Posts Tagged ‘romance’

Today, the Dashing Duchesses are pleased to welcome Regency author (and attorney) Ella Quinn.  Ella has agreed to share with us some fascinating tidbits about estate law, Regency style. So, pull up a leather chair in the study, dears, and let’s learn about the law.

During the Regency period, the Hardwicke Marriage Act of 1753 was in effect. The purpose of the Act was to regularize all aspects of marriage and the ending of a marriage. The Act itself was not very specific about many matters except that it had to be performed by clergy of the Anglican Church. The Church rules were specific as to marriages.

There were three ways to marry: reading the banns, buying a license, and elopement.

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I open my browser, start a search, and then come up for air two hours later with no word count, Mt. Laundry is still untouched and a family meal uncooked. My eyes are glassy, I have crazy-person hair and really, really have to pee. So what happened?

The Internet Time Warp.

That’s right. You go in, and you never come out. Thing is, research is a historical writer’s best friend. You must know the time period, and you must know the oddest little details so you don’t make a ghastly mistake. I wouldn’t wish to tarnish my Duchess tiara! (Of course, now that I say that, I’m guaranteed to make said ghastly mistake.)

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Author Grace Burrowes

The Dashing Duchesses welcome New York Times and  USA Today bestselling author of Regency romance Grace Burrowes.

It’s been an excellent year for Duchess Grace Burrowes.

Not only is her book, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish,  nominated for a 2012 RITA, but it also won the 2012 Romantic Times Best Historical Romance Reviewer’s Choice award.

Now, Lady Sophie’s sister gets her own story in Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, due out May 1.

Taking a quick break from picking up kudos and writing the next installment in her “Duke’s Daughters” series, Her Grace joins The Duchesses for a chat about her latest title…and her whirlwind year.  

Duchess Grace is also giving away three signed copies of Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, so leave a question or comment to enter to win!

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Today the Duchesses of Dash welcome wonderful, witty USA Today bestselling author of Regency Romance Kieran Kramer.

Duchess Valerie: Thank you for visiting the duchesses today, Kieran. You’ve had a varied and interesting employment history. Please share with our readers a little of that. You were a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, no? And an CIA agent?

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I am thrilled and delighted to host the lovely Leigh LaValle, whose debut book THE RUNAWAY COUNTESS comes out tomorrow! COUNTESS has already earned great early acclaim, including:

• 4 stars from Romantic Times: “LaValle’s debut is exciting and action packed, with a hero and heroine who play well off each other.”
• A blurb to die for from Tessa Dare: “Leigh LaValle weaves an enthralling tale of passion and deception, laced with charm and wit…a captivating new voice in historical romance.”
• Another blurb to die for from Courtney Milan: “an enchanting debut, full of passion, angst, danger, and the promise of true love.”

If that’s not reason enough to send a footman to preorder the book, then ring for a glass of ratafia and read on. Duchess Leigh will share all sorts of tidbits about her writing, including a scorching excerpt. And one commenter on today’s blog will win an ebook of THE RUNAWAY COUNTESS!

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Kris Kennedy is here to talk about her latest release, DEFIANT. I loved this book! So did Publisher’s Weekly, who gave it a starred review, and All About Romance, who voted it as a Desert Island Keeper.

 Leave a comment and enter to to win one of two signed copies of Defiant! Winners will be announced on Sunday, March 4.

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Welcome, Dear Reader, to the inaugural post of the Dashing Duchesses. We are thrilled you have come to call.  Please, won’t you have a seat on the settee? We’ve brewed a delicious blend of tea this morning and there is much to discuss.

Passion is always a timely topic, do you not agree, Dear Reader? We Duchesses are passionate about many things. Scottish men, English men, military men, dangerous men, sensitive men…

But that is a post for another day. Perhaps we shall gossip about heroes November 28 as we have tea with Lady Tessa Dare.  This morning, we would love to chat about another passion of ours- history. Tales of the past, events and ideas and facts that get out blood moving.

Duchesses, do share. Why do you write about history? Why not tales of ghosts or Navy SEALS? Inquisitive minds want to know.

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