Yes yes, once again, ‘tis time for another Personal Ad contest, whereby the first commenter to guess the correct answers to the book title, author’s name and heroine’s name (REMEMBER THE HEROINE’S NAME FOR ALL THAT IS HOLY OR THE PRIZE WILL BE SNATCHED FROM THEE) will get a too-bitchin’-for-words Smart Bitch title.
SWF, daughter to a notorious female rake and aristocrat fallen on hard times, seeks steady, stodgy male to love and to comfort, in sickness and in health. Am not at all interested in tall, dashing, repressed musician types with a taste for danger and the challenge of seducing the unseduceable, and especially not if you’re impecunious and estranged from your father. No no no. Your blandishments will not work on me, not even if you corner me in the rose garden…or the maze…or my bedroom.
Not a clue on this one, but I might hunt it down and read it! Tall, dashing repressed musician types are just my cuppa. 😉
Hell, I’ll give it a try: Princess Olympia St. Leger in Laura Kinsale’s “Seize the Fire”? I know that’s wrong, but it’s worth a shot.
OR Belinda Hamilton in Gaelen Foley’s “The Duke”?
Dammit! I know I’ve read this book. I can see the hero playing the piano! But I can’t remember which one! Argh!
We wants the title. We does, my precioussss.
Here’s a little clue: The hero plays mostly the violin in the book.
It’s also one of my favorite romances.
Grace Cheval in “His Every Kiss” by Laura Lee Guhrke.
It’s on my TBR pile.
Dylan Moore is the hero—his name sounds like a poet’s.
Delilah Desmond, The Devil’s Delilah by Loretta Chase
sherryfair: Sorry, no dice. Well, it might fit the bill, too, because I haven’t read the Guhrke novel, but it’s not the one I had in mind.
Angela H: Jack Langdon was a dangerous, repressed, violin-playing type who enjoys seducing the unseduceable? Wha?
OK, time for clue number 2: This book was set in the Georgian era, not the Regency.
I know, I know. I haven’t actually read it. It was a complete guess because you said it was one of your favorites and I know you like L.C.
That was just a shot in the dark, because I know there’s a musician in the Guhrke book—but after skimming it, I see it’s the heroine who plays the violin.
It’s not Gabrielle Le Couer of Betina Krahn’s A Perfect Mistress, is it? I can’t remember the music part, but the rest of the plot is similar.
Maybe Faith Merridew from Anne Gracie’s The Perfect Stranger?
Non, non, non.
Another clue: This author has, as far as I know, stopped writing historical romance and has switched to writing women’s fiction, though lately she’s returned to writing some contemporary series romance.
Big freaking clue there, people.
Will someone please come up with the correct title so I can add this to my TBR list, it sounds pretty good
Somebody please guess this book so I can go buy it!
Aaaan another clue: The hero’s name is ranked right up there in my list of Stupid Romance Schticks That Needs To Die A Quick But Painful Death. Think diabolical, only kinda-not-really, and then pun on that in an excruciating manner for the title.
C’mon, people!
*delurks*
Celia Penmaris from “The Tea Planter’s Bride” by Rosemary Rogers!
*relurks*
Um. Actually I haven’t finished reading the book yet, and am suddenly unsure as to whether the hero (Grant Hamilton, whose name I don’t *think* is punned in the title, but maybe I’m being obtuse today) plays any musical instruments. I think he rides horses, but am fairly sure they don’t count.
Dammit.
This is driving me crazy.
The description of the heroine sounds a lot like Amanda Amberley from Edith Layton’s “Lord of Dishonor”, but I don’t remember anything about the hero playing the violin and Layton is still writing historical fiction as far as I know.
Must. Stop. Obsessing.
This doesn’t fit most of the clues, but it is set in the Georgian period and it most obviously uses the word “devil” in it.
Next I’m trying a Georgian with “light” in the title, and then one with “wolf” in the title.
Although I’m sure I’ve read the personal ad one, but the violin is throwing me off.
OK, so the guess is:
Diana Westmount from Jo Beverley’s Devilish.
Again, only because it has devil in the title.
(Let’s see: Ranulf, Wolfscar, Lucien, hmmm.)
OK, strike the last guess.
I’m going with Lady Adriana St. Ives from Barbara Samuel’s The Black Angel.
Shooting in the dark, mostly, but at least I’m shooting.
(And Samuel fits a few more of the clues. I think.)
The book is LADY OF DESIRE, by Gaelen Foley staring the Impetuous Lady Jacinda Knight as heroine and Earl of Rackford as the hero estranged from his father.
Do I win??
Fleur Monley, The Sinner by Madeline Hunter?
I think that Suisan is getting very warm with her last guess, but I think that the hero’s name might actually be Lucien.
All my l33t Google skills will only get me:
Madeline ______ in Barbara Samuels’ “Lucien’s Fall.” But the hero is Lucien Harrow.
No one seems interested enough in the heroine to list her full name and Barbara Samuels has no website! Aargh. Not that I’ve read it or anything.
Okay, I lie like a dog. She has a website. Her name is Barbara Samuel (NO s on the end), and she doesn’t list anything about the book, so I still don’t know the heroine’s last name! Aargh.
godamn it sarah, I just came back to post the same thing.
Someone named Madeline, who falls for Lucien Harrrow, who’s a musician in Barbara Samuel’s Lucien’s Fall.
I’m NEVER going to get a title. Never, never, never.
discrete sobbing
(By the way, I hate Luciens in novels too.)
I think I have to go to bed before I hurt myself trying to win this thing.
Walk away, walk away, walk away.
Trust me, Suisan, the damn heroine’s name is NOT out there on the web. It’s listed variously as Madeleine or Madeliene or Madeline, but apparently, she doesn’t have a last name. So someone whose actually READ the book or at least OWNS it is going to have to get this. POUT.
And it was the Guhrke book I was thinking of earlier. Obviously. Not this one. Sigh. Although I promise I’ll buy it and read it and love it if it’ll get me a title!
I know that there is a database that lists hero and heroine names linked to the title of the romance novel. Maybe Madeleine’s last name is listed there. I am not sure because I cannot remember how to get to the site (I think that I have it bookmarked on my computer at work …..)
I *really* shouldn’t be obsessing about this since I already have a coveted SB title of my own.
I’m just gutted because that Guhrke book sounds PAINFULLY close to the one I just finished. SHIT! At least the damn thing is not set in Austria… then we’re talking ritualistic suicide on my part.
I would lov eto give this a try *G*
Anne Rice – Violin?
Hugssss
Linda.H.
lovelysalome,
Trust me, your book is different and better. (I haven’t read the other one, but I Just Know.)
No idea about the mystery book.
Hi,
Lucien’s Fall by Barbara Samuel. The heroine is Lady Madeline Whitethorn and the hero is Lucien Harrow, Lord Esher (as he was introduced to Madeline) but the back blurb has him listed as Lord Lucien Esher.
Susan
kate r has spoken… and it was good.
(although it would comfort me to know you’d read the other one and STILL thought mine was better!)
*sob* Foiled by Google. Who woulda thought it?
Cool, paperbackswap had a copy that I quickly ordered.
Dedicated to professionalism at all times and also to displaying grace in defeat, I say, “Congratulations, Susan. That’s got to be correct.”
Slinking off to go quietly sob in a teacup. Lucien, Damien, Wolfscar, I should have gotten this. I’ll try to cheer myself up by reminding myself that at least I have a new oldie to add to the TBR pile. Sniff.
Brain like a sieve. I read this back in ‘96, have the book SOMEWHERE in my house, and can’t find it. and obviously, couldn’t remember the heroine’s full name.
Suisan’s much more gracious than I am. I’ve been pouting all day. I’ll never trust Google again!!! ::sob::
I wish paperback swap included Mexico. I’d gladly pay the postage to send my books, but I guess nobody else would.