Guest post by Maggie Robinson + Giveaway

I am happy to welcome back to Ex Libris the wonderful Maggie Robinson, author of the scorching hot historical romance Courtesan Court series! Today Maggie stops by to tell us about her brand new series: The London List historical romance series, the first book of which was just released recently! Read on to hear about covers, historical accuracy (or lack of) and inspiration, and you could even win a copy of Lord Gray’s List!

Covers and Reality

by Maggie Robinson

Stella, thanks so much for having me back to talk about my brand new series, The London List trilogy. All good things come in threes. :-)

The first book, Lord Gray’s List, has been out for a few weeks. The next one, Captain Durant’s Countess, releases in February and will be an full-length ebook exclusive. The last, Lady Anne’s Lover, comes out in August. I am absolutely loving the covers so far, with their mix of manscape and landscape. However, eagle eyes and historical purists will note that Big Ben was not around in the Regency, when Ben Gray’s story is set, nor would Ben’s shirt have unbuttoned in that delicious, distracting fashion. And worse…there are street lights in front of the country house on the cover of Captain Durant’s Countess!!! I’ll pretend they’re gas lamps and call it good. Who can look at lights anyway when Reyn Durant’s sword is so shiny?

People always ask me who I imagine my heroes look like, and the truth is, they appear in my head, usually bearing little resemblance to anyone. Ben is a large blond Scot. I’m familiar with the model they’ve used on the cover, and he doesn’t look like “my” Ben at all. Captain Durant, on the other hand, is pretty yummy. Bloodthirsty woman that I am, I like that their heads are partially cut off so I can imagine the rest of them. A bit of mystery and obfuscation always works for me. I’m having new author photos done, and wouldn’t I love to cut half my head off, LOL. The photographer promises to photoshop judiciously, so we’ll see how I turn out.

Getting back to Lord Gray’s List, the series revolves around a Regency weekly scandal sheet. Ben Gray keeps turning up on its front page, and instead of trying to keep a lower profile, decides to buy the paper. He intends to close it down, but when he discovers how important it is to so many people, he agrees to work alongside his nemesis, editor Evangeline Ramsey. Sparks fly, etc.

Here’s my question: Could you work alongside your husband or boyfriend and live to tell about it? My husband and I taught together in several private schools, and while we were never in the same classroom, it was a little awkward with school politics and disciplinary issues when we disagreed. Not to mention the two years I was a school librarian and we shared a mailbox. He was the athletic director and kept throwing away all the book catalogs, LOL. One commenter will get a trade paperback copy of Lord Gray’s List!

Lord Gray's List by Maggie Robinson

Book #1 in the London List series

From duchesses to chamber maids, everybody’s reading it. Each Tuesday, The London List appears, filled with gossip and scandal, offering job postings and matches for the lovelorn—and most enticing of all, telling the tales and selling the wares a more modest publication wouldn’t touch.

The creation of Evangeline Ramsey, The London List saved her and her ailing father from destitution. But the paper has given Evie more than financial relief. As its publisher, she lives as a man, dressed in masculine garb, free to pursue and report whatever she likes—especially the latest disgraces besmirching Lord Benton Gray. It’s only fair she hang his dirty laundry, given that it was his youthful ardor that put her off marriage for good.

Lord Gray—Ben—isn’t about to stand by while all of London laughs at his peccadilloes week after week. But once he discovers that the publisher is none other than pretty Evie Ramsey with her curls lopped short, his worries turn to desires—and not a one of them fit to print.

Read an excerpt

Buy it at Amazon - Kindle store - Book Depository UK - Book Depository US

 Read my review

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher, library clerk and mother of four who woke up in the middle of the night, absolutely compelled to create the perfect man and use as many adverbs as possible doing so. A transplanted New Yorker, she lives with her not-quite perfect husband in Maine, where the cold winters are ideal for staying inside and writing hot historical romances.

You can reach Maggie on her website, blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Maggie has generously offered a paperback copy of Lord Gray's List to a lucky commenter!

All you have to do is leave a comment answering Maggie's question: Could you work alongside your husband or boyfriend and live to tell about it?

Giveaway is open worldwide and ends on 7 December 2012!

Good luck!

ps. Double your chances of winning Lord Gray's List by entering at Book Lovers Inc. as well!