Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway for Silk & Scandal by Cassandra Dean

Welcome to my stop on Cassandra Dean’s Virtual Book Tour for Silk & Scandal.  Please leave a comment or question for Cassandra to let her know you stopped by.  Cassandra will be awarding a signed Silk & Scandal postcard and Silk & Scandal magnet to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop. A grand prize of a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card, as well as a signed Silk & Scandal postcard and Silk & Scandal magnet will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (international giveaway).  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  Please be sure to leave your email address with your comment so you can be contacted if you win. 

My Love Affair With Historical Romance by Cassandra Dean

I love historical romance. From the time I first discovered romantic novels, I gravitated to those set in the past. I devoured every Barbara Cartland novel I could get my hands on, graduated to Jude Deveraux and then discovered Avon historical romance...

I own A LOT of books emblazoned with bare-chested men with flowy locks. By the time I found Loretta Chase (LOVE HER!) and Laura Kinsale (LOVE HER TOO), it was a done deal – I was totally in love with historical romance. But why do I love it so?

There are so many reasons. I love history. I really, really love it. I was lucky enough to spend three glorious months on holiday in Europe a few years back and my favourite bits were seeing all the ways people from times gone by have left their stamp in the world. The ruins of Rome. The ring of Stonehenge. The Assembly Hall in Bath. This physical proof of people who have gone before me led to an intense connection with the past, with that what has gone before. It’s kind of awe-inspiring.

So, I love reading stories that deal with the past, with all the ways humans have interacted with each other and their environment over the years. Of course, these stories are fiction and probably bear little resemblance to what actually happened, but that’s okay. I’m not reading historical romance for its accuracy – I’m reading it for two people from a far off land in another time falling in love. The history is the framework for this, and the romance of times gone by adds the conflict and frame of reference I most enjoy when I read romance.

I also love the rules. Historical romance, as with any genre, abides by a set of conventions, the things that let us know we’re reading a historical romance. If it’s a regency, it will most likely be set in London, there will be a ball, and the aristocracy will be featured, with either the hero or the heroine or both being members of this elite group of people. 

If it’s a Western, there will be a pioneering spirit, as sense of freedom and adventure and a degree of recklessness, and the hero and heroine will be searching for a sense of belonging, a place to call home – perhaps with each other. Genre rules are awesome, and it’s just as much fun to see how authors within these genres play with the rules, play with our expectations to create something surprising and emotional.

Also, there are a lot of pretty dresses :)

I guess that’s why I love historical romance, for all these reasons and more, and why I’ve chosen to write in this genre. Ancient Roman, America’s Old West, Early Victorian – I’ve visited all these periods and have had a blast doing so.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cassandra Dean

Silk & Scandal
By Cassandra Dean
The Silk Series, Book 1

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Release Date: May 3, 2013

Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 54 Pages



Book Description:

Eight years ago…

Thomas Cartwright and Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons were friends. Over the wall separating their homes, Thomas and Nicola talked of all things – his studies to become a barrister, her frustrations with a lady’s limitations.

All things end.

When her diplomat father gains a post in Hong Kong, Nicola must follow. Bored and alone, she falls into scandal. Mired in his studies of the law and aware of the need for circumspection, Thomas feels forced to sever their ties.

But now Lady Nicola is back…and she won’t let him ignore her.

Excerpt:

Nicola dashed at her cheek. “Then why did you stop writing?”

The concern bled from his features and, dropping her hands, he stood from her. “We shouldn’t have begun a correspondence. We are too far apart in consequence.”

A burn started in her chest. “That is not a reason.”

His brows shot together. “Of course it is. You are the granddaughter of an earl. I am the son of no one. Literally. I do not know who my parents are, Nic. How can it not be a consideration?”

Lord, this was less than a consideration. “Thomas, you are the adopted son of a baronet and his wife. My father likes you, and that is the only care I have. Why can we not be friends?”

He looked as if he still wished to protest, but then his shoulders slumped. “Do you really not know?”

“Thomas, all I wanted was to be your friend.” Stepping closer to him, she took his hand. “It is all I’ve ever wanted.”

A hush fell. Brows drawn, eyes unfathomable, he stared down at her. Of a sudden, she was intensely aware of her breath, of the way her chest rose and fell and how very close he was.

“You think we are friends.”

Buy Links:

Decadent│Amazon │Barnes& Noble │ARe│Smashwords

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.

Fairy tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives, science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true passion was born.

So, once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance, Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell head over heels.

The love affair exists to this very day.

Cassandra lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

LINKS:

Website http://cassandradean.com

Blog http://cassandradean.com/blog-2

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraDean

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/authorCassDean

Google+ https://plus.google.com/102347750251485935942

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5016740.Cassandra_Dean

Tumblr  http://cassandra-dean.tumblr.com/

Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/cassandradean/

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/authorcassdean

My Review

A short historical romance set during the Victorian age, Silk and Scandal by Cassandra Dean is the perfect lunchtime dessert.  Likable characters, lively dialogue and just the right amount of sexual tension kept me turning the pages from the very beginning.  It’s the perfect start for Ms. Dean’s new series.

Taken away from her childhood home by her father’s growing political ambitions, Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons misses her closest friend and confidant, Thomas.  Seemingly unable to help herself, Nicola lands in one scandal after another while abroad.  Writing to and receiving letters from her childhood friend is her only tie to the past and provides her with reminders to try to behave.  At least until Thomas stops writing back.

An orphan with nobody for parents, Thomas Cartwright has always known he’s been blessed to have been adopted by members of the Ton and to have befriended Lady Nicola as a child.  As Thomas works to achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer, he not only realizes the social gap between him and his friend, he also realizes he can’t afford to be involved in scandal if he wishes to achieve a position in politics.  Only he can’t seem to stop himself from following what she does.

The scenes between Nicola and Thomas are fun, light and full of lively dialogue.  While the chemistry between them is evident in their letters, Thomas ideas of propriety and determination to succeed, almost succeed in keeping them apart.  It’s only Nicola’s refusal to be ignored that forces him to see just how much he really loves her.

Will Nicola be able to convince Thomas that his background is only a hindrance to their relationship in his mind?  Will Thomas get up the courage to accept the love and opportunity he’s being offered?  You’ll have to read Silk and Scandal to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment in this series.

My Rating:  4.5 out of 5 Stars

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not given any additional compensation for my opinion of the reading material provided.

Don't forget to leave a comment or question for Cassandra to let her know you stopped by.  Cassandra will be awarding a signed Silk & Scandal postcard and Silk & Scandal magnet to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop. A grand prize of a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card, as well as a signed Silk & Scandal postcard and Silk & Scandal magnet will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (international giveaway).  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  Please be sure to leave your email address with your comment so you can be contacted if you win.