Unwrapping: Review of THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL, a novella by Maya Rodale

Being a fan of Maya Rodale's Writing Girl series, I knew that I had to read her novella featuring Lady Charlotte Brandon, THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL.  I had hoped to read it as soon as it came out but time didn't allow. Now I'm glad I didn't read it, before reading SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY, because it really is the last story of the women in the Writing Girl series and an absolute delight!

***I purchased this book for my own personal reading but of course, wish to share my thoughts with you.

Blurb for THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL:

Enter the Regency world of the Writing Girls series in Maya Rodale's charming tale of a scheming lady, a handsome second son, and the trouble they get into when the perfect scandal becomes an even more perfect match.

Scheme: A folly, a swan, a little lie . . . a compromising position.

Lady Charlotte Brandon is always up to something . . . but somehow her best schemes for matchmaking often end in disaster.

Scheme: A family feud, outrageously false rumors, a shattered priceless vase . . . an even more compromising position.

It's no wonder she's considered by at least one devastatingly handsome man to be devious, destructive, and dangerously appealing.

Scheme: A fox, a rabbit, a childhood foe, and a dashing rogue . . . the proposal to end all proposals.

It's high time someone turned the tables on the lovely Lady Charlotte, and James Beauchamp is just the man to do it. Even if it means beating Charlotte at her devious game with a scandalous scheme of his own.

                       *                     *                    *                    *                    *    

 

Lady Charlotte Brandon is always scheming and always in trouble but her childhood friend, James Beauchamp knows her best and even as he has been the victim of her schemes in the past, he still finds her too charming to ignore. So when he finds himself the victim of one of her schemes yet again, only to have it backfire on her, he begins to wonder if perhaps he is her best match. Or at least the person meant to keep her from being her own worst enemy.

Charlotte's heart is in the right place. If she feels she's caused a wrong, she schemes to make it right but the best laid plans don't always go as they should. To make up for a wrong she caused Lucy Swan, she decides to place the wayward girl in a compromising position that will draw her the attention of a very handsome and eligible suitor - James Beauchamp.  When things go wrong, it's Charlotte who faces scandal but her old friend, James quickly covers for her only to put himself in hot water with his father. Now Charlotte must scheme once more to remedy the wrong she has caused James. This scheme does more than put her and James in hot water - it makes them both very aware of a passion neither can deny.

THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL is like the cherry on top of a wonderful dessert! As if we hadn't already had enough fun with the Writing Girls, Charlotte's story is the crème de la crème! Reminiscent of classic romantic comedies such as BRINGING UP BABY starring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, this delightful novella kept me giggling and happy straight to the end with the most romantic, and nearly tragically planned proposal in print.

I highly recommend THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL by Maya Rodale to anyone who loves a truly uplifting, fun-filled, and seriously romantic story to lift their spirits and leave them saying, "Awwww!" Enjoy!!

Happy Reading Everyone!

THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL by Maya Rodale, Avon Impulse, available now in ebook formats.


                                                                 

Wacky Wednesday: A Halloween Visit with Maya Rodale, author of the Writing Girl Series

Happy Halloween Everyone!
I've got a wonderful treat, and no tricks, for you today! On Monday, I reviewed the newly released SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale. If you haven't read my review yet, please click on the title and do so but hurry back because Miss Maya is about to join us followed by a fabulous Giveaway! 

Maya Rodale is now the author of numerous “dazzlingly sexy and witty” historical romance novels. A champion of the romance genre and its readers, she is also the author of the non-fiction book Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation Of Romance Novels, Explained and a co-founder of Lady Jane’s Salon, a national reading series devoted to romantic fiction. Maya is also, what I affectionately call her, my muse for this blog. It was because of her being such a champion of the romance genre and its readers that I was inspired to write a rant that set me on the course of unwrapping romance, romance novels and their authors. I adore this lady and her books aren't half-bad either.  *wink*

Please join me in welcoming Maya Rodale to UNWRAPPING ROMANCE,

Amy:  Hi Maya, thank you so much for joining us today and taking time from your busy schedule.

Maya:  Hi there! Glad to be here!

Amy:  I have to admit this is a long overdue visit and I'm so thrilled to have you here today. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet.

Maya:  My name is Maya and I’m living the dream! I write smart and sassy historical romance novels. I married an actual Englishman, you know, for research (Just kidding! It’s a love match!). My constant companion is my darling dog, Penelope. We all live in New York City.

Amy:  I have to admit that your life certainly does sound like the dream, I know I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat - well, maybe not the domestic life part. I'll let you keep your rogue. *wink*

I've mentioned often that you were my muse, my inspiration for this blog. What first inspired you to write and why romance?

Maya:  Aww! I’m so humbled and happy to know my blogging has been so inspiring!

As for my entry into the world of romance: My mom made me do it! Actually, while she got me started reading them, I started writing them because I would read the books so fast and wanted to stay in that happy Regency romance world a little longer.

Amy:  I love that! I get a kick out of your mom making you do it but I love that you write because you want that imaginative world to continue. I know that feeling well, as I'm sure many of your readers do.

Do you have any favorite authors that you enjoy and do they ever influence your writing.

Maya:  I love Loretta Chase and Eloisa James (and many other historical authors). I also love contemporaries by Julie James or Jenny Crusie. I’m always inspired to write and revise an even better book after reading such fantastic, perfectly crafted novels.

Amy:  Well, you certainly can't lose with such awesome writing models as inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration - your Writing Girl series has been so much fun to read and to be honest, I'm a little sad to see it end. Those scribbling women are inspirational to us just as you were to me. How did they come about in the first place?

Maya:  Thank you! I love those girls. They came about when I was living in London doing research for my master’s degree. I was reading a lot of 19^th century newspapers and walking around the city and searching for a new series idea. I think I started with the newspaper and thought, what kind of women would do such a scandalous thing? And then, who would their perfect heroes be?

Funny thing is, I found a scrap of paper with exactly the same idea to center a series around the newspaper The London Weekly but it was from, like, 3 years earlier and I had totally forgotten about it. In short, the Writing Girls were an idea so nice I thought it twice!

Amy:  Indeed it was and we are very glad you had that idea twice!

I have to admit that I found myself relating very intimately with Annabelle. I know that when is it going to be my time feeling. So which of the Writing Girls, do you relate to the most?

Maya:  That’s a great question and a lovely way to describe Annabelle! I relate to that aspect of her, too. There’s always something of me in my heroines and it provides a snapshot of my life when I was writing. Eliza’s ambition, for example. Or Annabelle learning to take risks and stand up for herself.

Amy:  That's wonderful and insightful. So now you're closing out the series with SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. Derek Knightly and Annabelle have been with us throughout. Was it planned from the beginning to pair up these two and save them for last or was this something that your muse whispered in your ear along the way?

Maya:  Oh, I had plans for them from the very beginning! J I knew from the initial pitch of the series that Annabelle would seek advice from her readers and try all those crazy suggestions on how to get a man’s attention. I knew from the start that her hero would be Knightly.

However, I hadn’t fully developed their characters until I sat down to write it and it was a lovely experience for me to really explore them and what kept them from getting together sooner. After all, Annabelle had been sighing over him for three books and everyone else knew. But with Knightly so focused on his business and Annabelle awkward about drawing attention to herself, they never got to know each other. That is, until Annabelle starts making it impossible for Knightly to not see her.

I’ve been so excited to write this book ever since A Groom Of One’s Own (don’t tell the other Writing Girls!) and it was such a pleasure to write it.

Amy:  That's so amazing and I think it's probably one of the reasons why this story was so wonderful and touching. And something tells me the other Writing Girls won't mind - they do so love Annabelle, as do we.

I know you love Regency but have you ever thought of wandering off into some other time or world, even?

Maya:  Yes! In fact—here’s some breaking news for you—I will be writing contemporaries in the future! But those stories will be inextricably linked to a new series of historical romance novels.

Amy:  Really! Well, can you tell us a bit more about this new direction in Maya's writing world?

Maya:  New series! In a word: wallflowers. In two words: wicked wallflowers. I’ll be posting news and sneak peeks on mywebsite and on Facebook.

Amy:  Awesome news and I'm sure everyone will anxious to learn more about these wicked wallflowers - I know I will.

Last question and the one I love asking most - IF you could be ANY character in ANY book, who would it be and why?

Maya:  Oh my goodness, I have been mulling over this question for days and I simply could not decide, which is probably why I’m author: I can be lots of characters in many books.

Amy:  Well, can't ask for a more sensible answer than that. Maya, you've been a wonderful inspiration to me, and I thank you so much for that.

Thank you again for joining us today. You're an absolute delight as always, and I hope everyone reads the entire Writing Girl series and especially SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY - it's by far your best.

Maya:  Thank you so much!!!!

Amy:  Maya has graciously provided a print copy of Charlotte's story - THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL - as well as 2 beautiful SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY coverflats and they're all signed! So Happy Halloween everyone - you have a chance to win one of these three (3) awesome prizes and Maya will provide a question for you to answer when you enter. Maya?

Maya:  Who are some of your favorite and most inspiring Writing Girls? They can be real, fictional, or even unpublished.

Amy:  Great question, Maya, thank you. Well, you heard the lady, so what's your answer?

Comment and be sure to leave an email address so that you may be entered in the Giveaway!

Giveaway Prizes: 

Grand Prize:  1 print copy of THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL by Maya Rodale

Blurb: 

Enter the Regency world of the Writing Girls series in Maya Rodale's charming tale of a scheming lady, a handsome second son, and the trouble they get into when the perfect scandal becomes an even more perfect match.

Scheme: A folly, a swan, a little lie . . . a compromising position

Lady Charlotte Brandon is always up to something . . . but somehow her best schemes for matchmaking often end in disaster.

Scheme: A family feud, outrageously false rumors, a shattered priceless vase . . . an even more compromising position
It's no wonder she's considered by at least one devastatingly handsome man to be devious, destructive, and dangerously appealing.

Scheme: A fox, a rabbit, a childhood foe, and a dashing rogue . . . the proposal to end all proposals

It's high time someone turned the tables on the lovely Lady Charlotte, and James Beauchamp is just the man to do it. Even if it means beating Charlotte at her devious game with a scandalous scheme of his own.

Second Prizes:
2 signed coverflats for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY  (they are gorgeous!!)

Giveaway Rules:

* In order to qualify to be entered to win, you MUST comment and leave a valid email address so that I can notify you when you win. Remember the formula:
 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thanks for playing!

* This Giveaway is open to US RESIDENTS ONLY (void where prohibited)

* This Giveaway will run until 11:30PM EDT, Friday, November 2, 2012 at which time one lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win a print copy of THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL and two lucky commenters will be chosen at random to each win a signed coverflat for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. The winners will notified by email and then announced on a special Saturday post. Good Luck Everyone!

To learn more about Maya and her wonderful books, please feel free to visit her website, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Happy Reading Everyone!

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.

THREE SCHEMES AND A SCANDAL, a novella by Maya Rodale, Avon Impulse, available now in ebook format and print will be available Nov 6, 2012.

Be sure to check out the other Writing Girl books if you haven't already.  : )

       

Unwrapping: Review of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale

Having read all of the Writing Girl series by Maya Rodale, I knew that as soon as an eARC of SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY was available that I just had to read this final book of the series. I also wanted to get a jump on it so that could bring you an interview with the lovely authoress herself, Maya Rodale - stay tuned for that on Wacky Wednesday's Halloween addition - she'll be visiting and we've got some great prizes to give away. But until then hold on to your breeches and enjoy what I have to say about this best book of the series and how 'bout that cover? *smiling*

***eARC provided by publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY:

He’s the only man she’s ever loved…

For ages it seems advice columnist Annabelle Swift has loved Derek Knightly, editor-owner of The London Weekly from a distance. Determined to finally attract her employer’s attention, she seeks advice from her loyal readers—who offer Annabelle myriad suggestions…from lower-cut bodices (success!) and sultry gazes (disaster!) to a surprise midnight rendezvous (wicked!).

She’s the only woman he never noticed…

Derek never really took note of his shy, wallflower lady writer. But suddenly she’s exquisite…and he can’t get Annabelle out of his mind! She must be pursuing someone, but who? For some inexplicable reason, the thought of her with another man makes Knightly insanely jealous.

Will Dear Annabelle find her happy ending?

But Knightly’s scandalous periodical has been targeted for destruction by a vengeful Lord Marsden, and the beleaguered editor now faces a devastating choice: either marry Marsden’s sister to save his beloved newspaper…or follow his heart and wed his Writing Girl.

                  *                    *                    *                    *                      *                    *

Annabelle Swift has been working for Derek Knightly at the London Weekly for years and in love with him just as long. Having watched her dear friends, and fellow Writing Girls, find and fall in love with their prince charmings, Annabelle is tired of dispensing advice to the masses and decides to turn the tables. As Dear Annabelle, her column usually gives advice on how to get stains out or such but when she asks the people of London for advice on how to get a man to notice her, the column becomes the talk of the Town and the ton.

 

Derek Knightly has made a name for himself and is revered in the publishing world. He's built a fortune and has many friends and more than one woman who wouldn't mind turning his head but he's only got one goal to which he truly aspires. He wants to marry someone who would place him in the position where his half-brother would finally recognize him as a gentleman and an equal. The only way he sees this happening is by marrying the right woman. A woman who would provide him the place in the ton he needs to be recognized by his half-brother. He believes he's found her, but at what cost?

 

Threatened with the destruction of his newspaper and everything he's built up, Derek must marry the vengeful Lord Marsden's sister or watch his name and fortune destroyed by scandal and false accusations. Even as he struggles to solve this problem, his newspaper is soaring in popularity all because of a little noticed column written by an even less noticed Writing Girl. Ever since Dear Annabelle asked the good people of London to help her gain the notice of one particular nodcock, it's all that anyone including his best friends are talking about. Not only has the column grown in popularity but suddenly, Annabelle is much more noticeable.

 

Will Annabelle succeed in winning the attentions and affections of her nodcock, better known to everyone else at the London Weekly as Derek Knightly, or will she lose to the woman with society and a title behind her?

 

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale is absolutely delightful from the first page to the last. We suffer Annabelle's angst as she attempts to capture Derek Knightly's attention. Just when we think it's safe, we suffer Derek's worry over whether or not he will be able to recapture Annabelle's love and convince her that she is worthy of all she wants. Maya writes SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY with humor, laugh out loud slapstick, and makes us remember that lack of confidence feeling that everyone, who has ever tried to capture the attention of a first love, has experienced.

 

With a Cinderella meets I Love Lucy feel to this delightfully endearing story, Maya Rodale has conjured her best writing to date for her final Writing Girl. She's succeeded in creating a happy-ever-after that leaves you smiling and wishing Mr. Knightly and his Dear Annabelle all the best. This one is, by far, my most favorite and I so didn't want it to end.

 

I highly recommend SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale whether you've read anything by this fabulous Regency authoress yet, or not. If you love a light-hearted comedy romance, you will love SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY. It will have you smiling, giggling and possibly laughing out loud as I did. Warning: be prepared to have people stare as if you've lost your mind if you read it in a public place.

 

Happy Reading Everyone!

 

SEDUCING MR. KNIGHTLY by Maya Rodale, Avon Romance, available Oct 30, 2012 in print and ebook formats. Run, don't walk, to get this one!