Review - - Improper Gentlemen

Improper Gentlemen
An Anthology
By Diane Whiteside, Maggie Robinson and Mia Marlowe
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Release Date: July 26, 2011

The final sentence of Mia Marlowe’s novella, “A Knack for Trouble” says it best.

“Besides, who’d ever want a proper fellow when she can have an improper gentleman?”

The improper gentlemen who are the heroes created by these three talented authors suit me just fine!









“Talbot’s Ace” 
by Diane Whiteside

While she once lived the life of a privileged daughter of a prominent Boston banker, Charlotte “Ace” Morland now walks a fine line of respectability while playing in poker tournaments across the western frontier. But the mayor of Wolf Laurel, Colorado has something much more dangerous in mind for Ace than playing in his tournament: to kidnap her and turn her over to a powerful politician known for his brutal treatment of women in exchange for a political favor. When she escapes, the first person she encounters, and the last man she expects to help her, is Justin Talbot; gunslinger, owner of the Hair Trigger Palace and best friend and partner of the mayor. Justin offers her refuge in his establishment and teaches her pleasure in his arms but will there be a future for the lady turned gambler and her very improper gentleman?

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“To Match a Thief” 
by Maggie Robinson

Lucy had loved Simon Grant with all of her young heart but the thief had left her behind seven years earlier and never returned for her as he had promised. So six years ago, Lucy also left Scotland – to move to Jane Street in London, also known as Courtesan Court, where she has lived as “mistress” to Percy, Lord Ferguson – a man with exquisite manners, impeccable taste in clothing, especially women’s clothing, and a deep fondness for his butler. When Percy suffers a reversal of fortune and sells his Jane Street home to Sir Simon Keith, an English war hero, Lucy is stunned to discover he and her long-missing Simon are one and the same. Lucy wants nothing to do with Simon but Simon is determined to finally make Lucy his, no matter what she has (or hasn’t) done over the past six years, even if the now proper gentleman has to get a little improper to accomplish it!

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“A Knack for Trouble” 
by Mia Marlowe

In steamy Bermuda, convicted murderer Aidan Danaher seduced the lovely Rosalinde Burke, the Commissioner’s daughter, and lost his heart while knowing there could be no future for them. Three years later, Rosalinde, on the verge of becoming engaged to a proper gentleman of the ton, is shocked to come face to face with the new Lord Stonemere in a London ballroom, the same man she knows as the charming Irish convict, Aidan Danaher! Aidan is on a quest to clear his name and discover who was really responsible for the murder for which he was sentenced but no less important is his quest to win Rosalinde’s heart. Will she follow her family’s wishes and make the respectable choice or will she follow her heart and choose her delightfully improper Irishman?

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I enjoyed all three of these novellas but especially Robinson’s and Marlowe’s. While both are short in length (around 110 pages), the character and story development are exceptionally well done and I was left with a “full book” feeling by the time I reached the end of each novella. Robinson’s “To Match a Thief” sparkles with wit, humor and characters who all take turns stealing the show. It’s an absolute delight! In “A Knack for Trouble”, Marlowe deftly combines suspense, sensuality, humor and emotion into a heartwarming tale of love and redemption. I confess; I was so taken with her hero, Aidan, that I read the story twice!

I'm a big fan of anthologies, with their delicious bites of romance that I can enjoy as a "reading snack", especially during those busy days when I just don't have time to settle in for a full-course, single-title meal.  How about you?  Do you enjoy anthologies?  Read any lately that you'd recommend?  

~PJ

Diane Whiteside Winner

The random winner of a copy of The Shadow Guard by Diane Whiteside is....
fsbuchler
Congratulations! Please send your full name and mailing address to us at theromancedishATgmailDOTcom Please put "Diane Whiteside Winner" in the subject line. I will forward your information to her and she will send your book to you soon.

Today's Special -- Interview With Diane Whiteside

We are so happy to welcome Diane Whiteside to The Romance Dish today. She writes historical and paranormal romance and many times the two combine. Her latest book, The Shadow Guard, is a paranormal contemporary that combines action, magic and of course, plenty of heat.

In addition to being a busy author, Diane is a government contractor---she's been doing this for over 20 years. Writing romance is a great escape from the day job. When she's not working and writing, Diane enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and reading.

Please join me in welcoming Diane to The Romance Dish.


Gannon: Hi, Diane. Thank you so much for being with us today.

Diane: Hi there, Gannon! It's a privilege to be here at The Romance Dish.

Gannon: You mention on your website that you are the third generation of your family to get paid for your writing. Have you always wanted to write? What made you choose romance?

Diane: Everyone else in my family writes non-fiction and that's where I started out, too. Then a true story smacked me in the face while I was visiting Tombstone, Arizona, and I wanted it to be re-told as a romance. The only way for that to happen was to do it myself---and that story became The Irish Devil.

Gannon: What a great story! I also read that you were born on Sunset Strip in Hollywood---such a glamorous address. *g* Were your parents in the entertainment industry?

Diane: Both of my parents were working in the theater when they met. My mother was an actress and my father was a stagehand---and ex-combat photographer. But I was born on the Sunset Strip because that's where the Kaiser Hospital was located. It's still there and other authors love to tell me stories about how it's still going strong.

Gannon: Pretty exciting place to start your life. *g* You write historicals and Texas vampires (love that!) and now you've turned to paranormal with your newest book, The Shadow Guard. Which one is your favorite to write?

Diane: I like to write about strange worlds you won't discover at your neighborhood coffee shop. Historicals fit that description---and so do paranormals. Both genres are fun to write and I'll stretch my wings in any direction that sounds interesting.

Gannon: I guess I never thought about historicals and paranormals having that in common, but you're right. Maybe that's why I enjoy them both. Can you tell us a bit more about The Shadow Guard?

Diane: The Shadow Guard is about Jake Hammond, a homicide cop, who finds a corpse but has absolutely no clues as to who killed the lady. His only hope of finding the murderer is to team up with his online gaming buddy---a government sorceress, who's hiding more secrets than the dead woman.

Gannon: That sounds really intriguing. If you could pick anyone to play your latest hero and heroine, Jake and Astrid, who would you choose?

Diane: My choice for Astrid would be Ashley Greene (as a blond). Jake is trickier, since he looks like a very tough professional athlete, not an actor. Perhaps a pro football player, who can rough it up but still move fast enough across the field not to get injured too often. I'm open to suggestions!

Gannon: I'll put on my thinking cap. There are quite a few sexy football players out there. *vbg* I know you get asked this question quite a bit, but where do you get your ideas, particularly for The Shadow Guard?

Diane: I've wanted to write The Shadow Guard for years! It was inspired by the old blue-collar towns across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and the movies about 1930's like The Maltese Falcon and Sin City. Fog creeping across a nighttime city where the rich get richer while the working guys never get any credit, the river whispering in the background, the tough guy detective, the untrustworthy dame with an agenda, the brutal killer on the loose, and magic which makes everything and nothing look exactly what it seems...

Gannon: Wow! You really set the scene---I can see it all now. What's up next for you?

Diane: "Talbot's Ace" appears in Improper Gentlemen in July 2011. It's about a western gunfighter who's forced to choose between his only friend and that most appalling of all females---a Northern aristocrat.

Gannon: Sounds like fun---plenty of tension, I'm sure. Who are some of your favorite authors?

Diane: I'm very fond of Elizabeth Lowell, Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Georgette Heyer, and more. (How much time do you have to listen to me rave about my adored ones?)

Gannon: It is so hard to narrow our favorites down to just a few, isn't it?! When you're not working and writing what do you like to do to relax and recharge?

Diane: I enjoy reading, gardening and spending time with family and my dog, Honey who's a rescue German Shepherd. She's always ready to go for a walk or eat another garlic chicken cookie. She's convinced that my true job is to stay at home and help her chase squirrels.

Gannon: Ah, the life of a dog. I often envy my two dogs. Thank you again, Diane, for spending time with us. It's been such a pleasure.

Diane: Thanks for inviting me to join you! If you'd like to learn more about The Shadow Guard or any of my other books, please check out my website at www.dianewhiteside.com where you can find excerpts from every book, sign up for my newsletter---with exclusive excerpts---and more.

I've also been known to blog and tweet.

Happy Reading!

Well, readers, it's your turn to ask Diane some questions. One lucky commenter will win a copy of The Shadow Guard.