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Friday, September 27, 2013

Feature and Giveaway: Season For Scandal by Theresa Romain


UNLADYLIKE RISK

Jane Tindall has never had money of her own or exceptional beauty. Her gifts are more subtle: a mind like an abacus, a talent for play-acting—and a daring taste for gambling. But all the daring in the world can’t help with the cards fixed against her. And when Edmund Ware, Baron Kirkpatrick, unwittingly spoils her chance to win a fortune, her reputation is ruined too. Or so she thinks, until he suggests a surprising mode of escape: a hasty marriage. To him. On the surface, their wedding would seem to satisfy all the demands of proper society, but as the Yuletide approaches, secrets and scandals turn this proper marriage into a very improper affair.

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Jane’s chin jerked. “I most certainly am not.”

“Yes. You are.” He lifted a hand, as though he wanted to touch her, then let it fall again. “If you have so much faith in me, why did you leave?”

A face she knew so well; every plane and contour. Who was the man behind those handsome features, though? What did she know of his heart?

Not enough. Far too much.

“It wasn’t you I was trying to protect.” The admission was as painful as that first time she’d said she loved him, and he apologized.

“I see.” He started to turn his head to the side, then paused. The effect was of a man with a dreadful crick in the neck.

“You can do your sideways-head peek,” Jane said. “I won’t tell your secret.”

He smiled. “No need for such subterfuge. Not right now.” He stepped closer to her; so close, she could see the freckle at the corner of his mouth. He smelled like clean linens and citrus; good enough to bathe in, good enough to eat. “May I kiss you good-bye?”

She blinked at him. “What? You want to kiss me?” The question seemed better suited to a couple just coming to know one another, not trusting the depths of their regard. It seemed odd to hear such a request from her husband, who had kissed every part of her body; who had never felt the need to ask before.

Perhaps he had never doubted her answer. Now Jane wasn’t even sure if anything made him her husband besides a special license, a few signatures, and a witness.

And…and this question. Say it again. Please.

He did. “Well. Yes. That is, there’s mistletoe above us. Do you see? But if you think a kiss would—”

“Yes,” she interrupted. “Yes. You may kiss me.”

His eyes went dark, as though he was ready to loose the emotion he’d been bottling up. He caught her face in his hands, and Jane let out a sigh, ready, melting already.

For a few long seconds, he only looked at her, cradling her face as though astounded by the sight of her. And just when Jane began to feel self-conscious about his scrutiny, he lowered his mouth to hers.

Not a hot tangle of lips; not a sign of frantic lust. It was a light, deliberate brush of his lips over hers. Slow, so slow that every fiber of her body seemed to wake and unfurl toward him. Sweet, so sweet that she felt herself dissolving like sugar. He simply held her, teasing her mouth as though he was learning the feel of it. As though he liked the lesson.

Then he stepped back. His hands traced the curves of her ears, the slope of her jaw, then dropped to his sides. “Thank you.”

The first time she had told him she loved him, he thanked her, and it sounded like an apology. It was the beginning of the end for them.

But this thanks—this sounded like gratitude. Like a simple, unexpected joy had caught him unawares.

Jane didn’t know what it meant. She didn’t trust her own impressions; she’d been too muddled and scrambled and hope-filled and let down even to know her own mind or heart.

“Come back any time you like, Jane,” he said quietly. “But only if you intend to stay.”

He helped her into her cloak; found her gloves on a side table and drew them onto her hands. Each gesture was so simple, so tender, that her icy resolve cracked into jagged pieces. “Is that a threat, Edmund? Or a promise?”

He traced the line of her cheekbone, then let his hand fall. “It’s a promise. With me, it’s always a promise.”


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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:
Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |



Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 12 copies of Season For Scandal

To Enter: 
  • Please leave a comment or question for Theresa.
  • NO PO Boxes.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Theresa Romain & LitConnect for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

40 comments :

  1. Congrats on the release of your latest release. Love that it features a heroine who's a wizard at maths! Can't wait to hear more about your new series....

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    1. Thanks, Linda! She's more of a card-counter than a math wizard, but it's a skill that serves her in good stead. :)

      Are you wondering about my Matchmaker series? I just put up a blurb for the second book on my website!

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  2. Danielle, thank you for hosting me today!

    And readers, thanks so much for following the excerpt tour this week. It was such fun giving you a taste of Jane and Edmund's story--and there will more fun to come next week, when SEASON FOR SCANDAL officially hits stores!

    I'll be traveling today, so I might not be able to check in again while I'm on the road (11 hours in a car! Wheee!). But I'll be back eventually, so if you've got any questions about the book, drop them in the comments. :)

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  3. Congrats again! I can't wait till this book is out. I love the first 2 books so much!

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  4. Hey Theresa!
    I just read this book and I loved it! I noticed that the first part of the book had a totally different feel than the last part of it. This is only my opinion, but I thought the awkwardness of the relationship between Jane & Edmund, was palpable and very real. I felt the tension, the confusion that both of them felt. It confused me at the beginning because I'm used to reading so many books with the same 'trope' that had an easier 'flow' to them. I'm so glad you chose to write it this way! It made a lasting impression on me and I'll remember this book for a long time. Congrats :)

    It really is a 5 Star worthy read!

    HUGS!

    Mel
    [now all I need do is draft you to come over b2b and tell us more about this book]

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    1. Melanie, thank you so much for the review. Wow! I'm glad the characters' feelings came through so clearly to you. Jane and Edmund really went through the wringer, didn't they?

      I asked my husband if it made him uncomfortable that I wrote so many difficult scenes for my married characters. "No," he said. "It's realistic." Er...ok, good. I think. :)

      I'd be glad to share more info on b2b! Want me to swing by the comment thread, or are you looking for more detail? You can email me at theresa @ theresaromain . com and let me know what you think would work best for your readers. Thanks again. :)

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  5. Congrats again! I can't wait till this book is out. I love the first 2 books so much!

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  6. I love your books and can't wait to read this one
    Great blog today.
    Thanks
    Penney

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    1. Penney, thanks for checking out the excerpt tour. Glad you enjoyed it!

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  7. I love that phrase 'mind like an abacus'

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    1. Di, you can give my publisher credit for the back cover copy. :) I'm always amazed how they communicate the gist of a book in such a short space.

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  8. Can't wait to read this one! I love having intelligent and strong-minded heroines who are unconventional (it makes them less princess-like and much more human and relatable). This is going to be on my ever-towering "to-be-read" pile (a pile that always grows and never seems to get smaller).

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    1. Sandra, I'm honored to be added the the TBR pile! I have a never-ending TBR pile too, because the number of auto-buy authors is always increasing. I don't want to miss out on a great story--now all I need is the time to read them.

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  9. Thanks for a great blog! Theresa, I love your books and am looking forward to reading this one as well as any others that come out.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the excerpt, Cathy! Thank you.

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  10. Congrats :) I am looking forward to reading what sounds and looks to be a great love story.
    Thanks

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  11. Congrats to Theresa on the new release! Sounds fantastic!

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  12. I've read your other books, and absolutely loved them. I'm keeping everything crossed, and hope that I get a chance to win this "A Season for Scandal". Thank you for the great opportunity.

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  13. Oh. Really loved that excerpt. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  14. Loved the exerpt, thanks for the chance to win. This book is already on my wishlist, just have to start reading. THanks

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  15. A few more days and it is out! I can't wait for it!

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  16. Such a poignant scene; I have to read more!

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  17. Oh goodness--I just saw that it's very late, and I have to be on the road again early in the morning. Must put these typing fingers to bed. BD, Beth, Erin, Diane, Lori, Sheryl, Sandy, and jm--thank you for your comments! I'm so glad you all could stop by today. The SEASON FOR SCANDAL blog tour will continue next week; hope you can join in!

    Danielle, thanks very much for hosting me today. As always, it's a pleasure to visit RFTC. :)

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  18. So very sweet and touching! A wonderful scene to share with us. Thank you.

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  19. love theresa's novels..thx u for sharing and gosting this giveaway :)

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  20. Hi Theresa, do you ever get gown envy looking at your covers?

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  21. I love when the heroine is so independent. I love that she is smart and adventurous. These are always my favorite kind of heroines. It sounds like I will definitely enjoy this book. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. I love historical romances and this one sounds great! Hope I get the chance to read it! Thanks for the giveaway chance! I live in the Midwest too, Missouri.

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  23. You have my heart breaking from this excerpt!

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  24. Such a beautiful cover. These books sound really good. I can't wait to see when they realize they actually have true love and their happy every after! Thanks for the chance!

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  25. Congrats Theresa, I'm enjoying this tour! The excerpts just make me wish I had the book in my hands right now :)

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  26. I love that excerpt!! I need to know more about Jane and Edmund!!!

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  27. Thank you for the sneak peak. I love your books. Can't wait to read it!!!

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  28. Congrats on the release of your latest release!
    Thank you for sneak peak this book, i love it :)

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  29. What kind of research was performed in order to write this book? It would be fascinating to know just how accurate it is to the times it was written in.

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  30. Hi Teresa,
    Congrats for the release of Season For Scandal! *throws confetti
    This book is already on my wish list :)
    Thanks for sharing your joy with us ^^

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