If you're in the US, and you watch The Bachelor, tonight's episode will feature a familiar name: the women on the show “will be posing with bachelor Sean. The contestant who shows the most spontaneity, flair and chemistry with Sean will win a 3-book cover-model contract with Harlequin.”
You can see some behind-the-scenes pics at the ABC website. It looks like they chose a perfect location for Harlequin Presents-esque photos. Those backdrops look oddly familiar. I'll be curious to see if any of the pictures are used in future books.
Also: if no one is wearing a hot pink gladiator toga, I will be VERY disappointed.
And now – books on sale!
How to Deceive a Duke is $1.99 digitally.
When her stubborn sister runs off the night before her arranged marriage, Meg Lynton hardly hesitates before donning the wedding veil and walking down the aisle herself. It's the only way to save her family from sure destitution. By the time her wealthy groom discovers he has married the wrong sister, it will be too late to annul their vows. And too late for Meg to escape her wifely duty to a man reputed to be a devil in battle and the bedroom . . .
A bride is the last thing Nicholas Hartley, Duke of Temberlay, wants. Then he sees Meg and realizes that his wedding night will be a great pleasure indeed. But aside from the agreeable business of begetting an heir, Temberlay will never change his wicked ways for a wedding vow—until he discovers Meg's deception, and decides to teach the scheming beauty how to be a proper duchess, kiss by devastating kiss . . .
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | iBooks
Lecia Cornwall's first book, Secrets of a Proper Countess, is 50% off at $3.99. Also: I typoed “Seacrest of a Proper Countess,” which was completely amusing to me for a full minute.
Lady Isobel Maitland cannot afford to be caught doing anything even remotely scandalous, or she risks losing everything she holds dear. But one night, in a dark garden at a masquerade ball, Isobel gives in to temptation and lets an innocent flirtation with the notorious Marquess of Blackwood turn into passion.
The Marquess is no stranger to seduction or intrigue, and his rake's reputation disguises a deadly mission. When his mystery lover flees before he can learn her name, he knows he must find her. But all clues lead toward the prim and dowdy Isobel Maitland. It appears the lady has secrets of her own, secrets that Blackwood would dearly love to uncover . . .
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | iBooks
I'm going to guess that one of the things a duke might want would be buttons for his shirt. Or maybe a bit of velcro. Or a scarf. Anyway. This book is on sale for $1.99 digitally and has some strong reviews.
Running from a dark secret past, Isabella Masters craves peace and stability, a life far from the prying eyes of society. She does not dream of landing a lord. But in the arms of a stranger with magnificent eyes, she loses herself in one breath-stealing kiss— only to discover she has been misled by a reluctant Duke.
Angered but enthralled, she dares not submit . . . though her passionate heart begs her to. He cannot wed her . . . but he must not lose her.
Only one possibility remains— one too scandalous to consider . . . yet too tempting to resist.
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | iBooks
I have to admit, I’d read the hell out of “Seacrest of a Proper Countess.”
I only watch The Bachelor when I’m waiting for Castle to start. It tends to be the longest two minutes of my life.
Yeah… I would, too. I’m disappointed by the nonreality of my own typos.
First, thank you for the giggle. It does seem like all Dukes need buttons, velcro or a scarf.
Second, I complete agree with Dread Pirate Rachel. Castle is wonderful! The Bachelor isn’t my thing.
I third this. I love Castle, but I’ll mute the Bachelor out of respect for my husband’s sanity (i.e. listening to me rant and yell at the television for the sheer stupidity and distastefulness of it all is bound to send him to Bedlam).
I’m not a Bachelor fan – think I watched parts of a couple episodes and could feel my brain starting to ooze out of my ears. It seems like a weird pairing with Harlequin since it doesn’t seem to end in an HEA for any of the couples. But, the photo shoots look like fun – especially the punky looking outfits.
haha! Same here! Ten years ago—yeah TEN!—I used to watch The Bachelor with some girl friends. I can no longer tolerate hearing the phrase “rose ceremony” in any situation. I found even Joel McHale’s glorious snark wasn’t enough for me to watch the cesspool of humanity featured in clips on The Soup. But hey, yay for Harlequin!
I think the issue with The Bachelor, is if you think about it AT ALL, it will drive you crazy. I used to try and rationalize the idea of a bunch of women being filmed in a house together, dating the same guy, that some of them were really doing it for love. Then the bach would meet the girl’s family, say a bunch of sweet things, and dump her. I don’t know why I was surprised, because that’s the formula of the show. Everyone but one gets dumped—and maybe she gets dumped too, if he doesn’t propose. Also, “winning” marriage on TV? See, you just have to shut off the brain and watch the pretty people to enjoy that show. My last experience watching the series was with Jake—what a weirdo!
Secrets of a Proper Countess of $1.15 on Amazon now. ($0.99 Canadian on Kobo, coming to 1.12 with taxes.) I couldn’t pass it up at that price! The others are $5 and $6, I guess we get discounts on different books in Canada.
Amazon keeps offering to switch me to Canadian dollars for Kindle ebooks, but I’m worried it will mean prices on most of their items will go up (since books are so much more expensive here).
Haha! I mute it, too, but even without sound it irritates me. It might even make it seem worse, because I notice how manipulative the editing is when I’m not distracted by dialogue or voice-over. It’s painfully obvious that the producers see women as catty, bitchy, competitive gold diggers, and they cut the footage to support those stereotypes. I’ve never really gotten the appeal of reality TV or competition shows, but I’d take the credits from Dancing with the Stars over The Bachelor as my pre-Castle punishment any day.
When I clicked on the link for the strong reviews on “What a Duke Wants” I saw that the following books are $1.99 on Amazon: “The Duke and I (Bridgerton Family)” by Julia Quinn, “Silent Revenge” by Laura Landon, and “The Tattooed Duke” by Maya Rodale.
“The Tattooed Duke”? I don’t care what it costs, I’m going to have to get something with that title!