I’m so pleased today to be hosting another Regency gal, the very talented Erica Ridley. Erica writes Regency-set historical romances, often with a touch of paranormal. Her debut novel, Too Wicked To Kiss, exploded onto the scene with a truly impressive number of stellar reviews and accolades, including this one from Publishers Weekly:
Ridley’s debut is an enticing marriage of Regency romance and murder mystery…Evangeline, a young yet determined heroine, is the true star of the novel as she allows herself to love while making serious plans for her future. Plenty of violence, romantic tension, and sensual love scenes will leave readers eager for the sequel.
Sounds pretty darn enticing, doesn’t it? Here’s Erica’s cool trailer for Too Wicked To Kiss, which gives you the flavor of the book.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awt7UXscuSQ]
Too Wicked To Kiss also received a coveted 5 star review from Romance Junkies, and a brilliant cover quote from one of my absolute favorite authors, New York Times bestselling suspense author, Karen Rose. Here’s what Karen had to say about the book:
Darkly sensual, Erica Ridley’s TOO WICKED TO KISS is a skillful blend of Gothic mystery and steamy romance. Living, breathing characters, a classically foreboding setting, and twists and turns to keep one guessing come together in a deeply satisfying tale.
Trust me. When it comes to mystery and steamy romance, Karen knows what she’s talking about and Too Wicked To Kiss fits the bill.
Erica’s latest book is Too Sinful To Deny, and it’s another sexy, Gothic historical romance. And thank God for that, because there just aren’t enough Gothic romances on the shelves these days, IMHO. Too Sinful To Deny steps into the gap.
Here’s the blurb for Too Sinful To Deny:
TOO TEMPTING TO OBJECT…
One look at the towering ocean-side manor that is to be her new home, and exiled socialite Susan Stanton knows: This is a place haunted by secrets and riddled with menace.
For Susan, there is no escaping it. At best she can stay clear of the most dangerous element of all–dark-haired smuggler Evan Bothwick, a man whose shaded countenance cannot hide his wicked intent.
But Susan has a secret of her own–a special gift that renders her privy to the darkest mysteries lurking within the walls of the manor and in the labyrinthine cellars beneath. And the only man who can help her make sense of it all is Evan, the very scoundrel and rogue she would do anything to be able to resist…
Yum! I am so there, Erica.
You can read an excerpt of the book and find the handy buy links to all your favorite retailers on Erica’s website.
And while you’re on Erica’s website, spend some time looking around. It’s an incredibly interesting and entertaining site – one of the best I’ve ever seen. In addition to all the usual info on Erica’s books, there are extra features like an author scrapbook, bad jokes, good quotes, and fun contests. But one of the best features on the site is Erica’s Scandalsheet, a Regency tabloid that will provide you with on-dits and bits of scandal to enhance your enjoyment of Erica’s books. Don’t forget to check out the pirate translator!
As if that wasn’t enough, Erica also has several free downloads on her site, including two novellas in anthologies with such acclaimed authors as C.L. Wilson, Virginia Henley, Tessa Dare, and Elizabeth Hoyt. You can check out those free downloads here.
As you can tell, Erica is a smart, entertaining author and that totally shines through in her books. If you haven’t read her before, here’s your chance. Check out her novellas and then walk don’t run to the nearest bookstore or on-line retailer for her books.
Erica has graciously donated a copy of Too Sinful To Deny to the blog today. Since her books contain elements of the Gothic, let’s talk about that. What’s your favorite Gothic novel? Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or did you grow up reading all those great Victoria Holt books? One person who comments today will win a copy of Erica’s fab new book!
My favorite is Wuthering Heights by far! I had to read Jane Eyre in class one year and I really disliked it. But Wuthering Heights made me cry, and I re-read it every few months. Its one of the most well-worn novels on my shelves.
It’s funny, Rose. I had the exact opposite reaction. That often seems to be the case with JE and WH. Although when I studied WH in lit class I came to really appreciate it.
I never had to study WH – which might be why I liked it. I feel like Gothic novels always have heroes with a certain strangeness to accompany their loneliness. I think that whether you like the book depends on if you can identify with that loneliness.
For me, I could identify with Heathcliffe and his strangeness, but I had trouble liking Jane or Edward. Of course, that may have been because I was forced to read it and analyze it and write fifteen page papers one the symbolism of the window. That sort of thing does tend to influence one’s perspective.
I think I also disliked JE because we watched the movie version as well for some of the scenes, including the First Kiss. I don’t know what movie edition it was – but it was really awkward. Like, beyond normal-first-kiss awkward. I mean, my first kiss was slightly awkward, as most tend to be. But this kiss was awkward to the extreme, and it was especially awkward to watch the awkwardness unfold in class. You had no idea where to look, but you couldn’t look at the screen – it was simply too horrible! I think the absolute ridiculousness and overblown nature of the movie also ruined it for me.
As a teenager, WH was hard for me to get into–possibly adolescent rebellion against liking anything I was “forced” to do. 😉 Later, though, I fell hopelessly in love with the genre, and am having a blast writing gothic romances!
Like I said to Vanessa, I was never forced to read WH but I was forced to read JE – and that might be why I dislike it so. I think the genre I’m most in love with is fairly limited – it’s actually more of an author. I’m in love with Shakespeare’s plays – all but R + J. I also dislike Othello, but I can appreciate his brilliant display of dramatic irony even if Desdemona is dumb as dirt.
I do ocassionally try my hand at writing things, but of course I can’t write a Shakespearean play. I do try to write Sonnets (wow, those are hard!) on occassion but I generally stick to writing paranormal romance (which is amusing because my favorite genre to read is Regency). I think gothic romance would fun, but especially hard!
Wow, first let me comment about the amazing book cover….yummy…it seems the covers are getting better and better.
Besides Wuthering Heights, I also enjoyed the book Dracula by Bram Stoker and the great Phantom of the opera by Gaston Leroux…love the books (and also the movies)
Yes, Kensington is know for its great covers – they’ve done mine, too.
I forgot Dracula – good pick!
I have Dracula on my keeper shelves, too! I have always loved seeing Phantom in the theater, but for some reason it never occurred to me to read the book. (?!) I will have to check it out!
Too Sinful to Deny looks wonderful!
My favorite Gothic writers are Barbara Michaels (Ammie, Come Home), Mary Stewart (This Rough Magic), Susanna Kearsley (The Shadowy Horses) and Madeleine Brent (Moonraker’s Bride). Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney were never my favorites.
Lynn
luv2, my favorite has always been Mary Stewart. I did a blog on her several weeks ago. Her publisher is putting all her books out in beautiful new additions.
Great choices for author recommendations!! You mentioned a couple I haven’t read, which means you’re sending me directly to the bookstore. 😉
This sounds wonderful I love these kind of books I am looking forward to reading it.My favorite is books from Victoria Holt I grew up with her books! Thanks for being here today!
Penney
Loved Victoria Holt! I still remember the Bride of Pendorric. At least I think that’s how you spell it!
Thank you! I love this genre, too. It would be great if more gothics began to hit the shelves!
TOO SINFUL TO DENY sounds like a fabulous read! Thanks for the giveaway!
My favorite Gothic stories are by Victoria Holt. During summer break from school I walked to the library every week to pick up one of her books.
Jennifer, how fun! I did that sort of thing, too.
I’m with you… I remember maxing out my local library’s maximum every time I went by to pick up books. I read just about anything I could get, and had a book in my hands at every opportunity. =)
Another Victoria Holt fan here!!! “Too Sinful To Deny” sounds like another winner!! Thanks for the opportunity to get to know another great author… you sure can pick them..
Thanks, Cate! There sure are a lot of good authors out there.
Another thank you to Vanessa for featuring so many authors here on the blog. I love the variety!
It’s fun having so many great authors on my blog!
I grew up adoring Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. Mary Stewart was by far my favorite – The Ivy Tree was read over and over and over. At one time, I had memorized sections of it. And Victoria Holt’s Mistress of Mellyn was another that I read until the pages fell out of the book. But those ladies NEVER had the gorgeous cover your new gothic romance has! Sounds like another winner!
Thank you for the compliments on the cover! I remember reading books until they barely hung together, too. (I suppose that’s a good argument for me to get an e-reader some day!!)
Mistress of Mellyn! That was the one I was trying to remember. Thanks, Debra.
Definitely read all of Victoria Holt!
If I don’t win, looks like I’ll e at B&N picking this new on up.
Yay! I love how many of us enjoy gothic romance!!! =)
We need more gothics, Erica!
I first “met” Erica when a friend told be I had to visit her website and it was even more fun than I expected! I must admit I was a little leary at first but I just couldn’t resist picking up a opy of Too Wicked to Kiss. What fun I had reading it.
Erica – I’m so glad that To Sinful to Deny is now available and I definately would love a copy!
I only have one complaint – please write faster!
LOL! Erica’s website is great fun, isn’t it Jeanne?
Yay, Thank you so much, Jeanne!! I’m so glad you liked Too Wicked To Kiss–and I hope you love Too Sinful To Deny! =)
I most definitely welcome more Gothic historical romances. I think the Regency era is a perfect time for Goth to make an appearance. Regency brings to mind balls, sweeping gowns, utmost propriety distinguished social classes, and conventions. Goth is all darkness, mystery and secrecy. What better way to blend these two? Soft and hard. Goth is almost reverred, seems very volatile and unsettled, I think it would be fantastic to expose the Regency to this. Let the mayhem, and of course a tender love story unfold.
My favourite Gothic stories include Dracula and the The Castle of Otranto.
Na, I wish I could explain things as well as you do – on the nose again!
Very well said–and I couldn’t agree more!! =)
As a young girl I was a Jayne Eyre fan, but these days I would have to pick Dracula. I’m also a huge Poe fan. His poem, Annabel Lee, is one of my favorites!
Poe! Good for you, C!
I love Poe! One of my prized possessions was (okay, is) having his complete works. He is amazing.
I actually read a gothic romance recently by Eve Silver called His Dark Kiss. Oh, my gosh!! It was fantastic! Creepy and sexy and dark, it was oh, so good 🙂
Nice! Eve Silver is great!!
Chelsea, that was a great book by Eve!
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