What do you think about climbing into a troika with a gorgeous Russian prince and taking a snowy ride across a moonlit landscape? I have to admit that I found the thought quite appealing, so I made sure that the hero of my next book, BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS, took my heroine on just such a ride.This photo shows a portion of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, but it was also the picture I kept in my inspiration file while I wrote about Prince Alexei Voronov and Paige Barnes. I envisioned Alexei's Russian palace as looking just like this.
I really loved writing about Alexei and Paige! From the explosive moment they first meet, when Alexei is trying to save Paige from a gang of men with questionable intentions, to their troika ride in the snow, to their super-charged love scenes and their confrontations throughout, this book was pure joy for me. These characters were so real. Alexei’s loneliness and heart ache, Paige’s sense of responsibility and Southern upbringing, and the way they learn to forge a life together had me alternately in tears and laughing while writing this book.
This book was originally released in the UK in January under the title PRINCE VORONOV'S VIRGIN. It was the Mills & Boon Book of the Month and spent 6 weeks on the Mills & Boon bestseller list -- 3 of those weeks at #1! I'm so happy it's finally available to my North American readers. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it for you!
‘Kiss me,’ he growled… ‘And make it believable.’
Alone and scared on the dark streets of Moscow, staid, bespectacled Paige Barnes has no choice but to comply with the handsome stranger’s command…
Little does Paige know she’s been rescued by Alexei Voronov—a Russian prince and her boss’s deadliest rival. Now he has Paige unexpectedly in his sights, Alexei is prepared to play emotional Russian roulette to keep her close and discover her true motives. But in his splendid gilded palace his game of chance spins out of control and passion takes over…
It’s only when she’s back home that Paige realises she’s pregnant with the Prince’s baby…
Today, I'll give away a signed copy to one lucky commenter. Since I'm late putting this post up, we'll run the contest through tomorrow. Just leave me a comment and tell me why you'd like to read this book! I've also started a Goodreads Q&A group to talk about this story. You can join here if you like. :) And even if you don't wish to join the group, if you're wondering why I didn't address Soviet history (the effects of Communism on Alexei and his family) in this story, I wrote a post on that here.
UPDATE: The winner of the signed copy is Mary Anne Landers! Mary Anne, email me at lynn AT lynnrayeharris DOT com with your details! Thanks everyone for stopping and talking with me. :)
Lynn Raye Harris is a USA Today bestselling author who writes glamorous, sexy romance for Harlequin Presents. You can learn more about Lynn and her books at http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/. You can also follow Lynn on Twitter @LynnRayeHarris or visit her author page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnRayeHarris
20 comments:
Hi Lynne,
Your Russian prince sounds delicious! What a lovely setting too. And Paige sounds as if she has just met her match. I haven't done a Russian hero yet. I love the accent, don't you? Yum!
You had me with, "staid, bespectacled Paige Barnes has no choice but to comply with the handsome stranger’s command…" It is SOOO easy to put myself in her shoes and imagine I'm the heroine of the story! What girl wouldn't want to comply with his command?
I find that romances are just the right length that I can read them without staying up all night, but the biggest reason I read them is to give me sweet dreams. THIS book, even with just the blurb, can do this. Now I call that awesome.
Thanks for sharing the love.
I want to read it because I love Harlequin Presents Extra!
Thank you for your post and giveaway, Lynn. Right now in Arkansas we're in the first heatwave of the summer. Snowy Russia sounds mighty good!
But there are more reasons why I want to read "Behind the Palace Walls". I dig fast-paced contemporary romances filled with action, drama, exotic (to me) locales, dashing heroes, heroines I can identify with, and touches of real-world relevance. And because it's hard for me to get time to read, a short novel is right up my alley.
BTW, I think the Harlequin title for your novel sounds MUCH better than the Mills & Boon one!
Keep up the good work!
I think you won me over with the quote, lol. I can't wait to see how a Southern gal deals with a Russian prince!
Hi, Melanie! Really, you have not written a Russian yet?! I had not realized that. Oh yes, the accent. I love the way it caresses the English words. My mom used to work with a Russian. It was fun to listen to him talk.
Hi, Laney! I love that you can see yourself in Paige's shoes! I love a plain heroine. Francesca, in THE DEVIL'S HEART, was once overweight. I love writing heroines who aren't perfect. Hope you have sweet dreams from the blurb! :)
Hi, Estella! And that's a great reason to want to read this book! I'm with you on that. :)
Hi, Mary Anne! I hear you -- I'm in Alabama, and it was over 90 today. Glad you like the Harlequin title! I was a bit worried, I have to say, because the other title seemed so popular over in the UK. Or maybe it was just the setting. :)
Hi, Julie! LOL, yep, the South meets Russia. I liked that idea very much. :)
Sounds like a great read! It has a lot
of my favorite themes: H/H confronta-
tions, royalty, an unexpected baby! I
want to know how the HEA happens!
Pat Cochran
Hi, Pat! Those are some of my favorite themes too! I especially love royalty. I seem to write a lot of them! :)
It looks great! Here in the deep South it has really turned summer so a snowy romantic setting sounds great!
I can't wait to see how the Prince and rival gets the girl!
Hi from NZ Lynn :)
I would like to read your book for two reasons.
The first is because i've just "discovered" you, if that's the right thing to say. I've just read Strangers in the Desert and absolutely loved it becasue it had more "feel" than your average quick read; i loved the story that went with the story (oh this is SO why I'M not a writer lol).
Today I found your website and had a look at other books of yours... so I was absolutely delighted to find you'd posted on one of my fave blogs lol.
My second reason is because I'd love to read a book set in Russia... makes a refreshing change from all the other settings.
P.S looking forward to your new Sheik book coming out(my current faves at the moe)
Hi Lynn!
I was already looking forward to reading this book when I heard it was set in Russia with a delicious Russian hero. Then, I read the opening scene on the Harlequin website and I was completely hooked. Scary and sexy at the same? Yes! Also, I have a feeling Paige is another one of your strong female leads, and I love that!
Hi Lynn,
I loved your THE DEVIL's HEART and I know I'm going to love reading BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS! The blurb and excerpt sound so interesting.
Love really can feel like Russian Roulette, so when I read those 2 words I knew I had to read it.
The Winter Palace is gorgeous. BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS looks amazing. Russia is a deliciously exotic location for a story. I'm thinking the Prince should watch out for the Bolsheviks though or the historical equivalent.
marypres@gmail.com
Russia has some beautiful bldgs. I love to read about places I have never visited.
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for a beautiful post and thank you for the chance to win your book which I am sure you will remember from my email that I sent a few months back , I just could not get enough of the book and it was so powerful like 007 and romance wrapped up into one !
I would be honored to own a signed copy and would treasure it forever !
Desere
Hi, Stephanie! I hear you on our deep South summer. Just walked to the mailbox. I think I need another shower. ;)
Tash, Thank you so much! I'm so thrilled to hear from a new reader! I'm so happy you enjoyed STRANGERS IN THE DESERT. I really love that story. It's one of my absolute favorites thus far! I agree with you on sheikhs -- such a favorite story to read!
Hi, Erin! Well, thank you so much! I can't be any happier than having you tell me you were hooked by the opening. I should have linked to it here. I'm not always as bright as I should be. *g*
Hi, Nas! I hope you enjoy the book! (Though I think it was probably called PRINCE VORONOV'S VIRGIN when it came out in your area).
Hi, Jo -- yes, aren't those great words to describe it! I wish I'd come up with them, but that was the editors.
Hi, Marybelle. I hope you'll enjoy the book, but there are no Bolsheviks alas. I explained on my site and on the Goodreads Q&A why I had to leave that history out. I didn't want to, but it was starting to sound like a history lesson, so it's merely alluded to now. Ah well.
Hi Runner! Yes, I love the buildings there. I did get to travel to Russia, and visited many of the locations in the book. I was there a long time ago though. I would love to go back. :)
Hi, Desere! You are always so kind to me! Thank you so much for your lovely words. Of course I remember your email -- I saved it! :)
Thanks everyone for commenting! So exciting to talk about the book with you. :)
Ever since I saw Dr Zhivago in 6th grade I've had a fascination with Russian heroes and it's revolutionary history. I even named my daughter Lara after Julie Christie's character Larissa!
I'd love to meet your Russian prince!
Hi, Laurie! I love Dr. Zhivago! I admit that I was very much inspired by the troika scenes in that movie when creating my own. So romantic!
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