No.1 best selling author Jane Lark is off on a Summer Extravaganza Tour! Writing in both the historical romance and new adult genres, Jane's books have resonated with readers around the world, securing her a large fan base who eagerly await each of her new releases.

Over the course of the next few weeks, the tour will be visiting some of the finest blogs on the block with reviews of the romantic Marlow Intrigues series and the gritty Starting Out books. You'll also find some guest posts from Jane and an exciting giveaway.

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Today's stop is focusing on historical romance so make yourself comfortable and prepare to swoon

The Scandalous Love of a Duke 

What they say: 

'Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach.

The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he'd like to kiss.

She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him.

A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine's heart into her limbs. It was so long since she'd seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.'

Review  

If you have been following my blog, then you know that is no secret how much I enjoy Jane Lark's Historical Fiction books. She doesn't just write stories, she has created a beautiful world with strong vivid characters that you can't help but find yourself rooting for. And The Scandalous Love of a Duke is no different. 

We initially met John Harding in the first book in the series as we following his mother's desperate battle to get her son back. Fast forward several years, we know get to see how John has an adult and how his childhood has affected him as a man about to inherit a Dukedom. His entire life John has always wondered why his mother was not with him for the first ten years of his life. During those ten years, he was molded by his Grandfather on how to be proper Duke and how to never let his emotions get the best of him. Feeling abandoned and unloved by his mother during his childhood, we watch John's desperate need for affection, but his inability to let anyone close enough to give him what he needs. My heart broke for John through out the first part of the book and how he was unable to see all the love that was around him. I found myself yelling at his mother to just tell him the truth so he can move on with his life. He needed the strong love of a woman who can relate to his up bringing and that is here Kate comes in. 

First off let me say, that I think Kate is now my favorite Heroine in this series. I didn't think I could like her more than I did Ellen in the first book, but alas she won me over. Kate herself has had a hard life. Adopted to a family where she didn't think she belongs, she too has struggled to feel loved and accepted. And at a young age she find herself falling for her brother's best friend John. For seven years she kept her feeling hidden. And if you read the inspiration behind this story, then you realize why calling this story's Kate "Waity Katie," also fits. Now that John is back and is starting to notice this fully grown and developed Kate he find himself attracted to her. But Kate knows that nothing could come from this and she does not want to follow in her natural mother's footsteps. However, she is the only one who can comfort John and she is selfless enough to be there for him even if it breaks her heart in the process. 

This was another amazing story, and I really enjoyed reading about John's struggle and seeing watching him experience hope and how to let love in. Plus I was glad to get to meet Mary and and super excited to see how her story plays out in the next book! Thank you Jane for gracing us with another heart warming page turner!  You know I am your fan for life! 

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Like what you've read so far? Check out Jane's books over on Amazon

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan | The Passionate Love of a Rake | The Scandalous Love of a Duke |

Capturing the Earl's Love | The Lost Love of a Soldier

Author Bio: 

Jane is qualified to the equivalent of a Masters Degree in People Management and is fascinated by the things that craft people’s personalities, so she has great fun exploring these through characters. She lives in the United Kingdom near the Regency City of Bath and has just bought her 400 year old dream home. History has always tempted her imagination and she loves researching and also exploring ruins and houses to get ideas. She equally loves a love story. Jane has always aspired to writing a historical novel so when she was thirty she put it on her ‘to do before I am forty’ list. She completed her first novel ten years ago, never sent it anywhere then started the next. She’s not stopped writing since, and escaping into a mental world of fiction is a great painkiller to help fight off her Ankylosing Spondylitis.

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***GIVEAWAY***

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Magnolia
by Kristi Cook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 5th 2014


Synopsis:

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

As a child, Kristi Cook took her nose out of a book only long enough to take a ballet class (or five) each week. Not much has changed since then, except she’s added motherhood to the mix and enjoys penning her own novels as much as reading everybody else’s. A transplanted southern gal, Kristi lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

That’s the official version–here are some other fun facts:

~ As an undergrad, I majored in History and minored in English at the University of Southern Mississippi. While at Southern Miss, I was a member of Phi Mu sorority, and I was a Dixie Darling. And yep, Brett Favre was our quarterback at the time!

~ I studied American History in grad school at Columbia University. I *love* history, especially the Civil War era (U.S.) and Regency- and Edwardian-era British history.

~ My all-time favorite book *and* movie is GONE WITH THE WIND. My favorite literary characters are Rhett Butler, Atticus Finch, and Mr. Darcy. I kind of want to add Peeta Mellark to that list!

~Weirdly enough (or maybe not so weirdly?) I’m also a big fan of STAR TREK (the original series). I never can remember if I’m supposed to call myself a “Trekkie” or a “Trekker,” though!

GONE WITH THE WIND

Favorite current TV show is The Walking Dead. Past favorites include Battle Star Galactica (the newer version), Star Trek (Original Series), LOST, and The Office.

Gone With the Wind (again!)

OMG, I can only pick one?! I have *so* many favorites. I guess I’ll go with a classic—“Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve. 

Vaca Frita—it’s a Cuban dish!

Ahhh, only one?! From books, I’ll probably go with Peeta Mellark (though Augustus Waters is a close second). From TV (that counts as fictional, right?!), Lee Adama aka Apollo.

Way too many things! Right now I’m still stuck in The Fault in our Stars movie fangirl mode-- I’ve seen it five times in the theater (so far!). And it’s weird, because I didn’t love the book—somehow the movie works *way* better for me.

Hi Kristi! We are really happy to host you in our FFBC. We are super excited to have Magnolia as part of our FFBC.

Magnolia is kind of a reverse of Romeo and Juliet—instead of feuding families trying to keep their kids apart, the families in Magnolia (the Caffertys and the Marsdens) absolutely adore each other, and have for generations dating back to the Civil War. So, they are *desperate* to get their kids together—to “join” their families. Jemma and Ryder—next door neighbors and born just six weeks apart—are their best hope. Only problem is, Jemma and Ryder absolutely hate each other. Or so they think. Throw in a family emergency, a massive hurricane, and some devastating tornadoes, and Jemma and Ryder learn that the line between love and hate is pretty thin.

Jemma: Stubborn, frustrated, self-reflective, feisty, and kind. Ryder: Frustrated, honorable, charming, talented, and selfless.

I would have to say the balcony scene--or perhaps I should say the reverse balcony scene, LOL! Though, the scene with the snake was pretty fun, too!

My 13-yr. old daughter and I already made a “dream cast” list, but it isn’t complete! This is what we have so far:

Ryder—Ansel Elgort, who just happens to be 6’4”, the exact same height as Ryder! Also, those brown eyes. ‘Nuff said.

Jemma—Anne Winters

Lucy—Aeriel Miranda

Morgan—Sasha Pieterse

Nan—Madison Beaty

Mason—Brandon Jones

Patrick—Lucas Till

And….

Jemma’s Dad—Norman Reedus (of course!)

I would have to pick Too Close by Alex Clare. I pretty much wrote the entire book with that song on loop!

Follow the FFBC Magnolia Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Win (1) $25 gift card to an online bookstore of choice (Amazon or BN) plus an entire paperback set of the Winterhaven series (Haven, Mirage, and Eternal)

Giveaway is open to INTERNATIONAL | Must be 13 or older to enter 

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