I wish I could say a tipstaff figured into Never Love a Scoundrel, but it was more of a “rathole research” endeavor. That’s what happens when I’m researching one thing, become interested in something else entirely, and before I know it, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time researching something I’m never going to use. I’m certain the other duchesses know exactly what I’m talking about. It also didn’t help that there isn’t a ton of information about these interesting items, which made the research particularly rathole-ish, to coin a word, which like the research it represents, I may never use again.

There is, however, a Bow Street Runner featured in Never Love a Scoundrel and he does carry a tipstaff. I do expect it to make an appearance in the next book Scoundrel Ever After. In fact, one (though not his) does make an appearance in the first scene, which you can read on my website.

What makes tipstaves and truncheons so interesting to me is their uniqueness. There are many different sizes and they’re made from different materials, and in most cases, each one is individualized based on the holder’s office. Some bear their names, the location of their service, and the date it was invested to them. Some even bear dates of some event, such as a riot or other occurrence of lawlessness. Many have a cipher or coat of arms, typically of the reigning monarch. Some are quite plain—just wood with an inscription, while others have a crown at the top (perhaps even with a velvet insert!) and are etched with fancy script. The uniqueness can be credited to the fact that there was no central police force until the Metropolitan Police Force was formed in 1829. Consequently, these items were not mass-produced until the mid-nineteenth century did not follow a general form.

The golden age of the truncheon died out by 1880 as warrant cards took their place. Warrant cards are still used today to identify the officer. This isn’t to say that the art of truncheons or tipstaves died out entirely. They still figure into police insignia and have been created for various commemorative purposes, such as during World War II.

Because there isn’t a lot of information about tipstaves and truncheons, I was unfortunately unable to procure an image or two to post here. However, you can see a stunning array of tipstaves and truncheons here.

Now, what book release celebration would be complete without an excerpt and a contest? None, I tell you! Here’s an excerpt from chapter three of Never Love a Scoundrel, which is the second time Lydia and Jason meet. They’re at a tea, which is Jason’s first social appearance in seven long years. His arrival is . . . well, read and find out.

Mrs. Lloyd-Jones’s butler appeared in the doorway. “Lord Lockwood, my lady.”

Every head turned at once, and the resulting gasps were audible.

Lydia had reached for her cup, but was glad she hadn’t picked it up. She likely would have dropped it. The sound of breaking china echoed her thoughts and drew everyone’s attention to Miss Vining, who stared open-mouthed at the door, her teacup in pieces at her feet. Suddenly Mrs. Lloyd-Jones’s suppressed smile made sense—she’d known his arrival was imminent.

Lord Lockwood’s intimidating figure filled the doorway. Lydia’s heart hammered as she looked up at him. He was, without question, the most broad-shouldered man she’d ever seen. And quite tall, with dark hair, and of course that vicious scar running down the left side of his face.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” His deep tone filled the drawing room as he stepped over the threshold. He offered a serene smile, which drew her to stare at his scar again. Did it pain him? How had it happened? Did he hate it very much?

Lydia shook herself from her fancy and caught sight of Lady Trevett’s horrified expression. Goodness, couldn’t the woman rein in her reaction? He wasn’t ghastly to behold. Oh, but perhaps that wasn’t the cause of her distress. It was simply his scandalous presence.

Mrs. Lloyd-Jones stood abruptly. She grinned and because Lydia knew her, she knew the welcoming expression was genuine—just as everyone else’s shock was equally real. “My dear boy, do come in. I’m honored by your attendance. Indeed, I shall be the envy of every woman in Town.” She gestured to the lot of them seated about the room. “All of us will be.

“Lord Lockwood,” she said with a knowing smile, “I believe you’ve already met my dear friend Lady Lydia Prewitt.”

He moved slowly closer, and the advance seemed somehow predatory. She attributed such nonsense to his size and ignored the way the drawing room suddenly felt quite small. And warm. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lady Lydia.” He bowed and Lydia wished she’d offered her hand. What would it feel like to have a man such as him touch her? He was vice and scandal incarnate. Delicious. Oh confound it, there was that word again!

She smoothed her skirt as if she could gentle the thudding of her heart. “The pleasure is mine, my lord.”

“Would you care for tea?” Mrs. Lloyd-Jones asked as she sank back down onto the settee.

“Yes, thank you. No cream, and just a bit of sugar.” He looked around at the shocked faces of the other women. “I hope it’s all right I’ve invaded your drawing room.” He turned his attention to Mrs. Lloyd-Jones.

Mrs. Lloyd-Jones poured his tea and stirred in a trifle of sugar. “You are more than welcome. Please, sit.” She gestured to the rather feminine-looking, pale yellow-cushioned gilt chair situated very near Lydia.

He lowered himself to the edge of the seat, looking as if he feared he would break the piece. Perhaps he would. He was huge. Wild. Unlike any other gentleman Lydia had ever met. But then he wasn’t a gentleman, even if he had given evidence to the contrary—holding gates open for her and her maid, bowing elegantly before her.

Mrs. Lloyd-Jones finished with the tea. “Lydia, be a dear and give Lord Lockwood his teacup.”

Lydia picked up the cup and saucer and transferred them to Lord Lockwood. His fingers brushed against hers. Though they were both gloved, her imagination threatened to run away with itself from the slight contact—had he intended to touch her?

“Mrs. Lloyd-Jones’s blend is excellent.” Lydia mentally chastised herself for the inane comment. Lockwood likely didn’t give a fig about tea!

Lord Lockwood’s gaze was intent, and when it was combined with that ferocious scar, he looked utterly imposing, like some warrior of old. Thankfully, he shifted his heady regard to their hostess. “I must apologize that it’s taken me so long to accept your kind invitation.”

“Not at all, my dear. Though, forgive me for saying, your presence is most remarkable,” Mrs. Lloyd-Jones said.

Miss Vining gasped again, and Lydia didn’t suppose it was due to the footman who was cleaning up the mess of her broken teacup. Mrs. Lloyd-Jones threw her sister an exasperated glance. “Bridget, pull yourself together. We’re being visited by Lord Lockwood, not Lucifer.”

Lord Lockwood cradled his teacup in his massive hands, making him seem even more masculine, if that were possible. “I’m certain there are those—perhaps even in this room—who would argue there is no distinction.” He lowered his voice and gave Mrs. Lloyd-Jones and Lydia a provocative stare. “And I wouldn’t blame them.”

You can read another scene (from chapter one) here.

Contest time! In the comments, do tell us what research rathole you recently fell down. Or if research isn’t your thing, what other rathole dragged you away from what you should have been doing—perhaps a Netflix marathon that kept you up for three days or a book binge that devoured an entire weekend. One lucky commenter will win a copy of one of my backlist novels in either ebook or paperback. Choose from Her Wicked Ways, His Wicked Heart, or To Seduce a Scoundrel (only US and Canadian residents may choose paperback). Plus, I’ll throw in an ebook copy of book four, a novella, To Love a Thief, which features a former constable who definitely keeps his old tipstave of office in a safe place!

Darcy Burke wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. An RWA Golden Heart^® Finalist, Darcy lives on the edge of Oregon wine country with her devoted husband, their two great kids, and three cats. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. She’s also a fair-weather runner, and her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com, follow her on Twitter, or like her Facebook page.

Never Love a Scoundrel is available at:

Kindle | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | All Romance eBooks | Smashwords | Amazon UK

Everyone always asks, where do you get your ideas. Well . . . I get ideas in all sorts of ways—sometimes it is an item in the newspaper, other times it might be a pair of teens gossipy about their “BFF”, and for my new book, AND THE MISS RAN AWAY WITH THE RAKE, the idea for my correspondence match up came from two places: an article in the Jane Austen magazine about matchmaking advertisements at the time, and one of my favorite movies, Shop Around the Corner (and my less favorite remake, You’ve Got Mail).

I had just read the matchmaking article as I was beginning to write the first book in the series, ALONG CAME A DUKE. When I saw this actual advertisement from Regency times, I died—the very notion of a gentleman advertising for someone to find him a Lady of Fortune was hilarious, and wanted to work something akin to this into the story—using it eventually as a joke of sorts.

But that joke, the hero placing a matchmaking advertisement in the paper for his staid and proper uncle, Lord Henry Seldon, just kept prodding the idea hopper. What if someone actually answered such an ad? What if LOTS of women responded to his ad? What would poor Henry do with baskets and baskets of perfumed letters? The idea was just too much fun, too delicious to pass up and thus starts my latest book, AND THE MISS RAN AWAY WITH THE RAKE.

In actuality, placing ads was one way for lonely hearts to find a mate during the Regency time period, just as people go online now. And just like now, there were cautions about meeting a potential suitor that way. Several women responded to such ads and were never seen or heard from again, or arrived to find their future husband already had a wife.. . or two already.

So I have to ask—has anyone used online dating or answered a personal ad? What happened? And did you find your rake, as Miss Daphne Dale did?

Elizabeth Boyle is the author of 20 historical romances and an avid fan of all things Regency, especially quirky little bits of history like matchmaking via the newspaper. You can find a list of Elizabeth’s books at her website (http://www.elizabethboyle.com) or LIKE her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElizabethBoyle) or follow her on Twitter(https://twitter.com/ElizBoyle) , where she waxes poetic and snarky, depending on her mood.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a weapons expert. I’m not even halfway knowledgeable.  I have never touched or fired a present-day gun, let alone anything historical. Nor have I handled any kind of knife beyond a butter knife. But I have researched weapons for my heroines, which I’m going to share with you today. Mostly because I thought they were so neat I couldn’t help myself. Still, in the scheme of things, this is only a very basic primer on a few interesting weapons. If you want more information, there are many, many experts and enthusiasts that would gladly share their knowledge.

So. Without further do,  the weapons. It is quite difficult to conceal a weapon if you are an 18th or 19th century society lady. A lady doesn’t run around London with a huge pistol in her reticule such as this 9 inch pistol circa 1800. It wouldn’t fit. And a 9 inch pistol does not accessorize well.

What does a girl do? Invest in a pocket pistol, so called because it could fit in a great-coat pocket (which is not useful for my heroine unless she intends to rely on the hero–which of course, she does not). It will also fit inside a ladies’ muff (which is quite useful for my heroines, assuming it’s winter when the book takes place).  The size of a pocket pistol varies. Here are a set of pistols circa 1800 that are about 7.5 inches long.

Here is a French pocket pistol that is 5.75  inches long. The handle is a carved bird, which is both interesting and disturbing. Look at the wonderful details in these pictures!

Flintlock pocket pistols, by Nicolas Noel Boutet, Versailles, c. 1805, ebony grips, engraved steel barrels – Royal Ontario Museum
Wikipedia Commons – Photograph by Daderot

My favorite, the pistol set to the left is only 4.5 inches long–very easy to conceal!

Of course, in the late Regency, my heroine would most likely carry a flintlock pistol, though percussion pistols were beginning to be available around 1820.  Thus, many of the caveats of flintlock pistols apply. They don’t fire in rain or damp weather as the powder will be too wet. Also, they frequently misfire. This is bad. One wouldn’t want to accidentally shoot an eligible bachelor while dancing!

But what about knives? Less chance of misfire and still concealable, so perhaps this would be an ideal weapon for my heroines. Knives can be made to any length and any size, and their shapes change based upon their purpose. The stiletto, for example, which is long and slim with a sharp point is meant for thrusting. At the risk of being too blood-thirsty, a stiletto is meant to pierce deeply, not to have sharp edges for cutting. (Ick.) It dates back to the late 1400’s in Italy.

Stiletto – Wikipedia Commons
Released by photographer Jerryk50 into public domain

And last but not least, a bodice is another place to hide a knife. Though I imagine it would be a bit uncomfortable (and sharp!) if you move just wrong. Still, there were such things as bodice daggers in the Medieval times, when both men and women regularly carried daggers for eating and self-defense.

And now we are coming to my very favorite knife. The salvavirago. A Spanish knife which is also called a “chastity knife.” Guess who gets to use this knife? Yep. Feisty heroines. I couldn’t find a lot of information on this knife beyond that Andalusian women carried it in their garters or bodice. It was smaller form of the navaja, which was a larger Spanish folding knife. Here is a picture of a navaja knife fight, and here is a picture of a salvavirago.

I don’t think hiding a knife in a bodice would work quite as well in the Regency as in earlier times, however, when the bodices were so short! But I’m betting an ingenious female spy might figure out a way to make that work!

Alyssa Alexander writes historical romantic suspense about spies and smugglers and nefarious villains. She avoids even the dullest of kitchen knives. Watch for her debut release The Smuggler Wore Silk coming from Berkley in early 2014.

Duchess Anna: Welcome! Come in sit down and have a cup of tea! So if you had to pick one flag to hang over your bed which would it be: Britain or Texas? (And may I remind you, you are talking to a duchess… *gives a pointed look*)

Lorraine: Oh, so not fair. I suppose I would go with a British flag over my bed … a Texas flag over my door. (Find out why here.)

What is your favorite part of the writing process (besides eating chocolate while being fanned by handsome footmen…)?

Sipping wine while being fanned by handsome footmen. My favorite part of the writing process is revising after the rough draft is done—I know where the story is going and have a firmer grasp on the characters. I love layering in details.

Wine…Why didn’t I think of that? Now, I love a hero with a dark tortured past, and you have created three amazing examples in your Lost Lords of Pembrook series. For those readers buried under their TBR pile, could you give a brief explanation about who these brothers are and what happened to each of them?

Absolutely. Sebastian and Tristan are twins. Sebastian is the oldest and the heir. Rafe is 4 years younger. When they were lads of 14 and 10, their father was killed, probably by their uncle who proceeded to lock them in the Pembrook Castle tower. They were certain he had plans to kill them. With the help of a neighbor’s daughter, they escaped and parted ways. Sebastian went to the army, Tristan to the sea, and Rafe to a workhouse, then the streets. Twelve years later they return to London to reclaim their birthright and their place in Society.

Lord of Wicked Intentions deals with the final brother, Rafe. He thinks he had the worst experience because he was the one left behind in London when his brothers fled to far off places. Do you agree with him? How would you have tried to survive if you were in his place?

I think he did have it the worst. He was young and confused when he was left behind. The workhouse was a very unpleasant place and as the son of a lord, he was ill-prepared for the hardship. When he escaped and made his way to the London streets, he fell in with a fellow who knew all of London’s darkest secrets. They soon became Rafe’s. He eventually came to own a gaming hell, but he cares for nothing and is always alone.

I suspect that I would have tried to survive as he did—as best I could, always hoping for something better. It’s strange, but when I wrote the first book, Tristan comments on the fact that Rafe has many globes in his office. At the time I didn’t know why, but when I was describing the room, I saw the globes and decided to go with it. They turned out to reveal quite a bit about him. He collected them because they gave him hope that there was someplace better than where he was. And while he never admitted it, I suspect he also collected them as a way to feel closer to his brothers. He had no idea where they were, but looking at the globes helped to reassure him that they were somewhere.

What characteristics do you think that the heroine, Eve, possesses that makes her Rafe’s match?

He’s a cynic while she remains an optimist who believes there is good in people. It’s part of the reason she found it so difficult to believe her brother’s plans for her. But she refused to paint the rest of the world with the brush of his cruelty. She also, like Rafe, was willing to do whatever was necessary to survive. She accepted the reality of her situation, but refused to be cowed by it. I never saw her as weak. Rafe would never have fallen for someone who was weak. But her strength resides in her innocence and her firm belief in love. She rather fascinated me.

What do you think Eve was most surprised to find out about Rafe? And Rafe to find out about Eve?

I think she was most surprised to discover that his actions were often the opposite of his words. He claimed to care for no one, and yet little hints to his goodness were sprinkled throughout the story.

I think Rafe was most surprised to discover Eve’s kindness could lash so painfully at his stone heart. He’d had no kindness since he was 10. She had every reason to despise him, and yet she didn’t. No matter how often he told himself that he didn’t care for her, he was only lying to himself.

Now on to one final and perhaps most important question—what is your favorite dessert?

Wedding cake, whether it’s an actual cake, ice cream, frozen yogurt, or vodka (Yes, there is wedding cake flavored vodka, which I highly recommend).

Ooh, that does sound delicious! And you came through the interview without breaking into a sweat! Are you sure you aren’t a duchess?

So, Readers, if you could pick one dessert to share with the fabulous Lorraine Heath, what would you choose? One lucky commenter will be selected to win a copy of Lord of Wicked Intentions! Must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited.

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright . . .

Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, an earl’s illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress . . .

After her father’s death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice but to accept the lord’s indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love leads the last lost lord home . . .

Thanks to everyone for commenting, and happy reading!

What’s that, you say? Book trailers are old news, and don’t work to drum up interest in a book?

Oh, you poor, dear creature. Clearly you’ve been watching the wrong book trailers.

In the making of the trailer for The Turncoat, Donna brought her prior film-industry experience (and friends) to the table. The result is a lush cinematic feast that watches like a movie trailer. But the book doesn’t just deliver on the promise of the trailer… it up-ends it, shakes it out, and crafts it into something far better.

A book you can’t put down.

The Turncoat is a stunning debut novel that will teach you something about history, even as you learn something about love. It is the first in a series called “Renegades of the Revolution”, and is set in the turbulent setting of America during the Revolutionary War. The book features Kate Grey, a Quaker-turned-spy of a heroine who is quite possibly the gutsiest protagonist I have ever read. More accurately described as historical fiction than actual romance, The Turncoat guides you through Kate’s transformation from pacifist to aggressor, and from a not-so-naïve innocent to a cunning seductress. You do not regret her evolution, even though parts of it are hard to watch, because none of it is hard to understand. Her motivations are so well-crafted you become convinced you would make the same hard choices, even while facing death or worse.

The Dashing Duchesses is primarily a site devoted to historical romance, and I am a reader that prefers romance over straight-up historical fiction. But I also love authors like Ken Follett, because they take history and turn it into something beautiful. Similarly, the beauty of The Turncoat is that you never see the history coming until it is past you, because Thorland shows you events as they happen, rather than tells you. In that spirit, I cannot wait to show you Donna Thorland.

1)      The Turncoat is a book that defies categorization. It isn’t straight-up historical fiction, and it isn’t a romance. What is it? And did it end up being what you expected when you started out writing it?

Thank you! The book was a labor of love—I knew selling a story set during the American Revolution would be tough—so it’s gratifying to see it resonate with readers.

Above all else, I think the Turncoat is a swashbuckler. A mix of action, adventure, and romance in which single combat between antagonists plays a decisive role. If “swashbuckler” was an aisle in the bookstore, it would be stocked with Dorothy Dunnett, Bernard Cornwell, Baroness Orczy, Raphael Sabatini, and Alexander Dumas. If it was a category on Netflix it would include Last of the Mohicans, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy, and the Three Musketeers (the Richard Lester version, please).

My goal when I started writing was to make the American Revolution sexy and dangerous again, and give it a heroine who was clever and brave and at the same time flawed and relatable. Revolutions, after all, are sexy — why should the French have all the fun?

Duchess Jennifer says: Umm…Yes, please. I apparently prefer swashbucklers.

In buckskin.

2)      The Turncoat features two men in Kate’s life: her fiancé, Bayard Caide, and the man who would distract her, Peter Tremayne. You craft excellent reasons for her to be attracted to both men, and while it is something that might make true romance lovers cringe, you keep that dual attraction going strong throughout most of the book. Tell us why you chose to make her conflicted over two men, and why this worked in the unfolding plot.

The intelligence Kate gathers results in a massive British defeat with a staggering loss of life, including that of a man she knows and likes. This weighs on her, and in Bayard Caide she sees another stained soul. A dark mirror for her own self doubt, but also a man who is not afraid to wring every drop of passion and pleasure from the hand life’s dealt him.

Kate is a woman who is just coming to understand her own potential. Her choice isn’t just between two different men, but also between two different versions of herself: the woman she would become with Caide, and the woman she might become with Tremayne.

3)      Kate Grey is a heroine who understands the risks that might befall a Rebel spy (hanging, rape, torture) and still willingly flings herself into the fray. She isn’t in denial about what might happen to her—she is frighteningly pragmatic, and seems as motivated by a determination to be valued for her intellect as to change the course of the war. In crafting such a memorable heroine, did you base her on someone real?

Kate Grey was inspired by Quaker spy Lydia Barrington Darragh, who risked her life to warn Washington of a British sneak attack at Whitemarsh and kept her cool during a subsequent British interrogation. And in the novel Kate has a strong female role model. Her mentor, Angela Ferrers, was inspired by the real Widow of Mount Holly, who seduced Colonel Carl Von Donop into lingering with her for three days, ensuring Washington’s victory at Trenton. The Widow’s real identity is still unknown.

Lydia Darragh, Quaker Spy

4)      Peter Tremayne initially considers Kate a drab and quiet country mouse… until she opens her mouth and challenges him on wartime strategies. He is my favorite sort of hero, a man who is intellectually outmatched, and yet finds the woman who is outwitting him attractive. Do you feel such reaction is true to the time period, and that a man in the 1700’s would have that sort of respect for a woman?

I think John and Abigail Adams had genuine intellectual respect for one another, and if you dive into the letters and journals of the period you find plenty of smart, educated women. The Revolution was followed by a wave of social conservatism in the early republic, and American women of letters like Mercy Otis Warren were pushed off the public stage. It’s time we put them front and center again.

Abigail Adams: Smarter than her spouse?

5)      Squeamish readers need to be warned: this book address the horrors of war—including rape, torture, and death—head on. It isn’t gratuitous. In fact, you do an excellent job keeping the thought of what terrible thing is happening front and center without diving into the details. In some ways, I found that more frightening, because you leave it to the reader’s imagination to fill in some horrible blanks. Was it hard to write those scenes? And why were they absolutely necessary?

They were difficult to write—but I think they repaid the effort. Without those scenes, the dangers Kate faced would never have been real for readers. And the end . . . well, I don’t think it would have been nearly as satisfying.

6)      You are being reviewed on several Romance sites, even though your book tends to straddle a more delicate line. Do you read romance? And if so, who are some of your favorite authors?

I do indeed read romance. On my Kindle right now I have Pamela Clare, Julia Quinn, Meredith Duran, Lauren Willig, Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan, Joanna Bourne, Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Patricia Gaffney, Mary Balogh, Anne Stuart, and Loretta Chase.

Thank you so much for joining us on the Dashing Duchesses today, Donna! I have quite a few of those authors on my own Nook… and The Turncoat, as well! I cannot wait to read the next book in your Renegades of the Revolution series.

For those of you who haven’t read The Turncoat yet, now is your chance. Donna is giving away a copy to one lucky commenter! Winners will be chosen on Friday May 3rd. Good luck!

Congratulations to Ella Quinn for winning a copy of Kieran Kramer’s The Earl is Mine. And a huge thank you to Kieran for being such a wonderful week-long Duchess.

Please join us next week, Monday, April 29th, as Duchess Jennifer McQuiston hosts Donna Thorland, author of the wonderful new historical romance The Turncoat!

Today I am honored to (re)introduce Kieran Kramer (who happens to be my sister-in-law!), the award-winning, best-selling author of my favorite Regency romances including the Impossible Bachelor series and her new House of Brady series. But as I set out the tea and cakes, looking forward to a cozy chat, she arrives with two tall, muscular men.

Me (whispering): Kieran? Why are there two hot men standing behind you?

Kieran (shrugging): The heroes in my two recent books love attention! And I have to admit, I love to give it to them. So when they asked to come along, I said yes.

Me: I’m not one to complain, but won’t your brother (my DH) have something to say about this?

Kieran (tosses away my concern with a regal wave): We just won’t tell him! So let me do the formal introductions. She nods to the more rakish of the two, with blue eyes and dark, wavy hair. 

Me: Did he just wink at me?

Kieran (laughing): This is Gregory Sherwood, Lord Westdale, the sexy hero from my current release, THE EARL IS MINE. He’s the oldest son of the Marquess and Marchioness of Brady, and he has a deep, dark secret. However, not everyone in the ton knows about it, but those he loves does–including Pippa, his new wife and the love of his life. They’re old, old friends who stopped being true friends for a while. She’s the only person who knew something was bothering Gregory, but he didn’t want her to get close to him because he couldn’t risk revealing the secret. He became an island. But as we all know, love changes everything, and with Pippa’s help, he’s restored to the man he’s meant to be: full of life, love, and laughter.

Me: Gregory winks again, but I play coy and turn my attention to the broader man with amazing sapphire eyes and hair like coal. Where Gregory has the advantage of height, this gentleman clearly has seen some time in a fighting ring. And I have to say I’m intrigued.

Kieran: This is Luke Callahan, Gregory’s new brother-in-law and another handsome hero. Luke’s romantic story will be told in SAY YES TO THE DUKE, my August 2013 release. Against his will, Luke falls in love with Gregory’s little sister Janice. And if you think Gregory had a secret–well, Luke’s is a mighty bombshell, too. I suspect he might let the cat out of the bag today, but…you won’t have any idea how the story unfolds unless you read the book! Janice is the only woman who really understands what motivates Luke to make the decisions he does. In turn, he helps her get past some of her own insecurities. Theirs is a passionate love story that takes place outside of London–much of it, believe it or not, in a stableblock that belongs to the self-absorbed Duke of Halsey.

Me: Although I’m delighted to meet these historical hotties, I can’t help but wonder what they are doing here. Checking out the amazing women who visit this site? Or maybe to score an exclusive invite to the Duchesses Tea Party in Atlanta? Whatever the reason, I quickly dump the tea and pull out my DH’s bottle of 40-year old scotch. I have a few questions of my own. (And I’m sure Kieran won’t mind!)

Me: Gentlemen, what is the most outrageous bet you’ve ever placed at White’s?

Gregory: Easy. The one in which I bet that Harry Groves, one of my friends from Cambridge, would dress up like his aunt and spook his uncle at the brothel on St. James Street.

Luke: It’s not Harry’s fault that his uncle died as a result. (spoken with a straight face)

Gregory: No. (he restrains a chuckle)

Kieran: You’re both wicked. It is a shame that he died!

Gregory: I’d have died, too, seeing Harry dressed up as a woman.

Luke (looking at Gregory): You won the bet on Harry, but did anyone bet his uncle would die?

Gregory (wincing): No. Imagine if someone had. I wish I’d thought of it.

Kieran: They’re not really this wicked, dear readers. They’re putting on. They’re impossible when they get together. It’s even worse when Duncan, Marcia’s husband, is in the room. I’m stopping the question right here, before Luke can tell us if he’s placed a bet at White’s.

Luke: You’re jesting, I take it. I’ve only been a member of White’s since this morning, when my title became official.

Gregory (slumping in his seat and half-covering his eyes): Yes, and he’s going to be impossible to live with now.

Luke: You’d best remember to call me Your Grace. Especially when I place the bet about beating you in a curricle race to Brighton and I win and you’re forced to say, “Here’s your hundred pounds, Your Grace.”

Gregory (muttering): Good God. We’ve created a monster.

(They both laugh)

Me (laughing uncomfortably and a bit afraid to ask the next question): What is the most salacious scandal you’ve ever been accused of participating in?

Gregory: Is my mother going to read this?

Luke: She said accused—not actually done.

Gregory (brightening): Oh, in that case. (He pauses) Wait. I really did do that.

Luke: What?

Gregory: I can’t say.

Kieran: Sorry. You have no choice. You’re at my beck and call, you characters.

Gregory (staring rudely at Kieran): Very well. It was in Philadelphia at a ball. I didn’t know she was the mayor’s wife. She never told me. Thankfully, we were caught before it went too far. I think I made myself get caught. My heart wasn’t in it. Mayhem ensued. And then I was told in no uncertain terms to leave town or risk having

my body thrown on top of Ben Franklin’s tombstone.

Luke: Did you leave town?

Gregory: No. I actually chose the tombstone option. I hadn’t had an opportunity yet to see Independence Hall and the original Constitution. You can’t go to America and miss that.

Luke: Did you get any sleep in the graveyard?

Gregory: Enough to dream about Pippa. She invaded my thoughts constantly when I was in America.

Luke: That’s disgustingly romantic.

Gregory (grinning): Isn’t it?

Me (not sure if I should continue, but not wanting to seem rude): What is your favorite female curve?

Gregory: Pippa’s thigh. No one else’s.

Luke: I refuse to answer that one.

Gregory: He’s got good instincts. No matter what he’d say, I’d slap him. That’s my sister he’s talking about.

Luke (grinning): I’m no fool.

Me (quickly moving on and trying to catch Kieran’s gaze to end this as soon as possible): What was your first impression of your heroine?

Gregory: She was filthy–and the most greedy thing I’d ever seen. She was cupping a field mouse in her palm and chuckling like a fiend. Her pockets were bulging with biscuits that she refused to share with me. Of course, she was only four at the time.

Luke: But I saw Pippa doing that just that the other day.

(Gregory leans over to swat him)

Luke: When I first saw Janice, I thought she was–hold onto your hat, brother of mine—a strumpet come to seduce my cousin. I was sure of it. She had such a hot nature beneath that modest coat and navy blue bonnet.

Gregory: Good God, I really don’t want to hear this. Must I be subjected to more?

Kieran: Yes, the both of you must endure. And you secretly love the interrogation, so shut up.

(Luke chuckles. Gregory follows suit).

Me (beginning to relax and enjoy the banter): Is there anything you said to your heroine during the story that you regret?

Gregory: Yes. I regret agreeing to promote her to general in the bedchamber. When she was a mere lieutenant, she didn’t mouth off at me nearly as much.

Luke (laughing): You know you love it.

Gregory (grinning): I do, I suppose, as all kinds of new strategies for siege are in play these days. She’s taken me prisoner on more than one occasion, and I confess, the punishments I endure when power goes to her head are positively wicked.

Luke: Women and power…it’s a mesmerizing combination for any man worth his salt.

Gregory: Oh, yes. I’m sure Janice is no simpering sort of wife, either.

Luke: No, indeed. (They both chuckle) As for my own regrets, I wish I’d never told my beloved wife that I’d endure my cousin Grayson’s presence in our lives. Because now he’s actually pleasant to be around, and I’m forced every day to listen to him wax on about his new occupation—that of jeweler. I don’t give a flying fig about diamond necklaces and emerald ear bobs in general, unless they’re on my wife and she’s naked.

Gregory: Wait a minute!

Luke (ignoring him): Actually, it’s a bit exciting for Janice. We rented Grayson an extraordinarily stuffy storefront in London, not too far from Gunters. So the women have their ices then drop by his shop to get their fill of another sort or confection.

Gregory: Right. He just sold me another ruby necklace for Pippa. Her third one.

Luke: See? He’s going to bankrupt us both.

Gregory: Not if we marry him off first. Then he’ll be so preoccupied with her, we’ll be off the hook.

Luke: Good idea!

Me (this is my favorite question!):  What do you love most about your heroine?

Gregory: Her smile. Nothing—nothing—is wrong when she smiles at me. I forget everything else.

Luke: Her eyes. They see right through me, past the flaws and the pride and the stubbornness, yet…she still loves me.

(Both men put their faces in their glasses of scotch and drain them so they don’t have to look at each other)

Kieran: I knew I liked you two for a reason. There’s nothing more attractive than a man who loves his woman and lets the world know.

Gregory (tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair): Can we go now?

Luke (standing): Yes. I feel the need to hit someone.

Gregory: Me, too. Want to go to Gentleman Jackson’s, Your Grace?

Luke: Fine idea. And after that, we’ll do other manly things, like inciting a small brawl at my favorite pub. I used to box in the alley behind it. When we’re done making mischief inside, I’ll show you the gutter where I split my head.

Gregory: Excellent!

(The two men depart hastily)

Kieran: Thanks for having us here today, Sharon! It was such fun!

Me (relieved, yet a bit sad that the men are gone): You’re so welcome. And is it true you are giving away a free copy of THE EARL IS  MINE with a surprise swag bag to one lucky commenter?

Kieran: Absolutely! And I’d love to know what questions your readers have for Gregory or Luke. She smiles slyly. I have ways of making them talk.

What questions do you, dear reader, have for Gregory and Luke? Now that they’ve finished my bottle of scotch, I bet they’ll answer anything!

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

Handsome, charismatic, and on the verge of becoming a successful architect, Gregory Sherwood, Lord Westdale, could have just about any woman he wants. So why rush to marry? So far there’s been only one woman he’s considered his ideal match. But that was before she had a secret affair with his best friend…with the help of an unwitting accomplice named Lady Pippa Harrington.

A PASSION TOO GOOD TO DENY

Pippa may not have acted in her old friend Gregory’s best interests, but she’s always believed that the heart sets its own rules. This is why Pippa must escape her arranged marriage–fast–by fleeing to Paris, where she hopes to pursue her artistic passions. To do so, Pippa will need all the help she can get–from Gregory, the one man she isn’t sure she can trust…or resist….

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CAN A SCANDALOUS BEGINNING . . .

 Janice Sherwood wants to marry for love, but she’s failed to make a match after two Seasons. Her parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Brady, arrange to send her to the Duke of Halsey’s country estate as a short-term guest of his grandmother, the dowager, in hopes that she might win the duke’s affections. What they never could have imagined is that Janice would fall for the ruggedly handsome servant Luke, who lives in the stables and carries an air of mystery and temptation.

LEAD TO A FAIRY-TALE ENDING?

When Luke Callahan learns that he is the legitimate heir to a dukedom, he will stop at nothing to claim what is his. But first, he must begin a game of disguise to secure his rightful inheritance. Janice isn’t part of his plan. But by engaging her in this dance of deception, might he lose her forever?

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About Kieran Kramer:

Double Rita®-finalist and USA Today bestseller Kieran Kramer writes Regency historical romances for St. Martin’s Press. THE EARL IS MINE, the second in her House of Brady series, is her latest release. SAY YES TO THE DUKE premieres in August 2013. A former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher, Kieran is also a game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer. She lives where she grew up–in the Lowcountry of South Carolina–with her Naval Reserve commander husband and their three children.

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Congratulations to Maria, who has won a digital copy of Seducing Charlotte! I hope you enjoy it!

Don’t forget to join us back here on Monday for bestselling author Kieran Kramer’s Sexy Regency Heroes: A Tea Party to Remember.

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.

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The term Luddite is widely associated with people who oppose technology. The concept originated with a workers’ rebellion which began in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1811, when desperate, unemployed workers took to breaking into factories at night to wreck the machines which had stolen their livelihoods.

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Luddites wreck textile machines in this drawing from 1812. (Public Domain)

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The original Luddites were textile artisans who protested against the rapid advancement of  the “obnoxious” new machines that were putting them out of work. The protesters included cloth finishers, weavers, tailors, shoemakers and workers of almost every handicraft, many of whom were facing starvation.

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The machines reduced production costs, which was usually achieved by lowering wages and the number of hours worked. The Luddites also opposed the employment of colts, workers who had not completed the 7-year apprenticeship required by law.

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Seducing Charlotte takes place against the backdrop of the Luddite rebellion. Cam, the hero, owns a factory that uses these new steam-powered cotton looms, much to the distress of Charlotte, who advocates for the working class. These opposing viewpoints are a key source of conflict between them. That, and the fact that Charlotte harbors a secret – a shocking connection to the machine breakers.

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Ironically, I was in the midst of writing Seducing Charlotte when the advance of technology swept through my workplace. All employees, even those who’d been there for years, were required to reapply for their jobs. Part of that process included demonstrating that we could master the new technology. Luckily, I survived the upheaval, but many of my co-workers did not. Those of us who’d managed to hold onto our jobs felt both relieved and guilty. Meanwhile, our less fortunate colleagues walked around with blank, disbelieving looks on their faces, as the realization sank in that the skills they’d honed for years—and for some,  decades,—were no longer needed.

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It was a real-life reminder that what the Luddites endured still resonates today.

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What about you? How does technology impact your life today? What is the one electronic device you can’t live without?

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Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Seducing Charlotte.

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The wildly handsome Marquess of Camryn is an industrialist who stands for everything social reformer Charlotte Livingston detests. She’s mortified by her intense attraction to the aristocratic factory owner who thinks nothing of replacing workers with machines, depriving them of honest work. Stirred by Charlotte’s tart tongue and refreshingly direct manner, Camryn launches a relentless campaign of seduction to win the spinster’s heart, but she is loyal to another man. As a violent Luddite rebellion rages across England, unrelenting desire flares between the passionate adversaries. Camryn vows to destroy the rebel movement, unaware Charlotte harbors a secret, shocking connection to the machine wreckers that could shatter them both.

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Buy for Kindle                   Buy for Nook

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Diana Quincy

Diana Quincy is an award-winning former television journalist who decided she’d rather make up stories where a happy ending is always guaranteed. Growing up as a foreign service brat, she lived in many countries and is now settled in Virginia with her husband and two sons. Diana loves to hear from readers. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and visit her website.