Firstly let me say a big thank you to Happily Ever After Thoughts for hosting me today. It’s such a thrill to be here!
My name is Grace Elliot and I lead a double life; as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Like many authors I came to writing through my love of books, and I write what I love to read – historical romance.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a veterinarian but it’s not all fluffy kittens and some days are hard, real hard, such as saying goodbye to a much loved pet – so what I need in a good read is escapism, and historical romance has that by the carriage load!
Curling up with a Regency romance, I find myself suspending disbelief. How much easier to believe my regency alter ego can waltz provocatively, or calm a bolting hunter, than my bumbling 21st century self.
Heck, I don’t want to read about the real world I’m trying to forget, take me back to when men rode stallions but couldn’t handle emotion.
Lord Ranulf denies his attraction. (From A Dead Man’s Debt.)
Every fiber of his body screamed to reach out and hold her hand, and yet he resisted. Never had he encountered a woman as dangerous as Celeste; her hair in a tousled plait and eyes all the colors of the sea. And yet it wasn’t her physical beauty but her honesty and trust that was bewitching. For the first time he could almost believe that he’d found a kindred spirit. His fingers tightened on the tumbler. He was staring and yet he couldn’t help himself. An inner voice warned him off. She deserved better than him.
And then there’s something about the Regency. Perhaps it those gowns, wonderfully impractical and yet so alluring with their tiny bodices and puff sleeves. And let’s not forget chaperones! How resourceful did the regency heroine need to be to snare her dark lord under the eye of a chaperone? And then of course there’s the bone tingling romance – how something long denied is so exciting….
Ranulf finds Celeste in his arms. (From A Dead Man’s Debt.)
But then she tipped her head back and he glimpsed the curiosity in her eyes. Acting purely out of animal instinct he tilted her chin to gaze deeper into those mossy eyes. Gladly she arched toward him, pressing the length of her body against his rising need. He brushed his thumb over her lips. With a soft groan she strained upwards, inviting the touch of his mouth against hers. He drew back, trying to distance himself from the responsive femininity pressed against his chest. That he desired Miss Armitage he did not doubt, and yet he held back and the reason puzzled him; more than propriety, more shocking than that… he liked her.
Ok, so if I’m totally honest, I’d hate to live in the Regency – I’m far too fond of hot and cold running water…but that’s where historicals come in: I can dream …and I hope you will to!
Grace
- A story of sacrifice, pain and redeeming love, against a backdrop of blackmail and family duty.
‘Celeste Armitage has a plan…and that plan doesn’t include marriage.
After deliberately humiliating a suitor, Celeste’s despairing parents exile her to the country. But once there she discovers a sketch book of daring nude studies and is shaken to find the artist is her hostess’s eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing. This darkly cynical lord is exactly the sort of dissipated rogue she despises most…if only her blood didn’t heat at the thought of him…
Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf’s life is a façade. Only he can save the Charing’s from disgrace as a blackmailer tries to ruin his late brother’s reputation. But just as Ranulf dares to open his heart to Celeste, the fury of his nemesis is unleashed… facing him with the stark choice between true love and family duty. However when Celeste guesses the truth behind his rejection, Ranulf underestimates her resolve to clear his name and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger….’
A Dead Man’s Debt is available from most eBook retailers, Amazon Kindle bookstore and http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/a-dead-man%27s-debt.html
If you would like to know more about Grace Elliot and her work visit:
http://www.graceelliot.webs.com/
or
http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/
I love this book already and I haven’t even read it yet! Thank you, Grace, for sharing a little of yourself and your book with our readers. I hope you will come back and visit us again.
Alexis
Grace,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I agree completely with your statements. Regency romances are my favorite form of escape.... However, it is the fantasy of the Regency that I love, I'm fairly positive that I would not care for the reality at all. Your book, on the other hand, does sound enticingly like something I would enjoy reading:) Thanks for sharing.
Smiles,
Teresa
I agree with Teresa. There is something so civilized about regencies. They remind me of the Courtly Love of Eleanor of Aquitaine fame. BTW I'm a big cat lover myself. Can't live with them, can't live without them :-)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Grace. I can understand why you like writing Regencies. I also like the clothing, which is often not described in terms other than color and volume, but I have this expectation and picture in my mind as I read those books and it's automatic for me and adds to the escape. I also find the genre to be constantly at the edge of naughty, and I love the way they build up to 'the encounter,' even if it's just a kiss.
ReplyDeleteAlexis knows that I'm the mother of Pomeranians, which are as close to a cat as I can get (allergies). You must see a lot of crazy stuff as a Vet. Kudos to you.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Lyndee
Thanks Lyndee, it's lovely to know there is a community of like minded people out there.
ReplyDeleteI'm so lucky I'm not allergic - I dont know what I'd do if I was I'm so addicted to small furry creatures.
A few years ago my husband developed a bad cough and the doctor started edging towards a diagnosis of allergic asthma...to my shame I was wondering if hubby might consider moving into the shed so we could keep the cats...
Grace x
PS Lucky it was a passing virus so moral dilemma avoided!!
That is too funny, Grace. So glad to hear it was just a passing virus for your husband. Mine does have a sneezing fit every night, usually about 14 in a row. He's convinced it's our 14lb angora tuxedo cat's fault, but instead he says he's allergic to me. Isn't that sweet? I think.
ReplyDelete