The winner of Vanessa Kelly’s book, My Favorite Countess, is Joy Gifford.  Congratulations!  I’ll be in touch.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by the blog. Remeber to keep following the Grand Tour to win the main prize, a $200 Gift Card and 30 + signed books.

It's fun Friday here on my blog. I’ve got another wonderful guest with me today, and I'm also visiting her blog as well.  She’s Vanessa Kelly, writer of fabulous historicals. I loved My Favorite Countess, so much so, I've asked her to pop by and answer some questions for me.

Welcome Vanessa!

1. Give us the elevator pitch for your latest release, MY FAVORITE COUNTESS.

Spoiled society countess in desperate need of cash and security falls in love with a crusading slum doctor who will stop at nothing to help his patients.

2. Why did you just have to write this story?

The heroine, Bathsheba, wouldn't leave me alone.  She's actually the villainess of my previous book, SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL.  As I was writing
that book, I began to realize how much depth Bathsheba had and how interesting she was.  Gradually, it came to me that her actions were motivated by a
desperate desire to protect her family from all sorts of bad things.  That being the case, I wanted her to have her own story, and a chance to find
redemption and love.  There are lots of books written about bad boys who are redeemed, but not so many about bad girls who are redeemed.

3. Is this book part of a series, if so, tell us more about your series?
What do you love about it?

It's the third in my series about the Stanton Family.  One of the reason I love these books is that the stories revolve around a very interesting
extended family.  Some of my favorite characters are the secondary ones, like General Stanton and his grandson, Robert.  Robert and the General bicker quite
a lot, and they both have a bit of the drama queen in them. But they're very funny and endearing, and readers have told me over and over
again how much they like them.

4. What do you enjoy about the Regency period in particular?

Lots of fascinating history:  the Napoleonic Wars, a larger-than-life royal family, an amazing juxtaposition between the wealthiest members of society and
the lowest of the low.  Mayfair, where many of the beau monde lived, was only a few blocks from some of the worst slums in London.  It was a glittering,
fascinating, and horrific period of time - the last period before the transition to the Victorian Age and the beginning of modern society.

5. Tell us how, Dr. John Blackmore, your hero came to be a doctor. Why did he
choose that profession? What are his best attributes?

I needed a hero who would offset Bathsheba's faults, and who would also be strong enough to challenge her to live a better life.  Who better than a self-
sacrificing doctor who works in the slums?  His best attributes are that he's intelligent, deeply compassionate, and patient, qualities that he certainly
needed in dealing with Bathsheba!  As for why he chose that profession...well, something happened in his past that led him to choose that path, but you'll
have to read the book to find out all the details![CLUE SIX: THE]

6. Bathsheba (great name BTW), the heroine, is hunting for a wealthy new lover
to pay off her late husband’s vast debts Interesting? What happened to put her
in that position?

Her late husband was a man who maintained a very proper veneer, and he was well regarded in society.  But in reality he was a monster - abusive,
obsessive, and cruel.  He was also a spendthrift, and only after he died did Bathsheba realize the precariousness of her financial situation.  She has
several people who depend on her for support, and she's determined not to let them down.

7. What's your favorite scene in the book and why? Can we have a sample
teaser.

Honestly, it's hard to pick.  Maybe the first time they kiss?

John relaxed his grip and released her from the kiss.  She gasped, pulling in huge gulps of air as she stared into his face.  The hot look that gleamed in
his eyes—the ferocity of his lust—quickly turned those small shivers running down her legs into quaking tremors.  Part of her, the most feminine part,
responded to his desire to dominate her.  But she had seen that look before on other men’s faces, and it sent a chill snaking up her spine.

He must have sensed her anxiety, because he seemed to wage a short battle for control.  He eased her back, gentling his touch, but did not let her out of
the circle of his arms.  She couldn’t utter a word, only able to stare at his hard, sensual mouth, still damp from their kiss.

He closed his eyes and drew in a harsh breath, his chest shuddering with the strain.  When he opened them again, some of the wildness had faded.  But the
very air around them shimmered with an insidious, seductive heat.“Damn it all, woman.”  His voice sounded strangled in his throat.  “I must be
losing my mind.  What are you doing to me?”

He rested his forehead against hers for a moment before straightening.  With a gentle hand, he brushed a few stray curls back from her forehead.

“Um,” she stuttered, trying to clear the woolly feeling from her brain.  “I believe I was asking you to accept my apology.  And I think you just did.”

He gave a harsh crack of laughter.  “Is that what it was?  How foolish of me not to have realized.”

8. I loved that scene. What's your October 2012 release, His Mistletoe Bride, about? Can you
give us the blurb...

HIS MISTLETOE BRIDE is the fourth and final book in my Stanton Family series.  The hero is a solider who is forced to give up his military career
when he inherits an earldom and a ramshackle estate.  He also seems to inherit responsibility for the earl's granddaughter, a young woman from
America.  As you can tell by my title, it's a Christmas book.

BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE...

When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is
a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock.
Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed…

Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing,
but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring
fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…

9. what else are you up to? What's next for you?

I'm currently working on Book One of my new new series for Kensington, The Renegade Royals.  I'm really excited about this series.  The heroes are the
bastard sons of the royal princes of England, and they're all trying to redeem themselves and find their place in society.  Naturally, they will
need their heroines to help them do so!

Is there anything else you'd add?

Yes.  In addition to my historical romances, I also write contemporary romance with my husband under the pen name of VK Sykes.  They're fun, very
sexy romances, and you can find out all about them on my other website, www.vksykes.com. 

I'm also part of an exciting new venture with a group of traditionally published authors who are branching out into self-publishing. We've started a collective or "brand" called Rock*It Reads, and we're also working in partnership with Barnes & Noble to launch a new review column for indie books.  Our members include wonderful authors like Elisabeth Naughton and Pamela Clare.  You can find out all about us at www.rockitreads.com.

THANKS, BRONWEN!!

Vanessa is kindly giving a copy of My Favorite Countess to one lucky commenter. Simply tell her what nationality Phoebe Linville is, the heroine in her October release, His Mistletoe Bride.

I've enjoyed having Vanessa with me today. Rock It Reads is a really exciting adventure for you and your readers. Best of luck with it. And it goes without saying - I can't wait for HIS MISLETOE BRIDE.

Now, pop on over to Vanessa's blog and let me tell you about  The World of Romance Authors – Who Influenced Me to Write and Who keeps Me Sane!