If you’re like me, you’re busy busy busy. I love to visit blogs, but it seems I never have time to get by in a timely fashion…and never in time to win anything! Well, no worries about that here. The Historical Reader Salon will be open all month long and you can come by anytime during the month to join the conversation and enter to win! No rush, no hurry…just a nice relaxing visit (or three) at your leisure. Each month, I’ll throw out a topic for discussion as well as ways for you to win. We’ll keep the conversation going in the comments section and just see how our Reader Salon grows. Hopefully it will develop into a thriving community centered around what we all love—historical romance!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Day 15: How to Dance With a Duke by Manda Collins


Welcome to day fifteen of March SWEET Madness—a month long party to celebrate the upcoming release of my novel, SWEET MADNESS, available April 2, 2013.


Today is special not just because we’ve marked the middle of the month, but because today I’m featuring the fabulous Manda Collins! Manda and I share much. Both of our first books came out in February of last year, both of us like to write a little mystery into our romances and both of us are finalists for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for published historical romance!


So to celebrate, I decided to give away my fellow Febutante’s debut novel, How To Dance With a Duke. Of course, you will quickly become hooked and run out to buy her others, How to Romance a Rake and How to Entice and Earl!


More about How to Dance With a Duke:


What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants…

SHE’S IN NEED OF A PARTNER


Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club—and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it.

AND HE HAS ALL THE RIGHT MOVES


Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily—even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened…or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined….




And now for the fun part—your chance to win! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below. Contest will be open for 2 weeks—US & CANADA only, please).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don’t win (or just can’t wait to start reading!), here’s where you can get the book!


And to find out more about Manda, you can visit her website at:




I am also giving away a copy of either my debut, SWEET ENEMY or SWEET DECEPTION (winner’s choice) EVERY DAY of March SWEET Madness! (you will need to enter this contest separately every day for a new chance to win! OPEN INTERNATIONALLY)

Sweet Enemy

Beakers and ball gowns don't mix, so when lady chemist, Miss Liliana Claremont, goes undercover as a husband-hunter to investigate Lord Geoffrey Wentworth, the earl whose family she suspects murdered her father, romance isn't part of her formula. But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can't control...

Read the Prologue and First Chapter HERE...

Sweet Deception

Lady criminologist, Miss Emma Wallingford, unknowingly finds herself tangled up in the dangerous final mission of Lord Derick Aveline, a spy who also happens to be her long-lost first love. But when deception, however sweet, is the name of the game, no one can be trusted. And every love--and every life--is at risk.

Read the First Chapter HERE.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don’t forget SWEET MADNESS, coming April 2, 2013!

There’s a fine line between love and insanity…

Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly treating traumatized soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.

Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but she manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and in the calm between bouts, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.

Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one, and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.

Read the Prologue and First Chapter HERE...

"In this emotional, compassionate romance...the powerful love story will sweep readers away."
~RT BookReviews, 4 1/2 stars

“The brilliance of Sweet Madness shines strongly and completely. Heather Snow is cutting edge…a master storyteller. Sweet Madness is a magnificent story.”
~Book Obsessed Chicks 5 stars


See you tomorrow, where our featured author is Tracey Devlyn!!!


And don’t forget, giveaways are open for TWO weeks, so if you’ve missed any of the fabulous authors featured, visit the archives section and enter!

47 comments:

  1. Definitely. And unfortunately.

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  2. Unfortunately yes. I am just too shy

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  3. Yes I do. I'm not outgoing at all. I rarely go up to random people.

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  4. I never read a story when the heroine was a wallflower!

    I am a straight forward person and head strong too sometimes

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  5. OH I LOVED! This series :) I think that I would be a wallflower too. I have 2 left feet so I wouldn't want to dance but I think I'm a bit social so I would still talk :)

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  6. My shyness has gotten better with age, truth be told.. but I still am nervous/apprehensive when meeting a lot of new people :)

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  7. Yes, I am unfortunately. :)

    My favorite wallflower is the heroine from A duke of one's own.

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  8. In certain circumstances, I am a wallflower. I do love to read stories about wallflowers. My favorites were the 4 heroines in Lisa Kleypas' wallflower series.

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    1. Wasn't that a fun series? My favorite was Evie...she was precious!

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  9. I am not a wallflower by any means, but I like observing before I make my move(s)... hahah Favorite wallflower heroines? .. gah, I really can't think of any at the top of my head because almost all the books I have are about stubborn, hellbent, independent women.

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  10. Yes, I've always thought of myself as a wallflower. I'm not really outgoing until I know someone, and I don't have the looks or personality to attract --
    At least that's how I tho't of myself as a young person. At 66 now, and married nearly 46 years - don't think much about it.

    Wallflower heroines??? I don't know if I can think of one right now.

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  11. I'm no wallflower, pretty cover!

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  12. Hello Manda and Heather! To answer both of your questions, I do not recall any stories I've read of wallflower heroines before. They've all been beautiful, willful and talented. I think it's time I read something about a wallflower, don't you? The idea intrigues me. As to myself, I was always a wallflower...until I met my husband. I was even shy with him, but he won me over...my Romeo!

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    1. So sweet that your husband saw through to the real you and snatched you up! Smart man :)

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  13. Yeah, I'm a wallflower but that's due to my nervousness. I do have one of the wallflower books of Lisa Kleypas.

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  14. am i a wallflower i guess i am... :-) i could not choose what allflower is my favorite i love them all

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  15. I'm a bit of a wallflower. My favorites are from the Lisa Kleypas Wallflower series.

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  16. I guess I do consider myself a wallflower. My favorite bluestocking is Lydia Grenville from Loretta Chase's "The Last Hellion."

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  17. I've read Lisa Kleypas' series on wallflowers.

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  18. I would call myself a wallflower. Evie Jenner from Lisa Kleypas' Devil in Winter is my favorite.

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  19. I love wallflower stories since I consider myself one :) I feel more connected to them.

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    1. Me, too, Azucena. Just like I hope there's a woman who will bring out the faithful man in every rake, I hope there's a man who will bring out the beautiful, confident woman inside every wallflower

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  20. Oh, and my favorite wallflowers are the shy ones <3

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  21. Yet another author to add to my repertoire. Sounds like wonderful stories I'd love to read!

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    1. That's the fun thing about events like this, isn't it? SO many good books out there! I love to find new ones to read :)

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  22. Yes, I consider myself a wallflower.

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  23. I'd be a wallflower if I weren't married.

    I just finished reading LOVE IS BLIND by Lynsay Sands and the heroine is an unwilling wallflower because her stepmother won't let her wear her glasses and she can't see without them. LOL

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  24. Yes, I am a wallflower. I can't think of a favorite book wallflower right off hand.

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  25. I am most definitely in love with all the wallflowers from Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series. They are all so wonderful!

    AND I am most certainly a wallflower myself. I am shy and quiet and wish to be left to my books! haha

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  26. I'd say, yes, I'm a wallflower, or socially awkward as they say these days.
    My favorite wallflower is Lucy from Eloisa James' Winning the Wallflower.

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  27. I'd say I was usually a wallflower, except when I'm around my close friends- I'm probably the complete opposite then!
    I love the Wallflower series from Lisa Kleypas, probably because I can relate :)

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  28. My favorite wallflower is Annabelle Peyton in Lisa Kleypas book titled Secrets of a Summer Night.I am a wallflower too!

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  29. Oh, yeah, I'm a wallflower.
    Felicity in Kennedy's Enchanting the Lady is the only wallflower that comes to mind at the moment.

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  30. Clara from Celeste Bradley's The Imposter, I loved her.

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  31. I'm usually not a wallflower but it depends on my mood.
    I really can't think of any wallflowers at the time but they make the most interesting stories.
    Thanks

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  32. the wallflowers from Lisa Kleypas' books

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  33. I haven't read any series like that before. I don't know of any wallflowers. I did look at everyone elses replies and make some notes and I am going to read those.

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  34. I can never remember names, either from books or in real life, but I always enjoy wallflower heroines, probably because I identify with them.

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  35. I love "Wallflower" stories but my favorite is Hannah from A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleyphas!

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  36. Evie from Devil in Winter-- I love me some Lisa Kleypas :-)

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  37. I Love Wallflower heroines ~ and there have been a lot over the years ~ Some favourites are The Wallflower Series from Lisa Kleyphas ~ And I am most definitely a Wallflower ~ Thank you for all the lovely giveaways ~ and I am looking forward to reading Sweet Madness and How to Dance With a Duke. Cheers ~ Elizabeth

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  38. Lisa Kleypas has a wonderful series of wallflowers. I really enjoyed them - especially the Christmas book with the brother.

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  39. I liked all of the Wallflowers in Lisa Kleypas's Wallflowers series.

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  40. I am a wallflower, always was, always will be. I never want attention. I can't recall any I have read about that stands out in my mind. I do share a kinship with them when I read of one. We do make the best wives, just sayin'!!

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