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 fiancĂ©e 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:Â 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:Â 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:Â 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 love marriage of convenience stories, whether the need for marriage is because of family, money, pregnancy, compromising situation, or anything else. I also love road trips, wounded heroes and heroine in peril. But possibly my favorite is when the hero is instantly smitten/fascinated when he lays eyes on the heroine. “After The Scandal” by Elizabeth Essex and “Marrying Winterborne” by Kleypas are examples of this trope, but the great part about it, is that it carries over well to contemporaries and other genres like mystery(the Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane books) and sci-fi(Shards of Honor).
Thanks for the chance to win a prize!
Enemies to lovers, all the way ….:)
Bluestocking heroines and/or nerdy heroes!
I really like mistaken identity tropes. Like the plain ol’ Miss or Mister is actually a Lady/Earl type thing.
Also, the lady’s pledge to “Never Marry”. Struggle ensues to put the lid on the passionate feelings!
I’m a huge fan of the marriage of convenience plot. Bonus if it’s a wallflower marriage of convenience plot. 🙂
I love historical romances featuring intelligent, independent, stubborn heroines and heroes who clash before they mesh. Thanks for the post and giveaway. It’s always nice to discover new authors.
I love a marriage of convenience/forced marriage, especially if it’s between a Rake and a plain-Jane bluestocking.
I love when there are hidden identities that would cause a “scandal” if they were revealed to society. Whether they are masked crusaders or just secret authors, the moment when the other person in the relationship learns the secret is always my favorite part.
Marriage of convenience!
Add another tally mark to the ‘marriage of convenience’ column! Especially when it’s the heroine’s idea/
Add another tally mark to the ‘marriage of convenience’ column! Especially when it’s the heroine’s idea.
My favorite trope is marriage of convenience with an added dash of enemies to lovers. Love it!!!
I enjoy the “marriage of convenience”. The love that grows or comes from surprise
For me, it’s the beta hero trope. I’ve dated too many alpha types to ever find it sexy in a book.
I’m not sure it’s a trope, but I love super-angsty novels where there is a secret that will “tear them APART” and then it’s resolved with a HEA.
I love the “enemies to lovers” and “marriage of convenience” tropes.
My favorite trope is switched gender—women masquerading as men—while the hero figures it out/plays along. Also really enjoy concealed identity, either the hero or heroine pretending to be someone else as they work to discover Whatever.
Mark me down as another one who loves accidental compromise. A special shoutout to the accidental compromise in Courtney Milan’s The Duchess War.
Love the scientific/nerdy characters who find someone who takes them seriously and supports them. I also like when there is an immediate attraction between the main characters but they either deny it or don’t know how to handle it.
Humor, rakes with a sense of humor
I like a misunderstood hero. Like in The Tyrant and other books by Patricia Veryan. Men who appear – because of their personality or because of an important secret – to be quite different from their real, heroic selves.
I like the ones with the strong Heroine that argues with the hero. The hero is def an Alpha male and the clashes are great! Then the hero will have to rescue the heroine even though she thought she could handle it. Love it!
Congrats to Janna on her debut. I’m a fan of mistake identity and revenge stories.
My favorite is when a handsome rake ends up falling for the ugly duckling. rc12d@yahoo.com
My favorite-friends to lovers.
Enemies to lovers is definitely my trope of choice, bonus points when it includes them working together for some reason and they’re both fighting the attracting. Throw in some groveling at the end and it’s perfection. 🙂
Smart bluestocking heroines or wallflowers!
I’m the biggest fan of a wounded hero and the woman that teaches him to be loved again. I.E. Beauty and the Beast. And I’m dying to be able to attend one of the RT conventions.
I am a sucker for the “heroine and hero must marry for mutually beneficial reasons and are snarky towards each other until they fall in love.” 🙂
I love when the woman has some sort of secret identity, such as a thief, business woman, or writer!
I like enemies to lovers.
Marriage of convenience. I like moving past will they/won’t they and into how will they.
Clever heroines with a wicked sense of humour, a knack for strategizing, and a healthy dose of romantic skepticism.
I love a bluestocking!
Marriage of convenience or forced marriage! Love it in contemporaries too but it is not quite as believable.
I love the marriage of convenience trope- forced proximity developing into something more. I also love a good “beauty and the beast” theme.
I love the marriage of convenience trope and a good beauty and the beast themed romance.
I love the marriage of convenience trope and a good beauty and the beast theme story.
Friends to lovers or enemies/opponents to lovers. Anything that allows for witty banter between the hero and heroine is great, and those two really accomplish that for me.
I love it when two people hate each other, than waltz, and realize they are in love