in Winter), Leo (Married by Morning) and we can’t forget Kev (Seduce Me at Sunrise).  All of them have bastard like qualities, why do you think that works in a ‘hero’?

Thanks, Sybs, I love to hear that! I think as long as there are deeper, authentically motivated reasons for a hero behaving badly, readers are always generous enough to forgive him. I adore nice-guy heroes, but the bastards are always more exciting, aren’t they?

I think it’s the tension of wondering what they’re going to do, and wondering how the heroine will react. And the character arc is so emotionally satisfying when a hero goes through experiences that force him to change. It always gives me a pleasant shiver at the moment when the hero who has been so dangerous and destructive in the past, is now going to use all power to protect and satisfy the heroine.

“Before you leave,” he said softly, “I have some advice for you. It’s not safe for a young woman to wander alone through the hotel. Don’t take such a foolish risk again.”

Poppy stiffened. “It’s a reputable hotel,” she said. “I have nothing to fear.”

“Of course you do,” he murmured. “You’re looking right at it.”

What makes Harry different from your other heroes?



He’s unusual for me, in that he is a mechanical engineer, and he is so remarkably isolated. He knows how to manipulate people, but not how to have a close relationship with them. So he has an emotional innocence that seemed very sweet to me, despite his villainous qualities. When he meets Poppy, he falls for her immediately because she is so open to the kind of emotional connection that he secretly craves.

She is a very warm and talkative character, and she is a little bit nerdy in the same way he is. When Harry visits the Hathaways and sees how they relate to each other, he is thrown off-balance because he’s never been part of a family . . . there’s this magical something in the air, and he’s not sure what it is, until he finally realizes it’s love. So normal for them, so unfamiliar to him.

“As it happens,” Harry murmured, “I’m American by birth.”

I totally loved that Harry Rutledge is from America (as is Lily and Daisy from your Wallflower series) any chance we could see an American Historical from you in the future? ::coughwesterncough::

I would so love to set a historical in America! If I’m ever able to, I would probably set it in Victorian era New York—what an exciting place, and so much was happening! Self-made men with big fortunes galore.

You soooooo are not helping my western agenda… just saying ::pout::

You ever read a book called Give Me Tonight?  It is out of print and hard to find but I hear it is good ::innocent blink::

“Afraid?” he asked softly.

Poppy forced herself to meet his gaze. “No.”

“Maybe you should be. I’m much nicer to people who are afraid of me.”

“I doubt that,” she said. “I think the opposite is true.”

Poppy is a very strong female character, even when she is making choices Rutledge has manipulated her into.  I see that trait in all the Hathaway sisters and could say it is true for most of your heroines.  Is this a personal choice as an author – something that speaks against the ‘sterotypical weak female’ in romance or something you honestly see reflected in the history of the time?

I appreciate that—I’ve always thought that true strength is not displaying the hoyden/vixen/bitch type of behavior, but rather the patience and persistence and resilience that Poppy displays.

She has her moments of frustration and temper, but she is also quick to forgive and apologize. I think women did have to summon a lot of patience back then, because it was so frowned upon for a woman to be outwardly demanding or aggressive—they had so many constraints placed on them.  You wonder if all the “nervous ailments” that women suffered from were really just a reflection of the stress and frustration of having to let men be in charge all the time!

“Those who have special requests,” Mr. Lufton continued, “or don’t like their rooms cleaned at certain times, those who insist on bringing pets, things of that sort. We don’t discourage them from staying, but we do make a note of their peculiarities.”

Speaking of the history of the time, odd question but I have a background in hotels, and totally love the setting of the book.  Any books you can recommend you used for research into hotels of the time?
I wondered if you would like that!  Yes, I had some fantastic resources and it was so much fun to research. There was a great book titled Hotel: An American History by Andrew K Sandoval-Strausz that provide a ton of information about the development of American and European hotel industries, and a great biography of the great hotel developer Henry Flagler, and I researched the histories of some classic London hotels such as Brown’s and Mivart‘s (the latter turned into Claridge’s).

The Rutledge is a composite of those old hotels, with some of the innovations that were happening at the time, food lifts and en suite bathing-rooms and plumbing  . . . in fact, I spent so much time contemplating and “designing” the Rutledge that it almost seems like a real place to me now!

Jake’s face fell. God. Another scene. “Sir, I’d rather go on an errand in east London and be pummeled by street thieves.”

Rutledge smiled. “That will probably happen later in the week.”

When is Jake getting a book?



I truly hadn’t thought of that. You think he’s hero material?






I did! He sort of reminds me of a derek character… not as hardcore but we didn’t really see him at ‘work’ so to speak. I figured he got his hands plenty dirty or did before for Harry. NOT that I am asking, if I were to ‘request’ a story I want a novella on ‘where are they now’ on St. Vincent and Evie *g*. I know you soooooooooo didn’t see that coming.

“And there’s one more thing to be aware of,” Cam said, with a wintry softness that disguised all hint of feeling. “If you succeed in marrying her, we’re not losing a sister. You’re gaining an entire family–who will protect her at any cost.”

If you were a book what would your ‘summary’ be?  (totally stole that from Sandy M Duck Chats cuz it amuses me)



Oh, this is not easy. Hmm. How about “A cookie-loving daydreamer turns her love of words and fantasies into a writing career, and finds true love along the way. She is surrounded by a brilliant cast of characters, including witty and wacky friends, a great publisher, a sock-stealing cocker spaniel, and an adorable duck-loving reviewer who always makes her laugh.”

“No. I’ve found that life is far kinder to shallow people.” Turning her, Leo drew her up against his tall, well-muscled frame.

What super TOP secret info can you give us on Leo’s book, Married by Morning.



Leo has been secretly drawing naked sketches of Catherine (imagining what she might look like), and she finds out.
**highlight over the blankspace if you want to see the spoiler

“She has experience with primates?” Harry asked sardonically.

Poppy considered that. “We’ve just been through the London season. Does that count?”

What super TOP Secret info can you give us on Beatrix’s book, Love in the Afternoon?



Beauty and the Beast theme.

That’s all I can say for now!
**highlight over the blankspace if you want to see the spoiler

That is really not that much to go on but since you haven’t even started the book I will give you a pass on it.

When will we get to see the cover for Married by Morning? LOL I know, I always want something…

If you have questions or comment for Lisa Kleypas, please put it in the comments of this post. If you have read Tempt Me at Twilight, do tell us what you thought of it.

Gwen’s review of Seduce Me At Sunrise (The Hathaways, Book 2) by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romance released by St. Martin’s 30 Sep 08

I love Kleypas’s historicals – some more than others, but they all have a place in my heart.  That’s not to say I don’t enjoy her contemps, but I really love her historicals.  In fact, I found SM@S to be one of her best historicals to date.  There is a richness and believability to her characters, dialog, and settings in SM@S that isn’t always so strong in Kleypas’s books. 

At the beginning of the book, Win Hathaway is an invalid as a result of a brush with scarlet fever.  She comes back from a health spa, besotted doctor in tow, a changed woman.  Her spirit as an invalid was strong – but her body wasn’t.  She returns with a stronger body and the same strong spirit.  She returns with her love of Merripen intact and all but consuming her.  I really enjoyed Win’s character.  The scene near the end with the armoire is classic.  I won’t spoil anything, but it says it all about Win – she’s kind and gentle, but perfectly willing to be ruthless to protect those she loves.

Kev Merripen is sure he isn’t good enough for Win, but he loves her with such a bone-deep passion and commitment that he knows there will never be another woman for him except Win.  His personal torment as he comes to terms with that love, and finally capitulates to it, is a very satisfying part of the story.  Kev is one of my favorite, if not the favorite, Kleypas Hero to date.  His torment is very personal to him – he doesn’t whine or bemoan or complain.  He just suffers quietly.  Those who love him – and all of the Hathaways love him like a brother – eventually see the torment and try to help him and Win come together.  However, it takes an earth-shaking confrontation with Win’s brother to make Kev see what a fool he has been about his feelings for Win.  THAT scene is classic – I loved how it ended with Win’s brother wanting a head start.

This is a very satisfying love story.  As is the case with many of Kleypas’s works, I didn’t find myself distracted from the romance by the setting or the time period.  It could be set in any time period and still be a terrific story.  The emotion is believable and warm.  The story is well-told and nicely paced.  The sub-arcs and character histories revealed here and there are all interesting and really lend strength to the bond between not just the hero and heroine, but all of the main characters.  It can be read easily on its own, but you’ll get more out of it if you read book 1, Mine ‘Til Midnight, first.

Brava, Lisa Kleypas, on another wonderful book.  And hurry with book 3!  I need it!

I highly recommend this to fans of historical and non-historical romance.  Fans of Lisa Kleypas should be in raptures with SM@S.  Now, if only I can find my own Kev Merripen…

Grade: A

Summary:

Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Lawson’s review of Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, Book 2) by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romance released by St. Martins 30 Sep 08

Before I start on anything, everyone reading this needs to take a moment and enjoy, probably for the millionth time, the beautiful red cover on this book. It’s so pretty, isn’t it? And now down to business: the story. Picking up where Mine Till Midnight left off, we see Win, the second Hathaway daughter, leaving England to go to a hospital to get healthy again. One of the major plot points from MtM was Leo and Win’s sufferings after having scarlet fever a couple of years before the action of the book. When Win returns, however, some things have changed.

Win returns to a different situation than when she’d left. Her sister Amelia’s marriage to Cam Rohan has benefited the family, who have some money for once. Her friend, Kev Merripen, who has been with the family for years, has become a harder person since Win left. Both Win and Merripen have been in love for years, but both haven’t done anything about it. Win has decided to move on and is considering an engagement to her doctor, Julian Harrow.

Win is shocked at the changes in Merripen, but with her feelings for Julian, she thinks that things will work out. The family leaves London to go to their country home, which is next door to Stony Cross Park, home of Lord Westcliff (of the Wallflower series). Win is happy to be healthy, in the country and being able to live her life for herself, though she chafes under some of her family’s well meaning care. What bothers Win the most are the changes in Merripen, who she had been very close to, and their arguments about what is best for Win and her life lead to some excellent scenes.

Win is a great leading lady. She’s been used to being the invalid of the family after her bout with scarlet fever left her very weak. Coming back from the hospital with Dr. Harrow helped not only her health, but her self esteem has improved enough that she stands up for herself to her family and to Merripen. She also tries to go after what she wants, which is Merripen, and though he rebuffs her due to his own fears, Win is able to convince him of his errors in judgment.

Merripen is a great foil for Win. Where she’s delicate and ladylike (but not weak) he’s strong and earthy. His life as a gypsy before coming to live with the Hathaways wasn’t easy, and he bonded with Win easily, though since he’s much taller and more muscular is always afraid that he’ll hurt Win. His realization that she is his woman and his steps to make everyone see that as well (especially Julian) shows the extremely passionate side of Merripen and makes him an excellent hero.

What makes this book so well done is the relationships of Win and Merripen, not only with each other, but with the other members of the family. Leo is definitely changed since MtM (he went to the hospital with Win and did some recovery himself). The way that Leo has matured makes me wonder when his story will come, and who will be a good match for him. The younger sisters, Poppy and Beatrice, have a new governess to help ease them into society, though of course, they are rather exuberant but they are endearing to their governess (who has some clashes with Leo and Bea’s pet ferret).

There’s also the discovery of Merripen’s gypsy family and the continuation of Cam’s search for his gypsy roots, and yes, the reason why Cam and Merripen have similar tattoos is also revealed. To tell the whys and hows, of course would be spoilers, and no, I’m not going to do that. But it’s a beautiful, passionate story with two characters that have lots of growth and get a very touching happily ever after. All with some humor, family and some satisfying endings, as well as beginnings along the way.

Grade: A

Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

…May 13, 2008, to be exact, Lisa Kleypas guested on this here blog. Remember? We had a nice little book discussion. Re-reading it has been quite fun actually. As part of the guest day, there was a contest. A really awesome contest. I’m pretty jealous of the winners. Two commenters on the Lisa Kleypas book discussion questions have won a signed ARC of Seduce Me at Sunrise (releasing September 30, 2008). Read the excerpt and sigh. Yes, I really covet this book.

And the two winners are…

Jen

and

Christine!

Congratulations!!!! Please email Sybil at redwyne at gmail dot com with your information. Put “Kleypas ARC winner” in the subject line.

Tuesday May 13, Lisa Kleypas visited The Good, The Bad and The Unread. Fun things happened like some great questions discussing heroes and point of view and thanks for the great, wonderful, spectacular responses. There were some excerpts from Lisa’s upcoming books, Seduce Me at Sunrise (can I have it now Sybil? Pretty please?) and A Wallflower Christmas. And, of course, Lisa herself was here all day! SSQQQUUEEE!

Honestly, it’s nice to see all the comments and readers come out and discuss the work of a great author. There were some good responses and if you click any of the links below you can continue to discuss these things. Really, ’cause it’s fun.

Discussion Questions:

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Seduce Me at Sunrise excerpt.

A Wallflower Christmas excerpt.

The contest (sorry it is already closed, but it’s nifty either way).

Thanks everyone for making it a very good day! And thanks millions to Lisa who provided the wonderful material to be discussed.

To wrap up (maybe) our discussion questions for today, an inspiration has come from Lisa’s wonderful heroes. Yes, we’re back to heroes, but let’s face it ladies, without men in our lives things could get rather boring. Boring is not a word ever used to describe a Kleypas hero. Why is that do you suppose? Hmm. . .

I’ve heard Lisa say she doesn’t like writing the “traditional” historical hero. What would be a traditional hero? Is he wealthy, titled, a rake and redeemed only by the heroine’s true love? In many historical romances those things can usually be used to describe a hero. Not that I don’t enjoy those heroes myself, but should that be the norm?

Or can you have, say, a gypsy? A self made man? A man who has his problems but redeems himself on his own before he meets his heroine? Couldn’t he be a traditional hero as well? Complexities and complications make a hero what he is, deep down. Perhaps it’s more realistic to have those “different” sort of heroes to root for, to admire, and to wonder about rather than the titled rake who reforms for his lady love.

Seduce Me at Sunrise has Merripen, a gypsy, an orphan and someone who has made himself what he is. Not that different from Cam Rohan. But neither of these heroes is the same sort as St. Vincent, a titled man who is redeemed by Evie. Or Westcliff, a peer who is very well respected, and very opinionated but balance by Lillian.

Where would this then put Leo? He’s going to get a book eventually, at least that’s the hope. What kind of hero would he be after Mine ’til Midnight? After the Seduce Me at Sunrise even, though I haven’t read it yet . . .

It’s more than the hero then, isn’t it? It’s not that he’s traditional or different, but perhaps his heroine is there to. . .that’s where it all falls on you. . .

What is it about these heroes that make them tick? Traditional or otherwise. . .

We duckies, here on our little blog, love Lisa Kleypas. We love her for spending the day with us here, and we love her for writing such great books.

And she must love us very much because she’s given us a great prize to give away something wonderful and spectacular and fabulous. What could this be? Is the suspense killing you yet?

Don’t want to cause any undue stress, so here’s the prize:

Two, that’s right, TWO ARCS of Seduce Me at Sunrise! Isn’t that wonderful? The book won’t be out until September 30, 2008, so think of all the people that you can make jealous.

The rules of the contest are this:

Two random winners will be chosen from any of the comments on the posts of discussion questions, the links to which are given below. All comments to be considered entered in the contest MUST be posted by 12 midnight CDT Wednesday May 14.

Here’s Question 1

Here’s Question 2

Here’s Question 3

There will be a Question 4 to be posted later today (yes, this will be changed later).

Go, comment and discuss and win an ARC of Seduce Me at Sunrise!

The publishing industry has never heard the adage, “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

You ever wonder what an author has to do to get from raw, unedited text to a finished product?  What changes do their creations go thru?  Do they have to give up really good stuff to make it work?

I’m happy you asked!  We have an example of what Lisa Kleypas went thru to get from the raw, unedited Seduce Me at Sunrise (St. Martin’s releases it 30 Sep 08) excerpt we posted last October to what you see below – the finished product.  The process is actually quite fascinating…

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

Chapter One

Winter, 1848

Win had always thought Kev Merripen was beautiful, in the way that an austere landscape or a wintry day could be beautiful. He was a large, striking man, uncompromising in every angle. The exotic boldness of his features was a perfect setting for eyes so dark that the irises were barely distinguishable from the pupil. His hair was thick and as black as a raven’s wing, his brows strong and straight. And his wide mouth was set with a perpetually brooding curve that Win found irresistible.

Merripen. Her love, but never her lover. They had known each other since childhood, when he had been taken in by her family. Although the Hathaways had always treated him as one of their own, Merripen had acted in the capacity of a servant. A protector. An outsider.

He came to Win’s bedroom and stood at the threshold to watch as she packed a valise with a few personal articles from the top of her dresser. A hairbrush, a rack of pins, a handful of handkerchiefs that her sister Poppy had embroidered for her. As Win tucked the objects into the leather bag, she was intensely aware of Merripen’s motionless form. She knew what lurked beneath his stillness, because she felt the same undertow of yearning.

The thought of leaving him was breaking her heart. And yet there was no choice. She had been an invalid ever since she’d had scarlet fever two years earlier. She was thin and frail and given to fainting spells and fatigue. Weak lungs, all the doctors had said. Nothing to do but succumb. A lifetime of bed rest followed by an early death.

Win would not accept such a fate.

She longed to get well, to enjoy the things that most people took for granted. To dance, laugh, walk through the countryside. She wanted the freedom to love . . . to marry . . . to have her own family someday.

With her health in such a poor state, there was no possibility of doing any of those things. But that was about to change. She was departing this day for a French clinic, where a dynamic young doctor, Julian Harrow, had achieved remarkable results for patients just like herself. His treatments were unorthodox, controversial, but Win didn’t care. She would have done anything to be cured. Because until that day came, she could never have Merripen.

“Don’t go,” he said, so softly that she almost didn’t hear him.

Win struggled to remain outwardly calm, even as a hot-and-cold chill went down her spine.

“Please close the door,” she managed to say. They needed privacy for the conversation they were about to have.

Merripen didn’t move. Color had risen in his swarthy face, and his black eyes glittered with a ferocity that wasn’t at all like him. He was all Roma at this moment, his emotions closer to the surface than he ever usually allowed.

She went to close the door herself, while he moved away from her as if any contact between them would result in fatal harm.

“Why don’t you want me to go, Kev?” she asked gently.

“You won’t be safe there.”

“I’ll be perfectly safe,” she said. “I have faith in Dr. Harrow. His treatments sound sensible to me, and he’s had a high success rate-”

“He’s had as many failures as successes. There are better doctors here in London. You should try them first.”

“I think my best chances lie with Dr. Harrow.” Win smiled into Merripen’s hard black eyes, understanding the things he couldn’t say. “I’ll come back to you. I promise.”

He ignored that. Any attempt she made to bring their feelings to light was always met with rock-hard resistance. He would never admit he cared for her, or treat her as anything other than a fragile invalid who needed his protection. A butterfly under glass.

While he went on with his private pursuits.

Despite Merripen’s discretion in personal matters, Win was certain there had been more than a few women who had given him their bodies, and used him for their own pleasure. Something bleak and angry rose from the depths of her soul at the thought of Merripen lying with someone else. It would shock everyone who knew her, had they understood the power of her desire for him. It would probably shock Merripen most of all.

Seeing his expressionless face, Win thought, Very well, Kev. If this is what you want, I’ll be stoic. We’ll have a pleasant, bloodless goodbye.

Later she would suffer in private, knowing it would be an eternity until she saw him again. But that was better than living like this, forever together and yet apart, her illness always between them.

“Well,” she said briskly, “I’ll be off soon. And there’s no need to worry, Kev. Leo will take care of me during the trip to France, and-”

“Your brother can’t even take care of himself,” Merripen said harshly. “You’re not going. You’ll stay here, where I can-”

He bit off the words.

But Win had heard a note of something like fury, or anguish, buried in his deep voice.

This was getting interesting.

Her heart began to thump. “There . . .” She had to pause to catch her breath. “There’s only one thing that could stop me from leaving.”

He shot her an alert glance. “What is it?”

It took her a long moment to summon the courage to speak. “Tell me you love me. Tell me, and I’ll stay.”

The black eyes widened. The sound of his indrawn breath cut through the air like the downward arc of an ax-stroke. He was silent, frozen.

A curious mixture of amusement and despair surged through Win as she waited for his reply.

“I . . . care for everyone in your family . . .”

“No. You know that’s not what I’m asking for.” Win moved toward him and lifted her pale hands to his chest, resting her palms on a surface of tough, unyielding muscle. She felt the response that jolted through him. “Please,” she said, hating the desperate edge in her own voice, “I wouldn’t care if I died tomorrow, if I could just hear it once-”

“Don’t,” he growled, backing away.

Casting aside all caution, Win followed. She reached out to grasp the loose folds of his shirt. “Tell me. Let’s finally bring the truth out into the open-”

“Hush, you’ll make yourself ill.”

It infuriated Win that he was right. She could feel the familiar weakness, the dizziness that came along with her pounding heart and laboring lungs. She cursed her failing body. “I love you,” she said wretchedly. “And if I were well, no power on earth could keep me away from you. If I were well, I would take you into my bed, and I would show you as much passion as any woman could-”

“No.” His hand lifted to her mouth as if to muffle her, then snatched back as he felt the warmth of her lips.

“If I’m not afraid to admit it, why should you be?” Her pleasure at being near him, touching him, was a kind of madness. Recklessly she molded herself against him. He tried to push her away without hurting her, but she clung with all her remaining strength. “What if this were the last moment you ever had with me? Wouldn’t you have been sorry not to tell me how you felt? Wouldn’t you-”

Merripen covered her mouth with his, desperate for a way to make her quiet. They both gasped and went still, absorbing the feel of it. Each strike of his breath on her cheek was a shock of heat. His arms went around her, wrapping her against the hardness of his body. And then everything ignited, and they were both lost in a furor of need. She could taste the sweetness of apples on his breath, the bitter hint of coffee, but most of all the rich essence of him. Wanting more, craving him, she pressed upward.

Did you know that? ::le gasp:: you didn’t? ‘Tis Lawson’s fault. yep yep yep…. I told her to tell you… Cuz I have been sick and dying for ::counts on fingers:: drugs are fun. She forgot.

And then she got a headache and had to go night night …. Hopefully she will be all better today cuz someone has got to be well roundyere. LOL BUT to make up for our oversight… Hell do we need to? LISA KLEYPAS is going to be here Tuesday, May 13th! LOL. But just in case, here’s an excerpt of BED.

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

We stepped out of the elevator into the H-shaped layout of corridors. I turned to face Hardy, the air between us nearly crackling with challenge. “1800 Main isn’t that much better than Post Oak,” I said. “In fact, in terms of bang for the buck, you’re probably better off staying where you are.”

Hardy lifted a brow, looking amused. “Are you trying out some new kind of sales tactic on me?”

“No. I’m wondering what your ulterior motive is.”

“What’s your best guess?”

I stared straight into those fathomless eyes. “I think you’ve got some leftover hang-up about my sister-in-law.”

Hardy’s smile fled. “You’re way off on that one, honey. We never even slept together. I wish Liberty all the best, but I don’t want her that way.” He stepped closer, not touching me, but I felt like he was just about to . . . well, I didn’t know what. I felt a nervous chill chase down my back. “So take another guess,” he said. “You can’t keep me out of here if you can’t come up with a good reason for it.”

I stepped back from him and took a shaky breath. “You’re a hell-raiser,” I said. “That’s a pretty good reason.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I got all that out of my system in my twenties.”

“You look like you’ve still got some left in you.”

“No, ma’am. I’m completely tame.”

I had an inkling of what he must have been like as a naughty schoolboy, trying to convince his teacher of his innocence. And his sneaky charm was so irresistible that I had to turn away to hide a smile. “Sure you are,” I said, leading him to the apartment.

Stopping at the door, I began to punch numbers into the combination touch pad. I was suffused with an intense awareness of Hardy, so big and solid beside me. There was that scent again, insanely distracting.

I punched the last button, barely aware of what I was doing. Although I had used the combination pad a thousand times while I’d stayed there with Gage and Liberty, I must have hit a wrong number. Instead of clicking open, the lock emitted a series of beeps.

“Sorry,” I said breathlessly, trying to look anywhere but at him. “I pushed the wrong buttons. When that happens, it takes a few seconds to clear and reset. You can change the combination to any number you—”

“Haven,” he said quietly, and waited until I could bring myself to look up at him.

I gripped the door handle as if hanging on for dear life. I had to clear my throat before I could make a sound. “Wh-what?”

“Why do I make you so nervous?” His voice was soft, reaching inside me to a raw, tender place. A mocking smile touched his lips. “You afraid I’m going to make a move on you?”

I couldn’t answer. I can’t stand this, I thought desperately. Heat washed over me, color layering on color. My heart worked in painful beats. All I could do was stare at Hardy without blinking, my back pressing against the door while he bent over me. He moved closer, imparting the pressure of his body until I felt the touch of hard muscle in several places at once. I closed my eyes, mortified by the rapid gusts of my breathing.

“Then let’s get it over with,” Hardy murmured, “so you’ll stop worrying.”

His dark head bent. He eased his mouth over mine. I put my fists between us, my arms clasped over my chest in a tight blockade. I couldn’t make myself push him away, but neither could I let him hold me full-on. His arms went around me, the embrace firm but gentle, as if he were being mindful not to crush me. Our breath mingled, heat surging in restless rhythms.

His mouth shifted, catching at my top lip, then the lower one, opening them. Every time I thought the kiss might stop, it went on longer, deeper, and the back of my throat tingled as if I were being fed something sweet. I felt the silken stroke of his tongue . . . a soft taste . . . another . . . I went weak against him, dissolving in sensation.

His tenderness disarmed me until I almost forgot about the knot of fear in my stomach. I stood there breathing him, feeling him . . . but he was all around me, he could overpower me so easily if he chose. I couldn’t handle feeling that defenseless, no matter how gentle he was. Turning my mouth away from his, I broke the kiss with a whimper.

Hardy’s lips grazed the top of my head, and he released me slowly. He looked down at me, blue heat in his eyes.

“Now show me the apartment,” he whispered.

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas. Releases 30 Sep 08 from St. Martin’s (paperback), the historical you have been waiting for…

Kev Merripen, a Gypsy with mysterious origins, is in love with Winnifred Hathaway, a former invalid who now wants to live fully and without reserve. But Win is being pursued by the handsome doctor who helped her to get well. In this scene, Merripen interrupts a rendezvous right outside a glittering ballroom. . .

Together, Julian Harrow and Win stared at the intruder.It was Merripen, of course, huge and dark and aggressive as he strode toward them.Win’s jaw sagged in disbelief. Merripen had followed her out here? She felt like a hunted creature. For heaven’s sake, was there no place she could evade his outrageous stalking?“Go . . . away,” she said, enunciating each word with scornful precision. “You are not my chaperon.”

“You should be with your chaperon,” Merripen snapped. “Not here with him.”

Win had never found it so difficult to master her emotions. She shoved them back, closing them behind an expressionless face. But she could feel the temper seething impatiently inside her. Her voice shook only a little as she turned to Julian. “Would you be so kind as to leave us, Dr. Harrow? There is something I must settle with Merripen.”

Julian glanced from Merripen’s set face to hers. “I’m not sure I should,” he said slowly.

“He’s been plaguing me all evening,” Win said. “I’m the only one who can put a stop to it. Please allow me a moment with him.”

“Very well.” Julian stood from the bench. “Where shall I wait for you?”

“Back in the drawing-room,” Win replied, grateful that there was no argument from Julian. Clearly he respected her, and her abilities, enough to allow her to manage the situation. “Thank you, Dr. Harrow.”

She was barely aware of Julian’s departure, she was so focused on Merripen. She stood and went to him with a furious scowl. “You are driving me mad,” she exclaimed. “I want you to stop this, Kev! Do you have any idea how ridiculous you’re being? How badly you’ve behaved tonight?”

“I’ve behaved badly?” he thundered. “You were about to let yourself be compromised.”

“Perhaps I want to be compromised.”

“That’s too bad,” he said, reaching out to grip her upper arm, preparing to haul her from the conservatory. “Because I’m going to make certain you stay safe.”

“Don’t touch me!” Win wrenched free of him, incensed. “I’ve been safe for years. Tucked safely in bed, watching everyone around me enjoying their lives. I’ve had enough safety to last a lifetime, Kev. And if that’s what you want, for me to continue to be alone and unloved, then you can go to the devil.”

“You were never alone,” he said harshly. “You’ve never been unloved.”

“I want to be loved as a woman. Not as a child, or a sister, or an invalid—”

“That’s not how I—”

“Perhaps you’re not even capable of such love.” In her blazing frustration, Win experienced something she had never felt before. The desire to hurt someone. “You don’t have it in you.”

Merripen moved through a shaft of moonlight that had slipped through the conservatory glass, and Win felt a little shock as she saw his murderous expression. In just a few words she managed to cut him deeply, enough to open a vein of dark and furious feeling. She fell back a step, alarmed as he seized her in a brutal grip.

He jerked her upward. “All the fires of hell could burn for a thousand years and it wouldn’t equal what I feel for you in one minute of the day. I love you so much there is no pleasure in it. Nothing but torment. Because if I could dilute what I feel for you to the millionth part, it would still be enough to kill you. And even if it drives me mad, I would rather see you live in the arms of that cold, soulless bastard than die in mine.”

Before she could begin to comprehend what he’d said, and all the implications, he took her mouth with savage hunger. For a full minute, perhaps two, she couldn’t even move, could only stand there helplessly, falling apart, every rational thought dissolving.

© Lisa Kleypas. All rights reserved

Now with cover – Click for the full view

Thanks go to Lisa Kleypas for sharing, who by the way will be back soon to talk about Blue Eyed Devil, maybe this week (I should tell her that so she at least has a chance to say no) and we have another excerpt to BED, an exclusive (I think) to Seduce Me at Sunrise AND an excerpt of Devilish goodness from a book coming out Oct 14, 2008 (but really I think you have to WAIT a while for that one). First click and check out the great cover.

Lisa Kleypas Raw and Unedited…

The book won’t be out until I would *guess* mid to late it comes out Sept 2008. And I think this is a little over a week old. So thanks Lisa for sharing .

I personally am so loving this… in fact I warn you to not even click and read this because it is THAT good you will be sad about the wait. uh huh… you are soooo gonna lookie

Dear Friends,

This is an excerpt from Seduce Me At Sunrise, completely raw and unedited. It’s the scene when Win (an invalid a la Elizabeth Barrett Browning) is leaving for a medical clinic to try to improve her health. And Merripen, who is secretly in love with her, doesn’t want her to go.

It took her a long moment to summon the courage to speak. “Tell me you love me. Tell me, and I’ll stay.”

The black eyes widened. The sound of his indrawn breath cut through the air like the downward arc of an ax-stroke. He was silent, frozen.

A curious mixture of amusement and anguish surged through Win as she waited for his reply.

“I . . . care for everyone in your family . . .”

“No. You know that’s not what I’m asking for.” Win moved toward him, lifted her pale hands to his chest, her palms settling on a surface of tough, unyielding muscle. She felt the shock that jolted through him. “Please,” she said, hating the desperate edge in her own voice, “I wouldn’t care if I died tomorrow, if I could just hear it once.”

“Don’t,” he growled, backing away.

Casting aside all caution, Win followed, reaching out to grasp the loose folds of his shirt. “Tell me. Let’s finally bring the truth out into the open.”

“Hush, you’ll make yourself ill.”

It infuriated Win that he was right. She could feel the familiar weakness, the dizziness that came along with her pounding heart and laboring lungs. She cursed her failing body. “I love you,” she said wretchedly. “And if I were well, no power on earth could keep me away from you. If I were well, I would take you into my bed, and I would show you as much passion as any woman could.”

“No.” His hand lifting to her mouth as if to muffle her, then snatching back as he felt the warmth of her lips.

“If I’m not afraid to admit it, why should you be?” Her pleasure at being near him, touching him, was a kind of madness. Recklessly she molded herself against him. He tried to push her away without hurting her, but she clung stubbornly. “What if this were the last moment you ever had with me? Wouldn’t you have been sorry not to tell me how you felt? Wouldn’t you – ”

Merripen covered her mouth with his, desperate for a way to make her quiet. They both gasped and went still, absorbing the feel of it. Each strike of his breath on her cheek was a jolt of heat. His arms went around her, wrapping her in his vast strength, holding her against the hardness of his body. And then everything ignited, and they were both lost in a furor of need.

© Lisa Kleypas. All rights reserved

Dear Friends,

I thought I’d share just a little about my current work-in-progress, a historical titled “Seduce Me At Sunrise”, which will be the story of Winnifred Hathaway and Merripen, the inscrutable Gypsy you first meet in “Mine Till Midnight.”

Win has been an invalid ever since she suffered a near-fatal case of scarlet fever. Merripen is a tall, dark Romany Gypsy who was taken in by the Hathaway family when he was a boy. He has always kept his fierce passion for Win a secret, believing a romantic relationship would never be possible.

But Win goes to an exclusive clinic, far away from Merripen and the rest of her family, and makes a remarkable recovery. And when she returns two years later, a changed woman, the explosive passion between these long-denied lovers threatens their family, their future, and even their lives . . .