Review -- Seducing The Governess

Seducing the Governess
by Margo Maguire
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: February 22, 2011

The strand of hair must have fallen down again, because Lord Ashby reached for it. He rubbed it between two fingers, the gesture causing an onslaught of radiant heat that coursed from her shoulders to her hands, and especially across her breasts. It was as though a flash of hot sunlight had pierced through her, leaving her singed and raw.

She trembled.

His touch was thoroughly improper, but Mercy could not summon the wherewithal to step away. She closed her eyes as the permeating heat suffused her, suddenly centering and pooling in her lungs and deep between her thighs. His hand was hot on her shoulder, and when he slid it down her back, Mercy felt herself leaning into his touch. Her heart jolted, its rhythm racing frantically as the pressure of his touch increased.

He eased her gently toward him, and Mercy sensed a ravenous hunger emanating from him.

Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he shared her hunger. He was going to kiss her.


Nash Farris, Earl of Ashby, is a scarred man. The physical scars are easy enough to see. His marred handsome face is a daily reminder of the furious and bloody battle he survived while at Waterloo. Nash’s emotional scars are more hidden. The accidental deaths of his two beloved brothers (in separate incidences) has damaged his heart and his soul. Returning to Ashby Hall, which has not been cared for since the recent death of his brother, Nash finds the estate falling apart around him. And while the task of righting Asby Hall is daunting enough, Nash also finds himself the guardian of his small niece Emmy, his only living relative. Several of the soldiers who served under Nash during the war have joined in the efforts to bring Ashby Hall back to its former glory. Nash quickly discovers he needs more experienced help, especially when it comes to raising and educating little Emmy. Steadfast in his resolve to provide only the best for sweet Emmy, Nash hires Mercy Franklin to serve as the young girl’s governess. But soon Nash discovers Emmy is not the only person at Ashby Hall that needs to be schooled. Mercy Franklin needs a few lessons in passion and love and Nash believes he is the perfect teacher.

Since the death of her reverend father several months ago, Mercy Franklin’s world has been falling apart at the seams. With little or no money to live on, Mercy and her mother survived off the sparse generosity of the parish families. As her mother lay on her death bed, Mercy’s world comes crashing down by her mother’s revelation that Mercy is not their biological child. With no family to claim, Mercy must create a new life for her and hopefully, one day, find her real family. Picking up the tattered pieces of her life, Mercy finds employment in the lake region as a governess to the niece of the new Earl of Ashby. Already a bit nervous about her first appointment as governess, Mercy’s nerves kick into overdrive when she arrives at the dilapidated Ashby Hall and discovers all of the servants are former soldiers. With everything at Ashby Hall not exactly what Mercy was expecting, she has half a mind to turn around and leave. But the moment she lays eyes on the sweet, angelic face of her young charge, Mercy knows she cannot leave this little girl in the care of former soldiers. Maternal instincts are not the only new feelings she experiences on her first day at Ashby Hall. Upon talking with the new Earl of Ashby and noticing his fine features, it seems tingles of passion and maybe something more are bound to be an everyday experience for a once sheltered Mercy Franklin.

I had so much fun reading this book. Out from under the suffocating hand of her reverend father, Mercy is quick to offer her opinions on everything at Ashby Hall. I found this to be an endearing quality, especially when it referred to the shy little Emmy (who I must say stole my heart). And it seems that Nash found this quality endearing also as Mercy is the one thing that brought light back into Nash’s dark and dismal world. There is some mystery involved in this story, but I don’t want to give away any of the details and spoil it for you. And yes, by the end of the book you do find out who is Mercy’s real family.

Everyone should know by now that Margo Maguire is an auto buy for me. Every story Margo tells fills me with a few giggles, a lot of sighs and a very happy feeling. Seducing the Governess is another wonderful story to add to my keeper shelf. I hope that you will pick this one up!


~ Buffie

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WINNERS! WINNERS!

The winner from our Sarah MacLean interview is:

Hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna!!

Congratulations Dianna!

To claim your copy of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

just send your full name and address to

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AND

LAST CALL for our winner of The Rogue Prince by Margo Maguire


MARISKA

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Margo Maguire Winner!

Thanks to random.org, the winner of THE ROGUE PRINCE is:

MARISKA

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Interview with Margo Maguire

I can't tell you how excited I am to have author Margo Maguire with us today. Well, excited is just not the right word, but I can't seem to find the right word. But Margo always does! See, I have been a fan of Margo Maguire for years. She is an auto buy for me. Her novels never fail to bring me hours of pleasure and always leave me wanting more of her stories. Margo has published 17 novels in 12 languages and even has had her novels turned into magna-animated books in Japan. She is a featured authored at The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills website. And she holds more than one spot on my keeper shelf. Please give a warm welcome to Margo Maguire (and ignore my squeals).



Thank you so much for inviting me today! I'm very excited to share some background on my new book from Avon that will be out next Tuesday.

Margo, it is such a pleasure to have you with us. As you know I just loved The Rogue Prince! (Check out my review here) But for those who haven't heard about your latest work, please tell us a little bit about The Rogue Prince.

The premise of The Rogue Prince is all about revenge. Before the story opens, Thomas Thorne is a 17 year-old horse-country boy who is transported to a penal colony for a crime he did not commit. He was framed by two arrogant aristocratic boys (Shefford and Blackmore), just for their amusement. When Tom returns to London years later as the incredibly wealthy "Prince of Sabedoria," all he wants is to destroy the two boys and their families - just as his own were destroyed. The hitch is that the woman he falls for (Maggie) is the widow of Blackmore and step-sister of Shefford. Destroying them will destroy her.

Just hearing your description of the book makes me want to pull it out and read it again. Where did you get the inspiration for this book?

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite novels . . . but I've always wished it wasn't quite as dark, and there was more romance. So I would say that the plight of Edmond Dantes was the inspiration for THE ROGUE PRINCE. And I was very happy not to include 300 pages that covered his imprisonment!

Yes, 300 pages of imprisonment would definitely dampen the romance. LOL! Speaking of romance, the intensity of emotion and passion between Maggie and Thomas is astounding. Did you find it difficult writing such intense scenes?

Deep emotion is always hard to write. As a writer, you have to put yourself in the place of the character and feel his (and her) anger, his passion, his distrust or his need. Then you have to put it into words. And not words like "he was so angry." I have to SHOW you how angry he was. His actions will do that, and I think THAT is what makes writing such a challenge.

You certainly are up for the challenge! Will any of the secondary characters from The Rogue Prince have their own book?

Probably not. Maggie's friends are married and don't really lend themselves to a future romance. :-) And Tom's cohorts ride away with the happy couple into the sunset. I don't want to give anything away here . . . but things don't end in your typical English Regency way. Certainly, there is a "happily ever after" but it's a different fate for Tom and Maggie than what you usually see in a regency novel.

Even though the ending is not a traditional regency happily every after, I thought it was the perfect ending for Tom and Maggie. Though I have to say I was hoping for a story on Nate. Guess I will leave that to my own imagination :-)

After writing 17 novels, how do you keep the writing process fresh?

I think it's because every book is new and different to me. There are new characters to explore, new conflicts to deal with. A lot of what makes a novel enjoyable is when the author places the characters in situations that challenge their beliefs and their abilities. It's a challenge to the author, too!

As a huge lover of medieval romances, I have enjoyed your medieval novels for years. Why does this time period seem to call out to you?

You might already know this, but my first career was as a critical care nurse. And when burn-out hit me, I went back to college and earned a degree in history. I specialized in American history, but I absolutely adored my classes on Medieval life -- and I couldn't imagine any fiction that could possibly be stranger than what I learned about the Dark Ages. There was an innocence about that time period, with chivalry and "courtly love" that just begs to be explored with fictional characters. Knights in armor? Damsels who put them in their place?

Exactly why I love reading medievals! Other than one of your own fabulous medievals, do you have a favorite medieval novel that you tend to read over and over again?

I loved THE PRIZE by Julie Garwood. Haven't read it in a long time, but maybe I'll have to search for my copy on one of my "keeper" shelves.

Julie Garwood is one of my favorites, too! Her novel THE WEDDING is the book that got me started on reading romance. Can you tell us what you are working on now?

I'm working on a novel called SEDUCING THE GOVERNESS, which will be out in late February, 2011. The setting is England's Lake District, and the hero is a former army officer who was wounded at Waterloo and is now earl of a rundown estate, and reluctant guardian of his 8 year-old niece. There is a lot of built-in conflict in this scenario, but adding to that, just before the story begins, the heroine learns that she is not the biological daughter of her parents. They have recently died, and there is no one to ask where she came from.

Oooh, that sounds like another winner Margo!! When you are not spinning your next creation, what do you like to do?

Gosh - it seems like there's never enough time for everything I want to accomplish. I love to travel. And read, of course. I do a lot of cooking, and my favorite kind is when I'm trying out a new, elaborate recipe for my family and friends. My husband and I entertain A LOT! Lately, I've been far too distracted by our kitchen renovation -- we had the room enlarged, which is absolutely great, but then choosing cabinets and countertops, tile and flooring . . . very time-consuming!

My, that does sound very time consuming, but I'm sure the end result will be fabulous. So in the midst of all the renovations, are you currently reading a book? If so, please tell us what it is.

I'm reading several books at once (I always do!) The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Muriel Barbery), Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel (Lorraine Heath) and Decency and Disorder, The Age of Cant 1789-1837 (Ben Wilson).

Gee, you even multi-task while reading! I have not quite mastered that skill. Will you be attending the RWA Conference in Nashville this year?

Yes! I always look forward to getting together with readers as well as my writing cohorts.

YAY! Be on the look out for squealing me :-)

Now it's time for our quick six segment:

Tom boy or girly girl? Somewhere in between - probably more girly girl as I get older.

Beach or mountains? Mountains, definitely

Chocolate or peanut butter? Oooohh. That's a tough one. Chocolate.

Coffee or tea? Coffee.

Big city or the country? Another tough one. I love both. But I'll have to go with Big City.
Spring or fall? Fall.

Thank you for talking with us today, Margo. I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed this interview. It has been a true fan girl moment for me.

Is there anything you would like to ask our readers?

Yes! The settings of my novels are very important to me. In TAKEN BY THE LAIRD, I had to find the exact castle on the Scottish coast that could be haunted -- it was almost a character in itself. I came across Dunnotter Castle which was the absolute perfect inspiration for Castle Glenloch.

THE ROGUE PRINCE takes place mostly in London, but Tom buys an outrageously ostentatious house in the country where a lot of the action takes place.

So I'm wondering how important the setting of a book is to you. Would you like to see a few more exotic settings? Like Paris? Or Russia? How about a Caribbean island? What do you think?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of THE ROGUE PRINCE.

Review -- The Rogue Prince

The Rogue Prince
by Margo Maguire
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: April 27, 2010









There is nothing quite like beginning a new novel from an auto-buy author who never fails to bring you hours of pleasure with her creativity. For me, Margo Maguire is one such author. I am never disappointed reading one of her novels. In fact, I have adored her books for years. The Rogue Prince is another gem in her bookcase of jewels.





Revenge is the one and only thing that consumes the thoughts and actions of Thomas Thorne. As a young lad of sixteen, Thomas is wrongly accused of a crime by two young, arrogant aristocrats. Being quickly convicted and transported to a penal colony, Thomas loses several years of his young, innocent life to the harsh realities of a violence dished out by a sadistic commandant. But the thing Thomas mourns the most is the lost time with his family. During his incarceration at the penal colony, Thomas befriended an older man, who while on his deathbed told Thomas of his pirate’s treasure hidden on a Caribbean island he named Sabedoria. Determined to make his accusers pay for the years of hardship endured by Thomas and his family, Thomas returns to England with a well thought-out plan to bring down Lord Shefford and Lord Blackmore. Only this time Thomas is not the son of a country horse breeder. No, he returns as Prince of Sabedoria, a man rich beyond words and resolute in his desire for revenge. While watching the townhome of Lord Shefford, Thomas witnesses a small boy running out the door of the townhome and into the street and directly in the path of a barreling barouche. Dashing to the boy and grabbing him before harm could come to the child, Thomas encounters the boy’s worried mother – a diversion that Thomas does not need.

“Thomas swallowed hard and sat up with the child in his arms. It had been many long years since he’d felt the punch of arousal so quickly, so completely. And it was absolutely unwelcome now. He had to remind himself that it was this spoiled aristocracy that destroyed his life as though it meant nothing.”

After leveling accusations against a distant cousin, Marquess of Chatterton, for attempted molestation at the tender age of nine, Margaret has been at odds with her family. Her family never supports her and, in fact, treats her as the black sheep of the family. Even now, two years after the death of her husband Lord Blackmore, Maggie receives no help from her family. Arriving in London to meet with the solicitor regarding Blackmore Manor’s financial situation, Maggie is reminded how much she dislikes being around her family.

“ . . . wishing that the entire family, her sisters and their husbands, as well as her mother, would all just disappear. She had managed very well in the two years since Julian’s death, in spite of her family’s conspicuous absence from Blackmore Manor. She did not need their advice or disapproval now.”

While visiting her stepbrother’s home, Maggie’s oldest child bolts from the Shefford townhouse into the dangerous street. Saved by a man Maggie has never seen before, Maggie is relieved that a total stranger would throw his body and life in danger for the sake of a child. Her child. No one from her family would have the courage to do that. Maggie’s reaction to the prince is just as unsettling as the thought of her child in danger.

“Her mad dash to the street had been unseemly. Even worse was the stab of longing she’d felt when she looked into the prince’s deep green eyes. Her raw emotions had no doubt given him the wrong impression – and yet she’d been deeply aware of those broad shoulders and powerful male physique. He seemed to
be all strength and dependability, compared to her husband’s continuous irresponsibility and frivolousness – which were the cause of his death, in fact.”

Unable to deny the mutual attraction and fascination with each other, Maggie and Thomas embark on a relationship of intense passion and emotion. It seems that whenever the two are in a room together, they cannot keep their hands off of one another. Maggie soon realizes that her marriage to Lord Blackmore did not reveal all the pleasures a man and woman can share. Even the kisses shared with Thomas are more passionate than she ever experienced before.

“It felt like lightning shooting through her when his tongue touched hers. Julian had never kissed her like this, had never seduced her with his mouth and the low pressure of his manhood against her pelvis. He’d never called her lovely.”

As the relationship between Maggie and Thomas progresses, so does Thomas’ much thought out revenge plan. But as the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together, Thomas realizes that Maggie is the widow and the step sister of his two accusers. Taking down the families will ultimately affect not only the woman he has grown to care about, but also her two small, innocent children. Thomas now has to decide which emotion is stronger – love or revenge.
Margo Maguire has done it again!! This novel had me cheering for the unpretentious heroine who never felt pretty enough and the hero who is determined to avenge his wrongful incarceration. I was quickly drawn into the story and invested in the characters almost immediately. The love and passion shared between Thomas and Maggie is tender, yet fiery. If you are in need of a wonderful diversion, I greatly recommend The Rogue Prince. You won’t be disappointed.

~ Buffie