Maggie Robinson's Blog, page 15

Wrapping Up

Celebrating release day for Mistress by Midnight today! This is actually the fourth book release day I've had this year, which is kind of mind-boggling. Check the news page for giveaways this month and next.

I think this will be my last blog for 2010, unless I get an earth-shatteringly good review. It was four years ago I wrote my very first post on December 31. A whole lot has happened since, and I'm thankful every day, especially for my supportive family. My husband brings me tea every morning as I sit and type. He may not be a Regency lord, but he's still a hero.

Some random musings on 2010…I have Google Alerts for my books and pen names. I've dicovered porn star Traci Lords and Passion Pit this way.

I have the best critique partners ever.

I can laugh when I get a less-than-stellar review. Who can resist when someone says this: This book was hard to finish. Charlotte Fallon is not the sharpest tool in the shed and like the other female characters in the book she is mentally unbalanced. I mean seriously what sane woman snoozes through the best sex in her life, steals Mr. Studs valuable artwork, and smashes an entire bedroom of cupid statues against against the garden wall? If I were Bayard I would have taken her on safari to Africa and had her shoot [sic] with an elephant tranquilizer dart.

What have you learned this year?

Midnight Gets Five Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies

An early Christmas present!

"Deliciously wicked, MISTRESS BY MIDNIGHT, the second book in THE COURTESAN COURT trilogy, is a tantalizing historical romance that I found hard to put down. But then I seem to have that same problem with every book I have read by exceptionally gifted author Maggie Robinson. Beautifully imbued with humor, exciting plots, surprising plot twists, charismatic characters, believable, snappy repartee, enticingly sensual love scenes and plenty of romance, this story is unforgettable. Anyone looking for a terrific read should get their own copy of MISTRESS BY MIDNIGHT. You won't regret it! If you enjoy this story, you will definitely want to read the first book in this series, MISTRESS BY MISTAKE."

Just a Tease

I know, I know. It doesn't come out until March. But I'm having new bookmarks printed and just had to share. Thank you, Frauke at Croco Designs! These are gorgeous.

New and Improved

Another Great Review for NQAC

"Not Quite a Courtesan" by Maggie Robinson

After returning to London from his extensive travels where he has bought a variety of sexually explicit artifacts, Darius Shaw discovers he and his brother now own a house complete with an aging prostitute. Hoping to persuade the woman to leave, he instead runs into Prudence Thorne at the home. She has come to talk with his brother who married her cousin, as the newly married couple is already having problems and she thinks the man is now living with another woman. When circumstances lead to the two working together to get his merchandise ready for auction, the business arrangement turns into an eye-opening experience for Prudence and Darius.

The premise of "Not Quite a Courtesan" is captivating from the start, and the fascination continues to mount with each new enthralling detail. Maggie Robinson expertly entwines humor with passion and genuine concern to create an absolutely mesmerizing story. Darius and Prudence have particularly interesting personalities, and their inner natures come through loud and clear to delight readers time and again. You will sigh, laugh and feel the very real emotions depicted throughout this noteworthy story.

Read the whole review from SensualReads here.

Double Delight

Jane Litte of Dear Author has made the official announcement for the upcoming Berkley Agony/Ecstasy anthology. Read all about it here. Margaret is so excited to be included with such great authors! And the excerpt for March's Any Wicked Thing from Berkley Heat is now up.

And Maggie loves this romantic image:

Perfectly Proper

Well, there's some dispute about the title. I thought it was supposed to be "Improper GentlemEn." It may have been thrown up quickly so the cover could get into the Kensington catalog on time. But wow! Just wow. Out August 2011!

Lords of Passion Release Day!

Yep, you've seen this guy and heard quite a bit about him and his friends in all the reviews below. He and his mighty sword are about to take their rightful place on bookshelves near you.

Lords of Passion is tremendously special to me. To share a spine with Virginia Henley and Kate Pearce is surreal. My novella Not Quite a Courtesan was so much fun for me to write, and the positive reviews have only made my feelings about it sweeter.

I said somewhere that Pru and Darius are two of my favorite imaginary friends, and I'm eager to share them. I'm giving away three copies today (Tuesday, November 30)–one on The Vauxhall Vixens blog, and two in a Twitter contest that will run until midnight EST. Follow me @MaggieLRobinson for a chance to win!

The Romance Dish Reviews NQAC

"Not Quite a Courtesan"

By Maggie Robinson

Lords of Passion (Anthology)

Publisher: Kensington Brava

Release Date: November 30, 2010

World traveler and treasure hunter, Darius Shaw returns home to England with one last collection of sensual artifacts that, hopefully, will garner enough money to forever close the doors of Shaw Antiquities, the company he inherited from his father, allowing Darius to leave the family business behind and settle down in the country, as his heart desires. But, upon his arrival, he's met with the news that his scapegrace younger brother, Cyrus has eloped with an eighteen-year-old heiress, his uncle Algernon has died, leaving the two brothers his love nest on Courtesan Court, complete with aging mistress, and neither his new sister-in-law nor her guardian "dragon" of a cousin are thrilled with the news. Long used to rescuing his brother from his many escapades, Darius heads to Courtesan Court to pay off his uncle's mistress and save his brother's new marriage.

Prudence Thorne has been responsible for her younger cousin since she was born and she's not about to turn her back on that responsibility just because some handsome man managed to sweet-talk Sophy into marriage while Pru was tending her dying mother. Pru knows all about men who stray. After all, her late husband was killed trying to escape his lover's bed just weeks after marrying Pru. After paying off the woman she thinks is her new brother-in-law's mistress, Pru waits at the Courtesan Court home for Cyrus, to give him a piece of her mind and send him back to his young wife. But the man who arrives is not young Cyrus and this man is more handsome, more appealing and more dangerous to Pru's well-ordered life than she could ever have imagined.

Like the unique artifacts for which Darius searches the world, Robinson's "Not Quite a Courtesan" is a treasure. Well written, this story flows smoothly, with humor and a satisfying depth of emotion. Intelligent, practical, take-charge Pru is the perfect foil for Darius's sensual, teasing nature and the banter between them is an absolute delight. From beginning to end, their journey is romantic, sensual, and thoroughly enjoyable. I admit, I hated to say goodbye.

All About Romance & NQAC

European Historical Romance (1818 England)

Maggie Robinson's Not Quite a Courtesan wraps things up with a thoroughly enjoyable romp. Our hero Darius follows a long family tradition of dealing in pornographic antiques, but he's just about to auction off his inventory (housed in a courtesan's lodgings) and make a fresh start. All of a sudden a staid widow appears on a mission: Her cousin is married to Darius' brother, who's been staying with the courtesan, who's his late uncle's mistress but appears to be Darius' brother's mistress. Prudence is here to give the courtesan what-for, on behalf of her cousin.

Or something like that. It doesn't matter, really. What matters is that Darius and Prudence are a hoot. As Pru joins in the inventorying they fall in love, Darius gets semi-respectable and Pru gets seriously loosened up. And it's funny. Really funny.

Grade: B+