Book Binge: Please welcome bestselling author Sarah MacLean to Book Binge. She’s here today to chat about her new romance series, The Rules of Scoundrels. Book one, A Rogue by Any Other Name, releases…TODAY!
Take it away Sarah…
Sarah MacLean: The Strange Chemistry of Romance or, How the Grape gets her Rogue.
About halfway through writing Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart, I knew that Penelope Marbury—darling of the ton and eldest daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby, soon-to-be ex-fiancée of the Duke of Leighton and . . . worst of all . . . The Grape—was going to need her own book.
Now, this was not because she happened to be there, lurking in the background. After all, I’ve had a number of secondary characters lurk about for one or more books without feeling the urge to give them their own stories (I’m looking at you Benedick, Lord Allendale), but there was something about Penelope . . . the way she seemed to hate the gossips of the ton as much as Juliana did . . . the way she washed her hands to calm herself . . . the way she seemed to be victim to the sad, tragic truth of the Regency—and maybe of today—that so many women rely on men to make the decisions that change their lives. For better and worse.
Penelope, there was no doubt in my mind, deserved her happily ever after.
But it was not going to be an easy one. After all, being passed over by a duke for an Italian was not exactly the best thing for one’s marital resume. No, Penelope was going to have to work for her love. That part I knew. But I didn’t know how hard she was going to have to work.
Because, you see, at the same time Penelope was washing her hands and suffering a tragic scandal, I was building the world of The Fallen Angel—the most exclusive, legendary gaming hell of pre-Victorian London. And this wasn’t just a gaming hell. It was a haven for sin and vice and secrecy, and its owners—Bourne, Temple, Cross and Chase, were no ordinary aristocrats.
Whether by chance or by choice, all four had fallen far from the circumstances of their birth, each with a scandal more wicked than the last. These four were not your standard textbook rogues with gooey, loving centers hidden by a charming, rakish exterior—they had issues. Some emotional, some physical, some self-inflicted, some out of their control. But to redeem them, they’d need one hell of a woman.
The first, the Marquess of Bourne, was cold and hard, selfish and unkind. He’d lost everything nearly a decade ago (ironically, right around the time that Penelope was feeling like she’d lost everything herself) in a single turn of the cards, and he had gained it back ten-fold through the hard work that comes from vengeance.
I hesitated for a long time, putting these two together. Penelope was too soft, I thought. Too much of a grape, isn’t that what Juliana had taught me? She needed someone charming . . . maybe Cross? Someone who would destroy anything and anyone that threatened her . . . Temple, perhaps? But surely not Bourne. Bourne would wreck her. She wouldn’t have it in her to stand up to him.
Except, here’s the thing: She did.
Right there at the back of my mind, as I wrote Juliana and Simon’s love story, Penelope started standing up to Bourne. She took his cruelty for what it was—a desperate need for love—and she gave him what he needed—a strong, unbending partner, who would not tolerate his ridiculousness.
She met him eye for eye, quip for quip, kiss for kiss. And by the time I opened a new Word document to start on A Rogue By Any Other Name, I had no doubt in my mind that not only were these two perfect for each other . . . there was absolutely no one in the world who could love them better.
The journey was as challenging for them as I thought it would be, and I would be lying if I said it weren’t equally as challenging for me—but I am so very happy that they’re finally here, so I can share them with you!
A Rogue By Any Other Name: The First Rule of Scoundrels is available Tuesday, February 28, 2012, wherever books are sold.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Our friends over at Avon have kindly given us a copy of A Rogue by Any Other Name to give away here on the blog so if you want your name thrown into the hat for a free copy, leave a comment here telling us why you’re excited to read this book. Holly and I both have read and adored this book and we have every faith that you’ll enjoy it as well so leave a comment here and let us know why you’re so excited. We’ll close the giveaway for entries on Friday, 3/2/12 at 11:59pm. Winners will be announced on Monday, 3/6/12. Please don’t forget to include a valid email address with your entry so we can contact you if you win. Thanks!
Good luck!
This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I love this books cover so very much I would kill for a dress like this and not to mention that I adore your books Sarah ! I would be honord to win
I thank you for the chance
Desere
Just dropping a quick OMG I so love your books!!!No need to enter me in the contest A Rogue is waiting for me on my Nook.
Why am I excited about reading A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME? Because it’s by Sarah MacLean and I love her books!!! Happy Release Day Sarah!
amyvalentini@aol.com
I’ve already read this book–and totally agree with everything Sarah said (which I’m sure I should anyway since they are HER characters.) 🙂
Awesome, awesome read–can’t wait to read it again.
If anyone wants a second chance to win a copy of this book, you can also enter at my blog where I’m giving a copy away today (from me, not Avon)–
http://www.romancewritersrevenge.com
I am SOOOO excited for this book! I just about keeled over several times reading the first book–you just can’t go wrong with an author who has so much wit and then throws in a competition to become a bride! Then I read the second and fell in love with the characters all over again. Now I’ve been waiting for this 3rd book and it’s been an agonizingly slow wait…well, it seemed like it anyways!
The cover alone has me wanting to read!! I pick books by cover then title!! This is on my must have list.
I would like a chance to win this book because I just love her books. I love the happily ever-afters as well as what comes before it. I love to read and I use to buy books by the dozen, but lately I have not been in a position to run out and buy all the books I want, because I was laid off after 7 years of service. I love to read as well as babble (Sorry). I would appreicate it if you would enter me into the drawing.
Thank you,
Patricia Perez
pperez32@austin.rr.com
I’m excited to read “A Rogue By Any Other name” as Sarah is one of my all time favorite Authors. I love her books as they’re always so very detailed, and you imagine that you’re actually there with the other characters.
I love the cover, the dress and the colors!!!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity.
dpd333 (at) aol dot com
I’m excited to read “A Rogue By Any Other name” as Sarah is one of my all time favorite Authors. I love her books as they’re always so very detailed, and you imagine that you’re actually there with the other characters.
I love the cover, the dress and the colors!!!
Thank you for this amazing opportunity.
dpd333 (at) aol dot com
I LOVE Sarah’s books. She has such a way of creating characters that truly make me care about them and while the HEA is inevitable, it is the journey in which they get there that is the fun part.
I’m so looking forward to reading this.
tgulbransen (at) hotmail dot com
Congratulations on the new release. I’d like to read this book because a gambling den sounds like a fascinating backdrop to the story.
penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I would LOVE to win a copy. Please add my name to the list!!
bettysunflower at hotmail dot com
I would love to read your book:)nicholsgail@rocketmail.com
Many authors have made the same comment as Sarah, that not ever secondary character is going to get his/her own story. That’s why I’m so excited that “The Grape” is going to get hers. I can’t wait to read it!
Eeyoressej (at) yahoo (dot) com
I have read all Sarah’s books and enjoyed every single one. I know she won’t disappoint with her latest.
matt_potter6 at hotmail dot com
I love a heroine who can see past the facade of a hero to the true man within. It will be fun to watch her be strong enough to stand up to him and love him.
castings at mindspring dot com
I am excited to read this book because I love Sarah’s writing!
kissinoak at frontier dot com
I’ve enjoyed all of Sarah’s other books so I’m sure I’d love this one also.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
I’m excited to read this book because I’ve recently gotten into historical romances and have heard good things about this author.
Diana
ISRAEL2 at hotmail dot com
Happy Release Day to Sarah. I want to read this book because I’ve been waiting for Penelope to get her HEA.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
I love how Sarah Maclean wrote her books, I read all her books and I must say the cover of this book is wonderful.
I would love to win such beautiful book
elenaoancea2007@gmail.com
Thanks for the great giveaway! I’ve really enjoyed Sarah’s books and I’m hoping to get the chance to read this one 🙂
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
First thing that caught my eye is that gorgeous cover – then saw the author is Sarah MacLean – that’s all it took to know I want to read this book! Of course having a Rogue involved is always a good predictor too.
sallans d at yahoo dot com
I loved Eleven Scandals… and anticipate loving this book too!
enjoyed her last series & look forward to getting started on this one too. thanks for the giveaway.
gamistress66 (at) aol (dot) com
i’d love to win a copy..
btw, the dress in the cover? wow.. one hell of a dress
smile_1773@yahoo.com
I really enjoy stories with heroines who are strong, especially the ones with the quiet strength.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I absolutely love Sarah MacLean and my only complaint is that I need her to write faster!! 🙂
chkeating at yahoo dot com
I read and loved Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and can’t wait to see what else MacLean has in store.
scr15@duke.edu
Love Sarah and all of her books. I can’t wait to wad it!
Lvsgund @ gmail.com
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your thoughts about how Bourne and Penelope’s book came into being. A Rogue By Any Other Name sounds like an incredible read. Look forward to reading this book. Would love to win a copy.
2much2reid {at} comcast {dot} net
I always exciting about Rogue! 😀
And I’m curious about Sarah MacLean, because of many recommendation of myy friends, they said MacLean’s book is hawt! 😀
and of course I love HR!
lady_milano3 at yahoo dot com
I love her books!! 🙂