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Shana Galen

The Rogue Pirate’s Bride by Shana Galen

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

Today is a review of a book that I just loved!  Shana Galen was here last week and answered a few of my questions.  Check out that post HERE.  When you are done with that post, you really must checkout Shana’s post on Heroes & Heartbreakers titled Pirates: The Ultimate Bad Boys.  Excellent post!

Oh yes, if you are interested in a copy of this book and have a mailing address in the US or Canada, fill out the form at the bottom of the post and you can be entered in the giveaway!

Enjoy!

The Rogue Pirate’s Bride by Shana Galen
ISBN: 1402265557
Release: Feb 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and review

sugarbeat's books romance novel romance book reviewRevenge should be sweet, but it may cost him everything…
The Marquis de Valère escaped certain death in the French Revolution and is now an infamous privateer. Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…
Forgiveness is unthinkable, but it may be her only hope…
British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…

Welcome to Shana Galen’s world of characters that jump of the pages and drag you into the book to live in their world!  The Rogue Pirate’s Bride is a leap into the world of swashbuckling pirates and women that hold their own with a sword!  This is the first book that I have read of Ms. Galen’s Sons of the Revolution series.  What I didn’t realize when I asked to read this book is that it is the third book in this series.  I now have the other two books on order and look forward to reading them!

At the start of this book, we find the daughter of a British Navy Admiral, Raeven Russell confronting Captain Cutlass, in a bar on the coast of France.  Raeven is seeking retribution for what she sees as the murder of her fiance at the hands of the notorious Captain Cutlass.  She is disguised as a boy and goads him into a sword fight.  She’s good, but his bigger, stronger, and a bit better.  When she finds herself trussed up and carted off to Captain Cutlass’s ship, she also finds herself at the beginning of the most challenging relationship of her life.

It seems that Raeven, who grew up on a British Navy ship, is pretty slippery, and manages to escape the locked cabin and find her way back to her father’s ship.  Not, however before her absence is discovered and her punishment is swift and involves Percy, the purser for the HMS Regal, the man who helped her find Captain Cutlass in the first place.  Percy is in love with Raeven and can’t resist helping her in her schemes.  From the point of meeting Captain Cutlass, however, Raeven is destined to be with him and Percy seems to know that she will never love him.

I absolutely loved this book.  It has pirates, it has sword fights, it has a spirited heroine who is as comfortable in pants as she is in a dress.  It’s set in the Regency era and has bits and pieces of the French Revolution, and the conflict with France from the point of view of the sea battles.  It even has some titled gentlemen and ladies and even a ball!  What more could I ask for?  I loved the character of Sebastien or Captain Cutlass as he commonly referred to.  He escaped the burning of his house by a mob during the French Revolution with only an older servant as a guide.  He was just a child at the time.  He is still uncertain as to whether any other members of his family survived.

As I mentioned at the beginning, this book is the third book in the Sons of  the Revolution series that has been in the making since the first book was released in 2010.  Would I have requested this book had I understood that it was the third book in a trilogy, probably not as I prefer to read books in order.  That said, however, I didn’t seem to figure out that there was a trilogy until almost the end of the book (won’t tell you what gives away that fact!).  Obviously, no prior knowledge is required to enjoy this book!  I actually am happy that I’ve read this book first.  I certainly am eagerly anticipating the arrival of the first two books!  If you are a fan of reading books in order, start at the beginning, otherwise, start with this one – it’s a great swashbuckling pirate story that will have you wanting to join in with the action!

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Interview & Giveaway with Shana Galen, author of The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

Today we are welcoming Shana Galen to the blog!  She will be here to talk about her latest release “The Rogue Pirate’s Bride”.  She’s also going to give away 2 copies to two lucky visitors!  Just fill out the form at the bottom of the post to enter.

Just to preface Shana’s interview, I must say that I loved this book!  It’s been a while since I read a good swashbuckling pirate adventure, and one filled with a yummy man  and kick-butt heroine who wields a sword is even better! (see cover below!!!)  I’ll post my review for this book next week, but make sure you find your self a copy of this book, this series and sit back and enjoy!

Without further ado….here’s Shana:

Barb: Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing.

SG: First of all, thank so much for having me back! I’m excited to be here.
I’m a wife, a mom, a former English teacher, and now a fulltime writer, if one considers writing after bedtime and during naps fulltime. I write fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, and The Rogue Pirate’s Bride is my eleventh published novel.

Barb: Tell us a bit about The Rogue Pirate’s Bride

SG: The Rogue Pirate’s Bride is the story of Bastien, who escaped the French Revolution as a child by fleeing the country and signing on with a ship’s captain. When the book opens, Bastien has his own ship and sails the Mediterranean operating as a privateer under the Spanish flag. He’s seeking revenge against the Barbary Corsair Jourdain, who killed his mentor. But Bastien is being hunted himself by Raeven Russell, who’s the daughter of a British admiral. She wants Bastien dead because he killed her fiancé.

Barb: I loved reading this book, and am looking forward to reading this entire series.  Can you talk about where this book fits into the series and where the ideas came from for this series?

SG: This is the last book in the Sons of the Revolution series. The other two books are about Bastien’s brothers. All the boys were separated during the Revolution and don’t know the others are still living, so readers have been waiting to see them reunited.

I got the idea for this series from one of my favorite literary classics, Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. Each brother is based, more or less, on a character in that book. There aren’t any pirates in Dickens’s book, but I really think there should have been!

Barb: Although I’ve only read 2 of your books so far, I’m impressed by your ability to create great dialogue between your characters.  Do you feel that dialogue is your strength in your writing, or do you feel that you are stronger in other areas of your story telling?

SG: I honestly don’t know if I think of dialogue as one of my strengths. When I’m writing, and I’m always writing, it never feels like anything is a strength. I suppose I wouldn’t consider dialogue a weakness. Plotting is a weakness for me. I’m not good at plotting. Writing action scenes is a strength. I’m always told I do those well and enjoy writing them.

Barb: What was your favorite part of this book to write, what was the hardest?

SG: My favorite part of this book was also the hardest. I loved writing the ship battles, but I didn’t know much about ships or naval warfare, so that made it tough. Fortunately, my dad does know a lot about that sort of thing, and he helped me a lot. It was fun working with him.

Barb: Do you create an outline before you begin writing or do you just let the characters tell the story?

SG: Outline? What’s that? The very word strikes fear into my heart. I let the characters tell the story and then bemoan my lack of an outline the whole time.

Barb: What book(s) are you currently reading?

SG: I just finished Joan Swan’s Fever. It’s her debut and comes out later this month. It’s fabulous.

Barb: What project are you working on now?

SG: I’m working on the second book of a new series about three glamorous courtesans in Regency London who get mixed up with some very dangerous diamonds and some equally dangerous men. The first in the series will be out in September, and it’s titled When You Give a Duke a Diamond

Barb: Where can your fans find you?

SG: Everywhere! I’m on Twitter (@shanagalen) and on Facebook. I have a profile and a fan page with contests and all the latest news. My website  is the best place to go for excerpts and to learn more about me and my books. I’m also on Goodreads, and I blog with the Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills

Barb: Any last comments you wish to add?

SG: There’s been a little confusion because The Rogue Pirate’s Bride was originally titled The Making of a Rogue (and briefly Once a Rogue) and slotted for publication in April 2011. This is the same book, just with a different cover and title. My publisher pushed the release date back to make those changes. So if you wonder whatever happened to that book, here it is!

 

THE ROGUE PIRATE’S BRIDE BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

 

Revenge should be sweet, but it may cost him everything…

Out to avenge the death of his mentor, Bastien discovers himself astonishingly out of his depth when confronted with a beautiful, daring young woman who is out for his blood…

 

Forgiveness is unthinkable, but may be her only hope…

British Admiral’s daughter Raeven Russell believes Bastien responsible for her fiancé’s death. But once the fiery beauty crosses swords with Bastien, she’s not so sure she really wants him to change his wicked ways…

sugarbeat's books romance novel romance book reivews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the author of five Regency historicals, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne’s Bride. Her books have been sold in Brazil, Russia, and the Netherlands and featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She is a happily married wife and mother of a daughter and a spoiled cat and lives in Houston, Texas, where she is working on her next regency romance series! For more information please visit www.shanagalen.com, like her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter

I’d like to thank Shana for dropping by again!  I’m busy trying to work my way through the Sons of the Revolution series and I must say, this new series that is in the works looks pretty good also!  Drop back by next week for my review and make sure you fill out the form to enter the giveaway!

Interview and Giveaway for Shana Galen, author of Lord and Lady Spy

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are welcoming Shana Galen, author of Lord & Lady Spy to the blog!  She is sharing some information with us about herself and her new book – one that I LOVED by the way!!  Read to the bottom to read my review!

Sourcebooks is offering two paperback copies of Lord & Lady Spy as a giveaway!!!  Fill in the form at the bottom to be included in the giveaway – as usual, only US & Canadian addresses and extra entries for tweeting about the giveaway!

To start with, here’s my interview with Shana:

Shana : Thank you so much for having me today. I’m excited to be here.

Barb : If someone else wrote a blurb about Lord and Lady Spy, what would it say?
SG: Well, this is what I hope they’d say!

Lord and Lady Spy is a fun, poignant, action-packed Regency romance with two compelling characters. Adrian and Sophia are married-in-name noble, who are secretly spies. When Napoleon is dethroned, they lose their jobs and discover each other’s secret identities. They have to compete against one another to solve a murder and get their positions back.

Barb :  What do you love about writing?
SG: I love words—putting them on the page, the sound of them, the feeling when you find the exact right one. I think it was E.M. Forster who said, “How can I know what I think till I see what I say?” That’s very true for me.

If you mean, what do I love about being a writer, it’s the freedom to create my own world, my own characters, make my own schedule, and work at home.

Barb :  What’s the hardest part of writing a book?
SG: The middle. I love writing the beginning, and the end usually comes very fast for me. But I have to fill in the middle with all this “stuff,” and it’s a lot of stuff. Obviously, I’m not a big plotter or outliner, so a lot of the middle is a mystery to me. Thank goodness for revisions.

Barb : Of the main characters, I think I liked Sophia the best.  Which main character did you like the best and why?
SG: Oh, Sophia. It’s her book, to be sure. I really felt I understood her, and she is definitely the kind of person I’d want for a friend. I think she’d be fun, exciting, and unpredictable to be around.

Barb :  I loved the secondary characters in this book – especially Agent Blue!  Which was your favorite and why?
SG: It’s also Agent Blue! I would love to write another book with Adrian and Sophia and reveal more about Agent Blue. He has such an interesting past. He is not main character material, but he’s a really cool guy. He’s the kind of guy who could be a girl’s best friend.

Barb :  What was your favorite scene in Lord and Lady Spy?
SG: My favorite scene is the love scene in Adrian’s brother’s garden, when Sophia and Adrian are comparing battle scars. I knew the book would have a scene like that somewhere in that misty middle and was so excited when I finally got to write it. (Barb agrees – great scene)

Barb : What type of scene do you generally have trouble with?
SG: Well, this might be difficult to believe since I write romance novels, but I have trouble with sex scenes—actually, it’s not so much the sex as the kissing. I think I’ve written so much kissing over the years, I struggle to find new ways to describe kisses.

Barb : What were the challenges in getting this book to print?
SG: Editors want series right now, and readers seem to want series featuring a new couple in each book. This book didn’t meet either of those criteria. I don’t think it needs to be a stand-alone, but I had to sell it as such. That definitely made it a tougher sell. I’m fortunate my publisher, Sourcebooks, is willing to try new things. I’m hoping they might be willing to try a Lord and Lady Spy II at some point.

Barb :  How can readers stay in touch?
SG: Check out my website. I update it all the time (www.shanagalen.com), email me (shana@shanagalen.com), follow me on Twitter (@shanagalen), or friend me on Facebook. I have a fan page where I hold contests and fun stuff like that (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shana-Galen/211315085575366) and a profile page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000133126101) too.

Barb :  Where is your work available?
SG: Brick and mortar bookstores (Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc.) as well as all the online stores. It’s also available for e-readers, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, etc. There are links on my website to bookstores that take the reader right to the book page.

Barb :  What book is currently on your nightstand?
SG: Romancing the Countess by Ashley March. I love her writing. It has a poetic quality about it. Plus, she’s a really fabulous person.

Barb :  Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
SG: My next book is Once a Rogue, and it’s the third in my Sons of the Revolution series (The Making of a Duchess, The Making of a Gentleman). It will be out in February. I’m currently writing the first in a new series I’m calling the Fallen Ladies. It’s about three glamorous Regency courtesans who get mixed up in stolen diamonds. The first book is tentatively titled The Duchess of Dalliance and will be out in Fall 2012.

Barb :  Is there anything else you’d like to share with your followers and readers?
SG: Only that I’m so thrilled to be able to do what I love for a living. I’m so thankful to all my readers. I always wonder what draws readers to certain authors. Is it the book cover, title, interviews like this one, the back cover text, reviews? Let me know!

I’d like to thank Shana for dropping by today, and for Sourcebooks for offering up books to be given away.  You really want to read this book!!!  As for my 2 cents on what draws in readers….this reader initially chooses a book by the cover art.  It has to say “buy me”.  Once I’ve read the blurb on the back, I generally know whether I’ll like the book or not!  I do however, really enjoy finding out more about my favorite authors and what’s coming next!

LORD AND LADY SPY BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2011

No man can outsmart him…
Lord Adrian Smythe may appear a perfectly boring gentleman, but he leads a thrilling life as one of England’s most preeminent spies, an identity so clandestine even his wife is unaware of it. But he isn’t the only one with secrets…

She’s been outsmarting him for years…
Now that the Napoleonic wars have come to an end, daring secret agent Lady Sophia Smythe can hardly bear the thought of returning home to her tedious husband. Until she discovers in the dark of night that he’s not who she thinks he is after all…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shana Galen is the author of numerous fast-paced adventurous Regency historical romances, including the Rita-nominated Blackthorne’s Bride. Her books have been sold worldwide, including Japan, Brazil, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands, and have been featured in the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She’s a wife, a mother, and an expert multi-tasker. She loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.