Review - - The Sea Witch

The Sea Witch

by Eva Leigh

Salt & Sorcery - Book 1

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: August 26, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Condemned as a witch, sentenced to die, Alys Tanner uses her innate magical power to flee Puritanical New England. Stealing a ship, Alys becomes captain of The Sea Witch, leading its all-female, sorcery-wielding pirate crew. But the colonial British navy is in hot pursuit. The navy fights for a choke hold on the Caribbean and will destroy anything they cannot control, especially witches.

When Ben Priestley, a headstrong naval navigator, is inadvertently captured by the lady pirates, dangerous truths are revealed. A quest that could turn the tides against the navy’s might ignites a reluctant partnership between the by-the-books prisoner and the fierce witch pirate captain. While they brave backstabbing pirates, perilous tropical islands and monster-filled seas, Alys and Ben’s mistrust grows into unexpected desire as they battle an enemy that will stop at nothing to rule the waves.

PJ's Thoughts:

Lady pirates sailing the Caribbean? Yes, please. Lady pirates who are also witches? Oh, heck yes! 

This book was everything I didn't know I needed: lady witch pirates, high-seas adventure, magical realism, forced proximity, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and twists I never saw coming. The characters drew me in from the get-go, immersing me in their cut-throat world of piracy. If that wasn't enough, Leigh also added in witches, mages, and super-powered sea creatures bound to England's naval ships and bent on destruction. Fantastical? Yes. And yet, Leigh makes it all seem plausible and real. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while at the same time wanting to slow down and absorb every minute detail. I read the entire book in one day, staying awake way past my bedtime and relishing every impeccably presented detail. 

The characters were multi-layered, nuanced, and fully developed. I loved the evolution of Alys and Ben, both individually and as an eventual couple. But I also enjoyed the relationships among the all-women crew on Alys's ship. While not the lead couple, they are intrinsically important to the overall story and I appreciated the time and care devoted to their individual characters and stories. I'm hopeful that we will continue to learn more about them as the series continues. 

The relationship between Alys and Ben was not easy, as one would expect between a pirate witch captain and her upright British naval navigator captive. I loved that she held the power but also appreciated the eventual ebb and flow of that dynamic as their characters and relationship grew. Their interactions felt authentic and their slowly changing opinions, organic. I was fully immersed in their quest, in their relationship, in their chaotic world. I was pulling so hard for their improbable happy ending. And, yes, I actually gasped when I reached the end of the book. Cliffhanger!

I don't know when book two of this trilogy is scheduled to be released but what I do know is that I'll be hitting that preorder button the second it becomes available. I am fully involved in these characters now and I cannot wait to discover what Eva Leigh has planned for the next phase of their journey. In the meantime, I'll be rereading The Sea Witch, probably more than once. It's just that immersive. It's just that good. 

Review - - My Fake Rake

My Fake Rake
by Eva Leigh
The Union of Rakes - Book 1
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Reviewed by Santa
 

In the first book in Eva Leigh's new Union of the Rakes series, a bluestocking enlists a faux suitor to help her land an ideal husband only to be blindsided by real desire…

Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to “build” the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace’s colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.

To further his own research on English society, Sebastian agrees to let Grace transform him from a bespectacled, bookish academic into a dashing—albeit fake—rake. Between secret lessons on how to be a rogue and exaggerated public flirtations, Grace’s feelings for Sebastian grow from friendship into undeniable, inconvenient, real attraction. If only she hadn’t asked him to help her marry someone else...

Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he’s faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future—and his heart.

Santa's Thoughts:

I had the pleasure of reading My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh recently and it hit all the marks for me as a solid five star read! 

You see, I love me a good Beta hero! A bit rough around the edges but delicious nonetheless especially if they wear spectacles. In this reader’s opinion spectacles on a Beta is as delicious as pockets on a ballgown. For the most part, Betas are the most likely not to catch one’s eye but when they do - you are guaranteed to lose your heart. AND better yet is one who harbors an unrequited love for a certain lady in their life. Mr. Sebastian Halloway, bespectacled anthropologist, is one such hero.

The lady for whom he holds a tendre is also a kind of Beta heroine, if you will. Lady Grace Wyatt’s scholarly pursuits as a naturalist present her as a singular lady in a predominantly male world. She, too, harbors an unrequited love for another colleague who has yet to see her merits as a woman. She comes up with a plan to make this other man take notice and want to marry her so they can go off together on expeditions as husband and wife.

Sebastian is the perfect subject to transform into a fake rake. As lessons progress with the aid of Sebasian’s friend the Duke of Rotherby, Lady Grace soon recognizes that she has feelings for her fake rake which completely goes against her plans. 

This book will make you laugh and cheer and I guarantee you will shed a tear or two, as well!

Today's Special - - Lenora Bell and Eva Leigh

I'm delighted to host two of my favorite historical romance authors: Lenora Bell and Eva Leigh, Avon authors who both have a new book publishing today! It's always fun to ask authors about their characters but wouldn't it be even more fun to ask questions of those characters? Lenora and Eva have brought along the heroes and heroines of their new books, What a Difference a Duke Makes and Counting on a Countess to do just that. Having recently read - and loved - both of these books, I can't wait to hear what they have to say! Please welcome Lenora, Eva, Kit, Edgar, Mari, and Tamsyn!

Counting on a Countess 
Book Two in The London Underground series

By Eva Leigh
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: March 27, 2018

https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062499448/counting-on-a-countess

http://evaleighauthor.com/

Eva Leigh is the pen name of a RITA® Award-nominated romance author who writes novels chock-full of smart women and sexy men. She enjoys baking, Tweeting about boots, and listening to music from the ’80s. Eva and her husband live in Central California.

What a Difference a Duke Makes
Book One in the School for Dukes series

By Lenora Bell
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: March 27, 2018

https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062692429/what-a-difference-a-duke-makes

http://lenorabell.com/

Lenora Bell is a USA Today bestselling, RITA® Award-nominated author of historical romances. A teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing who has lived on five continents, Lenora currently shares an old farmhouse in the Pacific Northwest with her carpenter husband and two tiger-striped rescue kitties. She loves to hear from readers!

HEROES:

Eva Leigh -- Christopher “Kit” Ellingsworth, Earl of Blakemere

Lenora Bell -- Edgar Rochester, Duke of Banksford

HEROINES:

Eva Leigh – Miss Tamsyn Pearce

Lenora Bell – Miss Mari Perkins

Edgar to Kit

When did you first meet Tamsyn? What was the first thing you noticed about her?

Society balls are never more irritating than when looking for a prospective bride. There’s an abundance of women, but none of them set my campfire to blazing. Which was why I noticed Tamsyn right away—after we collided by the dance floor. That bright red hair of hers was like a fire in the depths of night, and it’s not every day I meet a lady with the Cornish accent of a pirate, though, thank heavens, she’d never engage in anything illegal like piracy.

Since I've been living like a monk, I'm curious about what's it like to be known as a shameless libertine.

Oh, it’s terrible. Just awful. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Except everything I just said to you is a lie.

What were the first thoughts that went through your head when you heard your sizable inheritance came with the stipulation that you must marry within a month?

Somebody get me a drink.

Whiskey, brandy, or wine?

Yes.

Chopin or Beethoven?

Whatever they play at the theater where the dancers come out and show their legs.

What do you plan to do with all that money?

This is strictly entre nous, but when I was fighting on the Peninsula, surrounded by chaos, death, and boredom, I kept myself sane by fantasizing about building my very own pleasure garden that would rival Vauxhall. I told myself that if I made it back to England alive, I’d make that dream a reality. Gambled deep to make it happen, but to no avail. Now that dream doesn’t have to be a fantasy anymore...so long as Tamsyn doesn’t empty out my coffers.

Mari to Tamsyn

What did you think about Kit when you met him for the first time?

He’s a shameless libertine who will make a truly terrible husband. I have to marry him.

I've never left England. Are you really a smuggler? Have you had any thrilling high seas adventures?

Shh! Don’t tell anyone! But yes, I do smuggle contraband French brandy and lace. For a good reason! We had a few close calls with the customs officers, and there have been a few nights where I found myself hiding behind rocks as the customs men ride past in pursuit. But I’ve always been shore-bound, and until I went looking for a husband in London, I’d never left Cornwall before.

When you found out that you had control over Kit's fortune what did all that power feel like? 

It’s not a little unlike being handed a giant cake and being told you have to eat it all, and you can’t give any to the starving man in front of you.

What is the best thing about London for you? The worst thing?

I’m only here to find a husband and use his wealth to buy my ancestral home from my uncle. Oh, and I need to locate a new buyer for my smuggled goods so that my village back in Cornwall doesn’t starve. But I suppose going to the theatre is nice...

What's a childhood memory that has stayed with you throughout your life?

My father used to buy me boiled sweets and we’d sit at the end of the pier, watching the sea. I miss him so much.

What do you do for entertainment/relaxation?

When do I have time to relax? Yet after a smuggling run, nothing is better than going to the pub with my fellow smugglers and having a little drop of brandy. I suppose that’s not a very ladylike thing to say. Playing pianoforte and doing embroidery are just heavenly! (Is that better?)

Questions for Edgar from Kit

So, wait, you used to work? What on Earth possessed you to

voluntarily do that?

There was an...incident. I couldn’t stay in London. I ran away, renounced my heritage, went deep underground as a foundry worker in Birmingham. It was backbreaking work but it was honest.

Fisticuffs or fencing?

I’m not one for special outfits and rules and regulations. I’ll take fists over foils any day.

What kind of person were you expecting when you hired a governess for the twins?

I asked for an experienced governess with nerves of steel. A stomach of iron. Eyes like a hawk. Shoulders as brawny as a boxer’s.   

What was the first thing you noticed about Mari when she arrived from the agency?

Her shoulders were insufficiently brawny.

If you could teach your children one lesson, what would it be?

Don’t make the same mistake I made. Don’t get too set in your ways...always leave room for discovery and change.

Would you rather waltz or wrestle?

I’d rather wrestle a dozen alligators than waltz at a society ball.

You’ve been celibate? For God’s sake, why?

You sound like my friend the Duke of Westbury. The other day he tried to drag me to the opera and I told him I was far too busy designing steam engines to dally with songbirds. Of course then he said something rude about a certain part of me withering away and falling off, but I can assure you that all my parts are in exemplary working order...far too exemplary when it comes to thoughts of redheaded governesses.

Questions for Mari from Tamsyn

What would your ideal home look like?

I was raised in a charity school orphanage so an ideal home would be one filled with family, laughter, and love--all of the things I never had.

What’s your favorite thing to eat?

My new favorite thing to eat is grapes. I had some the other day with the duke and let me tell you that I could become accustomed to being fed grapes from silver platters like the ancient Romans. Of course if we were ancient Romans we would have been lounging about on the carpet half naked. Oh dear. There I go again having forbidden thoughts...

Have you ever done anything that wasn’t precisely legal?

Well, I did bluster my way into the position as the duke’s governess. I was promised a position by Mrs. Trilby’s Agency for Superior Governesses. Just not this one.

When you first met Edgar, what did you notice about him right away?

That he didn’t look pliable in the least.

If you could trade places with anybody, who would it be?

Edgar’s sister, Lady India Rochester, certainly leads an interesting life. She’s an adventurer who travels the globe on archaeological expeditions. I think it would be thrilling to see what she sees, if only for a day.

Is there such a thing as “happily ever after?”

Oh, Tamsyn, have you been reading the same romantic novels I have? The ones where the star-crossed lovers surmount nearly impossible obstacles and everything works out beautifully in the end? I do want to believe it’s possible. With all my heart.

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

Thank you ladies, and gentlemen, for that fascinating glimpse into your lives. I enjoyed it so much I want to go back and reread your journeys to love all over again! *grin*

Readers, if you could trade places with anyone (real or fictional) for a day, who would you choose?

What was the first thing you noticed about your husband/partner?

What's a childhood memory that's stayed with you?

Do you have any questions for Eva or Lenora? Questions for Kit, Edgar, Mari, or Tamsyn?

GIVEAWAY: 

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before 11:00 PM, March 28 will receive a signed copy of What a Difference a Duke Makes and a $15 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. (U.S. shipping only)

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before 11:00 PM, March 28 will receive a signed copy of Counting on a Countess and a $15 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble (U.S. shipping only)

Review - - Temptations of a Wallflower

Temptations of a Wallflower

By Eva Leigh

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Lady Sarah Frampton is not a social success, despite her status as daughter of the Duke of Wakefield. In fact, after five seasons, her tendency to observe rather than participate in society’s rituals has earned her the sobriquet the “Watching Wallflower.” In Sarah’s case, appearances are quite deceptive. Not only does Sarah enjoy an active interior life, but she is also the anonymous author of erotic novels that have proved satisfyingly successful. Of course, her authorship is a closely guarded secret because revealing that she is the “Lady of Dubious Quality” would provoke a scandal that would ruin her and damage her family.

Jeremy Cleland (shades of Fanny Hill!), the third son of the Earl of Hutton, is a vicar in a Devonshire village. Although he followed his dictatorial father’s plans by entering the church, he finds the role of vicar a good fit for him in some ways. However, the limitations of the life have increasingly weighed upon him recently. A lover of harmony by nature and dependent upon his father’s purse to supplement the small stipend of a village vicar, he does not hesitate when his father summons him to London. The earl, who views himself as a guardian of public morals, has an assignment for his vicar son: to discover the identity of the Lady of Dubious Quality, reveal her as the immoral creature she is, and destroy her scandalous writing career. Jeremy, secretly part of the lady’s readership himself, is reluctant to take on the task, but his reservations are no match for his father’s crusading spirit.

When Sarah and Jeremy meet, the attraction between them, physical and emotional, is immediate and powerful. They each instinctively recognize a kindred spirit in the other. For the first time, Sarah encounters a man who awakens in her the intense desire she has heretofore found only in her fictional characters. But even aside from the fact that Jeremy is committed to exposing Sarah’s secret identity, the gulf between a village vicar and a duke’s daughter is enormous. Nevertheless, when Sarah concludes that marriage offers her best means of protecting her secret, Jeremy is the only man she considers. But with the secret of Sarah’s writing identity between them, can they find enduring happiness together?

Temptations of a Wallflower is the third book in Leigh’s Wicked Quills of London series, and like the earlier books (Forever Your Earl and Scandal Takes the Stage), it is a gem of a book that blends feminist themes, engaging characters, and sensual romance that succeeds on multiple levels. Sarah and Jeremy are interesting protagonists whose complexity is far greater than their surface personalities suggest. It doesn’t hurt that I have a decided weakness for stories featuring vicars and wallflowers. To have both in a single novel is joyous indeed. I have grown increasingly weary of heroes and heroines whose libidos control them from their first glimpse of each other, but Sarah and Jeremy restored my faith in instant romance. I also loved that although they are inexperienced (Sarah is a virgin; Jeremy is not far removed from that state), they are not ignorant. On a delightful note, Jeremy gets some useful instruction from a book that he has no idea his wife wrote. Another plus is that both heroine and hero grow during the course of the novel, and their love is central to their growth. It frees them to become more fully themselves.

This novel is also metafiction that offers some wonderful insights into what it means for writing to be a vocation. Sarah is clear about who she is and on the role writing plays in her life. “I wanted everything. To write, and to love you. My books aren't foolish to me. Writing is who I am. I can't not write. If I did, I'd cease to exist.” Writers in any genre should relate to her description of finding her own voice.

 “My early writing efforts strived hard to be significant... I loved to write but hadn't done it well. Not until I penned my own erotic novel. And then I found myself. My voice, at last. Here it was, all this time, but I'd needed to find the right subject.”

I highly recommend this book. If, like me, you have found yourself skimming or even skipping sections or even full chapters of romance novels in which love scenes/sex scenes appear to have no purpose other than to increase the heat level, you will rejoice in reading a book with a high sensuality level in which such scenes are not extraneous but rather integral to who the characters are and to the journeys they make. I have added this one to my Best of 2016 list, and I look forward with great anticipation to seeing what Eva Leigh has next for her readers.

~Janga

Review - - Scandal Takes the Stage

Scandal Takes the Stage
By Eva Leigh
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 27, 2015

From the snippet we readers first glimpse of Mrs. Maggie Delamere and Cameron, Viscount Marwood in Eva Leigh’s first WICKED QUILLS book, I knew I was in for something special:  Marwood, unimpressed by anyone or anything, looks up and stares as Maggie walks by….  just a small thing but so intense I remembered it.   Besides the chemistry, I imagine Marwood’s stare that same sort I must give my favorite authors at writers’ conferences for SCANDAL TAKES THE STAGE is a tale of a fan and an artist, and later, the unlikely love that heals a damaged woman.   

Yet this is no damsel-in-distress story. 

Marwood is a rake:  over-indulged, over-stimulated, and bored out of his mind.  Except when it comes to the theater.

Maggie Delamere has a tragic past and it is only through writing she has made any sort of stable life for herself.   She writes burlettas, not one of which Viscount Marwood has missed.   In today’s terms he’s a theater junkie.  And the writer of that art he loves so very much is of great interest to him.  But Maggie is wary of aristocrats as it was by an aristo’s callous treatment she experienced the tragedy that caused her family to disown her. 

Now Maggie is on her own and writing is the means by which she survives except that she has a terrible case of writer’s block.  And she is loath to admit Viscount Marwood’s endless badgering and baiting of her is slowly unlocking her art… and perhaps even her heart.

In the romance world, rakes are cliché because we readers really can’t get enough of them.   What better conquest than to bring a womanizer to his knees?  But it’s hard to make a rake stand out with so many of them philandering between the covers (book covers as well as bed covers)?  Eva Leigh, however, does just that by giving her rake a sweet dose of, pardon the word, fangirldom--though he’s all that’s virile and masculine.   But this “fangirldom” makes Marwood--an otherwise unlikable cad-- sweet and human and endearing.  Truly, he’s the main male character I’ve related to most in my long reading life.   Marwood is me.  He’s also you, if you’re reading this review, because who but a true fan of books would be reading a review on one?

And Leigh’s heroine is no less impressive.  Maggie Delamere is not only an artist but a true feminist—not the bra-burning sort, but the independence-needing sort.    In a sea of historical romance heroines looking for love as well as titles and riches, all Maggie really wants is her independence, for that is her true savior.   Though Marwood may heal her heart and help, through true admiration,  her art, she saves herself.   I related to her, as well, especially with her struggle with her art and her effort to remain true to herself.  

Eva Leigh’s writing is very fine work.   It’s clear she’s a gifted, experienced writer who honors the intelligence of her readers.    And I can guarantee you I will be buying each and every one of her books from here on out.

Now I’m her fangirl.

If you're a fangirl, which authors top your list?   Which artists:  musicians, painters, actors, etc...?  

~J Perry Stone

Review - - Forever Your Earl

FOREVER YOUR EARL

By Eva Leigh

Wicked Quills Of London-Book 1

Publisher: AVON IMPULSE

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Forever Your Earl is the first book in The Wicked Quills of London series by Eva Leigh. In this book, we meet Eleanor Hawke, founder, creator, and editor of The Hawke’s Eye, a notorious scandal sheet that reports and skewers the goings-on of the upper classes of London. One frequent target of the paper is the notorious Daniel Balfour, the Earl of Ashford.  When the earl walks into her office, she thinks he’s there to confront her about what the Hawke’s Eye has written about him. Instead, he issues an irresistible proposal-he will allow the Hawke’s Eye exclusive access to his life and let them report on his comings and goings.  What happens next is a fast paced story as we follow Eleanor and Daniel on a madcap adventure.

However, it quickly becomes apparent that Daniel has an ulterior motive for making his offer to Eleanor. He is on a secret mission, and is hoping to throw Eleanor off the scene by keeping her attention, and the attention of the ton, off his true objectives.  Daniel is in the middle of a desperate search for one of his best friends, the heir of Duke of  Holcombe. I liked that Daniel doesn’t live up to his “rakish” reputation. Instead, Eleanor and the reader come to see Daniel as a man of depth, sincerity, and most of all, loyalty. Daniel is a man Eleanor comes to respect and admire.  Instead of being another careless pampered spoiled aristocrat, Daniel is a man who is searching for meaning and purpose.  I love that the romance and attraction between the two characters wasn’t just based on looks and the physical. Eleanor and Daniel fall in love because they respected the other’s intellect and abilities. This was a meeting of the minds and heart, not just bodies.

I really loved the character of Eleanor and she is someone who’d I want as a friend in real life. She is hardworking, ambitious, talented, loyal, and takes pride in her work and all that she has accomplished.  She is proud of building The Hawke’s Eye from almost nothing, and will not allow anyone to insult or dismiss it, even Daniel.  I liked that this book actively celebrates women’s ingenuity, creativity, and perseverance in a society that almost actively goes out of its way to stymie and stifle them at every turn.

The relationship between Eleanor and Daniel was great. There is a slow burn as they both deal with the obvious chemistry and attraction between them. It was interesting to see how both dealt with it. While Daniel rather quickly comes to accept his feelings and becomes determined to be with Eleanor, no matter what, Eleanor has more doubts.  Eleanor hasn’t had anything permanent in her life that she hasn’t built herself, that couldn’t be yanked away at a moment’s notice. It becomes very difficult for her to reach out and depend on anyone but herself. However, the way Eleanor comes to see that the leap of faith is worth is was truly lovely. I like that to the end, Eleanor and Daniel decide to be the master of their own fates, to shape their own lives the way they want, to what makes them happy instead of what society expects of them.

One of the aspects of the book I enjoyed was that the author writes from a specific and definite point of view.  Leigh discusses gender identity and politics, class, and privilege, and sharply questions and criticizes societal norms that disadvantage Eleanor for simply being who she is, while elevating Daniel for the exact same reason.  For example, when Eleanor disguises herself as a man and Daniel is coaching her on how to pull off the deception, Eleanor notes the immense difference in carriage and attitude. Men are taught to take up space, stride and act as if they own the world. Women, by contrast, are restricted (sometimes literally by the clothes they wear) and are taught to shrink themselves and be as inconspicuous as possible.  But instead of ramming the message down our throats, Leigh frames it as a learning opportunity.  Daniel learns to question his beliefs and assumptions as his eyes become opened to issues he’d never considered before.

I recommend Forever Your Earl to anyone who enjoys smartly written romances with strong heroines who aren’t afraid to blaze their own path and create their own futures, and heroes who steadfastly refuse to give up despite the odds. 

~Lisa 

Today's Special - - Eva Leigh

I'm delighted to welcome historical romance author Eva Leigh to TRD today. Leigh's debut historical for Avon, Forever Your Earl releases tomorrow. It hit all the right notes for this reader, landing the book on my Best of 2014 list. I'm excited to see what Leigh brings us next! 

Eva Leigh is a romance author who has always loved the Regency era. She writes novels chock-full of smart women and sexy men. She enjoys baking, spending too much time on the Internet, and listening to music from the ’80s. Eva also writes in multiple romance genres as RITA-award nominated Zoë Archer. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Central California.


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Welcome! Congratulations on the upcoming release of Forever Your Earl, your debut writing as Eva Leigh. Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.

Wit, wordplay, rakes, empowered women, and hot love scenes.

That right there would be enough to put it on my must-buy list!

On the surface, Eleanor (untitled owner/editor of the scandal rag, The Hawk’s Eye) and Daniel, Earl of Ashford (the paper’s favorite target) seem an unlikely pair. What is it about these two that convinced you they belong together?

I love the notion of opposites attract, but with a hidden core of mutual understanding and respect. Eleanor is a woman who’s had to make her way in the world, and Ashford has had everything handed to him. They seem very improbable as a couple, but it turns out that they’re both intelligent, driven, passionate people with a lot of compassion and a need to contribute.

Eleanor is an independent, self-sustaining, career woman whose

life choices fly in the face of societal expectations. What is it about this type of heroine that appeals to you as a romance writer?

I’m an avowed feminist, and so it has been very important to me writing both as Zoë Archer as well as Eva Leigh to depict women in male-dominated fields, kicking butt and not backing down. I want my heroines to be as strong and capable as my heroes. Relationships between equals are the sexiest and most romantic kind, to me.

I enjoyed the peeks into life “behind the curtain” at the Imperial. Do you have a background in theater?

Yes, I’ve done theater in high school and college. But what I really enjoy about writing of the theater is showing how people worked, and worked hard, especially in the creation of art. The theater is a very dynamic, not especially respectable place where women can have a lot of power, and I wanted to show that. You’ll see much more of it, and Maggie the playwright, in Scandal Takes the Stage, which comes out November 2015.

Where did you gain your knowledge?

I enjoy doing research! I have lots of books, plus the internet can be a valuable resource for learning more about all kinds of topics. Since readers know so much already about the Regency, I want to give them glimpses into worlds that they might not be as familiar with, such as journalism and the theater.

This reader is eager for more of those glimpses!

Will we see more of Jonathan Lawson and his sister, Catherine in future books? I’m intrigued by both of them.

There will most likely be a novella featuring Jonathan. Originally, I hadn’t planned on writing about his story, but there has already been such a demand to give him his HEA that I felt it was necessary!

Glad to know I'm not the only one clamoring for his story!

What’s next from Eva Leigh?

Scandal Takes the Stage, Marwood and Maggie’s story, will be out October 27, 2015. After that is Temptations of a Wallflower in May 2016. That one is also part of the Wicked Quills series, and it’s about a lady who writes anonymous erotic novels and a vicar!

Count me in for both of them! 

You are also an award-winning author of paranormal, steampunk and Victorian romances written as Zoë Archer. (I’m a huge fan of the Blades of the Rose series!) What’s on the horizon for fans of those books? 

Right now, I’m concentrating on my Eva Leigh persona, but Zoë definitely lives on. I’m entertaining different ideas to write under that name.

Thank you for visiting with me. Would you like to ask our readers a question today?


If you could go back in history and have any profession, what would it be, and why?

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment on today's post will receive a copy of Forever Your Earl. 
(U.S./Canada only)

Eva Leigh's irresistible new series introduces the Wicked Quills of London: a group of bold, brilliant female writers whose spirited allure is beyond seductive . . .

Eleanor Hawke loves a good scandal. And readers of her successful gossip rag live for the exploits of her favorite subject: Daniel Balfour, the notorious Earl of Ashford. So when the earl himself marches into her office and invites her to experience his illicit pursuits firsthand, Eleanor is stunned. Gambling hells, phaeton races, masquerades . . . What more could a scandal writer want than a secret look into the life of this devilishly handsome rake?

Daniel has secrets, and if The Hawk's Eye gets wind of them, a man's life could be at stake. And what better way to distract a gossip than by feeding her the scandal she desperately craves? But Daniel never expected the sharp mind and biting wit of the beautiful writer, and their desire for each other threatens even his best-laid plans.

But when Eleanor learns the truth of his deception, Daniel will do anything to prove a romance between a commoner and an earl could really last forever.

Click to read an Excerpt of Forever Your Earl. 


Book Info:

ISBN: 978-0062358622

Publisher: Avon Romance

Date: 9/29/2015

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