Release Day! GIFTS GONE ASTRAY, Regency comedy

Today is the release day for my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray.

BLURB:
A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copely, the widow who's caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:
She glanced at the mantel clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave..." She swallowed. "We had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen's gaze followed her hand down and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his eager gaze from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Available at:

The Wild Rose Press

Note, depending where you are, the links might not yet be active.

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

LADY OF THE STARS and PUMPKINNAPPER Now on Amazon

The Wild Rose Press has put its entire back list up on Amazon.

So, all three of my Regency comedy novellas--Lady of the Stars, Pumpkinnapper and Mistletoe Everywhere--are now on Amazon. And not only on amazon.com, but on amazon.co.uk and amazon.co.de, too, for those of you in the UK and Germany.

My upcoming novella, Gifts Gone Astray, will also be there on its release day, June 29.

Pumpkinnapper on Amazon here.

Lady of the Stars on Amazon here.

Mistletoe Everywhere on Amazon here.

Thank you all,
Linda
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

How dark can a romance be?

My forthcoming Kensington Zebra, To Touch The Knight, has recently been reviewed by Romantic Times. The reviewer liked it and said Compelling characters and suspenseful moments will keep readers well entertained, but added, the dark motifs and plague plotline may be too somber for some.

Fair enough, but it set me thinking. I've set my novel against the backdrop of the 1348 plague, now known as the Black Death, a time of great hardship and terror when over a third to a half of the population of Britain died from the plague. My story does have dark moments, to reflect this. However, my romance is also a triumph of love over adversity, where a lonely, troubled man and a woman who has seen too much horror learn to care again and love. Others in their company also find love and hope and happy endings. To me, such joyous outcomes make the novel a victory for life and love and as such a true romance, whatever the other dark motifs in the story.

I am fine with the review and understand why the reviewer added such a warning, but still it intrigues me.

What do you think? How dark can a romance be?

Lindsay Townsend