Wednesday 5 September 2012

Dukes and Rakes and Scoundrels... Oh My!


I like to read. I like to read A LOT. I especially like to read Romance. 
Over the years I have found some favourite authors, some I have grown out of and some that I will stay with and read forever, but I am always on the hunt for new authors and new styles.
Sometimes it is a complete disaster and I either force myself to finish the book or I just give up because I can’t take it anymore.
Sometimes, there is magic. 
Once in a while you can find an author that has a gift and you know that this is someone you will stay with and eventually fill a shelf with. Earlier this year I discovered such an author; Vicky Dreiling. I know I’m not alone in this because she was nominated for three (yes, three!) RITA Awards (that’s like the Oscars of the Romance writing world.)

(from the publisher)
Triple Rita®-finalist Vick Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble”. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

Vicky is a Texas Lady, with the heart of a Regency Grand Dame. I image that at birth she must have been visited by fairies who sprinkled her with fairy-dust and gifted her with beauty and art of weaving a story. In a past life she was most likely the Belle of the Ball (although secretly a hoyden and bluestocking!)
Her close friends may call her Trouble, but with her wicked and witty characters and naughty scenes, to me, she must be a Vixen. (Her creation of Man Candy Mondays is proof enough of that!)

Vicky’s first novel was published January of 2011. How to Marry a Duke was soon followed by How to Seduce a Scoundrel (July 2011) and How to Ravish a Rake earlier this year. 
Take a peek below to know more! 
As well, I am re-reading them all so keep an eye out for my reviews over the next few days!

(From the publisher)
How to Marry a Duke:
Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. No love is necessary—nor desired. But how to choose amid a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London’s infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she’s not the most captivating woman he’s ever met . . .
Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she’s determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife—she’ll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke’s affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan’s desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker’s number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.


How to Seduce a Scoundrel:
SCOUNDRELS, RAKES, AND ROGUES BEWARE Lady Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother’s best friend—for whom she’s long nursed a secret tendre—agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz.

But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for the Earl of Hawkfield to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any recently discarded, wickedly witty young miss would do. She secretly pens a lady’s guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal in London.

Every honourable rake knows that friends’ sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julianne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can’t resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of her kisses. He’s always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?


How to Ravish a Rake:
SCANDALOUS DESIRES Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can’t, she’ll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security—if little else. What she doesn’t count on is the inappropriate—and irresistible—attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will “The Devil” Darcett.
When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton’s shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn’t simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he’s mended his wicked ways . . .



And now there is a new addition! Released just this week an e-novella starring characters we know and love and new ones who will claim our hearts.

A SEASON FOR SIN:
Introducing the Sinful Scoundrels... The Earl of Bellingham is nothing if not a creature of habit: money, meals, and mistresses must be strictly managed if a man is to have a moment's peace. It's a system that works splendidly for him--until now. With his oldest and dearest friends succumbing, one by one, to wedded bliss, Bell is now restless and a trifle lonely. Enter the Sinful Scoundrels--Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, and Harry Norcliffe, Viscount Evermore--who drag him back into society and draw his rakish eye to the ton's new beautiful young widow. Bell isn't after a wife, but a challenge. And Laura Davenport should fit the bill quite nicely...
Available for KindleNook, and iBooks

To celebrate the launch of Vicky’s new novella her publisher has specially priced How to Marry a Duke (the booked that launched it all!) For $2.99 you can start at the very beginning. 
This is available for all e-reader formats!
KindleNookiTunesKobo, and Sony (note: at time of posting Sony was not yet updated)

What's next? Keep an eye out next spring for What a Wicked Duke Wants (Dukes as a rule are delightful, but a Wicked Duke is delicious!) 

For readers such as myself, we think of our authors as Rockstars, and Miss Vicky Dreiling is a Regency Rockstar. With fellow author Kieran Kramer, Vicky has a street team, of which I am a proud member. This group (lead by the amazing and fantastic Kati Rodriguez) has allowed me to get to know Vicky and to call her friend.

Additionally, in honour of the release of A Season for Sin Vicky is giving away some swag! 
  • 1 set of romance trading cards
  • 1 signed bookplate
  • 2 bookmarks


If you have seen her book covers (you have, look up!) you know that the cover art is beautiful, that same art is on the cards and bookmarks (so lush and pretty!) I have some myself and love to look at them and use them (but then I also have a bookmark fetish, don’t judge!)

To win, comment below and tell me why you love Vicky’s books or tell me about another author you may have discovered and loved this year.
To sweeten the deal, if I have 15 or more comments, I will personally gift one of you with a Kindle version of How to Marry a Duke or A Season for Sin (winner’s choice!)
Giveaway will run until September 30th.

 And if we all think happy thoughts, maybe Vicky will pop in below to say hello!

Want to know more about Vicky? 
Visit her Website, Find her on Twitter (this is where you may find the above mentioned Man Candy), stalk her of Facebook, she is also on Pinterest and Goodreads



10 comments:

  1. Morgan, I love this post!!! You did a fabulous job :) Thank you

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  2. Vicky's characters are individuals, not just cookie cutter copies of the standard heroes and heroines. The books have wit and charm. There is a sense of humor which is something I find necessary in the books I read. I look forward to many more books from her.

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  3. Her books are funn! :) I always laugh out loud while reading her books!

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  4. Vicky is a fabulous author, RITA nominations aside, she draws the reader into a wonderful world of glamour, scandal, and scintillation! Her books tear your between wanting to devour each page as quickly as you can so you can find out how the story ends and wanting to pace yourself and savor each page morsel by morsel until it's completion!

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  5. Vicky is a fairly new author for me, but love her books. Lots of fun and great heroes and heroines. Some newer authors I love are Heather Snow and Jillian Stone.

    Sue P
    suepete12(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  6. Thanks for the review of all of these books! I haven't read them yet, but they are on the list now! I have found a couple of new historical romance authors this year that I would definately read again - Sophie Barnes & Kate Noble. And of course, I love Kieran's books!

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  7. Morgan, I'm blushing. Thank you so much for the lovely post. And many thanks to all for reading my books. Library Pat, I admit to having too much fun writing these characters. A little background. Kati did some Beta Reading for me, so she knows some of the zany scenes I wrote that my editor politely said, "Um, I don't think so." LOL. Actually after I finish these revisions, I'll take some time out to put the bloopers on my blog. Kati, I'll have you join in with your zany comments since you read this stuff. Thanks bunches, Morgan for this wonderful blog!

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  8. Vicky is a great author and a very kind and generous person! I'm so glad to have been introduced to her work through Regency Rockstars and Kieran Kramer! And those covers! So beautiful!

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  9. I have a bit of a bookmark fetish too Morgan :) Please don't enter me I just wanted to stop by and leave a little love for Vicky. Love her books. A Season for Sin was fantastic!

    ~Anna@herding cats & burning soup

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  10. Hey All!
    Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to doing more author spotlights and reviews! (I'll be doing one for Kieran Kramer in February for sure!)
    The Swag Winner is Sue P. Sue, please email me you address information!
    I didn't get all the comments I was hoping for but I am still feeling generous, the winner of an ebook is Erin Poehlman! Erin, please email me your choice of A Season For Sin or How to Marry a Duke and your email address so I can get a Kindle book sent to you.

    Have a great day all!
    Morgan
    morgan.walters1980@gmail.com

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