Today
I'd like to welcome one of my talented and wonderful critique partners,
Erin Knightley. Her sweet historical romances are full of charming characters
and beautiful prose. Her newest novel, A Taste For Scandal, is not only
fabulous, but a book I am proud to say I had a hand in (however few my
suggestions were. Lol) Though I have to say, I was sorry to see the howling
monkeys and stampeding elephants go. ;)
A
TEMPTING DIVERSION
Things have always fallen into place for Richard Moore, Earl of Raleigh. His
good looks, abundance of charm, and the small matter of being heir to a
marquisate make him quite the catch. So when a delectable young woman wants
nothing to do with him, he can’t help but seize the irresistible challenge.
AN UNLIKELY COURTSHIP
Jane Bunting knows all about responsibility—she has managed to support herself
and her brother with their bakery—but she knows nothing of excitement or
passion. When dashing Lord Raleigh crosses the threshold of her shop, she has
no idea of the potential danger to her reputation…or to her heart.
AN IMPOSSIBLE MATCH
Neither imagined things would go so far—until the night their worlds collide,
irrevocably changing both their lives. But when duty calls for Richard, and
with everything Jane's worked for suddenly at stake, will their taste for
scandal be their downfall?
Tell
us about you're most recent release
Since
your story is about a baker, please tantalize us with a taste of your story.
(AKA an Excerpt)
First
of all, I can’t believe you still remember the stampeding elephants, lol (aka,
Richard’s sisters). Secondly, thanks so
much for letting me join you today :)
Below
is one of my favorite scenes, where they’ve already had their disastrous
introduction. Jane is gritting her teeth at the need to apologize to the
arrogant Lord Raleigh, while Richard is still smarting from being humiliated by
a lowly baker:
---
It was time to discover what the girl wanted. Richard didn’t
believe her Little Miss Meek act one bit. Had she discovered his family’s
wealth and decided to try to get a piece of the pie, so to speak? It wouldn’t
be the first time someone tried to take advantage of his family. He cleared his
throat and stepped forward. “Yes, what brings you to our home, Miss Bunting?”
She glanced up from the basket she had lifted from the
floor and set on a side table. “A guilty conscience, my lord.”
He might have been encouraged had it not been for the clear
reluctance coloring her tone. One would think someone held a pistol to her
back, for heaven’s sake. He already knew how she truly felt about him; there
was no call for her to come to his home and further demonstrate the fact. “Is
that so? I can’t imagine what you would have to feel guilty about. Surely you
are not referring to the small matter of attempting to have a well-intentioned,
innocent man arrested and thrown in gaol.”
His sister pressed her lips together and glared icy blue
daggers at him, but Jane simply lifted her chin and replied briskly, “Actually,
I believe that is precisely the cause. Despite the utter havoc you wreaked in
my shop and the pain you caused my cousin, I realize now it was your intention
to help. I apologize for misconstruing your intentions.”
If this was her apology, he’d hate to see her insults. “I
can’t imagine why it would be hard to believe someone would try to help you,
what with your sunny disposition and forgiving nature. Your mother must be very
proud, I’m sure.”
Fire flashed in her eyes, fierce and nearly instantaneous.
Her nostrils flared like a riled stallion, and she pinned him with her almost
emerald glare. “How dare you? You can hardly attest to my disposition as the
very moment we first met, you were destroying my entire morning’s work, not to
mention all the broken dishes and damaged cabinetry—none of which, I should
point out, you have apologized for.”
He had no doubt “apologizing” in her mind meant offering
compensation. It may not have been spoken, but it hung in the air between them.
“Perhaps I would have been more inclined to apologize for the mess in your
store if you had been less inclined to call me a lunatic and besmirch my
character.”
“Perhaps if I had not been so shocked at the violent
intrusion, I would have been in a more reasonable state of mind. As it was, you
can hardly blame me for becoming upset.”
How was it she possessed the unique ability to look at him
as though he were a steaming pile of horse dung on the street? Benedict and
Evie, who had observed the exchange much as one observed a tennis match, stood
with identical looks of wide-eyed, surprised interest. This was not the time or
place for any of this—they had a ball to prepare for, for God’s sake. “Did you
really come all the way to St. James merely to argue with me, Miss Bunting?”
She pressed her eyes closed and breathed out a long breath.
Setting her flashing green gaze on him once more, she lifted the top of the
basket, pulled out a napkin-wrapped bundle, and shoved them toward him. “These
are for you. Please accept my sincere apology for the misunderstanding this
morning.”
Sincere apology his arse. If not for the sweet, rich aroma
of chocolate making his mouth water, he wouldn’t be surprised if the bundle
contained a coiled snake. “Arsenic laced biscuits, I presume?”
“A baker never reveals her secret ingredients,” she replied
with a straight face, looking him right in the eye. “However, I would never
ruin a perfectly delicious chocolate biscuit.”
Richard was caught off guard by her response and surprised
himself by almost laughing. He had not expected a sense of humor from the shrew.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
That's a tasty tidbit. Thanks. If you
can't tell by my chosen vernacular, I'm on a diet. Since all I can do is
imagine chocolaty treats right now, can you share some of the delicious foods
she makes in the story?
Speaking
of diets, I gained almost 10 pounds writing this novel! All the yummy foods she
makes and all the smells I describe – it all had me reaching for the sweets
again and again! Plus I made every recipe Jane does in the book, so of course I
couldn’t let the final product go to waste!
Let’s
see—you’ll find chocolate puffs, chocolate biscuits, scones (honey walnut,
orange poppy seed) tea biscuits, shortbread…. The list goes one if you include
all the items actually in the bakery! For a tongue-in-cheek video of me
demonstrating how to make the chocolate puffs, click here
Okay, that looks too delicious, I'd best change the subject. Tell me, what
was the funnest part of writing this novel?
Letting
Richard make a fool of himself was great fun, and even better when he redeems
himself toward the end. The scene with the shortbread? I fell in love with him
all over again!
Love it! There's nothing better than when a hero makes the reader fall in love, but writing can't be all beauty. Share . . . What
was the hardest thing about writing in this novel?
Ensuring
that the reader could suspend their of disbelief that a baker could be matched
with an earl. I hope that I accomplished it!
You certainly did. A Taste for Scandal is excellent.
Writing
historical romance
Why did
you choose to write historical romance?
Write
what you love, right? Historical romance has always been my favorite, and I
read it almost exclusively for a decade. For me, that world is the ultimate
escape, one that makes my heart flutter each time I enter it.
I agree. There's something about historical romance that can't be matched, and the research is just plain fun. What is
the most interesting or obscure historical fact you've ever come across while
researching?
Hmm –
good question! When I researched recipes and cookbooks, I stumbled across
Elizabeth Raffald. What a woman! She wrote one of the most successful cookbooks
ever written at the time, was an entrepreneur, supported a spendthrift husband,
and still found the time to have something like 16 daughters!
Wow. That's a heck of a woman. I love reading about amazing women in history.
Now
for a little fun
Favorite
color?
Blue
Favorite
drink?
Ginger
Ale – but it is a very rare treat since oft drinks are a big no-no in my mind.
Favorite
song?
Colorful
by The Verve. It’s the song Mark Walberg sings at the end of ROCKSTAR, and he
reminds me so powerfully of my husband when we were in college—his hair and
clothes—that it gives me butterflies :)
Favorite
movie?
Love,
Actually – hands down!
To be
fair to everyone, I'll ask what is your favorite classic novel?
Oh
Lord, don’t lynch me, but I don’t have one. I like the movie interpretations of
many—particularly Pride and Prejudice—but I find reading the old classics
dreadfully tedious. *ducks to avoid rotten vegetables*
That's okay. No lynching today or I'd be ducking too. I haven't read nearly enough of the classics myself.
Tell
us what's coming next
You've
just signed on for two new books, can you give us a taste of what's in store
for us?
Sure! I
signed for 2 books, but they are only the first 2 of a 3 book series set in
Bath during a summer music festival. All three of the heroines will be talented
musicians (anyone remember Charity from A TASTE FOR SCANDAL?) who meet and
decide to form an unusual trio. One character I am particularly excited about
is the daughter of an Englishman, but was raised in the Far East. She is so
richly formed in my imagination, I can’t wait to flesh her out on the page!
Ooh, sounds like a lot of fun and excitement. Is
there anything else you'd like to share with readers?
I
always love hearing from and interacting with readers. I hope you’ll ‘friend’
me, ‘like’ me, and/or ‘follow’ me!
Where
can readers find you?
Thank
you so much for stopping by my blog today.
Thank
you for having me!!
I've spoken about some of the heroes, now let's discuss what I love about some of the Austin villains and how they have inspired my writing. Mr. Wickham is a pretty clear cut villain, but realistic as well.
