I’m a historical mood today. That means to beat the heat (even though these authors actually bring the heat), I’m giving away more bookish goodness.
First up is Meredith Duran’s delicious BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH.
Meredith Duran writes with power, lyricism and elegance that never overshadows the strength of her characters. She is a luminary talent who will rise to take her place among such historical romance greats as Laura Kinsale and Loretta Chase.
In BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, she succeeds on every level. Her hero is charming, but broken. Her heroine is brilliant, but wounded.
This story will take your breath away. Even if you have all but stopped reading historical romances (as I had), give this one a chance. I’ll wager not only will you find yourself unable to put it down, you will also be haunted by its loveliness.
I still find myself thinking about Lydia and Sanburne, weeks after reading it. Though I have other books in my TBR and a lot of work to do, I am tempted to re-read and I almost never do that when there are so many wonderful new books being released. I am awed by Ms. Duran’s facility with language. This is a book that raises the bar in every possible aspect, including symbolism, symmetry, plot, and character development. It is a marvel. Once you’ve read Meredith Duran, you will not be satisfied with less.
BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH is a must-read.
Next up is SCANDAL by Carolyn Jewel.
I read this book recently, and oh my gosh, I was totally blown away. Such delicacy, such heat. She weaves past and present as only the most gifted author can do. Any writer can create a rake who is actively reformed by the feisty heroine. But that’s not what this book is about.
It’s courage, and suffering, and forbidden longing. God, it’s so delicious that it makes my toes curl. Ms. Jewel’s writing is simply masterful. I can’t tell you a lot more about it without ruining the story for you, so I think you should just read it.
Now then, you have to decided which one you’re going to try to win.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, answer this: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
To win SCANDAL, answer this: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
If you want to try to win either of these amazing books, you can answer both questions, but NOT in consecutive comments. That means not back to back and not in the same comment.
Winners will be posted on Friday.
BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
Now that is a tricky one, in the end it depends on the sort of illegal thing. Turn him in in some cases, but not in other. That one would have me twisting and turning for days.
Now i got really curious about the book :)
to win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH.:
if my father was doing something illegal,it would matter how sivear the crime is to decide if i should turn him in myself.if my father does not lisen to reasen,then i will, if it’s harmful to my mom and sister’s i will, if it involve harmming someone then i will. this is how my dad rased me.
p.s. the worst thing my dad ever did was lanch bottlerockets when i was 3, and the cop was a friend and he thought it was pretty funny too.
BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH:how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
This actually happened to me once. Fortunately it was before anything illegal had transpired. Basically I talked and talked and talked and finally managed to reason with the person that it would NOT be worth it.
If I discovered someone close to be was actually DOING something illegal I would feel it was my responsibility to turn them in to authorities, but still stand by them as they face the consequences.
Side note: I’m halfway through Duke of Shadows and I LOVE it so far. I really want to read this new book but my library doesn’t have a copy and I have no extra money for book shopping these days. So, if I could win this book I’d really, really appreciate it and give it a good and loving home! :D
Been there, in the case of my brother, who is a recovering addict. Illegal drugs, and some theft (petty and not so petty) to support his habit. What did I do? I helped his wife kick him out of the house, I moved in with her and their kids to help pay the rent, and I stood by her while she insisted that he clean up his act before she’d let him come back. Tough love and take care of the children, that’s my motto.
I don’t need to be entered to win SCANDAL, as it is already on my keeper shelf. Good thing, because answering that question would be very personal and probably TMI. Let’s just say that I did, sort of (we actually had known each other for years), and although there were some challenges, we are together now, as happy as Sophie and Banalt!
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, answer this: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
I would confront him/them and find out why they were doing something illegal and try to persuade them to stop. It would be hard to turn him/them in to the authorities.
Hi Ann,
Bound by your Touch: This is a tough one, because nothing is black or white.
My actions I think would depend on how bad their illegal actions were. How many people does it affect, and would it be as easy as trying to talk them out of their illegal actions, or are we talking Bernie Madoff illegal proportions?
Let’s say for instance they were downloading music from the internet (like that woman who was fined millions of dollars was). I would talk until I am blue in the face with reasons why they should immediately stop doing that, when all else fails block those interent sites.
If we are talking imbezzling money like Bernie Madoff did which ruined sooo many lives I would feel wretched but I think ultimately I would contact the authorities and feel guilty about it, but not as bad as I would if I did nothing.
To win Bound By Touch, how would I handle my father doing something illegal. It would truly depend on the offense and the reason he was doing it. If he was stealing to feed his family, I not sure I would do anything. If he was stealing to just get richer, I’d probably blow the whistle on him. Have a great day.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH-
My father and I aren’t close so I would probably report it, whatever it was. If it was my grandpa, it would just depend on what type of crime it was. If it’s something really, REALLY major, I don’t know if I could keep it quiet. If it was something minor, I would probably try to way to help them out so that they didn’t have to do anything illegal anymore. That was if they weren’t doing it to just be greedy.
I’ve read Jewel’s paranormal books but none of the historicals yet, so I’d love to try out SCANDAL.
I think meeting the man would give me a final push to get out of the unhealthy marriage. Can’t really say if there would be a HEA, because he’d have to make up his own decision.
Duran AND Jewel in one contest?! Deadly!
To win SCANDAL, answer this: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
Knowing that I am very much like my mother, I would eventually follow my heart and leave the unhappy marriage – though I would spend much effort attempting to heal it for the sake of family. The meeting of the man of my dreams may speed the process, but that is no guarantee he would either leave his wife or wish to enter into a relationship with me. But the meeting of him would make me realize that yes, it COULD be better than my current state of affairs, so I’d do it anyway. I also know from personal experience that children are much happier when their parents are – and if I have a family in this scenario that would make it even more appropriate for me to leave.
Eek! If I discovered my dad was doing something illegal? Major ethical dilemma! Um… I guess I’d have to find out what it was, the effect, and the reason he was doing it.
Haha. Depending… I’d have to… report it :X Or… try to get him to stop.
EEeeeeeeeee I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win Bound by Your Touch! I so love Meredith Duran.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, answer this: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
oh man. tough tough question. I’d probably approach him first and try to have a long talk with him and then if that didn’t work, depending on what it was, I’d have to involve the police.
To win Scandal, what would I do if I met the man of my dreams when we were both married to someone else? One, I’d see if he was willing to get divorced as I know I would want to. After our divorces, who knows what would happen. Have a great day.
How would you handle it if you discovered your father or other close male relations were doing something illegal?
That depends on what he was doing. I don’t concern myself with the legality of an act, but with the morality of it. If he was doing something that was injurious to others, I would take measures to prevent it, which would preferably involve merely pointing out the error of his ways. As a last resort, I would call the cops.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
I’d try to talk some sense in him. If that doesn’t help or it’s something really awful he’s doing I would contact the police.
To win Bound by Your Touch:
It’s hard to imagine my father doing anything “seriously” illegal (maybe something like jaywalking). But if there really was a problem, I’d talk with the rest of the family first to come up with a solution.
Hi Ann! I love historicals and haven’t read Meredith Duran so would love to play for that!
Oh a tough question! If I had found out someone was doing something illegal, I’d confront them with it and too tell them I’d go with them to their lawyer so that they could find the best way to address this with who they’ve been illegal with. I feel that confronting this with those they are responsible with, has them having some respect for them being honest. There’s no way I could keep this within me and not say anything. I’d be as guilty as them if I did.
To win “Bound By Your Touch”:
If I found out my father or other close male relative was doing something illegal, I would try to persuade them to turn themselves in and hopefully the law will be lenient with them.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, answer this: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
Kick his @$$!
Scandal is already on my keeper shelf.
For Bound by Your Touch:
Depends on the illegal activity and the type of harm involved, and to who. I’d talk until I was blue in the face to get them to stop, getting the rest of the family involved and get friends we know in enforcement or counseling to try an help, a family intervention might help. I’d follow him/her in an effort to thwart their crime. Hard to turn a loved one in for arrest, but if it involved murder or abuse of others, then I’d have no choice.
SCANDALwhat would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
These hard hard questions…I could never hurt anyone like that. But then again if we both were in bad marriages, why stay and be unhappy. If we both choose to leave then i would
To win Scandal, what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
This is a tough one… I think it would be very hard for me to leave from that marriage even though it wasn’t a happy union. I try to find good things in everything and would probably think there was a good reason why I married him in the first place. He must have been my dream man at some point. We should make the marriage work, find that lost love again and ignore those other tempting men…
To win SCANDAL, answer this: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
It would probably depend on what the “not healthy & happy” part entailed. If it’s nothing seriously bad, I’d see if the guy I’m married to would be willing to try to work it out since you need both parties to do that. If not, or if the “not healthy & happy” part was a serious matter, I’d file for divorce. The “man of my dreams” wouldn’t factor into any of that.
BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH:how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
It depends. For some crimes I would be probably convinced that he had no choice. I would wait for him to turn himself in or in less serious cases help him fix the damage
To win SCANDAL, answer this: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
First I would devorce. If you don’t love someone- you just don’t. Another person is just a reason to realize it sooner. Then if the man of my dreams makes himself available in the same way- it could be another start.
For BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH:
I don’t think I would believe it actually, but then I think I would be on his side (sometimes that means making him get help or pay for whatever he has done)
For SCANDAL:
In not healthy marriage, no one is happy, and if kids are involved, I would end it. Dream man- it takes two, remains to be checked.
To win BOUND BY YOUR TOUCH, answer this: how would you handle it if you discovered your father (or other close male relations) was doing something illegal?
Hmmm……very tough. While one part of me wants to say that I’d report the illegal activity right off – the more feet on the ground part of me says that it would quite honestly depend on a combination of circumstances and who the male relation involved is (as well as the relationship w/the rest of the family).
To win SCANDAL: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
I’d follow my heart and divorce my husband. Life is to short to stay and be unhappy in a bad marriage. I much rather be happy with the man of my dreams.
To win SCANDAL, answer this: what would you do if you met the man of your dreams when you were both married to someone else? (Assume the marriages are not healthy & happy.)
I think that, even w/a HEA, I’d still take things easy and slow
I’d probably have quite a few grey hairs by the end of things, but…… 
To Win Bound By Your Touch
This would be really tough as my Dad has stage 4 Cancer (currently in remission) but to turn him into police would be so hard as I fear how little time I have with him on this Earth as it is. I would desperately hope that we would be able to fix what he had done and would put all my resources to it. At the same time, I have a strong sense of right and wrong and would want to do the right thing.