Yay! It’s my very first guest on my blog—the awesome and talented Vanessa Kelly, here to talk about her latest release, His Mistletoe Bride! Take it away, Vanessa…
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Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Zoe!
A few weeks ago, Zoe visited my blog to talk about her newly released book, Lady X’s Cowboy. She made the point that some of the best stories occur when two people from different backgrounds are thrown together and their very disparate worlds collide. As Zoe said, one thing is for certain: sparks will fly. That’s especially true when a strong physical and emotional attraction is added into the mix.
In my new Regency-set historical romance, His Mistletoe Bride, my hero and heroine come from backgrounds so different that it’s a wonder they even speak the same language. Lucas Stanton is a former army officer and a newly-titled earl, a gold-plated member of the British aristocracy. He spent years fighting in the Napoleonic Wars and that experience, combined with his aristocratic background, shaped him into the man he is—tough and fairly uncompromising, with a strong devotion to duty and honor. 
Phoebe Linville, my heroine, is an American Quaker who spent much of her life in a quiet town in the country. She was raised to abhor violence, and to believe that man’s true nature is innately kind and generous. Phoebe is the soul of compassion although she’s also got a temper—something she sees as an embarrassing fault—and is not one to suffer fools lightly.
After the death of her parents, Phoebe travels to England to meet her long-estranged grandfather, the Earl of Merritt. Unfortunately, he dies before she can arrive, leaving her in the care of the new earl—Lucas Stanton. Lucas made a deathbed promise to Phoebe’s grandfather that he would provide for her. In the old earl’s opinion, the best way to accomplish that would be for Lucas to marry her. Initially reluctant, Lucas is surprised to find that he actually likes Phoebe very much, and it doesn’t take long for him to realize that marriage might be just the ticket.
Phoebe, naturally, is horrified. Lucas is a soldier and a sophisticated aristocrat, the furthest thing from a proper husband she can imagine. Yes, he’s a gentleman and a man of honor, but Lucas wants to order his world like a military unit, and everyone and everything should fall into line. Phoebe has no intention of just falling into line.
But there’s one big problem—she’s insanely attracted to Lucas, and she can’t seem to keep her wayward emotions under control. And the fact that Lucas is hell-bent on seducing her means she has very little chance of guarding her heart.
But Phoebe is no shrinking violet, as Lucas soon discovers. The obstacles between them are genuine, and it will require quite a lot of give and take to bring them together. But that’s the fun of it, right? Throw in a little holiday mistletoe and a whole lot of heat, and watch how these worlds collide.
What about you? Do you enjoy “when worlds collide” stories? What are some of your favorites? I’ll be giving away a copy of His Mistletoe Bride to one person who comments.
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BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE…
When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed…
Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…
Buy links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Books A Million
Vanessa Kelly was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.” Her 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. Vanessa also writes contemporary romance with her husband under the name of V.K. Sykes. You can find her on the web at www.vanessakellyauthor.com or at www.vksykes.com.
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