Putting a Label on a Book

I’m a new contributor to this blog but a fairly old hand at Carina Press with four titles under my belt another currently being considered.

I’m a Brit but now split my time between Andorra and the west coast of Florida. Surrounded by a wealth of historic buildings whilst growing up on my native Isle of Wight I guess I absorbed the vibes of yester-year without actually being aware of it. That would explain why, when I first tried my hand at novel-writing, I naturally gravitated toward historical romance. I’ve attained modest success and have nine full length books published or contracted in that genre.

It’s reasonable to assume that anyone following this blog, including me, enjoys a good mystery. That’s why I don’t think romance and mystery have to be separate beasts. All of my Regencies have strong plot lines and I’m not averse to throwing in the odd murder and other assorted skulduggery, just to keep the reader’s attention.

My latest, A Scandalous Proposition, due to be published in September, is a case in point. Major Lord Adam Fitzroy, war hero and heir to a dukedom, has just arrived back in England on furlough when he rescues a beautiful woman from an awkward situation at a coaching inn. He then goes home to face his brother, the duke. Whilst Adam was fighting for King and country, his brother’s wife died in a hunting accident. The duke remarried as soon as he decently could—to Adam’s intended. Not the done thing at all, but Adam begins to think he’s had a lucky escape when the lady in question claims to have married to stop anyone else muscling in on the dukedom. Worse, she seems to think that she and Adam can carry on where they left off.

The nerve of the woman!

To make matters worse, Adam discovers that the woman he rescued has connections to the local brothel and is employed as companion to his mother, the dowager duchess. Adam’s price for his silence? One wicked night in her company.  

Now who’s taking liberties?

Far from being a whore, Florentina is engaged in a daring exploit to help the war effort and many lives could be lost if she places her trust in the wrong person.  So what ought she to do? Sleep with Adam or risk telling him the truth?

Goodness, if I was him I’d be tempted to high-tail it back to the Peninsula!  Sounds like his life would be quieter in the middle of a ferocious battle. Pop over to my website if you get a chance at http://www.wendysoliman.com/ where you can read the first chapter of A Scandalous Proposition and stand a chance of winning a copy of the book. Good luck!

By the way, I made Adam an officer in the 95th Rifles if for no other reason than he'd look like Sharpie in his uniform. Here's a reminder of that look, just to cheer up your Monday morning.

Don't you just love the dark, moody expression?

I’m turning my attention to modern day crime in the first of my Hunter Files series, Unfinished Business, being published by Carina Press in October. More about that next time.

Thanks for having me here, guys.