Spotlight & Giveaway: Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom by Vanessa Kelly

Posted March 24th, 2014 by in Blog, Spotlight / 73 comments

Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Vanessa Kelly to HJ!

Spotlight&Giveaway

Top Five Ways to Snag a Royal Bridegroom ~ Vanessa Kelly

Author Vanessa KellyIn my new book, Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom, Justine Brightmore is not looking for a husband. She’s been asked to serve as a nanny in Griffin Steele’s household, and she has no intention of getting involved with her new employer, the roguish Griffin. But before she has time to catch her breath, she has a ring on her finger and a husband she thinks she doesn’t want.

So, how did she pull it off? Let’s take a look at some of the ways Justine (inadvertently) did it.

1. When meeting your rakishly handsome new employer, be sure to display disdain for his lifestyle—especially if he owns a brothel and several gaming hells. He’ll likely perceive you as an annoyingly prim spinster in need of a thorough kissing. Kissing can then lead to other things, which leads to…well, you know.

COARB

2. Be sure to wear old-fashioned, ugly lace caps that cover up your glorious red hair, and also dress in drab gowns that only hint at your curvaceous figure. Your new employer will then spends hours envisioning you in a filmy negligee that displays your ample charms.

3. When sneaking down to the kitchen in your nightgown late at night, be sure to run into your employee returning home from work. Forget to wear your ugly cap so he finally sees your long hair in all its fiery glory.

4. Even though there’s a risk of discovery, be sure to rush off to help with a dangerous situation at the brothel next door. Quite likely there will be someone who can identify you, and accuse you of the being the mistress of your new employer. Your employer will then, of course, be forced to repair your damaged reputation.

5. When your employer tells you in no uncertain terms that you must marry him, do not under any circumstances agree to kiss him. Kissing roguish employers can lead to other things, which means that you will never be able to get that annulment you keep talking about.
As is clearly evident from Justine’s experience, there’s not that much work that goes into snagging a royal bridegroom. Just be sure to lay in a good supply of ugly lace caps!

 

GIVEAWAY: One print copy of Secrets of a Royal Bodyguard (The Royal Renegades, #1) by Vanessa Kelly. (US only).

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom is a classic spinster/rake story (with a secret baby as part of the fun). What are some of your favorite romance tropes, especially in historical romance?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser:

I’ll leave you with a little teaser from a scene with Justine and Griffin.

As Justine gently relinquished her little bundle, Griffin took a moment to enjoy the swell of her generous breasts, just inches from his face, under the woolen wrapper. The garment was ugly as sin, and he couldn’t help speculating how delectable she would look dressed in a silk and lace peignoir, her curves amply displayed.
It took him several seconds to realize that she’d frozen, half-bent over him. He lifted his gaze to see her staring at his chest, her eyes round and stunned. He followed the angle of her gaze to see that his dressing robe had gaped open while he was settling the baby onto his lap.
He flicked a glance back up. Justine stared at his chest with clear if reluctant fascination, gnawing on her plump lower lip.
“I take it you’ve never seen a tattoo,” he commented in a sardonic voice.
She abruptly straightened, looking flustered. “Ah, no. I thought only sailors and criminals did such things to themselves.” She winced when she realized what she’d just implied.
“Very true,” Griffin said, enjoying the rosy color staining her cheeks.
But then she surprised him by peering directly at the half-exposed markings on his skin. “Is that a gryphon?”
“It is. Rather obvious symbolism, but it seemed appropriate at the time.”
“How old were you when you had it done?”
“Seventeen.”
“Did it hurt?”
He shook his head, thinking of how foolish and reckless he’d been back then. “You can’t imagine.”
She nodded absently and swayed a fraction closer. He felt the path of her gaze over his skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.
“Still, it’s quite beautiful,” she breathed. She raised a hand, as if to touch it. “I didn’t know they could be drawn with such artistry.”
“Most are fairly crude, but this one was inked by a Japanese artist who for some godforsaken reason has chosen to live in London. Tattoo masters from the Orient are renowned for their skill. There are a few other Japanese and Chinese artists outside of London, in the port towns where business is brisk. But Sakoda, who inked mine, is reputed to be the best.”
He reached a careful hand from under the baby and tugged aside the silk lapel of his robe. “Would you like a closer look, Justine?” he asked, letting his voice fall into a deep, purri

Book Info:

Some men are born into scandal. Others pursue it with a passion. Griffin Steele, secret son of the Duke of Cumberland, is guilty on both counts. Yet somehow London’s most notorious scoundrel has been saddled with an abandoned baby boy, and with the unflappable, intriguing spinster summoned to nurse him.
Justine Brightmore may be a viscount’s niece, but she’s also a spy’s daughter, determined to safeguard the infant when his suspected royal parentage makes him a target. Yet how to protect herself from the rakish Griffin? Marriage might shield her reputation, but it can only imperil her heart, especially with a groom intent on delicious seduction.

Genre: Regency-set historical romance

Tone: witty, sexy, emotional

Heat Level: hot

Elements/Tags: historical romance, royalty, Regency era

Publisher: Kensington Zebra

Publishing Date: April 1, 2014

Series: The Renegade Royals, #2

Format: digital and print

Words: 115, 000

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18167470-confessions-of-a-royal-bridegroom?ac=1

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1dAdS8K

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1fOIPWJ

Nook: http://bit.ly/1fOIPWJ

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1pl5LCe

Book Depository: http://bit.ly/OHTSuX

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1fOIYJI

BAM: http://bit.ly/1gTffUo

 

Meet Author Vanessa Kelly:

 

Vanessa Kelly is a nationally bestselling author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.” Her sensual, Regency-set historical romances have been nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, the first book in her new Renegade Royals Series, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Vanessa also writes USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.

website:  http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com

blog: http: //www.vanessakellyauthor.com/vanessa-blog/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessakellyauthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VanessaKellyAut

goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2728107.Vanessa_Kelly

Tumblr: http://itsvanessakelly.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vanessakellyaut/

Jaunty Quills:  http://jauntyquills.com/

 

 

 

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73 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom by Vanessa Kelly”

  1. Sandy X

    Bluestocking and rake. Childhood enemy friends turn to lovers. I’m not for the quiet or shy heroine…I want them smart and being able to talk back to the hero or anyone

    Reply

  2. Christine L.

    Goodness, I probably like all of them! Hidden identity springs to mind and can be a lot of fun. I also like the use of older brother’s friend as love interest for little sister.

    Reply

  5. lisagk

    I don’t think there are any that I don’t like, but probably my favorite is friends or acquaintances to lovers. Thanks for asking.

    Reply

  6. MsChris Gross

    Great blurb and excerpt. I’m hooked!! My favorite trope is hard to nail down but marriage of convenience or friends to lovers are high on the list.

    Reply

  10. Lori Ha

    I like the ones that have to marry for the money and find true love. I also like the bluestockings with rogues. I like them all to tell the truth, if it’s well written.

    Reply

  12. Diane D - Florida

    I love the friends to lovers trope. I also love it when the hero and heroine get off to a very rocky start, and can’t stand the sight of each other, but gradually find their way to their “happy ever after”.

    Thank you for this chance to win.

    Reply

  14. Glenda

    Bluestocking and rake/rogue; wallflower and rake/rogue; spinster and rake/rogue ….. I really don’t have a favorite. 🙂

    Reply

  15. DJ Sakata

    that he loved her all along, don’t really like the secret baby idea, doesn’t appeal to me

    Reply

  23. Elizabeth M

    I love the bluestocking/rake combo the most. Two of my favorite tropes; marriage of convenience elopement and having some kind of adventure together that usually involves posing as husband and wife.

    Reply

  25. Laurie G

    My historical romance trope favorites would include marriage of convenience, Fairytale based (Beauty & the Beast, Ugly Duckling, Cinderella), revenge and hidden identity.

    Reply

  26. Pam B

    Hi

    My favorite is the tortured hero and the heroine that can save him 🙂 I am also a sucker for the “one night together” and then the secret baby comes along.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  27. Dalila G.

    Thanks for the great excerpt Vanessa!
    Best wishes to you on your new release!
    So looking forward to reading book #2 in your series. 🙂

    Reply

  28. Christine Kochanowski

    Oh so many, siblings best friend, mail order bride, wallflower/rake or wounded man, also kidnapping the girl and falling in love.

    Reply

  29. Jennifer Zorko

    Friends turned lovers, Rich guy poor girl, Brothers BFF and the younger sister, second chance at love. Throw in some animals and it makes the story better.

    Reply

  31. Kim

    Congratulations on your upcoming release. I like a friends to lovers trope or a reunited couple trope. I also like when the hero is the friend of the heroine’s brother.

    Reply

  33. Kezia

    I like when the guy is a scholar or scientist and is completely wrapped up in that and clueless when dealing with women and society. The woman swoops in and captures his heart before he knows what’s hit him.

    Reply

  35. marie

    I have never heard the term “romance tropes” so I waited for some to comment to get the gist. Intelligent girl with spirit and a war weary spy or a spinster who has given up on marriage and developed a purpose (volunteering in some capacity/working in secret) and rake.

    Reply

  39. Tricha

    I enjoy most all types but especially when the poor beautiful girl falls for the Lord of the manor

    Reply

  40. Cari White

    Historical tropes? Love the governess/housekeeper who’s really the daughter of some peer. The duke (or whatever) loves her in spite of her position.

    Reply

  41. Krysten M

    I’d say wallflowers/rogues is a favorite, but enemies to lovers is probably my number one choice.

    Reply

  42. Laurie G

    I like frenemies to lovers, younger sister and best friend, and wallflower/blue stocking and rake.

    Reply

  43. Judy G

    So many tropes to like – bluestocking & rake, spies & spycatchers, arranged marriages, the wallflower & the rake, the unexpected heir, friends to lovers…

    Reply

  44. Margaret

    I love most any trope as long as the story is good! Some of my favorites for historicals are best friends brother, arranged marriages & second chances.

    Reply

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