Limecello’s review of No Reservations by Megan Hart and Lauren Dane
Erotic romance released by Black Lace 10 Nov 09

I wanted to read this book as soon as I learned it existed… which was right around the time I finished Taking Care of Business. I liked this book more, as the basics of the characters and couples had already been developed. The greater focus on the romance was very much appreciated, and enjoyable. I felt that Kate and Dix, and Leah and Brandon each had their own stories, but that all four were sufficiently tied together as well.

I really like that No Reservations starts out with our characters/couples in different places. If I understand and remember correctly, six months have passed since the end of Taking Care of Business, and the book deals with that nicely. It was nice that all the characters have separate lives, but are tied together. It really brings the dual book/story together that much better.

Kate and Leah are very different, yet very similar. Both are career women, self actualized, happy, in stable, loving relationships… and both have their own kinks. What they look for and want in men are different- and they definitely aren’t the same person, but they fit together. They’re best friends. The rapport between two friends, and women isn’t in every book, and was a key factor here. Kate and Leah’s friendship was just as important as their respective romantic relationships.

I loved that Brandon and Dix bonded on this trip. Yes, they knew each other before, but I felt here was where they really became friends outside of their significant others. Spending the night in a death trap of a rat motel of course, would likely do that. As well as going for the same thing – trying to pin down an elusive woman. It does show, however, that they have each others backs. In fact, a number of scenes show Dix and Brandon feel loyalty and sympathy towards each other. They also like and admire each other as individuals. I think that helps develop their characters, and give the story additional depth.

There are a number of parallels in No Reservations, but the stories are distinct. Kate has to deal with a lot of external baggage that comes with Dix- namely his insane ex-wife, and then his two daughters. Leah has to overcome her need for space, and the fact that she keeps herself detached in interpersonal relationships. While the major focus was on Leah and Kate, Dix and Brandon held their own.

Of course, there’s a lot of decadence and hot sex once all the characters arrive in Las Vegas. And you know, before too. And it’s what one would expect, considering the authors and the publisher. I liked the realistic and pragmatic tone of this book. It wasn’t all perfection and angelic choruses once the characters admitted they loved each other. Rather, it took a lot of effort and meeting demands of personal growth that prompted the characters to agree to cement their relationships, and get married – even though it might be easier not to.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how real it was. Maybe not the sex and decadence, but the complications come along with being an adult, and in a relationship. I’ve been reading too many books where there isn’t a real happily ever after, or the ending is a cop out. Not so here. Perhaps in Taking Care of Business things were a bit vague, but in No Reservations the reader gets closure. I need that. I know it’s not a fairy tale – that it won’t be all puppies and sunshine and rainbows from now on, but that the couples will be able to withstand any arguments and stay together.

I have to say – kudos to Brandon and Dix for being the ones who are so adamant about marriage. Finally! Too often it’s the woman who is fanatical about getting married and pushing it – but really. A number of guys are just as anxious about that commitment. I liked that the characters had to work through issues – and were willing to address them – after some initial bursts of insanity. The ending is really sweet too – it’s nice to see that not only do Dix and Brandon adore Kate and Leah… Kate and Leah truly love and appreciate Dix and Brandon just as much.

I do think it is important to read Taking Care of Business before reading No Reservations. While this book can be read alone, much of what the characters say and do refers to the previous story. I recommend No Reservations to fans of Ms. Hart and Ms. Dane, or if you’re looking for a quick, hot read that has a satisfying amount of depth.

Grade: A-

Four days in Vegas. Two sexy and determined men. One penthouse suite… And No Reservations.

Christmas isn’t so merry for Kate and Leah. Kate’s romantic winter holiday is destroyed by the sudden and uninvited presence of Dix’s annoying ex-wife while Brandon’s super-perfect family and a diamond ring sends Leah running for the refuge of a girl’s holiday in Sin City with Kate in tow.

Dix and Brandon both know what they want. Hopping a plane in hot pursuit, the men show up in Vegas, ready to use every sensual trick they have to convince Kate and Leah to take a gamble on forever.

Read an excerpt here and another one here.

We have winners in our Madelynne Ellis contest!

A quick recap:

• Bev lurves A Gentleman’s Wager by Madelynne Ellis
• The long-awaited sequel, Phantasmagoria, is reviewed.
• Bev scores an interview with Madelynne Ellis
• Free books to lucky readers!

Let’s see who wins…

A copy of Phantasmagoria will go to:

• MB (Leah)

• Jess (jwl)

• Becky

• Mary M.

And a signed set of A Gentleman’s Wager and Phantasmagoria goes to:  Sharmi!

Congratulations! Please email your contact info to redwyne (at) gmail (dot) com and put “Madelynne Ellis Contest” in the subject line.

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!

Welcome to the Pond, Madelynne!

	Every author gets asked this question or some variation of it. So, here at TGTBTU, we’ve made it easy for authors to answer by providing you with a multiple choice listing of the three most popular answers to “Where do your ideas come from?”… A. The Muse – you know, the creative force that inspires you to write… or Sharon Stone. B. The Voices in Your Head – or as we refer to them here at TGTBTU, ‘The Sybil.’ C. The Profession – it’s a job, sit your ass in the chair and type, and try not to make authors look flaky(ier) than we are, damn it.
	B. Yeah, definitely The Sybil.
	Do you listen to music when you write? What’s typically playing? Are there old favorites you fall back on when the writing is giving you fits?
	I don’t so much listen to music while I’m writing as take musical interludes. This is where I crank up the volume and stomp up and down, using the music to conjure specific moods. When it comes to the actual writing, I often find that the music is too distracting. For a while I combated this problem by listening to lots of Gackt. He’s Japanese so I didn’t have the problem of me singing along causing me to lose focus. Now, I sing along in bad Japanese.As for what I listen to… It varies wildly, for example the current section in my CD player: Gackt (Jpop), Cradle of Filth (goth/metal), Donovan (trippy 70′s folk), Juan Martin (Flamenco guitar), & Suede (Britpop).
	What is guaranteed to distract you from sitting down and working?
	Children.
	A Gentleman’s Wager was first published in the UK in May 2003 but you started writing it in 1994 and didn’t finish until 2001. Let’s go back in time. You have a degree in Biology and Chemistry. Subsequently, you begin research in Parasitology and Malaria, then a friend sees you reading a Black Lace book and urges you to “give it a go”. Why did your friend think that your logical, scientific mind could write an erotic fiction story (and do such a phenomenal job of it)? Has your creative side always found an outlet through writing? Was AGW the very first thing you submitted? Honestly, it just fascinates me that both types of thought processes could be so strong in one person.
	Erm, a) because said friend is a perv… and b) because he’s been on the receiving end of my role-playing scenarios.My creative side has many outlets. I enjoy costume making and theatrical make-up and painting (badly). Although I’ve always created elaborate imaginary worlds, prior to A Gentleman’s Wager, I’d never made any serious attempts to write them down. AGW was the first novel I submitted. I think I’d subbed one short story prior to that point which went missing somewhere in e-space. [Ed.(Bev): at right is the original cover for AGW]
	Now, here we are a few years later and AGW’s long awaited sequel, Phantasmagoria, is being released AND it’s been chosen to kick off the Virgin Black Lace 15th Anniversary Celebration! [Huge Congrats!] Was this a story that had been simmering on the back burner for awhile? What finally started the story flowing onto paper?
	I can categorically say there was no simmering involved. At the close of AGW, I genuinely had no intention of ever writing a sequel, despite numerous requests from people to do so, and loving those characters. As far as I was concerned the story was done.As for what changed that… a chance visit to Vaughan’s home.While researching a location for a short story that I never finished, we happened to drive through the village of Pennerley, from which Vaughan’s title is derived. We then went on to Stokesay Castle. To say I fell in love with the place would be an understatement. I was struck by the realization as we approached, that this was Vaughan’s home. In each room, I could see him laughing, prowling and brooding. It was still several weeks before a story emerged though. I actually went in search of a dictionary, and instead sat down and wrote the outline for Phantasmagoria. It literally came out of nowhere, and left me feeling both shocked and excited. Believe me, novels out of nowhere is not the norm for me. I’m used to the blood, sweat and tears approach to outlining.
	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? Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Honestly, as long as you don’t ask “What did you say?” I think you’re still on this side of sane.
	I don’t generally argue with my characters, I may growl at them occasionally when they insist on rewriting the lovely plot twist I’ve thought up. I work from fairly skeletal outlines, and focus heavily on characterization and character interactions, so I’m rarely surprised by what my characters do or say, but conversations do run away from me sometimes, and suddenly veer off at tangents.I’d say the main problem I have with my characters is that I frequently get very clear images of events unfolding, but I don’t understand how they connect, and then I spend ages trying to figure it all out. For example, in Phantasmagoria, I had a clear image of Vaughan carrying Bella through the castle asleep in his arms, but I couldn’t for the life of me work out why it was necessary for him to carry her anywhere. Why hadn’t he just left her in her bed and had his wicked way? Eventually, everything fell into place and it made perfect sense, but not before it had given me two-month headache.
	You took one helluva risk with Phantasmagoria. The characters from A Gentleman’s Wager are so beloved, yet you did NOT give them the expected happy ending in Phantasmagoria. In fact, it’s an emotionally painful look at what happens when their relationship falls apart. Did you have any idea how dark Phantasmagoria was going to be? Or maybe the question should be- WHY did you write such an emotionally dark story? While you were writing it, were you able to walk away from all those emotions, or did you feel like you couldn’t quite shake off all that darkness when you left your desk?
	I knew from the start that Phantasmagoria was going to be the dark heart of their story and that it was going to be a rough journey. It’s not the end of the story though (although I still need to convince an editor of that.) As for why I chose to write something quite so emotionally tortuous, I suppose the reasons are two-fold. Firstly, I strive for emotional complexity and I think it’s only through tragedy that you really see what makes people tick. A story about Vaughan, Bella and Lucerne all getting along wouldn’t have made for a very gripping read, regardless of how much hot sex they were enjoying. The second reason is rather more personal. Just prior to embarking upon writing Phantasmagoria I received some devastating and life-altering news. I’m not prepared to divulge any more information about it than that. However, that period was an extremely difficult time emotionally, and I’m sure that my feelings tipped over into my writing. I certainly cried buckets over certain events. You might say that I was using my characters as a sort of therapy. Though their problems have no resemblance to my own.
	Then you decided to do something even more surprising- instead of finishing the story immediately with a follow-up book, you are doing a spin-off series before returning to the original characters and finishing their story. Do you already have all these subsequent books mapped-out/outlined or are you a “seat-of-your-pants” writer and start with a basic idea but then let things happen as your muse/characters/secret-voices direct at the time?
	I’m definitely more of a “seat-of-the-pants” writer than a plotter. What I have for these subsequent books are key points and general themes I want to explore. The first spin-off book is more or less complete. As for why I decided to do the spin-off stories first… it’s to do with the timeline of events, as key characters from AGW and Phantasmagoria crop up in these stories. The other reason I didn’t immediately launch into completing Vaughan, Bella & Lucerne’s story is because I needed a break from Vaughan. He’s a bit intense, you know. And very demanding! Also, I wanted time to let the ideas percolate.
	In both A Gentleman’s Wager and Phantasmagoria, you treat us to very visual physical descriptions of the characters… except Bella, the female lead in both books. We really know very few details about her looks. Was that a conscious decision on your part? When you are writing, do you view the story through the eyes of one of the lead characters (in this case, Bella’s), and consequently lead the reader to do the same?
	I can’t honestly say that it’s a conscious decision. Actually, I’m surprised. I thought she was described. If the details of her appearance are less exact than those of the men, I suspect that can be put down to the fact that while I love my female characters, I’m not in love with them. I’m always hopelessly infatuated with my male characters. I work on the principle that if I love them, there’s a fair chance that someone else will feel the same way.
	AGW and Phantasmagoria are historical stories (Georgian), but you also write contemporaries, including yaoi inspired and paranormal. Are any of these sub-genres easier/harder than the others for you? Is it hard to transition back and forth between them, or does the contrast actually make it easier to keep them separate in your mind?
	Each book is different. I don’t think it’s the sub-genre that governs whether something is easier/harder to write. I enjoy writing historical novels because the period fascinates me. Paranormals allow me to let my imagination run wild. Contemporaries… Unless something specific inspires me, eg Egyptian archaeology (Passion of Isis) or yaoi manga/gothic fashion (Dark Designs), I tend to avoid them. I actually find the humdrum realism of them frustrating. Also, because my contemporaries focus on niche settings, they tend to involve vast amounts of research, even more than the historical set books.
	So, what releases are coming up for you? What are you working on right now?
	No scheduled releases at the moment after Phantasmagoria. Currently I’m working on the second draft of the first AGW spin-off story, and outlining a sequel to my recent paranormal novella Broken Angel [from the anthology, Possession].
	I just have to ask you about the live role playing (LRP) events that you and your partner run. Please tell us more- Are there specific historical periods that you portray? Are they mysteries, comedies, dramas? Are your children involved or are these adults-only events? Are they outdoor only events or do you hold them at different venues year round? You also put together props, come up with plots, make period costumes, do the make-up; basically keep everything running. Is this a hobby gone mad or has it now become a business in the “find what you love to do, then find a way to get paid for it” sense?
	LRP – lets see, indoors, outdoors, generally either turn of the century horror or pseudo-medieval fantasy, lots of different venues across the UK ranging from campsites to castles. I’m actually feeling quite out of touch with it, other things have cut into the time we have to spend on these events. [Ed.(Bev): that's Madelynne in one of her period costumes]

10 Quick Quacks about Madelynne Ellis

1. Milk, dark, or white chocolate?

Milk. Dark chocolate gives me a headache and white chocolate is just yuck.

2. If you could spend one month anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Somewhere where there wasn’t anyone else. Possibly Fort Clonque. It’s a tiny island off the coast of Alderney, Channel Islands, which houses a fort and nothing else. [pictured at right]

3. Burn, tan, or SPF=cardboard?

Eh? I don’t do sun.

4. Gym, sports, or “I love my ass”?

I swim when the UK weather doesn’t mean I come out with icicles in my hair.

5. What author haven’t you read that you keep meaning to?

Glancing at the TBR pile. Sherrilyn Kenyon. I appear to have a large pile of her books that I’ve not looked at, and Sebastian Faulks.

6. Heels or flats?

Flats, mostly.

7. Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney, Gerard Butler, or Sean Connery?

Johnny Depp but only by default. Really none of the above.

8. Coffee or Tea?

Black Coffee

9. Favorite dessert?

I’m not a dessert person. [Bev: HAH! See? She's NOT perfect!]

10. Peanut butter, jelly, or Vegemite

In what context? [Bev: When you read Phantasmagoria, you'll understand why she couldn't give a decisive answer. hee]

Thank you so much for coming out to play with us, Madelynne!

Madelynne’s novels and novellas:



Madelynne’s short stories can be found in these anthologies:



Virgin Black Lace books can be ordered from Amazon, or through Borders, and Barnes & Noble. Many new Black Lace releases can also be found on the shelves of the latter two stores.

Quick bio notes and what Madelynne will be up to:  Madelynne, who lives in the U.K. with “Mr. Madelynne” and their two children, is a frequent contributor to the Virgin Black Lace group author blog, Lust Bites. Last July, Madelynne partnered up with Portia Da Costa to host a Not Going to Nationals Cyber-Workshop on writing erotic scenes over at the Romance Divas forum (their members-only thread can be found here). This year Madelynne, travelling with authors Portia Da Costa/Wendy Wooton and Saskia Walker, is going to make her FIRST visit to this side of the pond to attend RWA Nationals in San Francisco! So if you’re also going, make sure to hunt her down. And for duckies sake— will you please take them under your wing and make sure they get to see more of the U.S. than the inside of the hotel?!

CONTEST:  Madelynne will be sending some Lucky Duckie a SIGNED copy of A Gentleman’s Wager AND Phantasmagoria! Winner will be chosen from comments on this post or on my review of Phantasmagoria over here. Keep in mind that these are erotic historical romances containing m/m, m/f/m, m/m/f, and m/f scenes. Each book also contains a brief f/f scene. So, if that doesn’t float your boat, or you are under 18, feel free to leave a comment or question for Madelynne, but please indicate you don’t want to be entered in the drawing.

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.

Warning: mild spoilers ahead

Set in Georgian period London three years after Vaughan, Lucerne and Bella left North Yorkshire, we find the threesome stagnating under the constant rounds of socializing and debauchery in the city. Hoping to reinvigorate the relationship, Vaughan secretly makes plans to manipulate them all away from town and devises a gothic All Hallow’s Eve celebration, a Phantasmagoria, at his family seat in Pennerly, near the Welsh borders (imagine creating a Haunted House when your house happens to be a castle). He then clandestinely flees London fully expecting the mystery of his disappearance to lure Lucerne and Bella to follow him.

Not only do Vaughan’s house party plans go awry, but they are not the only phantasmagoria [noun: an illusion of perceiving something that does not really exist] in the book. Like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, each of the main characters perceives their relationship in a completely different, but incomplete and/or erroneous way. These and other phantasms haunt the characters throughout the book.

• As we already know from A Gentleman’s Wager, Vaughan’s usual method of dealing with his emotional pain is to lash out in cruelty towards others, particularly Bella. I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop debasing her, himself, and what they had together. He is haunted by the phantasms of what his life with Lucerne would have been like had Bella not appeared. In a country where homosexuality was an automatic death sentence, would they still have been together? What if he had never fled London? What if Lucerne had followed him? What if he had never let himself care at all?
• The phantasm of “What if” haunts Bella also. What if Vaughan had not been in the picture? Would she and Lucerne have been married, possibly with a child or two? What if they had never left North Yorkshire for a life in London? What if Vaughan had never left? What if she didn’t now know what she found out before she fled London, and Lucerne, to find Vaughan?

Throughout most of this book, I wanted Bella to walk away from BOTH of the men. I felt she deserved better and was angry on her behalf. In fact, when she receives another offer, I found myself hoping she would take it and never look back. Then I finally realized that, though it’s not the type of relationship I would want for myself, Bella didn’t love Lucerne and Vaughan IN SPITE of the way they treated her, she loved them BECAUSE of their treatment. No matter how vile Vaughan was to her, she CRAVED more of it.

• And Lucerne? I spent most the book angry with him. How could he do that? Why was he ruining everything? But then he told us his view of the relationship and immediately garnered my sympathy. Oh, I still didn’t approve of what he did, but the “why” of his actions broke my heart for him.

I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to stop reading this book, to put it away and never look at it again. No, not because it was a DNF book, but because I didn’t want it to happen, I didn’t want to go on that painful emotional journey with them. As curious as I’ve been about their lives after AGW, once I started reading Phantasmagoria, I wanted to go back and keep them forever frozen in that magical moment at the end of AGW.

But instead the author forced me to admit that people are not static, their environment changes, their circumstances change, THEY change, and sometimes that means that what they had with each other changes detrimentally. Madelynne Ellis made me feel their heart wrenching pain right along with them, no matter how difficult it was to watch.

Saying that Phantasmagoria ends with an HEA would be misleading, but Ellis does gives us a bittersweet-tinged hope for the future; a possibility of something new rising out of the ashes of the relationship. She also introduces us to a whole new cast of engaging secondary characters, some of whom will be getting their own stories before Ellis returns to the original threesome to finish their story.

Phantasmagoria could certainly be read as a standalone, but the reader’s emotional involvement will be impacted far more if A Gentleman’s Wager is read first. And really, if you read my glowing homage to AGW, you know that it’s one of my most beloved books and reading it would scarcely be a hardship.

Grade: A

Summary:

     1800 – Three years after she escaped to London with her bisexual lovers, Bella Rushdale wakes one morning to find their delicate menage a trois about to shatter. Vaughan, Marquis of Pennerley has left abruptly and without explanation. Determined to reclaim him and preserve their relationship, Bella pursues him to his family seat on the Welsh Border, where she finds herself embroiled in his preparations for a diabolical gothic celebration on All Hallows Eve – a phantasmagoria. Among the shadows and phantoms, Bella and her lovers will discover shocking truths about each other.

     Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Read Bev’s review.

Read the short story Indiscretions which takes place between A Gentleman’s Wager and Phantasmagoria.

In addition to her own blog, Madelynne is also a regular on the Black Lace authors’ group blog, Lust Bites. Just be warned that the discussions by that bunch of bawdy Brits aren’t always work safe.

CONTEST!  Madelynne will be sending some Lucky Duckie a SIGNED copy of A Gentleman’s Wager AND Phantasmagoria! Winner will be chosen from comments on this post or on Bev’s interview with Madelynne over here.

Keep in mind that these are erotic historical romances containing m/m, m/f/m, m/m/f, and m/f scenes. Each book also contains a brief f/f scene. So, if that doesn’t trip your trigger, or you are under 18, feel free to leave a comment or question, but please indicate you don’t want to be entered in the drawing.

Read more from Bev at Cubie’s Confections.

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.

These three multifaceted characters, along with intertwined stories involving the small cast of engaging secondary characters, are the reason AGW is so memorable. I guarantee that you’ve never met them before, and you won’t forget them once you have.

In fact, this was the most difficult review I’ve ever written because this isn’t just a review; it’s also homage to a much beloved story. I re-read it at least once a year and never fail to be in awe of Madelynne Ellis’ ability to create such unexpected, complex characters. My greatest challenge was that I needed to convey more than a string of superlatives AND avoid a multi page, in-depth character analysis (focused mainly on Vaughan because… well… he insists on it).

• Bella starts off the story as self-centered and slutty. While she refers to other women as trollops and whores, she dismisses her own promiscuity as merely pursuing her own needs, desires and amusements. However, through the course of the story, she begins to assess her own actions and experiences the unfamiliar emotions of guilt, insecurity, and self doubt. Although Lucerne is the object of her affections, she is confused by her reaction to Vaughan, at once vehemently hating him and obsessively fascinated by him. She is wounded by the sting of his venom and cruelty, yet still finds herself drawn to him.

• We get to know the anchor of the love triangle, Lucerne, more through his interactions with the other characters than through introspection. When he decides to take a break from the decadence of London to spend the winter at one of his long neglected country estates, Lauwine Hall, he invites a few friends, including Vaughan, to join him. He knows Vaughan wants more than friendship from him and chooses not to acknowledge it… or the wine-hazed encounter with Vaughan three years earlier. Once Lucerne shows a serious interest in his neighbor, Bella, Vaughan starts to pressure him for a closer relationship, and Lucerne realizes he wants both Vaughan AND Bella and would rather not give either of them up. But, cast in the role of peacemaker, he realizes that he cannot live with the animosity between the two rivals and dreads the time when their constant bickering might force him to choose between them.

• The third member of the triangle, Vaughan, is one of the most deliciously complex characters I’ve ever read. When he is “on stage” (and often when he’s not) he demands- and receives- the attention of everyone in the room… man, woman, or reader. He smirks, he sulks, he lies, he seduces, he pouts. He wields feigned indifference like a sword, and bites out words laced with deadly venom. His Machiavellian manipulations and cruelty towards others, particularly Bella, should have labeled him as the villain of the story. But the glimpses we receive of his hurt, tenderness, and longing for Lucerne soon make us realize that, while he often DOES amuse himself at the expense of others, he just as often lashes out in retaliation for his own pain or to cover his own vulnerability. Accustomed to living the debauched life courtesy of aristocratic entitlement, Vaughan actually seems a bit bewildered that he is capable of emotions strong enough to keep him patiently waiting for Lucerne to return those feelings.

Fortunately, this release of AGW should be much easier to find here in the US than the original release (used copies were going for high prices on Amazon). In addition to Amazon, a limited number of new Black Lace releases have been appearing in Borders and B&N stores, so if you don’t find it, you should be able to order it through one of those sources. It is also available as an audio book through Audible, but be aware that the narrator does not narrate the story with the distinct characterizations that many audio book fans here in the USA are used to. In fact, I’d have to give the audio narration a Grade C+.

I’m so excited that I can finally start sharing this book again. It’s been so frustrating that A Gentleman’s Wager has been out of print for so long. Every single person (that I personally know of) who has read AGW, has placed it on THEIR all time favorite historical romance short list, too. In fact, Teddypig, if you haven’t read AGW already, I’m prepared to receive your declaration of undying gratitude and devotion while you prostrate yourself at my feet.

Yeah, it’s that good.

Grade: A+

Summary:

     When Bella Rushdale finds herself fiercely attracted to landowner Lucerne Marlinscar, she doesn’t expect that the rival for his affections will be another man. The handsome and decadent, Marquis Pennerley, however, has desired Lucerne for years and when all three are brought together at the remote Lauwine Hall, on the Yorkshire Moors, Pennerley intends to claim Lucerne. At the risk of scandal, the contest leads to a passionate struggle between the highly sexed Bella and the debauched aristocrat. Ultimately it will be Lucerne who will choose the outcome, but his descision is bound to cause outrage and upset somebody’s plans.

     Read an excerpt, extras including facts and maps, and a deleted early scene here.

In addition to her own blog, Madelynne is also a regular on the Black Lace authors’ group blog, Lust Bites. Just be warned that the discussions by that bunch of bawdy Brits aren’t always work safe.

Other books in this series:

Phantasmagoria, the long awaited sequel to AGW will be released on 29 Apr 08 (U.S.).

Madelynne has also written a short story, Indiscretions, that takes place during the time period between the two books. It’s available on her website but be aware that, while it serves as a revealing glimpse of the characters and their life after AGW, it also reveals AGW’s ending.




Read more from Bev at her personal blog Cubie’s Confections.

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

There was more of a lead in here but I lost it and don’t care to retype. And this is has been in draft for a while, so I am posting it damn it.

Mainly this is the start of a few posts (hopefully) reviewing some thoughts on the new romantica/erotica/erotic romance lines and of course books I want. Because it is allll about me Most of these guidelines come from Erotica Readers & Writers Association Website. I have left off emails and addresses, click the link if you are looking for them. These are just print lines, ebook will be a different post.

I have also left things out of the editors emails or publishers guidelines, they were way long and I left the stuff I had questions on and will follow in other posts or it just amused me. Market Guidelines includes epubs and print, if you want to go scope out the site.

Aphrodisia Kensington Publishing New Erotica Imprint
Debut Of Aphrodisia In January: Three by Noelle Mack, Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas, Gotta Have It by Rene Alexis, and The Hard Stuff by Karin Tabke, Bonnie Edwards, and Sunny.

guidelines

Both agented and unagented submissions are being accepted for works from 20,000 words (novellas) through 80,000 words and representing contemporary and historical fiction from a variety of sub-genres, such as paranormal and multi-cultural. Books will be lighthearted or dark, funny or suspenseful, whatever best reflects the writer’s voice and brings readers the kind of story they are looking for.

Berkley Jove HEAT
from their guidelines

Romance is fine for Heat, but it’s not necessarily the focus. Happy endings are okay too.

3) I’m looking at all genres – contemporaries, historicals and paranormals.

4) I’m okay with manage, and some homoerotic elements, but the main relationship should be hetero (think Emma Holly—she may include homosexual/lesbian elements, but her primary relationship is hetero).

CHEEK GUIDELINES OUTLINE, very detailed… left most of it because of the detail. The only Cheek I have think I have read would be Emma Holly. Oh I have Sticky Fingers by Alison Tyler somewhere set for the ubs, read another AT and was very eh. I should check it out after all just cuz.

The flavour
Pacy, feel-good, contemporary young women’s fiction with sexual content that is explicit but not anatomically, and not – scarily so. Central character should be female 18 – 35, and the story told primarily through female p.o.v. If written in third person, there should be some male p.o.v. but always with the accent on his emotions (i.e. who he is fancying and why).

What the books are about
Cheek should appeal to the indulgent side of the young female. In the way that women’s magazines are narcissistic (they allow women unashamed indulgence in luxuries and in themselves), so Cheek should be novel-length narratives about the gaining of female pleasure  through sex, but also through pampering, shopping, dressing up, travelling, having great times, enjoying all that young life has to offer.

Style
The story should enable the reader to vicariously enjoy all of the above. The accent should be on good times, and the narrative should conform to the obstacle/conflict/resolution/ formula of mainstream contemporary fiction and/or successful soap opera. The style should be transparent, so no clever-clever parodying styles where you can see the strings. The writing should not draw attention to itself. The books should be aspirational and fun but not – give the game away, so avoiding cliches will be very important. For instance, we wouldn’t want designer labels name-dropped in every sentence as if it were computer-software-generated chick lit, but we would want lifestyle glamour: lovely apartments/hotels/sexy city breaks/exotic destinations/soft adventure i.e. skinny dipping at moonlight etc.

Sex
A delightful, playful, curious sensuality should inform the characters behaviour rather than down and dirty lust for the sake of it. The women shouldn’t behave explicitly outside of the sex scenes, and the blokes should be more intriguing, charming and mysterious than what one usually finds in real life.

There can of course be down and dirty lust within the sex scenes, but it should come about as a result of high-tension seduction that builds to bursting point. This will inform the language and dialogue. The more Anglo-Saxon words and descriptions should be used sparingly outside of sex scenes and, while OK in dialogue to a certain extent (talking dirty is popular and there should be some of this in all Cheek books) it shouldn’t ever be offensive. The build-up to a sex scene, the tension, what clothes are worn (lots of details of fab clothes), the wining and dining etc. are as important as the act itself in Cheek, so there will be lots of opportunities to write sexy descriptions that are NOT focused on the minutiae of genital anatomy.

Sex scenes should be maximised for arousal potential. They should not be so brief as to be a let-down, but not pored over and over until one can’t see the wood for the trees. No overblown erotic romance purple prose of the waves and waves of throbbing sensation coursed through her helpless body variety. Snappy, punchy, saucy and cool is the way forward. In all cases, sex scenes should evolve naturally and shouldn’t seem gratuitous. There should be plenty of juicy description of the male body, of being worshipped, and fancied by hunky/desirable blokes.

Sex content
Should follow the parameters of Cosmo; i.e. variety of positions/oral/fun and games/dressing up/sex in unusual places etc. but again: language is everything. Anatomical descriptions should be absent for the most part, concentrating on the emotions rather than medical close-ups of squelching parts. Tastefully done is the key.

Characters
Should be lively/fun/full of the conflicts and emotions of young women; the kind of girls you’d like to be friends with. Obviously there can be one or two bad guys bitchy interlopers who you (and the central characters) dislike and who are a threat to our heroine’s dreams coming true.

Unsuitable subjects
These are feel-good books, so no social problems, addictions, serious illnesses, crime-ridden environments, heavy emotional problems, death, rape, abortions, alcoholism etc. Cheek novels should be the equivalent of a girls night in or out, and the ending should be optimistic.

When it comes to sexual content, the taboos should be obvious: no incest, animals, watersports or heavy SM. Bondage (of the silk scarves variety) and power games (light spanking/teasing/dressing up as fantasy characters) fine, but accent on pleasure and discovery at all times. The sex in Cheek should not be transgressive and the characters should not be involved in the fetish scene or have the awareness of seasoned swingers. No suburban sordidness; such a thing is fine for BL/Nexus but not Cheek. Should not speak to the audience in a way that assumes familiarity of sexual politics or the sexual underground.

I would recommend anyone who is thinking of writing new material for us to read Sticky Fingers by Alison Tyler: Available at Amazon.com / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

Secrets Red Sage Publishing

Sensuous, bold, spicy, untamed, hot, and sometime politically incorrect, Secrets stories concentrate on the sophisticated highly intense adult sexual relationship. These character driven stories always concentrate on the love and sexual relationship between the hero and the heroine.

We are accepting novella submissions for an anthology. Novella lengths range from 20,000-35,000 words. No multiple submissions accepted do not send us a story you’re also sending to another publisher. Authors may query interest with a one-page synopsis (clear emotional and physical conflict defined) and the first ten pages of their story (printed out, not the digital file).

For guideline details and submission information:We are accepting novella submissions for an anthology. Novella lengths range from 20,000-35,000 words. No multiple submissions accepted do not send us a story you’re also sending to another publisher. Authors may query interest with: a one-page synopsis (clear emotional and physical conflict defined) and the first ten pages of their story (printed out, not the digital file). Please include writing credentials (we welcome unpublished authors as well).

Sensuous, bold, spicy, untamed, hot, and sometime politically incorrect, Secrets stories concentrate on the sophisticated highly intense adult sexual relationship. These character driven stories always concentrate on the love and sexual relationship between the hero and the heroine.

The Hero
He may be the fearsome warrior, the rogue, the bold conqueror or the imposing captain of industry. He is always intelligent, good looking, usually rich, may be humorous, larger than life, strong willed, domineering (in a sexy way) and very much the Ultra Alpha male and sometimes unpredictable. He is the kind of man who epitomizes every woman’s fantasies and not least, a devastatingly wonderful lover.

The Heroine
She may be the Indian captive, Lady of the Manor, CEO of a corporation or a traveler to distant stars. She is above all intelligent. She has strength, femininity and independence. She may be humorous. She is a woman the reader likes and identifies with.

The Sexual Relationship
We are searching for romance authors who dare to go where today’s romance authors are forbidden to go. Highly intense love relationships involve an equally intense sexual relationship that are sometimes politically incorrect. We are looking for a high level of sexual tension throughout the story to maintain the necessary edge and arousing feel. These love scenes must be sophisticated, erotic and emotional. We want to push the envelope beyond the normal romance novel. Be kinky, be wild, go far beyond spicy, but always write romance. If you’re not sure, query. Any sexual position okay between a man and a woman.

The Plot
The more difficult and intriguing or unique the conflict, the more interesting the story. Tension and conflict can make love scenes excruciatingly effective. Always a happy ending.

The Setting
Historical, contemporary, mainstream, science fiction, mystery, adventure, fantasy and let your wonderful creative imagination be your guide.

launch in May 2006 SPICE
from their guidelines

SPICE is:

A great plot, an engrossing story with several explicitly sexual scenes that have context within the story.
A unique take on modern women, their lives, their relationships and whatever turns them on.
Sophisticated, urban, contemporary, realistic, relevant.

Graphic, using the kind of frank language typical of the genre.
Daring feel free to explore any and all sexual situations, even ones considered “taboo.”
Not a string of unconnected, gratuitous sex scenes.
Not a big traditional romance with lots of sex.
Not full of euphemisms for body parts or lovemaking.

Guidelines for Tor’s Paranormal Romance Program – I was surprised to see this here but I haven’t read a TOR yet so…

Tor Books is actively seeking well-written novel-length stories, focusing on both plot and character development. All submissions, no matter which of the following subcategories they fall into, must include paranormal elements.

These are the subcategories we are looking for under the general heading of “paranormal romance”:

(a) plausible science fiction
(b) fantasy
(c) horror / otherworldly beings (i.e., vampires, goblins, faeries, ghosts, banshees, skinwalkers, zombies, golem, etc.)
(d) near-future / speculative fiction
(e) non-standard time travel
(f) alternate history / alternate timelines

As Tor Books is an award-winning, world-renowned science fiction and fantasy publisher, please be advised that submissions in those areas will be held to our usual standards for plausibility, world-building, character development, and the various elements that comprise these genres.

We are not looking for:

(a) fluffy comedies
(b) inspirational religious works
(c) stories in which a ghost or an angel falls in love with a human (or vice versa); if you plan on using this plot, please come at it from a fresh and original angle
(d) traditional / category romance

Each novel should include at least two main plot elements: one, the romance and the conflict inherent in that; two, another significant conflict. Both storylines should be crucial to the overall novel, and the romantic elements should make up no more than half the entire story.

We are open to non-traditional romances (i.e., multi-racial, multi-ethnic, religiously diverse, non-traditional gender / sexual orientation, etc.), as well as traditional ones. We are open to very erotic works as well as less graphic ones; in any work the sex and romance should be believable and rational and well-suited to the story.

Length: between 80,000 and 130,000 words.

We are primarily looking for original novels, but will consider works which have been self-published or e-published. While we are not actively seeking backlist at this time, we will look at backlist on a case-by-case basis from authors with whom we are buying new material.

If you are already a published fiction writer, we will accept three chapters and a substantial outline. Previously unpublished authors should submit three chapters and a detailed outline, and be prepared to supply the complete manuscript upon request.

Submission Guidelines for Tor’s Paranormal Romance Program

Both agented and unagented submissions are acceptable. If you have an agent, please have your agent submit your work.

If your work is 100,000 words or less, please submit the first three chapters; if your work is longer than 100,000 words, please submit the first sixty pages to the nearest chapter break.

All submissions should be accompanied by a 2-4 page synopsis and a cover letter stating any awards you have won and all previous publications (and your sales history, if you have it), as well as the genre of your work.

Submissions send via post should be in 12-point standard serif typeface and double-spaced. You may submit via email attachment in Microsoft Word document, RTF, or text format only. If you are submitting via post you must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. In the event your work is not right for us and if you would like your manuscript pages returned, your envelope must be big enough to fit them. All rejected manuscripts not returned to their owners will be recycled.

Please submit only one work per email/envelope. If you are submitting a series, submit only the first book in the series according to the above guidelines, and include a 1-2 page synopsis for each following book as well.

We do not accept query letters, simultaneous submissions, or phone pitches. Do not call to ask if we want to see your book.

Our turnaround time is currently approximately two weeks to four months. If you do not hear from us within four months of your submission date, please feel free to send an email (include in this email your full name and the title of your submitted work). We assure you that a person well-versed in romance and other genre fiction will examine your work, however there is not always time to respond personally to every manuscript.

Wicked Words Themed Collections more to be found here. I almost picked up one of these the other day. I thought there was someone on my trade group who wanted it. It was only 2 bucks but was hardback, since I wasn’t sure someone was looking for it and need to spend money shipping stuff already packaged, I didn’t get it. Of course now I wish I had since I have never read a WW book.

Our themed erotica collections have proved to be immensely popular and we will be continuing to publish themed anthologies throughout 2006 and 2007. The themes for the continuing books are as follows

* Sex and Shopping (deadline for stories end of April 2006)

* Sex in Public (deadline for stories end of July 2006)

* Sex with Strangers (deadline for stories end of October 2006)

* Sex with Celebrities (fictional characters only) (deadline for stories end of January 2007)

Do you want to submit a short story to Wicked Words? The general guidelines, including where to send submissions, are available.

Please note we can only accept stories that are of publishable literary standard in terms of grammar, punctuation, narrative structure and presentation. We do not want to receive true confessions or stories that are about ‘some people having sex’ and little else. The buzzwords are surprises, solid characterisation and an awareness of what makes great erotica. Stories should feature something more original than the expected cliché, for example, writing about the ‘Mile-high club’ for Sex on the move. We are looking for beautifully-crafted, original work with an unusual twist.

All stories need to be between 4000 and 6000 words and laid out to house style double-spaced, printed on one side of A4 and in a point size no smaller than 12. We do not, under any circumstances, accept submissions by email. We cannot reply to all short story submissions as we receive too many to make this possible. Competition-style rules apply you will hear back from us only if your story has been successful. And please remember to read the guidelines.