My Favorite Book Boyfriend with Maggie Robinson and Giveaway

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances.

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So…book boyfriend. Someone I might consider leaving my husband for, fictionally, of course. This was an interesting concept for me. I didn’t think I should mention my own heroes, although the Marquess of Conover in Mistress by Midnight has all the qualifications I could ever seek—he’s tall, dark and handsome, rich, tattooed, well-traveled and has been completely celibate for a dozen years obsessively pining for me…um, his heroine Laurette. He wants to make the past right and is willing to move heaven and earth to do so. Sigh…

So, not Con then. I read a book a few years ago that moved me. The hero had become addicted to opium, and how he freed himself was a worthy hero’s journey. Alas, when I reread the book for this blog, the story did not hold up for me. The h/h declared their love way too soon, and everyone but the kitchen staff from previous books in the series turned up to give advice. So I was left with a conundrum—what handsome hero have I read that really makes me smile and yearn to have by my side?

You’ll never guess. Have you read any of Spencer Quinn’s hilarious mysteries? They are narrated by a dog of unspecified breed, Chet. Chet is pretty heroic—he sails over fences to chomp the bad guys and makes acute observations about his P.I. owner Bernie and life in general, only occasionally distracted by a random Cheeto on the ground. The titles of the books are so clever, too:

• Dog On It (2009)
• Thereby Hangs a Tail (2010)
• To Fetch a Thief (2010)
• The Dog Who Knew Too Much (2011)
• A Fistful of Collars (2012)
• A Cat Was Involved (2012 e-book)

Chet is pretty brilliant even if his vocabulary doesn’t extend to romanticism's  He’s risen from poverty, is good-hearted, has great instincts, loyalty and recognizes quality. What more could you ask for? I’ll give away the Chet and Bernie book of the winner’s choice, plus any book from my backlist, featuring plenty of yummy heroes, if I do say so myself.

Chet might have flunked out of police school (“I’d been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn’t remember exactly, although blood was involved”), but he’s a detective through and through. In Dog On It, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenaged girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters.

Readers will be instantly captivated by Chet’s doggy ways and his endearingly hard-boiled voice. Full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief, he is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding—like divorce, cash flow, and child custody—is enormously likeable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way. There’s genuine suspense and intrigue, combined with humor and deep insight into the bond between dog and man.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Tucked amid the pages of The London List, a newspaper that touts the city’s scandals, is a vaguely-worded ad for an intriguing job—one that requires a most wickedly uncommon candidate…

Maris has always been grateful that her marriage to the aging Earl of Kelby saved her from spinsterhood. Though their union has been more peaceful than passionate, she and the earl have spent ten happy years together. But his health is quickly failing, and unless Maris produces an heir, Kelby’s conniving nephew will inherit his estate. And if the earl can’t get the job done himself, he’ll find another man who can…

Captain Reynold Durant is known for both his loyalty to the Crown and an infamous record of ribaldry. Yet despite a financial worry of his own, even he is reluctant to accept Kelby’s lascivious assignment—until he meets the beautiful, beguiling Maris. Incited by duty and desire, the captain may be just the man they are looking for. But while he skillfully takes Maris to the heights of ecstasy she has longed for, she teaches him something even more valuable and unexpected…

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo |

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 lucky winner will win a copy of Book of choice from Maggie's Backlist + Chet & Bernie book of choice.

To Enter: 

• Please leave a meaningful comment/question for Maggie.
• International Shipping Available.
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

**Don't forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!

Good Luck! 

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