Hurray for me, for I flippin' rock.
Oh, not in any "I'm so much cooler than you" way, 'cause you probably already know what I just stumbled across this weekend: Karen Ranney writes really great romance, and there's lots more to be had where her thoroughly entertaining -- and surprisingly naughty -- new "Sold to a Laird " comes from.
The laird in question's not really a laird, not yet anyway, 'though he is Scots beneath the dignified trappings of British "misterdom." Yes, our Mr. Douglas Eston's a long way from his humble, streets-of-Perth-urchin beginnings when he offers the austere Duke of Herridge a share in one of Eston's about-to-be-even-more-successful ventures. The duke's thrilled to foist upon Eston the hand - and virtue - of his daughter, Sarah, as part of the business deal, as it kills two birds w/ a single stone: the duke gets rid of his daughter and, after his ailing wife finally dies, he can use the business windfall to score a fertile young heiress.
Sarah, Lady Baines, has little choice but to marry Eston; she's bent to the duke's will all her life, and doing so now also will allow her mother to die in her beloved country seat of Chavensworth. Yet Sarah's plan to treat Eston with cool disdain is met with nothing but empathy from Eston, along with deliciously - well there's just no other way to put it - dirty pillow talk, not necessarily to seduce right off the bat, but at the very least to let Sarah know her understanding groom isn't one without warm feelings for her.
In fact, Eston's feelings for Sarah are unequivocal from the start. Sarah's emotions, however, are harder for her to access let alone name, and will be all the more precious to hold, when she realizes she's got them in spades. Eston hopes to prove to her he's more than man enough to handle all she's got, and all she'll have as she grows, he hopes, to love him.
And therein lies the unexpected and immensely satisfying freshness of "Sold to a Laird"; Eston is no overbearing, marriage-of-convenience lout - not that there's anything wrong with that. But as a remarkably appealing leading man for a strong, yet soon-to-be-softer heroine, Eston, one is thrilled to find, has his heart - and his taught 'n toned alpha -- in all the right places.
Ten years ago I probably would've held disdain for a novel whose premise or "hook" consisted of a duke giving his daughter in marriage to a commoner in a business deal. Today, the very idea causes my heart - and various segments of my nervous system - to flutter in anticipation. It also leaves me dying to check out Ranney's backlist, hoping for more classic storylines. How 'bout you?
Which classic romance storylines that some might call "hack" get you "hooked" every time? And who's the last "new" author you found who's got a nice, big backlist for you to savor now that you've found her/him?
I like a lot of the classic storylines or hooks. Friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, reunions etc. I love the familiarity and the 'comfort' of them, and a good author can always make a storyline that's been told a thousand times into something that feels fresh and innovative.
I discovered Betina Krahn a short while ago, with The Last Bachelor, and now I'm reading more of her titles. I love the way she balances humour and touching emotion. Awesome!
ps. so happy now that the B&N site 'remembers' me and I don't have to log in twice each time I want to post! 
Hi Michelle!
The classic storylines that I like are the kidnapped & held hostage and the marriage of convenience. These are my two favorite hooks, but really it doesn't matter as long as it's well written. This is the first preference that I have. Because if it's not, no matter how beautiful the cover or how great the back cover copy, I'll drop it in a heartbeat.
I'd say that the last "new" author I found with a huge backlist is Sherrilyn Kenyon. I'd never read anything by her and have started reading her Dark Hunter/Dream Hunter Series. The first book I read just blew me away! This lady is one fantastic writer and I look forward to enjoying her other books in the series.
Michelle,
I've read two Sherrilyn Kenyon stories actually. Her short story Shadow of the Moon in the anthology Dead After Dark and Night Play. I usually don't like to read out of order, but when I read the review for Night Play, I was so intrigued, I couldn't stop myself from ordering it. The premise that a heroine who was not pencil thin got my attention. That this hunky man/wolf was in love with her did it for me. I love Vane Kattalakis and I love Bride, the heroine cause I can identify with her.
She did introduce Valerius and his HEA in this book. There is an excerpt from Seize the Night in the back of Night Play, so I got to read a little about Valerius & Tabitha. Acheron, who I've heard so much about was also introduced. I have researched them all and they all sound good! If I could read them all at once, I would!
