Category:Authors, Blog, Featured Books

What If…?

By: Katharine Ashe
July 20, 2010

What would you do if—like Lady Valerie Monroe, the heroine of my debut romance, Swept Away By A Kiss—you were a scandalous beauty on her way home from exile in Boston, determined to reform your wicked ways, and you met the man of your dreams?

What would you do if that man, breathtakingly handsome and intoxicatingly masculine, had lion’s eyes that gazed at you like a predator gazing upon his prey?

What would you do if his enigmatic smile turned your knees to jelly and your resolution to honey? If his strong hands and sculpted mouth looked like they had been created to sin? If he touched you and every idea of reform simply fled?

What if he seems to be engaged in some nefarious business aboard ship?

What if he is a Frenchman, your kingdom’s sworn enemy in the midst of war?

What if he knows a little too well how to free a woman from ropes that bind her to a bed?

What if you didn’t care about any of that as long as he kept touching you?

What if—for a reason more damning than all of those combined—he is entirely, devastatingly, and unquestionably forbidden?

* * *

Lord Steven Ashford never regretted his priestly disguise… until now. Trapped in a cabin aboard a pirate ship with the beguiling Lady Valerie, and bent upon defeating a dangerous enemy by any means possible, Steven cannot let down his guard. But Valerie is temptation incarnate, and both of their resistances are crumbling…

A secret identity can be so inconvenient at times, and forbidden love can be so very alluring.

I adore stories about secret identities and forbidden love! What is your favorite secret-identity or forbidden-love story from books and films? Have you ever lived one yourself?

OTHER DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING IN AUTHORS Romance

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  • Respond

    silver says: August 28, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    i just wanted to say that a day dream with your books i feel like is me in every single books thank you all authors for making forget about my poblems and sickness just love historical-romance i cant say i love a book because there are so many different authors that i love there books….

  • Respond

    M says: August 10, 2010 at 1:59 am

    Congratulations on the book. It sounds like something I would love to read. I have a favorite secret Identity book in “One night with You” by Sophie Jordan.It simply has all thie right elements and a bit of a Cinderella Twist to it as well.

  • Respond

    Jane says: July 20, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    Congrats on your debut release, Katharine. One of my favorite secret identity books is Jude Devereaux’s “The Raider.”

  • Respond

    Melinda says: July 20, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    Wonderful blog! My favorite sort-of forbidden love story is 50 First Dates. Because of Lucy’s brain injury and lack of long term memory, Henry has to make her fall in love with him every single day. So romantic!

    • Respond

      Katharine Ashe says: July 20, 2010 at 4:14 pm

      Melinda, 50 First Dates was so much fun, quirky and really touching. I cried at the end, the boat scene… it was just too sweet!

  • Respond

    Amy Valentini says: July 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    Congratulations on your debut, Katherine! It sounds like a an exciting story. I’m reminded of the movie ‘Two Mules for Sister Sara’ exactly why I’m not sure but I am … maybe it’s the priest thing. LOL!! Anyway, I love intrigue and the heroine thinking she’s falling in love with the wrong guy. It’s the romance story of my own finished novel with a twist, of course, of which I’m not going to tell. ; ) Looking forward to reading SWEPT AWAY WITH A KISS!!! Happy Reading everyone!

    • Respond

      Katharine Ashe says: July 20, 2010 at 1:11 pm

      Two Mules… LOL, Amy! I’ve got to say, Lady Valerie doesn’t have much in common with Sister Sara. ;) I hope we get to read your intrigue and secret identity novel soon — it sounds terrif!

  • Respond

    Anne Calhoun says: July 20, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Hi, Katharine!

    This is one of my favorite topics, so I can’t wait to read this book! I’m working on a contemporary book right now with a similar theme. And in real life, I do have a “secret identity” – my writing alter ego. Apparently I’m not the kind of person people expect will write romance novels, especially super-sexy/erotic ones (to which I say don’t judge a book by its cover ;) ). In fact, I finally told a good friend my pseudonym by emailing him my website with “This is me.” in the body of the email. I awaited his response…

    He though someone had hacked into my email and sent him to my website. Then he figured it out. I found that hilarious.

    Congrats again on your upcoming debut! I’ve got my copy on preorder and can’t wait to read it!

    Anne

    • Respond

      Katharine Ashe says: July 20, 2010 at 12:23 pm

      LOL, Anne! Truly hilarious about your friend. Looks can indeed be deceiving. ;) Thanks for your kind words on my debut.

  • Respond

    Marquita says: July 20, 2010 at 10:59 am

    Cyrano de Bergerac comes to mind…at least in the movie version of Roxanne with Steve Martina and Darryl Hannah.

    Shakespeare’s As You Like It….i think the movie version was She’s the Man with Amanda Bynes.

    Is it sad that I know the movie versions….

    Great Blog and keep counting down until your debut!

    Marquita

    • Respond

      Katharine Ashe says: July 20, 2010 at 12:27 pm

      Marquita – two of my favorites. Steve Martin is so wonderful in Roxanne, the whole cast … “I’m afraid of worms, Roxanne!” lol. And as secret identity stories go, As You Like It is priceless. (She’s the Man was totally fun!)

  • Respond

    Deb says: July 20, 2010 at 9:25 am

    Congrats on your debut novel, Katharine! It sounds exciting!

    I don’t have a specific story in mind right now, but I like the stories where the hero is really a lord of the ton and doesn’t let on to the heroine. Said hero can let himself be judged for himself and not his peerage.

    I kind of have lived a forbidden story. My husband was divorced when I met him and I put off getting involved with him because of that. Then, shame on me, I kept it hidden from my parents for about 6 months because I knew they wouldn’t like it. It all worked out in the end—we’ve been married almost 12 years. :)

    • Respond

      Katharine Ashe says: July 20, 2010 at 9:47 am

      Ooo, Deb, those are my favorite stories too! If he can win her with his charm and bravery, his gallantry and strength, and of course his breathtaking kiss, it’s so much fun! And I always really respect a heroine who falls for her hero before discovering that he’s astoundingly rich and powerful — probably the bad-boy lovin’ girl in me! ;)

      Congratulations on twelve years with your honey! Isn’t that just the case? Our own feelings about what’s right and wrong (and what our loved ones think!) decide whether we believe something is forbidden or not. Thanks, Deb, for sharing your love story with us today. :)


Leave a Reply

Bad Boy by Peter Robinson
POST TYPE: post