Review - - Improper Gentlemen

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

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

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

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









“Talbot’s Ace” 
by Diane Whiteside

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

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“To Match a Thief” 
by Maggie Robinson

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

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“A Knack for Trouble” 
by Mia Marlowe

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

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

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

~PJ

Winners! Winners!

Thanks to everyone you stopped by and commented during visits

by authors Mia Marlow and Lila DiPasqua.

The winner of a copy of DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS by Mia Marlow is:

BARBARA E.

The winner of a copy of A MIDNIGHT DANCE by Lila DiPasqua is:

LEXI

To claim your prize, please email theromancedishATgmailDOTcom with your full name and mailing address. Be sure to include "Mia Marlow Winner" or "Lila DiPasqua Winner" in the subject line of the email.

~ Buffie

Today's Special -- Mia Marlowe

Today, it is our pleasure to welcome Mia Marlowe to The Romance Dish. Before becoming a historical romance author, Mia Marlowe shared her love of fictional characters through her performances as an opera singer, sharing the stage with many performers, including Placido Domingo. Mia's novella, A Knack for Trouble, can be found in the just released anthology IMPROPER GENTLEMAN. Please give a warm welcome to Mia Marlowe as she talks to us about ...

Improper Fashions


We've all heard that clothes make the man. Turns out, they made the woman too. In the fashion conscious late Regency period, the cut of a woman's gown could spell the difference between being acclaimed "an Original" or relegated to the ranks of the wallflowers. My novella in IMPROPER GENTLEMEN (available now from Kensington) is set mostly in 1830--the heart of the Romantic era. This little slice of history is jammed between the popular Regency period and the reign of Queen Victoria. Like the world around them, the fashions of the time are in a state of transition.

One of the first things I like to do when I start on a new story is fill my character's closets. I think this lovely plum gown and capelet works well for my heroine Rosalinde's evening wear. (For an excerpt from a time when she's wearing it, visit MiaMarlowe.com!)

As you can see, waistlines were back in fashion--no more girlish empire styles. A woman's figure was on display, which meant a return of the corset, a whalebone reinforced body shaper. Young ladies from 17 to 21 aspired to a waist size that matched their age. The corset was worn over a chemise (a slip like garment) with no bloomers, knickers or undies of any sort. Later, slit crotch drawers would be added and still later in the Victorian era, an all-in-one would replace the chemise and drawers.

The skirts were wider than during the Regency, but hadn't reached the ridiculous circumference of the Victorians yet. There was no need for a wire crinoline. A few petticoats would give the fullness needed. The bottoms of the skirts were often embellished with flounces and excessive laces.

Necklines were cut off the shoulder in order to make the shoulders appear wider and the waistlines correspondingly narrower. The gigot, or leg-of-mutton sleeves were very popular.

Shoes of the period were flat and plain, rather like ballet slippers. The most popular hairstyle featured a neat center part with curls around the sides of the face.

Fashion often demonstrates how women are viewed. After the relative freedom of the Regency, society began to put more strictures on women's behavior. Fashion began shaping their figures with a vengeance. Later in the Victorian period, sleeves were cut to restrict arm movement and for a brief time, undergarments limited women to a six inch gait. It demonstrated female frailty and dependence on the men in their lives. In the Romantic period, we hadn't gotten to those extremes yet, but a woman's level of freedom was definitely changing. For the worse.

I use my heroine's wardrobe to show how she feels about herself, her world and her place in it. What do you think? Do the fashions in a story matter to you?

Leave a comment or questions for Mia to be entered in a random drawing for DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, one of her backlist titles!

For more about Mia and her upcoming books, visit MiaMarlowe.com. While you're there, be sure to enter her contest and visit her very active blog. Mia loves to connect with readers, so you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter!
Claim your copy of Improper Gentlemen today!