Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wacky Wednesday: TIME TRAVELING WITH ANNA RANDOL, author of A MOST NAKED SOLUTION

On Monday, I posted my review of Anna Randol's newest release A MOST NAKED SOLUTION, novella now available from Avon Impulse. It's a murder mystery regency romance novella well worth reading - if you'd like to read my review, CLICK HERE but hurry back because Anna and I are about to embark on a journey back through time in hopes of learning more about the events surrounding the book's mystery!

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Anna Randol, author of the newly released novella, A MOST NAKED SOLUTION, and I are here at the tavern owned by Mr. and Mrs. Haws in the village of Weltford in England, the year is 1816. The tavern is well-kept and clean. Oak paneling. Roaring fire in the hearth. We’re tucked away in a quiet corner with a good view of the town out of the window.

A handsome, well-dressed lord and blond, almost ethereal lady enter and go straight to the bar to speak with Mr. Haws, the owner of the establishment.

Haws: (shifts behind the bar, the rag in his hand slowing) Lord Grey. Lady Harding. It’s a surprise to see you both again. (pauses) So soon.

Lord Grey: I’ve come to ask again if you remember any strangers from around the time of Lord Harding’s murder. Lady Harding has come along to tell you how grateful she’ll be for any help.

Lady Harding: (hesitates) Of course.

Haws:  (lowers his eyes to the top of the bar) Well, er …

Mrs. Haws explodes out of the kitchen. A look passes between her and Lady Harding.

Lord Grey: (watches the two women and sets his jaw before returning his attention to Haws) I know two men were here after the murder. Two men from London.

Lady Harding pales. She and Lord Grey whisper back and forth. Despite Anna and my best attempts, we cannot overhear what they say. However, we do hear Lord Grey’s growl. Sophia quickly backs away, her face wary.

Amy: (lowers her voice so only Anna can hear)  Do you think we should—  

Mrs. Haws throws a mug of ale in the man's face before we have a chance to act. Anna and I stare at each other wide-eyed as he mops up the mess, and we’re definitely disappointed when the pair leave a few moments later.

Mrs. Haws comes over to our table, the steaming meat pie we ordered in her hands. The crust is golden and flaky and just a touch of rich, brown gravy is bubbling out from under the crust.
Considering her treatment of Lord Grey, we are a trifle hesitant to take the pie.

Mrs. Haws: (winks) I’m not normally in the habit of throwing things at my customers.

Anna: (eyes her warily but then takes the pie) What was going on over there?

Mrs. Haws: (frowns) Lord Grey may be justice of the peace, but I won’t have him scaring women in my tavern. Especially not Lady Harding. The poor chick’s been through enough.

Amy: What precisely has she been through?

Mrs. Haws: (sighs) What with the death of her beast of a husband, then Lord Grey suspecting she had something to do with it. The man finally pries himself away from his mathematics and it’s to investigate the murder.

Anna: (eyes wide) Did she have something to do with it?

Mrs. Haws: (glares) If you think that, then you’re as blind as his lordship. She’s a sweet, dear lady, and if she wants me to keep quiet about the two men that were in the tavern at the time of her husband’s death, I’ll do it.

Anna and Amy glance at each other.

Amy: (lowers voice) She asked you to keep quiet about something?

Anna: (glances at Amy) That seems rather suspicious.

Mrs. Haws: (scowls) Now look what you have gone and made me say. Now eat your pie before I have to take my rolling pin to both your backsides.

We quickly grab our forks and plates and scoop a hearty portion for ourselves.   

Amy: (calls out as Mrs. Haws walks away) Is there something between the two of them? They couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off each other.

Mrs. Haws: (a smile crosses her face) She did love him as a girl, you know. She wrote him the only letter he received while he was in the army. (Her smile turns to a grimace.) Of course, he never wrote her back.

Anna: (frowns) How very sad. (suddenly smiles) But then perhaps now that they’re together again—

Mrs. Haws: (winks, smiles, and lowers her voice) Hush now, don’t jinx it.

                 *                           *                         *                        *                        *


Blurb for A MOST NAKED SOLUTION:

Sometimes the best solution is found in bed . . .

Lady Sophia Harding: beautiful, blond, and . . .capable of murder? That's what Lord Camden Grey intends to find out. It is Camden's duty to uphold the laws of the land. His neighbor's pale beauty and winsome grace don't make her the most likely suspect, but is the innocent and altogether beguiling look in her eyes the truth, or is she secretly a scheming seductress?

Lord Camden Grey is entirely too distracting and too smart. Sophia knows that to keep her family's secrets, she must avoid any entanglements with the powerful and brutally handsome man. But the pull of their mutual desire is all-consuming. Can Sophia trust Camden with the truth when she knows it might kill the love that has grown between them?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anna Randal writes sultry, adventurous Regency romances for Avon. Her first novel, A Secret In Her Kiss, earned a starred review and Top Pick in Romance from Publisher’s Weekly, who called it a “...masterful debut…[that] spins a tale replete with mystery, espionage, and memorable romance.” When she’s not plotting fun, sexy storylines, Anna’s usually eating dark chocolate, having wild dance parties with her kids in the living room, or remodeling her house one ill-planned project at a time.

Our trip to the past was brief but we've learned that Lady Sophia Harding has friends who love and care about her. Mrs. Haws is even hopeful for a lasting romance between Sophia and Lord Grey even if she did throw ale in his face.

I'd like very much to thank Anna for traveling with me and creating such a delightfully fun post for our Wacky Wednesday (I did help a little by giving her the idea.) It's obvious that her creative talents know no bounds.  Thank you, Miss Anna and know that you are always so very welcome here at UNWRAPPING ROMANCE.  xoxo

Now, Anna and I would like to ask if you could travel to the past, what event would YOU like to eavesdrop on?

One lucky commenter will win an ecopy of A MOST NAKED SOLUTION from Anna to celebrate the release of this most excellent novella.
Please leave a comment & a valid EMAIL ADDRESS for as I've said before, if I can't contact you, you cannot win.
This Giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE and will run until 11:30PM EDT Friday, June 29, 2012 and the winner will be announced on Saturday after being notified by email. (See why that email address is important?) 

Happy Reading Everyone and Good Luck!!

A MOST NAKED SOLUTION, a novella by Anna Randol, Avon Impulse, now available in ebook format.

                                                             

21 comments:

Beebs said...

Fun post, ladies.


There are so many, many points in time that I would love to have witnessed.

I think if I had to choose ONE event, it would be the Duchess of Richmond's ball on the eve of Waterloo. It's something we read so much about in books, I'd love to have been there to witness the actual event.

yvonnedvn[at]yahoo[dot]ie

lorimeehan said...

First off I love love love the cover it is so beautiful. The story sounds really good can't wait to read it. Thanks for the blog. I'm just starting to read books with time travel. At first I wasn't sure I'd enjoy them. I like all romance stories and there sub-genres. So that's why I thought I needed to give TT a try and I've enjoyed the stories do far.
lorimeehan1@aol.com

erin said...

Thanks for a very fun post!!! I'm very excited cuz I'm literally right in the middle of reading A Secret in Her Kiss!!!! How Serendipitous!

Congrats on the newest release!

Ummm... I'd love to be able to easedrop on Antony and Cleopatra or the first meeting of the "rebels" right before the revolutionary War :)

efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

Lisa said...

What a fun blog, Amy and Anna!

If I could travel back in time to witness any historical event, I'd probably go back to WWII. I'd love to witness FDR's adddress after Pearl Harbor, annoucing America's official entry into the war, the filming of Casablanca, Normandy, all of it!

Or perhaps I'd go back to Renaissance Italy and meet Veronica Franco, the Medicis, or Michaelangelo or Leonardo DaVinci!

Anna Randol said...

Beebs, that would be so incredible. Imagine the tension after they find out just how soon they will be fighting! I wonder how many officers relished that one last dance all the more.

Anna Randol said...

Lori- I'm so glad you are having fun trying new sub-genres. I think it's one of the fun things about romance. There is something for every mood. A Most Naked Solution was a fun historical to write!

Anna Randol said...

Ooh, Erin! That would be a great one. I hope you are rnjoying A Secret in Her Kiss!

Anna Randol said...

Lisa! Some of your suggestions are just epic. And I have to admit they make me want to read a good WWII romance...

Melody May said...

I would like to easy drop on Henry the eighth and would really like to know what he thought of his wives and mistresses. I wonder his wives really thought of him too.

countessofmar(at)yahoo(dot)com

Amy Valentini said...

Hi Ladies!! Anna and I had a lot of fun time traveling and except for that tense moment when we weren't sure if we were going to get to eat that delicious meat pie or wear it - it was extraordinary.

Y'all have given some great suggestions of fab eavesdropping events. Lisa, if everyone sends up a prayer for my novella that I recently submitted to Avon Impulse, you will have your WWII romance with a paranormal twist. ; )

Anna, thanks again for letting me come along on your trip to Weltford and everyone, thanks for visiting. xoxo

bn100 said...

Congratulations on the book! I'd like to eavesdrop onQueen Elizabeth II's coronation.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Oh man,ask the tough questions why don't you? OK here's one conversation I'd like to hear; Anne Boylen's confession before being beheaded!

Amy

krazymama_98 said...

Anonymous and I are on the same thought, Anne Boylen. Well, anything Anne Boylen! Fascinating. I can only imagine.
That cover is incredible. Sexy and luxurious. Decadent. Love it.
Wheet Whew...thats my whistle. Sadly, my whistle in real life isnt any better. ;-P haha
lisakhutson (at) [dot] {net}

Maureen said...

Amy and Anna-
Now that was just fun, what a fabulous blog!

Amy you know why I won't be entering the contest, but I definitely want to put my time travel interest in :)

I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch all the excitement and intrigue (sp) of Queen Elizabeth I court, I have always believed there a lot of unanswered questions there.

Later sis! Maureen

Amy Valentini said...

With all of the scandal that swirled around the many wives of Henry the VIII, I imagine any of that time period would fascinating to eavesdrop on.

And sis, you spelled 'intrigue' correctly!! Love ya!

Eli Yanti said...

ouch.. i thought this is print book T_T. i just want to buy it because i love the cover and yes, i love anna's first book

eli_y83@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

enjoyed the interview very much. the book sounds really interesting. good luck with it. i'd like to go back in history and either meet queen bodeica, or on a boat with vikings julie.beasley@btinternet.com

Amy Valentini said...

Ooh, Vikings, Julie, that would be an interesting era to eavesdrop on.

Eli, it will eventually be put into print but not until July 17th.
It is a gorgeous cover, isn't it?
Glad you enjoyed A SECRET IN HER KISS - so did I!!! She's got another one coming Aug 28 - SINS OF A VIRGIN - I'll review it in time for release!

Thanks for visiting everyone, good luck and have a great weekend! : )

Jeanne M said...

Hi Amy and Anna!

I loved the post and can't wait to read A Most Naked Solution (especially the part that gave you the idea for the title!).

I loved Mrs. Haws and have the feeling she'd be just who I'd want as a neighbor! I wonder if I invited her over for a cupa if she'd let anymore slip about exactly what happened?

PS: I can't wait to read the scene the cover was based on!

Anna - I love your books and A Most Naked Solution sounds like it's going to take over as the best one yet!

Anna Randol said...

I had so much fun with everyone! I would totally time travel with any of you any day!

Anonymous said...

OOPS! Forgot to leave my e-mail address!!!

blondemoo1260@msn.com
aka Amy (the OTHER one!)