TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY with Victoria Vane

Thank you for dropping by today.  I am beyond excited to have one of my most favored authors spending the day her at Romantic Crush Junkies Reviews blog.  Georgian historical romance author Victoria Vane is heating up this historical genre with her stories of betrayal  denial and dangerous erotic liaisons   Come and find out why Victoria's world is on place you will enjoy return to again and again.

Questions for Author…

Georgian Historical Romance Author

Victoria Vane

 

What is the secret to staying in love with your characters and story to see it through to the end?

I Love this question! I think the trick is to write characters that you CAN fall in love with. In my case it's the good, the bad, and the ugly ones. LOL!

I might be completely off base and correct me if I am wrong, but your TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS has a the feel of the 1988 film starring Glen Close, Michelle Pfeiffer and John MalKovich DANGEROUS LIAISONS . It just happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time. I was wondering if that is what you were shooting for while writing. 

Actually you are right ON the money. The core characters in TT were very much inspired by the film Dangerous Liaisons, which was itself based on an 18^th century epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos. Two more 18^th century novels, Pamela and Clarissa Harlowe, both written by Samuel Richardson, also influenced the book, but the story is all my own.

Would you explain more of where the concept for TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS came from?

It's always hard for me to explain the precise origins of any of my stories as they just kind of come to me in a dream-like way, but they are always influenced by something history related. I have studied a great deal about the 18^th century as it has been the setting for everything I have written to date and I always try to incorporate some of this gritty reality into my stories. I love this melding of fact and fiction and feels it gives my work a greater feeling of authenticity.

In Treacherous Temptations I use a number of true historical events, particularly the South Sea Scandal as it no only serves as the basis of my plot, but indirectly brings my characters together. The bursting of the South Sea Bubble in 1720 was every bit as devastating as the Wall Street Crash of 1929. It is how Mary's father amassed a great fortune while Hadley's father lost everything. This government protected fraud also links my characters.

Do you remember where you were when the kernel of Treacherous Temptation struck?

I don't actually. Probably because the individual elements of this story came to me in pieces. I do recall, however, that it began as a subplot of a huge historical project that I have been wanting to write. The characters of Barbara and Hadley were indeed closely modeled after the Marquise de Meurtiel and Valmont from D.L.

What is one characteristic that you give all your heroines?

Brains! In Mary's case, she is innocent and unworldly, but not stupid. Although she cannot understand the depths of depravity surrounding her, she still feels the undercurrents and seeks a way out.

What is a “must” that every hero you write must have?

I love wit, intelligence, and a dry/self-deprecating sense of humor which all add greatly to the physical charms they must possess. In sum, this recipe creates an irresistible charisma. This shines through Hadley several times in the story. I love when he actually tries to warn her off when we know his true goal is to seduce Mary.

Here are two snippets that no woman could resist:

He laughed, a harsh sound, all sign of humor leaving his eyes. "Don't let any of it fool you, my dear, for even the most tarnished silver can acquire a fine and gleaming polish. And believe me, there is far more tarnish here than an innocent and unschooled eye such as yours can discern."

"Why would you speak so of yourself?" Mary protested.

He reached for a red-gold curl that had escaped her lace cap and coiled it around his finger. "I would forewarn you, Miss Edwardes that I am a man, and men in general are not to be trusted…" He held her gaze as he slowly released the ringlet, allowing his fingers to skim her cheek. "…especially not by pretty young virgins."

***Later in the story**

"All men are brutes, my dear," he answered with a cynical twist of his lips. "It just takes different circumstances for the beast to emerge." And his had sprung forth like a rabid wolf.

What would you claim makes a glorious villain?

A great villain has to be believable. Barbara is so wicked that she may come across as a bit of a caricature, but in my mind, jealous women are capable of the greatest evil. Hell hath no fury… after all.

What is the writing life and day of Victoria Vane?

Insane! Generally speaking,I am unable to write anything creative during the day. I can read, research or blog, but my creative mind doesn't awaken until the sun goes down which means I stay up most of the night. I typically begin writing about 7 or 8PM and go to bed around 2AM.

As far as other activities/hobbies go, I like to walk my dog, ride my horse, and play the Celtic harp.

What would readers be surprised to find out about you?

I love to travel and was an exchange student in Finland when I was 17. When I returned, I wanted to enlist in the US Airforce to become a linguist. I was accepted into their linguistics school in Monterey, California, but then my boyfriend proposed. It was a really tough choice, but I accepted. We married the next spring. This May marks our 30^th anniversary, so I guess it was the right decision!

What is it about the Georgian era that you find so magical?

The glitter, glamour, and elegance but also the decadence and grit that lies under the surface. I try to show both sides of this coin in all of my stories.

After reading TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS I can tell that you put your own blood, sweat and tears into every character and it shows on every page. My imagination is running wild and curious to know if there is a bit of yourself in your characters. Who do you believe is most like you?

That is so very true! To be honest, writing emotionally  exhausts me as I channel so much of myself into every single word. Like an actor, I try to become each character as I write them as I endeavor to reveal the internal workings of each through their emotions and motives. It's not easy!

Surprisingly, I have always found that male characters come much easier to me than females do! Perhaps it's because I have always been surrounded by men at home.

When I wrote Mary, however, I could easily envision how she felt in leaving her comfortable country home to go to London. I was also a small town girl and felt very much like a fish out of water when I first moved to a city.

Out of all my female characters, I think I relate best to Diana in my DeVere series. Although she is cool on the exterior, underneath she is a very passionate woman who only needed the right man to bring that side out. Moreover, when given the chance to change her life she doesn't hesitate to take the risk. I am also very much a risk taker.

I would like to take a moment and thank Mary Elizabeth Edwardes and Lord Hadley Blanchard for dropping by with Victoria.  Hi Guys, (waving above the crowd) I am so excited that you were able to drop by today.  I hope you do not mind, but I would love to ask you some need to know questions that readers are desperate to know. I am one of those readers that love to find out what people think the moment they meet the love of their lives.  Mary, I will start with you.  What was the very first thing you thought when you laid eyes on Lord Hadley?

He entered the room in all his aristocratic splendor and stole my very breath. I had never met anyone like him before, you see. I was being bullied at the moment by that horrid little dancing master, but instead of laughing at my ineptitude and clumsiness, Lord Hadley  came to my rescue like a gleaming knight. His manner and his charm completely and instantly infatuated me.

Lord Hadley, you are up. =) What was your first impression of Mary?

I was charmed by her. I had lived my entire life surrounded by deceivers and opportunists. Mary was so refreshingly, artless, honest, and genuine.

Mary, would you please share with readers the moment you knew you fell for this devilishly charming rogue and knew without a doubt he was the man of your heart.

Hadley was such an enigma as I kept seeing different versions of him, varying and contrary aspects of his character that kept me perpetually wondering who the true man really was. It was at our outing to the cascade at Bushy Park when he touched the deepest place in my heart— only to tear it asunder. Although I knew then that I loved him, I also knew I could never trust him — or so I believed.

Same question for you, Lord Hadley. When did you realize that your life wasn’t complete and didn’t make a lick of sense if your Mary wasn’t in it?

It was the same day I had planned to seduce her, to force her into marriage, but in the end, I couldn't go through with it. She had moved me in a way I had never experienced. I fought it fiercely at first, but then knew that I needed her — that my life would never be right without her. It was Mary that made me want to shake off the shackles of my former existence at last.

What is one thing, you both, would like readers to walk away with after reading your love story?

Ours very much a story of redemption and trust.

Now back to Victoria:

One more question before we go. Would you share with readers what is up next in your Georgian world and when can we expect the next Victoria Vane release?

I am excited to share that my Devere series is far from finished! In fact, I hope to release another Devilish Vignette this very month. A DEVIL'S TOUCH is a shorter novella that once more features my all time favorite couple, Diana and DeVere. It is intense and erotic, and takes place three months after their marriage. This story also sets up the next two books, THE TROUBLE WITH SIN which is Simon's story and JEWEL OF THE EAST, Salime's story. I hope to release these last two in tandem later in the spring.

In addition to a couple of stand alone historicals I hope to finish this year, I have several more installments to the DeVere series planned for next year to include a potential spin off series featuring the Devil's Dozen.

Lastly, I am also working on my first contemporary romance, a trilogy set in Southwestern Montana that my editor at Entangled has expressed interest in.

Thank you, Victoria for bringing along Mary and Lord Hadley with you today to chat about their love story.  I truly appreciate you letting me take a few moments to ask them some need-to-know questions. =)

Thank you so very much for having us! ;P

 ABOUT VICTORIA VANE

A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone , Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism.

CONTACT:

victoria.vane@hotmail.com

Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com

Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com

Twitter: @authorvictoriav

Product Details

BN ID: 2940016034843

Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Scandalous)

Publication date: 1/20/2013

Sold by: Barnes & Noble

Format: eBook

Heat: SCORCHING HOT

Overview

A reluctant heiress resigned to her fate… Mary Elizabeth Edwardes has one of the largest fortune's in England, but has no desire to leave her quiet country existence… and even less to acquire a husband she cannot choose for herself.

A dissolute nobleman bent on retribution… Trapped in a duplicitous existence since scandal destroyed his fortune and family name, Lord Hadley Blanchard has spent the better part of a decade posing as a disaffected exile while spying and seducing in the service of the English Crown.

A dangerous game of seduction, and intrigue… When summoned from abroad by a former lover, Lord Hadley perceives an opportunity for vengeance at last. By employing the full measure of his seductive charm, he woos the ward of the man who destroyed his life, little knowing that winning Mary's fortune will mean risking his own treacherous heart. 

 Coming event: Come join Victoria Vane at RCJR eZine's Author Chat on Wednesday, February 13, 2013.  Runing time is from 8p-10pest.  We are going to have loads of fun chatting with Victoria about all of her delicious characters and why the Georgian era seems to be the'it" period of the moment.  Make sure to mark the date because this is one author you do not want to miss out on. To enter the chat this coming Wednesday pleas click on Victoria's TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS graphic below. 

I hope you had a blast getting to know today’s featured author.  Georgian historical author Victoria Vane will be chatting live on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 8p-10p est about her latest release, TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS.  If you are looking for intrigues and high stakes amongst the glittering back drop of the Georgian world, then, welcome t Victoria Vane's magnetic world.

In celebration of TREACHEROUS TEMPTATIONS’s release and Victoria Vane  joining us on February 13, 2013 for the Online Book Chat at RCJR eZine we will be giving one (1) lucky readers a copy of TREACHEROUS TEMPTATION.

Here’s how to enter .

*Leave a comment for Victoria Vane.

*Become a follower of RCJR eZine Blog

*Like us on Facebook

*Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter #TreacherousTemptationsGiveaway

*Follow us on Twitter @ RCJReviewsEZine

Please leave your email in your comment.

Contest runs until February 14, 2013

Winner will be contacted directly on February 15, 2013

Happy Reading! =)