Month of Love Guest Blog and Giveaway: Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore
Everyone please welcome Jennifer to Paperback Dolls! Jennifer is visiting us on her blog tour for her new novel, Secrets of an Accidental Duchess, the second novel in her Donovan series released this past Tuesday! To learn more about Jennifer Haymore and her works, please visit her website here. To learn more about Month of Love and who is visiting you can go here.
The Joy of Scandal…
Scandals….ahhh…aren’t they fun? Tiger Woods, Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen. Just saying those celebrities’ names sparks memories of the scandals that have surrounded them. And this isn’t a new phenomenon. People thrived on scandal even back in the 1820’s and 1830’s (the time period in which my Donovan series is written).
So, why do we love scandal so much? I’m thinking it’s not because we’re a nation full of bored people that get our kicks out of watching someone fly off the deep end, get into a huge amount of trouble, or sleep with everyone who passes by. I’m thinking it’s because we all have a secret part of ourselves we keep locked up and under control, and that part is pure, 100% scandal. So when we hear about Ashton Kutcher’s alleged unfaithfulness to Demi Moore, a part of us stands to attention. In essence, most of us keep our stiff upper lip and hold on to our respectability and even-keeled behaviors, but when we hear about a scandal, we live vicariously through the people involved. And we all love happy endings. I think that while we inhale these stories, we always hope for some happy resolution. Wouldn’t it be grand if Ashton saw the error in his ways and went rushing to Demi’s bedside, fell on his knees, and begged her to be with him forever? Ah well, a girl can dream….
There are scandals in every one of my books. Why? Because I love them, and the readers seem to love them too. In my latest book, SECRETS OF AN ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS, the main scandal is more of a “private” one, because the heroine, Olivia, is very, very good at keeping secrets. But still, we have an abusive marquis, an indecent proposition in a ballroom, slipping into a gentleman’s bedchamber at night, a jealous duke…Oh, the list goes on! Best of all, I love that I am a romance writer, and that it’s my job to turn scandals that could turn into horrible nightmares into happily ever afters.
What about you? Why do you think we love scandals so much, and what is it about them that keeps us coming back for more?
Jennifer Haymore grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she surfed, learned how to fly airplanes, raced bicycles, and developed a love for sailing. She was an avid reader and completely destroyed her eyesight by sneaking a flashlight under her covers and reading far into the nights — making her mother wonder why on earth she couldn’t get up for school in the mornings…
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.
You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family’s future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin’s identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn’t love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.
Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he’s introduced to the prim and proper “Meg,” he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?
With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess…
It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn’t resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he’d fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a Madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.
Hi Jennifer!
I think why I love scandals so much (yes I like to read scandals news when I’m working, LOL!), because its delight us to know about people’s secret. Especially if that secrets are juicy and surprised us. I know that kinda mean, to love scandals, but I think that part of our nature
Thanks that many many appreciated by link
I do like a scandal but I like to read how they overcome the scandal and how they live with it.
In historicals because if a woman is just alone with a man that could cause a scandal. So just being in the parlour together is a bit of angst because I dont want them to get caught. Its almost like free angst that the author doesnt even have to work at because it just is. Plus Im not a huge fan of angsty books so these little moments do it for me.
Also I love when the protagonists can turn their nose at the ton and then come out better for it.
I think that the fact that we love to read about love scandals so much is because we’d all secretly like to engage in one but can’t take the chance on EVERYONE knowing. It gives us that shiver of excitement where we can say “But for the grace of God”. It justifies our feelings of righteousness in knowing that we have acted appropriately and not had our dirty laundry aired for all to see. And there are some who really hope for that happy ending (at least if it’s a book) while others hope to see the mighty fallen.
Scandals are delicious when they happen to others, especially characters in a book. We wince at their faux pas & cheer at the eventual HEA.
I have to say that I don’t really follow the scandals that occur in Hollywood, sports, television, etc. I don’t really pay much attention to them. Now in a good romance, I love a scandal. The excitement, the suspense of who may catch them in a compromising position, etc will keep me glued to a book and flipping pages as fast as I can read them.
Congrats on the release!
I don´t enjoy reading/watching scandals very much. I like Happy Endings so :).
What intrigued me in description of “Secrets of an Accidental Duchess” most, is that Max has a bet about Olivia.
I don’t really follow scandal sheets, news etc. However, I do think that many people are fascinated by scandal, especially if it’s by somebody well known. We like to think that they’re not perfect like most of them portray to be.
Congratulations on your new release. I look forward to reading it.
Thanks for the lovely post and giveaway! I’ve had book lust for this series ;)
I’d have to say we love scandal b/c it’s a distraction from what’s going on in our (usually boring) lives. It puts the spotlight and focus on someone else and we can live vicariously through someone else. And like someone else said, sometimes it fuels our secret want to do the same!
well, I think it actually depends on people. I’m not very interested in scandals (sorry, got too may things on my own to care about), but I think people wanna know how famous people react, what they do. They want them to be more ‘normaral’ maybe
Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.
Gosh, I hate to admit this – but I get an immediate rush when I hear something scandalous about someone I know, as if I found out that they aren’t as perfect as I thought they were, that they’re life is just as mucked up as mine is. But it’s momentary, and I feel shame about it pretty quickly. I think it’s a pretty human reaction. Although some really do delight in the emotion.
The wonderful thing about books is that you can delight in the secret and the reaction without hurting anyone. And that is simply delicious =D
Thank you so much for the giveaway chance!
The fact that scandals are so salacious!! And the fact that someone else’s life is a little bit worse than our own, and if they can overcome their scandal, maybe we can overcome our own smaller problems:)
Scandals are like a social car accident – we can’t help but look. A lot of Regency scandals wouldn’t make us blink today.
I think we love scandals because it makes us feel superior, “we” wouldn’t do something so scandalous, to make everyone point and stare. But then we have so much fun with all the talk, we can’t wait for the next scandal.
I enjoy reading about a scandal in romances. I think it adds a little spice to the story.
I think we like scandals because they add spice to our somewhat ordinary lives.
I guess scandals are like car accidents–they’re awful and most have injuries involved, but we’re curious creatures by nature and that’s why we can’t look away. I guess, if we put these personalities/celebrities up on the pedestals they balance upon, it’s only natural that we have a personal stake in watching the pillar we built topple with those we put up there in the first place.
Smiles!
Lori
Love scandals interests me because it can bring out the best and worst in characters. It makes me wonder if love is worth it and if so the lengths and heartbreak people are willing to endure for it.
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I think hearing about the scandals of the rich and famous gives us “average” folks a shot of adrenaline. The thing is, we all want to see them fail in some way. It makes these “perfect” people seem more human and, therefore, weak. Also, it gives us something salacious to gossip about because we no longer have balls to attend where we can spread naughty gossip! jepebATverizonDOTnet
I think it’s because it’s something one wouldn’t normally be involved in or encounter everyday.
Thanks PBD for introducing another new author to me. This book sounds amazing and is right up my alley! :P
Thanks PBD for introducing another new author to me. This book sounds amazing and is right up my alley! :P <3
I think it is actually the happy ending of scandals in books that we are drawn to. So often in life a scandal doesn’t pan out in a good way and romance novels give us that ‘it can all work out in the end’ without the worry of ‘what if it doesn’t’. The drama of a scandal with the assurance of a resolution is such a worry-free way to have that brush with tragedy or shock.
I do love a scandal. Hate to say this but it’s entertaining and makes me think how good my life is and how it could always be worse. I love scandals in books because I like seeing how a character overcomes it and how it makes them stronger
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