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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Guest Post with Author Theresa Romain and Giveaway


Today I am super excited to welcome author Theresa Romain to RFTC. Theresa is super nice and I her books rock! Theresa's newest book Season for Surrender comes out in just two weeks and I can hardly wait, so I asked her to come by for a chat. Before I give the floor over to Theresa, let's get to know her a bit.

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. Her historical romance debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, was published in October 2011. The sequel, SEASON FOR SURRENDER, will be published in October 2012.
Places to find Theresa:

Jane Austen Liked Rakes

Danielle, thanks so much for letting me visit today!

Here’s my hypothesis: Jane Austen liked rakes. And not the garden kind, either.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Austen in person, so I’m not sure how she felt about rakes in her personal life. But as a storyteller, she definitely liked to use wild, charismatic young men to move her plots alone. Each of her novels has a character who could be considered a rake: he’s fashionable, brash, often charming, usually sexy—and ultimately, untrustworthy.

In her earliest-written novel, Northanger Abbey, the great Jane was still figuring out her rakes, and John Thorpe is a bit too foolish to catch the heroine’s eye. But after him? Wickham in Pride and Prejudice and Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility: a dashing and deceitful pair if ever there was one. Then came Henry Crawford, that randy opportunist, in Mansfield Park. Frank Churchill, the nicest of the rakes, in Emma. And last of all, Mr. Elliot, the fortune-hunter who elopes with a gold-digger in Persuasion.

Today’s writers of Regency-set romance are just as keen as Austen to salt their stories with rakes. I’m no different! In my historical romance debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, I created a rakish friend for my good-natured hero:

…the lean, dark looks of Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, appealed to many women – as did his sense of barely curbed wildness. And he was intelligent, too; he could read people with uncanny swiftness, he always rose the winner from a game of cards or chance, and he could be very quick-witted, even uncomfortably so.

Like Austen’s rakes, Xavier proves himself to be untrustworthy, and his friendship with the hero falls apart because of his presumed treachery.

Presumed.

When I learned my publisher wanted a sequel—yay!—I jumped at the chance to make my first villain into my second hero. I wanted to figure out what had happened from Xavier’s point of view. I wanted to figure out what made him tick. And the more I pieced together Xavier’s story—SEASON FOR SURRENDER—the more I realized that he wasn’t at all what he seemed. Talk about untrustworthy: my own character deceived me.

Yet I liked him the better for it, and I hope you will too. SEASON FOR SURRENDER tells the story of a naughty house party, a wager gone wrong, a bluestocking heroine who’s ready to enter society…and, of course, our rakish hero, who realizes that the face he shows the world isn’t the man he wants to be inside. The story is set at Christmas, which is a good time of year for coming to terms with difficult truths and seeking forgiveness. But it’s not all sober: there are lots of naughty games, an encoded book, and plenty of mistletoe.

I’m offering a signed copy of my debut, SEASON FOR TEMPTATION, to one random entrant (open internationally). And if you’d like to leave a comment, do tell: Do you have a favorite rake in a book or a movie?



HONOR AMONG ROGUES

Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas house party—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…

MISCHIEF AMONG MISSES

Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends about daring…

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-a-Million | Indiebound | Powell's | Chapter's Indigo |

Check out Theresa's other book:
Click on cover for more info. 

1 lucky commenter (International Shipping Available) will win a copy of  Season for Temptation


To Enter:
  • Please leave a comment answering Theresa's question: Do you have a favorite rake in a book or a movie?  
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

88 comments :

  1. Lord Xavier sounds like my kind of man! I like them a little naughty! LOL!

    pattifree79@yahoo.com

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  2. I forgot to answer the question. I guess my favorite rake would have to be Jack Martindale from Shana Galen's Blackthorne's Bride.

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    1. I love Shana Galen's books! Doesn't she write yummy heroes? Thanks for sharing.

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    2. Yes she does! I absolutely loved Adrian in Lord & Lady Spy!

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  3. my fav rake would : Jack Devlin from suddenly you by lisa kleypass

    thanks for the chance to win

    icha09 at gmail dot com

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    1. Dian, I haven't read all of Lisa Kleypas's historicals, but I've really liked the ones I *have* read. Sounds like I need to read Suddenly You so I can check out this rake hero!

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  4. My fave rake? Ouch! What a tough question!
    I love many rakes in books, especially the historical ones LOL

    If I have to pick one that would be Sebastian St. Vincent's in Lisa Kleypas' Devil in Winter ^^

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    1. Aline, it's tough to pick, isn't it? I loved the Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas. Great choice. :)

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  5. Lord Xavier sounds like my kind of man! I like them a little naughty!

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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    1. Laurie, thanks! Hope you like meeting Lord Xavier!

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  6. I really don't have a favorite rake. That's not usually the character that intrigues me most (I like the more obviously sensitive, sweet guys.)

    Kelli
    krolvaag@gmail.com

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    1. Kelli, I have a fondness for sensitive heroes too! I couldn't let Xavier get away with being a rake through and through. Early in the story, you'll learn that he has hidden interests (like codes and poetry) and is much kinder than he wants people to think. Silly man.

      Who are your favorite sensitive heroes? Have you read Kristan Higgins's The Next Best Thing? It's a contemporary romance with one of the sweetest heroes I've ever read.

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  7. Dimitri from Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey.
    He's my favorite hero in historical romance and from my favorite novel too :D

    pinglecoon at gmail dot com

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    1. Favorite novel AND favorite hero? I've got to check this one out. Thanks for stopping by to share your favorite rake!

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  8. The Hero from Broken Wing by Judith James is my favorite.

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    1. Mary, I had to look that one up, and it sounds great. He must be a strong hero indeed, to overcome such dreadful circumstances. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. sorry, i haven't found my perfect rake yet :)

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    1. slenny, you'll just have to keep reading until you find him. :)

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  10. I fall in love with the rake in every regency novel I read so I love them all :o) LOL! thanks Carin

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    1. Carin, I like your style! Hope you find lots of new rakes to love this fall.

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  11. All time favorite rake is probably Sebastian from Lisa Kleypas novels, he is such a bad boy.

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    1. Em, you're the second fan of Sebastian to stop by! I might need to give the Wallflower series a reread--it's been too long.

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  12. Thanks for a great post and congrats to Theresa on the new release! I haven't read her books but I'm dying too :)

    Ummm... I haven't read a good "rake" in a while so I don't have a fav :(

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    1. Erin, thanks for the good wishes! Hope you enjoy my books--and hope you find a good rake soon.

      The hero of my debut, Season for Temptation, isn't a rake at all, but he's got a smart-aleck sense of humor. Actually, a lot of my characters do. Hmm....

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  13. I love rakes and one of my favs is the Earl of Mayne from Eloisa James' book Pleasure for Pleasure! thanks for sharing with us!

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    1. Johanna--ooh, I'm glad you mentioned Mayne! That was such a lovely story. Josie was a great heroine and a perfect match for him.

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  14. i love sebastian st.vincent fron 'devil in the winter' (lisa kleypass)

    thx 4 the chance of win :)

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    1. Nurmawati--we're going to have to start a Sebastian fan club. :) Great choice, and thanks for stopping by!

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  15. I adore rakes I dont have a favorite I love them all.I cannot wait to read Lord Xavier and Louisa's story .Have a fantastic week.

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    1. Wanda, thanks--I hope you enjoy Season for Surrender!

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  16. I love rakes of any kind.Lord Xavier sounds delicious.

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    1. Queen of Books Sue--excellent handle. :) I hope you find Xavier to be delicious!

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  17. My favorite rake is Charles Thorpe, Viscount Lumley from When you Give a Girl a Viscount by Kieran Kramer.
    joylynne66 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Joy, I really liked Kieran's Impossible Bachelors. They all had a hint of rake in them, didn't they?

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  18. In historical I would have to say Hunter from Reckless by Shannon Drake, but in general my all time favorite would have to be William from Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series :)
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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    1. That's the first paranormal rake that's been mentioned--very cool. Thanks for sharing, Cassandra!

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  19. Oliver Sharpe from Sabrina Jeffries' The Truth About Lord Stoneville is one of my favorites. It is part of the Hellions of Hallstead Hall series and it is fantastic.

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    1. justpeachy36, that's a fake engagement story, right? Those are *so* much fun--I absolutely love 'em.

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  20. I loved Stephanie Laurens Devil Cynster
    That's great that you are transforming Xavier!
    sallans d at yahoo dot com

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    1. Di--thanks! Hope you like the new and improved Xavier. It's a difficult transformation for him, to say the least. :)

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  21. Hi

    Congrats on your newest release, I am adding this to my TBR list as it looks great. I enjoy reading all types of historical romances, those with rakes and those with the nerdy fun hero also. My favorite (as if this moment) would be Bastien from Shana Galen's A Rogue Pirates Bride.

    Thanks for the chance
    Pam
    tpibrew@msn.com

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    1. Pamerd, great choice! Shana writes such adventurous romance, and Bastien and Raeven made a wonderful pair. Who's your favorite nerdy fun hero? I love those stories too. :)

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    2. Hi
      One of my favorite nerdy hero's is Courtney Milan's Mark Turner in Unclaimed! Such a great series!

      Thanks,
      Pam



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    3. The Turners...I want them all. Mark was such a sweetheart.

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  22. I don't have a favorite, I like them all. Thanks for the chance to win!

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    1. Natasha, thanks for stopping by! Hope you read about many more lovely rakes this fall.

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  23. I have two favorite rakes: Leo Hathaway (Married by Morning) and St. Vincent (Devil in Winter) both by Lisa Kleypas! I love her books so much!

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    1. Ileana, she is marvelous, isn't she? Yours is the fourth mention of St. Vincent--we really need a post just on him! :)

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  24. I adore rakes, but don't believe that a rake is necessarily deceitful like the ones in Jane Austen. They were just jerks! My favorite rakes, the Cynster boys!

    Sue P.
    suepete12(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Sue P.--you're right, Jane's rakes were all villains. In modern romances, they're often heroes instead. Either way, they certainly can add a lot of drama to a story!

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  25. I love rakes in general, and one of my favorites is Lord Justinian Strange in Eloisa James' Duchess by Night.

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    1. Barbara, that's such a lovely story. Lord Strange is an unusual rake, because a lot of his reputation is pretense, isn't it? (If I'm remembering right.) Thanks for stopping by!

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  26. Replies
    1. BrittanyG--sounds like you've been finding some great books. :) Happy reading!

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  27. I haven't found a favorite yet, but I am still looking:)

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    1. *yadkny*--we're winding up with a great "Rake Reading List" in this comment thread. Hope you find that perfect rake for you!

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  28. I re-read GONE WITH THE WIND not long ago, so Rhett Butler comes to mind.

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    1. Ooh, nice one, marybelle. How could we forget Rhett, whose bad reputation got him chased out of Charleston? Thanks!

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  29. I would have to pick Jack Martindale from Blackthorne's Bride.

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  30. Joanne, Shana Galen writes some great rake heroes, doesn't she? Since today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, let me mention Bastien from The Rogue Pirate's Bride, too. Have you read that one? Arr, matey. That's all I can say.

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  31. Lisa Kleypas heroes mostly were a rake,, and I adore them...

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    1. Adisty, it's nice to have go-to authors, isn't it? Glad you've found so many heroes you like!

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  32. You know I'm not sure that I can think of a Rake that I would say is my favorite!

    Your book sounds terrific! Love a good book full of mischief!

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    1. Thanks, Texas Book Lover! Great handle, btw. :) Hope you enjoy the mischief in Season for Surrender.

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  33. I'm fairly new to historicals so I don't have a favorite rake yet...I'm enjoying the process of discovery, though.
    PS...I'm an academic librarian, too.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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    1. Catherine, you've got a lot of great books ahead of you. Happy reading! And kudos to you as an academic librarian; what a wonderful job.

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  34. Hi Theresa!

    It seems like forever and not just a year since Season For Temptation was released but I know that the wait was worth it and Season For Temptation sounds wonderful and I can't wait to read it!

    My favorite rake/hero is Don Quizote from the book by Cervantes which was required reading when I was in High School.

    After all who wouldn't love a rake that only sees the good in you and can overlook all your flaws! Like Dulcinea I want my rake to dream the impossible dream!

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    1. Jeanne, great suggestion! Jane Austen didn't write the only classics with rakes in them. And you're right, the best heroes see their heroines with eyes of love. :)

      Thanks for the kind words about Season for Temptation! Hope you enjoy Season for Surrender too.

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  35. Sebastian from The Devil in Winte

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    1. bn100, Sebastian's getting a lot of love in this comment thread! What a stunning hero he was.

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  36. Your questions are always so good - and hard to answer. I love rakes, I've read quite a few books that star them, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of a single one!

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    1. Jasmyn, glad you've found some rakes you enjoyed reading about, whoever they were. :) Hope lots more good books come your way soon!

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  37. I cannot pick just one. With every guy that I see good in but turns out to be a dick, I always hope and LOVE when I realize he really isn't a dick, he was doing it to help. Sometimes I know that before the woman in the book does and I find myself talking to my book and telling the woman "just you wait and see!"

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    1. booksbysteph--I agree, a hero HAS to have those good qualities, even if they're hidden at first!

      I would say the hero of Season for Surrender is sort of the opposite of the guy you describe: he doesn't seem good at the beginning, but turns out to be better than anyone expected. Even himself. :)

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  38. Yes, but there are so very many from books... I don't think I can narrow it down to even 5...

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    1. You've been reading a lot of fun books, lavendersbluegreen! :) How about from a movie--do you have a favorite film rake?

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  39. My favorite rake was Cam Rohan from Hathaway Series by Lisa Kleypas books.

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    1. Filia, thanks for sharing! Lisa Kleypas has written some fantastic rake heroes, hasn't she?

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  40. My favorite rake is Sebastian St.Vincent from Devil in the winter-Lisa Kleypas

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    1. More Sebastian-love! Lilian, you're in great company. He's definitely the favorite rake in this comment thread.

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  41. I can't say that I have a favorite rake - those naughty boys are all just so much fun to read and/or watch!

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    1. Karen, sounds like you've been watching and reading some great stuff. ;)

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  42. I love the idea of multiple perspectives of the same story, especially when the second book's POV comes from a misunderstood or "villainous" character from the first book. I'm really looking forward to this story!

    My fave rakes: another vote for Sebastian St. Vincent, plus I enjoyed Blakeney from Miranda Neville's "Confessions from an Arranged Marriage" and Charles Wycombe from Julia Quinn's "Brighter Than the Sun". Honestly, my list could go on and on - rakes are so much fun!

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    1. Cayenne, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy Season for Surrender. What a great list of rakes--I've loved all those stories too. Blakeney was, like you say, kind of a misunderstood character until he got his own story. And then...WOW.

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  43. Too many to name. I will pick a couple of favs. Jeremy Malory and Derek Anderson from Johanna Lindsey. I also like Marcus the Earl of Hawksfield or Hawk from Vicki Dreilings How to Series. Giles Masters from Sabrina Jeffries Hellions of Halstead Hall series. There are plenty more, but those are the ones I secretly crush.
    Thanks for the giveaway. This book looks great and would love to win and read.
    christinebails at yahoo dot com

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    1. Chrisbails, I like your list! Vicky Dreiling has written some funny rakes, hasn't she? A sense of humor just makes them even better. :)

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  44. luv all your thoughts on JA ! have you joined us at Austenesque Extravaganza for Sept? think you'd enjoy it :)

    so, 'Do you have a favorite rake in a book or a movie?'
    Kevin Kline in French Kiss {movie} def a Fave..;)

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