All were shocked at the announcement of the “cursed” Lady Claire Cavensham to Lord Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, especially since she is already engaged to another unfortunate Lord. Perhaps she will make it to the altar this time with one of these fine gentlemen! Could her run of bad luck finally be at an end? It’s highly doubtful in this writer’s humble opinion. —Midnight Cryer
No one is left breathless at the imperious pronouncement of her engagement to Lord Pembrooke more than Claire. She hardly knows the dangerously outrageous man! But after three engagements gone awry and a fourth going up in glorious flames, she isn’t in a position to refuse…especially once she realizes that Lord Pembrooke makes her want to believe she’s not a bad luck bride anymore…
Alexander requires the hand of his enemy’s fiancée in marriage in order to complete his plans for revenge. It’s his good fortune that the “cursed” woman is desperate. However, what begins as a sham turns into something scandalously deeper. The beguiling lady has no business laying claim to his heart. But as a mission of revenge turns into fiery passion, Alexander wants nothing more than to break Claire’s curse…and lead them both to their hearts’ desire.
Sarah had a chance to interview Janna about romance and her writing experiences!
Sarah: Was there a book or an author who inspired you to try writing your own romance?
Janna: After a long sabbatical from reading romance – I know it’s sacrilege – I discovered and absolutely fell in love with the romance novels of Eloisa James and Maggie Robinson. Lucky me, I became friends with both of them. They must have realized I had a story within me as they urged me to write a romance. At first, I was completely against the idea. I thought of myself mostly as a blogger-wanna-be. In truth, I wanted to be Smart Bitches Trashy Books. The SBTB community was so welcoming and the reviews opened all sorts of new genres, books and authors to me.
In 2013, I attend the RT Convention in Kansas City just to see what a romance reader convention entailed. I signed up for a Cherry Adair plotting class thinking it would give me a better understanding of what made a romance so special. By the end of the convention, I had the idea for the Cavensham family, and a rough outline of my story. Within the month, I had the entire book outlined, and wrote it within six weeks.
Sarah: How long have you been a romance reader?
Janna: I fell in love with romance books as a teenager. My first Regency romance-*gasp* – was The Impetuous Duchess by Barbara Cartland. That’s all it took! I’ve been reading Regencies and contemporaries and paranormals throughout the last forty some years. I’m happy to say that my love for everything romance only flourished.
Sarah: What are you working on now?
Janna: I’m plotting the fourth book in The Cavensham Heiresses series. It’ll take me about a month to really have an understanding of my characters and the story. Only then will I start writing. Recently, I finished the third book. For right now, the title is tentatively The Bride’s Own Luck. Of course, my fabulous editor may have another suggestion.
Can you believe she wrote this book in six weeks? There must have been some intense writing hours and some drive to accomplish that!
Janna also has a giveaway for all of you lovely readers!
There will be three (3) prize packs:
- Grand prize: Coach Large Sierra Satchel (37218) in Turquoise with a copy of The Bad Luck Bride
- 1st runner up: UK thistle seal and wax with a copy of The Bad Luck Bride
- 2nd runner up: An 18 inch string of pearls with a copy of The Bad Luck Bride
Winners get choice of digital or paper finished copies.
To enter to win, leave a comment and tell us your favorite historical romance trope!
Standard disclaimers apply: We are not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to US residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and dreading your marriage of convenience to a stuffy earl or maybe a scandalous duke. Please brace yourselves for any unresolved sexual tension or meddling secondary characters. Comments will close Friday April 28, 2017 around noon ET, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Good luck to everyone!
UPDATE: Our winners have been announced!
Grand prize: Rachael Clemens
1st runner up: ReneeG
2nd runner up: Rebe
Thanks to all the participants and winners, be sure to check your spam folders!
I really like Rakes; the read is so much fun when there is a rake involved. Thanks for the chance 🙂
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
For historicals, I love marriages of convenience. I love two people being forced to work out their differences while indulging in hot sex.
Bookish / nerdy / geeky / bluestocking heroine. Yes please.
I love the trope of “accidental compromise leads to marriage”
I love “enemies to lovers,” especially when it leads to “accidental compromise and marriage!”
Battle weary hero with heroine who.stands up to him. Spies like Joanne Bourne’s novels.
I’m a sucker for a military hero and/or a shy well-read heroine.
I like a good “marriage in name only.” That’s never how it works out.
Love marriage of convenience for historicals, it’s a good reason for a couple to spend alone time together.
I love an “enemies to lovers” story. So much opportunity for banter! Accidental touches that are shocking, just shocking! Gossip swirls! Sigh.
It would be enemies to lovers. He has to protect her for someone reason and she makes sure he knows she hates it. Then, hilarity ensues and then some mayhem. Then, more hilarity. Then the wang bang! Yeah! Giveaways are awesome. Thanks!
I love the marriage of convenience trope. Not sure what that says about me!
I love the smart bluestocking heroines and beta heroes. Not sure if that qualifies as a trope, since you don’t often see those two in the same story, but I love them anyway.
Bluestocking all the way! Nothing like a nerdy historical romance heroine to make my reading day.
Rakes that end up with bluestockings are my catnip!
I always love a rake.
I like class struggles. Rich verses poor . I like descriptions of living conditions, medical treatments/developments,war’s (Scottish..Napoleon)and costumes worn. AND of a good clean love story.
This book sounds great! I will definitely be reading it next week. My favorite trope is enemies to lovers
I tend to enjoy books about hidden identity. Also,Lady’s father or guardian has gambled away the estate, and shenanigans ensue. Generally becomes a governess, a paid companion (for widows/wealthy invalids), and sometimes a mistress.
Marriage of conenience to desperately in love is my favorite catnip. Cute cover and a chance for a thistle seal prize! Thanks!
I’m a sucker for difference in class/station between hero and heroine.
Contemporary, I really love a road trip/forced togetherness type of story (only one hotel room left? What!? Rawr!) In historicals the marriage of convenience is my fav, and now that I think about it it’s really for the same reason. The H and h turn “let’s just deal with this and get out” into something deeper.
Love Plain-Jane and Marriage of convenience tropes.
Marriage of convenience, def.
Definitely marriage of convenience!
I have to say there are many that I enjoy but marriage of convenience is a great one. You see the evolution of a relationship best through that trope.
My favorite trope is marriage of convenience/forced marriage! I especially like it when they start off not liking each other, but they’re stuck with each other now, and then, of course, fall in love.
Smart (especially science-y smart) Regency heroines!
Another marriage of convenience fan here! I like seeing the characters’ relationship slowly grow.
Marriages of convenience. I love the idea that just living daily life together unites a couple. Runner up, friend is asked to find a partner for someone but can only find fault with potential suitors.
Heroines with no time for the alpha hero’s nonsense; beta heroes who respect a lady’s boundaries.
My favorites are friends to lovers and nerdy hero/heroine. Oh and I love it when the characters have pets.
I love spies working against each other. (Or on the same team but they don’t know it!)
I love the shy/quiet/bookish wallflower who captures the attention of the most eligible bachelor, without even trying!
I have great affection for the marriage of convenience trope, especially in historical novels.
It’s always awesome to hear about what inspired writers to take the plunge from reading to publishing. One day I might get the cajones to take the same chance.
My favorite trope is absolutely ‘ugly ducklings’. Companion/governess to lady of the manor – yes please!
An early obsession with Mulan led me to my greatest guilty pleasure: hidden identity/cross-dressing tropes in romance. It’s my catnip, even though I know so few are done well, and when cross-dressing heroines are involved there’s inevitably tons of problematic gay-panic. So I try to control my inner Mulan fanatic when I see a novel with this trope and approach with caution.
According to goodreads, I read a lot of marriage of convenience books–great way to overcome strict societal norms about separating men and women. I’m also a sucker for a wounded h/h whether physically or emotionally.
When the h&h are frenimies. Even better if he/she is the brother of sister of a friend.
I love a good marriage of convenience! Give me two people who get in a relationship for practical reasons and then find themselves dealing with all the inconvenient feelings.
Give me a nerd/scientist/bluestocking and the man who finally supports her dreams any day of the week. Though a series featuring close friendships among a group of women or small-town hijinks is what seems to have staying power on my bookshelf/kindle.