Guest Post with Scarlett Scott & Giveaway Entry Stop, Plus Teaser

Please welcome author Scarlett Scott to Among the Muses!  
And make sure to check out the giveaway details at the end of the post!

Do you know what I love about romance novels? It’s the fluttery feeling they leave in my stomach, the happy tears I blink away on the last page. It’s the love story that transports me, making me forget about how my dog chewed on the corner of my kitchen cabinets, or how I have to do a load of laundry and organize my pantry before a soup can avalanche does me in. What I love about romance novels is the inescapable love that propels a hero and a heroine into a happily ever after.

There are all kinds of love to be found in romance novels. There’s the old flame love, the you’re-growing-on-me love, the accidental love. But what draws me the most is inescapable love, the kind that seems totally wrong and yet is so inevitable, so thrilling, that it’s totally right.

One of my favorite stories of inescapable love is an oldie but goodie called And One Wore Gray by Heather Graham, who writes some fantastic Civil War era historical romance. How can you not fall in love with the drama of two complete opposites (the hero is a proud Confederate and the heroine a devoted Yankee) who can’t help but fall for each other? Another classic example near and dear to my heart is Madeline Hunter’s The Saint, where the hero is the heroine’s guardian. Their roles make them an unlikely match, and yet they can’t escape falling in love.

When I started writing A Mad Passion, my historical romance set in late Victorian England, I had that special kind of love in mind. I wanted a love for my characters that seems inescapable yet impossible. Cleo, the heroine, is trapped in a loveless marriage to an odious earl. The hero Thornton is a well-known political figure with a sterling reputation. Neither is free to truly pursue the other, but yet neither can resist falling in love anyway.

So do my fellow romance readers out there have favorite tales of a love that is inescapable? I have a feeling you do, and I’d love to hear about them!

 

~*~Book Blurb~*~

Seven years ago, the Marquis of Thornton broke Cleo’s heart. He’s the last man she wants to see at the country house party she’s attending with her sisters. However, fate has a different plan when she finds Thornton standing before her, as devastatingly handsome as ever. Thornton’s resolve is tempted by Cleo’s reappearance in his life. He’ll stop at nothing to have her back in his arms. Now a respected politician, he jeopardizes his career and reputation with each secret moment he spends with her. Together they must battle against ruin and swirling scandal to discover if their mad passion is worth the price.

~*~Teaser~*~

The floor creaked behind her. "This is an interesting place for an audience," drawled a deep voice laden with bad intentions and sinful promise. 

She swirled around in her bath, flinging her arms over her chest and pulling her knees up. Thornton leaned in the open doorway, the soft light from her bedchamber glowing behind him so that he looked other worldly. Like a fallen angel come to tempt the wicked wife. How had she thought him a saint? 

He was sin personified, wearing a white, un-tucked shirt with an improper amount of buttons open, a black jacket and no shoes. His bare feet drew her notice, strong and disturbingly attractive. It occurred to her she’d never in her life seen a man’s bare feet, neither Thornton’s nor John’s. It shocked her to think he had walked the hall sans shoes, in a state of half dress. And he’d entered her chamber. Had anyone seen him? Was he mad? 

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, keeping her voice stern. It wouldn’t do to let her eyes slip to the enticing expanse of chest visible beneath his shirt’s gaping vee. Even if it was strongly muscled and lightly bronzed. Did he work out of doors without a shirt? How uncivilized, yet how thrilling. 

Thornton continued to rest his hip against the doorjamb with the negligence of a conqueror. His gaze traveled to her bathwater and then back up to her face. "You sent me a letter."

~*~About the Author~*~

Scarlett Scott writes sexy historical and contemporary romances. She lives with her hero and their adorable but occasionally evil puppy.

~*~ Find Scarlett Scott @ ~*~

Twitter: @scarscoromance ;
Blog: http://scarscoromance.blogspot.com

Giveaway Details:

• Scarlett is generously offering one lucky, randomly drawn blog tour commenter a $10 Amazon gift card!

• Leave a comment on the post along with your email addy. Please break it up to avoid spammers. Ex: amongthemuses (at) gmail (dot) com

• The more tour stops you comment on the greater your chances of winning!!

• Blog Tour runs from August 1st - August 5th.

• You can either check out Goddess Fish Promotions website for complete tour dates, OR I've made it easy-peasy by giving you the stops and links here:

• August 1: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

• August 2: Sherry Gloag, The Heart of Romance

• August 3: Romance in the Backseat

• August 4: Among the Muses {You are here. *g*}

• August 5: Book Junkies

Good Luck and thank you for stopping by to support Scarlett!!