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Hi, everyone!

As you may or may not know, I first introduced the de Warennes in The Conqueror in 1989, a powerful and passionate love story set during the Norman Conquest. One medieval followed it a few years later, Promise of the Rose. I never intended to develop another family saga at that time and certainly never envisioned bringing this powerful dynasty to nineteenth century Ireland and England.

But when I began the Prize, the hero being Devlin O’Neill, whose ancestor Liam O’Neill was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite pirate, (The Game), the de Warennes instantly insisted upon making another appearance in my life. And suddenly Devlin’s stepfather became Edward de Warenne the earl of Adare, and a whole new generation of powerful, passionate and privileged de Warenne men were born.

Sean and Eleanor’s story is the third de Warenne novel set in the Regency period. The Prize and The Masquerade preceded it, telling the stories of first Devlin O’Neill and Virginia Hughes, and then Tyrell de Warenne and Lizzie Fitzgerald. Sean and Eleanor are introduced in The Prize, and I think you can sense that something is brewing between them!

In a way, The Stolen Bride is a departure for me. For those of you who are familiar with my novels, you know I am well-known for strong, Alpha and near Alpha males, reeking with power and dysfunction. Usually my heroines make a long and personal journey of self-discovery while daring to love an impossible and powerful man. In that journey, she tames the beast. In SB, Sean is so dysfunctional he has lost most of his power and he is the one who must make a journey not of self-discovery, but of renewal and rebirth. Sean is a terribly wounded man and is intent on going it alone, forever—he refuses to drag her down with him. He has been missing for four years—and for two of those years, he was in solitary confinement in a black hole. The man we met in The Prize is no longer—he is dark, dangerous and desperate. In fact, he can hardly speak coherently from an attack he suffered while in prison. And not only do we no longer recognize him, he no longer recognizes himself. Sean is certain that Sean O’Neill is dead—and that he will never be reborn.

He is wrong.

The first time Eleanor sees Sean again, after the four years apart, she knows something horrible has happened to him. From that moment, she is determined to help him in every possible way—to help him escape the authorities, to help him heal his soul. Sean’s journey to recover his own power and peace of mind is a long and difficult and very emotional one—but Eleanor never gives up on him, no matter how he tries to push her away.

The Stolen Bride goes on sale at the end of September, 2006 and Cliff’s story is next in A Lady At Last, and that goes on sale at the end of November 2006 (think Thanksgiving).

Cliff is the greatest gentleman privateer of his era; she is La Sauvage, a pirate’s daughter. He is wealthy, powerful, privileged, and accustomed to the greatest beauties in the world; she is used to running wild in the islands, she cannot read or write and has never worn a dress.

He had secretly admired her from afar, for no one has as free a spirit. She has openly admired him for years, for no one is as handsome, as powerful or as great a sea captain. And then Fate decides its time to intervene and her father is hanged, leaving her utterly alone in the world…And Cliff rescues her. With the snap of that noose, he becomes her protector, her champion, and then, in spite of the raging desire between them, her guardian!

I have just finished my first paranormal romance, which is titled Dark Seduction. Wow, was that a wild ride! If you have loved my historical heroes, you will love these oversexed and powerful medieval Highland warriors! You will meet Alpha heroes at their most arrogant, their most sexy, and their most infuriating….

I am now writing Rex’s and Blanche’s story. So many of you, after reading The Masquerade, emailed me begging me to match up these two. Even my editor suggested it. I, of course, said no. Ha ha! I think my muse knew well before me what Fate has in store for these two. You were right, I was wrong. One night I woke up in the throes of their passionate and very emotional story. It is different...

Please continue to visit the The Lounge for more excerpts and character entries from The Stolen Bride and A Lady At Last.

Hope to see you at Adare in the fall of 1818!

Happy reading, Always.

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