Pages

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Taking a Rosy View of Things!


by Anna Campbell

I have a new release this month. Hooray!

So I thought I'd celebrate with a GIVEAWAY here!

DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES is being billed as Sons of Sin 1.5 (love that!). It's an e-novella featuring Lydia, the Duke of Sedgemoor's younger sister, and her childhood sweetheart Simon.

Even better, it's available at all the usual suspects like Amazon and Barnes and Noble for the BARGAIN price of 99 cents!

By the way, don't you just adore that cover? 

Here's the blurb:

Lady Lydia Rothermere has spent the past decade trying to make up for a single, youthful moment of passion. Now the image of propriety, Lydia knows her future rests on never straying outside society's rigid rules; but hiding away the desire that runs through her is harder than she could have ever dreamed. Now as Lydia prepares for a marriage that will suit her family, but not her heart, Lydia must decide what's more important: propriety or passion?

Simon Metcalf is a rake and adventurer. But for all his experience, nothing can compare to the kiss he stole from the captivating Lydia Rothermere ten years ago. Simon can scarcely believe he's about to lose the one woman he's never forgotten. The attraction between them is irresistible, yet Lydia refuses to forsake her engagement. With his heart on the line, will Simon prove that love is a risk worth taking?
You can read an excerpt here: http://annacampbell.info/daysofrakes.html

The events in the novella take place before those in SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED (Sons of Sin 1) so Jonas is still in curmudgeon mode and Sidonie hasn't yet appeared in the characters' lives. But we get to see quite a bit of Sir Richard Harmsworth, the hero of Sons of Sin 2, A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS, which is out on 27th August. And we get to see even more of Camden Rothermere, the Duke of Sedgemoor, a man who is the subject of my current writerly crush.

Prior to writing DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES, I had only written one reunion story (my e-novella THE WINTER WIFE), although as a reader, I love them. There's something really life-affirming about giving two people a second chance when either fate or their own mistakes have separated them.

In Simon and Lydia's case, her ambitious father is to blame for breaking them up in the first place, but ten years apart and Lydia's recent engagement make for a stormy homecoming for our wandering rake. Scandal has shadowed the Rothermere family and Lydia has learned through bitter experience to toe the line - can she risk everything to follow her heart? And is the man she fell in love with so many years ago worthy of her trust? After so long apart, he should be merely a handsome stranger.

How does it work out for our two star-crossed lovers? You'll have to read the story to find out!

So are you a fan of reunion romances? Do you have a favorite? 

I've got a download of DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES for one commenter today. If an international reader wins, for reasons of geographical restrictions, the prize is your choice from my indie novellas, THESE HAUNTED HEARTS or THE WINTER WIFE.

19 comments:

Annie West said...

Hi Anna,

Don't put me in the draw as I've already read your latest novella - what a treat! Loved it!

As for reunion stories - how about 'Random Harvest'? The story is over the top but still it works. Greer Garson working as secretary to her husband after he's lost his memory and doesn't remember their marriage is so moving!

Pat Cochran said...

I do enjoy reunion/second-time-around
stories very much. I hadn't thought of
Random Harvest, since it was a while
back, but it does fit. I was thinking
along the lines of Winter Wife since it
was the last of that type that I read.

Pat C.

Anna Campbell said...

Annie, that was one of my mum and dad's favorite movies. It's SOOOO romantic, isn't it? And so much emotion. I agree that the story is over the top but it's in that chuck your heart over a cliff romantic way that nearly always works for me if it's sincere. Greer Garson was lovely in it and Ronald Colman made such a wonderful suave hero! Must try and see it again. And thanks for saying you enjoyed DORAR!

Anna Campbell said...

Ha ha, I hear that Winter Wife is a FAAAAAAABULOUS read, Pat! LOL! Yeah, seem to have reunions on my mind at the moment. Thanks for swinging by!

girlygirlhoosier52 said...

I do so love reunions... and a huge fan of Greer Garson!

Beautiful Disaster said...

I really enjoy reading about love reunions. I don't know that I have a fave but one I've read recently is Lisa Kleypas' Again the Magic.
Thanks :-)
Lori

lorih824 at yahoo dot com

Anna Campbell said...

Girlygirl, my mum was a huge Greer Garson fan - Mrs. Miniver and Blossoms in the Dust were her two faves although she loved Valley of Decision too. She really was a beautiful woman, wasn't she?

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Lori! You can't go wrong with Lisa K. I recently read her Blue-Eyed Devil and loved it! It's a sort of reunion story too.

erin said...

I love reunion romances :) one of my favs is Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas. Congrats on the newest release!!!!

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks, Erin. There's something magical about that second chance, isn't there? Thanks for swinging by!

Cathy P said...

Hi, Anna!

I love reunion stories, but can't think of a favorite right now.

kscathyATyahooDOTcom

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Cathy! So glad you're another fan of the reunion story theme. Actually I think a lot of romance readers are. We like to think people can get their happy ending, even if it's slightly delayed by fate!

Barbara E. said...

The second chance at love is my favorite trope. I've read a lot of wonderful stories with that theme, but the ones that I thought of first are Sherry Thomas' Private Arrangements and Eloisa James' This Duchess of Mine (Desperate Duchesses #5).

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Anna Campbell said...

Great examples, Barbara! Yeah, it's one of my favorites too. Got a shock when I realized I'd never written one before The Winter Wife. Although at a stretch you could call CTC a reunion story - of sorts!

Linda said...

Yes I do like reunion romances. Nice to read of a second chance at love. Then there's all the history behind the relationship.

Lory Lee said...

I've read a few "reunion romances" but my latest are Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane and Courting His Countess by C.J. Archer, both are good, promising and delicious! :)



Anna Campbell said...

Hi Linda! Yeah, I think there's a richness to the relationship when there's all that history. Thanks for swinging by!

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Lory! Lovely to see you! C.J. Archer is great, isn't she? Nice girl too! I haven't read Victoria Vane. Must check her out.

Anna Campbell said...

Thanks so much, everybody, for a lovely day talking about reunion romances and my new novella DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES.

Congratulations to Lori/Beautiful Disaster who's the winner of the download. Lori, I've contacted you privately with details of your prize. Happyr eading.