I am so jealous of my friend Jennifer Haymore. First, because she gets the most unbelievably beautiful, hawt stepbacks. If you’re a clinch lover like I am, you must visit her website and mouse over the cover of A Touch of Scandal, so you can see this one in all its blond-hero glory.

But my envy of her doesn’t end there, not by a mile. Jennifer is not only a beautiful writer, but she has a gift for creating gut-wrenching, heart-wringing, romantic scenarios for her characters. You know, the kind of books where you wonder halfway through, “How can this possibly end happily?” …and then it does! And the end is so much sweeter for all that angst.

Last year, her debut, A Hint of Wicked, was a runaway success and the talk of Romancelandia. It featured a love triangle between a widow, her new husband, and the first husband thought dead, who returns eight years later. Let me tell you, I still get chills thinking of the first chapter of that book. I’m pretty sure you can read it on Amazon with the “Look Inside” feature.

But of course, with a love triangle, you know someone’s going to get left out in the end (in a mainstream romance, anyhow!), and now this year we have Garrett’s book, so he can have a happy ending of his own! Yay! The blurb for A Touch of Scandal:

The last thing Garrett, Duke of Calton, expects to find while tracking his sworn enemy is the delectable, mysterious Kate. This beautiful servant girl rouses a longing the battle-scarred ex-soldier had never hoped to feel again. But when she turns out to be the sister of the man he seeks, he’s convinced he’s been betrayed.

Kate knows her duty to her family, yet how can she ignore Garrett’s powerful pull on her heart? Or the heady temptation of his stolen-and sizzling-kisses? Scandal has followed the duke since the war. Now the greatest shock of all is on its way-the one that can separate Garrett and Kate forever.

Once again, Jennifer creates a gut-wrenching scenario–Garrett finally finds love! Yay! Um, with the sister of his sworn enemy. Oh…tartar sauce, as the darelings would say. A blissfully happy ending awaits–but you have to go through the wringer with these characters to get there. Jennifer Haymore is an author to read when you really want to feel invested in the characters, feel taken on their journey…just feel.

A Touch of Scandal is on sale today, but you could win a copy here! Just leave a comment about your favorite heart-wrenching romance by 9PM PST, March 31st. At least two winners, possibly more, will be selected at random and posted Thursday. No April foolin’.

(While you’re visiting my site, March 31st is the last day to enter the New Year, New Authors contest. And I’ve posted a new, lengthier excerpt from my upcoming release, One Dance with a Duke!)


26 comments to “Giveaway! Jennifer Haymore’s A Touch of Scandal”

  1. Paige Ray
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 9:54 am · Link

    Congratulations to Jennifer’s Haymore! My favorite romance so far is a tie between Tessa Dare’s ‘Goddess of the Hunt’s and Courtney Nolan’s ‘Proof by Seduction.’ Great books that pulled on my heart strings in my brain. LOL



  2. Kali
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 10:08 am · Link

    My favorite heart wrenching romance has got to by The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell by Samantha James. Simon is a man w/ a dark secret in his past that threatens to ruin his new (unwilling) marriage. It’s sad, heart-breaking and beautiful. The story still haunts me to this day. some of Ms. James’ best writing.



  3. SonomaLass
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 10:16 am · Link

    I loved A Hint of Wicked, and I’m eager for Garrett to get his happy ending.

    My favorite heart-wrenching romance recently was Scandal by Carolyn Jewel. Both the hero and the heroine of that book go through loss, and it’s an emotional roller-coaster for the reader. It’s a deep and thoughtfully written book, too.



  4. Lori
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 10:34 am · Link

    I put AHOW on my list last year as one of my top historicals. And I usually dislike love triangles. Intensely. That I loved AHOW so much tells me a lot about the author. And I so agree – the first chapter? Holy cow. Drooling just remembering it. And how cruel she was to end it exactly where she did.

    When I think about heart-wrenching, a few different scenes come to mind rather than the overall feeling from an entire book:
    The scene in Dreaming of You (LK) where Derek thinks Sara is lost in the fire. The opening scene in Worth Any Price (again, LK) where Nick has to learn from a madam and you realize what likely happened to him earlier in his life, and again in WAP where Nick is hanging by his fingertips from a warehouse beam, sure he’s about to die, and his last thoughts were of Lottie and how much he loves her. *clutching heart* Sigh. I love romance *g*



  5. Babs
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 11:02 am · Link

    Oh hands down, the romance that haunts me to this day (years after reading it) is that of Andrea and Kurt in Robert Wilson’s The Company of Strangers. They spend almost the whole book apart…it is heart wrenching!



  6. Danielle Yockman
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 11:05 am · Link

    I find Diana Gabldon’s Outlander books heart wrenching at different times. Virgina Henley’s A Year and A Day always gets me. So many I can’t remember them all! 😆



  7. Jamie
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 11:12 am · Link

    I remember reading A Hint of Wicked and not knowing what to do. I loved Tristan and I loved Garrett. It broke my heart to watch everything unfold.

    Julia Quinn’s When He was Wicked did the same thing to me. I couldn’t figure out how Francesca and Michael were going to live happily ever after. There was so much heartbreak and loss that it brought tears to my eyes. Plus, the 2nd epilogue really made me cry so I won’t spoil it for anyone.

    I look foward to reading about Garrett and hopefully his happy ending.



  8. Gillian
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 11:36 am · Link

    Do you remember Jo Beverley’s To Rescue A Rogue? Darius is fighting opium addiction, and Mara is trying to help him. She has this line, about how he tries not to scream and she/Mara runs away so that he can, without guilt. It makes me tear up every time.

    I loved A Hint of Wicked.



  9. Liz
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 12:41 pm · Link

    For me the most heart wrenching is still Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. I was so sure there was NO way these characters were going to be able to stay together. Christian and Maddy had everything going against them. I go back and re-read it every once in a while, just to make sure it still turns out all right.



  10. Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 2:08 pm · Link

    I’m with Gillian! I’ll always have a weakness for Dare, who is a splendidly tortured hero. In fact I’d like to read To Rescue a Rogue again soon. Must find it in my pile o’ books.



  11. Randy
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Link

    The book that I found most wrenching emotionally has to be Anna Campbell’s Captive of Sin. It’s hard to imagine that any human being could be more tortured, both physically and mentally, than this hero. As a result, Gideon does everything possible to drive the heroine away–for her sake–and yet her steadfast patience and love ultimately see him through.



  12. Tessa
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 4:26 pm · Link

    Great answers, everyone! Keep them coming. I’m reliving so many great angsty moments and amassing quite the TBR. 😯



  13. Jennifer
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 4:38 pm · Link

    My favorite heart-wrenching romance is ADDICTED by Charlotte Featherstone. It is a steamy story full of love, betrayal, and heartache that ends with a beautiful, happy ending.



  14. Liza
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 4:42 pm · Link

    Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas. Kev Merripen had loved Win from the time he met her, but because he was Rom he never felt he was good enough for her. Loved seeing him finally give into his feelings.



  15. Peggy H
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 5:38 pm · Link

    Favorite heart-wrenching romance recently read—Sherry Thomas’ Not Quite a Husband!

    Thanks for the chance to win Jennifer’s new book!



  16. Julie
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 6:34 pm · Link

    For me, the lead couple of Lynn Kurland’s This Is All I Ask have one of the most heart-wrenching backstories I’ve ever read, which makes their struggle to their HEA all the more worth it. I highly recommend it!

    Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂



  17. Barbara Elness
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 8:55 pm · Link

    I just read Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas recently and I have to agree with Liza, that was a heart wrenching story. I didn’t think Kev would ever give in to his feelings and try for happiness.



  18. Janga
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    · March 30th, 2010 at 9:32 pm · Link

    I’ve been longing to read Garrett’s HEA since I turned the last page of AHOW. I would have been a tear-sodden mess if Jennifer had not written this book. I can’t wait to read it.

    So many wonderful heart-wrenching romances, how can I choose one? Barbara Samuel’s NO PLACE LIKE HOME would certainly have to be one of my top choices–and naming it gets a contemporary on this heavily historical list. 🙂



  19. Stephanie J
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 6:54 am · Link

    Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked definately. I cried and cringed the whole way. And I have to agree with Flowers from the Storm.



  20. Hannah
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 10:09 am · Link

    That’s a gorgeous cover! I just bought a Kindle in an effort to cut down on book clutter, but I’m still seduced into buying Dead Tree books just for the full-color cover art.
    I think I stay away from romances with a lot of heart-wrenching moments. But I’d have to agree that the Outlander books had plenty of them.



  21. Spav
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 11:22 am · Link

    My favourite heart-wrenching romance is This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.



  22. Breiab
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 5:52 pm · Link

    Favorite heart wrenching romance has to be The Notebook. I bawl!!



  23. Paige Ray
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 7:42 pm · Link

    I just noticed the awful typo I made in my comment at the top. Courtney Nolan was supposed to be Courtney Milan. LOL I’m so sorry. I feel silly now. 😉



  24. Janice
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 8:00 pm · Link

    Favorite heart-wrenching romance: Secrets of the Heart by Mary Balogh. Or maybe it’s The Secret Pearl, or A Precious Jewel, or Red Rose, or The First Snowdrop. One of ’em, anyway.



  25. Tessa
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 8:27 pm · Link

    Thank you all for entering! We will have four winners, since Jennifer is kicking in two extra copies!

    Winners, as drawn by Random.org, are:

    Liz (#9)
    Liza (#14)
    Peggy H (#15)
    Hannah (#20)

    Please use the contact email form (click contact in top menu) to send me your snail mail address!



  26. catie james
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    · March 31st, 2010 at 9:35 pm · Link

    Geesh, there are so many I can’t possibly name each one! (I’ll try to hit my favorites):

    Delicious, Not Quite a Husband and Private Arrangements – Sherry Thomas
    Perfect Chemistry – Simone Elkeles
    Eternal – Cynthia Leitch Smith
    Lonely Werewolf Girl – Martin Millar
    Tipping the Velvet – Sarah Waters
    Any of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling titles
    Dark Desires After Dusk – Kresley Cole
    Black Ice – Anne Stuart
    Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity – Melissa Marr
    Gods Behaving Badly – Marie Phillips
    The Sugar Queen – Sarah Addison Allen
    How to Say Goodbye in Robot – Natalie Standiford
    This Heart of Mine, Nobody’s Baby But Mine, and Natural Born Charmer – Susan Elizabeth Phillips
    How to Buy a Love of Reading – Tanya Egan Gibson
    Ash – Malinda Lo
    The Glass and Magic series (respectively) by Maria V. Snyder
    The Secret Society Girl series by Diana Peterfreund
    Tithe and Ironside – Holly Black
    Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
    Good in Bed – Jennifer Weiner
    Impossible – Nancy Werlin
    Goddess of the Hunt and Legend of the Werestag – Tessa Dare
    Rain Village – Carolyn Turgeon
    Except the Queen – Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder
    Lady of the Snakes – Rachel Paston
    Swan Kingdom – Zoe Mariotte
    The Espressologist – Kritin Springer
    Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
    Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
    Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
    Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater
    The Devil in Winter – Lisa Kleypas
    The Secret Wedding – Jo Beverley
    Wild Oates, Runabout, and Simple Jess – Pamela Morsi
    Wired – Liz Maverick
    The Wild Marquis – Miranda Neville

    I know there are tons more, but these are the most fresh in my mind (or the most prominently displayed on my keeper shelf). 🙂