RAKES ARE FROM MARS
November 28, 2007
I'm thrilled to announce that my new historical romance ONCE A RAKE is now available!
To celebrate its release, I’d like to invite you to enter a special 2-day contest for the chance to win a goody-treasure-bag with signed copies of: MY WICKED PIRATE and ONCE A RAKE!
Here’s a sneak peek at the battle of the sexes raging on the pages…
Once upon a time, the Earl of Ashby was a notoriously handsome libertine, but the war against Napoleon has scarred him. Now, years later, Isabel Aubrey, a proper lady in need of an influential lord to champion her charity, dares to approach the masked, reclusive colonel and arouses the dormant desire of London’s legendary rake.
Scarred in battle, tormented by the horrors of war, consumed with self-hate and loneliness, Colonel Lord Ashby is certain of this: To keep her, he must seduce her, as only a rake can…
Enter DAY-1 of the contest…
Read the hero’s POV and then answer the question at the bottom. Enjoy!
RAKES ARE FROM MARS – HE SAYS…
Dear Reader,
I am the Earl of Ashby, retiring Commander of the 18th Hussars, and a scarred recluse.
I have not always been the wretched creature you see now. Years ago, before Napoleon invaded Portugal, I pursued a perfectly normal life: Got foxed every night, wagered my blunt on absurdities, and made sport of lifting pretty chits’ skirts. A blackguard and a scattergood the wags tagged me, until Will Aubrey pulled me out of the black heart of London into which I had sunk and gave me a purpose: Vanquish Bonaparte.
Yet wars have a nasty way of turning daring young men into monsters. What was left of my soul after the gory years on the Peninsula died in the Battle of Waterloo, along with the only true friend I ever had. Now, his younger sister, the lovely Isabel Aubrey, comes to solicit my sponsorship for her charity – and I hardly recognize her. Little Izzy was a beautiful doll with shining blue eyes and ribbons in her hair. The compassionate woman refusing to leave me in peace is… heart stopping. I imagine it is well deserved comeuppance for my sins that the fifteen year old chit who once blushed in my presence should blossom into a bruising beauty and return to haunt me when I’m no longer worth a damn… Yet it is more than I can bear.
Isabel offers friendship and tries to unmask me at every turn. She makes a shambles of my peaceful existence trying to heal my torments and enticing me to return to Polite Society.
Confound it all! I’m not a bloody charity case! She makes me feel like a doddering old man, broken beyond repair, when what I ache to do is finish the kiss she has begun seven years ago – in my bed, making ferocious love to her…
Which is why I sent her away, never to return – but she keeps coming back. Fool that I am, I wear a mask in the privacy of my home and assume the role of honorable benefactor by day when she calls on me in private – while plotting and scheming how to render her naked. But by night… I watch her from the shadows as she dazzles the ton with her wit and laughter and her delectable beauty. Then, I take harebrained risks to waltz with her in darkened gazeboes and kiss her by moonlight. Everything about her conspires to bring me to my knees. She arouses my dormant desire, stirs my deepest emotions, and awakens a hope I dare not cling to… Alas, I am not the only man panting after her.
The wolves are circling her at every rout, spouting marriage proposals. Sooner or later she will end up married to one of them, and then what will become of me?
The problem is: I absolutely cannot bare my private hell to her. Softhearted Isabel, who once took stray puppies off the street, would drop in a dead faint if she saw me unmasked. And if she discovered all my ugly secrets, she would flee as far as her legs could carry her.
Now she has issued me a challenge, a promise in disguise. She wants me to attend her charity’s masquerade ball, knowing full well I have not made a public appearance in years.
How do I explain to her that I’m a living battlefield of ghosts, unfit to move in Society? She has mapped out a Via Dolorosa for me to undertake before she surrenders to the intense desire burning between us and I fear I shan’t prevail. Unless… I initiate an outrageous seduction that only a rake would devise and that hopefully Isabel won’t be able to resist…
Respectfully,
Ashby
DAY-1 Contest Question: How old is Isabel when she approaches Ashby for a donation to her cause?
3 lucky winners will get a goody-treasure-bag with signed copies of: MY WICKED PIRATE and ONCE A RAKE! (Contest ends today at midnight; later entries won’t be taken into account. Thanks!)
To read Chapter One of ONCE A RAKE please visit my website.
I hope you had fun meeting Lord Ashby. Stay tuned for… HEROINES ARE FROM VENUS – SHE SAYS… DAY-2 of the contest coming December 1st as Isabel Aubrey shares her POV!
All my love,
Rona Sharon
How do we enter?
Hi Jennifer Y,
You can post your answer here. Then later tonight either Sybil or I will choose 3 winners.
Thanks and good luck in winning the prize!
Rona
Okay...wasn't sure so I e-mailed you from your site too.
I believe she is 22.
Isabel is 22 years old.
After reading chapter 1 and the blurb here. She's 22.
She's 22 I think, but maybe wrong because I can't stop looking at the hot picture of wonderful abs man... thump
She is 22.
I like the blurb approach of the he says/she says. Great prize!
Isabel is 22. Really enjoyed the excerpt here and Chapter 1 and definitely looking forward to the book!
She's twenty two! LOVE the exerpt...but that man is SO distracting!I keep scrolling up your website to get a quick look at him!
Isabel is 22 when she approaches Ashby for a donation to her cause.
Isabel is 22 when she approaches Ashby for a donation to her cause. Loved the excerpt.
Isabel is 22! Love the POV letter it was fun to read gave good insight.
22
Oh, and it sounds really yummy!!
22 like me...um, well me 6 years ago that is. pfft.
I read My Wicked Pirate (love me some action on the high seas) and enjoyed the exotic settings. Hope that doesn't disqualify me. *g*
Assuming that seven years have passed since he last saw her at 15, I agree she's 22. I have a soft spot for those poor scarred heroes who were once admired for their good looks!
The same age as me - 22 yrs old!
15 yrs old when the couple have their first tete a tete, and 7yrs have passed since then.
OMG, this book sounds steamy! I love battered and yet strong and compassionate hero's. Plus any book involving philanthropies is a plus for me! I volunteer at a few organizations (mostly the hospital and the ASPCA) so Isabel already really appeals to me as a heroine because of her good nature.
xoxo
Am I eligible? I want! The answer's 22
Hi Ladies,
I'm glad you like the hero's letter - thanks for participating!
Sula, reading MY WICKED PIRATE does not disqualify you, LOL. If you win one of the 3 prizes I am offering today, you'll have another [signed] copy to put on your bookshelf - or trade on eBay
(considering all the copies were sold out in less than 6 months, maybe you'll get a good price...)
Hugs & Smooches,
Rona
If overseas are eligible I would love to throw my hat in the ring - with the answer that Isabel was 22.
Intriguing POV . . . and now off to read Chapter One.
Hi, 15 years and 7 years equal her age to be 22! Please enter me in the drawing for your fabulous prizes. Thanks,Cindi
Good thing you were around Rona ;).
Willa, I am thinking open to all but can't find the answer in my email. Which should shock no one... but since the author is mailing them out from Tel Aviv I think you have a chance here ;).
Yep, the contest is open to all! Don't mind if you are from New Caledonia or from Iceland... maybe I'll have some trouble shipping the prizes to Iran or Iraq - but, hey, I promise to give it my best shot!
Thanks to everyone who have come on board so far!
Good luck!
Rona
She's 22
Isabel is 22 years old when she approaches Ashby for a donation to her cause.
Sounds great!!
I won last month goodie bag.
Anyway... she is 22
I believe she must be 22.
Thanks
Can't wait to read your latest
answer - 22
Isabel must be around 22, because it has been seven years since as a fifteen year old girl she secretly fancied.
She's 22 years old. Love that POV you posted. A dark hero...I want to read more!
Sounds great! I think she is 22.
I think Isabel is 22 years old by the time she sees Ashby again to ask for a donation. The books sounds good. Love the tormented heroes.
thanks for the opportunity for the goodies.
She's 22. Love a tortured rake. Great post with his POV, Rona. Now to see what she's thinking.
[...] Rakes Are From Mars Winners [...]