Maya Rodale's Blog: Maya Rodale's Blog, page 40

Reviews: A Tale Of Two Lovers

Alert! Shameless self-congratulation is about to happen now. The reviews are in for A Tale Of Two Lovers and I'm more than happy to share some of my favorites with you:

In a starred review, Publisher's Weekly declares it a "sexy historical romp" and also writes that I have "an intimate understanding of aristocratic England" (the husband had some questions on that one) and "and a particular flair for rendering sumptuous period details."

RT Book Reviews says: I'm back "with a heroine whose penchant for getting into trouble is mightier than her sharp pen." This is true. To continue: "Readers who enjoy empowered women and alpha males will adore this installment in the Writing Girl series. Her quick wit is only matched by her characters' high jinks and a touch of mystery."

Shameless Romance Reviews writes: "I had the most FUN reading the novel. It was incredibly witty, with a twist of mystery, and a undeniable chemistry between Simon and Juliana. I literally had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading. The witty banters between the characters, the hilarious writing girls, the endless chemistry and tiffs between Simon and Juliana…..and much more just made the perfect read for me. If you like regency historicals you will love this one."

The Romance Reviews says: "Original and intriguing, A TALE OF TWO LOVERS is sure to delight historical fans who are looking for something new in historical England" and "A mystery subplot weaves through the book with regards to the identity of the Man About Town. The clues were there, but the author also managed to confuse me that I wasn't able to guess exactly who he is."

And The Season is sayin': "Julianna and Roxbury are so perfectly imperfect for each other. They are both stubborn and not afraid to go after what they want. The chemistry between Julianna and Roxbury is palpable that I was getting butterflies in my stomach every time they were together. The way they spar and match wits its hard not to see these two together. It is also easy to see that Roxbury respects Julianna despite her meddling in his life.  I found myself rooting for them at every turn and waiting for Julianna to accept to her feelings for Roxbury."

Mysterious. Sexy. Butterflies. High jinks and quick wit. YAY!

Marriage In High Life-Royal Wedding Edition!

There's the wedding of the season, and then there's the wedding of the year. This author was up before dawn to watch the Royal Wedding. My invitation seems to have been lost in the mail, but still managed front row seats (otherwise known as the couch in front of the television). Rawther more comfortable, but much less fashionable.

My sister and I considered donning my wedding dress and her bridesmaid dress to really get in the mood. Pajamas won.

[image error]With BBC America as our guide, my sister and I watched thousands of guests stream into Westminster Abbey and commented on everyone's appearance. Posh and Becks looked especially good (he looked really good) though Posh's fascinator seemed precariously perched on her forehead. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Princess Beatrice–my mother said your hat (was that a hat?) looked like a ride at the local amusement park. It should be noted that my mother offered this critique while wearing her bathrobe and a top hat.

I thought the Queen looked like a peep. Happy belated Easter!

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge otherwise known as the bride looked absolutely perfect in her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress. Je love it. The princes look pretty good, too. Lud, Harry just looks like such a rake.

What does the maid of honor and my mum's dog have in common? The name Pippa!

My absolute favorite part, besides the anticipation, was Will and Kate's carriage ride from Westminster to Buckingham Palace. It's like a  Disney movie come to life, for lord sakes. But this was also the moment that tugged at my romance writers heart. Because, as one of those BBC commenters noted in their darling accents, in a way it's like nothing has changed over the centuries: princes, princesses, weddings and carriages and the horse guards and crowds cheering…I love that continuity with history.

I also got a kick out of Harry in the carriage with the little flower girls. Hee hee! Where is that photo!?

I only teared up once or twice.

I realized that I forgot to have trumpets and my wedding, but my mother said I was not allowed to do it over.  Instead, I have resolved to investigate having trumpeters following me around in my daily life to announce my arrival. Can you just imagine that every time I showed up at a meeting or stepped into the grocery store? Sigh.

Why stop there? Perhaps I shall get some horse guards to escort my dog Penelope and I on our daily walks. While Penny and I wear fascinators. Can you just imagine?

*Marriage In High Life is the London Weekly column by A Groom Of One's Own heroine Sophie Harlow. Ah, fiction comes to life!

Two Lovers and the Royal Wedding

This is a great week for romance. There's the Royal Wedding on Friday.  And, of course, the release my latest romance novel, A Tale Of Two Lovers. What do these things have in common, you ask? Well I will tell you. On a different blog.

I'm guest blogging about it over at The Season today, and there's a chance to win a copy of A Tale Of Two Lovers! Check it out!

Author Secrets: A Tale Of Two Lovers

The characters in A Tale Of Two Lovers aren't the only ones with secrets. This author has a few, too.

Two Lovers was inspired by the first ten minutes of the Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy movie Woman Of The Year. The heroine, Lady Julianna Somerset, is inspired by Hepburn: statuesque, strong, and delightfully direct.


Roxbury's scandalous parking spot was inspired by a wickedly funny poem by a cowboy poet in Wyoming. Wish I could find the guy and the poem. I'm working on it–stay tuned.


Roxbury appears in The Heir And The Spare. True to form, he flirts with the heroine.


I have no idea what the drapes in Roxbury's house look like. If you have to ask, you need to read the book.

A scandalous girl's guide to getting gossip

When not knowing other people's secrets is just not an option, one might resort to these devious tactics, employed by The London Weekly's Lady of Distinction, otherwise known as Lady Julianna Somerset, heroine of A Tale of Two Lovers (on sale now!).

Disguise oneself as a man. This is actually quite frequently done by romance heroines, but has any ever donned breeches and brazenly strolled into White's? How else is a woman to read the famed wager book, if not in the club itself, brandy in hand, and rake by her side?


Enlist the assistance of your maid and her six sisters, employed in all the best houses.


When at the theater, sneak around backstage after the performance. Yes, Ladies don't do this sort of thing. But intreprid, fearless and ruthless gossip hunters like Lady Julianna Somerset do.


Skulk around in the bushes during duels. Early birds only.


Establish calling hours at St. Bride's. Seek and ye shall find—or alert the ton as to when and where you are ready to receive their gossip. It's like confession for High Society.  St. Brides, located on Fleet Street and known as the church of the press, is the perfect place.


Flirt with notorious rakes. But do take care, lest you become the object of gossip yourself!


Purchase your copy of  A Tale of Two Lovers . It's on sale now, darlings. Take it home tonight and tell your friends in the morning.

Regency Romance Launch Party…and you are invited!

My nearest and dearest know that there is very little that will impel me, a Manhattan snob, to travel to Brooklyn—even though it's where I met the husband (also a fellow Manhattan snob) by some rare chance encounter. Seriously, it was like, the second time either of us have gone.

But now I have another good reason to go (and no, it's not a second husband). In fact, it's a good reason for y'all to go as well: a romance novel launch party! Three authors, three spanking new books, one party:

Kieran Kramer, Cloudy With A Chance Of Marriage (Impossible Bachelors)

Sarah MacLean, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Yours truly, Maya Rodale, authoress of A Tale of Two Lovers

Wednesday, April 27th at Word Brooklyn. 7:30-8:30

We will be discussing the joys and perils of writing romance, talking about our new books, and signing. I'm hoping there will also be rakes, champagne and a compromising position or some other scandal–even if I must provide it myself.

But wait, there's more! We are taking questions and this is your chance to ask them during an interview at the event.  Send your questions to info@wordbrooklyn.com, and WORD staff will select their favorites to ask. How will you know if yours was picked? You'll just have to come and find out! And don't forget about the signed books! Hot off the presses!

Plus, you will also see the rare and elusive sight of moi-self in Brooklyn.

You can RSVP on facebook or just surprise us. Hope to see y'all there!

FAQ: Do you base characters on people you know?

Nooooo. Of course not. I mean, maybe a little. Not you, though. Depends who is asking.

Ok, I did once base a character on a woman I met at a dinner party. Her shameless namedropping inspired Lady Richmond in A Groom Of One's Own. My husband likes to think that he is the inspiration for all my heroes. That might be true. He also frequently suggests that my books would be improved by renaming every character after him.

But I could name a character after someone you know–I'm auctioning off naming rights for the villain in my next book to benefit Earth Day and New York Restoration Project. Place your bid here, cos it's for a good cause.

A rant on historical accuracy in romance novels

Whenever I hear of an uproar over some usually minor inaccuracy in a historical romance novel I think one thing: Spies. While the Regency police are in up in arms about improper title usage, legal wrangling, rules of succession, the date when the shower or pen or other object was invented, or the exact dress fashions of 1816, I think: Spies.

Specifically, how many Regency-era spy novels are published each year? And how many female spies actually existed back then?  Exact figures are hard to come by, but I'm willing to bet far more novels about girl spies are written and devoured than girl spies actually existed.  That is to say, it's not exactly accurate. But it's beloved.

Or what about teeth? Our heroes and heroines always have all of their teeth and they are all perfectly white and straight, when in real life this is not true—especially not then, or even now.

Ever notice how many baths are taken in historical romance novels? A lot, given that bathing wasn't done very often because of all the water that needed to be boiled and hauled upstairs. But it happens all the time in romance novels, because who wants to read a sex scene involving two characters that haven't bathed in 200 pages? And what about all that underarm and leg hair that wasn't shaved and that we authors politely decline to detail?

It's a very fine line to balance historical accuracy and present day expectations and standards.

The list goes on: All those literate, blue-stocking heroines. All the heroes that wanted a woman to be seen and heard. The love match alone was only just gaining ground in the early 1800′s, after centuries of marriages arranged for wealth and power. And look at the entire genre based upon the Regency love match!

While I love what I've picked up about history and culture from these books, I always take it with a grain of salt and check back on a proper non-fiction source. While I may not be a stickler for certain details, I do love a historical setting for many obvious, non-negotiable reasons, like all the candlelight, carriage rides and corsets.

We read for relatable characters. We read for scorching, hot passion (that would never have been spoken of in the polite society we write about, let alone written down). We read for true love blossoming and over coming obstacles. We read for happily-ever-after.

And we read for girl-spies, intelligent heroines, heroes that respect women and love a girl with a book, steaming baths, and all those thousands of young, rich, handsome, rakish dukes with all of their teeth.

We also read for marriages based on true love and mutual respect—something that is a common ideal in America, but utterly impossible for millions of women around the world. Today.

Some things we read for even though they may not be real or accurate because they make for a delightful reading experience, or because we aspire to them. Many things we love in our historical romance novels are really things we cherish about our own times. The details are one thing; the values are another. My point:  Historical accuracy in a work of fiction is incredibly nuanced and complex.

As a reader, I'm willing to forgive some inaccuracies or "unlikelies" for a darn good story. So who cares if a character takes a shower a few years before it was invented? As long as they have all of their teeth, that is.

How to make a bridal bouquet

Here's what I love: weddings, princesses, flowers, hanging out with my friend Mark. Here's what I am terrible at: floral arranging. Like, super bad.  Fortunately, Mark is an expert at it. Here we are creating an organic bridal bouquet fit for a princess! Kate Middleton, take note!

My favorite sources of gossip

My heroine, Lady Julianna Somerset, loves gossip and that doesn't come from nowhere. This author does as well.

The New York Post. Not one but two gossip columns with breakfast! Joy!  Page 6 is the must-read of the morning.

Us Weekly & People . I subscribe to both, even though they print basically the same pictures. J'adore the feature "Stars: They're just like US" and I love the real life stories in People, too. My weekly treat is reading these two magazines on my couch, with my coffee, first thing Saturday morning.

The Boot. When I'm fixin' for news about my favorite country music stars, this is the place to go. This happens pretty frequently.

The Huffington Post I love the stunning lack of subtly in their headlines. OVER. So and so SLAMS so-and-so. The entertainment and style pages are full o' delicious stories. And when I want the unofficial scoop on the royal wedding, I go here. For the official report….

The Official Royal Wedding Website. Must keep track of these things.