What Price Love?
I’m so happy to be here today and to have an opportunity to tell you about Waking Up with the Duke.
I knew going in that the premise was a little risky—a man getting his best friend’s wife with child—and that writing the story would be a challenge, but I loved every moment of it.
The Duke of Ainsley first appeared in Passions of a Wicked Earl. He is the half-brother of the Earl of Westcliffe and Sir Stephen Lyons. He has a prestigious title, wealth, charm. And a reputation as an attentive lover. What woman wouldn’t want to be his wife? So I had him fall in love with a married woman. Did I also mention that he’s honorable? He would never take another man’s woman to his bed.
But that is exactly what he will do—at great personal cost.
However the story is so much more. It touches on love/devotion between friends, between a husband and wife, among family. Each of the characters goes into the arrangement to make someone else happy—then they all have to live with the consequences.
But rest assured there is a happy ending.
One of the things I struggled with while writing the story was: is there too high a price to pay for someone else’s happiness? Is it really possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason?
What do you think?
Anyone who posts today will be entered in a drawing. One lucky person will receive autographed copies of the first two books in the London’s Greatest Lovers series.
[Ed. – Lorraine is currently getting settled in New York for the 2011 RWA conference, but she will pop in and out as her schedule allows today!]
Usually I don’t like “cheating” plotlines, but this is an unusual take on the trope.
Do give this book a try, Kim. It is definitely an unusual take and a very emotional one.
Sounds like a great story, so I’ll be looking for the trilogy at Kobo.
I think everyone has done the wrong thing for the right reasons at some point in their life. This book seems to have a bad situation and it must have been tough to get to a happy ending
I think everyone has done the wrong thing for the right reasons at some point in their life. This book seems to have a bad situation and it must have been tough to get to the happy ending.
This has intrigued me for a while – I’ve loved the character of Ainsley; it will be intriguing to see how they manage to fit the obligations of family and familial guilt with the nature of who Ainsley is as a man.
I think the question is more “what is the personal price of love?” Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself and your own happiness (whether it be for a few hours in an uncomfortable family situation or something much greater) in order to make someone else happy. That willingness to sacrifice yourself is the true test of love. However, I’ll qualify that: if you put yourself in a position where you are unable to love them back, then the sacrifice isn’t worth it!
Wow – deep thoughts for a Tuesday evening 🙂
I think it’s inevitable that people do the wrong thing for the right reason. I know I certainly have, and it was a real learning experience.
I would ordinarily shy away from a book with this premise, but I trust Lorraine Heath enough that I know it will be worth reading. The first two books in the series were splendid.
Oh bummer, I missed out, since it’s been a while I’ve drop by this site. I so love Lorraine Heath. 🙁
I’ve heard so many good things about this book by now that i think I’ ll give it a try even though I’m not keen on the cheating part myself. But I really want to know how Lorraine made that all work.
I had never read a Lorraine Heath novel and after this discussion, I decided to try this one. I’m glad I did. It was so well written and Jayne & Ainsley are wonderful characters. It’s well worth reading. I’ll have to try and track down the first two in this series.