Review - - The Groom Wore Plaid

The Groom Wore Plaid                       

By Gayle Callen

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: February 23, 2016 

The follow-up to The Wrong Bride, The Groom Wore Plaid’s hero and heroine, Owen Duff and Maggie McCallum have agreed to honor the marriage agreement that Owen’s father tried to cheat the family out of having to fulfill (see: The Wrong Bride). Maggie has loved Owen from girlhood and at first believes this is a dream come true. Until she has one of her prophecy dreams, in which she sees Owen die on their wedding day. Thus, she spends the rest of the book trying to convince Owen (a man of science, no less) that her gift-curse is real and if they marry, he will die.

Owen, of course, thinks she’s just saying whatever to get out of marriage, innocent that she is, and he keeps trying to reassure her their marriage will be fine. Nothing to be afraid of. She does a number of things to turn him off her: dressing as if she were getting fat and unattractive, acting in ways that would embarrass him, and a number of other tried and true marriage-killers. None of them work, because Owen—the man of science—knows she’s just being superstitious and silly and he will prove nothing is going to happen.

Of course, there are disturbing incidents made against Maggie—someone clearly doesn’t want her to be part of the clan. Owen rationalizes most of these, but does make sure there are more people around his bride-to-be, just in case. For reasons I’m still not clear on, they end up making love; and a week or so later, Maggie comes to Owen and says she’s reluctantly agreeing to marry him after all because she had another dream in which it was revealed she is carrying his child and she doesn’t want her child born a bastard.

On the day of their wedding, after a day of festivities, Owen is stabbed and left bleeding to die. Her dream is coming to truth after all. After some scrambling around, the culprit is discovered…and it is discovered Owen had requested a doctor to stay with them during the wedding festivities so Owen is saved after all. He didn’t believe her, per se, but he respected her fears enough to make sure a doctor was on hand.

I did not enjoy this one quite as much as The Wrong Bride. I could not read it straight through and I did not form attachments to either Owen or Maggie (i.e. I did not care about their outcomes). Part of me was annoyed by Owen’s rather patronizing way with Maggie, how he didn’t respect her gift, which while logical for the character did not make me believe this story could end in happily ever after when he couldn’t respect her beliefs. Maggie’s behavior confused me and I simply could not lose myself or believe in the romantic storyline of these characters. I give it 3 stars for these reasons.

~Hellie

Review - - The Wrong Bride

The Wrong Bride

By Gayle Callen

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Riona Duff is mistakenly kidnapped by her cousin, Cat Duff’s (the hazards of sharing the same name as your cousin) childhood betrothed, Hugh McCallum, who has never actually met his bride-to-be.  He is not fooled by his frustrated young bride who keeps insisting he has gotten the wrong woman. After all, she was sleeping in the right bedroom. Who else would she be?

Weeks of being Hugh’s prisoner, Riona slowly begins to envy her cousin for the man she will get to marry as soon as the truth finally reveals itself. Despite kidnapping women, Hugh proves to be quite honorable and kind where she is concerned; and she cannot help but admire a man who will do most anything to unite his clan and better their way of life. Hugh has nearly loved Riona from first sight—and finds it beyond irritating she keeps insisting she is not the bride he is looking for. However, he won’t force himself on her; he knows from their first kiss she will eventually see how right they are together.

I definitely want to give a round of applause to the author for the best use of tying up a person in bed. Those were some sexy, sexy scenes. Sexual tension abounded as they were testing the limits without going the distance, so to speak. Really some of the best love scenes I’ve read in a while. There was a time or two at the end where I was a bit lost at the characterization vs the plot, but all in all, still very solid writing and if you love all things Highlander, I recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, which will feature Cat’s brother and Hugh’s sister.

~Hellie

Hellie's Hectic, Hurried Reviews

I finished reading these books but haven’t had a chance to commit a review to the page; however, I want to get my opinions out there because…gosh, everyone wants my opinion, right? Never mind. ;-)

Redemption of the Duke

By Gayle Callen

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 29, 2014

First up, Gayle Callen’s REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE, the third in the trilogy about redemption. I read SURRENDER TO THE EARL (the second in the series) and enjoyed it immensely; however, this story in and of itself was a bit “meh”. Two of the three reasons aren’t remotely the author’s fault—but more of the timing of when I read the book. 1.) So many dukes—it gets a little exhausting reading about them, but yes, I understand, they are popular; and 2.) the boss and servant/secretary trope is not my favorite, period, or possibly at all, mostly because of the power inequitably, especially considering a historical time period, so I have difficulties embracing a Happily Ever After for those kinds of couples. See? Neither of those things are remotely author-problematic. She cannot help that I read too much and have bad taste in tropes.

But the third reason I didn’t feel much above a “meh” for this story is that the hero was a sheep in wolf’s clothing, who basically donned the wolf clothing for a short time, and everyone keeps calling a wolf and treating like a leper with bad breath. Adam is quite, quite likable. He’s lovely. He’s heroic. He doesn’t even tell any of these people to knock it the hell off when they keep acting like he’s going to be a slut-puppy and ruin them all, as his brothers always said he would and as he seemed set out to do in the beginning, before he ever even entertained the thought of being a duke. And he totally could have told them to shut up—he was the duke, after all. Adam was never truly rakish to me; it was always something to put on to irritate his family but not because he actually enjoyed the role. Me, I like rakes who enjoy the role more and have to reform—their struggle is ever so much more interesting for me. A real redemption.  That part is a bit more personal preference again—but for me, it was a bit of character development and plot reveal that could have been amped up a little more. The good people were a bit too good; the bad people were a bit too bad (two-dimensional).

Three stars from me. It’s readable, it’s lovely, and the hero is very Chris Evans Captain America clean-cut sweet and tolerant, but the story took me longer to read because it was much easier for me to put down. If you read the others in the series, it does finish up the trilogy nicely; and if you like dukes or boss-employee tropes, this may be much more your thing.

How To Lose a Duke In Ten Days

By Laura Lee Guhrke

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 29, 2014

Second up, Laura Lee Guhrke’s HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS was just spectacular. I’d be willing to go back in time to read it again the first time it was so delicious. It was so lovely, I even hunted out the first book with Belinda (the matchmaker) just to get her story—and I loved that just as much! Just lovely and well done.

You’ll notice this one does include a duke, but I pushed that aside and was rewarded for my open-mindedness when the first chapter ended with the hero realizing someone was digging his grave. Seriously, how could you not continue reading after that? Then the duke comes home—the grave does turn out to be unnecessary—and there’s this lovely, sweet, delicately handled story between a man and wife, marriage of convenience, where the wife had been in a place of abuse (prior to marrying the husband). Edie’s challenge of overcoming her past and learning to trust Margrave is just heartbreaking and heart-healing. Oh, and the kid sister Joanna, is a complete story stealer. She steals every single scene she is in; and I would love to read a story with her as the heroine. Yes, dear Reader, I cried while reading this story, but it was worth every tear. Well done, Ms. Guhrke! Five stars!

~Hellie

Hellie Sinclair (a.k.a. Fran) was one of the founding members of the Romance Writer's Revenge, where she frequently got to satisfy her love of good books and her need to expound by writing reviews. Hellie loves to craft on projects she rarely finishes, watch British dramas as a sort of Olympic marathon event, and do most anything that fits the description "indolent and pleasurable." Fortunately reading falls into that category. You can find her at her blog, where she writes the occasional review...and shares updates on her never-ending projects.  Connect with Hellie on Facebook. 

Today's Special - - Two Dukes and a Scandal

We have a special treat for you today -  three authors, two dukes and a scandal! Please welcome Avon Books authors Laura Lee Guhrke, Caroline Linden and Gayle Callen!

Gayle Callen began writing at the age of 13 and fell in love with romance a few years later when she borrowed a friend's copy of SHANNA by Kathleen Woodiwiss. After college, marriage and children, she decided to try her hand at writing historical romance and sold her first book to Avon in 1998.  Since then, she's published twenty-one novels.  Gayle has also written medievals under the name of Julia Latham and currently writes contemporary romance as Emma Cane, with her latest contemporary, A PROMISE AT BLUEBELL HILL coming out in March of this year.  Find more information about Gayle at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.  

Laura Lee Guhrke had successful careers in advertising and construction management before trying her hand at writing.  The author of more than twenty historical romances is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and has also won the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award.  Discover more information about Laura Lee and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.  

Photos © Allana Taranto/Ars Magna Studio

While Caroline Linden has always been a reader, she graduated from Harvard with a math degree and wrote computer code before deciding that writing was a lot more fun.  She now has fourteen published books and has won multiple awards including RWA's RITA®.  Her novella, I Love the Earl was the first digital-first publication to be awarded the RITA®.  Find more information about Caroline and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.






PJ: Welcome, ladies!  Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions today.  Congratulations to each of you on your new release.  Please share with our readers what they can expect from each of your books.

LLG: How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days is the story of a marriage of convenience between Edie, a ruined American heiress, and Stuart, the broke and indebted Duke of Margrave. Their marriage of convenience worked in the past, but after a brush with death, Stuart decides it’s time to change the status quo and make a real marriage with his wife. Edie had very specific reasons for wanting the marriage of convenience, reasons based on a traumatic event in her past, reasons the hero doesn’t know until he returns to try and make their marriage work. It’s a story of two wounded souls and how love brings them together and heals them both. It’s not a dark book by any means, though it’s not the fluffy book some readers might expect from the title.

Caroline: In IT TAKES A SCANDAL, Abigail Weston has everything—beauty, wit, and wealth—but longs for a man who loves her, not her fortune. Sebastian Vane has nothing—neither wealth nor respectability—and is rumored to be a thief and a murderer. He knows he should stay away from Abigail, even though she's able to see him, not his ruined reputation. But after a risqué story reveals how well their deepest passions align, Sebastian would brave the fiercest scandal to be with her…

Gayle: REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE is the third book of my “Brides of Redemption” trilogy—but you don’t need to read the books in any order. All you need to know is that, in the past, something went wrong for three soldiers at war, and when they return to England, they want to help the families of their fellow soldiers who died.  The tag line for the newest book is “A duke who needs to be tamed; a lady who refuses to be rescued.” Adam is determined to help Faith, who had to go into service as a lady’s companion when her brother died. She doesn’t want to be beholden to another man again, but he doesn’t give her a choice, and manipulates each situation to his benefit. He thinks he’s been redeemed, but she’s going to show him otherwise.

PJ: Your books are part of Avon Romance’s “Two Dukes and a Scandal” campaign.  As authors, what do you enjoy most about creating dukes and/or scandals in your stories?  What do you find most challenging in creating the same?  Why do you think dukes are so popular with readers?

Caroline: My book has scandals a-plenty, which I really like using, as an author. A scandal means someone has broken the rules in some way, and it's caused an upheaval in their world. Dealing with the fallout from a scandal always forces a character out of her/her comfort zone, makes them confront their deeper beliefs and feelings, and gives them a chance to start again—not always fresh and new, but it generally reboots their life. Of course, since I write fiction, it always turns out for the better!

Gayle: Dukes are at the top of the aristocracy, and there’s just something about a man who wields all that power. And, of course, when such an independent man falls in love, we get to see how it shakes his very world. A duke believes he’s in control of everything, and when he finds out his heart has a will of its own, of course a duke resists! But a powerful man can bring his own all-encompassing focus to romance and passion when he finally gives in. That’s why readers love dukes. I think the challenge, as always, is to create a real-life man, to make readers see his flaws, and also the promise of the future, to make him different than the other dukes the reader has read about.

LLG: Dukes are always fun. They’re at the top of the tree, without all the inconvenient political considerations of princes. As for scandals, well, who doesn’t like a juicy scandal in romance? C’mon, it’s one of the best ways for the hero and heroine’s worlds to collide.

PJ: Hellie is reviewing all three of your books for us here at The Romance Dish.  (I think she’s setting speed records for reading and we’ve been hearing lots of raves and “you must buy this” from her.)  She has a couple questions for each of you.

Hellie:  Caroline, I can’t wait until Abby’s little sister gets a man.  She and the son of the earl have a real Pride & Prejudice thing going on in the book.  I wondered if there’s something there?  Do you have plans for her?

Caroline: How funny you mention Pride & Prejudice; I was describing Penelope, Abby's sister, to a friend as part Emma Woodhouse, part Marianne Dashwood. She's an all-Austen kind of girl, I guess. I'm so glad you want to see more of her; Penelope has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning. I absolutely do have plans for her—I am writing her book now. And yes, there is definitely something afoot with Benedict, the earl's son. Penelope hates him…the real question is why?

Hellie:  Gayle, Redemption of the Duke seems to wind up a trilogy.  Is there a new trilogy in the works?  Are you able to tell us anything about it?  Any chance Frances will get a book?  She was my favorite and the fun characters are already built in with Aunt Theodosia and the mother from hell.  *LOL*

Hellie, I love to write in trilogies, I have since the beginning—except for the contemporary romance Valentine Valley series I’m writing as Emma Cane. There’re four books and counting in that series. So yes, I already have a new historical trilogy planned—set in Scotland. I’m very excited, since it’s a whole new world of research for me. The new title is THE WRONG BRIDE: Book 1 in the Highland Wedding series, coming out in the summer of 2015. Can’t go into more detail, because I haven’t started the book yet! I have to be Emma Cane for a while longer. I’m so glad you enjoyed Frances. I have a list of secondary characters I’d love to write some day…but no plans so far.

Hellie:  Laura Lee, will there be any more books in this series?  Joanna would be a fine heroine for an upcoming book but I’m having trouble imagining the guy who could keep up with her.  Any information you’re able to share? 

LLG: I have two more books definitely in works for this series, making a total of 4. The next is Catch a Falling Heiress, which is Jack’s story. It’s about what happens when he accidently/on purpose ruins an American heiress’s reputation. He tries to be chivalrous about it afterward and do the right thing, but his attempt to be noble doesn’t go over so well with his ruined heiress, Linnet, who just wants him to go away and stop wrecking her life. When doing the honorable thing doesn’t win her over, Jack decides enough of being honorable. It’s time to seduce his heroine to the altar.

After that, I’ll be doing a story for Stuart’s other friend, Denys. It’s not titled yet, but his heroine is the infamous Lola, the dancer mentioned in (I think) all three previous books of the series. Some readers have also asked about James (nickname: Pongo), and I’m toying with the idea of a story for him. As for Edie’s sister, Joanna, she would make a great heroine! I’d have to set the book later, though, since she’s only 15 during Edie’s story, which would mean putting that book into the Edwardian era. I’m not sure Avon wants me doing Edwardian again for a while because it’s not as popular as Victorian. But we’ll see.

Hellie:   Laura Lee, you have quite a niche in your turn-of-the-century books.  What books/sources have you found particularly useful for research of this era?  Also, do you have plans for any car driving heroines?

LLG: As far as research goes, I find the books of Lisa Picard and Judith Flanders particularly helpful. Also, novels and plays of the mid-to-late late 19^th and early 20^th centuries are great for picking up the social nuances (Gaskell, Wharton, Hardy, Trollope, Wilde, etc.) And I suppose I am one of the few authors writing late-Victorian, although I don’t think Regency readers would be disappointed by reading my books. All sorts of fun romantic situations are possible in both eras. As for car-driving heroines, I did that! In my Abandoned at the Altar series (Wedding of the Season, Scandal of the Year, and Trouble at the Wedding) all of my heroines drive automobiles. It was great fun to write!

PJ:  Let’s turn the focus on the authors for a moment.  Please tell us something readers would be surprised to learn about you.

Gayle: I majored in aerospace engineering in college for three years. ;) But all of my electives were in English and creative writing, and I gradually realized I liked writing better. I’d rather write a book on deadline than design a new piece of technology.

LLG: I’m not at all romantic or sentimental in real life. My husband is much more romantic than I am. I guess I put all my romantic sentiment in my books!

Caroline: I like to sew! Followers of my Facebook page have seen some of the costumes I've made my children, especially the Civil War-era gown for my daughter, but I also made the dress on the cover of AT THE DUKE'S WEDDING, the anthology I wrote with Maya Rodale, Miranda Neville, and Katharine Ashe. We all wanted something very accurately Regency, which is hard to find in stock images, so I made it.

PJ:  Will you be attending any conferences or book signings this spring and summer where readers will have the opportunity to meet you?

LLG: I’m not going anywhere this year, unfortunately. I have WAY too much writing to do.

Gayle: And I’m with Laurie on that this year.

Caroline:  I'll be signing books at The Book Shack (at the Silver City Galleria) in Taunton MA on May 10 at 1 PM. I will also be at the huge literacy signing during the annual RWA conference on July 23 in San Antonio TX, Marriott Rivercenter, from 5:30-7:30. I love meeting readers.

PJ:  What’s next for each of you?

Caroline: I have a novella in progress (in case anyone wonders what happens to Samantha) and of course Penelope's story, which will come out next spring. No title yet for either of those! And it isn't really new, but my very first book will be re-issued next spring as well. It's been out of print for a long time so I'm glad to have it available again.

LLG: I’m working on the third book of my current series: An American Heiress in London. CATCH A FALLING HEIRESS will be out in February.

Gayle: As I mentioned above, I’m starting a new Scottish trilogy, and the first book, THE WRONG BRIDE, will be out in the summer of 2015. But I also have the fifth Emma Cane book, SLEIGH BELLS IN VALENTINE VALLEY coming out this November.

PJ:  Thank you so much for visiting with us today.  Would you like to ask our readers a question? 

LLG: I’d like to know what readers think of dukes, scandals, and marriages of convenience? I always want to hear what readers have to say.

Caroline: How do you read series—as they come, eagerly awaiting the next, or do you wait until the series is complete and then read them in a row?

Gayle: Wow, those are good questions. I think I’m going to sit back and enjoy the answers!

Okay readers, let's hear from you.  One person who leaves a comment on today's post will win the first book in each of today's authors' current series.  (U.S. only)