Review -- Seduced at Sunset

Seduced at Sunset

Pembroke Palace—Book 5

By Julianne MacLean

Publisher: Julianne MacLean

Release Date: March 31, 2013

 

Seduced at Sunset is the conclusion to Julianne MacLean’s beloved Pembroke Palace series. Fans of the series (myself included) have been waiting to see how things would turn out for Lady Charlotte, the youngest Sinclair sibling and only girl. I’m happy to say it was definitely worth the wait. J 

Years ago, Lady Charlotte Sinclair experienced the ultimate tragedy—she lost the love of her life in a terrible accident just weeks before their wedding, and a month later lost their unborn child. She has since given up on experiencing love again, though she hasn’t let that stop her from becoming immensely successful as a writer under the nom de plume Victor Edwards. But just because Charlotte doesn’t believe she will find love again does not mean her mother can’t. After they arrive in London, Charlotte sets out to help reunite her mother with her first love. While doing so, she is accosted by a thief then rescued by a handsome stranger. Charlotte gets to know the man, Drake Torrington, a bit and is instantly attracted to him. She is so attracted that she is emboldened to say:

 

“I would like to see you again, Mr. Torrington. In private.” 

His silvery blue gaze dipped lower, to her mouth, them slowly, knowingly lifted back up to her eyes. “For what purpose, Lady Charlotte?” 

He was a man of few words, but there was something about him that required very few of them. Something sultry and seductive. Physically powerful. 

“You mentioned you were unmarried,” she boldly said. “I, too, am unattached. You are here for the Season. So am I. Perhaps we could...become better acquainted.” 

The corner of his mouth curled up in a small grin that made her knees go all buttery soft. “Do you wish to thank me again?” he asked. 

“Yes, I do.”

 

Drake Torrington is used to using his fists, though typically he uses them in a boxing ring. After saving the beautiful lady, he is slightly stunned by her intrepid request but doesn’t hesitate to accept. Drake has lived in America for the past twelve years and is only in London for a brief time while he settles things with his mother. He sees no harm in indulging in a short-term affair with Lady Charlotte. As the affair progresses, Drake and Charlotte discover that their lives are similar in many ways and wonder if they should take a second chance at love. 

Seduced at Sunset is a fast-paced, romantic story and a wonderful end to this series. Charlotte and Drake are two emotionally-wounded characters that you can’t help but root for. I enjoyed watching Charlotte bloom under Drake’s attention and I fell for him right along with her. I loved the following two passages for two reasons—first, they show how beautiful Julianne MacLean’s writing is, and second, they convey exactly how Charlotte and Drake feel about each other. For Charlotte:

 

Oh, how she needed this—this human, physical connection. She had been living such a solitary existence, surrounded only by her books and her family, when what she really needed was a man—a rugged, virile, experienced lover who truly knew how to make love to a woman.

 

And for Drake:

 

Why should she be so different from other women he had taken to bed? 

Perhaps because he had revealed so much of himself in a very short time. It was odd, how she understood everything—his boxing, his grief over losing his wife, his need for privacy from the public. In a way it felt as if she were his mirror image in female form.

 

Even though this book is part of a series, it stands completely on its own. It is divided into two parts. Part one is short and depicts the whirlwind romance of Adelaide, Charlotte’s mother, and her first love, and part two is Charlotte’s and Drake’s love story. I also enjoyed catching up with the previous couples in the series. If you are a fan of the Pembroke Palace series or a first-time reader of Ms. MacLean's books, I recommend this historical romance! 

 

~Andrea

Last Call for Julianne MacLean winner!

LAST CALL!! The random winner of a signed advance copy of The Prince's Bride by Julianne MacLean is:

 

dotland101 (comment on 4/18/13 @ 5:44 PM)

 

Congrats, dotland101! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com with "MacLean winner" as the subject and I'll forward your info to Julianne. You have until Sunday, April 28 at 11:59 PM (EST). If we don't hear from you, we'll choose another winner. Thanks!

Julianne MacLean winner!

The random winner of a signed advance copy of The Prince's Bride by Julianne MacLean is:

 

dotland101 (comment on 4/18/13 @ 5:44 PM)

 

Congrats, dotland101! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com with "MacLean winner" as the subject and I'll forward your info to Julianne. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to comment!!

Today's Special -- Julianne MacLean

Today, I welcome best-selling historical author Julianne MacLean back to the Romance Dish! I first discovered Julianne's books when I won an ARC of Surrender to a Scoundrel--one of her American Heiresses series books--back in 2006. It remains one of my all-time favorite books to this day. :) Since then, Julianne has gone on to write about the Sinclair family, some sexy Highlanders, and a trilogy centered around royalty. If you haven't read any of Julianne's books, I encourage you to do so! Right now, I'm reading her latest, Seduced at Sunset, and enjoying it immensely. Please welcome Julianne!

~Andrea

Series Conclusions…How Do We Say Goodbye?

By Julianne MacLean

 

Have you ever wanted to weep after finishing a series you have loved from the beginning? Did you feel as if you were grieving for a lost loved one because you were forced to say goodbye to characters who had become such an enjoyable part of your life?

          Imagine the author, who has spent countless hours—and years—living in the story world she created.  I assure you, it’s not always easy for an author to move on and start something new, to envision a whole new world with a different set of characters—characters she knows nothing about.  She can’t help but wonder, will the new series have the same magic?  And what about the secondary characters who were left behind without ever getting stories of their own?

          I find myself in a strange state of mourning these days because I am bidding farewell to not one, but two separate series.  Timing can be cruel sometimes.

         

On April 30, The Prince’s Bride will hit bookstores, and that is the last book in a trilogy I began with St. Martin’s Press. I am a passionate fan of The Tudors series on television, so I took great pleasure in creating a fictional European nation called Petersbourg, modeled after the Tudor Court but set in the Regency period.  It became home to a family of charismatic young royals who were surrounded by romance and court intrigue, and each had to marry and produce heirs to continue their legacy.

         

I must also let go of another series revolving around an aristocratic family in England—the Sinclairs of Pembroke Palace.  This was a series I began at Avon in 2007, but when I changed publishers, I was unable to finish it at that time.  It was three years before I could finally return to Pembroke and give happy endings to the last two siblings, who had been left hanging since 2009.  Seduced at Sunset is finally released, but I find myself wondering if there is a way to continue both of these series.
 

The heroine from the first book in my Royal Trilogy had some sisters…. Perhaps they could be presented at court in Petersbourg.  And all the Sinclair siblings have happy, fruitful marriages.  There is a palace full of grandchildren who will be entering the London marriage mart during the Edwardian period.  Downton Abbey, anyone?

Alas, this is the sort of situation where an author needs to hear from readers.  I read every letter I receive, and when I see the same request over and over for a certain character’s story, I do become inspired to write it—because I respect my readers’ opinions and I like to give you what you want.

So if you ever feel heartbroken that your favorite series has come to an end and would like to see it continue, know that authors are listening.  Most of us are delighted to learn that you want more of something we have written.  We can often be persuaded to find a way to bring a series back to life.
 

So what do you think?  Have you ever written to an author to request the continuation of a series?  What series have you mourned when it reached the end?  Would you love it if the author returned to it, or can a series become stale if the author doesn’t know when to let it go?

All comments will be included in a random draw (open to everyone!) to win an autographed advance reading copy of The Prince’s Bride, my Royal Trilogy conclusion, which hits bookstores April 30.  I will be reading everyone’s comments.  Good luck!

Julianne MacLean winners!

The five random winners of a copy of CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER by Julianne MacLean are:

Patti

hrdwrkmom aka Dianna

Jeanne M

rachaelsfun

Sara W.

Congratulations to all the winners!! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Julianne MacLean winner" as the subject and we'll forward your info on to Julianne. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!!!

Today's Special -- Julianne MacLean

I am thrilled to welcome USA Today Bestselling historical author Julianne MacLean back to the Romance Dish! Julianne is the author of the hot, sexy, Highlander series from St. Martin's Press -- Captured by the Highlander(March 2011), Claimed by the Highlander (April 2011), and the upcoming Seduced by the Highlander (out next Tuesday, October 4th). But, Julianne is more than just a terrific writer--did you know that she once went sailing with Prince Edward? She certainly did! You can learn more fun facts about Julianne by visiting her website, but before you do, welcome her here and see why she says....



That Highlander is Out of Control

Thanks for having me here ladies! I’m excited about my latest historical release, SEDUCED BY THE HIGHLANDER, which hits bookstores on October 4. It’s the third and final book in my Highlander trilogy, and I dare say, it is the steamiest - which is kind of strange, since the hero (a hot-blooded seducer of women, reputed to be the most passionate lover in the Highlands) is forced to be celibate.

Why, you ask, would such a man be denied his pleasures? Because he was cursed by a seductive witch three years earlier, and now any woman he takes to his bed will be doomed for eternity.

When the story opens, Lachlan MacDonald has been living for quite some time without sex, and let’s face it--he’s a raging pressure cooker inside. All he wants to do is break free of the curse and release his pent up desires, so when he finally hunts down the witch who cursed him, he’ll do anything to bend her to his will.

But as they say, the course of true lust never does run smooth, and the witch can’t remember a thing about her life, much less how to break the curse. It’s been three years since their tempestuous encounter, and in the meantime, she has been identified as the beautiful, long lost heiress of Drumloch Manor.

Lachlan has no choice but to drag her back to Kinloch Castle to prove that she is no well-bred heiress, but a spiteful, vengeful witch in disguise.

But how long can he keep his desires under control? And why is she so tempting to him in every way, when she is his sworn enemy?

What I loved about writing this book was the element of the forbidden. No matter how badly Lachlan wants to bed this woman, he must resist, and even when things get hot and heavy between them, he must remember the curse and withdraw from any lovemaking before it goes too far.

That, to me, is heroic behavior, because at heart, he is doing what is necessary to protect her from his curse, even though he blames her for it, and his raging body wants something else entirely. Every time he touches her, a fire ignites in his blood, and he is torn between what his body wants and what honor dictates. (That is what we romance writers lovingly call internal conflict.)

So tell me readers - what do you think of a romance hero who is willing to wait for the ultimate intimacy with a woman, even when he wants it more than anything? When you are reading a romance, do you enjoy the element of the forbidden, or the “pleasure delay?” Can you recommend any great romance novels that embrace this theme?

Leave a comment about any of the above, or just pop in and say hi, and you’ll be entered to win one of FIVE copies of CLAIMED BY THE HIGHLANDER, which is the second book in the trilogy where Lachlan and the witch are first introduced.

And please visit my website for an explosive excerpt from SEDUCED BY THE HIGHLANDER, and for more information about my books and more contest info.
http://www.juliannemaclean.com/index.php?page=2&book=28
Good luck in the giveaway!

New Julianne MacLean winner!

Since our last winner never claimed their prize, we have picked another winner. The new random winner of a signed copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER by Julianne MacLean is:

Antonia

Congrats, Antonia! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish(AT)gmail(DOT)com with "Julianne MacLean winner" in the subject line and I'll forward your info to Julianne. Thanks!

Last Call for Julianne MacLean winner!

LAST CALL!! The random winner of a signed copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER by Julianne MacLean is:

Modokker (Lisa B)

Congrats, Lisa! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish(AT)gmail(DOT)com with "Julianne MacLean winner" in the subject line and I'll forward your info to Julianne. If we don't hear from you by Sunday night (February 20th), we'll draw another winner. Thanks!

New Julianne MacLean winner!

Since our last winner never claimed their prize, we have picked another. The new random winner of a signed copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER by Julianne MacLean is:

Modokker (Lisa B)

Congrats, Lisa! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish(AT)gmail(DOT)com with "Julianne MacLean winner" in the subject line and I'll forward your info to Julianne. Thanks!

Last Call for Julianne MacLean winner!

LAST CALL!! The random winner of a signed copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER by Julianne MacLean is:

EternalsBlissy

Congrats, EternalsBlissy! Please send your full name and address to theromancedish(AT)gmail(DOT)com with "Julianne MacLean winner" in the subject line and I'll forward your info to Julianne. If we don't hear from you by Sunday night, we'll draw another winner. Thanks!

Julianne MacLean winner!

The random winner of a signed copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER by Julianne MacLean is:

EternalsBlissy

Congrats, EternalsBlissy! Please send your full name and address to theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with "Julianne MacLean winner" in the subject line and I'll forward your info to Julianne. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Today's Special -- Julianne MacLean

Today, we welcome USA Today Bestselling historical author Julianne MacLean to The Romance Dish! Julianne's first book was published in 2000, but I was introduced to her books in 2006 when I won an ARC of Surrender to a Scoundrel, the last in her American Heiress series and my favorite of all her books. The three-time RITA nominee's last full-length novel was released two years ago (When a Stranger Loves Me), but the wait will surely be worth it with her upcoming back-to-back releases in a new Scottish Highlander trilogy from St. Martin's Press! Plus, she has a novella titled, The Rebel, in the recently released Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance. Lots of Scottish yumminess! Please welcome Julianne MacLean!






Julianne MacLean on Romance Cover Art – What Sells and What Doesn’t?

Hello Romance Dishies! This is my first time here, and I’m excited to be blogging about covers, a topic near and dear to my heart.

I confess I’m not an expert. I don’t have a background in graphic design. All I have is my instincts and my royalty statements, which tell me which of my books have sold better (or worse) than others.

Of course there are many factors involved in how well a book sells. I like to think that a truly fantastic, book-from-the-author’s-heart will sell for that reason alone – because it’s just plain good – and word-of-mouth will make it a success.

Sadly, that’s not always the case, and the old cliché still holds true. Books do get judged by their covers, which includes not only the front cover but the back cover blurb as well – which is what we,in the biz,call “packaging.”

So think about it – what made you buy the last book you purchased? Was it a sure thing because you were already a fan of the author? (If it was Nora Roberts or James Patterson, let’s just move on.) If, however, it was an author you’d never read before,what inspired you to hand over your dollars at the cash register, or click the “add to cart” button?

In many ways, a reader’s response to cover art is subjective, but there are certain things that can make the packaging “pop.”

My first single title with Avon, TO MARRY THE DUKE, surprised everyone with how well it sold, and the last time I checked, it had gone back to print at least 5 times. There were three factors in its success, which I’ll share here:

1. It had a red cover. Fact: Red covers sell well.
2. It had the word “duke” in the title. Fact: Duke titles sell well.
3. It had a creative back-cover blurb written in first person, which was fresh and different at the time.



My second book with Avon, AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED, did even better than the first and remains my best-selling romance to date. It, too, had three things going for it:

1. A white cover. Fact: White covers pop on the shelves.
2. A sexy back cover blurb, again written in first person, just like before. (Hint: continuity is good. It creates a brand.)
3. Which brings me to point number three: Front cover continuity. It resembled TO MARRY THE DUKE with the same fonts and an indoor clinch with vertical drapes in the background.



Okay… let’s move forward to book #5 – PORTRAIT OF A LOVER – my worst selling book of all time. Take a look. What do you think?

It was certainly different, and remains unlike any other romance cover I’ve seen. But here were the problems: It was brownish/purplish/grey. Not a very sexy color combination. The hero’s expression wasn’t broody enough, and romance readers aren’t ready to give up their tortured alpha males. And evidently, high art doesn’t sell romance novels, and the notion of an unfinished oil painting basically made readers run and hide.

To top it all off, there was no continuity to make it clear that it was part of my American Heiress series. It stood out like a sore thumb.

But interestingly enough, if you look at my reviews on Amazon, that book has the highest starred rating, and I still believe it was one of my better books.

So here I am with three new books coming out this year – a new Highlander trilogy with fantastic continuity. If you hold all three books up side-by-side, it’s clear they are part of a series; even the fonts are the same. The colors are gorgeous, the cover models are beefy and masculine – definitely alpha male material – and I go to sleep each night with high hopes that they’ll do okay and no one will be disappointed.



So tell me, what covers do you like best? Heroine only covers?Hero only?Clinch? Do you want to see the character’s whole face? How about a house and a sailboat? Naked parts?

The possibilities are endless, and I would love to hear your preferences, and one lucky commenter will win a copy of PORTRAIT OF A LOVER, which I think was only read by about twelve people :)