PJ's Birthday Giveaway #10
Julie Anne Long
After Dark with the Duke
Last but never least, Julie Anne Long is not only one of my all-time favorite authors but she also shares my birthday! I couldn't possibly have a birthday giveaway and not include at least one of her books.
After Dark with the Duke is a book that took my breath away (read my Top Dish review). When I was almost midway through reading, I sent a text to the author and when I turned the final page I sent her the one below:
"I am ruined. Totally, completely, utterly ruined. Do you know how many books I have in my read/review queue? How am I supposed to read them now? All I want to do is simmer in the stunningly beautiful, all-encompassing emotion of this book, of these characters. I can't just move on to something else. This is my favorite book this year. It's my favorite book of ALL the books you've written - - and I've read every single one of them. I might as well change the name of my review to "gush fest" because that's exactly what it's going to be. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But, seriously, RUINED!"
When you find an author whose words have this kind of an impact, you buy every book she's written that you can get your hands on and every new book that's published. Yes, she does have her own keeper shelves (plural) in my home library.
Here's the blurb for After Dark with the Duke:
She arrives in the dead of night, a mob out for blood at her heels: Mariana Wylde, the “Harlot of Haywood Street,” an opera diva brought low by a duel fought for her favors. But the ladies of the Grand Palace on the Thames think they can make a silk purse from scandal: They’ll restore her reputation and share in her triumph...provided they can keep her apart from that other guest.
Coldly brilliant, fiercely honorable, General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, is revered, feared, desired...but nobody truly knows him. Until a clash with a fiery, vulnerable beauty who stands for everything he scorns lays him bare. It’s too clear the only cure for consuming desire is conquest, but their only chance at happiness could lead to their destruction.
The legendary duke never dreamed love would be his last battleground. Valkirk would lay down his life for Mariana, but his choice is stark: risk losing her forever, or do the one thing he vowed he never would...surrender.
Have you read Julie Anne Long? Do you have a favorite of her books?
Do you enjoy redemption stories?
Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me today!
Since this is the last post, share with me how you celebrate your birthday. Do you have any traditions?
One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 22 will receive a print copy of After Dark with the Duke.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
*If posting anonymously, comment must include an identifying screen name or email to be entered in giveaway.
Your a new author to me. I love reception stories. I celebrate my birthday with my son and his family we order dinner in b from my favorite restaurant, have cake and then presents. Happy Birthday to you!!!!! Thanks for your great generosity. Linda May
ReplyDeleteHappy BIrthday PJ!!! I hope you've had a wonderful day! I tend to do low key birthday celebrations. My husband will either take me out for dinner or cook. We have several family birthdays during my birthday month so we do a combined family celebration with cakes when everyone is around. The kids will stay and we figure out what to do for dinner since we are also celebrating birthdays for both my daughter and daughter in-law.
ReplyDeleteOh and I love Julie Anne Long's books!
DeleteHaven't read her yet. Hope you had a great birthday! My twin sister and I like to go shopping. Then we go eat Japanese food. Then home to open presents and eat cake. It makes for our idea of a fun birthday.
ReplyDeleteI read one of her books but it was a very long time ago. Redemption is important in both big and small ways. I enjoy reading stories that show the major redemption of a character. It can be a complicated and sometimes painful experience. Little redemptions are not so drastic, but can be just as important to a relationship.
ReplyDeleteA most sincere happy birthday to you. We usually don't do anything special for my birthday. A quiet dinner for my husband and I is the usual. The children and grandchildren usually call or stop by. The birthdays we do make a big deal about are those that mark another decade. Then we will get the whole family together for a special dinner and celebration.
I don’t think I have read Julie Anne’s books yet - I do love stories about military men. Redemption stories can be quite satisfying but also emotional.
ReplyDeleteI just had a big birthday 9/6 - no big celebration but a nice day
DeleteI am a fan of Julie Anne Long's books, both historical and contemporary. My favorite contemporary is Hot in Hellcat Canyon. And it is hard to pick a favorite Grand Palace of the Thames book ... I loved them all! I do enjoy redemption stories, especially when there is a bit of angst along the way.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday PJ and Julie Anne!
Happy Birthday. I cannot remember which ff book is my favorite. And no to the other questions. Patoct
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday PJ!!! Julie is new to me. I always like to go on vacations for my birthday. Different cities, food, culture. I always go somewhere new every year so each birthday year is marked by different memories in a new city
ReplyDeleteYes I enjoy her books one I like is I Kissed an Earl. Happy birthday! Penney
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of JAL's books. I have never read a book that I didn't enjoy. Quite a few are on my keeper shelf. No need to enter my name in the contest. I hope you had a lovely birthday!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good, I tend to like more historical fiction than modern but I will read both as long as the story is good.
ReplyDeleteI adore Julie Anne Long's work, and I've read a few of the Palace of Rogues books but not yet this one. And yes, redemption stories are often beautiful. I love to celebrate other people's birthdays, but I often prefer to ignore my own. I hope yours was lots of fun and that you had some delicious birthday cake. (That part I always enjoy!)
ReplyDeleteJulie Ann Long's novels are wonderful. I have read many. Redemption stories are meaningful. When we celebrate my birthday it is at home with family since my son's is the same day. Meal, cake and gifts.
ReplyDeleteMy first JAL book, What I Did For a Duke, will always hold a special place in my heart because it introduced me to her. I feel redemption stories have something to teach us how to be better people, both for the person being redeemed and for those who help along the way. I always prefer a low key birthday, my ideal celebration is food and games with friends and family!
ReplyDelete