Review - The Greatest Lover Ever

The Greatest Lover Ever
By Christina Brooke
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  December 31, 2013

Six years ago, she was too young and he was too inflexible.  Something was bound to come between them. In their case, the something was another man and his insinuations were ugly.  Pride and honor demanded the two men meet on the field of honor.  Young and frightened, Georgie gave Beckenham an ultimatum:  call off the duel or she'd call off the engagement.  She expected him to fight for her, not lecture her then walk away without a backward glance but pride was a wall he wasn't willing to climb - not even for the girl who was to be his wife.

Georgie Black has done a lot of maturing in six years.  She leads a much more circumspect life and even though her looks still draw men to her like bees to honey, she's grown into her power and doesn't abuse it as a young girl would.  She's managed to successfully avoid her former bethrothed...until she goes looking for her younger sister at a party thrown by Beckenham's notorious cousin and finds herself locked into a room with the only man to ever own her heart.

Marcus, the Earl of Beckenham has managed to avoid Georgiana Black, the woman who jilted him, for six years.  But now, just as he makes the decision to seek a wife - a quiet, biddable wife - fate sees fit to bring Georgie back into his life.  Beautiful, lush, stubborn, intelligent Georgie, who is about as far from biddable as possible.  The attraction is still there.  The desire is still there.  So is the stubbornness.  And the pride.  But Beckenham is older.  Wiser.  As is Georgie.  Will the second time around bring them the happiness for which they both yearn or will an enemy from their past come between them once again?

I love second-chance stories, especially the ones where characters are too young the first time around and re-connect years later after life's experiences have 'seasoned' them.  I love this couple. They were made for one another and I was in their corner from beginning to end. That doesn't mean that I didn't become frustrated with both Georgie and Marcus at times but that's what makes them so real.  They have flaws and lessons yet to learn before the author is finished with them.  Their journey to a happy ending is realistic for them, even when Georgie, who believes Marcus will never love her, encourages him to look in a different direction.  It breaks her heart to do so but she feels she's doing the right thing for him and for someone else who means the world to her.  It's a rocky road to love for these two but that makes the arrival at their final destination all the sweeter.

I've really enjoyed the books in Brooke's Ministry of Marriage series and connected Westruther series. The writing is fresh and well-paced, with witty dialog, chemistry that sizzles and characters so real they fairly leap from the page.  I've grown to care about these people and am fully invested in what happens to them.  As soon as I finish one book in the series, I find myself counting the days/weeks/months until the next.  While I enjoy reading a series in order, Brooke has written the books to be read either as part of the series or as a stand-alone so I don't think it will have a negative impact on your enjoyment if you begin with The Greatest Lover Ever.  However, if you're like me, as soon as you finish this book you'll be off to buy the ones that preceded it!

~PJ

Christina Brooke Winner

The winner of a print ARC of The Greatest Lover Ever by Christina Brooke is

girlygirlhoosier52

Congratulations!  Please send your full name and mailing address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Sneak Peek - - The Greatest Lover Ever

Our thanks to Christina Brooke for allowing us to open the cover and take a peek at The Greatest Lover Ever, the next book in her Westruthers series.  I don't know about you but I've fallen in love with these sexy cousins and can't wait to read Beckenham's story. The book doesn't come out until December 31st but one lucky reader who leaves a comment today will have the opportunity to read it now!  Check out the details at the end of the excerpt.  

For more information about Christina Brooke and her books, visit her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.





The Greatest Lover Ever
The Westruthers - Book 2
By Christina Brooke
St. Martin's Press
December 31, 2013


Excerpt:

“Becks is bride hunting,” Xavier said to Lydgate.

Lydgate choked a little on his ale, set the tankard down. “No! Damn me but you’re full of surprises this morning.” He straightened in his chair, eyes widened. “Not to the Shady Lady?”

“Most definitely not,” agreed Xavier. “Beckenham wants a quiet, dutiful bride who won’t give him any trouble. Someone biddable, no doubt.” The last sentence was said with something of a sneer.

Beckenham focused on his plate. His wish for a bride seemed to belong to another century.

With an effort, he hauled his mind out of the quagmire of his encounter with Georgie. “I wouldn’t have put it quite so crudely.”

“Women,” said Lydgate darkly, “are nothing but trouble. If there’s one out there who isn’t, I haven’t met her.”

Beckenham didn’t agree. “You will admit that your experience of virtuous ladies is limited.”

Xavier’s lips curved in an unpleasant smile. “Lydgate’s right. It is a wife’s duty to make her husband’s life as hellish as possible, as far as I can see. The docile ones are usually hiding their claws until the wedding band is securely upon their pretty fingers. The beauties are vain and far too demanding, the bluestockings are dead bores… Need I go on?”

Lydgate tilted his head. “Never knew you were such a misogynist. I love women,” he said on a sigh. “I can find something to admire in the worst of them. That’s my curse.”

“Yes,” Beckenham said. “Your total lack of discrimination was a factor in my decision to ask Xavier’s advice rather than yours.” He cocked an eyebrow at the marquis. “You cannot recommend even one lady to me as a suitable bride?”

Xavier curled his lip. “I leave the matchmaking to our former guardian.”

“Why haven’t you asked Montford?” said Lydgate.

“I’m not interested in shoring up the Westruther dynasty.” Beckenham shrugged. “Besides, Montford washed his hands of my affairs after the debacle with Georgie Black.”

That was the only time Beckenham could recall thinking the duke was a complete cloth-head. Any reasonable man could see Beckenham had no choice but to accept his congé with good grace. Montford had thought otherwise, mocking him for his stubborn pride. Which just showed how skewed the duke’s thinking had been. Montford deplored vulgar scenes and scandal; he ought to have been wishing the fiery-haired termagant good riddance.

No matter how well-matched their inheritances, the Earl of Beckenham and Georgiana Black were wholly unsuited to be husband and wife.

Readers, do you like second-chance love stories?  Do you enjoy a feisty heroine turning a hero's perception of the perfect wife on its head?  Do you enjoy enemies to lovers stories?  Share your thoughts with us.  And, while you're at it, tell me why an advance copy of The Greatest Lover Ever should land on your doorstep!  

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before Midnight, Sunday, November 10th (EST) will win a print advance reader copy of The Greatest Lover Ever.  (U.S. addresses only)

The sweetest scandal  

Beautiful, exuberant, and stubborn Georgiana Black has more spirit than sense—which she learns when an ultimatum to the Earl of Beckenham ends their engagement. Six years later, Georgie is less concerned with impending spinsterhood than with making sure her young sister doesn’t make the same mistakes she did. But soon Georgie stumbles into a scandalous encounter with none other than her former fiancé. Beckenham is still breathtakingly desirable—and as iron-willed as ever...

 THE TRUEST TEMPTATION

Beckenham’s brief engagement to Georgie taught him one thing—when it comes to a wife, he wants a woman who will do her duty and cause no trouble. When the fiery Georgie falls unexpectedly into his arms, Beckenham remembers just how lushly delectable she is. Suddenly, the idea of actually marrying Georgie is irresistible. In The Greatest Lover Ever, convincing her will take more than a simple proposal, however. In a battle of wills, can passion conquer pride?

Review - - London's Last True Scoundrel

London's Last True Scoundrel
By Christina Brooke
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  July 2, 2013

Returned from the dead but forced to give up his life's work as a scientist and discredited by his peers, Jonathon Westruther, Earl of Davenport flings himself into a an increasingly reckless life of dissolution and scandal until his cousins are forced to take drastic measures to save the man from himself.  Which is how a battered and bruised Jonathon awakens to find himself somewhere in the country and face to face with a prim and proper young woman who is about to turn his life upside down.

Miss Hilary deVere has spent her entire life trying to overcome her family's scandalous reputation.  A well respected young woman, she is nevertheless let go from her teaching position simply by virtue of the fact that she is a deVere and is forced to return to her family home where her brothers' drunken orgies are the norm.  She dreams of a London season, vouchers to Almack's and a quiet, intelligent, sensible husband.  What she encounters on her journey home is Jonathon Westruther, the devilishly charming scoundrel she was betrothed to in a private agreement between their late mothers; a man she thought was dead who puts a monkey wrench in her well laid plans when he turns up alive and intent on seducing her.

Jonathan has no interest in marriage which is fine with Hilary as she has no desire to marry him even though enough sparks fly between the two of them to start a forest fire.  When he ruins her last chance of a London season, he takes her there himself, certain that he can talk his well-connected cousin into sponsoring her. Of course, he still wants her and uses every opportunity to convince her to succumb to the desire.  Hilary is made of stronger stuff, knows exactly the type of rogue she's up against and blocks him at every turn.  The Earl of Davenport has definitely met his match!

As Jonathon and Hilary spend time together, their mutual desire grows as well as their liking for one another but many obstacles still block the way to a happy conclusion with Jonathon being the most stubborn of them all.  Will they make their secret betrothal a reality or will the reason for Jonathon's mysterious "death" tear them apart...permanently?

These two characters captured my interest from their first meeting and held it until I turned the final page, late the same night. Funny, poignant and sizzling with passion, they leaped from the pages and into my heart. Jonathon is one of those sexy scalawags that you know has a tender, wounded heart beneath the dissolute, "I don't care" persona on display and when he finally shows it, hearts (mine in particular) melt.  Hilary is a heroine with spunk and determination who only wants to belong.  She had me cheering for her every step of the way.  I love this girl!

London's Last True Scoundrel is another winner from Christina Brooke.  I highly recommend it!

~PJ

Christina Brooke Winner

The winner of a signed copy of 

London's Last True Scoundrel 

is

Diane D - Florida

Congratulations, Diane!  

Please send your full name and mailing address to

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Christina Brooke

It's a pleasure to welcome one of my favorite authors - and people - back to the Romance Dish.  I first "met" her at the Romance Bandits blog, fell in love with her writing through her books written as Christine Wells and now through the books she writes as Christina Brooke.  Her Ministry of Marriage trilogy sits on my keeper shelf soon to be joined by the stories of the Westruther men.  

Leaving the legal profession behind for a full-time writing career, Christina is the first Australian to win the prestigious Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® award for unpublished manuscripts as well as being a two-time RITA® finalist for published books. She's a busy wife and mom who is already hard at work on her next book, a fact that makes loyal readers like me very, very happy!

Find out more about Christina at her website, visit with her at Romance Bandits and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.   

Welcome back, Christina!  Congratulations on today’s release of LONDON'S LAST TRUE SCOUNDREL.  It’s been getting great pre-publication buzz including a 4.5 star Top Pick from RT Book Reviews.  Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.

PJ, it’s so wonderful to be back here with you and Andrea. We’ve been friends for a long time now, haven’t we? Thank you for the warm welcome and congratulations. I’m proud of the Top Pick at RT.  What can readers expect? Well, in a word, buttocks. There is much talk about my hero’s “spectacular hindquarters” in this book! Which is odd, really, as my heroine Hilary is struggling hard to overcome her crude and vulgar ancestry and really does *not* want to think about bottoms. She’s from the deVere family, which, as anyone who reads my books will know, is the ramshackle, unprincipled, no-good clan in my Ministry of Marriage series. Meanwhile, Jonathon, Earl of Davenport, is doing his best to ensure that Hilary and her good intentions part company as soon as possible!  This was such a fun book to write. I hope readers have as great a time with it as I did.

Well, I certainly had a great time!  Hilary and Jonathon are so much fun together.  The sparks between the two of them practically leap from the pages.  What would you like readers to understand about each of these characters?

Thank you! Hilary is the only one Jonathon can’t fool with his rakish insouciance. She sees through his ploys to get her into bed, but on closer acquaintance she sees the good in him, too. With Jonathon, Hilary can let down her guard and eventually, he grows to love and appreciate the imperfect woman behind the prim façade. Ultimately, this is a book about belonging and by the end, Hilary and Jonathon find home and family together.

There are so many great scenes in this book.  Without giving away spoilers, what’s the one scene you would never cut from the story?

Haha, PJ, you’ve probably guessed my favourite scene already. The one where the ceiling falls in on Davenport when he’s in bed and Hilary rushes in to find him standing naked amongst the rubble like some ancient statue amid the sacking of Rome. I remember reading that out to my crit partners, Anna Campbell and Denise Rossetti and we laughed so hard we were crying. It’s nice to get a reaction like that!

Love that scene!  Speaking of critique partners, you recently spent the weekend brainstorming with the two ladies mentioned above.  Discounting the wine, the fabulous meals and the awesome chocolate mousse that had me drooling all over my keyboard, what are the benefits of a critique group for a writer? 

Oh, the chocolate mousse was divine! You know, these days, Anna Campbell, Denise Rossetti and I are more there to support one another than anything else. Getting together to plot has become such a pleasure for us.  We’ve learned to do our brainstorming *before* wine and food, though. Otherwise things degenerate fast! It is getting harder to critique each other’s manuscripts these days as our deadlines so often clash but I read for Denise and Anna when I can and they read for me.  When you have a skilled crit partner you trust implicitly, critiquing is a wonderful thing.

Before this book begins, circumstances require Jonathon to disappear, letting everyone believe he has died.  Without taking it quite that far, if you could take a break from your everyday life for, say, a month, where would you go and what would you do?

Oh, what a great question, PJ! I think I’d go to England and do some in-depth research on stately homes. I know, it would be a busman’s holiday but I’d love it.

While we’re gearing up for lazy days reading by the pool, you’re heading into winter.  Where’s your favorite place to curl up with a good book on cold, winter days?  Have you read anything lately that you’d recommend?

Oh, I envy you the heat! I try to find a sunny spot on my deck and sit there soaking up the sunshine. Reading in bed with a cup of coffee is good, too. I know that makes me sound so lazy! As for recommendations, I do a lot of reading by audiobook at the moment. I loved THE ASHFORD AFFAIR by Lauren Willig and GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. In romance, I can’t speak highly enough of my dear Anna Campbell’s DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES. I’ve also been on a Kristan Higgins glom-fest so that was awesome, too. Love Julie Anne Long also and I recently caught up on one or two of her series I’d missed somehow.

I am so looking forward to reading Anna's "Days of Rakes and Roses."  It downloaded to my Kindle this morning and is waiting for me along with Julie Ann Long's new book, IT HAPPENED ONE MIDNIGHT.  I adore her Pennyroyal Green series! 

What’s next from the Ministry of Marriage?

Strictly speaking, the Ministry of Marriage series finished with Cecily’s story in A DUCHESS TO REMEMBER. I’m concentrating on the male Westruthers in this ‘spin-off’ series.  Next in line is the Earl of Beckenham’s story in THE GREATEST LOVER EVER (out in December). Seriously, Beckenham does *not* think of himself as some sort of Regency Casanova—you’ll have to read the book to see what the title is all about! But I have a deep and abiding love for Beckenham as an honorable, dependable (and also hot) alpha male. He is a little set in his ways, however, and needed a woman who would drive him crazy. I think I’ve achieved that with his former fiancée Georgie Black! There’s a teaser for this book at the back of LONDON’S LAST TRUE SCOUNDREL.

Ah yes, that teaser, as well as the amazing cover you recently unveiled, has me counting the days for THE GREATEST LOVER EVER!  

Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Christina.  Any final thoughts?  Would you like to ask our readers a question? 

Thank you a thousand times for having me, PJ, and for asking such great questions.

OK, dear dishy readers! I’m going to steal PJ’s great question above. What about you? If you could take a break from everyday life and money (and reality) were no object, what would you do? 

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of LONDON’S LAST TRUE SCOUNDREL.

Christina Brooke winner!

The winner of a signed copy of the entire MINISTRY OF MARRIAGE series is:

Connie (comment #5)

Congrats, Connie! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Christina Brooke winner" as the subject and we'll get your info forwarded to Christina. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Today's Special - - Christina Brooke

Christina Brooke is with us today!  (Hi Christina!  *Waving*)  Christina is one of our favorite Aussies and the author of a unique and delightful historical romance series called the Ministry of Marriage.  The third book is the series, A Duchess to Remember, released yesterday and it's another winner.  Fans of the series will be delighted to know Christina has signed a contract for three more books in the series so get ready for the Westruther men!


Christina is a former lawyer who is also a busy mom and in the midst of a long-term house renovation.  She holds the distinction of being the first Australian to win the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart award.  She's also been an RITA finalist twice, with books written as Christine Wells and as Christina Brooke.  Heiress in Love, the first book in her Ministry of Marriage series is a finalist for the RITA this year.  And, if all that isn't enough, she's also a regular blogger at Romance Bandits! Take it away, Christina!



Hello everyone! I'm delighted to be back dishing with the lovely ladies at the Romance Dish.

So many readers of the first two books in my Ministry of Marriage series, HEIRESS IN LOVE, and MAD ABOUT THE EARL, have been begging for Cecily's story. I'm so happy to announce that Cecily's book, A DUCHESS TO REMEMBER, is out this week. I hope you all have as much fun with this couple as I did!

Today I'm going to dish a little about smart heroines. Or should I say smart-mouthed heroines? *G* Lady Cecily Westruther is certainly both clever and witty, but in A DUCHESS TO REMEMBER she is perhaps just a little too clever for her own good.

You see, Cecily has her life very nicely mapped out. A fiancé who not only happens to be a duke, but a very mild-mannered, compliant duke, who can be guaranteed to let her to live her life precisely as she likes. He also has two sons by a previous marriage, so she doesn't have to suffer the marriage bed with a man she doesn't find in the least attractive.

However, what Cecily wants and what Cecily needs are two different things. So luckily, she has me to play God and throw a rock in her all-too-smooth path. When the brilliant, enigmatic, powerful Duke of Ashburn comes into her life, he challenges every one of her preconceived ideas about the kind of husband she needs.

Their first meeting occurs when Cecily breaks into Ashburn's house, searching for an incriminating letter that would ruin her and jeopardize her betrothal. But even when she's caught, Cecily is not abashed. She says:

“… you, my lord duke, suffer from the eternal ennui of the pampered aristocrat. You're intelligent enough to perceive that I am no common housebreaker. I, in fact, am a novelty.”

“You, in fact, are a criminal,” he said.

“But you are curious about me,” she murmured, staring up at him with those big, pansy brown eyes. “Admit it.”

Ashburn's taste must run to the criminal element, for he quickly decides he must have this woman as his duchess. He sets out in hot pursuit of her, disregarding her betrothal entirely.

Despite her best intentions to resist, Ashburn gets under her skin.

Cecily plastered a society smile on her face and spoke between her teeth. “Not only are you mistaken, you are impertinent. This conversation is highly improper.”

“Not half as improper as I'd like it to be,” he said. “But I promised to behave myself in public, didn't I?”

“It's a good thing for you we are in public or I'd punch you in the nose,” she said, smiling relentlessly.

But despite her readiness with a witty riposte, Cecily is totally unsettled by Ashburn. She might be clever about some things but Lady Cecily Westruther is an utter dunce when it comes to love…


So who is your favourite smart heroine from romance and why? Please comment for a chance to win a signed copy of the entire MINISTRY OF MARRIAGE series!

Find more information about Christina at her website and connect with her on Facebook,  Twitter and Goodreads.

Stock Up Saturday

I had laptop problems yesterday and wasn't able to get these reviews posted.  So welcome to Stock Up Saturday...on Sunday! :)

Bride by Mistake
By Anne Gracie
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Release Date:  January 3, 2012

Haunted by the wartime secrets that have hardened his soul, Luke Ripton has vowed never to return to Spain but he left something behind when he came home to England following the war:  the young girl he rescued and married to keep her safe from her unscrupulous cousin.  Leaving her with her aunt in a secure mountain convent, they agreed that Luke would obtain an annulment when it was safe but eight years later a letter arrives that makes it clear that he has no choice but to travel to Spain to claim his secret bride.  At least he has the consolation of knowing that, after being raised in a convent, Isabella will be a sweet, biddable wife with no objection to leaving Spain immediately for Luke can't bear to be there any longer than necessary.

Smart and courageous, Isabella secretly kept the residents of the convent from starving during the war. But bored to tears with the other aspects of convent life, this tomboy who despairs of ever being a desirable woman romanticizes her young girl's memories of the handsome, carefree English lieutenant who rescued her and dreams of the day he will return to claim her hand and vow his undying love.  Reality comes calling when her "prince" turns out to be an autocratic ex-soldier, resigned to keeping the wife he never really wanted.  To make matters worse, Luke announces they will be leaving immediately for England but Isabella has a mission to complete; one that will take them deep into the region of Spain that Luke never wants to visit again, and she's determined to go - with or without her husband.

Bride by Mistake is the fifth book in Gracie's Devil Riders series.  I've waited a long time for Luke's story and I wasn't disappointed.  Gracie takes Luke and Isabella on a fast paced journey across Spain where they both confront the ghosts of their pasts and gradually begin to see themselves through the eyes of the other, opening their hearts to hope, happiness and love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mad About the Earl
By Christina Brooke
Publisher:  St. Martin's
Release Date:  January 3, 2012

Christina Brooke continues to shine with the second book in her Ministry of Marriage series, Mad About the Earl, an absolute delight of a Beauty and the Beast tale.

When Lady Rosamund Westruther travels to the country to meet the man to whom she has been betrothed, she quickly discovers three things:  he's huge, he's rude and, with one passionate kiss, he (unknowingly) claims her heart for his own.  Returning to London after the betrothal papers are signed, Rosamund patiently waits for Griffin to come for her.  And waits...and waits...and waits...until patience disappears and a stubborn resolve takes its place.

Growing up in an all-male household with an abusive grandfather, Griffin deVere, Earl of Tregarth knows little to nothing about romancing a lady.  To make matters worse, he's been told his entire life that he's ugly, clumsy and completely undeserving of  love.  He's sure that a petite, exquisite beauty like Rosamund, a lady to her core, could never be happy with a man like him yet, when his beloved sister's happiness is at stake, he has no choice but to travel to London and seal the deal by marrying the lovely lady.  Imagine his surprise when the lady turns out to have a spine of steel and a few conditions of her own before she'll consent to become his bride; conditions that require Griffin, a man more at home in the stables than the ballroom to publicly court her before claiming her.  For Rosamund has a higher goal in mind than a mere wedding.  The beauty who has lost her heart to the beast is determined to show him that he is a man worthy of love and a man who has love to give.

I read this book in one day and enjoyed every delicious bit of it.  Griffin and Rosamund are a wonderful couple and Brooke has surrounded them with a fascinating cast of secondary characters.  We get to know the male cousins better which has me even more excited about reading their stories and the excerpt from Cecily's book, A Duchess to Remember, has me wanting her story now!

Mad About the Earl stands well on its own but if you enjoy it as much as I did, you'll probably want to pick up a copy of the first book in the series, Heiress in Love too.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae
Cynster Sisters Trilogy - Book 3
By Stephanie Laurens
Publisher:  Avon
Release Date:  January 31, 2012



The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae is a fast-paced, adventurous road romance that is Stephanie Laurens at her very best.  From the glittering London ballrooms in the very heart of the Cynster family to the remote wilds of Scotland and a woman who lives to make one particular Cynster matriarch suffer, you won't want to miss a minute of this journey!

Dominic, the Earl of Glencrae is an honest, loyal and honorable man.  He does not want to kidnap and ruin a Cynster sister but he has no choice.  To save his clan from ruin at the hands of his cruel and devious mother, Dominic must do as he's been instructed.  The people he hired to kidnap the two older sisters bungled the job, though it ended happily for them as they fell in love with good men and are both now engaged and safe, thanks to Dominic's efforts.  After all, he hadn't intended to actually ruin them but to obtain their help in thwarting his mother's plan while offering marriage in return.  But with them out of the picture, the only sister left is Angelica, the baby of the family.  The one sister Dominic did not want to have to deal with as he can only imagine how spoiled and pampered the youngest daughter of a Cynster family must be.  Oh, Dominic, are you in for a surprise!

Angelica Cynster is a hellion.  There's just no better word for it.  Headstrong, stubborn, intelligent and loyal to the core, she's the first to jump into adventure and the best one to get you out of a scrape.  Like her older sisters, she is confident she'll recognize her hero when she sees him and when she spies the Earl of Glencrae across a crowded ballroom, her heart immediately recognizes its mate. She maneuvers an introduction and a walk in the garden but imagine her surprise when the romantic stroll ends with her being bound and stuffed into a carriage!  It doesn't take long for her to realize that her hero is none other than the mysterious Highland Laird who has been plaguing her family but don't despair, dear readers.  Our industrious Angelica quickly figures out there must be a good reason for his actions and joins forces with Dominic and his small corps of servants as they attempt to keep her family at bay while saving the Earl's clan.  Plenty of twists and turns keep things interesting along the way as well as long-held family secrets that reveal the root of the hatred Dominic's mother holds for the Cynsters.  There are also heart stopping moments, plenty of laughter and a truly sigh worthy ending.

You don't have to have read the previous two books before reading this one but, for a better understand of the Earl's motives, I strongly recommend reading them in order:  Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue, In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster and The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae.


~PJ

Second Chance Winners

We have two unclaimed prizes up for second-chance grabs!  The new winners are:

JEANNE M.

Congrats!  You've won an e-copy of Beverley Kendall's novella, ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND SEDUCTION. Please send an email to theromancedish (AT)gmail (DOT) com to claim your prize.

and

LALIBRARYBUG

Congratulations!  You've won a copy of Christina Brooke's AN HEIRESS IN LOVE.  To claim your prize, please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedish (AT) gmail (DOT) com.

~PJ

Christina Brooke Winners

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat with Christina Brooke!  The two randomly selected winners of a copy of Christina's July release, HEIRESS IN LOVE are:

GAMISTRESS66

and

HEARTOFTEXASBOOKS

Congratulations to you both!  Please send your full name and mailing address, with "Christina Brooke Winner" in the subject line, to theromancedish (AT) gmail (DOT) com.

Today's Special - - Christina Brooke

Today, it's my pleasure to welcome back one of our favorite Aussies, Christina Brooke.  Christina is a former corporate lawyer who lives in Queensland, Australia with her husband, two sons and dog.  Writing Regency historicals as Christine Wells, she was the first Australian to win RWA's Golden Heart Award and was a 2009 RITA finalist.  Christina and I had a chance to catch up at RWA National recently and talk about all the exciting changes in her life.  One of the biggest is a new publisher, new nom de plume, and wonderful new series of books! 


Please join me in welcoming Christina to The Romance Dish as we explore this exciting new chapter in her writing life.






PJ:  Welcome to The Romance Dish, Christina and congratulations on the release of HEIRESS IN LOVE! It’s been getting terrific reviews...and I loved it!  Will you please tell our readers a bit about the story?


Christina: Hi PJ! Hi Dishers! Thank you so much for having me with you today. I love visiting the Dish.

Here is the blurb for HEIRESS IN LOVE:

When the Ministry of Marriage arranges a match, all that matters is power, wealth and prestige. In the business of marriage, there is no room for love. But even the most prudent plans can go awry…


A Convenient Marriage


Jane, Lady Roxdale, has endured one marriage of convenience decreed by the Ministry of Marriage. While she deeply regrets her late husband’s death, she is relieved to be free at last. But when a dissolute rake threatens everything Jane holds dear, she must contemplate marrying a second time…


An Inconvenient Passion


Disgraced libertine Constantine Black inherits his cousin Roxdale’s land and title–while Roxdale’s prim widow is left all the wealth. Constantine is not a marrying man, but wedding Jane is the only way to save the estate from ruin. Jane resists the smoldering heat between them, desperate not to fall in love with an unrepentant rake. But for the first time ever, Constantine wants more than seduction. He wants all of her–body, heart, and soul…

PJ:  I thoroughly enjoyed Jane and Constantine’s story and was fascinated by the Ministry of Marriage. It’s such an original concept and I don’t recall ever seeing it’s like before. Did anything in particular inspire it?

Christina:  Thank you! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it and found the Ministry idea intriguing. It’s always difficult to pinpoint how an idea evolves. I wanted to create my own Regency world, much like the worlds paranormal authors create. Sometimes we forget when we read historical romance that generations of forebears stand behind our aristocratic heroes and heroines—and not just that, but different families have shared history too. Almost everyone knew everyone else in the ton. There were alliances, feuds, scandals and rivalries between clans. So I wanted that sensibility in my novels.

Some traits seem to run in families, so I enjoy playing on that as well—The Westruthers tend to be highly intelligent, subtle yet ruthless and so confident of their social standing that they think anything they do must be acceptable—they can get away with behavior that other, lesser mortals can’t. The Blacks are charmers and rogues. They have a lot of guile and they use it to the full. The deVeres are a bit on the rough side, graceless and plain-spoken. The men are warriors and the women tend to be tomboys and misfits. Of course, there are family members who buck the trend, too, so it’s all good fun.

You might like to check out my website’s Members Only section to take the quiz about which family you belong to! http://www.christina-brooke.com/members-only/

To tie it all together, I decided that the heads of these and other families would set up a formal organization to arrange and approve dynastic marriages. And so the body nicknamed The Ministry of Marriage (M.O.M.) was born. I like the idea of marriage and romance being of such importance to these nobles that they create a cross between a corporate board and the NFL draft to deal with them! It never happened, of course, but it’s fun to imagine.

So while I do have a few secondary characters running around in these novels, all of them are focused on the courtship and marriage between my hero and heroine.


PJ:  You’ve introduced so many intriguing characters in this book and I do love a multi-book series. How many books will there be in this series? Do you plan to write the stories of both the girls and the boys who were raised by Montford?

Christina:  That’s a good question! I had six Westruther books in my head from the start—one for each of the three girls and three boys who are cousins as well as wards of the Duke of Montford.

I can guarantee there will be at least three books in this series and they will be the girls’ stories: Jane’s story (HEIRESS IN LOVE) followed by Rosamund (MAD ABOUT THE EARL, January 2012) and then Cecily will meet her match in A DUCHESS TO REMEMBER ( July 2012). What happens after that is in the laps of the publishing gods to some extent, but I would love to write another trilogy for the Westruther men. I’ll keep you posted!

PJ:  I'l keep my fingers crossed!

Speaking of Montford (you know I have to ask), will we find out the history between him and Lady Arden? I can’t be the only one begging for their story!

Christina:  Haha, no you’re not alone. My agent was aghast when I threatened to marry Montford off to a governess! What I can tell you is that Arden and Montford’s, um, situation will not be resolved in the first three books of the series. They are circling one another still. The cold-as-ice Montford has to learn a few lessons about love before he can have his own happily ever after. Poor man, he keeps arranging these practical marriages for his wards, but they persist in falling in love!

PJ:  I am so looking forward to watching him thaw!

I already have the release date for MAD ABOUT THE EARL marked on my 2012 calendar.   Can you tell us anything about Rosamund's story?  (Christina recently released the cover of MAD ABOUT THE EARL.  Isn't it gorgeous?)

Christina:  The beauty of the family, Lady Rosamund, will make a match in MAD ABOUT THE EARL. That is out on January 3 next year, so I hope all your New Year’s resolutions will include a pledge to rush out and buy it! Trust me, it will be a terrific hangover cure

MAD ABOUT THE EARL is a Beauty and the Beast meets Cinderfella story. The exquisite Lady Rosamund Westruther is determined to be the perfect wife to Griffin deVere, Lord Tregarth, but her beast of a betrothed is the only man in England who doesn’t want her! Circumstances conspire to force Griffin to claim her hand after a longstanding betrothal. It’s then that the fun starts, because Rosamund refuses to wed him until he has learned to be a gentleman and courted her properly.

And for a delicious little teaser, there’s a bonus excerpt from MAD ABOUT THE EARL in the back of HEIRESS IN LOVE.

PJ:  HEIRESS IN LOVE is the debut book of Christina Brooke but you’re no stranger to publication. Writing as Christine Wells, you’ve published four books, including one that was a 2009 RITA finalist. Why the name change? Should fans of Christine Wells expect a different type of writing from Christina Brooke?

Christina:  St. Martin’s were passionate about this new series and it seemed like the right time to break away from the more suspense-driven historical romances I had been writing as Christine Wells. Creating the Ministry of Marriage series feels like coming home to me. These are the kind of books I love to read—sensual, emotional romance against the backdrop of family relationships, with a vein of humor and sexy banter throughout.

PJ:  It was wonderful seeing you recently at the RWA National Conference in New York City. I hope you had a good time! Do you enjoy travel? What’s your favorite getaway spot? What city/country have you never visited but would most like to?

Christina:  Thank you, I always have a ball at RWA and of course, I love catching up with you!

I am not a seasoned traveler by any means but I’m always excited to fly to the U.S.A. to see more of your beautiful country and to catch up with dear friends. Predictably, I love England. I feel like it was my home in another life—perhaps because I grew up on a diet of English literature and theater, period drama and clever BBC television shows like Rumpole of the Bailey and Yes, Minister and To the Manor Born. By contrast, I think Japan is a fascinating country and I want to go back for an extended visit when my children are older (and when the elder one will eat something other than macaroni cheese!).

I’ve never visited Egypt and I would love to go, if only to view the sites in one of my favorite mystery series, Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody mysteries. Perhaps one day!


Time for a quick six!

Vanilla or Chocolate?

Chocolate

Beach or Mountains?

Beach girl all the way. How could I be anything else with the world’s most gorgeous beaches on my doorstep?

Blonde or Brunette (heroes)?

Brunette, but the occasional blonde is good for variety

Pop or Rock (music)?

Depends on my mood. Rock, probably

Dogs or Cats?

Both, although I own only a dog at the moment. Too many allergies in the family for cats.


Early Bird or Night Owl?

Early Bird for work, Night Owl for pleasure—in other words, why not burn the candle at both ends!

PJ:  Christina, thank you so much for visiting with us today.  It's always a pleasure to host you here at the Romance Dish and we wish you all the best with your new name and new series!  

Christina:  Thanks so much for having me, PJ and the Dishy Dames! And now for my question to all of you.

If you were a heroine in one of my novels and your marriage was being arranged, what is the one quality in a husband that you would insist on?

Two lucky commenters will each win a copy of HEIRESS IN LOVE!  Christina's giveaway is open to all commenters with no address restriction. 

For more information about Christina Brooke, visit her website, like her on facebook, follow her at twitter and friend her on Goodreads. You can also find Christina at Romance Bandits.