My Favorite Book Boyfriend with Theresa Romain and Giveaway

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. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book. This September, she’ll begin a new historical romance trilogy with IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. In October, her third holiday historical romance—SEASON FOR SCANDAL—will be released.

Places to find Theresa:

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Danielle, congrats on your second blogaversary! Thanks for inviting me to join the celebration.

Danielle kindly agreed to let me post about more than one romance hero, since I can’t pick just one Book Boyfriend. My two favorites are so different: Ethan Mirabelli from Kristan Higgins’s THE NEXT BEST THING and Christian, Duke of Jervaulx, from Laura Kinsale’s FLOWERS FROM THE STORM.

Well, ok, they seem to be different. But the things I like most about these books are the same.

Here, I’ll show you with a table, because I love making tables. (I can’t explain it. It’s just one of those things.) The differences:

	Ethan	Christian
Type of romance	Contemporary	Historical
Type of hero	Sweet beta	Rakish alpha
Has stroke during book	No	Yes
Loves heroine at beginning of story?	Extremely yes	Certainly not
Special genius	Cooking	Mathematics
Saving grace	Patience	Left-handedness
Relatives are?	Mostly nice	Mostly terrible

So. Very distinctive heroes, right? Yet thanks to the talent of these authors, these two romances have some lovely features in common.

First, at the beginning of the novel, the heroines are both sure that the hero is Not Suitable. Ethan’s heroine, Lucy, is the widow of Ethan’s brother. She has also become Ethan’s friend with benefits since being widowed. Can you say guilt?

As for Christian? The rake-duke-mathematician’s heroine is Maddy, a Quaker and scholar with no use for “a person of his ilk.”

Over the course of each book, the heroines begin to see these heroes in a new way. Lucy comes to appreciate the iron determination under Ethan’s kindness. Maddy learns the cost—and value— of Christian’s vulnerability. And the heroes start to see themselves in a new and better way, too.

In other words, each hero and heroine become perfectly imperfect for each other. Their journey from strength to weakness to even greater strength is what makes me love these characters and these books.

To one winner, I’ll give a copy of THE NEXT BEST THING and FLOWERS FROM THE STORM, as well as my newest historical romance, SEASON FOR SURRENDER. This giveaway is open internationally. The winner can choose to have the books in print or e-format (if e-books are available in the winner’s country).

Lucy Lang isn't looking for fireworks.

She's looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who'll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbecue, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important: someone who won't inspire the slightest stirring in her heart…or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can't risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn't enough either. So it's goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate "friend with privileges" and hello to a man she can marry.

Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn't going anywhere. As far as he's concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?

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

The Duke of Jervaulx was brilliant and dangerous. Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the ′D of J′ in scandal sheets. But sometimes the most womanizing rakehell can be irresistible, and even his most casual attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms.

Then one fateful day she receives the shocking news—the duke is lost to the world. And Maddy knows it is her destiny to help him and her only chance to find the true man behind the wicked facade.

But she never dreamed her gentle, healing touch would alter his life and her own so completely —and bind them together in need, desire…and love.

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

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 what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 lucky winner will win a copy of Season for Surrender, The Next Best Thing + Flowers from the Storm

To Enter: 

• Please leave a meaningful comment/question for Theresa.
• Choice of print or eBook.
• International Shipping Available.
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

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

Good Luck! 

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