My Favorite Book Couple with Valerie Bowman

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes Regency-set historical romance novels aka Racy Regency Romps! Valerie has a B.A. in English Language and Literature with a minor in history from Smith College. By day, she is a technical editor at a computer software company. By night, she combines her love of writing, history, and romance to craft stories about people falling in love.

Originally from Rantoul, Illinois, Valerie lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family including her rascally rescue dog, Roo. When she's not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV or PBS.

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My favorite book couple of all time? Oh, boy. This is a tough one. And because I write and adore historical romance, it probably won’t come as much of a shock that my favorite couples all dwell within the pages of historical romance novels. So here they are…my top 3 (because I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to just 1) favorite romance couples of all time.

1. Lily Lawson and Alex Raiford from Lisa Kleypas’s Then Came You. I think I’ve read this book 10 times, easily. Lily and Alex are tres fabulous. I mean, what’s not to love? She’s got short hair, a penchant for trouble, and is trying to break up his engagement (to her sister!). He’s brooding and controlled. She ties him to her bed to keep him from stopping her sister’s elopement! This enrages him and makes his revenge that much more edge-of-your-seat-tastic! In the end, these two find their happily ever after, of course, but it’s a sheer delight watching them get there. Shout out to another fantastic couple in the series: Derek and Sarah from Kleypas’s Dreaming of You.

2. Merry Wilding and Devon Crandall from Laura London’s The Windflower. I adore the plot of this book, but even more wonderful are the couple themselves. They are the perfect blend. Merry is shy, inexperienced, and unworldly. Devon is a swoon-worthy privateer duke-in-hiding. What results is some of the best chemistry ever written. And can I just say that I totally went to Laura London’s Facebook page and asked Tom and Sharon to write Cat’s story. I only hope they’re seriously considering it. Talk about a future bestseller!

3. Whitney Stone and Clayton Westmoreland from Judith McNaught’s Whitney My Love. If you asked me who my favorite hero is, I’d say (without hesitation) Jason Fielding from McNaught’s Once and Always. But while his heroine, Victoria, is certainly likable, alas the two don’t compare (as a couple) to Whitney and Clayton. W&C are *such* a matched pair. Sparks fly between Whitney, unconventional, with a sad childhood and an uber crush on a boy from her past—and Clayton (also a duke in hiding, hmm. I’m noticing a theme in my favorite books.) powerful and controlling, and intent on making Whitney his bride. Utterly riveting.

So, there you have them. Three of the best romance couples of all time (in my humble opinion). And when I write my own books, I strive for just a tiny bit of the same magic these enormously talented authors have given us. Lucy and Derek from my latest, The Unexpected Duchess, begin with a standoff and before it’s all over, the queen and the Prince Regent get involved.

Oh, wait, I just remembered Shanna and Ruark! And Brandon and Heather. And . . . I’d better stop before this post gets entirely too long!

She thought her heart was safe, but . . .

Reckless, wild, and beautiful, Lily Lawson delights in shocking proper London society -- and now she is determined to rescue her sister from an unwanted impending marriage to the notorious Alex, Lord Raiford, by fair means or foul. But while she succeeds outrageously, Alex is a master gamesman who is not to be undone.

Alex has lost one bride, yet he is enchanted by this remarkable lady who is willing to break any rule to flaunt her independence. When Lily offers him only scorn, he counters with kindness, and he parries her blistering barbs with gentle words and a soft, tender touch. The spirited miss will pay dearly for her interference -- with her body, her soul, and her stubborn, unyielding heart. But will Alex's own heart be the prize to be won in this sensuous game of love?

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“Smart, witty, sassy, and utterly delightful.” - 4.5 Stars TOP PICK! RT Book Reviews

IN THIS BATTLE OF WITS

Lady Lucy Upton’s tongue may be too sharp to attract suitors but her heart is good and when her painfully shy friend Cassandra needs help she devises a brilliant scheme to help her discourage an unwanted suitor, the Duke of Claringdon. Lucy will hide behind the hedgerow and tell Cass just what to say to discourage the Duke of Claringdon…but it turns out that he’s made of sterner stuff than either of them anticipated. And Lucy is shocked to discover that tangling with the tenacious man is the most fun she’s had in ages.

KISSES ARE THE BEST WEAPON

Lord Derek Hunt made a promise to his dying friend to marry the demure Cassandra, and for a man who wants nothing more than peace and quiet after the horrors of war, she’ll make the perfect bride. If only the impudent Miss Upton will let him court the girl! Doing battle is the last thing on his mind, but bantering with Lucy behind the bushes is too tempting to resist. And the spoils of this war just may be true love…

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

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Up For Grabs:

• 1 copy of Then Came You + The Unexpected Duchess

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