Madelynne Ellis Contest Winners!

We have winners in our Madelynne Ellis contest!

A quick recap:

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Q&A with Madelynne Ellis, and a *CONTEST*

Long before I discovered epubs, I was reading Black Lace novels. Now celebrating their 15th anniversary, this U.K. publisher is known for its intelligent erotic stories for women such as the brilliant Black Lace classics Menage by Emma Holly (now a Virgin Cheek title), Continuum by Portia Da Costa, and one of my favorite books of all time, A Gentleman’s Wager by Madelynne Ellis.

With the recent re-release of A Gentleman’s Wager (read my review) and the upcoming U.S. release of its much anticipated sequel, Phantasmagoria on April 29 (reviewed here), I asked Madelynne to stop by and answer a few questions. And even though I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m a slightly obsessed fangirl, she actually agreed!

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Review: Phantasmagoria by Madelynne Ellis *CONTEST*

BevQB's review of Phantasmagoria by Madelynne Ellis
Historical erotic romance released by Virgin Black Lace 29 Apr 08

Chosen to kick off the 15th Anniversary celebration of Virgin Black Lace, this surprising sequel to A Gentleman’s Wager (reviewed here) is an emotionally wrenching, dark journey through the death of a relationship. Phantasmagoria isn’t a book that one could say they “liked” or “loved” because those words just would never apply to this haunting story. It’s raw, cruel, complex, often crude, and Madelynne Ellis doesn’t spare us by allowing us to flinch away from all the manifestations of the characters’ pain.
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Review: A Gentleman’s Wager by Madelynne Ellis

BevQB's review of A Gentleman's Wager by Madelynne Ellis
Erotic historical romance re-released by Virgin Black Lace on 1 Apr 08

First published in the UK in May 2003, A Gentleman's Wager is being re-released with a luscious new cover and a perfect new tag line: Pride and Decadence. Set in North Yorkshire, near Richmond, England, this exquisite, lusty, Georgian period romp is, at its core, a love triangle between Viscount Marlinscar (Lucerne), and Annabella Rushdale (Bella), who finds herself at odds with a rival for his attention… Vaughan, Marquis of Pennerly.

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I know this is black lace… but what are my chances of a HEA…

The historically accurate part leads me to think no chance on HEA.

An historically accurate, erotic romance set in Pompeii during Roman times involving two lovers, an angry general, fighting gladiators, and a Dionysian cult, with a rumbling volcano as backdrop.

I think I have read one black lace other than Emma Holly but hell if I can remember what it was called. Might be time to read another.

cover and summary from blacklace site

After a failed uprising in Brittania, Sirona, a princess of the Iceni, and her lover, Taranis, are taken to Pompeii.The city is a symbol of the power and wealth of the Romans, with its large forum, paved streets and luxurious villas. Taranis is sold as a slave to a rich Roman lady, who wants him for her bed, and Sirona is taken to the home of a lecherous senator, who is charged with her care until his stepson, General Lucius Flavius, returns home.

Flavius rescues her from the corrupt household and takes her to his villa outside the city. There, Sirona soon succumbs to his charms. However, with the help of the general's sister, Taranis and Sirona are briefly united but the senator discovers their deception and the situation takes a turn for the worst.

Sirona must escape from the clutches of the followers of the erotic cult of the Dionysis, while Taranis must fight for his life as a gladiator in the arena. Meanwhile, beneath Mount Vesuvius, there are forces gathering that even the power of the Romans cannot control.

Barbarian Prize by Deanna Ashford