Victoria Vane's Blog, page 19

New Devil DeVere Official Fan Site!

LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST E-ROMANCE FOR 2012!
I think every writer dreams of creating characters who are larger than life, those so strong and intriguing that they can carry an entire series, even if not the primary focus of it. But Ludovic "the Devil DeVere" who began as a rakish sidekick, became all that and more. I never knew when I dreamed up my "HANGOVER" inspired novella that one story would become two, and then three, and then four, all because of one character. His own story is as highly complex as is his character, and took two books to tell. (THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and THE DEVIL'S MATCH). Hence, the birth of THE DEVIL DEVERE series, four scorching hot intertwined Georgian era romance novellas whose characters all connected through the devious Ludovic, Viscount DeVere.

The new DeVere Fan site is dedicated to giving you a closer look into the books, the inspiration, and the wonderful characters who comprise the world of The Devil DeVere. This is a work in progress as I will be adding a new character page each month with the opportunity for fans to ask questions of the characters. I will also be offering sneak peeks of upcoming releases as well as special giveaways.

Here is the link:
http://thedevildevere.com

I hope you will subscribe to the site for my monthly updates.

Warmest regards,
Victoria Vane

A Wild Night's Bride,

The Virgin Huntress,

The Devil You Know,

The Devil's Match,

Devil in the Making,

The Devil DeVere Volume I,

A Devil Named DeVere: The Devil DeVere Vol. II

Fall In Love All Over Again Hop

The theme of this blog hop reminds me of old flames rekindled, which is precisely the theme of books 3 and 4 in my Devil DeVere series—Diana and “the Devil” DeVere’s intensely passionate and highly complex story. To do it justice, I had to tell it in two parts with their initial meeting and the events leading to a torrid love affair in THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, and then their reluctant reunion in THE DEVIL’S MATCH. These two e-books have now been combined in trade paperback as A DEVIL NAMED DEVERE.

 Once burned twice shy…but when old flames come together passion reignites.

When burned once… Beautiful, respectable and dutiful, Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley was resigned to her decade-long loveless and childless marriage to a feckless husband until a dire discovery shattered her life.

By an old flame… A master of seduction, Viscount Ludovic, “The Devil DeVere,” is accustomed to taking what he wants, heedless of the cost, until encountering a woman who won’t be had at any price—at least not until a dark secret compels her to seek aid and comfort in this devil’s arms. What begins as an all-consuming passion becomes a true devil’s bargain when circumstances beyond their control drive the lovers irrevocably apart.

Fire is best fought with fire…Four years later, DeVere is world-weary and bored with his life of debauchery when Diana unexpectedly reappears. Although both believe the former inferno has been reduced to bitterness and ashes, their chance reunion proves otherwise. With their passion reignited to undeniable ferocity, DeVere is hell-bent to lure Diana back into his bed… while she is equally determined to bring him to his knees.

For a giveaway e-book of A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, Book #1 in my DEVIL DEVERE series,please answer the following question. (Don’t forget to post your name and email address!)

What is your favorite romance involving a rekindled love?

Related articles

THE DEVIL DEVERE Series by Victoria Vane (thedevildevere.wordpress.com)
DEVIL IN THE MAKING now available! (victoriavane.wordpress.com)
The Devil DeVere Series Makes Library Journal Best of 2012 List! (victoriavane.wordpress.com)


Filed under: Uncategorized

The Devil DeVere Series Makes Library Journal Best of 2012 List!

Librarian’s Best Books of 2012: Ebook Romance
 November 15, 20121

By Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Atlanta

In a year where two ebook romances won the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards in head-to-head (maybe that should be heart-to-heart) competition against print titles, 2012 was an even better year for ebook romance. And with more to choose, there are even more to love. Choosing five, or even five-ish, wasn’t easy. Full disclosure: Ruhie Knox’s About Last Night is my fave!

Archer, Zoë. Skies of Fire. eISBN 9780062109149. Archer, Zoë. Skies of Steel. eISBN 9780062109156.  Rosso, Nico. Night of Fire. eISBN 9780062201089.  Rosso, Nico. Night of Steel. eISBN 9780062201102. ea. vol: Avon Impulse. (Ether Chronicles). EPUB $1.99. STEAMPUNK ROMANCE A world war in the years just before we fought ours but different. This world war uses a metal called telumium and a fuel made from soya called tetrol, but, oddly enough, some of the same players appear. So typical of steampunk—familiar, yet not. Airships but also air-bikes, air-trikes, and air-horses, oh, my! And something that’s unique to this steampunk world, the Man O’War, which is a cyborg controlling an airship and seemingly vice versa. Still, with a world war come spies and secret ops and all the romantic suspense possibilities. There are also all the options for world-spanning action: military operations in Europe, town-killers, ether-powered cowboys in the U.S. West, and rogues bringing “modern” technology to the Middle Eastern tribes. Indiana Jones has nothing on them. (Skies of Fire, Xpress Review, 3/30/12; Skies of Steel, Xpress Reviews, 10/19/12

Heldt, John A. The Mine. John A. Heldt. (Northwest Passage, Bk. 1). eISBN 9781476096735. EPUB 99¢. TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE The Mine is one of those stories that sneaks up on you and sweeps you off your feet. It reminds me a lot of Jack Finney’s classic Time and Again, in its sense of a man falling in love not just with a woman but also with a time, a place, and a way of life. Joel Smith starts the story as a cocky boy/man on a last adventure before college graduation. He bumps his head in an abandoned mine and wakes up in 1941, in America’s last golden summer before Pearl Harbor. He’s afraid to change things, but he has to find a way to survive in a world he only knows from history books and baseball statistics. Thinking he can’t go back, he falls in love and makes a life. Then he discovers that he can return to the present and is faced with a terrible dilemma. He can leave behind all that he has come to love, or stay, knowing that if he does, he may change history. This one haunts.

Knox, Ruthie. About Last Night. Loveswept: Random. eISBN 9780345535160. EPUB $2.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE About Last Night was my starred review in LJ’s Xpress Reviews way back in April, and I never forgot it. Knox’s contemporary romance is a funny and charming (also gloriously hot) tale about a bad girl trying to be good and a good man who needs to let his bad side out to play a little more often than his straight-laced upper-crust family can tolerate. Cath, the good-bad girl, also has one of those dream jobs—assistant to a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Knox had me at “hand-knitted straitjacket.” Her terrific “sex into love” romance will make readers laugh out loud. And finish in one sitting. (Xpress Reviews, 4/20/12)

Pape, Cindy Spencer. Moonlight & Mechanicals. Carina: Harlequin. (Gaslight Chronicles, Bk. 4). eISBN 9781426894527. EPUB $4.99.  STEAMPUNK ROMANCE Pape’s “Gaslight Chronicles”series (Steam & Sorcery; Photographs & Phantoms; Kilts & Kraken) is set in a steampunk world that deviates from ours at two key points: Charles Babbage’s difference engine was built (and worked!), and the Knights of the Round Table were not only real, but their descendants are still defending the monarchy and, by extension, the realm, in this alternate Victorian England. In Moonlight & Mechanicals, we have possibly the ultimate steampunk romance, between a werewolf police detective and a female engineer who grew up fighting vampires. The detective is, of course, a member of the Knights. And the heroine has had a crush on him ever since he saved her life. He just believes that he isn’t capable of being a family man. She’s just planning to tinker with him until she proves different. And they save the Queen! (Xpress Reviews, 11/12/12)

Vane, Victoria. The Devil’s Match. eISBN 9781771018470. Vane, Victoria. The Devil You Know. eISBN 9781771018043. Vane, Victoria. The Virgin Huntress. eISBN 9781771018289. Vane, Victoria. A Wild Night’s Bride. eISBN 9781771011310.  ea. vol: Breathless Pr. (Devil DeVere). EPUB $3.49. HISTORICAL ROMANCE The “Devil DeVere” series is a variation on the rake’s progress, or the rake’s reformation, except that is doesn’t start with said rake as the main character—a device that is amazingly clever on Vane’s part and allows her to circle in on DeVere without revealing too much at the outset. In the first two books (Wild and Virgin), DeVere is the puppet master, rearranging his friends’ lives. But in the background, readers catch hints that there’s more to him than the debauched reprobate they see. By the time we find out his story, we’re invested. The series is erotic and sexy, and sometimes you want to shake the characters until their teeth rattle, but it is absolutely marvelous. This one should be read with bonbons. And a fan!

Filed under: A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, BOOK PROMOTION, BOOK REVIEWS, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S MATCH, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, Uncategorized

DEVIL IN THE MAKING now available!

A Note from the Author:

When I first conceived A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, a Georgian set, Hangover-inspired romantic comedy, I had no idea that one devilish secondary character would spawn an entire series, but Ludovic, Viscount DeVere, proved to be a dream come true. This larger than life character has captured the hearts of so many fans who have begged for more DeVere.So without further ado…. Here is how it all began….

Every devil has a beginning…

A rebellious young nobleman’s prank with the king’s lion goes comically awry, leading to a startling chain of events.

A riotous Georgian romp in the tradition of Fielding’s Tom Jones and a prequel to the Devil DeVere series.

Excerpt:

“But I know that look, and it always bodes ill.”

“Come now, Ned,” DeVere cajoled. “With only weeks until matriculation, we may never get another chance to serve up some revenge on ole’ Trasker.”

“What have you in mind?” Simon asked.

“Since our dear pedagogue is so fond of bear-leading, why not procure one for him?”

Ned looked stunned. “You wish to buy a bear?”

“Of course not,” DeVere answered.

“Thank God,” Ned replied with a sigh of relief.

“I only wish to borrow one.”

“A bear?” Simon repeated.

“Yes. It can be a small one. As to age, size, or gender. I am not particular.”

“And how do you propose to find one?” Ned asked warily.

DeVere replied with a look of pure devilment. “I propose a midnight foray to the Royal Menagerie.”

From Rogues Under the Covers:

Every devil has a beginning...and having read the previous DeVere titles by Victoria Vane there is no more charming of a devil than Ludovic, Viscount DeVere and in this short little tale we get a wonderful glimpse of what shaped Ludovic into the man he became.  He is at school with his two friends, Ned and the newly introduced Simon, when his behavior gets them into trouble yet again.  Thinking they will teach their teacher a lesson, Ludovic creates an idea that involves a lion…and is sure to make you laugh with the ridiculousness of it!  Loved it.  You get a nice sense of the bond these three friends have formed and I am very eager for Simon’s own story now (Jewel of the East, Spring 2013).  The story even delves into the scandalous history of Ludovic and his parents.  His awful relationship with his father and his lack of a relationship with his mother who left him when he was a child.  It really makes you appreciate and see how Ludovic came to his vices and way of life and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this glimpse of the past.”

Early reviews from Goodreads:

“…DeVere’s finely honed shell of arrogance, Ned’s increasing brawn, and Sin’s rapier wit, had given birth to an unholy triumvirate that came to wreak perpetual and unchallenged havoc upon Westminster School.

Although this is not a romance, it is a hilarious look at the young devil, Ludovic DeVere, who featured in The Devil DeVere series. Together with his two friends, Ned Chambers who had his story in book #1 A Wild Night’s Bride and Simon Singleton, whose upcoming story book #5 Jewel of the East, pairs him with Salime, the exotic Eastern beauty….I’ve read everything Victoria Vane has written. She is one of the most talented authors of historical romance, able to write stories with differing tones ranging from fun, comedic romps like this one, to the darkly bleak and realistic underbelly of the Georgian era to the downright erotic. Her talent of combining gorgeous prose and well thought-out plots steeped in historical details makes her an auto-buy/auto-read author for me…Devil in the Making is a wonderful, fun and yet sometimes grim look into the background of Ludovic DeVere, showing us a glimpse into his young life and family that so influenced the man he was to become.” Link to full review by Jill

Filed under: BOOK PROMOTION, BOOKS

Exciting New Release Updates!

Hi Everyone!

I have been a very busy bee these past weeks! I now have several exciting tidbits to share. First of all, A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE is available as a free download for 6 more days through both Goodreads and my publisher BREATHLESS PRESS, so if you enjoyed the story, please tell your friends they can still try it for free until November 9.

Secondly, I have an entire series of DEVILISH VIGNETTES coming down the pike!

These are comprised of four novelettes ranging in length from 10K to 15K words that will complement the DeVere series as well as introducing a number of new characters who will reappear in future stories. My tentative release schedule is as follows:

DEVIL IN THE MAKING- November 2012

A comedic romp much like A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE without the romance. This is a highly entertaining character study of DeVere.

Excerpt link: http://authorvictoriavane.com/the-devil-devere-vignettes/devil-in-the-making/devil-in-the-making-excerpt/

NED’S FOLLY – December 2012

A 15 k word romance novella. This is Ned and Annalee’s story. Excerpt coming soon

THE TROUBLE WITH SIN – January 2013

This is another highly comedic romp featuring Simon Singleton, aspiring poet and lover of all women. Although it is not a romance, it serves as a prequel to JEWEL OF THE EAST in which Simon is the romantic hero. Excerpt coming soon

A DEVIL’S TOUCH – February 2013

A scorching hot romance vignette featuring Diana and DeVere. This is a compliment to JEWEL OF THE EAST.

Excerpt link:http://authorvictoriavane.com/the-dev...

JEWEL OF THE EAST – (the Devil DeVere #5) March 2013:

Excerpt coming soon.

Last, but certianly not least,  I have a January full length novel release coming from Entangled Publishing entitled TREACHEROUS TEMPTATION

The cover has not yet been revealed, but here is a link to the blurb: http://authorvictoriavane.com/treacherous-temptation/

I hope I have piqued your interest in these forthcoming stories. Please continue to follow me on Goodreads, Facebook, or my blog for firm release dates and other promotional offers.

With warmest regards,

Victoria Vane

http://authorvictoriavane.com

Filed under: BOOK PROMOTION, BOOKS

A Wild and Wicked Offer: FREE DOWNLOAD of A Wild Night’ Bride (10/26- 11/9 from Breathless Press)

FREE DOWNLOAD FROM 10/26/12 -11/09/12

Publisher’s blurb:

What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake?With the devil in charge, there will be hell to pay…

She’s a lonely lady down on her luck…Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a struggling Covent Garden actress with a bruised heart and a closely guarded secret.

He’s steadfast and eminently respectable…Sir Edward Chambers, Ned to his intimates, is guilt-ridden over his beloved wife’s death and has avowed to live out a rustic and mundane life…of celibacy.

Devil-in-disguise Viscount Ludovic DeVere is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind-blowing passion after which “Dull Dog Ned” awakes to find himself in the King of England’s bed! A Wild Night’s Bride, a sexy, rollicking Georgian romp!

NOTE: This title is also available in print as part of The Devil DeVere : Vol I Anthology

REVIEWED AT ROMANTIC HISTORICAL LOVERS:

Ok, first off, I’m going to only write ONE review in favor of all four parts for The Devil DeVere series because they all link together, and must be read chronologically. Also, each section is a tight serial, novellas under 150 pages, which is one of the points that kept me from giving the entire series a five star rating.

Now, let’s move on to the star of the series and all around bad boy who is a force of nature in between the pages and the sheets.

Imagine meeting a good-looking, rakehell aristo who’s an interesting combo of modern day rock star and Lucifer’s bastard offspring, whose lawful name is Viscount Ludovic DeVere; yet, is known to all and sundry as “the Devil DeVere”. Now place this larger than life character in a series that features him as the catalyst to a variety of kooky, romantic, and lusty scenarios, and what we have is Victoria Vane’s The Devil DeVere series, parts 1-4.

DeVere’s supporting role held me captive for a stint of two and half days of steady reading. Thankfully, there will be more to come. It was interesting to see what happened to this wicked, debauched man, who had enough love, loyalty, and honor to make you question why he was ever called, “Devil”.

Ahem, well no, I take that back. Once you see him in action, there is NO question about it, and yet, he’s all the more amusing and lovable. After all, DeVere is a product of his time, heritage, and status. The fact that he’s capable of true feeling is what sold me from the start.

DeVere’s character brings to mind Dangerous Liaisons’ Valmont crossed with George Gordon, Lord Byron, mixed with a liberal dash of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. He is introduced in Victoria Vane’s first novella, A Wild Night’s Bride, which has him gallivanting around Regency England with his respectable best friend, Sir Edward Chambers, widower and father to 18-year-old Vesta.

Edward, or “Ned” as he is called, is in town on business and has been celibate for three long years, grieving for his wife. DeVere is appalled at Ned’s self-imposed, monkish behavior and bulldozes him into going to an infamous brothel. Ned encounters desperate, soon-to-be unemployed actress, Phoebe Scott aka Kitty Willis, who is shopping for a protector. With DeVere involved, an uneventful night escalades into a fiasco bordering on treason. What I appreciated most was when all the revelations started tumbling out of the paneling.

Phoebe and Ned are darling, sweet, and passionately carnal without aid, yet DeVere’s presence, along with his uninhibited self-absorption, keep things lively and humorous. For some reason, Ned reminded me of Tim Tebow and Phoebe was Jessica Simpson. Hey, don’t look at me. It works for the comedic element that Ms. Vane skillfully wields throughout the plot, and the entire night is inventive and original. This author knows and loves her subject matter in terms of delving into the historical research, from the setting to the social mores of the ton, which made A Wild Night’s Bride most endearing from page one. The additional notes were just icing on this saucy series.

Pros: What made this series awesome was: the insightful characterization, excellent historical research and effective, non-fussy details, bold, witty dialogue and the fun- loving plot. Oh, whatever! Ludovic DeVere is who makes this series rawk!! Along with the clean, crisp writing and ingenuity, Ms. Vane can do no wrong with Devil DeVere on the scene.

Cons: In A Wild Night’s Bride, I wanted Phoebe to gain closure for what happened to her in the past. I wasn’t pleased with the outcome, and yes, it was realistic, yet, still felt like a betrayal to me and the character. Although Phoebe is rewarded with a big, well-deserved HEA, my back was up at how she was left hanging. The true villain should have gotten a little stab through the gut—or something, if symbolically. *shrug* Well, at least I know what lies in the future of the cad. This dissatisfaction was the second reason why A Wild Night’s Bride got four stars from me.

Verily, I would have to say my favorites are the stories (THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and THE DEVIL’S MATCH) that directly involve DeVere and the special lady of his past, the beautiful Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley, who is —looks only, not personality—an auburn-haired Kate Winslet, January Jones, or Ava Gardner physical type when I visualize her. I’m still working on DeVere, who I keep picturing as Stuart Townsend –I know, I know, visions of Lestat/Dorian Gray—or a dark version of Tom Hiddleston. Shades of Avengers’ Loki, go figure!

This is a series you don’t want to miss. It’s deliciously spontaneous, elegantly stylish with loads of lust, brass and sass from an author who knows what she’s doing and loves her characters while she’s getting it all done. Especially DeVere; there’s a shipload of adoration for this Byronic rogue. I guarantee when you take on The Devil DeVere series, Ms. Vane’s passion will consume you.

** This book is available for a limited time as a free download in all digital formats from BREATHLESS PRESS **

THE DEVIL DEVERE SERIES (This series is tightly connected and should be read in order) Click titles for blurbs and excerpts:

A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE (Book #1)

THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS (Book#2)

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW (Book #3)

THE DEVIL’S MATCH (Book #4)

REVIEWER BIO

I’ve been reviewing online, on and off, for over three years, and was first introduced to historical romance by an older schoolmate. Ever since then, I’ve been sinking my eyeballs into ye auld bodice rippers (Susan Johnson, Kathleen E. Woodwiss, Bertrice Small), Regency Classics (Georgette Heyer, Gayle Buck), Golden Authors, such as my favorite, Jane Austen, and current authors (Lisa Kleypas, Lesley-Anne McLeod, Victoria Vane). The historical periods I enjoy most are: Regency, Restoration and Renaissance England, “ancient” Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa.

Paranormal, dark fantasy, sci-fi and urban thrillers are always on my reading shelves. Tanith Lee, Michelle Marquis/Lindsey Bayer, Anne Bishop, Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh are favorites of these genres. Nonfiction reading involves self-improvement, multiculturalism, fashion, art history, and biographies.

Quality time is spent with family/friends, studying languages/cultures, exercising, traveling, cooking, and shopping. Music taste is eclectic; movies are foreign and stuff like The Avengers. Work keeps me busy, so I’m a spa junkie.

Life is love and books. Lots and lots of both equate happiness.

Filed under: A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, BOOK REVIEWS, GEORGIAN ENGLAND, NOVELLAS, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S MATCH, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS

FACT OR FICTION by Victoria Vane

From my Guest blog and giveaway at LOVE SAVES THE WORLD

Although I was asked to write about five things not commonly known about Georgian England, I have decided to narrow it down to five obscure facts you probably didn’t realize were true from THE DEVIL DEVERE SERIES.

#1 The Otaheitian Feast of Venus

FACT:  Charlotte Hayes was one of the leading brothel keepers of her day and her establishment at King’s Place was one of the premier pleasure houses. In the twilight of her long career Mrs. Hayes did indeed sponsor such an event in which three and twenty guest comprising “the first of nobility in addition to some baronets and but five commoners.” The formal invitations read:

Mrs. Hayes presents her most respectful compliments to Lord —

and takes liberty to acquaint him that tomorrow evening precisely at seven, a dozen beautiful nymphs, unsullied and untainted, and who breath health and nature will perform he celebrated rites of Venus, as practiced at Otaheite, under the instruction and tuition of  Queen Oberea in which character Mrs. Hayes will appear on this occasion.

In A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, DeVere accepts this invitation thinking it the ideal opportunity to bring his grieving and celibate best friend Ned back to “the land of the living.”

 

#2   The Prince of Wales’ affair with actress Mary Robinson

18-year-oldPrince George (later Georve IV)  truly did have an affair with actress Mary Robinson after seeing her perform as Perdita. According to Mary Robinson’s memoirs:

The prince offered Mary a bond of 20,000 pounds (to be paid upon his majority) after which she became his mistress. The affair lasted for about a year but the bond was never paid. Abandoned by her lover with no provision and with her reputation in tatters, Mary threatened to publish his love letters. Wishing to avoid a scandal, the king himself offered her a quiet settlement to the tune of about 5,000 pounds. The deal was negotiated by her then lover, Charles James Fox. This bit of gossip is exchanged between Phoebe and Peg, the Covent Garden wardrobe mistress, in A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE. 

 

#3 Prinny’s (later George IV) habit of collecting locks of hair from all of his lovers.

Throughout his life, George IV had many mistresses, and is said to have cut a lock of hair from each one, placing it in an envelope with her name on it. Supporting the rumor, an astonishing 1000 such envelopes were discovered upon his death.  In A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, Phoebe holds the dubious distinction of having donated the first lock of hair.

 

#4   General John Burgoyne as a popular playwright

Although Burgoyne was a career soldier and politician, had he not played a prominent role in the American War of Independence, Burgoyne would most likely be remembered today as a leading Georgian dramatist. 

Best known for his role in the American War of Independence in which he suffered defeat at Saratoga, he was never truly enamored of either politics or the military. Referred to by his contemporaries as “Gentleman Johnny,” he was very much a man of fashion who enjoyed the theatre world. Upon his retirement he wrote a number of plays.The most notable were The Maid of the Oaks (1783) and The Heiressand may have co-authored The Camp with  Richard Brinsley Sheridan, as well as writing the libretti for William Jackson’s only successful opera, The Lord of the Manor. He also wrote a highly successful version of Richard Coeur de Lion for the Drury Lane Theatre. In THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS Lord DeVere offers Vesta and Diana his box at the Drury Lane for a performance of Burgoyne’s Maid of The Oaks. 

#5 The ignoble Baron Baltimore

The story of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore as relayed by DeVere in THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, is largely factual. Baltimore was a profligate nobleman whose life was rife with scandal. He indeed travelled to the east and acquired a private harem. He was suspected of murdering his wife, although never formally accused. He was indeed tried for the abduction and rape of a young Quaker woman named Sarah Woodcock, who kept a milliner’s shop at Tower Hill. Although acquitted, the scandal forced him to go abroad where he died in Italy at the age of 39.

 

 

Filed under: 18TH CENTURY CUSTOMS,MANNERS, ETIQUETTE, GEORGIAN ENGLAND

AUTHOR INTERVIEW AT COFFEETIME ROMANCE

Welcome Victoria Vane to Coffee Time Romance & More’s Interview Hot Seat. Grab yourself some of our magic brew and get ready to tell us everything… First of all, I am delighted beyond words to see you here and excited to discover more about you and your wonderful work. In fact, I’m smiling as I’m preparing this as there is such charismatic energy and fun in your work, just reading any of your, blurbs, excerpts, and review ratings are a charge.

*rubbing hands together*

Let’s begin with a few questions about The Devil DeVere and then we’ll get a little more personal. Please don’t feel you have to answer everything, just what you feel comfortable with. Did you ever expect your books to be so popular and receive such great reader response when you first started writing?

VV: Did I expect? No. Did I hope? Absolutely! I think every writer dreams that their work will find an appreciative audience, but sometimes it’s just a matter of striking the right chord at the right time. The Devil DeVere series seems to have done just that. The readers have been struck by the originality of the series, as well as by the amount of story and character development that I have packed into each novella, and fans of the series are ravenous for more!

Can you introduce us to your hero and heroine in The Devil Devere? What makes them tick?

VV: The Devil DeVere series is comprised of four novellas featuring six characters: In A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, the hero is Sir Edward “Ned” Chambers, a grieving widowing who has lived three years in self-imposed celibacy and Phoebe Scott, stage alias Kitty Willis, a struggling actress in need of a protector. The third main character is Ned’s best friend the meddlesome and machinating “Devil” DeVere who features prominently in every story.

In THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, the hero is DeVere’s younger brother, the world weary and battle scarred Captain Hew. who is noble and upright and his brother’s opposite in every way.The heroine of the story is Ned Chamber’s 18-year-old daughter Vesta, spoiled and willful but passionate and full of life. She is the perfect cure for Hew who seems to be growing old and staid before his time.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and THE DEVIL’S MATCH both feature DeVere and Diana, two deeply caring and passionate people who never show their true faces to the world. Theirs is a highly complex story that took two books to tell. While Diana and DeVere do NOT find their happily ever after in TDYK, I could not do them justice by telling their history as backstory. Instead, I chose to write two books.

What character in your books do you relate to the most?

VV: I relate well to both Vesta and Diana. Vesta is reckless and impetuous and gets into some pretty madcap escapades. I confess I was much the same at her age! (For example, at age 17 while an exchange student in Finland, I hitch-hiked to the arctic circle . It was December!) In my maturity, I relate very much more to Diana, a woman who cares about those close to her and tries to do the right thing at all times, although Diana lives in a time that is highly restrictive to women.

Are any of your own fantasies in The Devil DeVere?

VV: Absolutely! But I will never confess which ones!

Click for full interview

 

Filed under: Uncategorized

Some Very Grown Up Fairy Tales by Victoria Vane

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I have a confession to make. At soon to be forty eight years old, I have yet to outgrow my childhood obsession with fairy tales. As a painfully shy child, reading was my much-coveted escape from reality, and even from the age of seven or eight, I sought this escape through the kind of stories where prince charming places a glass slipper on the abused step-daughter Cinderella, awakens Sleeping Beauty with a kiss, or gallops in on his gleaming white charger to rescue Rapunzel from her tower; for what are fairy tales if not the ultimate romance? 

And now as a historical romance writer, I feel it is both my onus and my honor to craft a very adult kind of fairy tale, one in which all of my characters find their soul mates, and live happily ever after. But in fairy tales, this pairing often requires the assistance of a fairy godmother. In my first erotic romance novella, A BREACH OF PROMISE, that role is filled by Lady Russell, the mother of the exceedingly reluctant groom. 

A BREACH OF PROMISE Excerpt:

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 “Ah, my youngest son condescends to visit his neglected mother at last,” Lady Russell scolded while tilting her head for the kiss Marcus planted on her cheek.“Visit? I was under the distinct impression you’d issued a summons. Ouch!” he exclaimed as the smart flick of her fan connected with his wrist.

“Don’t be cheeky.” Ignoring his scowl, Lady Russell simply patted the seat on the silk-damask sofa. “Sit with me, Marcus. We must talk.”

“You mean, you must talk and I must listen,” he amended with a sardonic curve of his lips.

“Quite so, dearest,” she said. Marcus had no sooner flipped his coat skirts to sit before Lady Russell turned to fully face her son. “Marcus, you are a fool.”

Having long been his mother’s favorite, the remark came as something of a shock. “An auspicious beginning,” he remarked dryly. “And dismaying to my illusion that the world at large considers me a man of parts.”

“Wicked boy.” She pursed her lips. “You know very well I’m speaking of Lydia. Your betrothal was perfectly arranged years ago to the ideal girl. It confounds me how you have managed to botch it all up!”

“While I confess I’ve been remiss—”

“Remiss! The girl has not laid eyes on you but once since your betrothal party! You’ve been positively nonexistent! How could you be so careless and insensitive?”

“What was left for me to do, Mama? You had already quite taken the burden of finding a wife off my shoulders.”

 “Nevertheless, after I sowed the garden, you failed to tend it.”

“You already know I am resolved to make amends. ‘Tis why I have brought her here.”

“You seem to think this will be easily fixed, but I begin to doubt your success. How do you expect to go on with Lydia, to win her over?”

“Win? Why should I have to win what is already mine?”

“Was yours—for the losing. By sheer negligence you have alienated her affections, and now must work to win them back.”

Marcus laughed outright. “I daresay that shan’t be much of a challenge. Don’t fret, Mama. All shall be smoothed over anon. I’ll humble myself and charm her. She’ll be beside herself with all the attention I flourish upon her.”

“Marcus. You don’t understand. The girl has character.”

“Character?” Marcus winced. “Is it as bad as all that? Why is it all girls with no claim to pulchritude positively brim with character?”

Lady Russell stared at him for a moment. “You are monstrous!” Marcus warily watched the fan, but she flipped it open only to cool herself. “In no way does Lydia want for looks. She is an exceedingly handsome girl.”

“Of course she is.” His expression belied his words.

“I doubt she’ll have you now anyway. And it serves you right.” The ubiquitous fan snapped shut in emphasis.

Marcus gave a condescending smirk. “Mama, she’ll be eating out of my hand before the night is over.”

***

In the first two novellas of my Devil DeVere series, the role of fairy godmother is usurped by the most unlikely of people— the meddling, machinating, devil himself, Viscount Ludovic DeVere.

In A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, DeVere has made it his mission to bring his best friend Ned out three years of mourning and self-imposed celibacy.

 

A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE Excerpt:

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DeVere, on the other hand, evinced no such qualms. He had already loosened his cravat and was stripping off his coat.

“As I said earlier, there is no need,” Phoebe insisted. “A couple of buttons and a raised petticoat are all the business requires.”

“How delightfully unromantic you are, my dear!” he chuckled. “But while most men would be charmed to comply with your simple wishes, I have quite another game in mind. One that most definitely requires you to disrobe.”

“But what if I don’t want to?”

“Oh but you will,” he said with a smug smile.

She glared. “You are very sure of yourself!”

He studied his buffed fingernails. “I am sure of Ned. Thus, we must put on a convincing show.”

Her brows came together in a deep scowl. “What do you mean? What has Ned to do with this?”

“Everything. And at any moment, I expect him to burst through that door like a raging bull.”

Phoebe looked from DeVere to the door, and her mouth dropped. “But why would he do that? What on earth are you up to?”

DeVere’s eyes gleamed with suppressed mirth. “Because this entire evening has been a dismal failure, I am now pressed to take extreme measures. For you and I, my pet, are about to bring my dear friend, Ned, back to the living.”

***

 

In THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, the devil DeVere is in reality the heroine’s godfather, and is thus ideally suited for his role:

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“Must I have a reason?” she said. “You are my godfather, after all.”

He chuckled long and hard. “No my dear, reasons are only for those beings with inferior understanding.”

She brightened. “I just knew we would be of one accord.”

“Did you now? We have found but one topic in which we agree. Am I to believe there are others?”

“Undoubtedly,” Vesta exclaimed.

“Do you care to elaborate? Although it probably is best not to be seen alone in my company, why were you so insistent on avoiding Hyde Park?”

“Because they must not know I have spoken with you.”

“They?”

“Aunt Di and Captain Hew.”

“Ah,” he nodded. “And why is this?”

“Because they would neither understand nor approve.”

“Of you speaking with me?”

“No, of what I speak to you about.”

“And that topic would be?”

“Aunt Di and Captain Hew.”

“Ah, but of course.”

“It’s all wrong, don’t you see?” Vesta said. “Aunt Di is lovely but she’s far too old.”

“For Captain Hew, you mean?”

“Indeed I do! And she has already been married once! Should she not give others a chance? It’s only fair after all.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“And Captain Hew, he is far too distracted by her.”

“That he sees nothing… or no one else?”

“Precisely! I knew you of all people would understand.”

“So what do you propose as an answer to this dilemma?”

Vesta wrinkled her brow “I haven’t quite decided. ‘Tis why I seek your advice. I first thought about asking her to return home, as it is my father’s house after all, but then who would I have to chaperone me? Polly couldn’t do so.”

“Polly?”

“My maid. Well, she’s only a borrowed maid to begin with. So you see why that wouldn’t answer at all.”

“No, borrowed maids are always an inferior lot.”

“Even if I found my own abigail, she still wouldn’t be an appropriate chaperone, so you see why I can’t send Diana home.”             “Indeed, I do. Have you another solution?”

“I do but it’s a thorny one.” She gave him a sidelong glance. “It would require the assistance of one with considerable resources, one who might be in harmony with my proposal.”

“Go on, my dear,” he urged.

“It’s simple really. If Diana cannot be sent home, then Captain Hew must be taken away from her. It’s the only way as I see it. And it’s purely for his own good.”

“Then you have only my brother’s best interests at heart?”

“Of course I do, godfather!”

“And that would be…”

“Because I love him.”

“You are in love with Hew.”

“Madly. Desperately. Passionately.”

“Does my brother know of his good fortune? Does he share your sentiments, Lady Vesta?”

“But how can he when he is blinded by her?” her voice quivered, “When he hasn’t even had a chance to look in my direction?”

“So in truth, you seek only to enlighten him of the treasure that lies under his very nose?”

 ”Yes! Do you not see that this is the only way?”

“But of course I see, my pet.”

 ”Then you will help me?” Vesta asked with the wide-eyed look that always worked with Papa. She was unsure how to read the twitch of her godfather’s mouth until he turned a brilliant smile upon her.

“My dear, should I search the world over, I can’t imagine finding a more perfect match for my revoltingly straight-laced brother, Hew. Moreover, I have considerable, some would even say nearly infinite resources, all of which I am willing to unwaveringly place at your disposal.”

 ** Sometimes cupid needs a little help!**

What is your favorite fairy tale?
Please leave a meaningful comment below with name and email for my giveaway of (10) e-copies of either
A BREACH OF PROMISE or A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE (reader’s choice)

 

Filed under: A BREACH OF PROMISE, A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS

An Interview with Victoria Vane By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio

Link: http://www.theromancestudio.com/blue/who8.php

HH: Thank you for talking with us at TRS.

VV:Thank you so very much for having me!

HH: Your featured book is The Devil’s Match and is part of your fantastic Devil DeVere series. First, what can you tell us about the series’ origins?

VV: The DEVIL DEVERE Â series began as a single romantic comedy novella, A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, Â that was largely inspired by the 2009 film, THE HANGOVER. After watching the movie on DVD, I thought how fun it would be to write something similar but set in the very bawdy Georgian Era. Adding to this idea was the incorporation of a shockingly real Otaheitian Feast of Venus that took place at Charlotte Hayes’ Kings Place brothel in the late 1760′s. I thought it would be the perfect setting for my erotic romantic comedy adventure.

What changed everything, however, was the introduction of Ned Chamber’s rakish sidekick, Viscount Ludovic ”Devil” DeVere. I think every writer dreams of creating characters who are larger than life, those so strong and intriguing that they can carry an entire series and DeVere, became all that and more. I never knew that one story would become two, and then three, and then four, all because of DeVere.

HH: What can you tell us about the first three books in the series?

VV: All four novellas are very tightly connected. Although they technicallycan stand alone, they really shouldn’t, because so very much is lost- especially regarding DeVere whose true nature is slowly revealed by layers in the combined stories. I actually wrote the series so that one novella leads directly into the next to read much like a serial novel.

Although A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE and THE VIRGIN HUNTRESSare both romantic comedies the tone is uniquely different in each. Both are very funny but AWNB is pretty wild, whereas TVH would be considered sweetly sexy. And while not the hero of either of these books, DeVere is an absolutely integral part of both, as all six characters in the series connect through this deliciously debauched master manipulator.

The third book, THE DEVIL YOU KNOWis where everything takes a 180. The tone is no longer comedic, but darkly erotic with elements of mystery and intrigue. This book is part one of Diana and DeVere’s two part story and where the reader really begins to see what makes DeVere tick. It’s absolutely fascinating!

HH: How does The Devil’s Match continue it?

VV: I have already revealed that DeVere’s story is done in two parts. It’s the only way I could do justice to it, as the history between Diana and DeVere is as complex as the man himself! I just couldn’t write it all as back story. It deserved to stand on its own. THE DEVIL’S MATCH reunites Diana and DeVere through Hew and Vesta from THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS. Ned and Phoebe also make an appearance. Thus, the final book serves to tie all four novellas together with a nice neat bow.

HH: What do you like best about DeVere and why will readers love him?

VV: DeVere is absolutely fabulous. Intelligent, witty, and debauched, he is the rake of all rakes and poor Diana doesn’t stand a chance! Here are a few snippets from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW:

(Diana meets DeVere)

“Baroness.” The timbre of his voice, the curve of his lips, was fraught with meaning, sending a jolt of heat to a place low in her belly. He gave a shallow bow that set his gaze on a horizontal plane with her breasts and lingered there much longer than proper, his eyes flickering like a blue flame. Her nipples tightened, contracting against her layers of muslin and silk, sending a tiny tremor rippling over her. Without having uttered a word beyond her name, the portentous weight of an indecent proposition hung between them.

(later that night)

“Should you later grow chilly, dear lady, you need only whisper the word, and I shall command every hearth in this monstrosity be lit. I would rather set my entire house aflame than cover such a magnificent… ” His gaze raked over Diana’s bosom with an appreciative gleam. “… gown.”

(the seduction)

She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell her budding arousal and would relish bringing her to full bloom. God, how he loved this dance! She had taken the first tentative steps, yet she still fought her desire, refused to give in to it, but he would lead her now. He was a master… and a ruthless bastard.

HH: What do you like best about Diana and why do you think readers will relate to her?

VV: I tried very hard to make Diana a woman of her time, but not a doormat. She is strong, dutiful, and loving, but has never known the love that she so desperately craves. This makes her entirely vulnerable to such an unprincipled rake as DeVere. In THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, she comes out on the losing end, a mistake she is not about to repeat in THE DEVIL’S MATCH.

“And what would you know of my wants and desires after four years?”

“A great deal.” He gave her a slow, confident smile. “Given that I was the one to unleash them.”

Diana averted her face with a bitter laugh. “Thus you presume to have an exclusive claim to me?”

“Has any other exerted one?” he asked softly. You are still unwed, Diana. Have you taken another lover in my absence?”

“It is none of your business whether I have or not, and you are grossly impertinent to ask.”

He laughed long and low. “I think I have my answer.”

Suddenly his mouth was on hers, taking, possessing, as if it was, indeed, his singular privilege. Diana leaned into him, teasing his lower lip with her tongue and sucking it eagerly into her mouth before sinking her teeth into it. Hard. Savoring the coppery taste of his blood.

“What the hell!” DeVere jerked back with a cry. He touched his lip and examined the crimson stain on his fingertip, his expression a mix of outrage and bemusement.

“You took without invitation,” Diana said. “It was a warning not to do so again.”

HH: What makes you this series stand out amongst fierce competition?

VV: It is truly unique in every way — the historical details and my distinctive writing voice are both very true to the Georgian period, the sophisticated humor, the over-the-top characters, the witty dialogue, the way the novellas are woven together, and last but most certainly not least, the scorching- hot- turn-up-the-air-conditionerloves scenes!

HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers?

VV: I have several projects underway. I have just completed my first full-length novel for Entangled’s new Scandalous historical imprint. It is a dark and erotic romance that is in a sense, an homage to the romantic novels of the 18th century which centered on the battle between virtue and vice, largely using seduction. It should be released February 2013. I am also working on a paranormal (timeslip) erotic romance with elements of mystery set in the Victorian era. After that, who knows?

HH: What goals have you set for yourself at this point in your career?

VV: My goal is for readers to always expect the unexpected from me! I want to write what I love and surprise them every time!

HH: What do you enjoy reading?

VV: Anything with both strong history and romance (all sub-genres and heat levels). I am the group moderator for Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/33864 and also the creator/blog mistress for the Romantic Historical Lovers book review blog. http://romantichistoricallovers.wordpress.comIn both of these forums, I actively seek out and promote books and authors who strike the perfect balance between history and romance in all the historical sub-genres.

HH: What are you most looking forward to before the year’s end?

VV: A significant payoff for my dedication, discipline, and really hard work! In truth, I have worked my little tail off in the past ten months. I have already written a total of 250,000 words and the year is not yet over. I believe in the Devil DeVere series with my whole being. I’ve offered a series that is refreshing and unique, both sexy and sold and unlike anything else out there. Now I just hope to find my readers!

HH: Thank you!

Filed under: A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, BOOK PROMOTION, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S MATCH, THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS