Sunday, November 28, 2010

FEATURE and GIVEAWAY: Duchess of Sin by Laurel McKee



Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin's most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he's suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna's door, she must decide where her loyalties lie-and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan . . . and anyone he dares to love. 


Previous Title: Countess of Scandal

About the Author:

LAUREL McKEE lives in Oklahoma with a menagerie of two cats, a Pug, and a bossy miniature poodle. She loves dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network-even though she doesn't cook. Writing as Amanda McCabe, her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. 


From Laurel McKee: 

Awhile back, I read a book by Paul Collins called Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books that stated that a writer’s characters can no more take over a story than an eggplant can take over a kitchen.  I had to laugh at the image of a bossy eggplant marching into my kitchen (and I sort of wish it could take over in there, because I’m a terrible cook), but I have to disagree about the characters.

Sometimes we’re lucky enough to meet a character who comes so vividly to life in our imagination that their story must be told—and they insist it has to be told their way!  One such character for me was Lady Anna Blacknall.

Anna was the sister of Eliza Blacknall, the heroine of my first “Daughters of Erin” book, Countess of Scandal.  When I started writing that first novel, I knew Anna would have her own story, but I wasn’t sure yet what it would be.  Then I really “met” her, and she was so many things that I wish I could be: blond, tall, extroverted, a good card player.  Even worse—she was really nice.  She practically sat down by my desk and told me what her story would be.  I just had to find the right hero for her, and he presented himself as the dark, strong, mysterious Duke of Adair.  A good match for the passionate and rebellious Anna, and the two of them were more than a match for me.  She told me their love story, and I just had to keep up and write it all down just as she wanted.  

Writing Duchess of Sin was a wild ride, and I was so sorry to say goodbye to Anna and Conlan at The End!  (Luckily we’ll see them again in the third book, Lady of Seduction.  You can also find excerpts and historical background on the books at my website, http://laurelmckee.net.)


GIVEAWAY:

Hachette very kindly offers up 5 copies for giveaways! US/Canada only. No P.O. Boxes, please.

Note:

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the title in the mail. 

CONTEST RULES: 

1. Be a follower! (GFC, Facebook, Twitter, TRR review site)
2. Leave a question or a comment for Laurel, who will be dropping by the blog! You must then submit your email address here to enter the contest.

CONTEST ENDS: December 12, 1159 pm EST

CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: December 2010

Winners will be selected randomly by the system. Good luck!

28 comments:

Alexa said...

The cover is beautiful, is it a christmas theme book?

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Oh wow, I love the sound of this book! Ms Laurel, I love that you tease us at the end and tell us that you were sad to see them go, but we will see them in the third book!

Please enter me!
alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

Sorry, I forgot to tell you that I am a GFC!

elaing8 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
elaing8 said...

This does sound like a great book.
I'll have to go check out the first book.

I am a GFC follower
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Amanda McCabe/Amanda Carmack/Laurel McKee said...

Hi everyone! :) Alexa, it definitely has a Christmas setting--I had lots of fun researching historical Christmas traditions and slipping them into the story...

Sissa said...

Oh how awesome. Did you have a particular person in mind when you wrote Anna?

Melissa
jedisakora@msn.com
I am a GFC follower and a facebook follower.

BleuMoon said...

Thank you for the wonderful peak into the story - I am going out tomorrow to buy the first book - I was wondering more about the mysterious duke of Adair -

bleumoon

Martha Lawson said...

Lovely, lovely cover!! The book sounds wonderful.

follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Barb said...

Hi There! I'm a GFC follower, twitter follower and facebook as well! My question for Laurel McKee is: Now that you have published 2 books of this trilogy, which one is your favorite and why?

Teril said...

Yes I agree the cover is wonderful. It would make a nice poster.
My question is that aside from this books beauty and how interesting this book looks; I cannot wait, here comes the question.
What is your favorite sinful dessert. What would be your idea of the most lustful dessert food?
I would think of fresh strawberries and dipped dark chocolate.

Kaya H said...

What is your idea of the most romantic setting music. When you are imagining a romantic moment when you are writing is it piano, a string instrument, a harp? I have become very interested in how music effects mood.

Joann said...

Follow you on GFC!
What is your favorite romance of all time?

throuthehaze said...

This sounds like such a good book, I will have to go out and get the first in the series :)
I am a follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Autumn said...

I love the holly on the cover. Looks like a great holiday book.

I'm a follower

Jane said...

I loved the first book of this series.

I'm a follower.

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I follow on GFC

What books are on YOUR bedside table to read?

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

Sheree said...

Love the bossy eggplant image!

GFC follower
ironss[at]gmail.com

niteofblu said...

Please enter me. I'd love to read this. I'm a GFC follower of blog.

niteofblu at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

If this book were made into a movie, who would you pick to play the main characters.
GFC follower.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jeanne M said...

Laurel's books are always so much fun to read and this one sounds like a not to be put down read.

Please enter me - I'm also a friend on facebook.

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow on GFC, and Laurel, wondering what your favorite Shakespeare play is. :)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Elena Gray said...

This is on my TBR list, so would be great to win it!!


GFC Follower

cbandy10 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I have always admired this author's work and would love to add this book to my winter reading pile. Need to keep warm on these cold winter nights.

Anonymous said...

Hello Laurel! I noticed that you love watching the Food Network... What's your favourite show? I love the Food Network, my fave show is 'Diners Drive-Ins and Dives'...

I'm a public Google Friend under Swedish Mamas. Thanks!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

Meljprincess said...

I'm a Facebook follower (old)

Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

Meljprincess said...

I'm a GFC follower (old)

Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

Meljprincess said...

Hello Laurel,
I can't even begin to tell you how much I want to read DUCHESS.
Would you happen to know if they still make ha'pennys? Thanks!

Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

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