Spotlight & Giveaway: Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra

Posted November 11th, 2019 by in Blog, Spotlight / 45 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Wendy LaCapra to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Wendy LaCapra and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Diamond in the Rogue!

Thank you! Glad to be here.
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Winter nights sizzle for a determined, resourceful lady who takes to the Regency road in pursuit of the one man she knows is her destiny & whose kiss she cannot forget.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“I see, now.” He reached from behind her and ran a finger over a veined wing. “Damselflies, indeed. They have more delicate bodies.”
“Deceptively delicate. Remember…damsels can be predators”—her short, puffed P puckered her lips—“too.”
Such a mouth she had. And such a face. Even a gifted artist would despair, trying to capture her changeling spirit in pigment. “Do you have an interest in entomology?”
“I’ve always been drawn to insects.” She folded her arms. “As you should know.”
Anger, he understood. Hers bore down on him—a deliberately placed heel. She would crush him if she could. Which made him want to respond in unspeakable—possibly even illegal—ways…all of them erotic.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • Julia was inspired by a real-life heroine whose passion for life I won’t ever forget.
  • I wrote the first draft in 42 days, which, for me, is something of a miracle.
  • I had to edit in small doses because I found the some of the love scenes embarrassing, lol, but I didn’t change the scene’s essence. Julia and Rayne had explosive chemistry from the first time they appeared in the page together in Scandal in Spades.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Initially, they repelled one another. In fact, as my heroine recalls:

She’d thought she’d dismissed the arrogant earl from her heart long ago. Apparently, her body had not received the message.
While the very idea of Rayne filled her with anger and regret, in the flesh, Rayne proved as incendiary now as he’d been on the first day they’d met.
“Earl of Rayne, at your service.” His tone had been as mocking as the steel glint of challenge in his gaze. A challenge that had silently demanded, “Who do you think you are?”
A force within Julia had instantly risen in response, as if she’d been born to answer that challenge.
All her actions thereafter had spelled out her reply in no uncertain terms: “Who am I? I’m someone you will never forget.”

 

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Oh my goodness, all of the above. Julia likes to collect forbidden words, and there’s one in particular she learns during the story that sparks the first love scene. The word is still, um, NSFW but I can post the lead up to when she decides to use it…

He plunged beneath the water’s surface, holding his breath. He shook his head back and forth, spreading his locks as he swished. Underwater, everything muted, as if the whole world had suddenly slowed. Here, he was weightless.
Submerged in warmth.
Then, a low reverberation clanged in his ears—some object knocking hard against the tub. He emerged from the water with a gasp, hair clinging to his cheeks. Instinctively, he stood, feeling for a towel as water rained down over his eyes, his chest, his arms, and his thighs. He wiped away the wet.
Julia. Of course.
She backed up against the wall, her mooned gaze definitely not fixed to his face.
Her curls were as damp as his own. And she was wrapped in the bedgown from earlier, only this time, absent a shift. The wrap barely covered her torso…which he didn’t immediately notice because she held his clothes—all of them, not just the ones he’d taken off, but everything he’d packed in his valise—tightly against her chest.
“What in heavens—?”
“I’m taking your clothes to be washed.” Her words rushed out.
“Leaving me nothing to wear?”
Her gaze met his. “Do you object?”
“Bring them here.”
“Very well.” She advanced quickly, deliberately sunk his clothes into the water, and retreated back against the wall. “Whoops,” she added, feeling along the tiles as she edged toward the door. “I suppose we’ll have to stay the night, now.”
“Why?” He stared down at the clothing slowly disappearing into the water around his legs. “Why must you plague me?”
“You had your chance to leave,” she quipped.
“Right now, I wish I had handed you over to the rector.”
She leaned forward, giving him a gaping view of her breasts. “You don’t mean that.”
“Right now, I said. Right now, I’m thinking a lot of things, and none of them pleasant.” He took a deep breath. “In fact, you’d be wise to take yourself back to your room. You’d be wiser still to book a passage by mail back to Southford.”
She stopped moving. “You don’t want me to leave.”
“I do.”
“Well”—her gaze dropped again—“that part of you doesn’t want me to go.”

 

Readers should read this book….

If they enjoy fast-paced, steamy historical romance with broody heros, plucky heroines and a ton of emotion.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m simultaneously working on the final book in this series, featuring Farring, the dual heir known as Clubs and the final book in my Mythic Duke Series, Her Duke at Midnight.
 
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: 2 winners, each receiving a Digital copy of Diamond in the Rogue & a $10 Amazon gift card

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Do you like road trip romances? If so, what’s your favorite?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Diamond in the Rogue:

Her neck snapped back as Jack’s fist landed on her jaw. With a growl, she hurled herself at him, landing a knee where it would hurt him most. Jack bent, and then she swung around to face the third boy, fist raised.
“When I said stop.” An unseen arm lifted her from the ground by the back of Markham’s oversized coat. “I meant you, too, footman.”
She struggled in his grasp, trying to keep her face hidden.
“Stanley,” Jack cut in. “Your footman’s name is Stanley.”
Her feet instantly returned to gravel. Then, Rayne clamped her against his chest and brushed his forearm across her bound breasts. He sucked in a breath, making a sound she could only describe as untamed.
The sound lingered, hot and sloppy in her stomach. By the time she regained her wits, Rayne had fastened her arms behind her back.
Good thing Markham hadn’t known that particular move, else he would have won every time.
Rayne sniffed the hair that had fallen from her cap and then uttered the most unrepeatable, beautiful oath Julia had ever heard—all teeth and hard-tongued consonants. By far the most invigorating word she’d collected yet.
Well, at least she’d gained something.
“He’s a thief,” Goliath said.
“She’s a runaway,” Rayne replied.
“A girl?!” the boys cried in unison.
She twisted in Rayne’s grasp and lifted her face. “Now how do you expect me to pretend to be your footman?”
“You.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “Don’t. Talk.”
If she couldn’t talk, how was she going to inform him he was being abducted?
Although, now was probably not the best time. Not when a long, jagged vein in Rayne’s forehead pulsed as if it might pop.
“Of all the bloody,” he spat, “foolish, harebrained schemes you could have come up with—”
“Looks like they’s acquainted, fellas.” Jack smacked his hands together as he wiped off the dust. “Our work is done.”
“You, there. Bring the valise up once the carriage is settled. At the moment, my hands are full.”
“Sure thing, guv,” Jack answered.
“Plenty respectful to him, are you, Jack?” she taunted. “But you’re all bluster and greed.”
“I said don’t talk,” Rayne gritted.
His breath in her ear caused striking sensations in her bound breasts.
“Ruffians,” she huffed under her breath. “All of you.”
Rayne yanked her back. His gaze traveled down her body, slow and hot, rather like the way a flame traveled over a lard-soaked wick. He made the untamed sound again. And then repeated the fascinating curse.
Even the skin behind her knees quivered.
“Go!” He pushed her toward the inn.
Her boot heels hollowed tiny trenches in the earth, but she gained no purchase. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You,” he sneered, “are not in a position to ask me anything.”
“Well, if you think I am going to follow you meekly while you’re in this state—”
“You don’t have a choice,” he grunted. “Trust me, I’m your best option.”
Option?
She had options?
Well—she struggled to look over her shoulder—if her options were a choice between the dark, wet night, a couple of proprietorial, belligerent postilions, a tavern full of God-knows-what, and…and…
She stole a sideways glance.
Whatever that six feet of breathing beast formerly known as Rayne had become, she’d take the wet night, thank you very much.
She regained her footing. “You are not in charge.”
He bared his teeth, sending pinpricks down her spine.
She mustered her last shred of dignity. “Now that I reconsider, perhaps we should continue this discussion inside after all.”
He threw open the door to the inn. They vied for first as he hustled her across the empty tavern and into a stairwell beyond.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

In an act of revenge, Lord Rayne kissed Lady Julia and was sent packing to America. But now he’s back to settle his affairs and give away his sister in marriage, until he meets up with the alluring yet innocent Lady Julia again. He doesn’t regret their first kiss, but he was never good enough for her.

Lady Julia had two years to forget the moody and mercurial Earl of Rayne. But one look, and she knows they’re meant to be together. Be damned with his and her brother’s objections, she’ll just jump on the back of Rayne’s departing carriage and compromise them both thoroughly.

Only, Julia never expected her forbidding Lord to be so good at resisting temptation…
Book Links: Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Wendy LaCapra is a RITA® award-finalist whose heart-pounding historical romances bristle with temptations, secrets, and scandal. Though she loves wandering, she lives in NYC where she indulges her life-long, unquenchable passion for books, history, and happily-ever-afters. For new release information, join Wendy’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
 
 
 

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45 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Diamond in the Rogue by Wendy LaCapra”

  1. Jeanna Massman

    I like the cover. I like road trip romance but I don’t have a favorite.

  2. John Smith

    “Do you like road trip romances? If so, what’s your favorite?” I’m pretty much only familiar with this in the movie “It Happened One Night,” and that’s a delightful classic!

  3. Mary Preston

    I don’t think I have ever read a road trip romance. Sounds like fun.

  6. clickclickmycat

    I like all romance reads. I don’t really have a favorite on the road romance.

  12. Amy Donahue

    I don’t know if I’ve ever read a road trip romance, but now I want to lol

  15. Nina T

    Yes! I think one of Tessa Dare’s book is a road trip novel but I don’t remember the name.

  16. Glenda M

    Sarah MacLean’s The Rogue Not Taken is a awesome book. It’s been year since I’ve read it but i think it qualifies as a road trip romance.

  18. Pammie R.

    I don’t think I’ve ever read a road trip romance so I’m not sure whether I like them or not. I would be willing to read one though

  19. Joy Isley

    The most famous is THE GRAPES OF WRATH. I guess that is my favorite.
    I enjoy all kinds of stories.

  21. suzannah0466061145

    I loved this book. I got to read it on Netgalley. Just superb. As far as a roadtrip romance…I love the old movie with Clark Gable called It Happened one Night. FAbulous

  25. BookLady

    I enjoy reading road trip romances. One of my favorites is A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare.

  26. Lilah Chavez

    I haven’t read that many i don’t think .. But there is one but I can’t for the life of me remember what’s it’s called ggggrrrrrr it’ll come to me later.

  28. Jennifer Beyer

    I don’t know I’ve ever read a road trip romance but I’m always game to try one!

  30. erinf

    I do enjoy road trip romances! But I can’t for the life of me remember any right now 🙂 thanks for sharing!

  31. Didi

    I don’t have a title on top of my head, but I do enjoy a few road trip romance books.

  32. Janie McGaugh

    I’ve always enjoyed road trip romances. A couple of movie ones that I love are It Happened One Night and Bringing up Baby. Off the top of my head, I can only come up with one book, Stephanie Laurens’ The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae. I can think of a number of books that are partially road trips. My favorite from years past is Georgette Heyer’s Devil’s Cub.

  34. Patricia B.

    I do enjoy road trip stories. Sadly, I haven’t read one in a while. Julie Garwood’s RANSOM may not be a classic road trip but a good part of the story takes place in transit.

  37. Ami

    I LOVE Road Trip romance. It’s one of my favorite tropes. One of my favorites from last year is “Clash of Storms” by Bec McMaster. Well, because Sirius and Malin spend most of the books tracking this one character, it’s pretty much a road trip romance *lol*

  42. Celeste Herrin

    I don’t think I’ve read a road trip romance yet, but that sounds like something I would really enjoy!