Theresa Romain is the bestselling author of historical romances, including the Matchmaker trilogy, the Holiday Pleasures series, the Royal Rewards series, and the Romance of the Turf trilogy. Praised as “one of the rising stars of Regency historical romance” (Booklist), she has received a starred review from Booklist and was a 2016 RITA® finalist. A member of Romance Writers of America® and its Regency specialty chapter The Beau Monde, Theresa is hard at work on her next novel from her home in the Midwest. To keep up with all her book-release news, please visit her online at theresaromain.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter.
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“I want to be loved. I don’t think there could ever be
too many people in the world who love me. Certainly there are not too many
now.”
So says our heroine to our hero in my new historical romance
novella, My Scandalous Duke. In this friends to lovers romance, young
widow Lady Eleanor Palmer is giving an earful to Nicholas, Duke of Hampshire.
It’s not the first time. Spoiler: it’s not the last, either.
Nicholas is one of her oldest friends, a rock on whom she
can lean, and who leans right back when he needs someone to put his head on
straight. Eleanor wants to remarry; Nicholas is prepared to wed for the first
time. With her first marriage an adventurous disaster, Eleanor is looking for a
calm and sensible husband. Nicholas, a warmhearted but careless duke, does what
he wants to and worries about the consequences later. To him, the perfect wife
would leave him alone to pursue his own interests in Parliament—which, in 1801,
was going through the growing pains of unifying the Irish government with Great
Britain’s.
Being friends of such long standing, Nicholas and Eleanor
agree to help each other find the perfect
spouse. But an unusual card party, a
surprise pianoforte, a punching bag and a slippery slope later, they both
realize that what they thought they wanted isn’t what will truly make them
happy. They’ll both have to change and grow before they can reach their HEA
together. Spoiler part 2: they will. :)
In this contentious election year, I’ve drawn great comfort
from reading and writing romance. In romance novels, HEAs are for everyone, and
love wins. To paraphrase Eleanor, I don’t think there could ever be too much
love in the world. Writing a friends to lovers story was particularly fun,
because characters who already know each other well get to know each other in
an entirely new way. Neither of them is perfect, but they always find something
new to love in each other anyway.
Today I’m curious to know: do you have a favorite romance
plot, like friends to lovers? Or have you ever gotten to know someone in an
unexpected way—friend, family, or significant other? Or if those questions
don’t float your boat, just tell me about your favorite dessert. I’m eager to
get to know all of you a bit better.
One random commenter will receive print or Kindle copies of
two of my backlist books: A Gentleman’s Game
and Fortune
Favors the Wicked. (Winner gets to choose format.) International
entries welcome.
Lady Eleanor Palmer, a practical young widow, wants a family
of her own. Her first marriage was an adventurous disaster, so this time,
nothing but the most proper sort of man will do. Absolutely not who she’s
looking for? The impulsive, roguish Duke of Hampshire…even though she has
secretly loved him as long as she can remember.
Nicholas Langford, the Duke of Hampshire, has always relied
on Eleanor’s humor and good sense. Who else would guide him through a scandal
with laughter and grace? He would do anything to ensure his old friend’s
happiness—even help Eleanor find a suitable new husband.
As Eleanor makes plans for a new life without him at its
center, Nicholas realizes the depth of his own feelings. But he can offer
Eleanor nothing that she thinks she wants. How can he convince her that he is
everything she truly desires?
Book
order links:
Amazon
* Kobo * iBooks * Barnes & Noble
One favourite plot involves the heroine disguised in order to hide some ghastly scandal. She might be dressed as a man or could be hiding some outrageous writing project. One example that I liked is Eva Leigh's 'Wicked Quills' trilogy. The hero after becoming attracted starts to peel away the layers of disguise, more by accident than design, and finds himself being sucked into a vortex of love. Almost a verbal manifestation of the dance of the seven veils but with the hero removing the veils! LOL
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed some of your stories Theresa. Friends to lovers surmounting a few barriers is also a favourite ... must try your 'Scandalous Duke'
Quantum, I liked Eva Leigh's trilogy too. I can't resist hidden identities of all sorts!
DeleteThanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy My Scandalous Duke.
I love the sister or brother of the best friend forbidden love and the second chance between husband & wife. Enjoyed the post Theresa. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Carol, those are some of my favorite tropes too. My next romance (out at the end of February) is a best friend's little sister story, and right now I am writing a romance for a husband and wife finding a second chance!
DeleteMy favorite plot would be an unexpected encounter with a long lost friend. Thanks for this lovely feature.
ReplyDeletetraveler, thanks for commenting! That is intriguing. Do you have a favorite book with that plot?
DeleteAlthough I love variety so most any plot will do if well written, I tend to like a bit of angst with the characters. I've enjoyed your stories so I know I'll enjoy whatever you write! And right now it's pumpkin pie lol.
ReplyDeleteMmm, pumpkin. :) Catslady, thank you!
DeleteA novel which is profound and meaningful. Struggles within the character's family and the relationships with which he has to deal.
ReplyDeletePetite, agreed--I really like character-driven novels where the relationships drive the story.
DeleteHey, the Barnes & Noble link is live! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1125148913?ean=2940156964963 Sorry about the delay on that.
ReplyDeleteThat link is long and clunky--here's a shorter one: http://bit.ly/2f82U4u
DeletePJ, thank you so much for hosting me! I always love to visit you here.
ReplyDeleteI do love second chance romances, or if they knew each other as children and then become involved as adults (I don't know if there's a term for this). Thanks for the opportunity, and happy early Thanksgiving! Christine C.
ReplyDeleteChristine, there must be a name for that sort of plot. Childhood sweethearts, maybe? Happy early Thanksgiving to you too!
DeleteI love the opposites attract plot or hate to love with lots of verbal sparring and I can't resist chocolate ice cream :-)
ReplyDeleteNatali, have you read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne? It's exactly that kind of book, and it's sooo good.
DeleteTheresa, you're the second person who's recommended The Hating Game today. I'll have to look into this one.
DeleteI've always enjoyed a story where the marriage was arranged, the couple marries and then gets to know each other and they find unexpected things that they admire (then fall in love of course!).
ReplyDeleteI have several favorite desserts: Creame Brulee, warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream, Devil's Food cake with white boiled frosting - yum!
Di, it was a mistake for me to ask about desserts. :) Your favorites are reallllly making me want some!
DeleteI just got home from a holiday open house where I indulged in fabulous dark chocolate coated caramels dusted with sea salt. I have a very happy tummy! :)
DeleteHi, Everyone! Welcome, Theresa! I've been away from the computer all morning. Off now to check out the comments.
ReplyDeleteHi, PJ! Thanks for letting me join you today!
DeleteOne of my favorite tropes is the enemies to lovers, but I like friends to lovers, too. Both have to cross a divide which makes a fun journey.
ReplyDeleteDenise
I enjoy both too! Theresa's My Scandalous Duke is a wonderful friends to lovers story. I've already read it twice. ;-)
DeletePJ, have you really? You just made my day. :)
DeleteMy favorite trope is Beauty and the Beast, but the Cinderella trope, friends to lovers, and mail order brides are also big favorites.
ReplyDeleteI guess my husband's and my story is a bit of a friends to lovers story. We were chemistry classmates in high school and just casual friends. He moved after our junior year and we kept touch a couple of times a year. Fast forward to finishing college, my going overseas for 2 1/2 years and his going into the Air Force. After 7 years we saw each other briefly and it just clicked. He proposed before I got back to the states and we had even dated. It has worked well: 3 great children and 44 wonderful years of marriage.
librarypat, thank you for sharing your love story. It could be a romance novel!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI do love marriage of convenience stories. So much fun watching them get to the HEA.
Mary, that's one of my favorites too. They're stuck with each other, so they've got to figure it out!
DeleteI really enjoy reading friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and unexpected babies stories. I love Theresa's books.
ReplyDeleteCathy, thank you! So glad you came to comment. :)
DeleteGood Morning, Theresa! A marriage of convenience will always be my favorite plot. If the heroine happens (somehow) to be a governess, you will have me swooning to the the story.
ReplyDelete"My Scandalous Duke" is a delightful novella and I loved it. Theresa Romain remains (whew! say that 10 X fast) a very favorite author of mine. Just looking at her cute smile convinces me she's up to something! ;-) Congratulations on your fabulous success, Theresa!
Connie, ha! I can neither confirm nor deny that I am up to something. :) Thank you for reading My Scandalous Duke! I always appreciate your thoughts.
DeleteI always enjoy your books! Keep on getting into mischief. It's what makes life fun! :-)
DeleteI enjoy opposites attract. Many of Julie James' contemporary books have this plot point.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite ones to read are the friends to lovers stories, there's just something about when a relationship turns from just friends to something more. And my favorite dessert are cream puffs!
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa, your new novella sounds great! Although I like to read just about any kind of plots, I love reading about the best friend's brother or brother's best friend.
ReplyDelete