Books, Chocolate and Wine with Elf Ahearn

Today’s guest at Books, Chocolate and Wine is Elf Ahearn. Elf and I are Hudson Valley Romance Writer’s members. Her stories are about family relationships and more often than not, are filled with magic. She's answered some questions for use that I know you'll find interesting. She has a cheeky way with words and her romance is… read the reviews. They say it all.

1. Why are you bothering my readers with a book you published three years ago?

Here’s the scoop; I wrote a sleeper titled A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing that I admit was published in April 2013. However, instead of dying the natural death of most works of fiction, the death I fully expected, the book kept selling. Then, just when it started to dip in the Amazon ratings, that charming mega company bought the Kindle rights for its Encore series. Consequently, there have been more sales—about 200 a month on average since the sale in June. This glorious month of January, Amazon has taken things a step further and launched a promotion! Now A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing has been listing in the top 50 historical/romance/Victorian novels, which is a shock since it takes place during the Regency. But who am I to look a gift amazon in the mouth?

2. So what makes this book so rootin’ tootin’ special, huh? Got an explanation, missy?

Honestly, I think people are still buying because the book is not your grandmother’s Regency romance. It’s funny, yet dark, sexy, yet not erotic and it’s got suspense, suspense, suspense.

3. Plot driven or character driven? Pick one fast!

It’s both, it’s both! I read a ton of everything—literary novels, romances, magazines, newspapers, unwanted junk mail, cereal boxes—you name it, I read it. But the one thing I didn’t want to write about was a depressed woman who stares out the window and can’t figure out what went wrong in her life. Romance offers the perfect venue for adventure and character. To take the adventure as far away from window staring as possible, I plunged my heroine, Ellie Albright of A Rogue in Sheep’s Clothing into all kinds of trouble—some of it caused by her willful personality and some of it caused by a few villainous blackguards.

Regency romance with a Gothic twist.

BLURB:

In Lord Hugh Davenport’s opinion, women of the ton perpetually hide behind a mask of deception. That’s hard for Ellie Albright, the daughter of an earl, to swallow—especially since she’s disguised herself as a stable hand to get back the prized stallion her father sold to Hugh to pay a debt. If Hugh learns her true identity she’ll lose the horse and her family will go bankrupt. Somehow, though, losing Hugh’s affection is beginning to seem even worse.

Already only a step away from being snagged in her own web of lies, Ellie’s deceit threatens to spin out of control when Hugh’s mother invites Ellie and her sisters to a house party. Now Ellie has to scramble to keep Hugh from knowing she’s the stable girl he wants to marry, while simultaneously trying to win his trust as herself. Can she keep her costumes straight long enough to save her family? And even if she does, will it be worth losing his love?

Reviews:

It feels like I haven't read a great historical romance novel in ages. I'm so glad I read this book, especially since it's not the typical historical romance…  There were moments when I laughed, cringed, was worried and anxious. There were almost moments when I needed to fan myself, because they were so hot! I read this book in no time.

I loved it, the storyline was exciting and had all the things I like in a book...horses, romance and old fashioned buildings!!

A great equine story with lots of surprises and unexpected romance subtly written in. You'll find this book a real page Turner!

This book was a fast read and I loved the characters.

What great fun to read - the dialogues are catchy - never a dull moment - in this less than typical regency - still the love story and the setting puts you right where I think Elf Ahearn wants you to go with her. I'm all in, and waiting for the next to be available on kindle.

I loved this book and I didn't want to put it down.

Buy Link:  Amazon

Excerpt:

Ellie eyed the splattered front of her gown. “Now look what you’ve done. I’m a mess.”

The beast yanked a crumpled handkerchief from his pocket. “Use this,” he said, accidentally brushing her breast.

Ellie shied from his touch. “My Heavens, sir, cease and desist! Now, give me your handkerchief, slowly.” As she took the linen square, her hand halted in mid air. The sour look she intended for her assailant melted. La, what a handsome man. And then she realized she’d seen him before, but where? Dark eyes, nearly black, met her own, a hooked curl bisected his forehead, meeting the edge of a scar that crossed the ruddy crest of his right cheek.

I’m staring. Quickly she pretended to swab a spot of wine at her waist. Her breath went shallow and her thoughts scattered, but a smile tipped the corners of her lips. She’d had the great good fortune to be trod upon by one of Devon’s most elusive bachelors, Hugh Davenport, Earl of Bruxburton – one of the few gentlemen who’d failed to call at Fairland. A pulse of pain reminded her of her foot. “I … I think I need to sit down,” she told him.

“Ah yes…” said Hugh, looking for an empty chair.

Putting the tiniest bit of weight down, Ellie received a powerful jolt. “I’m afraid I’ll not be dancing again this evening.”

Hugh’s back straightened and a hard look seeped into his eyes. Is he annoyed? she wondered.

“Well, there must be a chair here somewhere.” He moved off on the hunt.

Ellie took a few limping steps after him. “I’ll need your assistance.” He came back and eyed her suspiciously. “Your arm, in fact,” she told him.

His lips hardened, but he looped her arm through his. As they passed a row of seated grande dams, every eye watched with envy.

At an alcove, Hugh stopped to let her pass. “In here,” he said.

“I can’t go in there alone with you.”

“Did you see a free chair on the floor?” he said. “Because what I saw was a row of plump sugar plums, and none of them likely to abandon her seat.”

“People will say I’ve been compromised.”

“Nonsense. I couldn’t possibly compromise anyone in an alcove shielded by a simple palm tree. A young lady compromised in such a manner either wants to be or wants to pretend she was. Which one are you?”

 ABOUT Elf Ahearn: Elf Ahearn, yes that is her real name - lives in New York with her wonderful husband and a pesky (yet irresistible) cat. Learn more about her at elfahearn.com or friend her on Facebook.