Meet Shana Galen, author of Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend.
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Booklist says “Galen expertly entwines espionage-flavored intrigue with sizzling passion,” and RT Bookreviews calls her “a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Places to find Shana:
The Courtesan’s Guide to Good Spying
One of the best things about being a writer is when your characters surprise you. I know this sounds crazy to those of you who don’t write. How could a character surprise the author, who is creating the story? But toward the end of If You Give a Rake a Ruby, Fallon and Warrick were in quite a spot of trouble, and guess who stepped in to help them? Lily. Apparently, she had skills I was unaware of. Apparently, she was not only a courtesan—although that’s questionable—she was also a spy for the Crown.
Now, not to worry if you haven’t read If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Lily’s story stands completely on its own. In fact, I didn’t have much planned in the way of plot for Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend, Lily’s book, but I certainly hadn’t anticipated Lily being a spy. I knew she was in love with Andrew, the Earl of Darlington, and had been for some time. But little did I know her extracurricular spying activities would put her and Darlington at odds. How deliciously fun when that’s exactly what happened!
Today I thought I’d give you a few tips and tricks Lily learns in Sapphires Are an Earl’s Best Friend.
10. Always keep your eye on the target.
When Lily learns the man she’s investigating is none other than the Duke of Ravenscroft, Andrew’s father, she has to put aside her infatuation with Andrew and focus on Ravenscroft. It’s not easy for Lily, considering how long she’s loved Andrew. But she has to be professional.
9. Do not allow a pair of tight breeches to weaken your resolve.
The more Lily encounters Andrew, the more difficult it becomes for her to remember his father is the one she’s after. It’s those damned tight breeches Andrew is so fond of wearing. They’re just so distracting!
8. Make friends with the family.
The duke has a young daughter who looks up to Lily. Lily likes the girl enough to warn Andrew to send her away. And just in time to save the girl too!
7. Always carry a pistol with you.
When Lily is abducted on her way to the theater, she conveniently has her pistol with its sapphire-encrusted handle at the ready. And she’s not afraid to use it.
6. Don’t allow your past to interfere.
Lily should have followed her own advice. The duke’s castle is quite close to a cottage with personal meaning to Lily. She makes the mistake of visiting it and spots a redheaded child.
5. Do not allow yourself to be cornered in the butler’s pantry.
It’s those tight breeches again. Lily and Andrew have a brief and rather heated moment in the servants’ quarters.
4.If the weather looks like rain, stay indoors.
Lily and Andrew are caught in a cold, wet rainstorm. It’s typical English weather, and when they need to make a quick escape, the rising river, makes it especially treacherous.
3. Stay away from house parties with your competition.
When Lily arrives at the duke’s castle, she finds several other courtesans in attendance. They are none too pleased to see her.
2. An opera singer is a great distraction.
Lily tries to use Andrew’s well-known preference for opera singers to her advantage, but it doesn’t work as planned.
1. Never, never, never fall in love.
Lily, unfortunately, cannot avoid this mistake.
It was a lot of fun taking this story from the ballrooms of London to a house party in the country. What settings do you most enjoy when you read novels?
Send your proof of preorder before February 28th!
Follow along on the Jewels of the Ton Pre-Publication Tour—with chances to win books and jewelry at each stop!
2/17 Cocktails and Books – Diamond
2/18 SOS Aloha – Amethyst
2/19 Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance – Citrine
2/20 Romance Bandits – Rose Quartz
2/21 Reading Between the Wines – Ruby
2/24 Ramblings From This Chick – Pink Sapphire
2/25 Stich-Read-Cook – Garnet
2/26 Dashing Duchesses – Blue Topaz
2/27 Romancing the Book – Smoky Quartz
2/28 Books-N-Kisses – Sapphire
SAPPHIRES ARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES MARCH 2014
What better disguise for a secret agent than that of a courtesan?
Lily Dawson, dubbed the Countess of Charm, is a spy working for the Crown to uncover a traitor.
Andrew Booth-Payne, Earl of Darlington, wants to hate Lily for taking up with his father, but something about Lily intrigues him.
When he discovers there is more to her flirtation than greed, he knows he must help her uncover a traitor. Even if that traitor is his own father…
Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |
Check out the Jewels of the Ton series:
Check out what's up for grabs.
- 1 copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond and If You Give a Rake a Ruby + a Pink Sapphire Necklace
To Enter:
- Please answer Shana's question: What settings do you most enjoy when you read novels?
- US/Canada shipping ONLY.
- Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.
Good Luck!
Special thanks to Shana Galen & Sourcebooks for sponsoring this giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
129 comments :
Thanks for hosting me today!
I like a variety of setting in my books. The setting helps set the mood and there are so many wonderful places in our world that are perfect for a stolen kiss or two...smile. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
I like beautiful outdoor scenery (gardens, parks, picnic areas) with that feeling of being free to steal a kiss or more. I also like close quarters when indoors so the characters can't hide from each other.
I love anywhere in Great Britain, especially London and anywhere in Scotland. I would like to read some stories based in Europe. I don't believe I've every read anything based in Europe. Vienna maybe.
Hi Shana, enjoyed your guide to good spying. I like when the characters are thrown together in close quarters (like the butler's pantry) - makes for very intense moments. Other settings I like are when they happen to meet up in a library or billiards room during a ball and if they are on the road and are forced to stay in the same room at an inn.
I like the house party setting!
I like those incognito settings, where the heroien is acting as a servent but really a royal or a person of theb ton.
in historical romances, I love the old great halls and charming townhomes.
I love to read about the country houses of peers. I kinda get tired of London.
I do like the Regency period, but I wish someone would also set a book during America's Gilded Age.
I love reading about regency ballrooms. I love the dresses..
i love all types of settings. i like it when the book is written to include descriptions of the dress, manners, modes of travel, the food, people who might be in charge so that i can go back or forward to where it is taking place.
I like the regency period. I also like small town settings.
I love the ballroom scenes. Beautiful gowns & scenery, with lots going on. I love the "first dances" and stolen glances, too!
Library scenes are always interesting. I love it when the characters love books as much as I do. ;-)
I like variety and go in stages. Right now, I am back to historical. I love the Regency ballrooms, the Medieval castles, and Scottish highlands. I love discovering new worlds in paranormal romance and I like small town series for contemporary.
I like all settings. It depends on what the characters are doing.
I am drawn to any story which takes place near the ocean...not sure why but I find the ocean very romantic! It is also my favorite setting to "be in" when I read a book! We visit the ocean quite a bit and there is nothing I love more than to sit on the beach and read.
Thanks for stopping by, Brenda!
Both are fabulous, Kelly!
Vienna sounds really romantic, Beth. I did Naples in a novella recently.
Angela, those are some of my favorites too!
I haven't done that one yet. It's on my list.
Kathleen, as you know, that's one of my favorites too.
Oh, definitely. I love to use real places too.
Me, too! And then I throw them on a pirate ship or something in the next book and think, why didn't I stick to London?
That's a fabulous and underused setting, Kim.
Me, too, May. I always wish I had the gowns on my covers.
I love that too, Nova. Historicals are definitely escapism for me.
Rita, small towns in contemporaries or Regencies? I don't see them a lot in historical books.
You're making me sigh, Michelle. I so agree!
I think that's one reason I always liked the Disney princess Belle.
I definitely like the Highlands in Scotland. I always wonder if we're trained to love these settings or it's just a universal thing.
The characters' actions definitely have to fit the setting.
I find the ocean very soothing when I'm there.
I love it when they meet as strangers stranded in an Inn and then meet again at a large house party. The steps they have to take to make sure the other guests don't know they have met before can be interesting, especially when they have indulged in a bit of romance as strangers.
I love every setting be it a city or small town or on a mountain - the story drives the location. It is fun to get a mental picture of a magnificent setting, or the details that give an idea of a cozy room.
My favorite has always been out in the country or in a small village/town which usually takes place somewhere in the country, lol. I just like the remoteness of it because it allows the characters wander off together.
congrats to Shana on the newest releases :) Love her books!! Ummm... to be perfectly honest, I really don't have a fav setting. As long as it works well with the story and I'm drawn in, that's all I look for!
While I do enjoy the traditional London settings, I do greatly appreciate stories taking place in the beautiful vistas of the countryside (away from the characters' usual haunts where they might feel less restricted socially).
Small towns in contemporaries.
I enjoy different settings depending on my moods. Sometimes it may be the oceans and tropical breezes other times it may be the snowy mountains and a secluded cabin. Sigh!! Both sound good right now. Thanks for the opportunity.
I like the outdoor gardens. It is easy to hide from the prying eyes of others in their large gardens
I love the Regency Era. For scenes, I love ballrooms, the gardens at night, libraries at night, the kitchens at night (see a pattern here? lol). I also love Scottish romances, stealing brides, forced marriages, oh...the list could go on and on :D
Thank you so much for your wonderful contests, Shana. I will read anything you write. I love it all!
I love country house scenes because they seem to provide more opportunity for meaningful conversations/connections as well great settings for romantic encounters! :)
Country house parties are fun. If there is spying or intrigue, I like it if they visit the dodgy parts of London or travel to France or other countries for a mission.
I can't think of a setting I haven't enjoyed, as long as it moves the story along.
Love London or Paris, but any romantic place suits me!
I love any setting really! As long there is some romance and some action to make it lively!
I like all kinds of settings. Thanks for a chance to win. I foster homeless books if you ever need any help. :)
In books like yours, I like the country house parties first, then the fancy town parties. So many ways for intrigue to happen. :D
Country is not really important, but I like Victorian era best.
I don't really have a favorite setting although I do love the Regency Era and house parties are always a fun setting.
I like Regency England, in London, Bath or in the Country. I'm open to different settings.
Mostly England or Scotland because I'll probably never get to see either in this lifetime. And I like reading about time periods before I was born. So much to learn from history and just the everyday life of men (and women) before the internet and Facebook etc.
I love a lot of different types of settings, actually. I must admit that I like it when the main characters are thrown together in tight quarters, especially if they don't exactly like another. I also tend to like a story that takes place over the course of a specific time frame (for instance, the hero and heroine having to travel a week in the tight quarters of a carriage as in Tessa Dare's "A Week to be Wicked").
medevil times
I am really not picky about the setting and maybe that explains why I love so many sub-genres in my romance and other genres. I love when a setting is written in a way that it is almost like another character in the story.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I love Shana's books.
Oh, Catherine, that is such a fun scenario!
The little details definitely make the setting, Di. Thanks!
I see where that's going, Elizabeth!
It is nice to get away from London, on occasion, Katherine.
Any warm setting seems good right now!
And it can be fragrant and beautiful. Love it!
Put my feet up on the couch, a cup of tea, and a glass of ice tea, (I don't want to get up too soon), and I'm ready to read!
Thanks, Gena. So as long as it's at night, you're in :-)
It was fun doing a country house party this time. So many of you like it, I may have to do it again.
Me, too! Those are my favorite settings!
I'm with you as a reader, Susan. I'm willing to read if the setting works.
Those are both lovely cities!
Sounds like my kind of book, Karen!
Gwen, thanks for letting me know. All those poor, homeless books.
Intrigue is the key, I think. Thanks, Ann!
I'm reading a Victorian-set book right now. It's fun!
Regency is definitely my favorite time period.
I just did a Bath setting. I learned a lot researching it.
I get so tired of being chained to my computer. It's nice to imagine a time when people were more free.
I kind of like those time frame stories, too, Sandra. It's fun to watch the clock tick down.
I haven't read a medieval in so long. I need to grab one.
Thank you, Sophia!
Sounds like you're all set!
I'm fond of any kind of settings if it involves the H/H to have some time alone either to argue or something. I just hate for them to be in a place where they are caught in a compromising position because that just speeds things up to fast
The wilds of Scotland or out west.
I usually like countries that I have always wanted to visit so that I can experience them through the book and imagine myself going to those settings someday. I also really like stories that take place on beaches (but that could be just because I love beaches)
I like most settings but my favorite is Historical English/Scottish settings (1800-1900).
I like the Scottish highlands, 1800's England, the Old West, and medievil.
It can definitely be tricky in historicals to get the H/H together alone. But that's part of the fun.
I'm not a big western reader, but I do like Scotland.
That makes sense to me. Not a lot of beaches in historical novels, though. England is cold much of the year.
I like that too!
Sounds like a great variety--all good settings, Carmen.
Honestly, I enjoy a variety of settings. :-)
humm. I like Castle type settings but there aren't a lot, so mansions is the next best things, and gardens and shops :) ballrooms!
I enjoy Regency England and the Scottish Highlands as settings.
I always enjoy reading about places I know - I have lived in Vancouver, Victoria, Tokyo, Boulder, and Wilmington/Philly - so I always enjoy reading about these places, mostly to see how accurate the author is at portraying the locale.
I love reading about so many of them! They help set the books and i always feel like im traveling through stories! Im experiencing what they are. I love finding out about different places, the cultures, the sites, etc. I like my favorite is the Europe! Congrats on your release! Sounds fantastic!
romance, and time travel
I love all different settings in books. Each place can add a new element or spice to a book. With romances though especially historicals I do love the ones set in Scotland and England.
I enjoy many different settings, Regency era London, Scotland, the Pacific Northwest, the southern US. Thanks for asking. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
Most settings but the out of this world is my fave.
I like different settings in books. Books that have move from different locations are always nice like going from a country house to the city. In Regencies, there's always a more relaxed element in country living that allows the characters to be more free than restrictive like in London. I like that ability to see the characters in more facets.
I like settings in the country with the house parties and picnics. I also like reading about the carriage rides in Hyde Park, and the glittering London balls.
So do I, Glenda!
Oh, I love ballrooms and castles!
Those are two of my favorites!
I enjoy that too, Jo!
Thanks, Shadow. Europe is also my favorite.
Oh! Time travel. I haven't read one of those in a while.
Steph, those are two of my favorites, for sure!
That is a great range. I kind of go through phases where I like to read a lot of one setting and then switch to another.
Ah! So you like sci fi!
Good point about country houses, Anita. There are all those gardens to get lost in...
I love writing carriage rides, Diane!
I read a little bit of everything. In fact, I try to mix it up so that I don't read the same setting back to back. What I love is when the characters are so well formed that the setting drops into the background and I just use it as a reference for what the characters look like.
I love your books, Shana. Congratulations on your new release!
I love reading different settings. Country and paranormal settings are two of my favorites.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Jen, that is truly the sign of a great book/author.
Thanks, LilMissMolly!
Good luck, Natasha!
Some of my favorite settings are in England, Scotland and snow-capped mountains.
I love when the setting is at a ball or house party! It's fun to read about the different ball gowns or the antics one can get to when there's only a limited amount of places they can be.
Great choices!
So true! I was reading a book with a great scene in a ball this morning, and it's so fun to see where people sneak off to.
I like England, Scotland, and Texas. Historical books are my preference over contemporary books.
I like action but I also like scenes where the heroine relies on her own wits and saves the day. Even better if she saves the hero.
The setting does not matter to me as long as it stays true to the story line and era.
I like the settings at Balls with all the jewels and dresses, expecially when they find themselves alone somewhere ;-). Then there is the house parties with so many possibilities... Thanks for the giveaway and good luck with the release!
I absolutely love London historical romances! The historical city life is so fascinating! I also love the country life of England as well! Thanks for the giveaway :)
I like when they are at house parties, so many opportunities for one on one, but then when they are in London there are so many dangers to avoid..
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