Review - - The Hellions of High Street

The Hellions of High Street: Scandalously Yours, Sinfully Yours, Passionately Yours

By Cara Elliott

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: March 31 (Book 1), April 28 (Book 2), May 26 (Book 3)

Cara Elliott’s Hellions of High Street series was released in digital editions last year. This spring saw back-to-back print editions of the trilogy released. The trilogy focuses on the Sloane sisters—Olivia, a political writer; Anna, author of adventurous, erotic romance novels; and Carolina, a poet. Daughters of the late Baron Trumbull, an eccentric scholar whose specialty was primitive cultures and their rituals, the sisters have received an unconventional education that includes not only instruction that equals that of males of their class but also training in self-defense and sex education. Their father’s death has left them in genteel poverty, and their mother, as conventional as their father was unconventional, is unwaveringly focused on seeing her daughters married to wealthy aristocrats, the higher the title, the better. Although the sisters are definitely individuals, they are all highly intelligent and high spirited. Olivia acknowledges that “Neither spirit nor imagination is anything the three of us lack. . . . It is restraint over our creative impulses that we all might exercise a little more often.”

Scandalously Yours is the story of Olivia, the eldest sister, and John, Earl of Wrexham, a widower with a ten-year-old son, and a former military officer whose courage and strategy earned him the sobriquet “the perfect hero.” The least conventional of the sisters, Olivia makes little effort to conform to her mother’s ideas of a proper lady, frequently declaring her disinterest in marrying well—or, indeed, marrying at all. Her indifference to society’s rules leads to her being labeled “the Hellion of High Street,” but even her detractors would be shocked if they knew Olivia’s secret identity as “the Beacon,” the anonymous author whose newspaper column argues eloquently for radical social reform.

Wrexham, with his military service behind him, has taken his seat in the House of Lords and is looking forward to using his influence to see reform legislation passed, particularly policy changes that will benefit veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, many of whom are jobless and poor. He knows that the proper wife will be an asset in his political life, and he also believes that Prescott, his young son, will benefit from a mother’s presence. He thinks he may have found the ideal candidate for his next countess in the person of Lady Serena Wells, a proper lady so rigid in her rule-bound life that Scottie and his best friend Lucy, the daughter of a local innkeeper, refer to her as “the Steel Corset.”  

Wrexam and Olivia are intrigued by one another from their first meeting in a darkened library, but he tells himself she is far too unconventional for him. And Olivia is convinced that he is a stuffy gentleman determined to relegate women to their designated place. It is only after Wrexham discovers she is “The Beacon” and the two work together on his maiden speech in Parliament that they realize how much they have in common and how strong the attraction between them is. Even then, it takes a kidnapping and a daring rescue in which Olivia proves herself a hero’s equal in derring-do before they admit that the hellion is a perfect match for this perfect hero.

Olivia truly is an unconventional heroine, one with the courage of her convictions, and Wrexham, despite his stuffiness, proves to be a wonderful hero with admirable ideals, a genuine love for his son, and a subtle sense of humor. In addition to these engaging leads, Scottie and Lucy are the kind of child characters that make a reader long to see what kind of adults they turn out to be, and Olivia’s sisters emerge as appealing characters in their own right.

Sinfully Yours is the story of Anna, the middle Sloane sister, and Devlin Greville, the Marquess of Davenport, a delicious rake who harbors secrets. Anna is the beauty of the family and the one who has at least superficially most conformed to her mother’s expectations. She had accepted that she would marry well to save her family from poverty, but Olivia’s marriage to the wealthy Earl of Wrexham frees Anna from the need to marry one of her mother-approved suitors. Like her older sister, Anna has a secret identity. As Sir Sharpe Quill, she pens bawdy novels of adventure and romance featuring daring English orphan Emmaline Smythe and the equal-to-all-tasks Count Alessandro Crispini, but her elusive muse is making it difficult to meet her current deadline. So when her mother pushes her to attend a country house party at a remote castle in Scotland where the guests include a German prince whom Lady Trumbull covets as a son-in-law, Anna hopes the change of scenery will stir her imagination and help her to forget a certain infernal aristocrat.

The Marquess of Davenport, known as Devil Davenport for his dissolute lifestyle and disregard of others’ opinion of him, is also a guest. Anna and Davenport strike sparks off one another each time they meet, and a surprising kiss exchanged at a ball has haunted them both. He is at the house party on a covert mission for the Foreign Office who has reason to believe that the German prince may be the target of an assassin’s plot, but he also hopes it will be an opportunity for him to stop obsessing about Anna Sloane. He is astounded when Anna shows up at the castle. At first, Davenport wonders if Anna is part of the plot on the prince and Anna believes he may be a thief. But once their secrets are revealed, they work together to thwart a conspiracy that threatens not only the amiable prince but also England’s international alliances.

Anna is a mix of naïveté and a store of knowledge rare in a young woman of her class, and Davenport is a rake with contradictory layers. Watching them move from wariness to trust to love is a treat. Caro, the youngest Sloane, is now officially out in society, and she and Alec McClellan, a surly Scottish baron with republican convictions have their own barbed bouts. This second novel is a blend of adventure and romance that more than rivals the fictional deeds of Emmaline and her count.

Passionately Yours features Carolina Sloane, the youngest Sloane sister, and Alec McClellan, Lord Strathcona, the baron with whom Caro exchanged barbs in Scotland. The two meet again when Caro and her new friend Isobel Urquehart are attacked by brigands in Bath. Although Caro puts up a strong fight and leaves one of their abductors squealing in soprano tones, she is no match for the number of men in group threatening her and Isobel. Fortunately a rescuer shows up. Unfortunately, at least from Caro’s perspective, the rescuer is Alec McClellan, half-brother of Isobel.

Alec, who is wary of women—particularly English beauties after an unfortunate marriage to one such young woman—is not at all pleased that his sister and Caro are friends. He is also concerned about the safety of his family because he and some of his radical friends parted company when Alec disagreed with their methods. He is irritated by his reluctant fascination with Caro.

As Alec and Caro see more of one another, they continue to strike sparks amid their verbal jousting, but they also discover they have more in common than either suspected. Caro proves sympathetic to the injustices Scotland has suffered, and Alec’s appreciation of poetry delights aspiring poet Caro. But Alec is slow to trust, and a former friend of Alec’s turns out to be a smiling villain who fans Caro’s suspicion of Alec. It is not until danger once more threatens Caro and Alec again takes on the role of rescuer that these stubborn lovers find their HEA. The secondary romance charmed my beta-loving heart.

If you like historical romance with intelligent, headstrong heroines and sigh-worthy heroes involved in plots that mix danger, political intrigue, and romance, I definitely recommend Cara Elliott’s Hellions of High Street. The books also contain a rich vein of humor. Scandalously Yours is my favorite of the three, but Elliot is a superb writer and the full trilogy is an investment that pays off with memorable characters and satisfying stories.

 ~Janga


Have you read any of Cara Elliott's books? 

Do you enjoy a bluestocking heroine? 

Are you a fan of books that have a mix of political intrigue, danger and romance?

In addition to the Rafflecopter giveaway below, one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment on today's post will receive a print copy of Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott. (US/Canada only)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Andrea Pickens/Cara Elliott Winner

The randomly chosen winner of an e-book (winner's choice) from Andrea Pickens is

Cathy P

Congratulations, Cathy!

Please send your email address and book of choice to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Andrea Pickens a/k/a Cara Elliott

I'm delighted to welcome back a lovely woman and one of my favorite writers, no matter what name she's using. I first discovered her as Andrea Pickens back in the day when trad regencies were all the rage. Years later, I stumbled upon a historical romance author by the name of Cara Elliott, not realizing at the time that she was the same person as traditional regency favorite, Pickens. (By the way, she also writes historical mysteries as Andrea Penrose!)

You can learn more about Andrea and her books at her website and connect with her online (as Cara Elliott) at Facebook and Twitter.  You can also follow her regular posts at the multi-author Word Wenches blog. 

Those among us who enjoy traditional regencies - and I know there are many - will be delighted to hear that Andrea is re-releasing many of her previously published books in digital format as well as writing some new ones. But I'll let her tell you about that.

Please give Andrea a warm Dish welcome! 

Hi Everyone,

Most of you may know me as Cara Elliott, but today I’m here under my nom de plume Andrea Pickens, which is actually the name I used when I started my writing career at the Signet Regency Romance line.

As Andrea, I write traditional Regencies, which means no unlacing of corsets—but wait, wait! Don’t leave! The heroes are still hunky, the banter provocative, and the storylines fun. (Or at least I like to think so!) In fact, I enjoy creating this sort of book so much that as I’ve been self-publishing my Signet backlist, I’ve also started writing some new original ones as well.

Now, lest you think traditional means REALLY traditional, I confess that I do like to bend the rules a little. While I love stories set in the conventional drawing rooms and ballrooms of the ton, I like to push the boundaries a bit. So A Diamond in the Rough, one of my newly released e-books, is a golf romance set on the links of St. Andrews, Scotland. (Yes, they did play golf in the Regency. It’s an ancient sport in Great Britain—in fact King James II of Scotland issued an edict banning play in 1457 because it was so popular that archers were neglecting their practice in order to hit the links!) 

Now, for those of you who may think the game sounds boring, take a look at golf superstar Adam Scott! I think you will agree that a golfer can inspire a rather nice hero.

I also like to have fun with unconventional occupations, because one of the fascinating things about the Regency is it was a time of new discoveries and new ideas. One of which was edible chocolate. (In my research, I’ve discovered that the physician to Queen Marie Antoinette mixed her medicine into solid chocolate pastilles with fruit and nut flavoring to disguise its bitter taste. In Sweeter Than Sin, which is a brand new original book, my hero is a wounded Spanish war hero who is an expert on chocolate and likes to experiment with creating new recipes. (I’d like to have him walk off the pages and into my kitchen!) He strikes up a friendship with his English uncle’s neighbor, the disgraced daughter of a duke, and together they explore the healing power of both chocolate and love. 

Here’s an excerpt:

Even with its wrappings, the object looked no bigger than walnut. Curiosity got the better of Kyra and she asked, “Pray, what is it?”

           Rafael crossed to the far end of the folly before answering. “Open it and see.” Before she could demur, he took her basket and set it down next to the portfolios on the stone slab.

           The paper fell away to reveal a ball of rich brown paste flecked with bits of scarlet. Its soft sheen had the patina of oiled mahogany. Still mystified, she looked up.

           “It is a special blend of cacao, made according to my grandmother’s recipe,” he explained. “Will join me in a taste? It takes only a few minutes to prepare and it will fortify our stamina for an attack on English grammar.”

            Surely he did not mean now. “But you have no kitchen, no cook.”

           “I have all the utensils I need right here.” He produced a tin pot from his satchel, along with a small knife and two mugs. “As for a cook . . .“ Wielding a wooden whisk, Rafael cut a rakish flourish though the air. “I have honed my skills under the tutelage of a culinary master.”

A spark from flint striking steel lit the smile in his eyes. A leaf curled in the first flare of flame.

          Kyra suddenly felt warm all over.

          Rafael pour out a measure of the brew and passed her a steaming mug. Their hands touched, and she was far more aware of the heat of his fingertips.

          Was he flirting with her? If he knew the truth, he would have little taste for her company.

          She colored and drew back, angry with the handsome Spaniard for stirring a longing that ought to have died. Angry with herself for feeling fire where there ought to be ice.

          Having made up her mind to dislike the beverage, Kyra puckered her lips as she raised the mug, determined to abstain from more than a tiny swallow. But then she experienced the oddest sensation. The aroma of tropical fruit and roasted spice tickled her nose, the swirling sweetness filled her lungs and caressed her cheeks.

Dizzy, she smiled in spite of her resolve. A splash fell on her tongue, hot and heady. She drew in a mouthful and downed it in a quick gulp.

         He looked at her from over the rim of his own mug. “It is good, isn’t it?”

         “Delicious,” she murmured. “I shouldn’t . . .”

         “Why not? Chocolate is one of life’s little pleasures.”

~~~~~~~~~~

So, do you enjoy unconventional heroes and heroines? How about unconventional settings? Do you have any favorites to share? I’ll be giving away a copy of one of my e-books (winner’s choice!) to one person chosen at random from anyone leaving a comment here today.

Adrian, Viscount Marquand, is not a typical English lord. Spurning the gaming halls and brothels, he secretly designs the most beautiful gardens in England. Then his ne'er-do-well father bets the ancestral manor on the outcome of a golf match, and it's up to Adrian to save his beloved home. But first he must travel to Scotland to learn the game. 

Miss Derrien Edwards is not a typical Scottish lass. Her bouncy blond curls tucked under a woolen cap, she satisfies her love of the links by passing as a young male caddie named "Derry". 

When Adrian arrives at St. Andrews links, he's paired with "Derry". While learning to play, Adrian struggles to ignore his strange attraction to the impudent caddie, and Derrien finds herself caught in her own trap. Secrets swirl as the day of reckoning arrives—and neither can afford to lose the game. 

Kindle

Nook

Her reputation ruined by one impetuous mistake, Lady Kyra Sterling lives as a recluse, determined never to make herself vulnerable to love again. Then she meets Rafael, a half-Spanish, half-English war hero. 

Hoping to heal his own inner pain, Rafael has come to visit his uncle. He doesn’t expect to strike up friendship with his neighbor, the shy Lady Kyra. But when she offers to help translate his Spanish grandmother's notes and recipes for chocolate, a special bond forms. 

Then the man who ruined and jilted Kyra returns, demanding marriage and her dowry. Now Kyra must choose: become vulnerable again and seek Rafael's help, or quietly return to her reclusive life and succumb to a loveless marriage. 

Kindle

Nook 

Cara Elliott Winner

The winner of a digital copy of Passionately Yours is:

Ada

Congratulations, Ada!  Please send your email address and choice of digital format to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Cara Elliott

We are happy to welcome Cara Elliott back to The Romance Dish today to celebrate the release of Passionately Yours, the third book in her The Hellions of High Street series.  I've loved the first two books in this series and can't wait to dive into Caro's story. All three books have been released in digital format with print copies to follow at a later date.  

For more information about Cara and her books, please visit her website.  Readers can also connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter and at the multi-author blog, Word Wenches.  

Welcome back, Cara!

Hi Everyone,

Yes, it’s me again! Last time I stopped by at the Dish (I love dishing here!) I talked about heroines, and how fun it was to create a trio of sisters with a passion for writing. Well, today I’m going to talk about heroes—a subject that is near and dear to all of our hearts.

It’s probably no surprise, but one of the most delightful challenges of the writing process is “fleshing out” the perfect hero for my heroines. While I have some core characteristics that are integral to a worthy man—honor, integrity, humor, a romantic heart—it’s wonderfully intriguing to add all the other little quirks of character that make a hero unique.

In Passionately Yours, the third book in my “Hellions of High Street” trilogy—pssst, which came out yesterday!—I tried something new. Alec McClellan, Caro Sloane’s love interest, is a moody Scottish baron with a sharp tongue and a flinty reserve that she finds hard to crack. Now, I’ve never written a Scottish hero, so it got me to thinking about what’s the archetypal appeal of hunky Highlanders. (Hmmm, that’s a rather nice question to ponder, isn’t it?)

So, here are my thoughts. Scottish heroes are strong, warrior-types. Like the wind-carved granite moors and stormy loch, they are tough, wild, austere, and perhaps a little forbidding. Yet, there’s a softer beauty there—think of how the purple heather looks adds a subtle beauty to the gray granite. You just have to look closely to see it.

Scotsmen also have a poetic soul, though they often take pains to hide it. Robert Burns writes lovely verse, and Sir Walter Scott’s novels are lushly romantic, so trust me, ladies, beneath the gruff growls, a Scottish hero has a tender heart. (Fluttery sigh—isn’t that irresistibly sexy?) It just takes the right heroine who willing to work hard to get him to admit it.  Which is, of course, no easy task.

But if it were easy, it wouldn’t be quite so much fun! I confess, I make Caro Sloane, the heroine of Passionately Yours, have to use a hammer and chisel to break through Alec’s stony façade. But she’s strong enough to persevere—the truth is, she nearly as feisty as he is, so they make a few sparks fly when they clash. Which makes it all the sweeter when the chips fall away revealing two tender hearts aching for true love.

Now, just in case, I haven’t quite convinced you that Scottish heroes are ruggedly handsome and wildly sexy, allow me to state a few names of real life Scots: Gerard Butler. James McAvoy. Ewan McGregor. Sean Connery. I rest my case.

So what about you? Do you find Scottish heroes irresistible? Have you a favorite Highland hunk, either in real life or in romance novels? Do dish! A winner will be chosen at random from among the comments to receive a digital copy of Passionately Yours. 

The youngest of the Hellions of High Street, Caro Sloane has watched her two sisters have exhilarating encounters with dashing heroes, and now she is longing for some excitement of her own. After all, how can she write truly passionate poetry until she has experienced a Grand Adventure? But that seems unlikely to happen as she’ll be spending the next few weeks in the quiet spa town of Bath, where nothing grand or adventurous ever happens . . . until she and her new friend Isobel are nearly abducted while walking on a quiet country road—only to be rescued by Alec McClellan, the moody and mysterious Scottish lord she met at Dunbar Castle.

Alec has come to England to deal with a treacherous betrayal and fears that his half-sister Isobel is in peril from an old enemy. Does he dare share his secrets with Caro? The bold and brave beauty leaves him no choice, and together they are quickly caught up in a swirl of dangerous intrigue . . . where fiery desire between them may ignite into the greatest danger of all.

Cara Elliott Winner

The winner of a copy of

Scandalously Yours 

by Cara Elliott

is:

dotland101

Congratulations!  Please send us an e-mail and

let us know if you would like an e-book now or a print copy when it's released.

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Cara Elliott

Cara Elliott is here!  I'm happy to welcome one of my favorite historical romance authors back to the Romance Dish today. Who better to write books than someone who combines a love of books with a vivid imagination?  As Cara shares in the bio on her website: "I've always had a vivid imagination...so much so that I think at times it worried my parents that I was so happy in my own little world, drawing pictures and creating stories."  

Cara majored in art at Yale and earned a MFA in Graphic Design. It took her a while to return to her love of writing but we, the readers, are so very happy that she eventually did. She's here today to tell us about her new Hellions of High Street Regency historical trilogy.  I've read the first book, Scandalously Yours and it's terrific!

Follow the links below to learn more about Cara's books and connect with her online.
Website:  http://caraelliott.com/ 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cara.elliott1
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/CaraElliott_1
Word Wenches:  http://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/


Take it away, Cara!


Cara here,

Sisters. They are the ones who are always there for you, sharing your laughter and tears, your hopes and fears. And most of all, your dreams. They pick you up when you are feeling down. They tell you when you are right—and when you are wrong.  It’s a bond that may occasionally bend, but will never, ever break. They are, quite simply, the ones who are, through thick and thin, your closest confidant, your best friends forever.

Growing up, I longed to have sisters. Now don’t get me wrong, brothers can be pretty nice, too. You learn a lot of important things from them—like how to hit a baseball, and how to fall out of tree without bursting into girly tears. And then, when they get old enough to drive, they have friends—cute friends—who are suddenly a lot more fun that they were in the ninth grade. (That makes up for all the frogs they’ve put in your bed, especially as none of them turned into a handsome prince when kissed . . . trust me on this.) But you know what I mean when I say there are LOTS of things you just don’t share with boys. (Would you ask your brother whether your new party dress makes your tummy look too fat? Right—I rest my case.)

Well, since I didn’t have that wonderful camaraderie in real life, I decided to create it in my new Regency historical trilogy. The “Hellions of High Street” is all about the three Sloane sisters who share a number of things, including a closeknit friendship, an unconventional sense of humor—and a secret passion for writing. Olivia, the eldest, pens fiery political essays, Anna, the middle sister, writes racy romance novels, and Caro, the youngest is an aspiring poet. As you can imagine, the conversations between them can get rather . . . interesting.

Especially when the talk turns to men.

In Scandalously Yours, the first book in the series, which debuts today (you can read an excerpt here) Olivia has several “men” problems. Which all involve the oh-so proper Earl of Wrexham, a former war hero known in Society as the Perfect Hero. Her fiery political essays, written under a pen name, have attracted his attention, but the problem is, he mustn’t learn that a lady has written them. And then there’s the tongue-in-cheek reply to a newspaper that has been inadvertently sent to the earl’s young son . . .

Her sisters have some clever suggestions on what she should do to put out the flames. But all of a sudden, the sparks seem to be flying out of control! Because as we all know, secret passions can lead a lady into trouble . . .

Well, I have a secret to share, too. As I was writing the Hellions of Half Moon Street trilogy, I realized that one of the wonderful things about “Sisterhood” is that you don’t need to have a female sibling to have a sister. At heart, it’s a state of mind, a closeness that makes you family-in-spirit.

I met my first “sister” in first grade. We both liked drawing, and bonded over cookies and crayons. We still love laughing together, though theses days we’re usually enjoying a glass of chardonnay instead of milk with our chocolate chip goodies. And then there are my roommates from college. Life can be a bit rocky at times, but their camaraderie over the years has helped soothe all the little bumps and bruises.  

What about you? Do you share your secrets with a real-life sister or a sister-in-spirit?  If it’s a sister-in-spirit, how did you first meet her? One comment will be chosen at random to win a copy of Scandalously Yours (Your choice of e-book now or print in several months)

Today's Special - - Cara Elliott

PJ here!  I'm delighted to welcome historical romance writer Cara Elliott back to The Romance Dish to talk about TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST, the second book in her terrific The Lords of Midnight series.  Are you reading this series?  If not, now's an excellent time to give it a try.  I highly recommend both this book and the first in the series, TOO WICKED TO WED!  

The Regency Rake - Gryff and Capability Brown 

The hero of my new release, TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST, is a RAKE. Okay, that’s not so much of a surprise—after all, a great many Regency heroes are rakes. But you see, I sort-of mean the other type of “rake” . . . you know, as in the garden variety. . .

No, Gryffin Owain Dwight, the Marquess of Haddan doesn’t have a lot of pointy metal tines protruding from his head. (He’s actually exceedingly handsome. And charming) It’s true that he loves the ladies, and has a knack for seduction. However, he also has another side to his persona, a secret passion that he feels compelled to keep hidden from all but his closest friends. He’s very interested in landscape design, and as casual dalliances are beginning to lose their bloom for him, he’s growing more serious about  . . . turning over a new leaf.

So, when by chance he encounters Lady Eliza Brentford, a lovely young widow who is also hiding a garden passion—she’s a brilliant botanical artist—an attraction immediately flowers between them. However there are complications . . . but I’ll leave you to discover the details in the book!

Instead, I thought I’d talk a little about the inspiration behind Gryff’s passion. Landscape design was actually a very “male” profession in Georgian and Regency England, and one name in particular comes to mind—Lancelot “Capability” Brown, who is often called “England’s greatest gardener.”

Brown—who earned the moniker “Capability” for often telling clients that their estates had great “capability” for landscape improvement—was born in Kirkharle, Northumberland in 1716. He started his career as a gardener’s boy at Kirkharle Hall, where he was assigned to work in the vegetable gardens. After learning the basics about plants and their growth, he then moved on to Stowe, one of the great English country estates, where he studied under the famous landscape designer, William Kent.

Brown soon made a name for himself by breaking with tradition and creating a new “natural” approach to designing gardens and grounds, as opposed to the formal layouts of the past. He called them “grammatical” landscapes—in explaining himself to Hannah More in an encounter at Hampton Court, he said, “I make a comma, and there . . . where a more decided turn is proper, I make a colon; at another part, where interruption is desirable to break the view, a parenthesis . . .” Now as a writer, I of course love this name for his style. And oh, can Brown punctuate!

His style is marked by long stretches of rolling grasslands, with bushes, trees and lakes—manmade if necessary— artfully placed to create visual texture and interest.  Many of the most famous estates in Britain feature his garden designs, including Croome Court, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, and small traces at Kew Gardens

Now, in addition to designing gardens, my hero Gryff also speaks the language of flowers. (He is a VERY charming fellow, and clearly knows all the right things to say to win a lady’s heart.)  And so does Eliza (for reasons you will discover in the book!) It makes for some interesting conversation between them! You didn’t know that flowers talk? Oh, indeed they do! Now we all know that a red rose symbolizes true love, but did you also know that a pink rose means ‘perfect happiness’?

Here are just a few more examples from the secret language of flowers: a red poppy symbolizes ‘pleasure’; a white daisy means ‘innocence’; a rhododendron bloom means ‘beware’ or ‘danger’; and a hydrangea means ‘thank you for understanding.’ Interested in exploring the full bouquet of meanings? You can look here (link: http://tinyurl.com/blcpqn4)

So, what’s your favorite flower?


You can find Cara online at:


Website:  http://caraelliott.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cara.elliott1
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/CaraElliott_1
Word Wenches:  http://wordwenches.typepad.com/word_wenches/

Review - - Too Wicked to Wed

Too Wicked to Wed
By Cara Elliott
Publisher: Forever
Released Date:  November 1, 2011

The product of an unconventional country upbringing, twenty-two year old Lady Alexa Hendrie, more comfortable with agriculture, mathematics and card playing than London society, doesn’t give a thought to the risk in which she places her reputation by bearding the notorious Irish Wolfhound in his brothel and gambling den in her desperate search for her brother. Four months later, Alexa is doing plenty of second guessing as she returns to London for a season, finding herself a fish out of water amidst the silly young debutantes, bored by the bland gentlemen of the ton and unable to get a life-altering kiss with a wicked Wolfhound out of her mind.

Connor Linsley, Earl of Killingworth, secret owner of The Wolf’s Lair and known throughout London as the Irish Wolfhound knew Alexa Hendrie would be trouble the minute she opened her mouth. The kiss he demanded in exchange for information about her brother was meant to send the much-too-clever miss running back to her family’s country estate. It was never meant to linger in Connor’s mind for months after the fact. Now she’s back in London, just as Connor’s world seems to be falling apart. Someone is playing a deadly game, with Connor and The Wolf’s Lair in their sights. He doesn’t have time for Alexa, with her clever mind and saucy mouth yet circumstances keep bringing them together with sparks flying each time they meet, as in this exchange on a moonlit terrace when they first encounter one another after Alexa’s return to London.

“You flatter yourself, sir. Be assured that, as kisses go, your performance was quite forgettable.”

“Forgettable,” he repeated softly.

“Completely,” she assured him.

“Well, then perhaps you need a reminder.”

Alexa gave an involuntary gasp. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I warned you about your mouth – that’s exactly the wrong thing to say to a lecherous libertine.”

Don’t. She stared at the sinuous curl of his smirk. Don’t think about the hot, brandy-spiced taste of his lustful lips. Don’t think about the hard, steel-chiseled press of his sculpted muscles.

“Don’t…” she stammered.
 
Too late.
 
With a wicked gleam in his gaze, the Irish Wolfhound seized her shoulders and drew her close. Then his wanton mouth was on hers, teasing a terrible, tingling lick of heat inside her. Fire sizzled from her scalp to her toes – and to hidden places she wasn’t even aware existed.

This time, his kiss was slower, softer. He suckled her lower lip, his teeth gently nipping the swell of her flesh. Alexa shivered as the earl traced his fingertips along the arch of her neck and framed her face between his palms. Surrendering a tiny moan of pleasure, she opened herself to his delving demand. The slide of his tongue inside her was wildly sensuous. Her pulse began to skitter, her knees began to quake. 

Strangely enough, the soft, suckled sighs were not all hers. The Wolfhound’s breath tickled her cheeks, and within its gossamer flutter seemed to float a sweet, sweet whisper. 

Connor is determined to steer clear of  this woman he can't stop thinking about but fate has other ideas.  Alexa ends up part owner of The Wolf's Lair during an intriguing card game and finds herself smack dab in the middle of Connor's life and the danger surrounding him.  Their lives hang in the balance but if they can manage to outwit his unknown enemy, Connor and Alexa just may end up with everything their hearts desire but never thought they could have. 

I like Cara Elliott's writing more with each book she publishes.  Her characters in Too Wicked to Wed are engaging and the story moves along quickly, holding my attention from beginning to end - and keeping me reading late into the night.  Secondary characters, in particular Connor's two friends (future heroes of the next two books), are not just window dressing but vital elements of the story and have me eagerly anticipating their own stories.  Alexa is an intelligent, brave but vulnerable heroine who I liked immensely and who more than holds her own with the man who steals her heart and Connor...  What can I say about Connor?  He's a man who is much more than his reputation would have you believe and I thoroughly enjoyed traveling his journey to unexpected love with him. 

Too Wicked to Wed is the first book in Elliott's new Lords of Midnight trilogy.  The next book, Too Tempting to Resist, will be released April 24, 2012. I've already pre-ordered my copy.

~PJ

Today's Special - - Cara Elliott

I'm so happy to welcome Cara Elliott to the Romance Dish today.  I had the pleasure of meeting Cara at the RWA national conference in New York City this past summer and was delighted when she agreed to visit with us here at the blog..  Cara's new book, TOO WICKED TO WED, features not only a delicious hero but one of my favorite heroines of the year and a wonderful story that kept me reading late into the night. Please give Cara a warm welcome!






Hi everyone, I’m so delighted to be visiting here at the Romance Dish today. I always love “dishing” about books and the stories behind the stories. My new historical romance trilogy, “The Lords of Midnight” launches this month with the release of TOO WICKED TO WED and it’s all about . . . taking a gamble in life.

Now, betting was not just popular in Regency England—it was a passion! Gentlemen wagered on everything, from card games, horse races and boxing matches to marriage match-ups and how many bottles of port they could drink in one sitting. There is even a story of two club members betting on which rain drop would be the first to slide down to the bottom of a windowpane (after tossing back quite a few glasses of that port, I would guess.)

There were gaming “hells” all over London, from the swanky environs of Mayfair to the seedy streets of the slums. Fortunes were often won and lost in a single evening of play. So as I started planning my “Lord of Midnight” trilogy, which features three dark and dangerous rogues, I decided that such a place would make a perfect setting for some of the action.

Alexa Hendrie, the heroine of TOO WICKED TO WED, is a very smart, sensible, practical young lady. But she’s also a little exasperated over the fact that ladies have so many rules governing their behavior, while gentlemen get to go out and play.

So she throws caution to the wind for just one night, and decides to see if she can beat the men at their own game . . . with unexpected results! She wins—and wins big. When the last card has fallen, she fins that she is now half owner of one of London’s most notorious gambling hells.

And her new partner is the infamous Earl of Killingworth, better known as the “Irish Wolfhound."

Connor has taken a gamble too. He’s trying to rebuild the family fortune squandered by his profligate father, rather than simply marry an heiress. He keeps the fact that he own a business a secret from all but his closest friends . . . so he’s not overjoyed to learn that one of them has lost half-ownership in The Wolf’s Lair in a high-stakes card game. That the winner is a prim country miss makes the news even harder to swallow.

The partnership will never work . . . or will it? When a canny enemy seeks to put The Wolf’s Lair out of business permanently, Alexa and Connor are forced to work together in order to survive . . . and they soon discover they have more in common than they ever imagined. But are they willing to risk everything on love? (Oh, don’t worry—it’s a safe bet to guess that the dice rolls in their favor and they win a HEA!)

Now what about you? Are you a risk-taker—someone who will take a gamble, even if it’s a little dangerous, a little naughty? Or do you err on the side of caution? 

Do share! I’ll be giving away a signed copy of TOO WICKED TO WED to one random commentator. (Sorry but the offer is limited to U.S. addresses) 

Click here to visit Cara's website, here to visit her Facebook page and here to read an excerpt from TOO WICKED TO WED.

Review -- To Tempt A Rake

To Tempt A Rake
Book 3, Circle of Sin series
by Cara Elliott
Publisher: Grand Central
Release Date: January 25, 2011









As heat speared through the thin layers of silk and wool, like a hot blade melting butter, Kate tried to quell the liquid quickening of her pulse. Don’t, she warned herself. Oh, don’t react. It would be flirting with dancer – nay utter disgrace – to encourage the attentions of Giovanni Marco Musto della Ghiradelli.

Of all the men in London, he was the only one who might recognize the truth . . .





Born to an American sailor and an English lady, Kate Woodbridge is not your everyday, ordinary granddaughter of a duke. Shunning English society and more importantly ducal family obligations, Kate’s mother chose love over duty and thus provided Kate a childhood spent on the seven seas of the world with pirate parents. This unusual upbringing has given Kate an unconventional education in the ways of the world. When both parents catch a fever in a foreign port and are on their death beds making final requests, Kate quickly agrees to move to England and acquaint herself with the grandfather she has never known . . . the Duke of Cluyne. Navigating the seas of the ton proves far more difficult than sailing through the Straights of Gibraltar. Thank goodness Kate has made friends with a group of intellectual women, known as the Circle of Sin. This group of women discuss more than what color gown to wear to the night’s festivities. Discussions of art, science and botany abound aplenty in the Circle of Sin.

By all accounts, Giovanni Marco Musto della Ghiradelli is a rakehell and a scoundrel. With his devil-may-care attitude and his devastatingly handsome good looks, Marco has no problem keeping his bed filled with willing companions. But behind the façade of a rogue with no worries lies an intelligent mind and bodily strength that can gift the enemy with the kiss of death. The perfect combination and a necessity for a secret agent of the English government.

Kate and Marco first encounter one another during the wedding celebration of a mutual friend. The interaction between the two is filled with tension and sparks. While neither one is ready to admit an attraction to the other, both come away from the first meeting with strong reactions.

Here are Marco’s thoughts . . .

“To be sure, Kate Woodbridge was no ordinary young lady. But it was not just her brains that set her apart. There was an unexpected glint of grittiness shading her lovely aquamarine eyes. As if she had seen the grim realities of the world outside of the gilded confines of Mayfair’s mansions.”

Here are Kate’s thoughts . . .

“No man ought to have such long, luxurious lashes. Or for that matter, such exquisite brandy-gold eyes, or such a supremely sensual mouth. Kate quickly looked back at the painting. And it was most unfair of the Almighty to bless a rakehell rogue with beautiful bones and hair that tumbles in sin-black curls to kiss the ridge of his shoulders.”

Kate and Marco once again encounter each other during a country house party at Kate’s grandfather’s estate. While Kate is in attendance to appease the Duke, Marco is there at the command of his boss. Several top European officials are attending the Duke’s country affair and Marco is to spy on most of them. With peace talks commencing in Vienna in a few short weeks, many under-the-table government deals are afoot. As more and more time is spent in each other’s company, Kate and Marco begin to come closer in mind and body, including one extremely steamy love scene in the ducal conservatory. But when a high level European official is murdered during the house party and Kate becomes the prime suspect, things in this love affair begin to get very complicated. Determined to prove her innocence, Kate reluctantly agrees to accept help from Marco, her grandfather and even the English government.

To Tempt A Rake is a wonderful offering by Cara Elliott. While I have not read any of the previous Circle of Sin books, I enjoyed this one so much that I intend to seek out the others. As you already know, Kate is not your normal English heroine. She is full of spunk, attitude and independence. And that is what attracts Marco, a man who believes his heart is too black (because of his bad deeds) to love. I love watching the self-constructed walls of these characters crumble under the weight of love. If you are searching for a book without cookie cutter characters, I recommend you pick this one up!


~ Buffie