Tessa Dare

A Lady of Persuasion is in stores today! This is the third and final installment in the trilogy that began with Goddess of the Hunt and continued in Surrender of a Siren.  It’s the story of Toby and Isabel’s romance, but it’s also a happy ending for an entire group of friends, both old and new.  And who better to celebrate that with than you–my friends, both old and new?

You see, when I started writing Goddess of the Hunt, I had this thought that it should feel a bit like the TV show Friends, only set in the Regency.  A group of…well, friends…who are at that time in their lives where they’re figuring out their futures and pairing off, who know each other well enough to throw around a lot of witty set-downs and the occasional incisive remark.  A group of people who genuinely care about one another, even though they’d sometimes rather not admit it.  And it was just so much fun, to write Henry, Toby, Felix, and Jeremy giving each other sh*t in the way guys do.

There are several sections of A Lady of Persuasion where the main characters from all three books are together–sometimes for pleasant reasons, and sometimes not.  Don’t get me wrong–I adored Toby and Bel as a couple, and their journey to love was a pure joy to write.  But those ensemble scenes were a unique pleasure, because I really believed each of the three (four! shhh.) couples’ happily-ever-afters would be supported and strengthened by this larger circle of friendship and love.  And because I just can’t write enough of those guys giving each other sh*t.

So, here’s how this party works. Any comment will enter you to win a prize (more on those in a bit).  We’re just going to play a big long game of “Remember When,” and the theme of the day is friends.  You can share a memory about the friends in my trilogy (Remember when Jeremy and Lucy made out under that pear tree?  Yeah, that was hot.) or Friends the TV show (Remember Chandler and his ‘nubbin’? Ew.), or our real-life friendships (Remember when went out for that awesome barbecue in Dallas during RWA? Those rolls! Like buttah.).  Or if none of those appeal to you, just bring out cocktail party conversation of any variety!  Or make something up.  (I write fiction; creativity’s encouraged.)

Now, the PRIZES!

They are books, of course.  I will give away 3 copies of A Lady of Persuasion, and 1 copy each of Goddess of the Hunt and Surrender of a Siren (all signed, of course).  Because she is my friend and she is awesome, I will also give away 2 copies of the recently released The Heart of Christmas anthology, featuring Courtney Milan’s most excellent debut novella, “This Wicked Gift.”

So that’s seven books — but wait!  It’s not!  Because if you’re a winner, I will double your prize and send a copy of the same book to a friend of your choosing, with a message that it is a gift from you!  Your mom, your sister, your neighbor down the street…a senior center, a teacher, a soldier…anyone you think might enjoy reading one of my (or Courtney’s) books.  (Don’t worry–any addresses collected will be used strictly to mail this one prize, then deleted.)  Winners will be picked at random from all comments.

As the day goes by, I may have prizes on Twitter as well, if you follow me there.

So…let the fun begin!  Thank you all so much for your friendship, readership, and support. I hope you enjoy  reading Toby and Isabel’s romance as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Your friend, Tessa

Assuming you don’t have other plans.

If you haven’t already read Goddess of the Hunt and Surrender of a Siren, this would be a good time to catch up. Because the third book of the trilogy, A Lady of Persuasion, hits shelves next Tuesday, September 29th! And you don’t want to be that one person who isn’t caught up and can’t dish immediately about all the yumminess that it is Sir Toby Aldridge, do you?

Trust me on this. You do not.

(Is it weird to say I adore Toby? Absolutely had the time of my life writing him. Thus far, he is the only one of my heroes to inspire a t-shirt. That alone has to say something, right?)

However, chances are if you’re reading this blog, you’ve already read Goddess and Siren, and therefore need something else to tide you over. A novella might be just the thing! And I know it’s not even October, but it’s never too early to be getting into the Christmas spirit, is it? (Just go with me here.)

My absolutely brilliant friend and critique partner, Courtney Milan, has her print debut novella coming out in an anthology. The Heart of Christmas has an official release date of October 1st, but copies have been found in stores all over and are already flying off the shelves. Courtney’s novella, “This Wicked Gift” is touching, funny, sexy, and smart. You don’t want to miss it. So buy your copy now, before they all get sold out! You do not want to be sadly deprived of her Christmas goodness, do you?

Trust me on this. You do not.

As for me, how will I be spending my weekend? It’s back to the deadline cave for me. My second Stud Club book, Twice Tempted by a Rogue is almost finished. Which is good, because it’s due to my editor next week.

OH. How could I forget? Something very exciting happened this week–I got to see the preliminary versions of the Stud Club trilogy covers. They are unbelievably gorgeous. And…brace yourselves…super HOT. I can’t wait until I have the go-ahead to post them. Perhaps I’ll post some teasing little snippets on Tuesday.

Pleeeze come back Tuesday–Release day! Prizes! Friends! Merriment!
Until then….

Woohoo! It’s release day all over again!

Today, book two of my trilogy, Surrender of a Siren is officially on sale! Siren stars Sophia Hathaway, Lucy’s friend from Goddess of the Hunt. Sophia is a beautiful, pampered heiress with a wild, irrepressible imagination, and she’s in for the adventure of her life when she boards the Aphrodite, a merchant ship owned by former privateer Benedict “Gray” Grayson. You can read a longer blurb and excerpt here.

Here’s what RT Book Reviews had to say about it:

4-1/2 stars and Top Pick! “Dare’s second novel cements her place as a “not to be missed” author. Her gift is for creating stories that are filled with adventure, three-dimensional characters and exciting plots, yet she maintains the purest form of romance.”

Speaking of RT, the review for A Lady of Persuasion just came out yesterday! It will also receive a Top Pick! in the October issue. That makes three for three! Says RT, A Lady of Persuasion offers ““..wry wit, endearing characters, laugh-out-loud moments, sensual interludes and poignancy. This is stellar storytelling!” And now that Siren is officially on the shelves, I’ve posted a nice, long excerpt of Lady here. (Warning — it’s mildly spoilerish, if you haven’t read the first two. But then, so is the blurb!)

I’m just happy as anything to watch Sophia and Gray’s story sail out there into the world. I can’t wait to hear what readers make of it!

First, I extend the usual apologies for scattershot blogging.  My deadline for the first Stud Club book is May 1st, and I need every (childfree) minute between now and then to finish and polish it up.

But I had to share this – my editor emailed me this morning to let me know that Goddess of the Hunt, Surrender of a Siren, and A Lady of Persuasion have all sold to the book clubs!  They will be featured alternate selections in July/Aug/Sept respectively, in the Rhapsody, Doubleday, and Book of the Month Clubs!  I am beyond excited.  So far beyond excited, I can’t think of a word for it.

But wait, there’s more!  You may remember that Courtney Milan and Ann Aguirre and Dear Author and I engaged in some werestag-themed April Foolery a few weeks back, regarding were-ruminant trademarks and the infringement thereof.  Well, Ann was good enough to actually read my novella, The Legend of the Werestag (coming May 12th from Samhain!), and give this stunning quote:

“Tessa Dare writes with incandescent emotional ferocity, balancing story and character with knife-edged elegance. This is the best novella I have read all year.”
~Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of Blue Diablo

I think there is more gorgeous writing in that quote than there is in my whole novella. I’m not sure that’s fair. But I’m beside myself with glee about it anyhow.

If you haven’t already bought Blue Diablo, what are you waiting for? I just started it last night, and not only am I wowed by Ann’s amazing sense of place and command of first person–the hardest voice to pull off, IMO–but Corine and Chance have me absolutely hooked.

BTW, I’ve just realized that Ann and I are co-authors. She wrote the brilliant concluding chapter to the Manuscript Mavens Halloween story a few years back… Ain’t that cool?