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 the stories where the hero or heroine is “damaged” in some way and needs some TLC or tough love to bring them back to a loving relationship.
This book sounds like a lot of fun!
I rarely win things but this giveaway is too great to pass up, and my name is Janna so I’m super excited to read this author! My favorite gripe is the mousy, bookish, wallflower who somehow wins the rake’s heart ❤️
I rarely win things but this giveaway is too great to pass up, and my name is Janna so I’m super excited to read this author! My favorite trope is the mousy, bookish, wallflower who somehow wins the rake’s heart ❤️
I love second chance and redemption stories. And books based on movies.
I love second chance and redemption stories. And books based on movies. Yup, those are my favorite.
My favorite historical romance trope is the lady scholar/bluestocking, especially of the secret-author variety. Hence the appeal of blogging!
The Marriage of Convenience trope is my favorite.
Childhood friends. Or being promised to one brother but falling in love with the other brother.
Marika/Harlie
Another one who likes marriage of convenience and forced proximity.
Marriage of convenience, definitely!
The wounded hero/beauty and the beast trope gets my money every time. And if the hero wears an eye patch (but not a pirate) there’s no holding me back.
I like the Rakes, plus Marriage of Convenience. I just started reading Historical Romance a year ago and have truly enjoyed almost every book I have read. I just like to imagine times long ago how they were and how each individual from different classes dressed and how they acted toward each other. I am having a blast reading different authors of Historical Romance.
I like marriage of conveniences. They only work in historicals.
Enemies to lovers is a big one for me, as is the ‘professional relationship’ and does the heroine disguised as a guy work too? I don’t know why, but that’s a favourite for me haha
Marriage of convenience
My favorite is rakes
I love it when there is an American upstart in British society. Or bluestocking heroines
It’s always the book I’m reading at the moment. Right now it is To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Holt. Yesterday it was A Duke of Her Own by Eloisa James.
I love a bluestocking heroine, and I also have a soft spot for cross dressing heroines! Marriage of convenience usually grabs my attention too! What a fun contest!
Hi there!
My favorite trope is the enemy thing. When the H or the h decide to pursue the other because of revenge, then I just love how it plays out! All that aggression and anger getting soothed to happiness just makes my day. I am super excited to read this novel 🙂
looking forward to reading this! Favorite type of historical romance seems to be rags to riches; common to nobility types
I enjoy arranged marriages where the couple are surprised by the things they like about each other and end up falling in love.
Some of my favorite tropes are the marriage of convenience and the reformed rake. Like Sebastian in Lisa Kleypas’ Devil in Winter. I thought there’s no way she can make us like him. Wrong! That book is one of my absolute, all time favorites!
favorite seems to be rags to riches/common to nobility types.
I like meddling families and thrown-together-against-their-wills.
Congratulations, Ms. MacGregor, on your new book!
There are all manner of tropes I like. I like stories with a unique or damaged hero.
My all time favorite is enemies to lovers!! Seems to be the ones i can relate to most since some of my relationships have started that way lol!!
I love stories about tbe ugly duckling/wallflower, and anything based even loosely on a fairy tale.
My favorite trope will always going to be the bluestocking and the rake. I love a smart heroine who once she becomes comfortable can banter with the best of them.
Governess that marries the earl or duke or lord
Love bluestockings and rakes!
I love them all!
Love them all!
Friends to lovers. I really enjoy watching their relationship develop and the witty banter.
I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience!
Like the rakes.especially pirates
NEEEERDS. GIVE ME ALL TEH NEEEERDS.
I like the “marriage of convenience”. Awesome giveaway.
I love the adventurer who meets her match. But mistaken or unknown identity is a close second.
adversary to lovers 🙂 thanks for sharing! This is definitely going on my want list!