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!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Day 30: Secrets of a Runaway Bride by Valerie Bowman


 

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

 

One of my favorite authors, Lisa Kleypas, had this to say about Valerie Bowman’s debut: “Secrets of A Wedding Night is the most charming and clever debut I’ve read in years! With her sparkling dialogue, vivid characters and self-assured writing style, Valerie Bowman has instantly established herself as a romance author with widespread appeal. This engaging and sweetly romantic story is just too delightful to miss.”

 

So if you DID miss it, you’d better grab it quick, because her second novel, SECRETS OF A RUNAWAY BRIDE just came out last Tuesday, and it’s the book I’m featuring today!

 

More about the book:

 

Miss Annie Andrews is finally free to marry the man she loves. With her overprotective sister out of the country on her honeymoon, nothing can prevent her flight to Gretna Greene–nothing, that is, but an abduction by the wrong gentleman.

When Jordan Holloway, the Earl of Ashbourne, promised to look after his best friend’s sister-in-law, he didn’t realize she would prove so difficult. But when he spirits her away to his country house to prevent her elopement, he discovers that the tempting beauty knows how to put up a fight. To make matters worse, he’s stuck playing the role of honorable protector…when what he really wants is to run away with her himself.


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 buy the book:

Print


eBook


To find out more about Valerie, 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 last featured author (sniff, sniff) is Kate Noble!!!

 

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!

 

 

 

 

55 comments:

  1. I would love to be spirited away to a haunted castle in Scotland

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  2. Hawaii! :) Love to see the beaches!

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  3. I would love to either go to an island in the Caribbean or to Scotland/Ireland.

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  4. the Greek Isles- They are so beautiful, and the people there are friendly and generous.

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    1. Those are my favorite pics on Pinterest. Nearly every time I see one that I say, "Wow, where is that?" it ends up being there

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  5. I would love to go to Ireland or Scotland myself, it looks so wonderful there

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  6. I would like to be spirited away to a mountain retreat.

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  7. I would like to be spirited anywhere as long as I could share it with someone I love!

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  8. Scottish or English countryside :o)

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  9. Scotland, because I have always wanted to go there. Entering under the name of Virginia

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  10. A cottage in England. I really enjoyed Valerie Bowman's first book and looking forward to reading this one.

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  11. Scotland!!!! Leave me alone I am dreaming right now....

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    1. I think that will be my next European trip. I'm longing to see Venice, as well as the countryside.

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  13. After this very long winter I'd love to be spirited to someplace warm & sunny - how about Hawaii?!

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  14. Probably very typical.....Paris, Hawaii, Italy, London....:-) Lisakhutson(at)cox(dot)net

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  15. I'd like for Hubby to spirit me away to Hawaii. We've never been and would love to go.

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  16. Hawaii! Or somewhere with a warm, tropical beach to lay beside and read :)

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  17. Country house sounds lovely, but this Michigan girl would love a beach house on a Great Lake instead! :)

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  18. I'd love to go to Australia. They have some beautiful beaches! But Hawaii would run a close second! And as a former Michigan resident, I agree with Maria that the Great Lakes are beautiful in the summer time!

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  19. Hello Valerie and Heather! I would LOVE to be spirited away to the British Isles where I could roam amongst historical sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Went there once for an entire Summer, but it would take several more months to cover what I didn't see then. Congrats on Runaway Bride, Valerie! jdh2690@gmail.com

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  20. A warm, beautiful, luxurious beach resort.

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  21. I would like to be spirited away to Scotland :)

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  22. I want to go to Tahiti and escape the cold weather here.

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  24. Sadly right now, anywhere would be a great escape! But I would love to go somewhere quite, with a warm breeze, pine tree's blowing gently so you just catch the piney smell, snow capped mountains in the distances and a cabin warm,cozy with a fire, good books, a glass of wine :)

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    Replies
    1. That is one of the things I loved most about the Big Island, Hawaii! Beaches, desert, rainforest, prairies, volcanos, snow topped mountains and more all on one island. I highly recommend it!

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  25. I would love to go to Ireland. The pictures I see make it look so lush & green and I imagine the people would be friendly & fun-loving.

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  26. Since its still cold and damp... I'd love to head out to a lovely warm beach.

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  27. I would like to be spirited away to the Australian outback, Rome Italy or a haunted castle in Scotland or Ireland.

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  28. On a boat, somewhere. Maybe around here. I tweeted. I love Valerie's books.

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  29. I'd love to be spirited away to a town house in London, or maybe a snug castle in the Scottish Highlands.

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  30. Perhaps a cabin in the mountains or a house on the ocean.

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  31. Mmaica! Wow!! what a beautiful country!!

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  32. My hubby's family has a cottage on a large lake in northern Michigan that I just love. The smell of pine, the sounds of waves hitting the shore, the loons at night (The birds, people LOL). It's very peaceful and relaxing.

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I'm really going to have to check out the Great Lakes area!

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  33. I'd love to be spirited away to Ireland :) My folks took a trip there about 10 years ago, brought home lovely booze and even better stories! :D

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  34. I'd really love to go to Ireland right now. I'm dreaming of it!

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  35. If I'm to be spirited away, Scotland's the place for me!

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  36. I would love to be spirited away to Australia. Thanks for the contest. lisagk (at) yahoo (dot)(com

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  37. My ideal place would be Scotland. I love men in kilts.

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  38. I'd love to get spirited away to Europe somewhere, maybe Paris or Spain!

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  39. I would love to be swept away to a beautiful mountainous grassy place! I would live there forever.

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  40. I think I'd like to be spirited away to Europe for a long exploration of Scotland, Ireland, and England, as well the the mainland even into Russia.

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  41. Thank you for the amazing giveaways, Heather~ Can't wait to start reading Sweet Madness~ I would love to be spirited away back to Scotland~ the home of my heart! Happy Reading and Writing~ Elizabeth

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  42. I would like to be spirited away to a Island in the middle of no where for the time of my life :)
    Thank you for the great giveaway!

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  43. Hi Heather and Valerie!

    My heart is in Scotland and I loved visiting there years ago. I actually got the trip from work for meeting the goals they ad set! I loved that job! My husband on the other hand didn't like all the time I had to work and was away from the family.

    Going to Scotland had been a dream of mine since I was a child and not only did I love the scenic countryside I fell in love with the people of Scotland. Where ever we went we were opened with open arms without them even knowing it was the land of my ancestors!

    PS: The single malt scotch may have had a dram of two of help in making us love it there!

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  44. I would like to be spirited away to Scotland or Hawaii maybe.

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  45. I want to be spirited away to a cabin in the snowy mountains. It does not matter what country, just so I am in snow and mountains.

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