Their marriage was convenient... Simon St. James, fifth Earl of Trask, knows he could do worse in the marriage of convenience department. Sophie Stanton may be a bit of a social liability, with her ungovernable ways and flighty nature, but Simon has responsibilities as an earl that far outweigh happiness in the household. As for happiness in the bedroom...he has to admit he sees Sophieβs potential in that arena...
Their passion was not! But Sophie isnβt some bargaining chip to be traded, and sheβs not about to let Simon St. James tell her how to live her lifeβeven though she has nurtured a crush on the handsome young earl for as long as she can remember. If his idea of courtship is telling her what to do, then she is not interested, or at least she is trying not to be. But when his scolding words turn to scorching kisses, suddenly Sophie starts paying attention...
Author Note
Dear Reader
One of the best parts about writing novels is the opportunity to pick a setting and build a world for your characters.Β For most of us who write Regency-set historical romance, the most popular setting is Londonβespecially the London of the haute ton.Β Sometimes we do branch out, exploring places like the underworld of Londonβs slums or even moving abroad to more exotic locales like Venice or Egypt.
I love setting my stories in London, but I also like exploring and depicting other parts of England.Β For SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL, I was drawn to the setting of a smaller townβthe kind of town weβve grown familiar with through the novels of Jane Austen.Β One that is genteel, elegant, but still big enough to sustain a lively, gossipy social life.
In other words, the resort town of Bath.
Bath is one of the most beautiful towns in England.Β Nestled along the Avon River, the houses climb in glorious terraces of honey-coloured stone up the surrounding hillsides.Β Fanny Burney lived here, as did Jane Austen.Β When we think of Bath we think of the majesty of the Royal Crescent, the elegance of the Circus, and the gentility of the Pump Room.Β In its hey-day, it was a gem, a place where the wealthy would gather to rest, relax, and amuse themselves with dancing, card-playing, and drinking lots of tea.
But in the course of my research for SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL, I discovered that Bath had a darker side, as well.Β There were neighbourhoods that existed during the Georgian and Regency period that were almost as bad as the infamous rookeries of Londonβs East End.Β Was I intrigued by this slice of Bath history?Β You bet.Β Did I include it in my book?Β I sure did, and I think it added color and depth to the story.Β My hero and heroine are drawn into this dangerous underworld, and what they discover surprises them both.
So, please join me for quite a different view of the charming city of Bath.Β You might find a few surprises, yourself, along the way!
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