GUEST AUTHOR: Bronwen Evans

Today I welcome a good friend back to my blog.

New Zealander BRONWEN EVANS loves story-telling – gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is always filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst.

In 2006, encouraged by a close friend battling a deliberating illness, Bronwen finally started down the path to publication by joining RWA, The Beau Monde, RWAustralia and RWNZ.

Bronwen’s first manuscript, INVITATION TO RUIN, was completed late 2009 and was sold by her agent, Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency, to Kensington Publishing early 2010, in a two book deal.

Her debut novel, INVITATION TO RUIN, received a 4.5 star rating from RT Book Reviews and was well received in Publishers Weekly - "Evans's debut Regency is filled with sizzling romance... Strong characterizations, smooth plotting, and plenty of explicit sex will appeal to fans of modern Regencies." (Mar.)

Bron, it's great to have you here. I'm looking forward to finding out what you've been doing since the release of INVITATION TO RUIN - share all the deets!

Hi everyone!

I’m excited to be blogging with my friend, Kylie. She was the first friendly face I met at the RWNZ 2006 conference which started me down the path to becoming an author. I was in awe of her at the time (still am for that matter), for her chest, arms, and just about every other part of her body was covered in writing contest winning ribbons. I thought immediately ‘how do I get one’?

I’ve popped over from New Zealand to introduce you to my sexy, Regency historical, INVITATION TO RUIN, my debut book with Kensington Brava. I’ve exciting news too - Invitation to Ruin is one of the nominees in the RT Reviewer’s Choice, Best First Historical 2011.

Title – INVITATION TO RUIN.
Setting – London, England 1808.
Hero – Anthony James Craven, Earl of Wickham.
Heroine – Miss Melissa Goodly.

Scene you would never cut...

There is a beautiful scene in the book where the hero, Anthony, who believes he is unsuitable for fatherhood, realizes he doesn’t need to fear becoming a father. He learns he would make a great parent and that he’d love and protect his child.

Something your hero or heroine would never do or say...

Melissa would never say ‘I give up’. She believes in fighting for what she wants, and for what is right. She’s a member of the Women’s Freedom League who buys slaves their freedom.

What's one quirky thing about your hero/heroine?

Melissa had elderly parents and no sisters, so she doesn’t know much about ‘married relations’- aka sex. She is not a sit back in ignorance type of woman, so she finds a ‘relationship’ journal written by Madam du Barry, the very successful mistress of the last King of France. Needless to say Anthony had little chance resisting her when she sets out to seduce him.

What do you think the readers will like about this book?

Anthony is a much wounded man and Melissa is a very resilient character. I hope readers like how these two prove they are strong enough to confront their fears, and that they understand how, with the love they receive from each other, they can begin to heal their internal wounds.

I’d like readers to think about how the events of our pasts shape what we are now, and how we have to learn to forgive ourselves and each other.

INVITATION TO RUIN 
One Good Lady is About to Go Bad... 

The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible-and unobtainable-man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.

Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone-and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own...

What's next for you?

Book #2 in this series, INVITATION TO SCANDAL, is due out in April 2012 and I’m hoping Kensington pick up my option for book 3 and 4 in this series. Until then I’m working on a new Regency series for my agent.

About you... 

Favorite movie of all time – Anything with Hugh Jackman in it! Australia is one of my all time faves.

Favorite fairytale – Cinderella.

Favorite story to disappear into – Any historical, or paranormal, or an alpha type hero contemporary. Currently I love all Jennifer Ashley’s historical books – especially The Many Sins of Lord Cameron.

Favorite TV program – At the moment I watch The Mentalist, Bones, Downton Abby and Game of Thrones. I also love The Vampire Diaries but it’s not on in NZ at the moment.

First book you remember reading – Either one of the Enid Blyton, Famous Five or CS. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I loved anything that fed my imagination.

Dog or cat person (or other) – Dog, although allergic to fur of any kind. I can manage dogs like poodles that have wool coats.

Author (living or dead) you'd most like to meet – Barbara Cartland because she was so eccentric. She seemed to be the consummate romance writer. Plus, I love pink!

A romantic retreat for you would be... A night or day or five minutes with Hugh Jackman!

What do you do to unwind or relax? Read or watch TV.

What era would you like to time travel and visit? And why?

The Regency period as that is what I write about, but I’d hate to have lived in those times, especially if I was not an aristocrat.

What does love mean to you?

Finding your soul mate, being best friends and letting love take care of the rest.

Now for the really fun bit - Bron has a book to giveaway!

Tell her what love means to you and one lucky commenter will win a copy of INVITATION TO RUIN.

Bron, it's been great having you drop in again. For those who want to learn more about Bron, you can visit her on her website, her Facebook page, Regency Seductions (her blog), and Twitter.

Oh, and here's a sneak peek at her INVITATION TO SCANDAL blurb:

Her secrets are coming undone...

Plagued by scandalous rumors, Rheda Kerrich will stop at nothing to restore her reputation and make an honest living for herself-and she's determined to do it without a husband. But times are hard, and smuggling is a risky though profitable trade.

So when a dashing agent for the English government catches her in the act, she desperately resists his charms and conceals her illicit profession. Until she realizes he may be the key to her ultimate freedom-and unbridled passion…

Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, has never had trouble beguiling the ladies of Kent. When his search for "Dark Shadow," a cunningly elusive smuggler, leads him to alluring and headstrong Rhe, her objections to his amorous advances merely incite a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. Soon, they'll find the very secrets driving them apart could ensnare them in a love they can't escape… 

"In an Invitation to Scandal, Bronwen Evans deftly pens a darkly sensual tale of intrigue, romance, and unexpected twists." -Lorraine Heath, NYTimes Best-selling author & RITA® Award winner 

"A sexy Regency take on Robin Hood. Passion, adventure, secrets and danger will keep you turning the pages." - Anna Campbell, Midnights Wild Passion 

For an excerpt, click here. 

INVITATION TO SCANDAL will be release May 1st, 2012, with Kensington. Can't wait for it to hit the shelves!