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!
Second chances and reformed rakes are my biggest catnip, not necessarily together.
A marriage of convenience and Enemies to Lovers are my two fave historical romance tropes (at the moment, I change my mind often!)
The nerdy bluestocking who purposefully or not enthralls the rake.
My catnip is a crumbling estate house that needs to be restored. Oh, and an emotionally wounded hero is always good news for me.
Road trip, especially with an unconventional woman.
I love the forced marriage trope, especially if there’s a good grovel from the hero once he realizes he’s in love.
I love the bluestocking and the marriage of convenience trope the best.
I love the intersection of marriage of convenience with nerdy/bookish heroine! Or, I suppose, nerdy/bookish hero.
Lady who is hiding her intelligence and the hero who likes her smart.
Extremely smart, competent (!), pragmatic, quiet beta heroine AND hero with no expectations of each other (marriage of convenience?) that turns into enormous respect and finally love (less than friends to lovers).
I’m a fan of the forced proximity trope. This usually leads to someone realizing the other isn’t as stuck up/rakish/gold-digging as the other thought they were.
Like many of the other commentors, I love the intellectual bluestocking heroine with a great sense of humor, and the hero who values all that in her. I also love vivid secondary characters, who I always hope will get a book of their own.
Ugh it is so hard to pick just one trope! I’m a total sucker though for friends to lovers or a “nerdy” heroine.
Enemies to lovers, FTW
My favorite trope would involve a hero and/or heroine who is in disguise or in some way not what they appear to be or not what people think they see. Prime example: The Scarlet Pimpernel. Also, road trips, e.g., Kim Harrison’s Pale Rider or Tessa Dare’s A Week to Be Wicked.
Many congratulations to Ms. MacGregor! I wish her lots of luck and success in her debut!! 🙂
My favorite historical trope has to be the gently bred lady yearning for freedom and the working-class fellow with a heart of gold who (though he’s convinced he’s not worthy of her) gets caught up in an adventure with the heroine and falls madly in love. Bonus points if there’s a lecherous, mustache-twirling uncle or cousin who’s after Miss Heroine’s fortune and/or person.
I love the “Pretend Engagement” trope. You know, where the hero and heroine get engaged to achieve some end and then fall in love despite themselves. Love it!
Oh, Beauty and the Be4ast, always!
Bluestocking heroines are my catnip!
This book has been on my wish list for awhile, can’t wait til May 2!
Love Wallflowers and sassy banter.
I, like many, prefer the “accidental compromise” or “marriage of convenience” or anything where the couple gets married at the beginning and then has to work out all their issues.
I love a bluestocking romance! Also a fan of heroes who are angsty but NOT incapable to self-reflection. And road trips. Okay, now that I think about it, I’m all about the road trip.
I really like the fake relationship/engagement or marriage of convenience. Both of those work for me in a variety of genres.
This is no secret, as I’ve mentioned it more than once: SECRET BABY. How many times have I mentioned it? The autofill suggested baby as soon as I typed in secret. It just did it again! That’s just for contemporary romances. Secret baby is very problematic in historicals.
My historical trope is kidnapping. I blame it all on Rosemary Rodgers, Laurie McBain, Kathleen Woodiwiss and Shirlee Busbee et al.
Hands-down it’s the wallflower bluestocking. I relate so hard to those girls!
I love hero-heroine letters written to each other even if they don’t know each other..with heroine being a bluestocking.
Marriage of convenience for sure!
Forced proximity between the hero and heroine, especially if they start off hating each other – yum! 😀
My catnip is definitely marriage of convenience or fake relationship of any kind!
Bluestocking and reformed rake is so my jam. Even if my now-husband doesn’t fit the trope, before I met him these kinds of romances gave me hope that nerdy introverted ladies can be appreciated and loved for those very characteristics 🙂
Rake and smart bluestocking heroine. What started me off was Venetia by Georgette Heyer.
Marriage of convenience is a favorite.
I really love country house parties with clandestine ravishings in the gardens or barn. I also love eloping and chase to Scotland.
What a lovely cover! I’m intrigued!
I like the ones built around a group of friends, male or female, and bonus points for some sort of scandal about their activities. So much fun!
I love road trip romances, or forced proximity ones in general.
I used to love rakes until I came to reflect on sexually transmissible infections running rampants combined with lack of prophylactics. Since then I have much, much, trouble to get over my EEEEWWWWWW reaction when coming accross a “Duke of Sluts” trope
These days I like the clueless innocent, one that is so much so, she leaves the hero trying to seduce her floundering (or becoming very intrigued and/or protective) because she just doesn’t get it. It’s pretty much only in historicals this level of innocence can be believable.
I like rakes, no nonsense blue-stocking heroines, and marriages of convenience.
And I’d really like a list of books that contain all three.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I’m here for plot moppets when they’re done well. I’m going to read soon Seven Minutes In Heaven soon, and I’m really looking forward to the young girl that I’ve read was like Lydia from Beetlejuice.
I love friends to lovers and marriage of convenience – throw a tortured or beta hero in there and I’m in catnip heaven!
I love house party settings, especially if they feature a wallflower type heroine and a rakish hero who otherwise would never have noticed her. Bonus points if she’s smart/bookish. I also love nerdy scientist-type heroes (and heroines!).