Interview with Bronwen Evans & Giveaway (Int.)

Welcome to my blog Bronwen!

About:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence release late 2012, The Italian Conte’s Reluctant Bride.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com

You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

You can always find Bronwen:

 Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

To Challenge The Earl of Cravenswood blurb:

To live happily ever after...

Henry St. Giles, the Earl of Cravenswood, longs to find his soul mate. Now that his two best friends, both reformed rakes, are happily married, the need becomes an obsession. When they challenge him to find a wife by the end of the season or marry his neighbor, the innocently alluring Lady Amy Shipton, he can’t believe his luck. He wins, either way. But a darkened garden, a case of mistaken identity, a drunken kiss, and a dropped emerald earring, leads Henry on a Cinderella hunt. He knows the woman he held in his arms could be the one he's searched for all his life. He just has to find her.

Lady Amy Shipton is determined to marry for love instead of sharing her husband like her mother did. So why did she let her handsome neighbor and romantic fantasy, the Sinful Saint as he's called for his bedroom prowess, seduce her in his garden? And what can she do when in the middle of their passionate encounter; he whispers another woman's name. Now Henry is hunting the owner of the earring Amy left behind, and she's determined to retrieve it before her identity is revealed. She's not about to give her father the ammunition he desperately wants to force her down the aisle.

Purchase Links:
Amazon / B&N / Kobo

Interview

Hi Melody

Thanks for having me over to blog with you today. Waving all the way from New Zealand. Please be aware that due to the time difference, I probably won’t wake up until about 1pm EST so bear with me…

What impact has it had on your life, becoming an author?

It’s been wonderful! I’ve meet so many amazing people, other writers and readers who are now firm friends. I’ve travelled to the United States for conferences, and been invited to Germany, Australia and England to romance readers conventions.

I’ve also been given an avenue for my creativity and the many stories buzzing around in my head. They used to drive me to distraction, but now I can write them down. To be able to earn an income from doing something you’re passionate about is a dream come true. Long may it last!

If you weren't an author, what would you have liked to do instead?

Gosh, that’s a tough question. I have a Business degree and I’ve worked in senior management for some fairly large corporates. However, I also set up my own company in 1999 which I sold in 2005. Whatever I did instead of writing, I’d prefer to work for myself rather than get back into the politics of a large corporation. With a marketing background, I’d love to work with small businesses, helping them with their sales and marketing strategies.

Who are your favorite authors?

That’s an easier question. Gaelen Foley, Nicola Jordan, Shana Galen, Nicola Cornick, Emma Wildes, Olivia Gates, Sharon Kendrick, Jennifer Ashley, Mia Marlowe, Rebecca Zanetti, Nalini Singh, and my critique partner Gracie O’Neil.

Who's your favorite hero out of your books?

My favorite hero from my books, gosh that’s a hard question. I love them all, obviously, or I wouldn’t have written them.

Anthony James Craven, the Earl of Wickham, from Invitation to Ruin, my debut Regency romance which WON the RomCon Readers Crown 2012 for Best Historical,  holds a soft spot because, of all my heroes, he had the most awful upbringing. He’s the most wounded.  His father was a monster. Yet, Anthony was still able to rise above his past and open up his heart and learn to love. He was pretty special I feel.

For those who haven't gotten a chance to read any of your work, what would you suggest they read first?

If you like dark, tortured heroes then my Kensington Brava release, Invitation to Ruin is a classic and not to be missed. The story is heartbreakingly full of pain and involves slave trading in England.

If you want a lighter and a bit more of a flirty, sexy read, try the Wicked Wagers trilogy. Start with book one, To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield. This book was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review 2012 Indie Romance Book of the Year.

Tell me what type of hero you like, wounded, alpha, action oreientated, serious, comedic,  and one commenter will WIN one of my Wicked Wager trilogy eBooks. Open Internationally.

Here’s a snippet from my latest Regency romance release, book #3 in the Wicked Wagers trilogy, To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood.

Amy looked over her shoulder, back at Henry. She sensed Henry was holding his mount back, purposely letting her win.

Her heart warmed. He looked handsome. His hair was also messy from the wind. The golden curls, rumpled and windblown, made him look—a thought flashed through her mind—as if he’d just rolled out of bed.

Banishing that thought, she found it hard to swallow, and it wasn’t from the warm wind rushing into her mouth. He was beside her now and she soaked in his powerful thighs gripping his stead as he urged Hercules on. Her gaze continued travelling over him, across his shoulders and chest, down powerful arms to elegant hands gripping the reins. Magic hands.

“What prize to the winner?” he shouted.

She laughed into the wind. “I win, I chose. You win, you chose.”

His wicked grin was instant. He gathered his stallion, kicked his heels, and bending low over his horse’s head, he took off. That’s why he’d been holding back. He’d been keeping his stallion fresh.

Her smile deepened. He would win, and with a thrill tingling her insides, she wondered what he’d ask for as his prize.

The huge Roman wall was no more than a few yards away and already Hercules had passed through the gap into the overgrown plain that contained the ruins. Henry swung his horse around to greet her with a triumphant smile.

She drew Toby up beside him. “That’s not fair. You’re horse is faster and stronger.”

“You’re not going to be a sore loser, are you?” He jumped from his mount and walked to help her dismount. “You didn’t have to accept my challenge.”

“True.” She couldn’t hold his gaze. She looked around nervously. They were alone. Unchaperoned. The towering ancient walls blocking them from the rest of the world.

He tethered their horses to the wall and then offered her his arm. “Do you know anything about the history of this place?”

She shook her head, struggling to concentrate on their surroundings. All she could smell and see was Henry.

“These walls supposedly used to enclose a Roman city.” He pointed to the right. “An amphitheatre is just over there. Shall we explore?”

“It’s strange to imagine people living here in a city hundreds of years ago. I wonder what will remain of our houses and lives in a thousand years from now.”

At her words, Henry stopped and looked around him. “I hadn’t really considered that much. I’m hoping my descendents don’t let my estate run to wrack and disrepair like these ruins.”

She moved into the center of the tumbled stones. “It’s funny to think that in the future, someone else could stand on this very spot and think about us as the past. As history.” She paused and looked over the ruins. “Makes you want to ensure you live a happy life.”

He frowned down at her. She hadn’t notice how close he’d come. “Is your life not happy?”

She shrugged. “I’m not unhappy.”

He brushed a strand of hair off her face. “You deserve a life full of happiness.”

“You don’t believe in duty, then. My mother told me a life was not about one’s happiness. A life of privilege comes at a cost—duty.”

He nodded. “I have only recently learned the real meaning of the word duty.” He looked to the sky and back to her. “When Richard died.”

She reached and put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me. Of course you understand duty.”

“Perfectly all right. I never expected to become the earl. Life was easier, more enjoyable, when everyone didn’t look to me. Now I understand why Richard did crazy things to let off steam.”

Amy remembered how Richard died, drowned swimming the Thames on a dare. “I hope you’re never that stupid.”

He simply smiled. “So what duties are you expected to perform?”

“Look pretty, smile at everyone, and marry to strengthen the bloodlines and coffers.”

“That doesn’t sound too onerous.”

She nodded. “That is what everyone thinks, but sometimes I feel like jumping into the Thames like your brother. If I have to smile and be pleasant to one more man whose only interest in me is my family connections and dowry...”

“I see.”

She rounded on him and crossly said. “I very much doubt it. You have choices.”

“Choices? What choices.”

Her face heated and she sat down on a pile of stones deflated. She debated whether to tell him but he appeared genuinely interested. “Who and when you marry.”

“Sometimes I’m not sure I do,” he said softly.

That made her mouth fall open. Was he being pressured to marry? She thought of Richard’s fiancée. Rumor was Henry would honor the engagement. So, was Millicent the woman he wished to marry and couldn’t? She longed to ask him who his mystery woman was, but then he’d know it was her in the garden.

“Lord Wolverstone—Marcus, tells me your father is pushing you to accept Chesterton.”

She nodded her head miserably. “I can’t stand the man. His touch makes my skin crawl.”

“Then the solution is simple. You’ll have to find someone else. Surely there is some man who doesn’t make your skin crawl,” he asked with eyebrow raised.

Caution. “Perhaps.” She craned her neck to gauge his expression but the sun shaded his face.

“What are you looking for in a husband?”

“I’m not sure this is a proper subject--”

He sat down beside her. “Even for friends? We are friends, are we not? You’ve lived next door to me all your life. Sabine did not raise any objections to an outing unescorted. She knows she can trust me.”

But could she trust herself. She couldn’t seem to breathe when he looked at her with his green eyes sparkling in the sunlight. His lips beckoned. She wanted a taste as much as a young street urchin wanted sweetmeats.

In a husky voice she answered him. “I don’t want much. I simply want a man who loves me.” When he remained silent she said, “I know I’m supposed to think of family alliances, fortunes, and bloodlines, but I won’t be left to live the rest of my life alone, unloved, while my husband finds joy with his other family.” A tear slipped from her eye and Henry gently brushed it aside with his thumb.

Now he understood a little more about her. Henry knew of her father’s second family, as did most of the ton. His heart softened realizing what it must be like to be the family the duke saw only as a means to do his duty.

“Is that why you released Marcus? You saw how he loved Sabine.”

She nodded. “He would have been a good choice. Handsome, rich, and kind. A better choice than Creeperton.”

At her wistful sigh, Henry’s fist clenched as jealousy stabbed its way into his heart. Was she in love with his best friend?

“I too will only marry for love. Or at least a woman I believe I can grow to love. My parents had an arranged marriage too.” He took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her palm, satisfaction flooding his limbs at her tremor. “I grew up in a large house but it definitely wasn’t a home. I was not abused in any way but there was little love in my home. I don’t want my children growing up in a cold, emotionless family.”

Tears welled in her eyes at his words. He wanted to lighten her day, take away her pain.

He moved closer. “I’m going to claim my prize now.”

For one tense moment, he held her gaze, and then he raised his hands to cup her face, as he tipped it up and brought his lips down on hers.

It was a gentle kiss.

A kiss that he hoped told her he wasn’t about to pounce on her like the first time. A kiss meant to worship.

But Amy leaned into him, and with just one taste all his good intentions fled.

He took her lips, then her mouth, and before long he kissed her with the raging need he’d kept pent up for so long.

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