Archive for the ‘The Duchesses’ Works’ Category

My debut book, Seducing Charlotte, is set more than 200 years ago, but one of its key themes—conflict and disenfranchisement due to the rapid advance of technology—remains relevant today.

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While we worry about the video games our children play, or the strangers they might meet during their forays into the virtual world, most of us have come to embrace the smart phones, electronic tablets and social media that have invaded our lives in the last few years.

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Those who resist getting caught up in this technological onslaught might be called Luddites. Read the rest of this entry »

So, readers, in honor of my new release, Sins of a Ruthless Rogue, I have invited the hero to have tea with the duchesses and spill all his secrets.

(Ian Maddox strolls in and sprawls across the settee.)

Duchess Anna: (clears throat) Ian, Clayton Campbell is supposed to be here. He’s the hero of the book. Not you.

Ian: (helps himself to a sandwich) You did say you wanted someone to spill secrets, correct? Let’s face it, Clayton is so dark and tortured you’d never get anything out of him.

Duchess Anna: But this isn’t your book. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a friend who is so fabulous, sometimes you can hardly believe she’s your friend? Duchess Máire Claremont is like that for me. I adore her. Sometimes my phone will ring and I’ll look down and see her name (and, of course, her gorgeous author photo!) and I’m like, Me? Lovely Miss Máire wants to talk to me?

But the fact is, Máire and I go way back to 2006, when we met in Atlanta at the RWA National conference. I even have photographic evidence! It was love at first sight, and we’ve been critique partners–with BFF benefits–ever since. That is why I absolutely had to be the one to interview her on The Dashing Duchesses Blog. So, without further fangirling from me, here she is! Read the rest of this entry »

Once again this year, the Romance Writers of America® announced the finalists in the Golden Heart®  and RITA® contests. The purpose of the Golden Heart is to recognize the best unpublished romance manuscripts, while the RITA honors the best published books. For a romance writer, one of these nominations is like getting an Oscar nod.

This year, we are particularly proud of Her Grace, Tracy Brogan for her RITA nomination for Best First Book for her contemporary Crazy Little Thing. Tracy tells us she feels like a counterfeit duchess since she consorts with unsavory, contemporary sorts and pens modern novels, but we’ll forgive her.

This time.

Congratulations also go to Her Grace, Sharon Wray for her double final in the romantic suspense category of the Golden Heart. She hastens to note that the prologue of one of her finaling manuscripts is set in 1699 Carolina Province (AKA modern-day Georgia).

The duchesses would also like to extend their congratulations on RITA nominations to the following authors who have graciously appeared on this blog:

• Anna Lee Huber (in best first book and novel with strong romantic elements for The Anatomist’s Wife)
• Sarah MacLean (in historical for A Rogue by Any Other Name)
• Sally MacKenzie (for her novella “Duchess of Love”)

Duchess of love? I’m sure everyone here can get behind that sentiment. Congratulations, ladies!

Join me, dear duchesses and friends, as I celebrate my release week for the latest story in my Secret Brides series, Secrets of a Runaway Bride. (3/26/13 St. Martin’s Press)

I like to refer to my work as Racy Regency Romps and if I do say so myself, this story delivers on all three of those promises.

Why romps, you ask?

Well, because they are the types of stories I most like to read. Many of our dear duchesses write such wonderful tales, though the duchesses’ styles range from the quite serious and dark to full-on drunken-night-of-revelry frolics! And we do adore our differences. But I’ve always been a huge fan of the farce, the comedy, and the romp. So much so that my entire next series is going to be based on famous comic plays. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever wished you could have a fairy Godmother, some kind, understanding soul who could wave her magic wand and make all your dreams come true? I know it might seem like we Duchesses have it all together, but the truth is, none of us got here without amazing friends and partners, and—in most cases—professional help. Six Duchesses (including Valerie Bowman, Diana Quincy, Jennifer McQuiston, Cheryl Ann Smith, Lecia Cornwall, and Anna Randol) share one very influential, very nice, and very helpful fairy Godmother: our amazing agent, Kevan Lyon.

Kevan is one of the founders of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, a California-based powerhouse group that consistently ranks among the top agencies for romance sales. And Kevan’s widely known specialty? You guessed it: historical authors. You might say she has a soft spot for us, and loves to turn our pumpkins into coaches. And in some ways, she is the reader’s fairy Godmother too. Because the stories Kevan takes a chance on, the ones she believes in, almost always turn into the published books of tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »

Ash: Greetings, and welcome today. I’m very excited because my debut is coming out tomorrow, and…

Jen: Good day, your grace. What are you doing here?

Ash: Oh, you’ve heard. It’s the day before my book release. It’s called A Most Scandalous Proposal. Thank you for dropping by to congratulate me. *smile smile*

Jen: Erm, actually… It’s the day before my book releases, too.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Problem with Seduction

I am so, so incredibly excited to be able to say that THE PROBLEM WITH SEDUCTION is finally available! SEDUCTION is my favorite of all of my books so far, and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world. Go on and grab yours; I’ll wait.

Back? This all started with THE TROUBLE WITH BEING WICKED, my debut novel released last December. Two of my favorite books of all time are Mary Balogh’s MORE THAN A MISTRESS and NO MAN’S MISTRESS. I loooooved the idea of a virgin hero falling in love with an ex-courtesan. WICKED pairs a hero who is not a rake (although he’s also not a virgin) with a woman who isn’t currently a courtesan (although she hasn’t entirely given up the craft). I spent months researching courtesans before I wrote WICKED, and after investing all of that time and brain space, I figured I would carry on the series by writing about another courtesan in the follow up novel. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s always cause to drink champagne with the Duchesses.

Duchess Debuts, Bestsellers, dreams made and kisses sealed forever. Today, we celebrate five new authors, eleven delicious books, a parcel of good news, and the brisk smoothing of skirts that got us here.

Please join us in raising our glasses, and our teacups, to the indomitable duchess spirit within us all.

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We love good news. Divulge yours in the comments and share the bubbly.

Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings, Duchesses and friends! I’m so glad you’re here. To celebrate the release of my debut novel, WHEN SHE WAS WICKED, I have a few treats in store for you: virtual ball gowns and prizes!

First, the ball gowns. My heroine, Miss Anabelle Honeycote, is a talented seamstress, renowned for her ability to design the perfect gowns for her clients. Anabelle’s creations capture each woman’s personality and bring out her inner beauty.

Here’s a little glimpse of Anabelle in action, talking with her new friends, Olivia and Rose: Read the rest of this entry »