Today bestselling historical and paranormal author Jillian Hunter is here to talk about the start of her new series, The Bridal Pleasures. A Duke’s Temptation
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Thank you for inviting me to Binge with you! I’m excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at the first book in my brand new historical romance trilogy for Signet, The Bridal Pleasures Series. A DUKE’S TEMPTATION
Samuel is a writer whose own bestselling series of romantic historicals have taken England by storm. His pen name is Lord Anonymous. His identity is a secret guarded by Samuel’s servants and closest friends. He doesn’t write for the money — which he donates to charity — he writes because he would go stark raving mad without a means of artistic expression. His popularity embarrasses him; he refuses to believe his own press. In fact, he makes up most of the rumors that circulate about his scandalous like. It’s all fun. It’s all fiction.
He couldn’t care less about his tarnished image until one night at a literary masquerade ball he meets a lady who is one of his most passionate readers, Miss Lily Boscastle. An intense flirtation ensues. Samuel is tempted to admit who he really is on the spot, except that his publisher would strangle him, and Lily belongs to someone else.
It’s only when that someone else destroys Lily’s world that Samuel is able to do what he does best: plot out a dark and delicious romance with slow-building sensuality and a hero-conquers all ending.
But what story would be complete without a few complications to overcome before that happy ending? Suffice it to say that Samuel’s writing life is thrown into turmoil when he employs Lily as his housekeeper. How can he keep his secret from her when he and his household staff habitually act out scenes from his books so that they can be translated to the stage? How is he supposed to explain to her why he and his butler are researching raising virgins from the grave without giving everything away?
If you could plot out the perfect romance, what three qualities would you give your hero and heroine? A decadent villain plays a huge role in Samuel’s series. What three traits should an unforgettable villain possess?
Jillian Hunter is the author of twenty-one published novels. Her books have been printed in twelve languages and have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.
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A duke who also happens to write historical romances? I’m tickled pink by the idea of it. I can only imagine how excellent the book will be.
Would you like to win a copy? We have 2 copies to giveaway. Leave a comment on this post answering Jillian’s questions from above and we’ll enter you. Contest ends Saturday 11/6 at 11:59pm.
This book is available from Signet. You can buy it here
Ooh, I love the idea of a Lord writing romance novels! Definitely adding to my TBR pile!
Three qualities for the hero?
Flawed, brave, funny.
Three for the heroine?
Funny,determined and slightly naughty.
Three traits for the villain?
Conniving, ruthless and funny
I like everyone to have some humorous touch!
Angelique, I loved writing this book. In fact, I could even have written the romances that Samuel was writing. They got pretty dark and torrid.
Barbara, I agree. There aren’t enough funny villains in the world. Bring them on!
I do like this idea too, and I would like to read his books for sure.
Hero: I like them a bit tormented, protective, and with a bit of humour
Heroine:She must be able to fend for herself and speak her mind, and be sweet so I can root for her
Villain: Vindictive, charming, scoundrel
What three qualities would you give your hero and heroine?
Hero: Courageous and loyal, with a sense of humor.
Heroine: Strong, independent and irreverant.
What three traits should an unforgettable villain possess? Manipulative, driven, and delusional.
A Duke’s Temptation sounds like a wonderful story and I’m looking forward to reading it.
Hero: Brave, vulnerable, witty.
Heroine: Outspoken, outrageous, clueless in a good way.
Villian: Manipulative, surprising (as in I like to be surprised to find out who the villian is), ruthless.
Hero: Somewhat tortured, very smart, naughty!
Heroine: funny, a little bit naieve, outspoken
villian: cunning, dark, redemable maybe (looking for a sequel)LOL!
evjochum@aol.com
Hero: Smart, determined and daring
Heroine: Sweet, natural, and able to think for herself.
Villian: Ruthless, intelligent and dasterdly.
linze_e at hotmail.com
I like younger sons, war hero/soldier stories. So I would like him to be brave, emotionally vulnerable and have a wicked sense of humor.
I like that combination, Kat. Young, brave, emotionally vulnerable with a wicked sense of humor. Very appealing.
My heroes and heroines would have a sense of humor, be tough physically and emotionally and they would be clever.
My villian would be likable, smart and without a conscience.
I absolutely love the premise of this book! It’s on the top fo my wishlist of historical to read, can’t wait to see how things turn out.
heroine: independent, outspoken, witty
hero: jaded yet compassionate, a bit arrogant
vilain: charming (ones that are likable at first are the best), intelligent, dark
Pam S
This book sounds great – the parts where Samuel is trying to keep his alter ego a secret from his housekeeper sound especially fun!
As for 3 qualities…
Hero
Strong
Faithful
Insightful
Heroine
Resilient
Clever
great sense of humour
(actually, they could all be interchangeable for the h/h)
Villain
Not one dimensional
Smart
Oily
This book sounds like something I’d enjoy – I love the idea of a hero who is an author of gothic type novels.
I’ve been pining for a hero who is sweet, funny and a little vulnerable instead of the usual alpha.
For my heroine – pragmatic, irreverent, and clever.
Villain – I’m don’t really think that much about villains but I do like it when they have some kind of motivation for what they do – not evil just for the sake of being evil.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
For my perfect romance, the hero is: driven, honorable, courageous
and my heroine is: intelligent, strong-willed, and compassionate.
Now the villain has to be really, really, bad so he is cunning, merciless, and blood thirsty – oh yeah – he’s bad!
The premise of the book sounds great!
My perfect hero: a bit tormented, brave, with a bit of humour
My perfect heroine: courageous, caring, emotional
My perfect villain: eccentric, without mercy, just evil
I asked about your perfect villain because the subject of why we like villains so much intrigues Samuel as a person and as a writer. He is a true hero at heart, but his lady readers are wild for the villain of his series, Sir Renwick Hexworthy. The lady Samuel desires, Lily Boscastle, defends Sir Renwick and and voices a wish to be abducted by him.
Samuel, already under pressure from his publisher, starts to question his obligation to his readers, to himself as a writer, and, to his characters. And his characters start to question him back, especially when he begins letting his personal life interfere with their dark swashbuckling deeds.