Author Mia Marlowe is our Book Club Friday guest today. Mia writes historical romance with a pinch of paranormal magic for Kensington and Sourcebooks. Her work was featured in the Best of 2010 edition of PEOPLE magazine and one of her books is on display at the Museum of London Docklands alongside memorabilia from Johnny Depp and Errol Flynn. A classically trained soprano, Mia describes her stories as a cross between Grand Opera and Gilbert & Sullivan...with sex! Learn more about Mia and her books at her website. -- AP
Romance with Mysterious Heart…
First of all, thanks for having me here today, Anastasia. Now I know all of you are probably asking yourself why an historical author is visiting a mystery blog, but I promise there's a good reason. You see, I like to tuck a little mystery into my love stories as a secondary plot.
In my Victorian-set Touch of a Thief, my hero and heroine are on the trail of a malevolent red diamond that's on its way to the Royal Collection. There are multiple couriers bearing fakes to protect the rare stone, but my heroine uses her special ability to "hear" gemstones in order to find the right one.
In my novella A Knack for Trouble in the anthology Improper Gentlemen, there is a true murder mystery, but the trail has gone cold. You see, my hero confessed to murdering the upstairs maid in order to protect someone else. Now he's out to clear his name. And make sure another strangled corpse isn't found in the grotto in the center of the maze.
In my newest e-novella, A Duke for All Seasons, Arabella and Sebastian don't have much reason to trust each other, but they must work together to rescue her daughter from the French assassin who's kidnapped her.
In each case, the mystery is one of many threads in my story, but I love weaving that texture into the backdrop of a romance. The basic premise of all romance is: Boy Meets Girl, Boy messes things up with Girl, Boy gets Girl. In my stories part of the messing up and eventual getting is tied up in how the hero and heroine work together to unravel the mystery. It's a chance for them to use all their abilities and confront their fears. A chance for my characters to grow individually as well as together.
One of my favorite romances with a mystery component is Nora Roberts’ Carolina Moon. Share your favorite romance with a mystery tucked into it, and you'll be entered in my random drawing to receive a copy of Improper Gentlemen.
Looking forward to hearing from YOU!
So readers, what’s your favorite romance with a mystery or maybe your favorite romantic mystery? My favorite is Envy by Sandra Brown. Let’s hear from you. And as always, either include your email address or don’t forget to check back on Sunday to learn if you’re the lucky winner. Remember, we need to be able to contact the winner in order to ship the book. -- AP
So readers, what’s your favorite romance with a mystery or maybe your favorite romantic mystery? My favorite is Envy by Sandra Brown. Let’s hear from you. And as always, either include your email address or don’t forget to check back on Sunday to learn if you’re the lucky winner. Remember, we need to be able to contact the winner in order to ship the book. -- AP
An all time favorite is Mary Stewart's Madam, Will You Talk. But many of her mysteries were romance novels, and all were good.
ReplyDeleteOh, I adore Mary Stewart. Love her Touch Not the Cat!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is The Countess by Catherine Coulter. I love the Gothic novel feel of the book and it keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story.
ReplyDeleteConvincing Alex by Nora Roberts. Just love it.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the romance and mystery together thing. My favorite read!
Mary Stewart was my first love when it comes to writers who combine mystery and romance, followed by my discovery of Nora Roberts. It looks like I must add Mia Marlowe to that august list. I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteAll of Nora's romantic suspense books would fit the bill nicely, and Montana Sky would probably be my favorite. (But I also love Birthright, Carolina Moon, Honest Illusions and The Villa).
ReplyDeleteI would also add Tessa Dare's Three Nights with a Scoundrel. Tessa did a fantastic job weaving the mystery into the romance. But to be fair, I would have to include ALL the books in the Stud Club trilogy, not just Three Nights. :)
It's been so long since I've read Mary Stewart, that it would probably be like reading new books for me. I enjoyed Amanda Quick's Wait Until Midnight, which has a nice mystery.
ReplyDeleteDoes Naked in Death count? I get confused between police procedurals and mysteries. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, is the giveaway international? I'm in Australia.
hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net
My all time favorite mystery/romance is Nora Robert's Angel Falls. I wouldn't say the relationship in the book is all that romantic, but I love the two main characters and their I don't want to be in a relationship realtionship. They get it right in the end.
ReplyDeleteMolly--Gothic is always fun. Sort of the literary version of a teen slasher movie. No, no! Don't go down into that creepy basement!
ReplyDeletePat--I'll have to give Convincing Alex a try.
ReplyDeleteCindy--Wow! That's pretty fast company for me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLisa--Tessa Dare is one of my new favs too.
ReplyDeleteGayle--I reread Mary Stewart's MERLIN trilogy about every 5 years or so. Love her brilliant prose.
ReplyDeleteKaetrin--Yes, my contest is international too! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteKathy--That's what a romance is all about, that delicious HEA!
ReplyDeleteLike the other commenters, I'm not sure if these qualify as mysteries. There is a sense of suspense and the unknown.
ReplyDeleteSandra Brown, "The Crush" and
Fern Michaels, "The Nosy Neighbor"