I love featuring historical romance authors, so I’m really happy that Alexandra Hawkins is on the blog today. Alexandra is a USA Today bestselling author, whose Lords of Vice books have received much justified acclaim. Here’s what RT Book Reviews had to say about the series:
“Those sexy Lords of Vice return as another member is caught in a maze of love and danger. Hawkins’ talent for perfectly merging gothic elements into a sexually charged romance are showcased along with the marvelous cast of characters taking readers on a thrill ride.”
Alexandra writes smart, sophisticated and very sexy books, so it’s always an occasion to cheer when she has a new one coming out. And she does this week, with the release of All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess, which hits the shelves tomorrow. Hooray! Here’s what RT Books Reviews had to say about this latest book in the Lords of Vice series:
“Desire in disguise was never so sweet or passionate, and Hawkins hooks readers and draws them in all the way to the perfect ending.”
Beautiful cover, isn’t it? And here’s the blurb:
Simon Jefferes, the Marquess of Sainthill, has done the unthinkable—he’s fallen in love. The so-called “Saint” has spent his life gambling, dallying with women, and satisfying his every whim. And he fully intended to continue his wicked ways, until he met the mysterious, exotic, and irresistible Madame Venna—the one woman he can’t have…and the only one he’s ever wanted for more than an evening.
The proprietress of the Golden Pearl, one of London’s most exclusive brothels, Madame Venna takes pride in the lush, decadent club she’s created. With a half-mask to conceal her identity, she’s careful to safeguard something even more valuable—her heart. But Saint is determined to tear down the walls she’s built around herself, and to finally expose the truth—that Madame Venna is a woman very much in love…with him.
Sounds scrumptious, doesn’t it? I love a little mystery with my romance! Check out Alexandra’s website for all the details and to read an excerpt from All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess. And don’t forget to view her beautiful book trailer!
For my readers, Alexandra is graciously giving away a copy of All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess. Let’s talk about heroes–specifically, rakes. Do you love the historical bad boy? Are you willing to forgive him all his rakish ways, especially if he falls hard for his lady? Or do you prefer a hero who’s always been a knight in shining armor?
And don’t forget that there’s still one more day to join A Hero’s Blog Hop, a really fun hop featured over 100 bloggers and authors. You can start with my part of the hop right here.
I love the rakes, they are so naughty and usually end up getting whats comming to them, by the female. Thx for giveaway. Love the cover.
Gorgeous cover, isn’t it?
Artist James Griffin created all of the covers for the series. I love his work!
There is something rather delicious about a Rake & a redeemed Rake who adores his lady fair well…..
Very sigh-worthy, those rakes!
Amen.
I love the bad boys, the Rakes. And of course he will be forgiven for his rakish way when he sweep his heroine of her feet.
After she makes him grovel, of course!
There’s something very sexy about a bad boy on his knees. 😉
“Thumbs up” on groveling!
Rakish all the way. How else is he going to know how to satisfy the heroine’s/my every need? (Swoon)
LOL! Good point, Laney!
Yes!
I read once in a book that reformed rakes make the best husbands. I think it was Johanna Lyndsey. Anyway I agree, rakes are delicious and oh so witty. Not saying I don’t adore a knight in shining armor. But I agree that reformed rakes make the best husbands.
I think one of my favorite versions of this theme is the Lisa Kleypas book, Devil in Winter.
I love Johanna Lindsey’s Malory clan. James and Anthony–::sighs::
I love historical bad boys; they always so fun. I just love when they find the girl that are willing to modify there behavior. Can’t have them all saintly, they need to bring their skills to the bed. Knights in shiny armor are nice, but rakes are a lot of fun.
I LOVE The Lords of Vice series. One of my favorite series. Can’t wait to read Saint’s book
Yay! Alexandra’s books are great, aren’t they?
Thanks, Melody!
Somebody said that rakes are like taffies, so hard on the outside, but when they warm up they become soft and chewy 🙂 This new novel looks good indeed, from the front cover to the videoclip to the plot!
minadecaro(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great image, Mina!
I love it!
I love reformed rakes who fall hard for their ladies, especially whne they are a little befuddled by it. Knights in shining armor are good, too, but generally not as delcicious as the bad boy. However, in real life this would never do!
Sue, I do think you’re on to something. My hubby was the classic knight in shining armour, and he’s a great husband.
Confession time–I married a bad boy. Everybody warned me about him but I took a chance and have never regretted it. We’ve been married for 24 yrs.
Read Till Dawn with the Devil at one sitting during a long day of travel to Ohio. I literally couldn’t stop reading. Truthfully, I came home with a bagful of books from RWA and can’t expect them all to be five-star reads, but the first one I picked up definitely was. I also liked the advice she gave when she signed it: Embrace Your Vices. I intend to!
Even though I don’t have much time to read now that I’m motivated to get on with my own writing, I purchased another book in the series and pre-ordered the one that comes out tomorrow. I just love discovering new authors!
Susana, good for you! I also find that I have less reading time than I used to, but I just cannot give up reading historical romance.
Thanks, Susana! Btw, I received your email. I’ll reply later today.
I like rakes of course. who doesn’t? I like their dash of danger. 🙂
A little dash of danger is fun!
I agree. The risk is appealing, plus the thrill of the chase.
Rakes all the way for me. I love how they add to the storyline and make the journey to the “happy ever after” more fun. I like it when the rakes are inevitably, brought to their knees, by the women they’ve fallen hard for. 🙂
It’s very satisfying, isn’t it?
Rakes make such a lovely “thud” sound when they fall. 🙂
I love rakes. They are just too yummmy. I usually forgive anything except cheating.
I agree, Nareh. Cheating crosses the line.
Ditto.
I too love the rakes and I love it even more when they are brought down by love.
Me, too!
::sighs::
There’s definitely an appeal about bad boys, Alexandra! It’s so much sweeter when they fall–nothing like seeing him wrapped up in knots, fighting both his feelings and what they compel him to do in response 🙂
Agreed, Fedora!
Oh, I heartily agree!
Beautiful covers, I love the Rakes!
I can’t wait to read this book her books are always great!
Penney
They are gorgeous covers, aren’t they?
Thanks, Penney!!
Hi Alexandra! I have loved this series so far and can’t wait to read more.
I have always loved the rake, the bad boys of historicals. They may fight it but they generally fall HARD when they meet the one.
And it’s the falling hard that we love!
I love the internal struggle. Yes, the hero can act like an arse while he fights his feelings, but it all works out in the end.
I prefer reading about the bad boys and seeing how they’re redeemed at the end.
I agree, bn – it’s wonderful to watch that journey of redemption.
Yes. Sometimes the h/h really have to work for their HEA.
I’ve always enjoyed the bad boy. They are so much better in my romance stories than in real life!!
Oh, man! Is that ever the truth!
LOL. True.
I love the rakes…mmmm…A knight in shining armor is ok, but a rake is more exciting, and a rake who falls for his lady is even better, it shows potential, and they are just so hot. And I Love the lords of vice, can’t get them fast enough.
It is a great series, isn’t it, Joy?
Aw, thanks, Joy!
Rakes in fiction are fun because they WILL change their ways once they meet the special heroine for whom they’d give up their previous bad boy ways.
That is the rule!!
And it’s a very good rule!
Hi everyone–I’m back from RWA and it’s good to be home. Sorry for arriving fashionably late, especially when all of you are discussing my favorite subject–rakes. I ::heart:: those Regency bad boys.
Me too, Alexandra! Thanks so much for spending time with us today!
It can be a more satisfying ending when a rake or bad boy falls into his happily ever after. Watching them struggle against it is half the fun!
The internal struggle is one of my favorite parts of a story.
Hi Vanessa!
Thanks so much for featuring Alexandra’s Lord of Vice Series today! Aren’t the heros in this series wonderful!
I like my historical heros to be a bit of a bad boy because I know their heroines will be sure to tame them at least a little bit because after all we all like a little of our own bad boy to remain “bad” but only for us!
And the heroines get to explore their wild sides. 🙂
I do enjoy those regency rakes 🙂 and since in the end they always reform (except were their lady love is concerned), of course they can earn forgiveness (of course a little suffering along the way on their part doesn’t hurt either)
I have so much fun writing these books!
I love your books! This series is one of my favorites! Im so excited to read All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess! Ive read all the other books (more than once) and im dying to read the others! Do you have a publication date for Frosts story yet? I cant wait to read his story. Hes an ass, very cold and so cynical. I cant wait to see who he ends up with and how she takes him on. Oh, im so excited!!! Congrats!! Many wishes and blessings sent your way! 🙂 Have a fantastic week!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Shadow! I don’t think there’s a hard date for Frost’s book yet, but if I were to take an educated guess I’d say August 2013. And yes, Frost is an ass, albeit a charming one. 🙂
I do like rakes unless they are abusive. But my favorite take on the rake is Georgette Heyer’s Cotillion in which the heroine has a huge school girl crush on her cousin, the rake. But she eventually realizes the rake would not make a very nice husband.
Sounds like a sensible young lady. 🙂
This is a great series, glad it was featured. What a talented author, to turn these bad boys into men we fall in love with. I think ale very girl has a thing for the bad boy, even just a little. We all want to be the one to tame them =)
I am so waiting to get my hands on a copy of your newest book. I want to start reading this series, but I usually wait to start reading when all are published….don’t know if I can hold out that long. LOL
I love the Rakes & Bad Boys! Who doesn’t? Taking nothing away from Miss Alexandra, but IMHO, no one writes them better than Stephanie Laurens. I was totally turned on to them when her Cynsters cousins books first landed on my TBR shelf! But I think my favorite rake is Gyles and he wasn’t even a Cynster…merely a friend of the family!
I love the historical bad boy I must admit. I know that he’s not right for me or the heroine but if he fall head over heels in love with her & adapts a bit I simply can’t resist 😀
I LOVE to read about rakes and to “see” them fall in love and become faithful to one woman. But in real life…no. I would never feel secure.
I do love the historical bad boy and I’m willing to forgive him all his rakish ways, especially if he falls hard for his lady. There’s nothing better than seeing a rake be brought to heel by his love of a lady who’s just right for him.
I love the bad boys, been looking for one for years.
I enjoy the knight in shining armor but I love the bad boy falls hard better 😉 There is nothing more “awww” worthy than a bad boy who reforms his ways for the woman who tames him!