I’m over at the DIK blog today (last day!) discussing the Regency Romance Hero. Come join me!

Title: Bound by Your Touch (advanced readers copy)
Author: Meredith Duran
Publication Info: Avon June 2009
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Ms. Duran’s sophomore try is even better than DUKE OF SHADOWS, and that’s saying a lot.

Plot:
Lydia Boyce manages all the affairs for her egyptologist father, so when some of his artifacts are exposed as fakes, she is determined to uncover the true villain and save her father’s reputation. Viscount Sanburne is the man who purchased the fake. Lydia accuses him of perpetrating the fraud. He is just as determined to uncover the truth. When a blue-stocking spinster and notorious rake go head-to-head, someone’s reputation is bound to be ruined.

Sanburne is plagued by guilt over failing to save his sister from an abusive marriage. As he accompanies Lydia to the darkest parts of the city in search of clues, she slowly discovers that the irresponsible rake has a deeper side to him. But she’s been burned before, and she hesitates to become another notch on Sanburne’s long list of conquests. They search the dark streets of London for the missing jewels with assassins hot on their heels. Neither is willing to risk his or her heart again.

Discussion:
An excellent adventure filled with rich prose, sparkling wit, and period details. Ms. Duran’s historic commentary makes this a book you can sink your teeth into. Clever and passionate, with a hero and heroine equally matched in stubborn determination, Bound by your Touch is sure to delight all readers of Historical Romance. (Especially fans of Loretta Chase!) I look forward to watching Ms. Duran’s star hit the New York Times best seller list and capture a RITA or two in the near future. Her third book is due in July: WRITTEN ON YOUR SKIN.

Title: Some Like it Wild
Author: Teresa Medeiros
Publication Info: Avon March 2009
Genre: Regency/Scottish Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

When I want a good dose of happily ever after with a dashing hero and a clever heroine I always turn to Ms. Medeiros. She never disappoints. Her latest tale is particularly excellent. Pamela and Connor are a matching set: both devious and crafty, but with hearts of gold. Their banter surprises and delights. Their chemistry sizzles.

Plot:

Pamela Darby and her younger sister Sophie are down-on-their-luck orphans who seek the long-lost son of a Duke to claim the reward money. Their mother trod the boards of Drury Lane before it burned to the ground with her inside it. All they have left is a letter that claims the son is in Scotland. They dress in their finest costume jewelry to search the Highlands, only to be set upon by a notorious highwayman. Pamela decides that with a little stage polish this prince-of-thieves could pass for a Duke’s son. Connor Kincaid is only too happy to swindle an English swine out of his money.

When they arrive at the Duke’s door, the feeble old man is won over by Connor’s charade, but his wily sister and her son (the displaced heir) are not so easily persuaded. Pamela hoped to get the reward and run, but Connor announces that she is his fiancee. What woman could say no to a devilishly handsome Scotsman in a kilt? In staying, she risks her neck to the handman’s noose if the ruse in uncovered. She may not have a choice; this thieving blackguard has already stole something far more dangerous: her heart.

**swoon!!**

Discussion:

I love Ms. Medeiros’ books because they always fill my chest with that warm glow of love, true love. Oh! Love. Connor and Pamela are my favorite pair yet, especially the dashing Scot. He’s like a much handsomer version of Liam Neeson’s Rob Roy. Medeiros even recreates the dueling scene between the broadsword and the epee. Connor is delicious, and Pamela is a smart heroine worthy of him. (No TSTL here, thank goodness!) Just when I think I know the dialogue she’s going to say, she surprises me.

I hope Sophie gets her HEA next with similar bravado.

If you want a great book for lounging in the summer sun, drinking mint juleps and dreaming about happily-ever-after, this is it!

Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwBwQMgXfBQ]

Elizabeth Boyle, RITA Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of historical romances for Avon Books, shares the six books she would bring if she were stranded on a desert island. Which books would you choose?

Tempted by the Night

A secret admirer…

They say he’s a shameless rake who cares for nothing but pleasure, a rogue who spends his nights in London’s lustiest locales, gambling and carousing until dawn. But Lady Hermione Marlowe refuses to believe that the handsome gentleman she’s loved from afar for so long could be so wicked. If only she had a way to prove to the ton that Lord Rockhurst is as proper as the rest. If only she knew what he really did under cover of night…

A clandestine encounter…

Lord Rockhurst knows what they say about him, and he doesn’t care. Let them think his nights are filled with craven debauchery. Only he knows his true purpose, his dangerous goal. But when a mysterious woman falls into arms—and thereby saves his life—Rockhurst will struggle to save his secret. Who is this creature with such luscious curves and tempting touch? Rockhurst doesn’t know if he can trust her… all he knows is that he cannot resist her.

These are my notes from the keynote speech at the Beau Monde and Hearts through History First Annual Conference for Historical Romance Writers.

Jocelyn Kelley (aka Jo Ann Ferguson) noted that we are all searching for the Holy Sale – the one that guarantees our career. From that point forward there will be no more struggles and all characters and plots will flow smoothly. But the Holy Sale is about as close to reality as any Monte Python plot. The best lesson we can learn is that of the knight on the bridge who keeps fighting even when his limbs are cut off. Rejection – It’s only a flesh wound.

She urged her audience, “Never give up, never surrender.”

Ms. Kelley started writing romantic fiction for publication at age 12. In high school she wrote a 600 page “wonder” with characters based on her school friends set in the 1700s. First manuscript serious manuscript she wrote on a typewriter while her three kids were taking naptime. It was rejected by every editor in new york, while she was working on books two and three. She even received a rejection for someone elses book! But she never gave up, never surrendered, and 10 days later she finished book three. That book went on to be her first bestseller, even after an agent said the book was “totally inappropriate for market in which it’s aimed.” One of her books took 14 years to publish, just have to wait until market is ready. Her first contract was for 4 books with option for 14 more, but the publisher died and others took over company. The company went bankrupt after publishing 6 of her books (no more royalties!). Between1989-1992 Ms. Kelley had only one short story published. Multiple publishing lines closed before her books came out, but again she never gave up, never surrendered. She worked on early PAN unemployment program for published authors during this period.

Her agent recommended she write a traditional regency and in 1992, two days after an RWA conference, Zebra called with their first offer. Since that day she has sold over 90 titles.

Ms. Kelley told her audience not to write what’s hot, because it will be cold before it sees the light of day. She relayed a humerous quote form a Disney Imagination book: “There are only 26 letters in the alphabet. How hard can writing be?”

She told us: “Ideas are easy. Writing is very hard.”

When she first joined RWA in 1985 all but one member was writing contemporary and she had self doubt about if she should be writing historical. She urged her audience not to let others change what you believe you should be doing. Aspiring authors must decide what their motivation is. Is it fame and fortune? Validation for self as artist? Because you can’t NOT write? There is nothing like finding a dream come true to keep ones nose to the keyboard. Too often we think of things so far in the future that we lose track of the steps to get there. It is easy to fail with pie in the sky goals. Aspiring authors should make small achievable goals. An aspiring author is one moving forward on the quest.

The blackest moment happens right before a sale.

Ms. Kelley’s advice – if you can give up writing, you should.

Some people give up because they can’t make the move from writing to sales. We are in sales because we are hocking a product. Rejection is part of the process. Learn from them. Keep rejection letters on a project until the project sells, but don’t obsess.

Ms. Kelley once received a rejection from an editor that said, “this doesn’t work for me, but I like your writing so send me anything else you have soon as possible.” She thought the editor was just being nice, so she threw away the letter. Only years later did she realize she had passed up a really great opportunity. That 600 page wonder from high school? It’s now with an editor who says “this is so fresh and new!” Ha.

She read lyrics by Anne Murray from the song “Children of My Mind,” and left her audience with these words:
“Writing isn’t a quest. It isn’t just what I do. It’s what I am.”

Today is the last day of the auction put on by Eloisa James and Julia Quinn. Many Regency authors have donated more items over the month, including an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) by Colleen Gleeson and a 50-page critique by Joanna Bourne! The money is being raised for a young family in need, so you get awesome autographed books and get to contribute to a good cause. There are a few non-regency offerings too, including an ARC of Jennifer Ashley’s Immortals: The Redeeming. I have her first book sitting in my bookshelf just waiting for me to delve into.

Bidding ends TONIGHT, Friday, June 27th at Midnight, EST (that’s 9 pm to those of us on the Best Coast).

Check out the auction here.

I must point out that the autographed ARC of Mr. Cavendish I Presume by Julia Quinn is currently only going for $80. Some rabid fan paid over $300 for it on Brenda Novak’s auction, so you’re getting a steal.

***

And in other news:

I WON A BOOK AT THE BOOK BINGE!!!

Title: Pleasure Unbound
Author: Larissa Ione
Series: Demonica, Book 1
Publisher: Forever, June 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Yay! It looks good. The Book Binge gave it 4.5 out of 5 and you can read Casee’s review here. Even more exciting? Author Nalini Singh says “What a ride! Dark, sexy and very intriguing, this book gripped me from start to finish. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!” Nalini is a goddess, so you know it’s gotta be good.

Please join me in welcoming regency author (and one-time Seattleitte) Jenna Petersen! In her Lady Spies series, Jenna writes about tough chicks who use brains, instinct, and wiles to uncover conspiracies against the crown. It’s James Bond meets Regency London, and it’s a hoot! Jenna and I met at the 2007 Emerald City Writers Conference book signing (see photo). We are getting lunch in July at the RWA National Conference, so if you have questions I didn’t cover in this interview, let me know!

Jenna’s latest novel LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN comes out in 3 days: Monday, June 24th.

About Jenna:

Jenna Petersen knew she wanted to be a writer at a very young age and had a very specific image of what that meant. In her mind, she would live in Los Angeles (why not New York… who knows?), attend book signings, drive a very expensive car and date endlessly (and apparently, unsuccessfully). There was little actual writing involved in the fantasy.

Instead, she got a degree in Psychology from the University of Washington, married her high school sweetheart and moved to Central Illinois. There was much actual writing involved in the reality and she learned a lot in the years she waited to hear she sold a book.

Jenna enjoys travel, history, live baseball, Bears and Eagles football, and of course, all things related to reading and writing. She runs a website for aspiring authors called The Passionate Pen, which has become a popular resource in the romance writing community. She also writes erotic romance under the pseudonym Jess Michaels.

And now for the Interview:

Ciara: You write historical romance as Jenna Petersen and erotic romance as Jess Michaels. Is the writing process similar for these two genres? How would you differentiate erotic romance from traditional romance?

Jenna: I follow the same basic set up as far as creating character sheets, writing a synopsis based on key turning points in the book and then doing scene sketches, so my process is pretty similar. The difference for me as a writer is that my erotic romances tend to have a sexually charged conflict (a sex bargain or blackmail or Penelope’s seduction and resistance, that sort of thing). Versus while my historical romances may be super steamy, their core conflict isn’t necessarily a sexual one (though sexual conflicts may be part of the book). I actually have a little primer about what I think the differences are between sensual romance, erotic romance and erotica on my http://www.jessmichaels.com site, too, to help the reader.

Ciara: What was the first romance novel you read and how old were you?

Jenna: I came to romance very late in life. (Ciara: lol, like 31 is ancient!) I think I browsed a few that I don’t remember for the “good parts” as a teen, but the first one I really READ was Julia Quinn’s MINX and I would have been… 21? It was right when I started writing romance seriously. Reading her prose really made me realize how GOOD romance could be and what a fine tuned craft it was.

Ciara: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 6 books would you bring?

Jenna: Oh crap. Only SIX??? Shoot. Okay, I’ll try: Kathryn Smith’s BE MINE TONIGHT, Julia Quinn’s THE DUKE AND I, L.M. Montgomery’s ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett’s GOOD OMENS, something by Jacquie D’Alessandro (I can’t pick one) and probably a survival guide of some kind (I’m on a desert island, I’ll need that guide).

Ciara: If you were stranded on said island what 6 heroes would you bring?

Jenna: My husband (he’s my personal hero). Then we get to have fun…. Okay, I’d take Justin Talbot, the hero of my upcoming book LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN because he’s really smokin’ hot and I would guess he could take care of things in a pinch. I’d take Lucas Tyler from DESIRE NEVER DIES because he’s the funniest hero I ever wrote and he would tell good stories and keep me entertained (and he’s hot). I would take Simon Basset from Julia Quinn’s THE DUKE AND I because he made me cry (and he’s hot). I would take Temple from Kathryn Smith’s last Brotherhood of the Blood book (which yes, I’ve read haha!!) because he’s a vampire leader and he would definitely know how to survive (and he’s hot). We’d just have to find him serious shade during the day. And I’d take… oh…. Max McCord from Maggie Osborne’s SILVER LINING because he’s a cowboy and he’d not be adverse to working amongst all this nobility (and he’s hot).

Ciara: Do you have a lucky eraser or other rituals to tempt the muse? Does your muse have a name?

Jenna: I don’t really believe in “the muse”. It feels too much like depending on some mysterious outside force to write. For me, I write because I put my butt in the chair and I push through the hard parts. But I do like to have Diet Vanilla Coke. I also like having my desk totally clean before I start a new book (though it gets quite horrible throughout the process).

Ciara: Do you do extensive plotting, character interviews, collages, or other pre-writing exercises? Or are you a pantser?

Jenna: I’m most definitely a plotter. I do character sheets (which you can find at Passionate Pen under the Articles For Writers link). Then I plot a synopsis based on turning points in the story. Then I do scene sketches, which are really prewriting the scenes, sometimes with dialogue and description if I’m really into a scene. Plotting helps drive me forward.

Ciara: Why do you think the Regency period is so popular with readers? How did you decide to write Regencies? Have you ever considered writing in another genre, say, paranormals or thrillers?

Jenna: I really loved reading Regencies, which is why I started writing in that time period. I think readers respond to it because it’s the closest you can come to a fairytale without a godmother. Think about it! Dukes, Earls, balls, a war! It’s like the perfect storm of romance. Plus, I’ve always liked the dichotomy of rules that if you broke them you’d be ostracized, and yet many of the gowns were so formfitting that the women couldn’t wear undergarments. It’s a very odd time socially!

I really love historical, so I intend to stay here, but I can’t say I haven’t ever had a couple of paranormal ideas. I don’t know that I’ll ever pursue that, though.

Ciara: Tell us about your experience with writing contests. You have had great success finalling in recent months: SEDUCTION IS FOREVER in the Detroit RWA Booksellers Best Contest and in the First Coast RWA Beacon Award, DESIRE NEVER DIES in the Orange County Chapter RWA Bookbuyers Best Contest, EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN in both the Detroit RWA Booksellers Best Contest and the Orange County Chapter RWA Bookbuyers Best Contest. How many contests do you submit to? Do you submit all your books? Did you submit to contests before you became a published author? Do you recommend that unpublished authors submit to contests?

Jenna: I’ve become such a contest whore, but I NEVER entered contests before I was published. I always felt like it was too many cooks spoiling the pot and you never know whether you got a judge who was a multi-published author or someone who just started writing last Tuesday and is certain they know all the “rules”.

But the published contests feel different to me. First off, they aren’t about correcting your writing, which is good. I tend to submit my books to contests that feature readers or booksellers as judges. The reasoning behind this is that those are the two groups that buy books (either for the stores or for home) and I’m exposing myself to them and that can’t ever be bad, even if I don’t final or win in a contest. I do tend to enter all my books from a particular year, so it can get expensive, but there’s also a nice ego pat when you win (I’m totally overwhelmed right now with all these finals, it means a lot to me). Plus, there’s something to be said for being “Award-Winning Author, Jenna Petersen”.

But really, when it comes to be unpublished and entering, that’s really got to be up to the writer. Some people SWEAR by the contest system through the RWA chapters. They love the feedback, they love the opportunity to get in front of editors and agents if they win, etc. It all depends on what experience you are looking for and how much money you have to burn.

Ciara: Your new book LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN comes out June 24th. What was your favorite part about writing this book?

Jenna: I really liked returning to my “roots” as a writer. My debut, SCANDALOUS, was dark and sexy and emotional (lots of people told me it made them cry, which was awesome!!). Then I wrote the Lady Spies and although I think all of them have a highly emotional, dark element, the concept (Charlie’s Angels in Regency England) was definitely lighter. But LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN takes me right back to very dark, very (VERY) sensual and highly emotional. My two characters are damaged by each other and it’s a struggle for them to come back together in a healthy way and find love again. That challenge was highly enjoyable. Plus, Justin (my hero) is HOT. Have you noticed a trend here?

Ciara: My friend Sarai bought LFAC solely on the cover. How much control do you have over the covers of your books? What has been your favorite cover so far? Do you buy books based on the cover?

Jenna: Okay, isn’t LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN the most beautiful cover in the history of mankind?? I adore it and I worship the Avon Art Department because they’ve never given me a bad cover. I have excellent cover karma, I guess (I must have been nice to an Art Director in a past life).

I don’t have a lot of “control” over covers, but I do get some input. I can only speak to the Avon experience, but here’s how it works for us. About a year before the book comes out, the Avon editorial staff and the Art Department have a cover conference for each book. So April 2009 books had a cover conference at the end of April 2008. My editor contacts me and asks me for title suggestions, info on character appearance and suggestions for particular scenes or poses I’d like to see depicted on the cover.

Now I send that info and I like to send pictures, too, of covers or images that I love. LESSONS happened a bit differently, though. I was actually writing SOMETHING RECKLESS and I had a great picture of the actor Julian McMahon from a GQ shoot. It was very sexy, with him slouched down on a couch holding a woman’s leg. I forwarded it to my editor and said, “Here’s a glimpse of my inspiration”.
She must have forwarded it to our art department because a few months later when I saw the cover for LESSONS, I could definitely see some similarities. But I’d definitely found that sending pictures really helps. I’ve always gotten something close to what I’ve described and my covers have always been better than I pictured.

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think it has to be LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN, really. I mean, it’s eye catching, it fits the book perfectly and it’s really sexy. I also love FROM LONDON WITH LOVE’s cover a great deal. I hear the cover for HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT (April 2009) is also going to be awesome!

Ciara: What are you working on next?

Jenna: I have a lot coming up, actually. In January 2009 I’ll be a part of A RED HOT VALENTINE’S DAY, an anthology with three other erotic writers. My story is called “By Valentine’s Day” and is about friends turning to lovers when they are trapped together by a storm. Then in April 2009 my next historical romance, HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT comes out. My hero is a former champion pugilist (boxer) who is forced back into Society when his twin brother dies and he inherits the title. My heroine agrees to “tutor” him in the ways of good manners if he helps her. Then next summer my next full-length erotic romance will be released. I just finished it. It’s called TABOO (at least for now). My heroine is a seamstress… oh and on the side she designs sex toys for the gentleman of the ton. The hero is the man she threw over (or so he thinks) four years before.

And then I’ll be starting a brand new historical series that I can’t say much about because I’m not past much more than the synopsis. But it will feature five different heroes who are all… well, they’re related in a very special way. I’m SOOOO excited to start writing this story! The first book has really captured my imagination. I hope I’ll be able to translate that on page.

Ciara: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Jenna: Most of my best advice can be found at Passionate Pen http://www.passionatepen.com . Mostly I’d say study your craft, don’t sweat the small stuff and WRITE.

Ciara: You went to the University of Washington here in lil’ old Sea-town. Why do you think the Pacific Northwest breeds/attracts so many authors? (Is there a scientific link between rain and creativity?)

Jenna: It seems like we authors tend to flock in several places. Seattle does have a huge showing for authors, but I know Southern Cali also has a huge group, so does Columbus, even Chicago. And the entire state of Texas seems to be romance novelist central. Weird.

I do like your idea of the rain breeding creativity. There are only a couple fun things to do inside when it’s raining all the time. Writing is one of them. Researching erotica is another.

Thank you so much Jenna!

Title: Slightly Dangerous
Author: Mary Balogh
Series: The Bedwyns
Publication Info: Dell Historical Romance, March 2005
Genre: Regency Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 (5 hearts!)

I do not remember who recommended Slightly Dangerous, but I should like to kiss her. This book filled my heart to bursting. I am all aglow with warm fuzzies. This is why I read romance novels, and in particular Regency romance novels. In Slightly Dangerous, Ms. Balogh has created two remarkable characters whose biggest weaknesses are also their biggest strengths. They fight their unreasonable and nonsensical attraction, only to have love transform their lives into something better than they ever hoped they could be. I have fallen deliciously in love with both the hero and the heroine. I want to date Wulfric and be best friends with Christine. I want to be a member of the Bedwyn family, and plan to rush out and buy all their stories. Gotta love sibling sequels. Though Slightly Dangerous is the last book of the series, it stands perfectly fine alone. It is my first read of Ms. Balogh’s, and again I would like to profusely thank whomever made the introduction.

The plot reads like a standard Regency, but the delivery is magical.

Christine Derrick is a widow living happily in genteel poverty with her spinster sister and mother. She is warm, outgoing and gregarious. She truly loves people. Wulfric Bedwyn, the Duke of Bewcastle, is her polar opposite. He is obscenely rich and terribly proper, with the personableness of a glacier. At a tedious country house party one woman refuses to cow to his icy stare. Her behavior is outrageous, climbing trees and laughing out loud and doing everything civilized persons ought not to do. But, of course, he finds himself attracted to her, despite despising her. Christine is likewise not enamored of the top-lofty Duke. When he asks her to be his mistress she is outraged. They submit to their attraction, but the encounter does nothing to end the damnable feelings. Nothing lasting can come of it, as she is inferior for the position of Duchess and he lacks a shred of warmth or kindness. Christine vows never to marry again after her first marriage slowly killed her girlhood dreams of happily-ever-after. They run into each other again and again, until finally the Duke makes his move. He invites Christine and her extended family-in-law to his country estate with all his siblings and their offspring for the holiday in an attempt to show her he has a heart. Lovely family moments and hi-jinx ensue.

Ms. Balogh weaves a beautiful love story with an lovely theme (p362):

“At last,” he said. “I would not believe in our happily-ever-after until now.”

“Oh, not happily-ever-after, Wulfric,” she said. “That is such a static thing. I don’t want happily-ever-after. I want happiness and life and quarreling and making up and adventure and-”

If you like an uplifting story of luv, true luv, this is the book for you.

Title: The Spymaster’s Lady
Author: Joanna Bourne
Publication Info: Penguin Group, January 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Wow. Just…wow. Next time someone asks “What is good writing?” I have my answer: this book. Not good writing. Brilliant writing. Now that I’ve spent many months trying to write I can really appreciate good writing when I see it. Writing is hard. Good writing is really hard. Brilliant writing? A gift from the gods.

Let me chose a paragraph to illustrate:

The noisy town of Dover stretched above her with its stone houses stacked one upon the other up the hill and the castle above everything. Around her, gray green water washed the pilings, splashing tiny explosions of light, spinning bubbles of silver and snow white. In baskets of fish, the scales shone in iridescent ripples. (172-173)

Brilliant imagery. The heroine is French and I can hear her thinking in French, with cadences and word order in the French way. When the characters switch into German it is the same – though the words are technically English the language use is not. Truly impressive mastery of linguistics. The characters are Brilliant too – complex, detailed. They suck you in and make you fall in love with them. Bourne engages all your senses: your tastes, smells, sights, sounds, touches… your heart.

See how she describes Annique’s spy roleplaying like a garment, repeating the imagery in the next paragraph. It’s awesome.

She took another deep breath and let the role close around her like a familiar garment…. Hid beneath layer and layer of soft foolish Harlot, she waited. (p14)

Plot:
Annique Villiers is a master spy during the reign of Napoleon, trained to lie at her mother’s knee and raised on the battlefields of France. She is one hell of an awesome heroine. When she finds herself in a French prison with two English spies, she concocts an escape and frees her enemies too, tossing her right out of the frying pan and into the fire. Abandoned by her people, injured, alone, Annique must outwit those who hunt her and try to escape the most perilous clutches she has found herself in yet – those of British spymaster Robert Grey.

I dare not give you a full summary for fear of ruining the plot twists. Read the Smart B*tch review or the Dear Author review for more in depth analysis. All I can do is drool. I adore this book. It is going on my list of all-time awesomeness. I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOURNE’S NEXT OFFERING!!!! (My Lord and Spymaster to-be-released July 2008)