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Author Bio:
Amazon Best-selling author, Lauren Smith is an
attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories
by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who
lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper
little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres
including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist
for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award
Title of today's post: Deck the Halls with
Seasoned Rakes!
There’s nothing
better than a warm fire in the hearth, garlands hanging from the windows, and a
handsome rake waiting to seduce you beneath a freshly hung kissing bough
complete with mistletoe. That’s how I like to think of the Christmas holidays
especially when I read historical romances. It’s all about the family,
celebrating, and giving gifts to those we love. Every year I end up tucked up
in a corner of my Aunt’s large living room, snuggled in a thick blanket,
watching snow fall over Omaha and I indulge in my own little Christmas
traditions of reading Christmas themed historical romances.
I prefer
Regency historical the most, but the interesting thing is that during the
Regency, Christmas was the holiday we know it as now. In fact, in town, the
holidays were not nearly as celebrated as it was in the country. It was only
during the Victorian era, thanks to Charles’s Dickens story that Christmas was
welcomed in London. Even more shocking was that Christmas trees were actually a
custom from Germany before it became English and didn’t appear with much
frequency until the 1830s.
So, in other
words, the traditional idea of Christmas we now think of hadn’t really been
born during the Regency. But mistletoe traditions had been around for centuries
(as far back as the 2nd century BC). Druids would gather the
mistletoe which they saw as symbols of hope and peace. Mistletoe had some connections with medicinal
usage as well as connections to female fertility. The writer in me speculates
that this was probably how the infamous and oh so delicious tradition of
kissing beneath it came about.
When I started
writing His Wicked Seduction, the
second book in my League of Rogues series, I wanted to set it during Christmas
because the idea of a mistletoe kiss was too irresistible. What better holiday
would be the downfall of an untamable rogue like Lucien, the hero, or what
better opportunity for a well bred young lady, like the heroine Horatia, to
entice this rogue to kiss her and lose his heart?
See just how
easy it is for a piece of greenery to cause so much trouble?
Book Title: His Wicked Seduction
(A Steamy historical romance)
(A Steamy historical romance)
Book Teaser:“Then I will leave you, but only if you allow me to honor
tradition first. I’ve heard it is bad luck to ignore such things.” His breath
fanned her neck, sending shivers of anticipation through her. Who would have
thought the word tradition could be so seductive? Horatia whirled around to face
him, her nose brushing his as she hadn’t realized how close he was.
“Tradition?” she asked.
Lucien’s eyes flicked up to something over their heads. A sprig of
mistletoe, pinned to the wood above the large window.
“But if someone were to come in and see us…” she trailed off as
she focused on his lips.
“This is my study. No one will disturb us. Besides, you locked the
door.” He reached up to brush his knuckles across her cheek, and then his
fingertips danced down to her neck where they wrapped around the back of her
head. He massaged her scalp in slow tender movements as he pulled her closer.
When she was flush against the length of his body, his other hand banded
securely about her waist. She moaned and he caught the sound with his lips,
plundering her with a possessive tongue.
“I’ve wanted to do this all day,” he said between languid kisses.
“You have?” she asked faintly, leaning more into him than was wise
or proper.
If you want to
know just where that little kiss leads, try out my Christmas tradition, curl up
on a nice couch surrounded by a family in front of the fire and read His Wicked Seduction. Happy Holidays
from Lauren Smith!
Log Line To love her, he’ll break
every rule.
The
League of Rogues, Book 2
Horatia
Sheridan has been hopelessly in love with Lucien, her brother’s best friend,
ever since he rescued her from the broken remains of her parents’ wrecked
carriage. His reputation as London’s most notorious rakehell doesn’t frighten
her, for under his veneer of cool authority she has glimpsed a man whose wicked
desires inspire her own.
Lucien,
Marquess of Rochester, has deliberately nurtured a reputation for debauchery
that makes every matchmaking mother of the ton quake with fear. His one
secret: he is torn between soul-ripping lust for Horatia, and the loyalty he
owes her brother.
That
loyalty is put to the test when an old enemy of the League threatens Horatia’s
life. With Christmas drawing near, he sweeps her away to his country estate,
where he can’t resist granting her one wish—to share his bed and his heart.
But
sinister forces are lurking, awaiting the perfect moment to exact their revenge
by destroying not only whatever happiness Lucien might find in Horatia’s arms,
but the lives of those they love.
Warning:
This book contains an intelligent lady who is determined to seduce her
brother’s friend, a brooding rake whose toy of choice in bed is a little bit of
bondage with a piece of red silk, a loyal band of merry rogues and a Christmas
love so scorching you’ll need fresh snow to extinguish it.
Excerpt:
London, December 1820
She is going to be the death of me.
“Lucien! You’re not even listening to me, are you? I’m in
desperate need of a new valet and you’ve been woolgathering rather than
offering suggestions. I daresay you have enough for a decent coat and a pair of
mittens by now.”
Lucien Russell, the Marquess of Rochester, looked to his friend
Charles. They were walking down Bond Street, Lucien keeping careful watch over
one particular lady without her knowledge and Charles simply enjoying the
chance for an outing. The street was surprisingly crowded for so early in the
day and during such foul wintry weather.
“Admit it,” Charles prodded.
Lucien fought to focus on his friend. “Sorry?”
The Earl of Lonsdale fixed him with a stern glare which, given
that his usual manner tended towards jovial, was a little alarming.
“Where is your head? You’ve been out of sorts all morning.”
Lucien grunted. He had no intention of explaining himself. His
thoughts were sinful ones, ones that would lead him straight to a fiery spot in
Hell, assuming one wasn’t already reserved for him. All because of one woman:
Horatia Sheridan.
She was halfway up Bond Street on the opposite side of the road, a
beacon of beauty standing out from the women around her. A footman dressed in
the Sheridan livery trailed diligently behind her with a large box in his arms.
A new dress, if Lucien had to hazard a guess. She should not be out traipsing
about on snow-covered walkways, not with these carriages rumbling past, casting
muddy slush all over. It frustrated him to think she was risking a chill for
the sake of shopping. It frustrated him more that he was so concerned about it.
“I know you think I’m a half-wit on most days, but—”
“Only most?” Lucien couldn’t resist the verbal jab.
Charles grinned. “As I was saying, it’s a bit obvious our
leisurely stroll is merely a ruse. I’ve noticed we’ve stopped several times,
matching the pattern of a certain lady of our acquaintance across the street.”
So Charles had been watchful after all. Lucien shouldn’t have been
surprised. He hadn’t done his best to conceal his interest in Horatia Sheridan.
It was too hard to fight the natural pull of his gaze whenever she was near.
She was twenty years old, yet she carried herself with the natural grace of a
mature and educated queen. Not many women could achieve such a feat. For as
long as he’d known her, she’d been that way.
Question for You:
What’s your favorite Christmas Tradition?
Book cover pic in jpg format and, if you like, your author photo and
any other photos pertinent to your post (attach to email.)
Laura's Links:
Website:http://www.laurensmithbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenDianaSmith
Twitter: @LSmithAuthor
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website
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/His-Wicked-Seduction-Lauren-Smith/dp/149450667X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415987358&sr=1-2&keywords=His+Wicked+Seduction
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