A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome to best-selling romance author, Amelia Grey!

The Appeal of Regency

Good morning! Thank you for having me at Reading Between the Wines. I’m happy to be with you to discuss my favorite subject: What makes a Regency so fascinating.

To me there’s just something extremely appealing and very sexy about a tall, handsome gentleman dressed in buff-colored trousers, black Hessian knee boots, and a white shirt, A man whose honor is more important than his life. Men were gentlemen and women were ladies. Most of the gentlemen wanted to make a young lady feel beautiful, desired, and treasured. A Regency man was not only expected to open the door for a lady, pull out her chair, and watch his language and his manners around her, he wanted to do these things. He was the epitome of class and standards dressed in perfectly tied neckcloths, cutaway coats, and boots polished to a sexy gleam.  

         I like to think that ladies of the Regency were as strong and as spirited as the heroines in my books. Clothing for the ladies was stunning and delicate. Beaded and brocaded gowns trimmed with wispy bits of lace fell softly over fine cotton chemises, silky smooth stockings and stylish satin slippers. A well-dressed lady was never without a fancy embroidered handkerchief peeking out of a velvet reticule, jewels or pearls lying delicately around her neck, and ribbons, flowers, or alabaster combs adorning her hair. 

        The intricate dance of manners is just as romantic as the actual dancing during the Regency. Think of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth on the dance floor. The sexuality sizzles as they perform the steps of the quadrille in keeping with impeccable decorum and manners.  The reader is sitting at the edge of her seat, waiting for Mr. Darcy to please brush his thumb against her wrist, hold her waist just a little tighter, or gently caress her gloved fingertips.  But alas, his gallant manners are perfect, and we are left breathless!

        I love all the trappings of the Regency. Lavish accompaniments of the setting, can make readers wish they were there. The glossy black of a barouche pulled by six white spirited horses, an ivory handle walking stick, a jeweled brooch settled in the hollow of a pale throat, and an expansive marble floor. Wall scones that flicker candlelight in dark corridors are perfect for a romantic rendezvous between an innocent young lady and a handsome gent, or star-crossed lovers.

        Titled gentlemen and ladies of quality- -quite simply--fascinate me!  The ton is well, the ton!  In that elite group, in that exalted, inner circle of the ton I find the most curious thing: I want to be a part of them.  They are courtly and powerful, in the know, and a station above everyone else.  I want to hear their secrets and share their intimate lives.  I can vividly see ballrooms glittering with candlelight and cooled by a night wind.  

 

        The love scene in a Regency book is in a word, delicious.  When I’m reading a Regency book, it’s like I’m a part of the fabric that ties the story together.  The innocence of the Regency intrigues me.  I enjoy the first blush of true love that simmers and sizzles until the lady and the gentleman know the moment they must be together. There is a definite feeling of contentment when the hero and heroine succumb to their destiny. I let out my breath and savor the sensations.

        I love the Regency countryside with its green, gently rolling hills, dotted with stately manor homes surrounded by fabulous gardens that go on forever with vistas, waterfalls, and neatly trimmed yew. I love the hustle and bustle of busy London streets, and all the secrets and mysteries that are hidden within the boundaries of Hyde and St. James’ Parks.

        Now, that I’ve teased your senses with all that appeals to me about the fabulous Regency tell me, do you read Regency romance? If you make a comment you’ll be entered to win a copy of my latest book, a re-issue of A Little Mischief. Here’s a short synopsis of the story for you to enjoy.

Isabella Winslowe is finally flourishing. She is gaining respectable notoriety for her ‘Wallflower Society’ until the unthinkable happens. She finds the darkly handsome Earl of Colebrooke’s sister in the back garden with a stone cupid in her hand and a dead man at her feet. The newly titled earl is formidable in looks, personality, and reputation.  He’s not a man Isabella wants to tangle with over such a delicate situation.
Daniel Colebrooke, is juggling all that he can handle when the most alluring young lady he has ever met arrives at his door and tells him his sister never intended to kill London’s most eligible bachelor. Daniel is certain he has a beautiful madwoman in front of him.  Highly suspicious of Miss Winslowe’s story, he goes with her to the garden and finds it empty. She insists someone has stolen the body.
Daniel decides to keep an eye on Miss Winslowe to see what kind of mischief is she up to? She might tell someone else her outrageous story about his sister. If something like that got out, Gretchen’s reputation would be ruined beyond repair. But what Daniel finds is that Isabella sets his heart to racing like no woman ever has. She’s engaging and exciting in a quiet and captivating way. But Daniel can’t give into his desire for Isabella…there’s a supposedly missing dead body standing them.

If you don’t win a copy, I hope you’ll pick up the reissue of A Little Mischief if you missed it when it was first published in 2003. It won the Booksellers Best Award and Aspen Gold Award for best Historical.

I love to hear from readers! Please email me at ameliagrey@comcast.net, follow me at Facebook.com/ameliagreybooks, or visit my website at ameliagrey.com

~*GIVEAWAY*~

As Amelia mentioned above she is giving away one copy of A Little Mischief to one reader today. (Sorry, open to US/CA only.) To enter, just leave a comment on this post answering the author's question above and then fill out the rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway