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!
Hmmm…marriage of convenience (inculding ones where the offer of marriage is not immediately accepted).
okay, mine is the other way. not quite a trope, but I hate when the rakes/rogues meet an innocent and just cannot help themselves from despoiling her, or at least getting her naked and showing her a good time. I just want to scream at them to grow up!
Oh, that is a hard one. I think I’d have to go with marriage of convenience.
Love Regency mysteries with a touch of romance!
I love regencies when the hero and heroine are married. They might not like each other or know each other. It is awesome to see them work on their issues and prevail.
Nerds or bluestockings.
Love the marriage of convenience and compromise-induced marriage tropes. Add a heroine with a bit of history and attitude and a rake-ish hero and SWOON.
My favorite historical romance trope is Pygmalion! I get sucked in every time!
Marriage of convenience and enemies to lovers are my favorites. I prefer a bluestocking heroine as well.
Wallflower/Blue stocking and a rake with a heart of tarnished gold in a marriage of convieniance/ forced proximity/ house party/ carriage to Greta Green, where he just can’t stop thinking about her hair because she’s snoring on him and doesn’t she look pretty now that she’s not awake and he can stare at her without her knowing? I also like that added bit of competence p0rn where he helps her break out of her shell, because he respects her shy blue stocking tendencies. Add in the overly dramatic Villain, out to get the Heroine, which helps bring them couple together. I think I’ve basically described the plot for Devil in Winter, which I love, love, love.
My favorite trope? A marriage of (in)convenience.
I love a good marriage of convenience every time!
I like the couple that fights all the time until they realize they love each other. Such potential for witty dialogue.
I think I’d have to go with the 2nd chance at love trope. Thanks!
There are so many great historicals being published these days. My favorite trope is friends to lovers with a beta hero.
I too love the marriage of convenience that becomes something more. I think maybe it is seeing people having to spend time together, which forces them to get to know each other and realizing that they actually admire and have strong feelings for that other person after all…
I like the one where they are helping (or hindering) the romance of their friends, siblings, wards, etc., and realize that their relationship could be so much more.
Blue stockings and rakes! Tessa Dare’s A Week to be Wicked is my fave.
Looking forward to this book. First romance love was Pride and Prejudice so love a strong woman, a man who works at getting the heroine, and with great supporting characters.
The Bad Luck Bride sounds fabulous, Janna! I love all historical, so go with all the tropes the ladies have listed, but I also like regencies that aren’t necessarily centered around the ton or royalty. I love when we see the underbelly of London, a Charles Dickenesque romance if you will.
I love sassy women with alpha males.
I love the pesky little sister who gets older brothers’ best friend!
I can’t wait to read this! I like a variety of tropes, but I think I like the “opposites attract” the most. I love all tropes as long as the dialogue is spirited and the pace of the story is steady.
Marriage of convenience! So much fun to see relationships blossom from often otherwise uncomfortable circumstances.
I love a bluestocking!
Would love a chance to read the first book in a new series!Like the title!
I like when the heroine is the smartest one in the book and has all kinds of plans and plots to get what she wants!
I especially enjoy a marriage of convenience.
I like secret identity plots!
My favorite romance trope for historical or contemporary is friends to lovers.
I love a good marriage of convenience.
I’m such a sucker for the marriage of convenience!
I like the reformed rake trope.
I love, love, love the marriage of convenience or arranged marriage that turns out with both parties falling madly in love. It works in historicals or sometimes even in contemporaries. I’ll take it in any time period!
Love the marriage of convenience trope – still have Willed to Wed by Wilma Counts which was one of my early romance reads in high school. The couple must marry for finances but are wary of each other for reasons. Loved the trope then and still love it today!
I love the marriage of convenience trope. Always my catnip.
This is so hard! For historicals I want a seductive rake who has to work to get the woman (for once). In the modern category, I love the alphahole who gets a smackdown by a woman with as much brass as he has..yeah. That last one, that’s the favorite
Have to go with enemies to lovers!
My favorite trope is where the hero falls hard for the bluestocking heroine.
Beauty and the Beast. That’s one I have read in many different iterations.