Book Review and Guest Blog: Promise Me Texas by Jodi Thomas

Promise Me Texas by Jodi Thomas

Release date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-25074-7 Whispering Mountain #7
Today I welcome one of my favorite authors.  Not only are her stories absolutely amazing whether writing her historical series, Whispering Mountain, or her contemporary romance series set in the fictional town of Harmony, Texas, but she wonderful to work with as well!  So please give a wonderful welcome to author Jodi Thomas and make sure you check out my review of this great historical romance below as well.
 

Jodi's  Guest Post:

Over the years of writing I’ve included a writer as one of the characters in a book many times.  Maybe it’s because I understand them so well.  In my new historical romance, PROMISE ME TEXAS, I wrote about Beth McMurray and Andrew McLaughlin. 

Beth is the spoiled, loving, very proper, youngest child of Teagan McMurray from Whispering Mountain. Andrew is drifting through life with no direction.  Like most writers, he’s interested in people of all kinds.  When he comes across a gang of outlaws, he can’t resist tagging along to hear the stories they tell.  Once he realizes they are about to rob a train, he can’t step away without putting his friend in danger.

These two very different people find a very unusual love amid all the friends and family who are trying to ‘save them’ from themselves.  Their make-believe marriage begins to feel very real as Beth lies to her father, the great Teagan McMurray.

I loved the way the characters came together in PROMISE ME TEXAS.  My hero is a watcher of people, afraid to ever get too close.  Everyone he’s ever cared about in his life is gone and he’s alone.  My Beth leads with her heart and not her head.  She’s a woman used to getting what she wants, no matter what stands in her way.  When she sees someone who needs her, even having to interrupt a gunfight, doesn’t pose a problem. Her bravery wins over the leader of an outlaw gang who is hunting her make-believe husband.

Since this book is set in 1879, a time of great change in Texas, I included a story of young love that flows along through the plot.  Not all great love stories start with passion, some start with friendship.  Cody wants to take care of Madie, but he doesn’t know how.  Because he is two years older, he begins to give her advice.

Come along with me on the journey with Beth and Andrew.  You’ll fall in love and laugh with them and see what a mess they make of their lives with only a few white lies. I’d love to hear how you like PROMISE ME TEXAS and if you’ve even had one simple little white lie turn your world around.

Jodi Thomas

My Review:
As a huge fan of Jodi Thomas and specifically her Harmony, Texas series, I was excited to read Promise Me Texas.  While a historical and part of the Whispering Mountain series instead of contemporary it reads with my favorite elements as the Harmony, Texas series.  It has family, friends and a close-knit group who will accept outsiders even if it's gradually.  It also has amazing characters that I loved getting to know which I think Ms. Thomas excels at.

Let me start with the characters.  There are the main characters Beth McMurray, the youngest daughter of the McMurray clan, and the most spoiled. And there is Andrew McLaughlin, a would-be train robber (or not) that saves Beth's life when the train goes off the rails.  At this point Beth and Andrew become tangled up as Beth claims Andrew is her husband to get rid of Senator Lamont LaCroix.  Even though they talk a lot in the book about Beth being spoiled, I would call her more determined and set in her ways.  She never grated on my nerves, so that's why, while she may have been spoiled she really doesn't come off that way. She is generous and helpful and very loving.  She is turned off to love after overhearing Lamont say some less than nice things about her.  She also has ideas ahead of her time, where she believes she would be equal in the marriage and that she can speak her mind when she wants to.  But I like that about her and Andrew seems to as well.  Andrew is a writer who doesn't seem to have a lot of motivation but moves around to get a feel for each new area and loves listening to stories so he can create his.  He's one of those I've loved and lost and can't love again men.   That is until he meets Beth, but he will try his best to not fall for her. But he gets sucked into her lies and feels the need to protect her.  He's a generous soul as well, taking in Beth, Madie, Colby, Levi and Leonard.  While all of them lived together I loved watching Andrew come out of his shell.  He's a great main character and an inspirational man.

There are many secondary characters that figure in. Madie, the waitress/cook who wants to head to Fort Worth to find her man.  Colby who was in the hospital/sick room with Andrew and was recently on a cattle drive and then beat to a pulp and he doesn't even know why.  And Levi and Leonard who tag along as well to Fort Worth hoping to find their gambling/actor father.  All four of these characters really add to the story and to Andrew and Beth's little family.  I loved watching the interactions of the six and the growth in the characters.  They way Ms. Thomas weaves together their lives is extraordinary.  Just this alone kept me reading the book.

As far as the plot goes, the main plot is the relationships between Andrew and Beth first and foremost and then the relationships with the other four secondary.  It's a romance so the focus is on the characters.  But Ms. Thomas doesn't stop there.  There is always a hint of something in the background that makes a suspense plot. Is Senator Lamont still looking for Beth?  What about Levi and Leonard's Dad, where is he and what is he doing?  Also why was Colby beat up?  There is a lot going on in this novel.  Not too much to confuse but just enough to keep you turning the pages.  The relationships alone kept me turning the pages, but I loved knowing there was more brewing as well.  And there are surprises around every turn as well. 

Ms. Thomas has wowed me again.  Promise Me Texas lives up to all it promises to be.  Full of rich, interesting characters, and an exciting plot line it is a hard book to put down.  Ms. Thomas manages to pack quite a punch in a little over 300 pages.  And if you are worried that this is part of a series, don't.  I have only read one other book in the series and I had no problems with this one.  I do plan on going back and reading more books in the series though.  It looks like Whispering Mountain is a wonderful series to read if the other books are anything like Promise Me Texas.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

About Promise Me Texas

Starred Review. Bestseller Thomas strikes gold again with her seventh Whispering Mountain historical (after Wild Texas Rose), set in 1879 Texas. When 24-year-old Beth McMurray sneaks onto a train to surprise her fiancé, former Senator Lamont LaCroix, she's shocked to overhear him bragging about his plans for her and her money. Then robbers board the train and it goes off the rails. Just before the crash, one of the robbers grabs Beth and jumps off the train, taking the fall to protect her. He's hurt, but she stays with him, claiming that he's her husband. The sheriff and the doctor believe that Beth is now Mrs. Andrew McLaughlin, but LaCroix does not. Meanwhile, widower Andrew reveals his hidden depths: when he's not robbing trains, he longs to be an author. By the time Beth drives a wagon out of town, she has collected a pretend husband, two little boys, an ill teen cowboy, and a pregnant young woman, and the adventure has just begun. Complex plotting, superb character development, and touching romantic scenes make this a winner.

About Jodi Thomas:
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 38 novels and 11 short story collections. A five-tme RITA winner, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

www.jodithomas.com
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor
www.twitter.com/jodithomas

***I received this book from the author for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review: With This Kiss Part One, Two and Three by Eloisa James

With This Kiss Part One, Two & Three by Eloisa James

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Publish Date: March 12, 19, and 26, 2013

ebook, 30 pages each
Fiction, Historical Romance

 ISBN: Part One: 9780062276933
 ISBN: Part Two: 9780062276940
 ISBN: Part Three: 9780062276957

My Review:
I do not read a lot of historical romance and after reading this little novella series, I'm not quite sure why.  Ms. James has penned a marvelous story in serial format and if you didn't know about the books yet,  you are in luck because now all of them are out and you won't have to wait a week between releases to find out what happens between Grace and Colin next!

For some reason while I was perusing Edelweiss this serial just jumped right out at me and while not feeling well a couple of afternoons, I dove right in.  And I plowed through all three in no time. Yes they are short, but they tell a full story and as I was formatting this post I was honestly shocked to see that they were only around 30 pages a piece.  It seemed like I got so much more story than that, even for the combined pages.  That is how magical it was to me.

The first story sets everything up.  How Grace and Colin know each other and how their relationship grows and the first obstacle in their path.  It's wonderful and it's heartbreaking all at the same time.  The second and third continue the story toward their happy ending, but it's rough going getting there.  I won't elaborate more but just know there is plenty of conflict in this novella serial to keep you reading.  The plot is very interesting without being tedious.  I was fully immersed in it and almost hated having to change books (but I did it, in a hurry I might add).

The characters are marvelous, from Grace and Colin to Grace's little sister to Grace and Colin's parents.  I loved them all, but I loved the stubborn Grace and Colin best and so cheered for them to fall in love despite the odds that seemed to be against them at every turn.  I just can't say enough about these characters without giving anything away. 

If you've read Ms. James (I hadn't) or you just enjoy a good historical I think this would be for you.  It's a quick enthralling read.  Again feel blessed they are all out now, I can't imagine having to wait a week between installments.  I would just feel bereft!

There is a note on Goodreads that Lady Grace is the daughter of the main characters from The Ugly Duchess and Colin is the adopted son of the main character from Seduced by a Pirate.  So more reasons to read for you Eloisa James fans.  And now more reasons for me to read Eloisa James' backlist.


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
Part One:

Lady Grace Ryburn, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbrook, has fallen wildly in love with Colin Barry, a dashing young lieutenant serving his country in the Royal Navy. When he returns home to exuberant celebrations, will he even notice the quiet wallflower he grew up with … or will he fall for Grace's sparkling, gorgeous sister?

Part Two:
Lady Grace Ryburn has accepted another man's proposal after the love of her life, Lieutenant Colin Barry, asked for her own sister's hand in marriage.

But when Colin returns home from the wars, injured in body and spirit, will she be able to turn her back and marry another? Or will she throw away every rule her mother taught her and try to seduce a man who has shown no interest in her kisses?

Part Three:
Lieutenant Colin Barry returns from the wars injured in body and spirit, knowing that he has no right to steal Grace from the arms of her fiancé. Yet the same warrior's spirit that won so many battles at sea is prompting him to throw propriety to the winds, imitate his pirate father, and simply take what he most desires!
 
About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa's very first book that she "found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar"; later People Magazine raved that "romance writing does not get much better than this." Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers' Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

After graduating from Harvard University, Eloisa got an M.Phil. from Oxford University, a Ph.D. from Yale and eventually became a Shakespeare professor, publishing an academic book with Oxford University Press. Currently she is an associate professor and head of the Creative Writing program at Fordham University in New York City. Her "double life" is a source of fascination to the media and her readers. In her professorial guise, she's written a New York Times op-ed defending romance, as well as articles published everywhere from women's magazines such as More to writers' journals such as the Romance Writers' Report.

Website
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***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***

Book Review and Giveaway: To Trust a Thief by Michelle McLean

To Trust a Thief by Michelle McLean

Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Scandalous)

Publish Date: January 21, 2013

eBook, 267 pages
Fiction, Historical Romance
 ISBN: 9781622668663

My Review:
To Trust a Thief is quite a delightful book. Not only does the plot draw you right into the book from the start with the mysterious necklace but then both the main characters shine and make you really care about the story.  I loved both aspects of this book.

The story starts out with a bang introducing us to the characters and then starts developing the characters.  I really like that it dives right in and involves the reader in the story.  I was enthralled and couldn't stop reading and then as I got to know Min and Bryant I could not stop reading.  Min's character is so fun.  She's a klutz and amusing and not a typical debutante.  I like her attitude and spunk.  Bryant is handsome and mysterious and I like how he feels about Min and how he falls for her.  His build up is interesting and really adds to the story line.  The secondary characters also add to the story and make this a great read just from the character standpoint.

The plot is wonderful and a great mystery.  The hunt for the necklace really adds to the romance and the characters of the book and makes the conflict in the romance very interesting.  Ms. McLean does an excellent job in weaving this plot.

An excellent historical romance romp for lovers of the genre.  Add in the bit of mystery and it's a wonderful exciting read.  I can't wait to read more from Ms. McLean in the future!

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:

Minuette Sinclair's parents are in trouble and her fake fiancé is too. A legendary lost necklace might be their salvation, and Min is determined to find it and use it to buy her family and fiancé out of their misfortunes.

Master thief Bryant Westley is also looking for the fabled necklace. He knows Min’s got information he can use so he poses as her dance instructor and tries to seduce it from her. What he doesn’t count on are his feelings for her. He offers to partner up in the search – even though she is a distraction he can’t afford.

Things become more complicated when Min realizes that her convenient engagement means more to her fake fiancé than her and that she’s fallen in love with Bryant. Bryant realizes that he can’t double cross the young lady he’s come to love. Can they find the necklace together and admit their love before it’s too late?

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Michelle is the author of historical and paranormal romances, including TO TRUST A THIEF (Entangled Scandalous Jan 2013), a historical trilogy, BLOOD BLADE SISTERS (Entangled Scandalous 2013), and a zombie fairy tale retelling WISH UPON A STAR (Entangled Ever After Oct 2013). She is also the author of the educational non-fiction book HOMEWORK HELPERS: ESSAYS AND TERM PAPERS.

Michelle has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, and tends to be a bit of an overly organized mess with an insatiable love of books and more weird quirks than you can shake a stick at. She is also a contributor on The Naked Hero, and the Operation Awesome, Scene 13, and Scandalous book blogs as well as maintaining her personal blog.

If she's not editing, reading or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book. Michelle resides in PA with her husband and two young children, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.

Website
Twitter


Giveaway:
Thanks to the publicist at Entangled I have one copy of To Trust a Thief in ebook format to give to one lucky winner.  Open Internationally, ends 3/8.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. 

Guest Blog: Wild Texas Rose by Jodi Thomas

WILD TEXAS ROSE is my 25^th historical romance about Texas and I’m happy to say that I think readers will discover something new in this book that I’ve never seen done in a historical.  I love writing about groups of people and this time I have more than one romance going at once.  It was great fun to write and I lost a great deal of sleep because even after I turned off my computer I couldn’t turn off the story.  The characters were still dancing in my head. 

My husband also developed a strange habit of saying, “All right, all you people, get out of this bed.  We’ve got to get some sleep.”

In WILD TEXAS ROSE, Rose McMurray is one of those wonderful people who is always organized.  I hated her and loved her instantly when she walked off the pages of TALL, DARK AND TEXAN as a little girl and I understood her when she stepped into this book. 

Duncan, on the other hand, lives his life in the moment.  Never planning.  Never realizing what he truly needs.  At the wedding of Rose’s best friend, they discover a plot that could get many people killed and join forces with others to fight.

I had a great time writing WILD TEXAS ROSE.  Of course I love a good love story and this book is packed with three.  I also like watching the couples fall in love in different ways because love never comes in quite the same way to anyone.  I think this story is tender and I promise it will keep you laughing.  No one in the book is perfect, but they all do the best they can.

Thanks for reading,

Jodi Thomas

www.jodithomas.com
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor
www.twitter.com/jodithomas

About Wild Texas Rose:
Release date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 978-0-425-25037-2
Retail Price: USA$7.99

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jodi Thomas presents her latest Whispering Mountain novel WILD TEXAS ROSE, about a woman who’s cursed when it comes to love—and the man determined to save her.

Twenty-five-year-old Rose McMurray may be beautiful, smart, and capable of running her adopted family’s ranch at Whispering Mountain, but she’s backed away from marriage three times without giving any reasons. Everyone thinks Rose is a coward, afraid of any adven-ture, including falling in love. She’s never done a single wild or reckless thing in her life...until now.

“At the top of everyone’s favorites list.”  —Romance Junkies
“Wonderfully written, romantic, and delightful.”  —The Romance Reader
“Exceptional...Packs a powerful emotional punch.”  —Booklist


About Jodi Thomas:
Jodi Thomas is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of 35 novels and 11 short story
collections. A RITA winning author, Jodi currently serves as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

www.jodithomas.com
www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor
www.twitter.com/jodithomas

Author Interview: Robin Covington (A Night of Southern Comfort)

Today I welcome Robin Covington to My Reading Room.  Robin is the author of A Night of Southern Comfort, a recently released contemporary romance from Entangled Publications, which I reviewed last week.  I loved the book and Robin is a fun interview as well!  Grab your favorite cuppa and enjoy the interview and then be sure and check out my review if you haven't already.  Welcome Robin!

 

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

I love to read, watch anything with Alex O’Loughlin (Hawaii-50) or Jake Gyllenhall in it, and I love to entertain and have people over for good food and conversation.

What's your favorite season?

Summer.  I’m from the South and it can never be too hot for me.  So, I would live in eternal summer but I love part of the world so I can’t imagine moving somewhere like Arizona and actually getting a year-round summer.

Describe your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).

In a nice, comfy bed with perfect pillows to support my head and lots of blankets to nest in.  Aahhh.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Australia.  My critique partner, Emmie Dark. Live sin Melbourne and I keep threatening to go over and sleep on her couch. It is such a wonderfully diverse and interesting country, I would love to see that.

What three things do you need in order to write?

My netbook computer, “Little Red”, a diet coke and my iPod.  I am addicted to DC and I have to write with music on or I get distracted too easily.

What's the first sentence of A Night of Southern Comfort?

 “Her Junior League membership was toast.”

Do you have a favorite line in A Night of Southern Comfort?

Yes, I do!  Here’s a line from Jackson:

“Date me. Move in with me. Marry me. Make me beg. I don’t care.”

Tell us what is A Night of Southern Comfort about.

One night of passion... 

Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago. 

He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise. 

But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

Oh, that I hard . . . but I have to say that I have a soft spot for Jackson.  I “get” him and I think he’s the most like me.  I grew up in a small, southern town that I couldn’t wait to see in my rear-view mirror but as I got older, I understood how special it was.  Jackson is a little heartsore at the beginning of the story and coming home was a good thing for him, even if he didn’t want to be there.

How did you feel when you finished A Night of Southern Comfort?

You know, I write between 9:30 and 1 am so I think I was tired.  : )  But, it is always so rejuvenating to finish a book.  You feel like you won the race – and you really did.  I walk on air for about two days just from the sense of accomplishment.

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?

I just sold a Christmas novella to Entangled’s Flirt line and it will be out I Nov/Dec 2012.  I have two projects, a paranormal and a super sexy category, under consideration with them as well and I’m writing the book proposal for the three books that are sequels to ANoSC.

Yay!  That excites me because I want more of Jackson's friends :)

Thanks Robin!

Thanks for having me!  I had a great time.

Robin

Excerpt:

Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick took his last shot and accepted the congratulatory thumps on the back from his friends. He didn’t smile in response, just quirked his full, sensual lips and turned to face her head-on with an expression full of hot promise. Catcalls and low whistles from his friends drifted across the crowded bar.
Come on, handsome. Don’t let me strike out at my first real bar pickup.
The breath she didn’t realize she was holding whooshed out as he separated himself from his friends and headed over to her. His movements were precise, controlled, and deliciously predatory. He possessed the confident demeanor of either military or law enforcement. He definitely wasn’t a paper-pushing warlord or a politico. Years of experience trained her to spot those guys a mile away. No, his mask of control was one born of the need for survival, much like hers.
Okay, big boy. You let me peek behind yours and I’ll let you peek behind mine.
He stopped in front of her, his thigh brushing her leg and setting off a series of sparks underneath her skin. His chocolate brown eyes met hers, filled with the assurance of decadent possibilities.
Michaela opened her mouth and shut it again. Now that he was here, she had no idea what to say. What would Angelina do? Channel your inner Jolie.
She cleared her throat. The result was a sultry, sexy voice she didn’t know she possessed. “May I buy you a drink?”
He glanced at the glass in her hand and nodded.
“A Southern Comfort.” She spoke in the general direction of the bartender, unable to tear herself away from her companion. “Neat.”
He slid onto the stool next her, his leg still against hers and her temperature hovering near the boiling point. He leaned on the bar, creating their own intimate circle as the noise of the busy bar faded into the background. His lips curved into a slight smile.
“Is there something funny?”
“No. Not at all.” His deep voice rumbled in her ear, his warm breath grazed her cheek. “I didn’t take you for the whiskey type.”
“And what type am I?”
He leaned back, examining her ice-blue satin, strapless cocktail dress and matching Manolo Blahnik pumps. She squirmed in her seat as her body responded to the desire pulsing between them.
“Honestly?” He cocked his head. “You strike me as the chardonnay type. A proper drink for a proper lady.”
She laughed. Any other night, his description would have been close to the mark. “Whiskey’s a drink of control and power.” She took another sip and caught his stare over the rim of her glass.
“I see.” He lifted his glass and downed the contents, then turned his full attention back to her. “So…why are you drinking alone?”
“I’m not drinking alone. Now.” Michaela gestured toward his drink and ordered him another when he nodded.
“Okay, so you’re here…?”
“Celebrating my new life.”
“Aahhh.” He lifted his glass to her in salute. “Let me be the first to say that your ex-husband is an idiot.”

Bio:

On her fortieth birthday, Robin Covington decided that having a mid-life crisis and finding a boy-toy were far too tacky, so she delved a little deeper into the “bucket list” and pulled out the long-shelved dream of becoming an author. Now, she spends her time writing sizzling romance where the hero and heroine can’t keep their hands off each other.

She doesn’t miss the boy-toy at all.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a guest contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today.

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.  You can find Robin on her website, Facebook,  and Twitter (@RobinCovington).

Links:

Website: http://www.robincovingtonromance.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinCovingtonRomanceAuthor

Twitter: @RobinCovington

Entangled Publishing/buy links:  http://www.entangledpublishing.com/a-night-of-southern-comfort/

Buy links:

Guest Blog: If you lived during the Regency era, who would you be by Elyse Mady (+ Giveaway)

If you lived during the Regency era, who would you be?

If I lived during the Regency era, I’d like to think I’d own a dress shop.  Or a millinery shop.  Something where I got to play with gorgeous fabrics and trims all day long.

 

When I’m not writing, I sew.  A lot.  I like to embroider and I love historical clothing.  Just go look at my Pinterest boards if you don’t believe me J) Now I know the conditions were abysmal for apprentices in dressmaking and millinery shops, so I don’t want anyone to think I’m glossing that over.  This is more a ‘you can have any job in the world and it’s guaranteed to be fabulous’ speculation here.   And since everyone who knows me knows that if I was required to rely on my filing skills to get a job, I’d quickly starve and end up in the streets, I think I’ll stick with something I actually know something about.

Historically, there weren’t a lot of jobs open to women who wanted (or needed) to support themselves without a man.  Service was one option but the pay was crummy and the hours really long.   For the more genteel, you had the option of being a governess or a companion.  Having a shop was another option and there were lots and lots of women involved in trade, for sure, but they were often brought up in the trade or ran it with a spouse before they ran it alone.  Dressmaking was one of the few branches where women really dominated and could make a handsome profit.

Hester Aspinall, the heroine in my novel THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR, helps her brother in his tailor’s shop.  When he is arrested, she tries to continue the business but is driven out by an angry mob.  Robert Aspinall is of course based on a real person, who was a tailor by trade prior to his being caught up in the raid on the White Swan, and given my interest in historical sewing, I think that was one of the reasons I was drawn to him in the first place, as I was plotting my story.  The greengrocer from Essex or the out-of-work servants weren’t quite as appealing.

Here are some random fun facts about sewing and dressmaking in the 18^th and early 19^th century.

·         There were no paper patterns as we know them today.  Those didn’t make an appearance until the 1850s and 1860s.  Clothes were generally draped directly on the body (hence all those trips to the dressmakers that we Regency writers love so!).

·         A skilled seamstress could make a basic daygown in one day, working for approximately 8-10 hours. That would include the cutting, basting, fitting and construction.   An elaborate dress, especially if it featured custom embroidery, could take upwards of six weeks to three months.

·         All needlework was not the same.  There were specialists for all branches of clothing production:  stay makers, coat makers, leather workers, tailors (who made riding habits for men and women), dressmakers, embroiderers, goldwork embroiderers, white work embroiderers, glovemakers, menders and more.

·         Most clothes were not made at home, despite what you were taught in grade school.  Draping a gown takes a high degree of skill which is why professionals did it. What most women sewed for their families was known as ‘plain sewing’: household linens (sheets, pillowcases, blankets), and underclothes like men’s shirts, petticoats, baby clothes.  And if you couldn’t sew (or didn’t have the money for custom garments), there was a booming business in second hand clothing.

·         There were no tape measures.  Really.  There were rulers and yard sticks but no cloth tapes.  So how did a dressmaker know how big to make that gown?  Well, they used lengths of paper tape, and simply marked the tape with a pencil as they needed it.  Width of Shoulder. Length to Waist.  Diameter of Upper Arm.  It didn’t matter what the number was, just its relationship to the clientele’s overall figure. Cool, huh?

Author Giveaway:

I’d like to say ‘thanks’ for having me visit today.  If you could have held one job in the past, what would it have been and why?  I’ll give one lucky commenter a signed ecopy of my latest novel, THE WHITE SWAN AFFAIR in their choice of format!

Elyse Mady is the author of historical romances “The White Swan Affair” and “The Debutante’s Dilemma”, with Carina Press and two contemporary romances.  Upcoming books include the Regency novella “The Debutante’s Desire”.  She blogs at www.elysemady.com.  You can also find her on Twitter at @elysemady, Facebook and Goodreads.

In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local college. With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the NY Times Bestseller’s List and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice-cream.

About The White Swan Affair - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N
London, 1810

After the tragic death of her beloved, Hester Aspinall vowed never to be ruled by her passions again. Still, she is drawn to her landlord, handsome adventurer Thomas Ramsay–but she doesn’t fool herself that a man of his station would look twice at a poor tailor’s sister.

With the sea for a mistress, Thomas has no intention of entering into matrimony. And yet, he can’t get the plain-spoken and desirable Hester out of his mind, even though she’s never tried to secure his attentions as other women do.

Everything changes the night Hester’s brother is arrested during a raid on a gay brothel, the infamous White Swan. With no one else to turn to, and terrified Robert will hang for his crime, Hester accepts Thomas’s offer to bear the cost of the defense. A true gentleman, Thomas expects nothing in return–but Hester is no longer able to deny her own desires…

She may offer her body eagerly, but can she protect her heart?


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Guest Blog & Giveaway: Dark Heroes and the Moral Code by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez (Sacrifice of Passion Tour)

Dark Heroes and the Moral Code

I’m a mystery writer.  My Lola Cruz Mysteries with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled are soft-boiled.  My Magical Dressmaking Mysteries with NAL are cozies. 

And Sacrifice of Passion, the first in my Deadly Legends trilogy with Dead Sexy, a new category imprint from Entangled Publishing, is much darker than my other books. 

Shifting from writing smart, sexy, sassy mysteries to small town cozies to darker romantic suspense books sometimes makes me feel as though I have multiple personality disorder!  There's never a dull writing day, that's for sure. 

When I began to think about a darker story, I automatically focused on the dark hero.  The damaged heroine.  And I got into Dexter. 

I should note here that I'm a teacher, as well (Southern Methodist University with the creative writing CAPE program and Savvy Authors).  One thing I love about teaching is that it forces me to continue my own learning in new and unexpected ways.  Discovering a new (to me) television show and realizing it can teach me something about characterization, is thrilling.  I went through this with Supernatural (love love love those Winchester boys).  I went through it with Lost (rife with conflict, those plane crash victims were).  I’m going through it with Breaking Bad (Walter White is one heck of a conflicted cancer victim).  And I’m going through it with Dexter.

If you haven’t seen Dexter, here’s the lowdown:

Dexter Morgan is a forensic scientist. He studies blood spatter. This television series is based on a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, although, in the vein (no pun intended!) of True Blood, the series has taken on a life of its own.   My observations are based on the TV series, not the books.

The further into the shows I watched, the more I wondered: Is Dexter a Villain or a Dark Hero?

My take on Dexter is that he walks a thin line between being a dark hero and a villain.  This line is blurry and complicated; he is fascinating, which makes him an excellent case study.   One could probably write a dissertation on the subject, in fact.  The bottom line?  He's a layered character who does horrible things for all the right reasons.

The show has been great food for thought when it comes to crafting my own characters (for any of my different series), developing their layers and depths and figuring out how to build conflict into my stories (particularly in the romantic suspense books like Sacrifice of Passion which is, by nature, dark).

When I develop a character, good or bad, I craft his/her moral code.  Even the darkest hero and the villain have a moral code.  It may be twisted or skewed, but it exists and in his/her mind and actions are justified because of the code.  I’ve always written this way, but the point was driven home as I watched the end of season one in Dexter.  We began to see flashbacks to Dexter’s adoptive father and the code he helped Dexter establish.  Harry’s Code.  It’s the guiding force in Dexter’s life, informing all of his decisions.  It’s his moral compass. 

Dexter is an anomaly within humanity in that he doesn’t feel anything. He says he has a hole inside him where those feeling should go. If he could feel something, he’d care about his sister, also a cop.

Harry, Dexter’s father, steps in to help Dexter adapt to the world he lives in. He teaches him how to survive, kill effectively and efficiently, how to never get caught, and, on an emotional level, how to interact with the people around him so that he can fit in.

We all have our own moral code, we just don’t recognize it or live by it as intentionally as Dexter.  But when crafting a character, knowing his/her code can help you stay authentic to him/her.  As I am writing the third book in the Lola Cruz Mystery series, Bare Naked Lola, the mystery takes Lola to a nudist resort.  The big question (one I haven’t answered yet) is, “Will she or won’t she?” Go naked, I mean.  See, Lola lives by a code of striving for gender equality, seeking justice, being true to her sexy, sassy, smart, kick-ass self, preserving her family’s culture within her life, and respecting herself and her family.  She’s also a good Catholic girl.  A few of these elements conflict when I try to answer the question of whether or not Lola’ll take it all off in order to solve a case. (You’ll have to stay tuned to find out the answer!)

Harlow Cassidy, the sleuth in Pleating for Mercy, has her own moral code, as well.  It revolves around the idea of justice, preserving the safe, small town Texas town she grew up in, and keeping family close and safe.  She's not an ends justifies the means kind of woman, but she is a go-getter, willing to put herself on the line if it's the right thing to do.

Just like in Dexter, people can make a choice to go against their code.  There are consequences to those decisions, and in a book, that’s exactly what you want.  If Lola doesn’t go nude, she upholds parts of her code, but sacrifices other elements.  If she does, she may solve the mystery, but will she respect the decision knowing what she did and how she compromised?  Does the end justify the means? 

In Curse of Passion (which will come out in the spring next year sometime), someone is killing women and making it look like the drownings of la Llorona, a 500 year old mythic woman (think Madea).   The killer lives by his own code and sees what he does as justified.  Skewed, yes, but authentic.

In Sacrifice of Passion, the reasons for the killings going on in the cursed town of San Julio are very personal (and justified) to the killer. 

Now, Dexter’s backstory is important in framing who he is (as is the case for any dark hero...or any hero, for that matter). Dexter witnessed his mother being killed, which is the catalyst for his emotional emptiness. This also drives his bloodlust and desire to hurt those who are hurting others (as he does with a dog who constantly yaps and irritates his adoptive mother to the point that she can't sleep), thereby achieving a warped sense of justice. With Harry’s guidance, he develops the “Code”--to only kill those who “deserve”  it (those who are killers themselves). The God Complex here is obviously huge, and the whole premise is layered with moral dilemmas.

Things get more complicated for Dexter as he continues to ‘role play’ his emotional attachment to the few people he pretends to care about (his sister, a girlfriend, and her / his children). The other fundamental conflict, or course, is that he works in law enforcement, yet he breaks the law--in a big way--every time he kills.  His secrets are close to being discovered more than once.

But from the beginning, we witness a process of humanization in Dexter because we understand why he is bereft of emotions, where that hole in him stems from, and when he begins to question his own code, we see his deeper moral dilemma. This character truly straddles the line between villain (because how do we ever condone a killer and this God complex?) and dark hero (because we see the good in his intentions). When he begins to recognize ‘real’ feelings within himself, the ambiguity of his ‘hero’ status deepens right along with his moral conflicts.

This is a fascinating, albeit violent and graphic, show (I cover my eyes... A LOT!). Despite the gruesomeness and violence, I love it, as I also love Breaking Bad, because this character is so fundamentally conflicted. The conflicts manifest in very unexpected ways. Watching both of these shows makes me really question and think about moral coded and values, applying what I know to my own characters and their development. 

A great character, dark or not, will force us to look more closely at ourselves, to examine what we think and feel, and any character who can make us do that is well worth watching or reading about, and will, ultimately, help us as we build our own conflicted, real characters--no matter how light or dark the book.

◦ What do you think of Dexter (if you’ve seen the show and know the character)? Do you think he’s a villain or a dark hero?

About Sacrifice of Passion

Texas rancher, Vic Vargas, finds himself facing more than his stubbornly silent son when the chupacabra, a supposedly mythical blood‐sucking beast, starts killing his livestock—and stalking Delaney West, the town’s newly returned veterinary assistant, the sensual woman who ran from the altar and broke his heart twelve years earlier.

Reluctantly, he seeks her help to get to the bottom of the disturbing animal mutilations, only to have her break through to his sullen son...and rekindle the love he’d thought was lost forever. But her refusal to share a terrible secret sends her running straight into the lair of the chupacabra, plunging her back into her worst nightmare, and forcing them both to confront the wrongs of the past—in order to stay alive for the future they desperately want.



Get your copy of Sacrifice of Passion at 

Also available from Melissa Bourbon Ramirez: Bare Naked Lola

Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps….

Get your copy of Bare Naked Lola at:  

Books-A-Million     The Book Depository     Powell's Books


About Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas.  She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.

She is the marketing director at Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox and two romantic suspense titles.

Visit Melissa at her website | Twitter Page | Facebook Home | Goodreads | and Books on the House, a website bringing books and readers together!

Giveaway:
Thanks to the author and Entangled Publishing, I have one copy of Sacrifice of Passion in ebook form to giveaway to a lucky reader.  It sounds like a great book and I know I am dying to read it.  And I'm also intrigued even more by the Dexter series as well!  So simply enter by the Rafflecopter below.  Open Internationally, ends 7/9.




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