I have a real treat for my readers today – I’m featuring the wonderful historical romance writer, Katharine Ashe. If you’ve never read any of Katharine’s lush and sexy romances, you should know that she was named by Booklist, the prestigious review journal of the American Library Association as one of “the new stars of historical romance.” And Katharine does know her history, since she holds a Ph.D. in the subject and is a professor of European History. How cool is that?
Katharine’s first book was Swept Away By A Kiss. It received great critical acclaim, and was a top pick from RT Book Reviews and a nominee for the “Best First Historical Romance” Reviewer’s Choice Awards. And Romance Junkies gave it a Blue Ribbon Rating, calling it “Rompalicious!”
Packed full with adventure, witty repartee, an intriguing plot, wonderful characters, steamy hot love scenes and even pirates, this story is unforgettable.” –Romance Junkies
Oh, my God! Witty repartee, hot love scenes, and pirates. Seriously, what more could romance readers ask for?
Katharine’s latest book is Captured By A Rogue Lord. It also received a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews: “Ashe knows how to captivate readers with her action-packed romance brimming over with marvelous characters, sexual tension, witty repartee and action, action, action. Her take on the pirate tale is novel, exciting and highly romantic.”
Here’s the blurb for Captured By A Rogue Lord:
She would marry no man…
Serena Carlyle dreams of a happily ever after. Firmly on the shelf at twenty-five, instead she’s determined to find the perfect match for her beautiful younger sister. What better prospect than their neighbor, the wealthy, rakishly handsome Earl of Savege? Now Serena can beg his help in halting a local band of smugglers. Then, one night, stealing away from yet another disappointing ball, Serena finds herself trapped alone with a stranger …
Until he captured her—body and soul
His kiss was irresistible, his caress unforgettable, and he hides a devastating secret. A Robin Hood upon the sea, Alex Savege is the brazen pirate Redstone, seizing the yachts of spoiled noblemen to settle an old debt. Serena needs a hero, but her heart is in the gravest danger—for it is soon to be captured by a man as skilled at seduction as he is at plunder.
Smugglers, people! Sexy smugglers!
Captured By A Rogue Lord is now in bookstores and available from Amazon and other on-line retailers. You can find all the buy links on Katharine’s website.
Katharine has very graciously donated a copy of Captured By A Rogue Lord for today’s feature. Let’s talk about outlaw heroes. Do you love them as much as I do? Who’s your favorite pirate, or smuggler, or highwayman hero? One commenter will win a copy of the book.
I’ve always loved Han Solo. And Robin Hood. This book sounds like it would be right up my alley!
Oh, Han is the perfect rogue hero!
Hi, Nicole. Han Solo is my all-time favorite! I’ll hazard a guess that if you like him, you’d like Alex, my hero in Captured by a Rogue Lord. Thanks for commenting, 🙂
Congratulations Katherine on being named one of the new stars of historical romance! I think the fact that being a professor of European History is really going to show in the stories.
I have a soft spot for outlaw heroes. They are often misunderstood or are damaged in some way, but are redeemable. Key word, they can be redeemed by the right woman and that makes for a wonderful story. One favourite outlaw pirate is Devlin O’Neill from THE PRIZE, and Liam O’Neill from THE GAME, both by Brenda Joyce. Actually, she has many great pirates in her de Warenne series.
Thank you, Na! I do love writing in historical eras. This one offered me lots of material — pirates, lords, smugglers, sailors, and of course fabulous Regency balls and parties. I have to say, though, that history is much, much more fun for me when there’s a love story at the center of it all — the romance is my favorite part! 🙂
You’re so right — Brenda Joyce writes fabulous heroes. I’ll have to check out Devlin and Liam!
I have to agree on the Han Solo!! and Robin Hood 🙂
How could you not love the Outlaw Hero!? As Na said it – they are often misunderstood!
I love Robin Hood, too. When I was a young girl, one of my first crushes was on Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood. So dashing!
Isn’t that the truth, Aislynn! I absolutely adore a bad boy with a heart of gold. I’m particularly partial to the outlaw heroes whose good side is a secret to most people… except the heroine, of course! 🙂
i was going to say Devilin O’Neill by Brenda Joyce but Na said it first.. another is sean O’Neill also by Brenda…. but another would have to be Jamie Lost from Kris Kennedy’s new book Defiant. Also I think some of the rogues in stories don’t necessarily have to be thieves or pirates but in their demeanor such as Sebastion, Lord St. vincent in Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas he is a dangerous fellow and has the demeanor of a rogue and I just loved him.
Jami, you have my heart fluttering by mentioning Sebastian. The more dangerous the better. And I already have Kris Kennedy’s Defiant loaded up on my Nook — cannot wait to read it!
Hi Katharine,
I do have a soft spot for Robin Hood. I really loved the BBC series where Richard Armitage portrayed Guy of Gisbourne.
Robin Hood and Richard Armitage all in one, deep breathy sigh! :)=)
Vanessa and Katherine –
My favorite pirate is definately Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. He is my favorite pirate not only because Johnny is such a great actor but also because the pirate he portrays is such an intense and complex character.
I feel the same when I come upon a terrific character in a historical romance. I want him to interact with the ohter characters in an unexpected way or to be hiding the man he really is behind a fasade. I love to find out his true character as the story progresses and learn all the reasons why he hides his true self from those around him.
Who doesn’t love “meeting” a man of intrigue whether in real life or in a book?
“I feel the same when I come upon a terrific character in a historical romance. I want him to interact with the ohter characters in an unexpected way or to be hiding the man he really is behind a fasade. I love to find out his true character as the story progresses and learn all the reasons why he hides his true self from those around him.” — Fabulously said, Jeanne! 🙂
Jeanne, I love the way you put things! And I adore Captain Jack, too.
OMG! It’s hard to name just one! I guess I’d pick Johnny Depp as Captain Sparrow, I love the good-at-heart villains…
Me too, Linda. They’re my favorites! And Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the very best. I especially love him because he isn’t by any means perfect, but he’s still so noble at heart. 🙂
I’m sorry… I forgot to thank you for this giveaway AND for mentioning this contest on your Facebook page!
My pleasure. You ladies know how I love giving away books. 🙂
You’re welcome, Linda!
Hi Katharine and Vanessa!
Congratulations on being named as one of the new stars of historical romance, way to go! Plus you hold a PhD, how awesome! Kudos to you!
I have SWEPT AWAY BY A KISS, awesome read. With bits and pieces, or I should say lots of bits and pieces……LOL…. of adventure, romance, and intrigue you can’t go wrong reading this book.
I just know CAPTURED BY A ROGUE LORD is going to be a hit too!
As far as outlaw hero’s go, hmmm….. lots of good ones to choose from but I have to agree with Jami S., really into Sebastian from THE DEVIL IN WINTER.
Another ‘dark bad boy’ I like is Derek Craven in DREAMING OF YOU, also by Lisa Kleypas.
Na S. you are so right! You definitely hit the nail on the head with Brenda Joyce’s de Warenne series.
Have a wonderful day ladies! 😀
Hi, Dalila. Another Lisa Kleypas fan, yay! And thank you for your lovely words about SWEPT AWAY BY A KISS. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Love, love, love Kleypas. Is there even anything else left to say?
Yep, Han Solo is up there even though I was way more interested in the earnest innocence of Luke Skywalker (I was too young for bad boy Han anyway).
How about the Scarlet Pimpernel? Does he count?
Absolutely the Pimpernel counts! He’s a wonderful rogue and a true hero!
Yes, ma’am! The Scarlet Pimpernel (my first true crush) had a major influence on the hero of SWEPT AWAY BY A KISS. I can’t seem to get enough of heroes with secret identities.
And it’s so true, Han Solo’s roguish charm has special appeal for mature women, while Luke’s wide-eyed nobility of spirit are truly the stuff of a young girl’s dreams. 🙂
I would feel like I was cheating on him if I said anyone other than Captain Jack Sparrow! 😉 How fabulous is he?! Super fabulous!
Han Solo gets my first vote but I have to put a plug in here for Rhett Butler…he was, after all, a blockade runner. That’s got to count for something, right? And Katherine, I have ‘Swept Away by a Kiss’ on my TBR mountain. Me thinks I should pull it out to read next! I forgot there were pirates in it!
I love Pirates..Captain Jack Sparrow,,(Johnny Depp) has my heart..I would love a chance to win Captured by a Rogue Lord…Thank you!!! lprater@modweldco.com
Hi Katharine,
I’m not here to be in the contest, I’m just here to support you. I recently started reading another fellow Avon author. Anna Campbell. I just fell in love with her hero from Captive Of Sin. Sir Gideon Trevithick . He was such a damaged fellow. The demons just hid under his mind. However he did persevere.
And of course how can I not love my men from Swept Away By a Kiss, and Captured By A Rogue Lord..
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